“THE PARTY is in control of all information and revises history, even yesterday’s history, to reflect their current version of events. Winston is very much aware of this because it is his job in the paradoxically named Ministry of Truth to change the records of history. He cannot ignore what he remembers: Oceania was at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia yesterday, and not vice versa. If anyone else remembers differently, they certainly will not say so.” — (Encyclopedia Encarta review of George Orwell’s classic novel ‘1984’)
Think… Think… Think…
The Official Narrative
“June 12, 1898: General Emilio Aguinaldo formally proclaimed the country’s independence from over three centuries of Spanish rule in Kawit, Cavite. The Philippine flag was officially unfurled and the national anthem was played for the first time. However, this declaration was not recognized by Spain or the U.S. at the time, and the Philippines was subsequently transferred to the U.S. following the Spanish-American War.”
What?
Think… Think… Think…
Like it or not, Aguinaldo went up to his balcony in Kawit, Cavite, and declared “Independence” to a crowd of well-wishers.
What’s to stop a Philippine President (or any other high official) from climbing to his balcony and declare say June 13, 1898 as Independence Day to a crowd of well-wishers (maybe even a hakot crowd)?
So again, what happened on June 12, 1898?
Aguinaldo went up to his balcony in Kawit, Cavite, and declared “Independence”.
That’s it. The Philippines is probably the only large polity in the world that has what is essentially an ad hoc “Independence Day”.
Did a major surrender or recognition happen?
None.
Was a treaty or document of surrender of a colonial foe signed?
None.
Did we win any war?
None.
Did we win any major battle?
None.
Come to think of it. Did the revolutionaries on Luzon win any major battle?
Think… Think… Think… Well, you could think forever, and the answer would still be NO, unless say another official went up his balcony and declared we won such and such a battle, and it was ingrained in a fake narrative in our DepEd history books.
Were independent governments formed?
None.
Depressing… at least to me, and maybe other mavericks that can think out of the box, and out of the narrative being officially taught in all our schools and mass media.
Now think some more. Think… Think… Think…
What about other revolutionaries in other parts of the Philippine Islands?
What about events In the Visayas?
From “History of Panay”:
In the latter part of 1896, Visayan revolutionists led by Francisco del Castillo, Candido Iban, Gabriel Alba, and Ruperto Arce secretly started to organize a mass uprising against the Spaniards in the province of Capiz (which at that time consisted present-day Aklan and Capiz provinces).
On March 17, 1897, General del Castillo with about a hundred armed men entered Kalibo poblacion in order to ask for an audience with Municipal Captain Juan Ascarraga. The Spanish opened fire at them. The first battle to liberate the Visayas from Spain had begun.
General del Castillo bravely led the way riding a white horse in front of his troops, and was shot dead by a sniper.
Colonel Candido Iban, his second in command, was captured on his way to Kalibo.
On March 19, 1897, Colonel Ricardo Monet, commanding officer of the Spanish in the Visayas, arrived in Kalibo to reinforce the Spanish garrison. He proclaimed an amnesty to all armed revolutionaries.
Fifty men gave themselves up in good faith. Instead, Colonel Monet had 19 of them shot on March 22, 1897, and then had their bodies paraded in Kalibo plaza as an example to what would happen to rebels.
The 19 Visayan martyred patriots were Colonel Candido Iban, Benito Iban, Angel Fernandez, Canuto Segovia, Catalino Mangat, Claro Delgado, Domingo de la Cruz, Francisco Villarente, Gabino Sucgang, Gabino Yonsal, Isidro Jimenez, Lamberto Mangat, Maximo Mationg, Roman Aguirre, Simon Inocencio, Simplicio Reyes, Tomas Briones, Valeriano Dalida, and Valeriano Masinas.
Other patriots in Capiz continued organizing for the cause of independence. On May 4, 1898, General Esteban Contreras, Colonel Pascual Barza, Captain Alejandro Balgos, Captain Ramon Contreras and their troops attacked and drove out the Spanish forces in Pan-ay Capiz. The Spanish, however, counter attacked and after a battle lasting 4 days defeated the revolutionaries who retreated to the swamps of Pilar.
Pan-ay town was then burned down by the vengeful Spanish and 12 of its citizens were executed.
Fast forward…
The liberation of Capiz and Aklan
In December 1898, the Spanish finally evacuated Capiz province (which included Aklan back then) after they lost a fierce battle with a battalion of troops under the leadership of General Esteban Contreras and Colonel Pascual Barza, and under the field command of Colonel Juan Arce in Pilar town.
Fast forward:
The liberation of Antique
General Fullon finally attacked San Jose on November 23, 1898. The Visayan patriots proved victorious and next morning formally occupied San Jose, the capital of Antique.
Fast forward:
The liberation of Iloilo, and the entire Panay
After a series of battles (wherein General Roque Lopez and Colonel Quintin Salas figured prominently), by December 15, 1898, a Visayan military regiment (under the field command of Lt. Agustin Solis) had cleared Jaro of Spanish forces. General Delgado then transferred his headquarters to Jaro, Iloilo.
On December 23, 1898 Diego de los Rios, the last Spanish Governor General of the Philippine Islands formally surrendered to the Federal Republic of the Visayas (supposed to represent the Visayas-Mindanao area), symbolically relinquishing his sword to the Visayan forces and General Martin Delgado.
On December 25, the Visayans of the Federal Republic held a triumphal march to Plaza Libertad and proclaimed Independence.
From ‘History of Negros’
The liberation of the entire Negros, both Occidental and Oriental…
Earlier, on November 5, 1898, the victorious Negros Visayans, after a series of military victories in both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces, proclaimed Independence in Bago Plaza.
Next day, on November 6, 1898, Don Diego de los Rios, the last Governor-General of Spain in the Philippines formally signed a document of surrender to the Independent Federal Cantonal Republic of Negros revolutionary leaders (General Aniceto Lacson – President, and General Juan Araneta – Secretary of War) in Bacolod.
Negrosanons honor this event as ‘Sinco de Noviembre’.
Did a major surrender or recognition happen?
Yes. Two, one in Panay and one in Negros.
Was a treaty or document of surrender of a colonial foe signed?
Yes. Signed by Diego de los Rios, the last Governor-General of Spain in the Philippines
Did we win any war?
Yes. Two, one in Negros and one in Panay.
Did we win any major battle?
A lot, in the Visayas.
Were independent governments formed?
Yes. Note that they were FEDERAL governments. Federalism isn’t new to us.
Seems we aren’t being taught or even just informed about things that can’t be shoehorned into official narratives.
Think… Think… Think…
(Send comments and suggestions to mabuhibisaya2017@gmail.com)/PN
