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While America has its Fourth of July, Mexico its Cinco de Mayo, Cavite has its Doce de Junio, we, the proud, valiant, freedom-loving and noble sons and daughters of Lapulapu, have our Tres de Abril. Today, we celebrate the 126th anniversary of the landmark Battle of Tres de Abril on April 3, 1898, when Cebuano freedom fighters defeated better-armed Spanish forces.
Indeed, the pages of human history are stained with the blood of many noble heroes. In the history of many countries, certain life-changing events took place that now serve as our monumental milestones marking the gallantry of humanity's heroes and the nobility of the cause of freedom, democracy, and liberty. Those were the proud moments when an outraged people decided to cut the bonds of oppression. Thus America won its independence from the British on July 4, 1776. The Mexicans won over their French colonizers on May 5, 1862 in that famous Battle of Puebla. And the French stormed the Bastille Castle on July 14, 1879.
Here, 377 years before Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12, 1898, Cebuanos led by Lapulapu already ended the saga of the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan's exploration in the historic Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. It was the example of Lapulapu that led many Cebuanos to declare that Magellan didn’t discover the Philippines but that it was the Philippines that discovered Magellan 503 years ago today. And it was in our neighboring province of Bohol that the first treaty between an Asian island and a European powerful colonizer was signed between Rajah Sikatuna and Spain's Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on March 16, 1565.
Two months before the Magdalos of Cavite hoisted the Philippine flag on June 12, 1898, Cebuanos achieved a historic victory over the Spanish in Cebu. Ironically, the Cebuanos were then led by a fiery, passionate, and dynamic Negrense from the land of Arnie Teves and Roel Degamo, Pantaleon Villegas with his iconic nom de guerre, Leon Kilat. He was dispatched by the supremo of the Katipunan, Gat Andres Bonifacio, to unite the various factions of Cebuano freedom fighters. In what is now called Punta Princesa, Villegas met the leaders. It was there that they planned the siege without first specifying the exact date.
They included Arcadio Maxilom, Francisco Llamas, Juan Climaco, Bonifacio Aranas, Nicolas Godinez, Eugenio Gines, Candido Padilla, Jacinto Pacaña, Luis Abellar, Luis Flores, Mariano Hernandez, Nicomedes Machacon, Alejo Miñoza, Ambrocio Pena, Hilario Felix, Potenciano Alino, Estanislao Laura, Pascacio Dabasol, Daniel, Simeon and Silvestre Canedo, Jaime and Nicanor Enriquez, Wenceslao Capalla, Justo Cabajar and Florencio Gonzales. The attack was planned to be staged on April 8, Good Friday, so that their movement could not be easily detected and that by then, in observance of the solemn day, the guns of the enemies were pointed downward and without cartridges. But a traitor tipped the Spanish forces. Hence, the attack was advanced on April 3, Palm Sunday.
It was a bloody battle. The Cebuanos had only bolos, spears, and arrows and a few guns grabbed from fallen enemies. There were many deaths from both sides. The Filipinos achieved victory when the Spanish survivors ran away and hid inside the fortified Fort San Pedro. For a number of days, the fort was surrounded by the Filipino warriors. But a shipload of reinforcements arrived from Manila and the Cebuanos withdrew to the mountains. On April 8, Leon Kilat was killed by a traitor while asleep in Carcar. But the forces of Arcadio Maxilom won many victories in Toledo and Balamban.
Tres de Abril will never be forgotten in the history of our province and city. It was a saga that we remember today with utmost pride, valor, and a sense of nationalism that propelled us to victory even for a brief span of time. We reminisce the bravery of our forefathers in Cebu, even as Bulacan remembers its Barasoain Constitutional Convention, Caloocan recalls its Cry of Pugad Lawin, and the Ilocanos pride themselves of the exploits of Diego and Gabriela Silang and the heroism of the teenage general Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass.
We Cebuanos should always remember that we are strongest when we are united and we are weakest when we allow ourselves to be betrayed by many traitors in our midst. We should always remember that the world is a contentious arena and life is a daily battle that we have to fight and win, even as we face insurmountable odds and formidable enemies. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.
Indeed, the pages of human history are stained with the blood of many noble heroes. In the history of many countries, certain life-changing events took place that now serve as our monumental milestones marking the gallantry of humanity's heroes and the nobility of the cause of freedom, democracy, and liberty. Those were the proud moments when an outraged people decided to cut the bonds of oppression. Thus America won its independence from the British on July 4, 1776. The Mexicans won over their French colonizers on May 5, 1862 in that famous Battle of Puebla. And the French stormed the Bastille Castle on July 14, 1879.
Here, 377 years before Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12, 1898, Cebuanos led by Lapulapu already ended the saga of the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan's exploration in the historic Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. It was the example of Lapulapu that led many Cebuanos to declare that Magellan didn’t discover the Philippines but that it was the Philippines that discovered Magellan 503 years ago today. And it was in our neighboring province of Bohol that the first treaty between an Asian island and a European powerful colonizer was signed between Rajah Sikatuna and Spain's Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on March 16, 1565.
Two months before the Magdalos of Cavite hoisted the Philippine flag on June 12, 1898, Cebuanos achieved a historic victory over the Spanish in Cebu. Ironically, the Cebuanos were then led by a fiery, passionate, and dynamic Negrense from the land of Arnie Teves and Roel Degamo, Pantaleon Villegas with his iconic nom de guerre, Leon Kilat. He was dispatched by the supremo of the Katipunan, Gat Andres Bonifacio, to unite the various factions of Cebuano freedom fighters. In what is now called Punta Princesa, Villegas met the leaders. It was there that they planned the siege without first specifying the exact date.
They included Arcadio Maxilom, Francisco Llamas, Juan Climaco, Bonifacio Aranas, Nicolas Godinez, Eugenio Gines, Candido Padilla, Jacinto Pacaña, Luis Abellar, Luis Flores, Mariano Hernandez, Nicomedes Machacon, Alejo Miñoza, Ambrocio Pena, Hilario Felix, Potenciano Alino, Estanislao Laura, Pascacio Dabasol, Daniel, Simeon and Silvestre Canedo, Jaime and Nicanor Enriquez, Wenceslao Capalla, Justo Cabajar and Florencio Gonzales. The attack was planned to be staged on April 8, Good Friday, so that their movement could not be easily detected and that by then, in observance of the solemn day, the guns of the enemies were pointed downward and without cartridges. But a traitor tipped the Spanish forces. Hence, the attack was advanced on April 3, Palm Sunday.
It was a bloody battle. The Cebuanos had only bolos, spears, and arrows and a few guns grabbed from fallen enemies. There were many deaths from both sides. The Filipinos achieved victory when the Spanish survivors ran away and hid inside the fortified Fort San Pedro. For a number of days, the fort was surrounded by the Filipino warriors. But a shipload of reinforcements arrived from Manila and the Cebuanos withdrew to the mountains. On April 8, Leon Kilat was killed by a traitor while asleep in Carcar. But the forces of Arcadio Maxilom won many victories in Toledo and Balamban.
Tres de Abril will never be forgotten in the history of our province and city. It was a saga that we remember today with utmost pride, valor, and a sense of nationalism that propelled us to victory even for a brief span of time. We reminisce the bravery of our forefathers in Cebu, even as Bulacan remembers its Barasoain Constitutional Convention, Caloocan recalls its Cry of Pugad Lawin, and the Ilocanos pride themselves of the exploits of Diego and Gabriela Silang and the heroism of the teenage general Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass.
We Cebuanos should always remember that we are strongest when we are united and we are weakest when we allow ourselves to be betrayed by many traitors in our midst. We should always remember that the world is a contentious arena and life is a daily battle that we have to fight and win, even as we face insurmountable odds and formidable enemies. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.