The Battle of Tres de Abril Series - Holy Thursday (April 7, 1898) Part 2
This is the continuation of the article written by Don Gregorio Padilla, Don Elpidio Rama, Don Segundo Patuasi, Don Rufo Llamas, Don Manuel Roa, Don Luis Binoya, and Raimundo Enriquez who were veterans and witnesses of the battle. This is contained in the book “Ang Kagubot sa Sugbo 1898” authored by Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada. This is CEBUpedia’s adaptation of the article originally written in Cebuano:
“After the ship Don Juan de Austria fired, Leon Kilat who was covering from the wooden cargoes which were not yet claimed by the owners at the port, left and went inside the Capitania del Puerto, then to the pier area and joined with his men who were waiting at the San Lucar de Barrameda Street and went home to San Nicolas.
“The first volley of fire, was a salutation of the ship to the fort, which was ignored by the Cebuanos, as it was believed to be just coming from the ship Paragua, however when the ship, Don Juan de Austria was already at the entrance of the Pahina River, its sound was so loud, it resulted to the panic of the people of the city and of San Nicolas, much more that Lutaw (now Carbon) was fired upon and Pasil on fire. The convents of San Agustin, Cathedral, Recoletos, and San Nicolas were hit and there were people seen bleeding that terrified the residents and caused them to abandon their houses.
“Inside the fort (referring to Fort San Pedro), there was rejoicing. Smiling, laughing. The Bishop came out and joined with the revelry of the Spaniards. The General (referring to General Montero) whose face is at peace, was walking near his table, dictating to his adjutant who was writing at the end of the table. Maybe it was order or decree of what was about to happen.
“When the orders were properly lined up to the soldiers, General Montero then said: ‘Que es Eso’ meaning ‘what is it?’ The General was then informed that the soldiers were already in formation and waiting for his orders. He then instructed all the soldiers including the newly-arrived reinforcements to assemble at the plaza in front of the fort.
“Leon Kilat and his companions arrived at the place of Capitan Candido (referring to Candido Padilla, who was formerly the Capitan or Head of San Nicolas and one of the leaders of KKK Cebu, C. Padilla Street is named in his honor). The leaders immediately had a meeting, and laid down their responsibilities.” (To be continued)
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