The Battle of Tres de Abril Series
(Holy Wednesday, April 6, 1898)
The Battle of Tres de Abril happened on a Palm Sunday. The book “Ang Kagubot sa Sugbo 1898” authored by Manuel dela Calzada provides a narrative of the battle and the days that followed. The entries were written by veterans and witnesses of the battle. This article was written by Segundo Patuasi and Mundo Enriquez. This is the adaptation of CEBUpedia:
“HOLY WEDNESDAY (April 6, 1898). For the past two days, Holy Monday and Tuesday, it was found out that there were no Spaniards that roams around at night or soldiers that guards the convents and sacristy of the church. That is what also happened the whole day of Holy Wednesday, there was no white man that was seen. It means all were holed up at the Fort (referring to the Fort San Pedro). What was the reason then? They surrendered? Seldom were the burst of gunfire, the government was weak.
“On the part of the Katipuneros they were excited because victory is near because of the loss of morale of the enemy, there was no cannon fire on Holy Tuesday. News spread in the entire Cebu. Throngs of people flood in the streets of San Nicolas towards the city believing that the Spaniards were about to bow out. The patriot rebels getting closer to the fort, they were standing near.
“Inside the fort, no one was allowed to leave, they were tired, sleepy, silently pondering. Lying but could not sleep, sleeping yet could not rest, resting yet could not sleep. Hungry, yet do not have the appetite to eat.
“Confusion in the fort caused by the presence of Gen. Leon Kilat riding a horse near the walls. Five riflemen of the volunteers of Spain guarding the fort, the firearm resting above the wall, fifteen arms-length away from the man riding a horse (referring to Leon Kilat). Five rifle fires (Remington) hit Leon Kilat. The horse and the rider fell. All the Spaniards inside the fort witnessed the shooting (witnessing were D. Arsenio Climaco and Mundo Enriquez) murmured there it was.
“To the bewilderment, whether it was God’s grace or devil’s work, not past seven seconds, Leon Kilat rose up to his feet so as the horse, and rode waving his handkerchief. The news of the incident immediately spread by the accounts of its witness Don Segundo Patuasi who was near the shooting incident together with other Katipuneros.”
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