Plotter of Balangiga lived to tell story (3)

Following is the last installment of Eugenio Daza’s first-person account of leading the Battle of Balangiga, Sept. 28, 1901. At that time a 31-year-old major of the Philippine revolutionary army, his attack force consisted of 700 men armed only with clubs and dull bolos. He recounted the events 30 years later in the form of a sworn Memorandum (Memoir). By then he had surrendered to the colonial troops and served as Samar delegate to the Philippine Assembly. Daza’s narrative, first published in a souvenir program in his honor, is reprinted in “The I-Stories: Eyewitness Accounts in the Philippine Revolution and Filipino-American War,” by historian Prof. Augusto de Viana:

“So powerful was the attack that in a few minutes the battle ended unfavorably for the Americans who died heroically performing their duty which their government had imposed upon them. But not all of them perished. Nine badly wounded American soldiers were able to save themselves; they sailed on the barotos at the seashore and carried by the current headed for Tacloban, province of Leyte. Closely pursued by the rebels, they were overtaken in the barrio of Bulusao, town of Balangiga where seven of the nine men died; two were able to save themselves finally, thanks to favorable wind and current, they reached the town of Tolosa, Leyte, where they gave an account of the bloody affray in the town of Balangiga. During this battle, the American officers and soldiers acted heroically to the honor and glory of America. The surprise attack was too much for them and succumbed in the fight while performing their duty. When the American reinforcements arrived in the town of Balangiga, they found on the fields corpses of Americans with food in their mouths and it was erroneously believed that this was done intentionally by the rebels as an act of savagery; it was a very grave error on the part of those who believed. Race prejudice, more than anything else, gave rise to such mistaken beliefs. The American soldiers were at breakfast when they were surprised and attacked. It was but natural that they should have food in their mouths when they were killed. In such a plight as we found ourselves in, it was unreasonable to expect that the attackers would desire that the enemy should be previously prepared for the attack. It is universally known that the Filipino is a Catholic, religious by nature, and fanatic with respect to the dead. The Filipino believes that the profanation of the dead brings bad luck. Besides it would not reasonably be expected that during an extraordinary event such as that took place at Balangiga anyone could have entertained the thought of profaning the dead; there was no time to lose for such acts.

“I stated that the day set for the battle was Oct. 1901, but it was not carried out on that day due to lack of preparation. We accelerated the day of the attack to prevent the Americans from being in some way informed and cause our failure; circumstances caused us to take advantage of the public resentment against American abuses to their property; to delay the attack would have been fatal to us; we would have committed a terrible indiscretion and an unpardonable imprudence.

“In our ranks, 28 revolutionary soldiers died in line of patriotic duty, as follows: Benito Canillas, Geronimo Albarina, Pablo Abajero, Elegino Albarina, Augusto Hilarion, Guno Canonigo, Agustin Ascidillo, Mariano Bajo, Rosauro Cabillos, Ceferino Basdante, Basilio Abing, Esteban Aguirre, Hilario Garcia, Felipe Cebero, Laureano Gandia, Lucio Elacion, Ignacio Faduypa, Brijido Ave, Catalino Espina, Salvador Elecho, Ponciano Delanter, Felino Balasbas, Felipe Andres, Patrico Gacos, Raymundo Bajo, Costodio Elacion, Isidro Bajo, and Velarde Catalogo.

“The following were wounded: Santos Davanadero, Remedios Canilla, Juan Bajar, Gonzales Eder, Graciano Balcos, Martin Anistoso, Isidro Dado, Ruperto Duran, Paulo de Ocampo, Roman Sabido, Domingo Enario, Venancio Balasbas, Vicente Garilla, Valentin Castro, Daniel Avincula, Braullo de Claro, Mateo Abellar, Alvaro dela Dia, Toribio Avejero, Isidro Dalino, Valeriano Eluspa and Jose Edejar.

“As for the spoils of war, we gathered about 100 rifles from the American soldiers left on the battlefield and about 50 in deposit; one shotgun, three carbines, five revolvers, three sabers, two pairs of field glasses, seven watches, and about 300,000 rounds of ammunition, canned foodstuffs, liquor, medicines and other things deposited in the commissary of the Americans.

“An American soldier named Denton who belonged to the company stationed at Balangiga escaped or deserted several days before the catastrophe and voluntarily appeared before me and fought with us for the cause of the revolution against his very countrymen who captured him later in the mountains of Samar together with General Lukban. In the rebel camp in Samar there were also two American soldiers who escaped from their regiment in the town of Tacloban in Leyte, and passing through the town of Basey, they fought in the battlefields for our cause.

“As for the pages of our revolutionary history, for the honor and glory of our beloved country, and above all of the town of Balangiga, province of Samar, one of the bells which was rung on that memorable day of the heroic battle, was taken by the Americans to the United States. Could we secure its return? That depends on the patriotism of our leaders and the goodwill of the American people.

“These historic data were taken from my Memorandum, the truth of which I certify under oath and word of honor. Signed, Eugenio Daza, Revolutionary Army of Samar. Subscribed and sworn before me this 23rd day of December 1935, no cedula certificate issued, being above 60 years of age. Before me: signed, Pedro A. Limbauan, Notary Public”

Epilogue: Months before the Battle of Balangiga, revolutionary activities already were waning with the capture of General Vicente Lukban, revolutionary commander for Samar-Leyte, on Feb. 20, 1901. Daza surrendered to the Americans on Apr. 27, 1902, in elaborate ceremonies prepared by General Jacob Smith, head of US forces in the Visayas. That same general had ordered the roundup and execution of all males in Samar aged ten and older. He awarded Daza an American flag, symbolizing amnesty, and a revolver. Allowed to keep arms, Daza volunteered in the campaign against the Pulajanes. He then was appointed to represent the third district of Samar in the First Philippine Assembly of 1907-1909. Instead of running for election in the Second Assembly he assigned his brother, while he retired to private life. During the Second World War he turned down Artemio Ricarte’s invitation to serve in the Japanese Occupational Government. “Lolo Enyong” Daza died in Calamba, Laguna on Dec. 16, 1954, at age 84. His remains were buried in his hometown of Borongan.      

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Prof. Augusto de Viana chairs the History Department, University of Santo Tomas. He wrote two other books:

• “Stories Rarely Told: Hidden Stories and Essays on Philippine History,” 2013, about Filipino resistance to colonizers, including the Marawi Revolt led by Datu Amai Pakpak against the Spanish, which somehow explains the “tunnels” (“digo-digo”) today being encountered in that city by anti-terrorist government troops; and

• “Kulaboretor,” 2016 revision of 2003 edition, about political collaboration during the Japanese Occupation.

Those and “The I-Stories” are available at the UST Publishing House, España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila. Telefax +632 7313522; telephone +632 4061611 local 8252 or 8278; email [email protected].

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