One of those virtually unknown victories of the Filipinos against the vastly superior invading army of the Americans (the others were the Battle of Paye (San Mateo Rizal), Battle of Catubig (Samar), Battle of Makahambus Hill (Cagayan de Oro), Battle of Pulang Lupa (Marinduque) that occurred on September 17, 1900 at the village of Mabitac, then a barrio of the town of Siniloan.

Tutubi stumbled on the colorful tableau, located near the Mabitac Church (Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church), depicting the battle quite some time ago but posted the photos just now in time for the 110th anniversary of the encounter.



It was here where Filipino soldiers, who used mastery of terrain and employed guerilla tactics and under the leadership of Gen. Juan Cailles and Lt. Col. Fidel Sario, held back a contingent of soldiers under Col. Benjamin Cheatham upon orders of Gen. Henry Lawton. The Americans suffered numerous casualties even if supported by a Gatling gun-armed gun boat in Laguna de Bay.



In the aftermath of the battle, Gen. Cailles, in contrast to American propaganda that he was a barbaric and murderous man, allowed Col. Cheatham to retrieve the bodies of slain American soldiers, in contrast to the disrespect the victorious Americans did to the dead bodies of Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar after the bloody Battle of Tirad Pass.



This post is written in memory of forgotten heroes of the Philippine-American War (formerly and erroneously called the Philippine Insurrection against the United States of America), not just the leaders but the hundreds of those killed, wounded, or suffered at the senseless war that befell these islands called the Philippines, long before Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

You'll always be remembered!

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Battle of Mabitac Historical Figures:

American Side:

Gen. Henry Ware Lawton: Then a captain, was one of those responsible for the surrender of the Apache Indian warrior Geronimo. It's such an ironic twist of fate that as he was instrumental in capturing Apache Indian Geronimo, yet he died from sniper fire by a sharpshooter under the command of Gen. Licerio Geronimo during the Battle of Paye in San Mateo, Morong (now called province of Rizal). The City of Lawton, Oklahoma and the former name of Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Lawton, bear his name.

Col. Benjamin Cheatham: later served as a general during World War I in Europe, rose to that rank of Major General. Died in 1944 and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Filipino Side:

Gen. Juan Cailles: originally from Nasugbu, Batangas from a Filipino father and mother of Indian descent, leader of revolutionary forces in Laguna during the Philippine-American War later appointed by Aguinaldo as military governor of Laguna, served as governor of Laguna where he served multiple, non-contiguous terms and appointed representative of Mountain Province in the Philippine Legislature. Died of heart attack in 1951.

Lt. Col. Fidel Sario: no confirmation yet if indeed a native of Paete, Laguna with one of major street named after him. Died from bullet wounds incurred during the Battle of Mabitac. Waiting for more information from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Labels: Calabarzon, History, Laguna, Philippine-American War, Southern Tagalog

I've been reading some blogs reviewing the movie, 300,by Warner Brothers for its riveting action scenes, cinematography et al. I'm a big fan of epics and historical movies but I have yet to see 300 due to my uberbusy schedule these past few months.


300 is about a historic battle set in Greece where 300 Spartans defended a very narrow pass, Thermopylae, for days againsts the ravaging war machine of the Persian Empire of Xerxes I against the Greek army of 300 plus allied Thebans and Thespians.

It was only after Ephialtes, a Malian, betrayed the Greeks by showing the Persian army a trail leading behind the lines of the Greek army.King Leonidas and most of the Spartan army with him perished.

Wheneever I read something about this historic battle, I also remember, being a Filipino, a battle whose story is very similar to that of Thermopylae: The Battle of Tirad Pass.

During the Philippine-American War (that most Americans still call incorrectly as Philippine Insurrection against the United States), Gen Aguinaldo gave orders to Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar to watch his back (rear guard) while trying to escape pursuing American troups.

For hours, the 60 hand-picked Filipino troups held off the advancing American force of 500 until a Filipino, Januario Galut, led the Americans to a trail that led behind the Filipino lines. Most defenders died including the young general.

General del Pilar was stripped of everything including his shoes and left unburied by the American marauders.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Thermopylae, the Greeks won decisive victories against the Persians and lost their ambition of expansion of their empire; after Tirad Pass and succeeding battles resulting in the conquest of the Philippines, the United States of America, where all men are (said to be) created equal became an empire!

Note:I wasn't able to visit Tirad Pass (Pasong Tirad) in November 2005 when I visited Sagada with Ferdz as well as the near (relatively yet so hard to reach) Kiangan town where Gen. Yamashita surrendered to the Americans at the end of WW2) maily due to an urgent need to come home. A fellow traveller/history enthusiast friend of ours, however, was able to inspect the site and again remarked how biased the history reports of the Americans were.

There are two sides to every story: their side and the truth! :)

Labels: Gregorio del Pilar, History, National Heroes, Philippine-American War

In 1898, The Spanish-American war broke out and spilled into the Philippines then a Spanish colony (this war was triggered by an explosion of the USS Maine while anchored in Havana blamed on the Spaniards but later investigations turned it was just an accident)

on the first of May of the same year American fleet sailed into Manila bay, engaged and sank floating antiques called the Spanish navy, marking the day the US became known as a naval power.

This day in history, the Americans, led by Admiral Dewey who's been blockading Manila since March, captured El Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City) from the Spaniards.

Fateful day was marked by the bombardment of the Spanish bulwark, Fort San Antonio Abad whose walls are still visible within the walls of the present Central Bank complex near the Metropolitan Museum



details of the old wall



after capturing the said Fort, the Spaniards capitulated (later found out to be a mock battle for the Spaniards not to lose face should they surrender to the Filipinos)

picture of Fort Santiago entrance in Intramuros with the Spanish insignia and St. James (San Santiago)



Sadly, this is a day long forgotten by history-challenged Filipinos.

A few months later, the Philippine-American war broke out when America fulfilled their manifest destiny and turn their nation of the free into an empire enslaving the Philippines and killing about 200,000 Filipinos, mostly civilians, in their plan of benevolent assimilation.

Labels: History, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippine-American War, Spanish Forts