The Battle of Tres de Abril Series (Holy Thursday, April 7, 1898)
Part 1
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 of the battle were written by patriots and witnesses, this entry on what happened on April 7 was written by Gregorio Padilla, Elpidio Raman, Segundo Patuasi, Rufo Llamas, Manuel Roa, Luis Binoya, and Raimundo Enriquez. This is the adaptation of CEBUpedia:
“HOLY THURSDAY (April 7, 1898). The Spaniards were busy preparing on the night of Holy Wednesday, up to the point that non soldiers were given weapons and stayed awake together with the Bishop and the friars that sought refuge in the fort just to protect the government. General Montero (the last Spanish Governor of Cebu who replaced Governor Junquera) commanded all to fight and die defending the Spanish throne. The night passed, morning came, no brown race was seen yet they continued to be vigilant ready for a surprise attack.
“On the part of the rebels (Katipuneros), their disability could be felt. There was lack of weapons, lack of preparation and lack of logistics was the liability of the Katipuneros. That is the reason why the attack could fail. What could General Leon Kilat do when all he has is his courage to rely. The men were at the back of Leon Kilat, making him as shield because he was known to be bulletproof. The other leaders who were commanding stayed afraid that to be killed, making those of the lower ranks as pawns to the enemy. Many were willing to die but how? No decree to follow, no command to agree, there were plans but all were just talk, many plans but also many commanders, there was even no ladder to scale the walls of the fort. Yes, Leon Kilat was in front, who then would follow to climb? Leon Kilat would all be alone. No plan was ever agreed and the morning arrived. The KKK was not able to move.
“Leon Kilat stayed near the fort up to the morning, seemingly analyzing how to attack the fort. Past eight in the morning, Lein Kilat saw at the port of Binoy Veloso two ships, when having crossed the watchtower of Mandue, immediately fired cannon shots, maybe a message that they have already arrived. It was ships, Bais and Don Juan de Austria. The ship, Bais docked at the bridge of Binoy Veloso and came out the soldiers of ‘Guias Rurales’ and ‘Infenateria Marina.’ While the ship, Don Juan de Austria docked beside the ship Paragua near Kawit, and when it was nine in the morning, the two ships were firing cannons targeting San Nicolas.” (To be continued)
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