"British Invasion of 1762"

September 23, 1762 - Admiral William Draper, together with Vice-Admiral Samuel Cornish arrived in Manila Bay from Madras (now Chennai), India. With them were expeditionary force of some 2,000 European and Indian (Sepoy) regulars, volunteers and mercenaries in the service of the British East India Company, to attack Manila which at that time was a Spanish colony. The Seven Years' War (1756-63) was a world-wide conflict between Britain and France that also involved Spain as an ally of France. The British troops encamped south of Intramuros, Spanish offered little opposition and on October 2, 1762, the acting governor-general, Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo surrendered the city. News that Manila an important province of Spain, had been lost did not reach Spain until after the cessation of hostilities between the two powers.

During their time in the Philippines, the British found themselves confined to Manila and Cavite in a deteriorating situation, unable to extend British control over the islands and unable to make good their promised support for an uprising led first by Diego Silang which the British gave the title "Sargento Mayor, Alcalde-Mayor y Capitan a Guerra por S.M. Britanica" and later by his wife Gabriela, which was crushed by Spanish forces.

The British occupation lasted until 1764, when the Philippines reverted to Spanish control as part of the peace settlement. However, over the subsequent decades and centuries, Britons built increasing economic links with the Philippines and were instrumental in developing foreign trade between the Philippines and the rest of the world.

The Indian Sepoys backstabbed their abusive British officers and sided with the combined forces of the Spanish Conquistadors assigned by the Governor-General Simon de Anda y Salazar, local rice farmers, fisher folk and Sangley (Chinese) traders. The term "sepoy" or "sipahi" is derived from the Persian word "sipah" meaning "infantry soldier" in the Mughal Empire. In its most common application Sepoy was the term used in the British Indian Army and earlier in that of the British East India Company, for an infantry private (a cavalry trooper was a sowar). After the British Invasion, the Sepoys were allowed by the Spanish Cortes to remained and intermarried with Filipina women, one enduring legacy of 1762-1764 is to be found in the City of Cainta’s Sepoy community, descendants of Indian Sepoys soldiers that explains the Hindu features of some of today's citizens and neighboring cities of Pasig and Taytay.
- ka tony
- the 22nd of September, '13 

Palmero Conspiracy and the Founding of the Katipunan Government

 

"Magallanes," also known as "Rey Fernando" was the last galleon sailed from Cavite to Acapulco from 1810 to 1821, Mexicans were involved in a war of independence against their Spanish colonial masters. During this time of conflicts in Mexico, the Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade came to an end. When Mexico declared its independence and since we were a vice-royalty of our viceroy Mexico, we too should have been considered liberated from the Spanish rule. Unfortunately the Spanish Catholic clergy, the interim Governor-General Mariano Fernandez Folguerras and Spain's loyalists in the Philippines opted to follow Mexico, the Philippines would have been a sovereign state in 1821.

In 1823, an order from Spain, declared that military officers commissioned in the Peninsula (Spain) should have precedence of all those appointed in the Colonies. This reaction of Madrid government was to prevent the series of wars against Spanish rule that was known as the Spanish American wars of independence. The fact that Creoles started the revolution in the Americas taught Madrid a lesson that the Filipino/Creoles too could be a danger and therefore should not be trusted; they should not continue to control the military. Many Creole (also called "Insulares" or "Filipinos" Spanish born in the Philippines) military officers were outranked by their Peninsular (Spaniards from Spain) counterparts. In short, the Filipino/Creole was inferior to the Peninsular or Spanish-born.

Creole military officer Andres Novales was unhappy with the treatment of Spanish Cortes on Creoles like him. His resentment grew when Peninsulares were shipped to the Philippines to replace Creole officers. He found sympathy of many Creoles, including Luis Rodriguez Varela - the "Conde Filipino," the Pelaez, the De Taveras, Burgos, Zobels and the Regidors. As punishment to the rising sense of discontentment, many military officers and public officials were exiled and one of them was Andres Novales, who was exiled to Mindanao to fight pirates. This did not stop Novales, he secretly return to Manila and on the night of June 1, 1823, Novales along with a lieutenant and other subordinates in the King's Regiment, with 800 Filipino/Creoles in which his sergeants recruited, went out to start a revolt, known as the "Palmero Conspiracy." They seized the royal palace, the Manila Cathedral, the city hall and other important government buildings in Manila (Intramuros). They killed the lieutenant-governor and former Governor-General Mariano Fernandez de Folgueras (who suggested Madrid government to replace creole officers with peninsulars). The soldiers shouted.. "Viva la Independencia!" and "Viva El Emperador Novales!"

The Manilenos followed Novales and his troops as they march on the streets of Manila (Intramuros). At dawn they continued to march to Fort Santiago, but eventually failed to seize the fort because Antonio Novales, his brother who commanded the fortress, refused to open its gates. When Governor-General Juan Antonio Martinez learned that Fort Santiago was still holding out the rebels, his soldiers were rushed to the fort. Novales himself was caught hiding under Puerta Real by Spanish soldiers. At 5:00 pm of June 2, Novales was killed with his subordinate lieutenant and 21 sergeants by firing squad in a garden near Puerta del Postigo. Andres Novales at his last minute, declared that he and his comrades shall set an example of fighting for freedom. Antonio Novales was supposed to be executed with the rebels, since he was the brother of Andres, however, the people pleaded for his life for he saved the government from being overthrown. Antonio went crazy after the ordeal, but received a monthly pension of 14 pesos from the Spanish Cortes.

Antonio and Andres Novales were also known as "Palmero brothers," members of a prominent clan in the Philippines, along with other people from both the military and the civil service, planned to seize the government. Such was the prominence of the Palmeros, one of whose most famous descendants was Marcelo Azcarraga Palmero (Prime Minister of Spain in the 1890s which calle Azcarraga (now Recto) was named after him), that when the Spanish government discovered the plan, they thought it would be proper not to announce it to the public. The plot itself would embarrass the government since the conspirators were Spaniards and it would seem that Spaniards themselves would want to overthrow the power of Spain in the country. The failed "Palmero Conspiracy" inspired the ranks of the ilustrados, specially Jose Rizal.

On the night of July 3, 1892, at a house in Tondo, Jose Rizal found and inaugurated "La Liga Filipina" but only after three days in existence, he was caught, convicted and deported in Dapitan. On July 7, 1892, upon learning that Rizal was deported, a secret council was called in at # 72 corner of Azcarraga Street and Elcano, San Nicolas/Binondo. In attendance were Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano, Valentin Diaz, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, Jose Dizon and few members of La Liga Filipina. The Liga membership split into two groups: the conservatives formed the "Cuerpo de Compromisarios" which pledged to continue supporting the reformist propaganda group "La Solidaridad." The radicals led by Bonifacio devoted themselves to a new and secret society, the Kataastaasang Kagalang-Kagalang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan was born. The objectives of the Katipunan, as a socialist brotherhood was popularly known, were:

1) To advocate complete independence from Spain, to be achieved through armed struggle.
2) To take back lands, gold, personal savings, personal properties "confiscated" by the church and Spanish Cortes from the poor masses. They also saw it as their personal responsibility to help the poor, the oppressed and to teach them good manners, hygiene and morality.
3) To dismiss the elite society and social classes, instead create an equal social status.

Andres Bonifacio, one of the more prominent founders of the Katipunan was not its first Supremo or the President of the Supreme Council. On July 15, 1892, the members of the Supreme Council were Deodato Arellano (Supremo), Andres Bonifacio (Comptroller), Ladislao Diwa (Fiscal), Teodoro Plata (Secretary) and Valentin Diaz (Treasurer). The legislative body of the Katipunan was known as the Katipunan Assembly and it was composed of the members of the Supreme Council, along with the presidents of the popular and provincial councils. Judicial power rested in the "Sangguniang Hukuman," which were provincial courts that decided on internal matters; however, judgement on grave matters (such as betraying the Katipunan or committing acts penalized by the organization’s laws) were meted by the "Secret Chamber," composed of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and Dr. Pio Valenzuela.

Members of the Katipunan were unsatisfied with Arellano's performance as Supremo, Bonifacio and the Sangguniang Hukuman later had him deposed and elected Roman Basa as Supremo on February 1, 1893. The Supreme Council was then composed of Basa, Jose Turiano Santiago (Secretary), Andres Bonifacio (Fiscal) and Vicente Molina (Treasurer).

Bonifacio would only become the Supremo on January 5, 1894, with Santiago (Secretary), Emilio Jacinto (Fiscal) and Vicente Molina (Treasurer). Further reorganization in 1896 led to Jacinto becoming Secretary and Pio Valenzuela as Fiscal. The Supreme Council in August 1896, preceding the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, was led by Bonifacio as the Supremo with Jacinto as Secretary of State, Teodoro Plata as Secretary of War, Briccio Pantas as Secretary of Justice, Aguedo del Rosario as Secretary of Interior, and Enrique Pacheco as Secretary of Finance. Before the outbreak of the revolution, therefore, Bonifacio organized the Katipunan into a government revolving around a "cabinet" composed of his trusted men.

A meeting was held on August 24 and was decided to notify the Katipunan councils of the surrounding towns that a general attack on the capital Manila was planned for August 29. Bonifacio appointed generals to lead rebel forces to Manila. Before hostilities erupted, Bonifacio also reorganized the Katipunan into an open Revolutionary Government, him as President and the Supreme Council of the Katipunan as his cabinet. The Supremo formed the "Kataastaasang Kapulungan" (Supreme Council), declaring an armed revolution against Spain. It was in the same meeting that they established the Katipunan as a national government and held an election of officials to lead the army and the nation. The intention of Supremo Bonifacio was to have the Katipunan govern the whole Philippines after the overthrow of Spanish rule.

Official letters and one appointment paper of Bonifacio addressed to Emilio Jacinto reveal Bonifacio's various titles and designations, as follows:

# President of the Supreme Council
# Supreme President
# President of **"Haring Bayang Katagalugan" (Sovereign Nation of Katagalugan or Sovereign Tagalog Nation)
# President of the Sovereign Nation, Founder of the Katipunan, Initiator of the Revolution
# Office of the Supreme President, Government of the Revolution

a)**"Haring Bayang Katagalugan" (Sovereign Nation of Katagalugan or Sovereign Tagalog Nation), Katipunan secret society extended the meaning of these terms to all natives in the Philippine islands.
b)**"Sa salitang Tagalog katutura’y ang lahat nang tumubo sa Sangkapuluang ito; sa makatuid, Bisaya man, Iloko man, Kapangpangan man, atbp..., ay Tagalog din." (The word tagalog means all those born in this archipelago; therefore, though Visayan, Ilocano, Pampango, etc. they are all Tagalogs.)
c)**Bonifacio defined "Tagalog" as the term for all Filipinos and not only those who spoke the language. In referring to the nation as Katagalugan, Bonifacio went against the colonial "Filipinas." Philippine society; peninsulares, insulares, indio/tagalog, sangley) The term Tagalog refers to both an ethno-linguistic group in the Philippines and their language. Katagalugan may refer to the historical Tagalog regions in the island of Luzon, part of the Philippine islands.

An 1897 power struggle and the snap election in Cavite led to command of the revolution shifting to Emilio Aguinaldo at the Tejeros Convention, where a new ilustrado government was formed after Andres Bonifacio - the First President of our country was executed. The Aguinaldo-headed "Republica Filipina" (Philippine Republic), considered by the Americans and sajonistas as the "First Philippine Republic," was formally established in 1899, after a succession of revolutionary and dictatorial governments (the Tejeros government, the surrender and selling of the revolution at Biak-na-Bato Republic) also headed by Aquinaldo.
- ka tony
- the 20th of November '13

Pulajanes flag and Pilipino Popes

The Pulajanes ("those wearing red") of Papa Faustino Ablen of Leyte was part of a revolutionary spiritual movement known as Dios-Dios. Papa Faustino a mystical holy men, proclaimed healer and messiah by his followers. They numbered around 10,000 to 15,000 irregular members whose objective is for Pilipino unity and to fight colonialism, They practice native mythology, folk catholicism, believer of the power of "anting-anting" spiritual amulets, medallions, sacred babaylan (pre-colonial exorcism) and their mystical white flag, that Papa Faustino provided. They are masters of indigenous martial arts called Derobio Eskrima, their weapon of choice was a heavy, crescent-shaped bolo knife which could decapitate a man with a single blow. The Pulajanes main battle tactic was simply to advance upon the enemy, fire a volley, then set aside their guns, attack the enemy and fight in hand-to-hand combat. With their battle cries of "Tad-Tad" ("chop to pieces") brought tremendous terror to the gringos & their Pilipino constabulary.

With the request from General Vicente Lukban, Pulajanes were responsible for plotting the surprise attack against the Americans at Balangiga, that lead to the retaliation of the enemy of the infamous "Balangiga Massacre." This also made Papa Faustino the most wanted "bandolero" to the Americans and their Pilipino constabulary. Aside from Papa Faustino Ablen in Leyte, there was a "Papa Pablo" in Samar, "Papa Fernandez" in Laguna and "Papa King" from Pampanga! The "second wave" of the Philippine Revolution, gave birth to many religious cult revolutionary groups and popes.

# "Papa Isio" (Dionisio Magbuelas), leader of the Babaylanes in Negros and was involved in the revolution of 1896, their battle cry was "Kamatayon sa Kastila!" (Death to the Spaniards). He continue fighting in the Pilipino/American War and surrendered to the enemy much later than the surrender of Miguel Malvar. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, later died in Bilibid in 1911.

# "Apo Ipe" (Felipe Salvador) based in Arayat and was considered a "pope" by his followers. The long hair Apo Ipe was the head of the Santa Iglesia (Holy Church), was a colonel in Aguinaldo's army, did not surrender to the Americans, kept the revolution going, preached socialism and practiced polygamy. He was hanged by the Americans in 1912, two years after his capture.

# "Papa Rios" (Ruperto Rios) in Tayabas, who established the "New Jerusalem" on Mount San Cristobal. Later self-imposed titles like; "Viceroy of the Philippine Archipelago," "Deliverer of the Philippines" and towards the end he gave himself the highest title possible "Son of God." Rios had a magic box marked "Independencia" believed that when he opened this box will release a smoke like genie and will free everyone from jail, hard labor, heavy government taxes, colonialism and from the cruelty of the Philippine Constabulary.

These cults and cultist behavior were referred to as "KOLORUM" (biblical Greek for "from century to century"), usually said by the priest during the mass as "in saecula saeculorum." Witnessing all these sacrilegious beliefs and mambo-jumbo practices by the colonialist Spanish, Americans, their running dogs; Ilustrados and Sajonistas who looked down on these "pobres y ignorantes" (poor and ignorant), the "Katagalugan" refused to be associated with these Kolorums, which the colonialists and elite Pilipino labeled them as "tulisanes" and "bandoleros."

As the struggle continued, on March 24, 1906, Governor George Curry received the surrender of the remaining Pulajanes in Magtaon, Island of Samar. Around 100 Pulajanes presented themselves with fourteen guns, immediately during the surrender was the Pulajanes leader "signal," the Pulajanes opened fire and immediately made an attack. Judge Lominger and a district school inspector, were among Governor Curry's party, escaped to one direction while Governor Curry made a escape by the river, avoiding in the scene. Sixteen constabulary were killed, many were wounded and missing, the Pulajanes lost thirty of their men. Governor George Curry was missing for two days, later found in a road camp and reported the following...

"We had a surprised attack which Captain Jones of the constabulary lost half of his men, but gained victory in the face of overwhelming odds. The Pulajanes, under a "flag of truce" and while promising to surrender immediately opened fire, attacked the constabulary."

According to Governor George Curry and some U.S. officers, the Pulajanes waved a white flag to surrender. As a general rule, waving a "white flag" means to surrender or a truce to talk and stop the shooting. The Pulajanes waved their anting-anting "white flag" to protect and shield them from enemy's bullets. When the Americans stopped firing after seeing the white flag, the Pulajanes honestly believed that their anting-anting white flag was doing its purpose, protecting them and warding off enemies bullets, viciously attacked... "TAD-TAD!!!" with their razor-sharp crescent-shaped bolo knife.

Pulajanes white flag have some babaylan inscriptions or symbols on it, while according to some sources, their flag was all white with a red cross in the middle.
- ka tony
the 22nd of October, '13

Balangiga Massacre and the Bells of Balangiga Church

 

...greedy Roman emperors and senators wanted to expand their empire and because of this, Rome was always involved with endless wars and also have to police their colonies. Roman centurions in order to implement Rome's objective, committed atrocities and war crimes. Same thing what the U.S. is doing for centuries, imposing "God and Democracy" to "liberate" other countries from the faith they believed in for many years, life style that they are used to, food and culture that have been past on from generations, in order to introduce them to the capitalist commercialism of fast food like; McDonald's and Coca-Cola and Hollywood life style American dream.

U.S. armed forces have committed crimes in various wars; Wounded Knee, Balangiga Massacre estimated the figure more than 2,500 Filipinos killed, air raids on civilian population (Manila, Germany, Japan, Korea and Vietnam), Canicatti massacre killing of Italian civilians, No Gun Ri Massacre mass killing of South Korean refugees, My Lai Massacre murder of 504 helpless, unarmed Vietnamese, Agent Orange during the Vietnam War which was a violation of laws in the use of chemical weapons, Abu Ghraib Prison's violation of human rights, all these crimes goes on as the U.S. continue to use "God and Democracy" as an excuse to expand their empire.

General Vicente Lukban had an alliance with the leaders of "Dios-Dios" a religious sect, "second wave revolutionaries" remnants of the old Katipunan. The cult group as the Americans in Balangiga said were "dressed in red" had been founded by a self-styled messiah. Papa Faustino Ablen of the "Pulajanes" ("those wearing red") was part of a spiritual movement known as Dios Dios, a spiritual sect of holy men, proclaimed healers and deliverers of their people. Preaching throughout the land of Filipino unity and the evil of the occupying forces, "Anting Antings" were magical, spiritual amulets, medallions and writings that Papa Ablen provided his people before battle and for healing. Papa Faustino was not only known as a healer but also as a fierce warrior. His army of Pulajan warriors indigenous fighting techniques such as eskrima were also utilized in the elite and ferocious combat style. They practiced a form indigenous martial arts called "Derobio Eskrima" and they specialize using a heavy, razor sharp crescent-shaped bolos with which they could decapitate a man with a single blow and their warrior spirit. The fiercest of warriors of the time matched only by the Moro's of Mindanao, the Pulajanes brought fear to the soldiers with the battle cries of "Tad-Tad" which means "Chop to pieces" as they rushed the regiment lines fearless of the guns knowing of only one thing, drawing blood.

General Lukban employed the Pulajanes as spies and encouraged their cruelties against pro-American real or imagined traitors. In August 11, 1901 Company C, 9th U.S. Infantry (called "Manchus") Regiment, 74 American officers and men arrived in Balangiga, south of Samar heavily armed with Krag-Jorgensens and the most powerful hand gun during that time, the Colt 45 the only handgun capable in stopping a fanatic attacking "Moro Juramentado." The company established a garrison at the request of Mayor Pedro Abayan of Balangiga, whose plea for protection against "pirates" unaware that Mayor Abayan had earlier advised Gen. Lukban of his deceptive plan to lure the U.S. troops to the town and an opportunity launch an attack against them. The mastermind of attack was Valeriano Abanador, a Colegio de San Juan Letran dropout and the local chief of police; he was assisted by five locals and two guerrilla officers under the command of Gen. Lukban.

Captain Thomas Connell, a devout catholic believed that the Filipinos esteemed him because of their common faith. But they actually regarded him with a mixture of indifference and contempt. They could not fathom his disdain for cockfighting, nor did they appreciate his prudish attempt to make their girls exchange their seductive sarongs for more seemly dress. Mayor Abayan however pretended submission, he obeyed Capt. Connell's orders like to clean up garbage, excrement and dead animals that littered the town. Mayor Abayan offered to bring laborers in nearby countryside to do the job and of course they were guerrillas in disguise.

26th of September, Americans learned about the news of Pres. McKinley's assassination and Capt. Connell ordered a mass to be held at the church on Sunday. As the bells of the Balangiga church rang (as a signal to the guerrillas), hundreds of native women, were actually men dressed in women's clothes attended the mass bearing coffins which they claimed contained the bodies of children who died of cholera epidemic, which actually filled with bolos and the priest was in league with Gen. Lukban. About 500 men in seven attack units would take part, represented virtually all families of Balangiga and nearby villages then included the present towns of Lawaan, Giporlos & Quinapundan towns served by the priest in Balangiga. Only 3 American sentries were on duty that Sunday, unaware most of them were preparing for breakfast when the Filipinos attacked and hacked them with their sharp bolos. The only weapons Americans were able to used were baseball bats and rocks, 3 US officers killed and soldiers as well. Sergent Frank Betron took command, while some wounded were able to escape by sea, finally reached safely at Leyte asked for help at U.S. garrison at Basey. When the fresh U.S. detachments arrived in Balangiga, the attacked was over and saw most of their comrade's dead bodies mutilated. Of the original 74 man contingent, 48 died and 26 survived, 22 of them severely wounded. The guerrillas also took 100 rifles with 25,000 rounds of ammunition; 28 Filipinos died and 22 were wounded.

After the Balangiga massacre, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jacob H. Smith (was dubbed "Hell Roaring Jake" Smith, "The Monster" and "Howling Jake") asked for Marine Corps help to overpower the resistance on the island of Samar. Major Littleton "Tony" Waller and his Marine Battalion were sent. Before this happened, Jacob Smith instructed Major Tony Waller... "I want no prisoners. I wish you to kill and burn, the more you kill and burn the better it will please me. I want all persons killed who are capable of bearing arms in actual hostilities against the United States" Since it was a popular belief among the Americans serving in the Philippines that native males were born with bolos in their hands, Major Tony Waller asked... "I would like to know the limit of age to respect, sir." Smith said... "Ten years." Major Tony Waller questioned... "Persons of ten years and older are those designated as being capable of bearing arms?" and "Yes." Smith confirmed his instructions. Smith tasked his men to reduce Samar into a "howling wilderness," to kill anyone 10 years old and above capable of bearing arms. Waller largely ignored these illegal orders. Waller and his battalion of 315 Marines departed Cavite on 22 of October 1901 and landed at Catbalogan, Samar, on 24 October.

Continues widespread massacre of Filipino civilians followed. Food and trade to Samar were cut off, intended to starve the revolutionaries into submission. Native houses burned, livestock killed, even carabaos, rice fields and fruit trees were set on fire and poisoned the soil. Search and destroy, strategic hamlet program, body count, guerrilla sympathizers terrorized & tortured, all these counter guerrilla strategies were implemented in Samar even before the Vietnam War. The exact number of civilians massacred by U.S. troops will never be known, but exhaustive research made by a sympathetic British writer in the 1990s put the figure at about 2,500; Filipino historians believe it was around 50,000. After a long march, growing more desperate for food, Marine Lt. A.S. Williams accused the porters of mutinous behavior, hiding food and supplies and keeping themselves nourished from the jungle while the Marines starved. Waller ordered the execution of the porters. Ten were shot in groups of three, while one was gunned down in the water attempting to escape. The bodies were left in the square of Lanang (now Llorente) as an example, until one evening, under cover of darkness, some townspeople carried them off for a Christian burial. General Adna Chaffee decided to investigate these executions, Waller was tried for murder in ordering the execution of the eleven Filipino porters. A court martial began on March 17, 1902 in Manila. The court-martial board consisted of 7 Army officers and 6 Marine Corps officers, led by U.S. Army General William H. Bisbee. Waller confessed to having approved the execution of the Filipinos, but based his defense on the Civil War order that decreed stiff penalties to civilian suspects.

Outcry in America over the brutal nature of the Samar campaign cost Waller his chance as Commandant of the US Marine Corps. Liberal newspapers took to addressing him as "The Butcher Of Samar." Waller was born in York County, Virginia on Sept. 26, 1856. He was appointed as a second lieutenant of Marines on June 24, 1880. He rose to Major General, retired in June 1920 and died on July 13, 1926. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1942, the destroyer USS Waller was named in his honor, while Jacob Smith commanded the Sixth Separate Brigade, was court martial and found him guilty for which he was admonished and retired from the service. He denied his guilt, blamed Tony Waller for Filipino massacre. Gen. Jacob Smith died in San Diego, California on March 1, 1918.

U.S. retaliation as always is the cause of atrocities, massacre of civilians and war crimes. The three Balangiga church bells, used to signal guerrillas to attack U.S. soldiers were taken by the United States Army from the town church of Balangiga, Eastern Samar as war trophies. Deteriorating and exposed to natural elements, one church bell is with the 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Red Cloud, their base in South Korea. The other two bells are at the former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The people of Balangiga are still fighting to this day, but this time to get these three church bells back where they belong, their church of Balangiga.

...inscription was visible on the back of both bells, reading:
"USED BY PHILIPPINOS TO SOUND SIGNAL FOR MASSACRE OF COMPANY "C" NINTH INFANTRY AT BALANGIGA P.l. 28TH SEPTEMBER 1901"

- ka tony
- the 26th of September, '10

"Kapitan Tiago de los Santos" Rizal's character in "Noli me Tangere"

...Jose Rizal's "Noli me Tangere" character Kapitan Tiago, was a typical figure during the time of Rizal. He is a rich native-born Pilipino who rubbed elbows with the powers that be during that time. He symbolizes the rich Pilipinos who oppress their fellow Pilipinos in exchange for the influence and the riches that they might gain from their powerful associations.

"Kapitan Tiago" actually is a fusion of two persons during Rizal's time. The first half was Hilario Sunico - renowned 19th century bell-caster, metal smith and became the Gobernadorcillo of China Town (Binondo), while the other half was Balbino Mauricio, one of the three Pilipinos (Jose Maria Basa and Manuel Yriarte were the other two) who welcomed him in Hong Kong.

# HILARIO CHANUANGCO SUNICO y SANTOS, was born in 1865 to the Chinese "Chan Uan Co" and his Spanish mestiza wife Trinidad Santos of Gagalangin, Tondo. He was only fourteen years old when he started working in a foundry owned by a Chan Uan Co, the Chinese father of Hilario Sunico, that he eventually took over and at the age of fifteen he married Sergia Litonjua y Pablo, their children were: Dionisia, Tomas, Sebastian and Rosalia. Hilario Sunico the renowned 19th century bell-caster and metal smith, whose formula up to this modern age failed to capture the right mixture of bronze, copper, ore and mineral of iron called stannite, to produce a great sounding bell, in his foundry on # 20 calle Jaboneros, San Nicolas, Manila. He began by casting little bells and metal accessories for the horse-drawn carriages or calesas and the small but growing income helped support his family. Aside from bell casting, Hilario is also responsible for the grill workers of old Spanish churches and some civil works including the Puente Colgante (Ayala Bridge, Quiapo), the first suspension bridge built in Southeast Asia and the Tutuban Railway Station.

By 1890, the couple had a beautiful residence "bahay na bato" at # 3 corner of calle Lara and calle Madrid, a block away from calle Jaboneros, where the foundries of Sunico and other metalworkers stood. By 1872 he had cast the first recorded bell that bears his own foundry's name "FUNDICION DE HILARIO SUNICO." In 1878 he was commissioned to cast the largest bell and recast two other bells in the church tower of Binondo the country's richest enclave, the original/first and biggest China Town in the world. From then on his name was to be inscribed on in numerable church bells all over the country, for a period that stretched to some sixty-five years (1872 to 1937). Hilario's brothers joined the business towards the end of the nineteenth century, as indicated by the marking, "Fundicion de H. Sunico y Hermanos." In 1889, they crafted the elegant wrought-iron fence of the new Jesuit church, which had also commissioned to them for "sonoras y elegantes campanas." They manufactured electric chandeliers designed by Isabelo Tampinco, replacing old oiled chandeliers in San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, the Tutuban Train Station a number of cast and worked metal work, cast a statue of Rizal that was erected in Iloilo and a bust of Marcelo del Pilar in Malolos, Bulacan.

The successful Hilario Sunico became the Gobernadorcillo (Cabeza de Barangay or Capitan del Barrio) of China Town (Binondo). No record on what date and year Hilario Sunico passed away, but was still alive according to a tribute article about him printed in 1907. He passed on the company and all its secret formula of mixing and casting metal to his son Tomas, as manager of the "Herederos de Hilario Sunico." The dawn of the twentieth century and the onset of the American regime saw a slow but steady decline in commissions for church bells. In the 1920s, Sebastian Sunico, son of Hilario, complained... "The demand for bells has almost disappeared."

# BALVINO MAURICIO was with Jose Maria Basa and Manuel Yriarte, who welcomed Jose Rizal when he left the country passing Hong Kong. On March 14, 1872 Balvino Mauricio and other Pilipino patriots sailed on board the "Flores de Maria" bound for the Marianas islands to serve their prison terms for complicity in the Cavite Uprising.

There is an extant "Letras y Figuras" painting of Balvino Mauricio by Jose Honorato Lozano, which depicts his calle Anloague mansion. His house was supposed to have been the model for Kapitan Tiago's residence in Jose Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere. Lozano's painting "Balvino Mauricio" shows the interior of the owner's mansion on calle Anloague (now Juan Luna) in Binondo, a huge house with an inner court and a tower, described in Noli me Tangere as the house of Kapitan Tiago and Maria Clara. The sala, the long and narrow caida and the comedor (with a dining table set for maybe two dozen) are all shown in detail, with their floor planks of alternating light and dark wood, mirrors, chandeliers, and heavy crimson curtains.

Balbino Mauricio y de Jesus was an ancestor of the Roces family.
Alejandro Rozes y Gonzalez (of Gijon, Asturias, Spain) married Florentina de Leon. After Florentina passed away, he married Severa Mauricio y de Jesus (sister of Balbino Mauricio y de Jesus), of Binondo, Manila.

Alejandro Roman Domingo Roces y Mauricio married Maria Filomena Gonzalez and they had 11 eleven children; Filomena (married Benito Legarda), Alejandro (married Antonia Pardo), Rafael (married Inocencia Reyes y Baptista) Marcos; et. al.. Filomena Roces y Gonzalez married Benito Legarda and they had several children: Alejandro Roces y Gonzalez married Antonia Pardo and they had seven children; Rafael; Antonia (married _ Prieto), Ramon, Mercedes, Filomena (married _ Verzosa), Isabel, and Joaquin.

According to Rizal's Noli me Tangere, Crisostomo Ibarra was staying in a hotel "Fonda Francesca de Lala Ary," which used to be on # 37 calle de la Barraca ("Barracks" the street where China Town's Gobernadorcillo Carlos Palanca "Tan Quien-sien" the Sangley character in Rizal's El Filibusterismo "Quirioga," built housing barracks for the Chinese working for the Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade), in San Nicolas. On its site now stands Allied Bank, Crisostomo Ibarra had a room overlooking the estero (Muelle de Binondo) and from his window he could hear the sound of Kapitan Tiago's party. Claimed from this room with a view, one could see Kapitan Tiago's house. The building across Allied Bank in Plaza del Conde (formerly Barraca) is the State Investment Building. Kapitan Tiago, a fictional character, the real owner of the house # 175 Juan Luna Street was Balvino Mauricio who later sold it to Don Telesforo Chuidan.

My father and I also recorded the house of "Kapitan Tiago," the setting of Rizal’s Noli me Tangere. It might have existed or might only be a place in Rizal's imagination. I'm not trying to disclaim "the house on Anloague Street" # 175 Juan Luna St. (former calle Anloague) of Balvino Mauricio. But by crossing Muelle de Binondo from Plaza Calderon de la Barca one have to take San Fernando Bridge that connects Binondo & San Nicolas. By crossing the bridge from Binondo, one will find himself in the district of San Nicolas. After the bridge one will cross the first street, the tail of calle Tabora, next street (turning left, south) will be calle Sto. Cristo perpendicular to calle Barraca which the dead end is the Pasig River.

According to previous research revealed that the warehouse # 2 on "calle Barraca" was the site of the hotel "Fonda Francesca de Lala Ary" because according to Rizal's description on the 5th chapter of Noli... "Ibarra returns to his hotel room and looks out the window across the estero into Kapitan Tiago's house where the party in his honor continues without him."

Indeed, if one is in hotel Fonda Francesca de Lala Ary located in San Nicolas, looking beyond Muelle de Binondo you can see calle Anloague (Juan Luna St.). But its too far, your vision have to pass calle Tabora, Muelle de Binondo, then calle Anloague and calle Ingreso, to be able to see # 175 Juan Luna St. without blocking one's view, like buildings, houses, trees, etc… Remember calle Anloague (tagalog word for "builder") was named, because this street was once where one can buy building materials and deal with "carpenteros" had tall buildings and houses.

Now, here's my father's research and claim, the house of Kapitan Tiago which I agree, Rizal's description on the 5th chapter of Noli me Tangere… "Ibarra returns to his hotel room and looks out the window across the estero into Kapitan Tiago's house where the party in his honor continues without him." Remember Rizal stayed in Room # 20 at "Hotel de Oriente" in Binondo before going to Europe, before writing Noli me Tangere. Crisostomo Ibarra walked two blocks (from his hotel and crossed "calle Oriente" and "calle Condesa") to attend mass in Binondo Church located on Plaza Calderon de la Barca.

Hotel de Oriente occupied the whole block from calle Oriente to calle Veronica. Calle Veronica few meters will be the Estero de Reina and taking the bridge, you’ll be at "Meisic" (Ma Insik). Rizal, looking out his hotel window, will have the view of the Plaza Calderon de la Barca on his right is calle Veronica a corner block meeting calle Anloague (Juan Luna). The "bahay na bato" on this corner with a "tisa rojo" was the setting of Rizal's Noli me Tangere. The back of this house is the "Estero de Reina" which Rizal mentioned on his Noli that Kapitan Tiago and his neighbors used the estero to wash their clothes, dishes, drink, bath etc… # 175 calle Anloague (Juan Luna St.), house of Balvino Mauricio does not have a estero at the back.

Don Santiago de los Santos, known by his political title Kapitan Tiago existed in Hilario Sunico and Balvino Mauricio, Rizal blend them together to symbolize another weak Pilipino characteristic in Rizal's imagination, "to ring a bell" for us. 
- ka tony
the 19th of October (the fiesta month of Binondo/San Nicolas), '13  

Jose Rizal incarcerated at Castell de Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain, October 6, 1896

During the peak of the Cuban revolution, Jose Rizal offered his services as a military doctor to compromise with the shortage of physicians because of the revolution that was going on that other Spanish Colony. It was his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt who informed him of the situation in Cuba and suggested that he volunteer himself as army doctor. On December 17, 1895, Rizal sent a letter to Governor-General Ramon Blanco rendering his service for Cuba. But for months Rizal awaited for the governor's reply, loss hope that his request will be granted, but on July 30, 1896, Rizal received a letter from Governor Blanco, dated July 2, 1896, accepting his offer. The letter also stated that Rizal will be given a pass so that he can go to Manila, then to Spain where its Minister of War will assign him to the Army of Operations in Cuba.

Governor-General Ramon Blanco letter to the Minister of War, stated that Rizal during his deportation in Dapitan his conduct was exemplary and he had no connection or involvement with the Philippine Revolution. Rizal was granted permission to travel to Cuba, to support in the medical efforts needed to suppress an outbreak of yellow fever and to treat wounded Spanish soldiers.

At midnight of July 31, 1896, Rizal left Dapitan on board the steamer "España" and on August 6, at dawn "España" entered Manila Bay. He was not able to depart immediately for Spain, because the ship "Isla de Luzon" which Rizal was supposed to board left the day before they arrived at Manila. For twenty-seven days, from Thursday, August 6, to Wednesday, September 2, Rizal was kept under arrest aboard the cruiser, Castilla, anchored off Cañacao, Cavite but was free to roam around and allowed to accept visitors. At 6:00 o’clock in the evening Rizal was transferred to the boat "Isla de Panay." He was met by the captain of the boat, Capt. Alemany and was given the best cabin. Later, he wrote a letter to his mother informing her of his good health on board the ship and of his departure for Cuba, comforting her that everybody is in the hands of the Divine Providence. To his sisters, he urged them to take good care and love their parents.

Following day, Rizal was given a new cabin, No. 22, with a divan. The boat anchored near Manila to load passengers, among whom were Pedro Roxas, Maria Tuason and Pedro A. Paterno the boat left Manila. Exactly 30 days of travel, the "Isla de Panay" arrived in Barcelona. The passengers were placed under quarantine for three days.

At three o’clock in the morning of October 6, 1896, a sergeant woke Rizal up in his cabin, ordering him to prepare his baggage. At four o’clock, Rizal was taken away from the boat by one military man and another in civilian clothes. Rizal arrived at the Catalan province of Montjuich, Barcelona at exactly five o’clock, after one-hour walk under heavy guard Rizal was imprisoned in a castle by Spanish authorities. "Castell de Montjuïc" is an old military fortress with a long history closely linked to the city is a municipal facility located on a rocky terrace on top of Montjuïc Mountain, a site where important Catalan dissidents or free thinkers were detained and executed.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, after staying in Castell de Montjuïc for about 8 hours, Rizal was notified by the same officer called Tudela to get his baggage ready in order to board the boat "S.S. Colon." Rizal had to do everything in a hurry under the threats and shouts of the captain. The boat packed with soldiers, departed at eight o’clock in the evening for the Philippines to face trial and his eventual execution.

Rizal condemned the Philippine Revolution by saying...

"On my return from Spain, I learned that my name had been used as a war cry among some who were in arms. From the beginning, when I had news of what was being planned, I opposed it, fought it, and demonstrated its absolute impossibility. this is the truth, and there are living witnesses of my words. I was convinced that the idea (the revolution) was highly absurd and what was worse, would bring suffering. I did more. When later, in spite of my counsels, the movement broke out. I spontaneously offered not only my services but my life and even my name to be used in any manner thought opportune in order to suppress the rebellion.

Holding this ideas, I cannot do less than to condemn, and I do condemn, this absurd and savage rebellion, plotted behind my back, which dishonors the Filipinos and discredits those who could can be our advocates. I abhor this criminal activities and reject any manner of participation in them, condoling with all heartfelt sadness with those who have been unwary enough to have been fooled. Return then, to your homes, and may God forgive those who have acted in bad faith."

Further on with his defense: "...I know nothing of the Katipunan and have had no relations or correspondence with them. I do not know Andres Bonifacio, even by name. I have absolutely nothing to do with politics from the 6th July 1892 until the 1st of July 1896 when I was informed by Pio Velenzuela that an uprising would be attempted, I advised against it and tried to reason him out of it."

...Rizal passionately defended himself from the charges that he was involved in or even sympathized with the revolution, hardly an attitude we would honor him for. My question is... Was he innocent or guilty? ...If innocent - why is he a hero? ...If guilty - how can he be a martyr?
- ka tony
- the 6th of October, '13

"Macario Sakay a Mislabeled Hero"

Macario Sakay was born on calle Tabora, San Nicolas, Manila, out of wedlock in 1870, the date and month unknown. He adopted the family name "Sakay" from his mother, his father left when Sakay was still an infant.

Sakay was with Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto when they fled Caloocan to evade capture, but he was in the victorious battle of Montalban, battle of Nanka River and the retreat to Balara. After the tragic murder of Bonifacio in Cavite, he was with the new Supremo Emilio Jacinto in Laguna to continue the struggle of the Katipunan, they never recognize the ilustrado revolutionary government established by Aquinaldo's elitist coup in the snap election during the Tejeros Convention. After the early death of Gat Emilio Jacinto, it was Macario Sakay who continued the Katipunan revolt of the masses.

After grabbing the victory from the Filipinos against Spain by the Americans at the Mock Battle of Manila, at 11:30 am on Agosto 13, 1898, they continued the illegal possession of the whole archipelago. During the administration of Governor-General Luke E. Wright, he passed a law known as "Ley de Bandolerismo" to force all the rebels and bandits to surrender immediately at their given deadline or be labeled and considered as a bandit. Freedom fighter Sakay was strongly against the American Governor-General's law. Filipino patriots badly equipped guerrillas were constantly on the move and captured by the Gringo army with help of the Philippine Constabulary which comprised of native soldiers under American officers. Disgraceful to reveal, former Filipino revolutionists; Gen. Licerio Geronimo, Gen. Pio del Pilar, Gen. Juan Cailles, Col. Agapito Bonzon, Maj. Lazaro Macapagal aided Americans to hunt their former comrades-in-arms.

Sakay was successful with his guerrilla warfare and established the "Tagalog Republic" basing it from Supremo Bonifacio's "Haring Banyang Katagalugan." Sakay, his officers and men refused to have their hair cut as a symbol of protest and counter-culture, it was also to measure the length of time they stayed in the mountains in their struggle for freedom. Sakay, a big problem to the Americans in establishing their pacification program and their benevolent assimilation campaign in the country, in 1905 Governor-General Henry Clay Ide authorized Dominador Gomez a Filipino labor leader, to negotiate with Sakay. Gomez met with Sakay at his camp and persuade him that the establishment of a national assembly was being held up by Sakay's resistance and that its establishment would be a big step toward Filipino independence. Sakay agreed to end his resistance on conditions that a general amnesty be granted his men, that they be permitted to carry firearms, that he and his officers be permitted to leave the country. Gomez guaranteed Sakay that his conditions the would be acceptable to the Americans and Sakay's emissary, General Leon Villafuerte, obtained agreement to them from the American Governor-General. Sakay and Villafuerte went to Manila where they were welcomed and invited to receptions and banquets. One invitation came from the Constabulary Chief Col. Harry Bandholtz was a colonial trap, Sakay and his officers were disarmed and arrested while the party was in progress Sakay was accused of "Bandolerismo under the Brigandage Act of Nov. 12, 1902, which interpreted all acts of armed resistance to American rule as banditry" and the colonial Supreme Court of the Philippines supported the decision.

At 8:30 in the morning of September 13, 1907, General Macario Sakay and Lucio de Vega were taken out of their "bartolina" and led to the death platform inside the Bilibid Prison compound. At 9:00 am, the decision finding him guilty was read to him, General Sakay shook his head to show his protest. Lucio de Vega and General Sakay took confession against his will before Fr. G. Foradada a Jesuit priest.

General Sakay and de Vega were attended by the following priest; G. Foradada, Macario Hernandez, Marcos Dombrosky, Leoncio del Rosario and a doctor, on the death platform. Reaching the gallows, General Sakay shouted at the top of his voice...

"Death comes to all of us sooner or later, so that I will face the Lord Almighty calmly. But I want to tell you that we are not bandits and robbers, as the Americans have accused us, but members of the revolutionary forces that defended our mother country, Filipinas! Farewell! Long, live the republic and may our independence be born in the future! Farewell! Long Live Filipinas!"

...the American executioner immediately covered General Sakay's face with a black cloth, which the general offered his head to be placed on the rope gallantly.
- ka tony
the 12 of Sept. '08

"Tomodachi" Our Old Comrades in Arms Since "Tondo Conspiracy of 1587"

On June 20, 1899, the Japanese vessel Nonubiki Maru left Nagasaki for the Philippines loaded with 10,000 rifles, 5,000,000 rounds of ammunition and other war supplies purchased by Mariano Ponce.

Ponce with the aid of the Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, in his mission to Japan, obtained sufficient support from the Japanese military and a few Japanese politicians to enter into agreement to purchase arms and ammunition in the Spring of 1899. At the same time, arrangements were made for retired Japanese officers to go to the Philippines as advisers to the Filipino army against the Americans. These officers actually served with the Filipino forces but the attempt to ship arms to the islands was a complete failure.

Several Filipino intellectuals who immigrated to Japan like General Artemio "Vivora" Ricarte, became naturalized subjects of the Meiji government and were vying the Japanese government to sell surplus rifles left from the war in Korea to the growing Filipino rebels in the Philippines. But the Meji Government simply do not want to commit anything, as it feared retaliation from Europeans.

Mariano Ponce went to Japan days after Spanish started arresting propaganda leaders, succeeded in buying two shiploads of arms and ammunition from the Japanese government. The first shipment was loaded on the ship Nunobiki-maru, along with 10,000 arms, 5 million ammunition, accompanied with Japanese officers and volunteer soldiers who want to serve in the Filipino Rebel Army. Unfortunately, a typhoon sunk the ship off the coast of Formosa and the second shipment was not delivered until the capture of Aguinaldo by the Americans, which prompted Ponce to donate it to Sun Yat-sen, a close friend and a revolutionary against the Manchu rulers of China.

Tagawa Moritaro, a carpenter from Nagasaki, has become a successful businessman in the Philippines. It appears in June 1895 that Supremo Andres Bonifacio asked him to establish a trading company that exports hemp, tobacco, sugar and other products (produced by Katipuneros) on which the income would be used to buy Murata rifles in Japan. Bonifacio remarked that the Katipunan will pay all the expenses if Moritaro will go to Japan to arrange the purchase. Moritaro agreed to Bonifacio's deal, established the Moritaro Trading Company, went to Japan and persuaded the Meiji government to sell arms to the revolutionaries. However, nothing came out of the deal.

It is not well known that Supremo Andres Bonifacio had a secret meeting with the Japanese consul in Manila and some visiting Japanese naval officers in May 1896 and sought Japanese support for the Philippine revolution.

The man who arranged the meeting and acted as interpreter was a certain "Jose Moritaro Tagawa" (the same Tagawa Moritaro), a resident of Bocaue town, north of Manila, married to a Filipina, who was introduced to the Supremo by Pio Valenzuela. Moritaro is one of the many veterans of the Sino-Japanese War who fought on our side during the Filipino-American War. To name some of these veterans; Lieutenant Sintetu Nishiuchi, Lieutenant Asahiro Inatomi, Lieutenant Keizo Miyai, Lieutenant Kesakichi Mizumati, Sergeant Major Saburo Nakamori and Sergeant Shinobu Masuda. More research is still undertaken not only to trace the background of these men, but also to find out their motivation. Did they sympathized with our struggle for independence or were they gun for hire mercenaries?

Whatever their reasons some were highly regarded, like Captain Chizuno Iwamoto, who served as flag officer of Emilio Aguinaldo during the Filipino-American War. These men arrived in Manila toward the end of June 1899 and were met by a Japanese businessman based in Manila Moritaro Tagawa who arranged their passage by sailboat across Manila Bay to Orani town in Bataan province, west of Manila and from there by land to the headquarters of Emilio Aguinaldo in the province of Tarlac, North of Manila, they were led by a certain Captain Tei Hara.

Captain Tei Hara was born in 1864 in Ina, Nagano, he studied in the Imperial Military Academy and eventually rose to the rank of captain of the Imperial Bodyguard Division. Captain Hara fought under General Tomas Mascardo in the provinces of Zambales and Bataan and was even cited for gallantry in action. He returned to Japan and fought in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He died in 1933. What makes Hara stand out is that his deathbed request was for his sister or her heir to watch and wait for the independence of the Philippines. As soon as the Philippines was independent this news should be reported to him at his grave.
- ka tony
the 19th of June '13

Where have all the Esteros gone?

Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok is called the "Venice of Asia" because of its canals, so as China's Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East." In fact The City of Manila should be called "Venice of Asia" for the city has more canals or esteros than Bangkok and Suzhou. Perhaps the title Venice of Asia was not given to Manila because Intramuros, then was the Manila they knew, minus the districts that are now part of Metro Manila.

Old Manila had many inlet rivers, which during the Spanish time we called "esteros" which are the seaward end or extension of a river. They contain a mixture of fresh water from the river, salt water from the sea and their water levels rise and fall with the tide. Throughout Manila's history, some thirty-five esteros flowing into or have been associated with Pasig River, Manila Bay and Laguna be Bay.

Estero de Binondo is one of two estuaries bounding the island of Binondo, Manila's famous Chinese district. The Bridge of Spain was then called "Fuente Espana" (now Jones Bridge) was built in 1632 to allow easier access for the exclusive "peninsulares" living in Intramuros (Manila walled city) via it's Puerta de Isabel II, then driven to Binondo from the foot of the bridge of calle Escolta - (the Spanish word "escortar" to escort, where Escolta got it's name) to be escorted by carruajes, also to cross San Fernando Bridge to go shopping in San Nicolas district. Before 1570 "Ysla de Binondo" as Binondo was originally known during the Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade, was the center of Chinese trade. In 1594 the Chinese "Parian" or market place on Mejan Garden was moved to Binondo on calle "Sacrista" now Ongpin street, it was given free to the Chinese, also tax free by the Spanish Cortes for as long they were willing to be baptized Catholic.

Binondo and San Nicolas has Estero de Binondo which extends to Estero de la Reina, Ongpin, Gandara,Estero de la Industria, crosses Soler street ends at Reina Regente. Estero de Binondo was the setting of Rizal's "Noli me Tangere," which was the back of the house of Capitan Tiago. Binondo's waterways as Rizal mentioned in his book had different roles of bath, sewer, laundry, fishery, transportation and drinking water.

Tondo has the wide Estero de Vitas, Ampioco, Patria, Estero Sunog Apog that drains water from Manila, dumps water to Manila Bay via Estero de Vitas, Herbosa, Moriones, Estero Teneria, Abukay, Molave, Bambang, Estero de San Lazaro and Estero de Magdalena. Estero near Tondo's "Pritil Bridge" in 1866 was called "Canal de la Reina" named after Queen Isabel II of Spain, drains water from Manila as far as Tayuman Street, Claro M. Recto Avenue and ends in Binondo, where there's a floodgate or pumping station in that end at Muelle de Binondo and dumps water into Pasig River at its southern tip. Dumps water into Manila Bay via Estero de Vitas in its northern tip, where "casqueros" or boatmen transported goods from northern provinces like Pampanga & Bulacan via Pasig River to Divisoria market.

Pandacan has Estero de Pandacan drains Paco and leads to Pasig River. It was immortalized by the poet Balagtas, "Ilog Beata" his tender lyrics "Kay Selya." That is why streets by Estero de Pandacan were named after characters of Balagtas; Florante, Laura, Aladin, Adolfo, Flerida, Antenor and of course "Selya" who was Maria Asuncion Rivera, the first love of Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar.

Ermita and Malate has Estero San Antonio Abad and Estero Balete, while Quiapo has Estero de Quiapo and Estero de San Sebastian. Sampaloc's San Juan River and Estero de Valencia. San Miquel, where the Malacanang Palace is located is surrounded by the Pasig River. Paco has Estero de Paco, Estero Concordia, Estero Balete and Estero Provisor, while Santa Cruz has Estero de la Reina and Estero de San Lazaro.

Santa Ana the first and the oldest of the three kingdoms of "Namayan" (the now City of Manila), also called Kingdom of Sapa later be called "Maysapan" and Christianized into "Santa Ana de Sapa" now simply as Santa Ana, has Estero de Santa Clara and the longest Estero Tripa de Gallina. This long estero wasthe main reason why Maysapan or Santa Ana was easily reached by Chinese mechant's Junk boats bartering their Chinese goods with the locals. "Tripa de Gallina" (chicken intestine), drains water from Manila, Paco, San Andres, Makati as far as Forbes Park, Fort Bonifacio and then through Buendia Avenue in Makati and Pasay (including Bangkal and Don Bosco Makati) and then in Paranaque. Dumps water into Manila Bay via the Paranaque River at an intersection near western side of the NAIA runway.

These canals or esteros, I mentioned are located in the old City of Manila, not counting the rivers, esteros and canals of the now Metro Manila. Basically Manila is surrounded by water, which flows to the main artery of Pasig River, that meets Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.

...so, where have all these esteros gone? They're gone to be a garbage dump by the Manilenos, some were claimed by illegal buildings, streets and barong-barong. But they reappear once again as "one wide estero" during monsoon season reclaiming almost the whole city of Manila. Where have all the esteros gone? have a "circular answer" like the Latin phrase... "Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt?" meaning "Where are those who were before us?"
- - ka tony
the 29th of July, '13

Ika 7 ng Hulyo, 1892 ay kapangganakan ng KATIPUNAN sa sityo ng Binondo/San Nicolas

Ang "La Liga Filipina" ay isang samahan na itinatag ni Jose Rizal sa bahay ni Doroteo Ongjuco sa calle Ilaya, Tundo noong Hulyo 3, 1892. Binubuo ito ng mga ilustrado na nais na maputol ang pang-aapi ng mga Kastila sa pamamagitan ng reporma at sa mapayapang pamamaraan. Subalit tatlong araw pa lamang matatag ang La Liga Filipina, si Rizal ay hinuli noong hapon ng Hulyo 6 at sumunod na araw, Hulyo 7, siya ay ipinatapon sa Dapitan, Mindanao.

Si Andres Bonifacio ay masigasig na magpapatuloy sana ng La Liga Filipina ng ito'y nagsanga sa dalawang panig. Ang konserbatibong "Cuerpo de Compromisarios" na mahigpit na sinununod ang mapayapang reporma na tulad ng layunin ng propagandang pahayagang La Solidaridad at ang isa nama'y ang radikal at mapusok na "Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan." Ito'y tinatag nila:

# Deodato Arellano - ang naging unang Supremo
# Andres Bonifacio - tagapamahala
# Ladislao Diwa - tagausig
# Teodoro Plata - kalihim
# Valentin Diaz - taga-ingat-yaman

Ang bahay na bato na may pulang tisa ang bubong, kung saan sinilang ang Katipunan ay isang adobeng aksesorya na pagaari ng pamilyang Oligario. May karatulang # 72, sa kanto ng calle Azcarraga at calle Elcano, kung saan naninirahan si Deodato Arellano na bayaw ni Marcelo del Pilar at tiyuhin ni Gregorio del Pilar. Dito madaliang nagtipon sina Andres Bonifacio, Valentin Diaz, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa at Jose Dizon, gabi ng Hulyo 7, 1892 matapos mabalitaan nilang hinuli si Jose Rizal at ipinatapon sa Dapitan. Sa bahay din na ito pinagkasunduan na sa pamamagitan ng armadong himagsikan lamang ang natatanging paraan na makapagpapalaya sa bansa. Ang bahay ni Deodato Arellano ang naging opisyal na kuta ng Katipunan, sapagkat siya ang natanghal na Supremo.

Nang magkaroon ng halalan ang Katipunan noong Pebrero ng 1893, ang opisyal na kuta ay nalipat sa calle Oroquieta na kung saan naninirahan si Emilio Jacinto. Si Roman Basa ang natanghal na Supremo at si Andres Bonifacio ay naging tagausig at noong Enero ng 1895, muling naghalalan at ang Katipunan ay isinaayos bilang pamahalaan at ito'y itinatag na muli bilang "Pamahalaang Himagsikan ng Haring Bayang Katagalugan" at may sagang mga kabinete:

# Andres Bonifacio - Supremo/Pangulo
# Emilio Jacinto - Kalihim Pambansa
# Teodoro Plata - Kalihim ng Digmaan
# Briccio Pantas - Kalihim ng Paghuhukom
# Aguedo del Rosario - Kalihim ng Interior
# Enrique Pacheco - Kalihim ng Ingat-yaman

Lumipat man ang opisyal na kuta, ang orihinal na bahay na bato na sinilangan ng Katipunan sa kanto ng Azcaraga at Elcano ay nakatayo pa rin hangang dekada 1920. Dito'y nakapaskel sa may bintana na nagpapaalala sa kahalagahan ng mala-Andalusia bahay na mansion, ang karatulang gawa sa tanso at nakasulat sa wikang Kastila...

"El pueblo Filipino mediante, la durabilidad del bronce consagra y perpetua el valor historico de esta casa cuna de las revindicaciones populares donde el 6 de Julio de 1892 nacio para lugar y triunfar de liderazgo por Andres Bonifacio la muy Alta y muy Respitable Asociacion de los Hijos del Pueblo, El Katipunan."

(salin sa wikang Ingles)...
"Enshrines the Filipino people, through the durability of the bronze and the historical value of this perpetual house cradle of the popular vindications where on July 6, 1892 was born of triumphant leadership of Andres Bonifacio and place of the Highest and most Respectable Association of the Sons of the Land, The Katipunan."

Ang pamilyang Oligario ay ipinagbili ang bahay na bato sa pamilyang Insik na Chua. Ang pamilyang Chua naman ay ipinagiba ang bahay na ito, bago dumating ang panggalawang digmaan. Kasalukuyan ang orihinal na kinatatayuan ng sinilangan na bahay ng Katipunan ay isang gusaling may limang palapag, na isang bloke ang sinasakop, mula calle Santo Cristo hangang sa calle Elcano at Azcaraga. Sa kabutihang palad ang pamilyang Chua gayo'y ipinagiba ang orihinal na bahay, subalit minahalagang itinago ang orihinal na bronseng paskel na nakasulat sa wikang Kastila na nagpapatunay sa kahalagahan na kung saan sinilang ang Katipunan. Ito'y inihandog ni Gg. Frederick Chua sa Bonifacio Centennial Commission.

Maraming historyador at mga aklat pangkasaysayan na nagkamali na ang sityo ng Tundo ang siyang kuna o pinangganakan ng Katipunan. Ito'y malaking kamaliaan, ang calle Elcano at Santo Cristo ay sakop ng Binondo/San Nicolas at ang naghahati sa sityo ng Tundo at Binondo/San Nicolas ay ang calle Azcaraga, kung saan ang "Divisoria" na ibig sabihin sa kastila "dividing." Kaya't ang Divisoria ang naghahati sa Binondo/San Nicolas sa Tondo at ang Santa Cruz sa Tondo. Ang bahay na kung saan isinilang ang Katipunan ay ang sityo ng Binondo/San Nicolas!
- ka tony
ika 7 ng Hulyo '13

The Ingenious Gentleman Supremo Luis Taruc

A nationalist, folk hero and defender of social justice, Luis Mangalus Taruc was born of peasant parents in San Luis, Pampanga on 21st of June 1913, like his father Nicanor, he became a farmer. After high school in Tarlac, he enrolled at the University of Manila, he dropout of college and opted to become a tailor in San Miguel, Bulacan.
He was deeply into socialism & in 1935 exposed to agrarian injustices and poverty around him decided to leave his haberdashery business to his wife so he can help, protect and serve the poor, maltreated and suffering peasants. Influenced by his idol socialist Pedro Abad Santos of San Fernando, Taruc joined his "Aguman ding Maldang Tala-pagobra" (AMT, Union of Peasant Workers) and in 1938, the "Partido Socialista." When the latter evolved into the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas, where he became an officer of rank.

During the 2nd World War, Taruc, together with Casto Alejandrino, Felipa Culala (Kumander Dayang-Dayang) and Bernardo Poblete (Kumander Banal of Minalin), founded the "Hukbalahap" movement (Hukbong Laban sa Mga Hapon) in a barrio of Concepcion, Tarlac on 29 March 1942. He lead a 30,000 strong guerrilla group against the Japanese invaders, harassing and attacking them at every opportunity. Hukbalahap was organized under the able leadership of Supremo Luis Taruc who they called "Lu-Lu" ("the racing one"), then "Alipato" ("the flying spark that spreads a fire"), chairman of the military committee of the united front, then the field commander of the HMB. Throughout the armed conflict of the Huks against the Japanese, in late 1943, during its political expansion, the Huks launched anew its overt operations against the Japanese which brought them into conflict with the USAFFE (United States Army Forces in the Far East) sponsored guerrilla units under an American officer Mackenzie who was spreading vicious rumors that the Huks were bandits. The result was some clashes with these guerrilla units which existed until the landing of the US "liberation forces" in October of 1944.

70,000 troops on Bataan under General Edward P. King, after months of fighting the invading Japanese Army and with food and medicine exhausted, accepting sole responsibility to disobey MacArthur's orders, chose to surrender his troops on the 9th of April, 1942. With Bataan now under Japanese control, the enemy turned their full attention to Corregidor. General Wainwright and his 26,000 troops at Corregidor were the last organized resistance on Luzon. The situation at the island of Corregidor was no better, the soldiers were weary, wounded, malnourished and diseased. At exactly noon on May 6, 1942, General Jonathan M. Wainwright surrendered to Japanese General Homma and by June 9, Allied forces had completely surrendered.

The starving Luis Taruc and his Hukbalahap, without any help from the US, with few arms and ammunition which they acquired from dead Japanese and surrendering American soldiers, Hukbalahap was the best organized anti-Japanese resistance movements in Asia. They helped and took care American soldiers who were lucky not imprisoned in the hands of the Japanese, astonishingly winning the war, Central Luzon was liberated by the Hukbalahap from the Japanese. On October 25, 1944 Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore at Leyte to announce, "People of the Philippines, I have returned" and Hukbalahap were ordered to surrender their arms to the Americans. They were not recognized by the U.S. Army as real guerrilla fighters. In 1946, Taruc ran for a seat in Congress, which he won together with 6 other Communists. Charged with terrorism, he was unseated, fled to the mountains and vowed to defy the American-supported Roxas government. Luis Taruc was the dominating personality of the Huk insurgency. Between March 1942 and August 1948, the Huks became a trained and experienced force, well-equipped and well-prepared for its guerrilla warfare. The initial force of 500 armed Huks which was organized into five squadrons had increased to a fully-armed guerrilla force of 20,000 men.
 
But as the election grew near, the Huk reorganized their prewar peasant and labor organizations, formed the political party called, "Democratic Alliance." This party became the base of action for the various elements dissatisfied with the prevailing situation in the country. Further political trouble divided the leading Nationalista Party which resulted in the formation of the Liberal Party with Commonwealth president Manuel Roxas as its candidate. The Liberal Party consisted of conservatives and many of the prominent members were Japanese collaborators during the war.
 
Manuel Roxas, a very close associate of Gen. McArthur during US colonial administration was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a senator & a member of Quezon cabinet. Upon the escape of Quezon & McArthur from Corregidor because of the sure victory of the invading Japanese forces, Quezon signed a decree making Roxas in line with Qsmena to the presidency in case of his death. April of 1942, Roxas surrendered or captured, was in the hands of the Japanese. The Japanese aware of Roxas' political innovations, offered the puppet presidency before offering the position to Jose Laurel. The assurance of presidency by Quezon under the US might have stop Roxas in accepting the offer. June of 1943, Roxas was the principal author of the puppet constitution & worked in the Laurel cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio. As the 1944 US Invasion of the Philippines Part II near, Laurel & his cabinet member fled to Baquio. April 1945 US troops were in Baquio, Laurel's cabinet; Roxas, Jose Yulo, Quintin Paredes, Antonio de las Alas & Teofilo Sison crossed the US troop lines. Press released by McArthur indicated; Yulo, Paredes, de las Alas & Sison as "captured." Roxas was reported "liberated." Later in our history Manuel Roxas was "the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines."
 
US sponsored President Roxas declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed faction, HMB to be illegal and seditious. The HMB whose sole aim was the overthrow of the government, sought to establish supremacy for the movement by destroying the effectiveness of the AFP. The government realized that the Huks had no intention of any compromise of surrender until their political and economic objectives were attained.

In 1948, Taruc agreed to negotiate terms to then Pres. Elpidio Quirino. In return, Quirino promised to grant amnesty to all surrendering Huks and reinstate Taruc as congressman. Talks failed with the government accusing the Huks of violating the terms of agreement. Once more, Taruc hied off to the mountains and continued his siege. The Government considered the Huk problem a police matter, their anti-Huk campaign, the military merely saturated the Huk strong areas with combat troops and suppressed the tumultuous situations with force. They were unsuccessful and further complicated the problem with numerous abuses which destroyed the respect and confidence of the people on the military. The people left with no security in the rural areas migrated to the relatively secured urban areas. The mass abandonment of the agricultural fields adversely affected the national economy and created the squatter problem. By mid-1950, the Huk attacks increased in unbelievable proportions and the military reacted ruthlessly. In Maliwalu, Pampanga, with the belief that the people there were active Huk supporters, constabulary troopers plundered the town and massacre menfolk. The military inadequacies also reflected in their lack of knowledge of the basic military skills. The AFP did not have the knowledge  about the enemy who he was, how he operated, what his objectives were and most importantly, how he gained the support of the people.

The Maliwalu incident, the ambush-killing of the wife of the late President Manuel Quezon and infamous crimes blamed to the Huks, brought increased criticism of the government. President Quirino therefore issued Executive Order number 308 which provide the complete reorganization of the entire armed forces. He also appointed Congressman Ramon Magsaysay of Zambales as the new Secretary of National Defense, in charged with the responsibility of restoring peace and order. CIA's Edward Lansdale took advantage of the situation & became the "personal adviser" of Secretary Magsaysay. Told Magsaysay to instilled in the military that the lost political base of action had to be regained by an integrated military, political and social approach. He emphasized that every soldier must be a public relations man, political warfare specialist, civil administrator and an expert in guerrilla warfare. Underlying his policy was the belief, "Any democratic government is neither of necessity nor automatically better than a communistic government in the eyes of the Common Man." The local government must clean its own house. A status quo that has bred virulent communism cannot remain unchanged. Communism seldom flourishes where the people are content and prosperous basically.
 
To implement his policy with the advice from CIA Edward Lansdale, Magsaysay had these goals:
1. Unity of command in the military
2. Trust and confidence of the people in the military
3. Active civilian support in military operations
4. Friendship between the people and the military

During Magsaysay's first term as president, Ninoy Aquino was his close adviser and there was a lull in Huk wars, no news about Supremo Luis Taruc. There were rumors he died of illness or was kill in the field, there was also gossips that he had escaped to China by submarine. Scared of the silence that there might be an offensive attack that the Huks are planning with the help of China, Lansdale, Magsaysay and Aquino were curious to find out whatever happened to Taruc. According to Aquino he went to Conception town and tracked down the Huk mayor Gorgonio Narciso to persuaded him to help in locating the Supremo.

Still according to Aquino, Gorgonio Narciso was a friend of Taruc's half-brother Meliton a tailor who refused to join the Huks with his brothers. Meliton's tailoring shop had flourished while it had contracts to do ROTC uniforms, but lost those contracts when some ROTC officers decided it was outrageous to be wearing uniforms tailored by a brother of the Huk Supremo. Aquino said through Meliton he got in touch with a former Huk Juan Calma and from Calma brought in another operative, Teofilo Ortiz. Came later was the Supremo's uncle Arsenio Taruc, Aquino found the bent old man hiding, hauling big baskets of fish at Divisoria Market living in poverty. These four men formed the Aquino's search party, the idea to contact Taruc through any of them.

In mid-February, Aquino received a message from Taruc "He said he was willing to grant me an interview but stipulated that Manuel Manahan, then head of the Presidential Complaints and Action Committee, was to be with me." Aquino went to Magsaysay and told him the Supremo of the Huks Ka Luis Taruc, suggesting a talk. With Magsaysay's approval, Manahan preparing to reply to meet on Valentines Day with Taruc, but the ambitious  Aquino was trying on his own to interview the Supremo. Aquino using his proper contacts (Calma, Ortiz, Meliton and Arsenio Taruc), challenged Manahan and Manahan fearing leakage, cooperated.

February 15, Aquino, Romeo Taruc (Luis Taruc's son), Mahanan, Dario Arellano (a photographer) and Moises Escueta who drove the jeep, were on their way from Angeles to meet Taruc to the no man's land beyond Clark Field. The meeting was set at Hacienda Ramona at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo, 7:00 in the evening, an hour passed no trace of the Supremo but young men with in olive drab appeared with Garands, Thompsons and Browning automatic rifles. A while later came a team of heavy armed men and with them was Supremo Taruc. The Supremo had a very gentle voice, humble & greeted them with an old fashion Filipino hospitality. The Supremo asked his son Romeo to stay in one place and stay away from the camera lens, he refused to discuss possibility of peace negotiations between him and the government, he discussed about poverty, injustice, Philippine agrarian reform and willingness to cooperate with Magsaysay and said... "I'm a Filipino first and last, if I did not endorse Magsaysay last election it was because I suspected him of being a dangerously inclined to the American imperialist. But the people had spoken, had elected Magsaysay as their president. It is for us to accept their verdict." The Supremo also believed on the president's promise of internal democratization, agrarian semi-revolution and modest industrialization. The interview lasted three hours, until midnight and photos were taken during the talk. After the interview Taruc and his men escorted Aquino's party to the foot of the mountain pass and said goodbye.
  
Ninoy Aquino's scoop on Taruc was released by Manahan to all Manila newspapers, but after three days Aquino was informed by his "search team" (Calma, Ortiz, Meliton and Arsenio Taruc), that the Supremo wanted to meet again. According to Aquino, Taruc had fallen out with the Huk movement specially with the Lava brothers and had been relieved as commander-in-chief. The second meeting was on February 18, was held in broad daylight and lasted after sundown. Aquino said that he was convinced that the Supremo is will to negotiate because Taruc was talking about God, socialism, nationalism, about his idol/mentor Pedro Abad Santos and his love for the masses and country.

Again, according to Aquino on the last week of April his "search team" brought him a note from the Supremo, who proposed a meeting in a restaurant called "Apung Gari" in San Fernando. Aquino went to the restaurant, when a little boy came to him and said... "you have been followed, you are being watched. Go to Minalin Church this afternoon." As he went to the church of Minalin, Aquino was approached by a courier... "The Supremo can not come, on the way here last night, we were ambushed."

First week of May, Aquino again received a note from the Supremo on it defined terms on which he'll be willing to come down from the mountains.
1.) the word "surrender" was not to be used to describe his return to society.
2.) that he was to be turned over not to the army but to president Magsaysay.
3.) that he was to be provided with lawyers for his trial.
...and if the president accepted these terms, said the Supremo, Ninoy Aquino was to give a "signal" on Rafael Yabut's popular radio program "Tayo'y Magaliw" by mentioning the line... "Mura ang bigas sa Maynila." If his terms were rejected, the line should be... "Mahal ang bigas sa Maynila." Taruc's terms were accepted and the line... "Mura ang bigas sa Maynila" was the signal for the Supremo to send a note to Aquino... "I'm coming down on May 17, pick me up. I will send a guide who will bring you to where I'm." But Magsaysay changed his mind on the advised of the CIA, Edward Lansdale and army officers. To them a good commie is a dead commie and they want Taruc dead. With the help and support of Manila Times owner Chino Roces, Magsaysay was torn between Aquino, Roces and the CIA/army. Magsaysay scared of bad publicity by the media (Manila Times) he gave in to Aquino's plan.

Finally on May 17, meeting was set early in the morning at Barrio Santa Maria, Pampanga. This time troops was with Aquino, surrounded the area. Meeting was at 6:30 am & if Aquino failed to return by 9:00 am, the troops will blow the place down! According to Aquino... "Taruc was surrounded by the peasants and he looked like them, in a gray peasant shirt, brown pants & straw hat."
After shaking hands, Aquino said... “Do you accept the president's terms?"
Ka Luis Taruc said... "I accept."

Instead of meeting Magsaysay, Taruc was brought to Manila and was accused in court for revolt and terrorism, sentenced to 12 years in prison. After being denied clemency by then president Diosdado Macapagal, he was pardoned by Ferdinand Marcos in September 1968 and finally released. Ninoy Aquino and Luis Taruc didn't see each other since the Supremo was incarcerated, though when asked about Aquino, Taruc never said bad things about him and just said "he tried to do his best." The old Filipino "Don Quixote," the guerrilla hero of WW II, defender of the oppressed workers, farmers, social justice, continue to work for social and agrarian reforms, worked for Huk veterans recognition and for their proper compensation. Ka Luis Taruc passed away on the 4th of May 2005, of heart attack at the St. Luke’s Hospital at age 91. There are no statues, markers to pay tribute to the great Supremo Taruc, so I quote myself...

"Ang tunay na bantayog ay nakatirik sa ating puso at damdamin, ang nagawang lampas sa ating kakayahan ay hindi kinakailangang ipagyabang!"
- - ka tony
the 20th of June '13