The Battle of Tres de Abril Series (Holy Tuesday April 5, 1898)
The Battle of Tres de Abril happened on a Palm Sunday. The book “Ang Kagubot sa Sugbo 1898” authored by Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada provides a narrative of the battle and the days that followed. The article was the 16th entry of the book, written by Rufo Abella (a veteran of the uprising, having survived the battle and lived to see Cebu freed from the Spaniards) and Isidro N. Enriquez dela Calzada, this is the translation:
“HOLY TUESDAY (April 5, 1898). At the end of Calle Felipe II (renamed as Juan Luna, now it is part of the President Osmeña Boulevard) and at the start of Calle Infanta (Magallanes Street) is the route of the bullets from the Spaniards from the Kutta (referring to Fort San Pedro). At the belfry of the convent of San Agustin (Sto. Niño Church) and the Cathedral; convent points to the west the firearms of the government soldiers. The stores of David Summer, Castilla la vieja, Siglo Nuevo, Siglo XIX, Los Catalanes, Patricia Hermoso, Los Novedades and of those of the Chinese merchants in Lutaw (now Carbon) all closed and covered, because the bullets of the Cebuano KKK positioned on the street could hit any of them, whether enemy or non-combatants. Pantaleon Villegas aka Don Leon Kilat, the Chief of the Army of the KKK Cebu commanded all that Calle Infanta up to the Recoletos (referring to now the USJ-R and Mount Carmel Church) as no entry for the public. The Katipuneros however, could be seen at the end of Calle San Lucar de Barrameda, in that narrow street at the back of Smith Bell House.
“The barrio of Pampango, was so silent. Parian, has no movement. There was little commotion at Zapatera. At Pili-Kanipaan, San Roque, Tinago and at Pangpang perceived to be aware of the uprising as the Katipuneros often come to the place.
“The ship Paragua, at times fires cannons at Ermita, sometimes it hits Pasil, it was not however scary because there were no reports that there were casualties, that is the reason why the people of barrio Pahina-Recoletos and the entire San Nicolas were jubilant and were like celebrating fiesta. All the men were carrying weapons. Likewise the women at the houses had to have their hair freely worn, with no ribbons as such was the order of Don Leon Kilat. The girls were ordered to report to Maestra Claudia Lopez as she will be done to instruct the warning and the amulets on how to avoid death. This is the reason why all showed no fears, no one cried, all were aware of what was happening. Leon Kilat was riding a white horse freely roaming the streets.”
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