The Battle of Tres de Abril Series
Holy Saturday (April 9, 1898) Part 2
The book “Ang Kagubot sa Sugbo 1898” provides a narrative of what happened on April 3, 1898 (which fell on Palm Sunday) and the following days. It was authored by Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada, it contains the articles written by veterans and witnesses of the Cebuano uprising against Spain. The entry on Holy Saturday was written by Don Elpidio Rama and Raimundo Enriquez, this is the adaptation of CEBUpedia of the article written in Cebuano:
“Despite General Adolfo Montero’s “Order de Gracia” (a Spanish Royal tradition on Holy Saturday of giving of amnesty to prisoners which was extended to its colonies through its governors, because of such clemency, the day was eventually called “Sabado de Gloria”) the soldiers continued harassing the men, the arrests did not end. Those they thought were members of the Katipunan, could not deny, were arrested. This way, the envious had the opportunity of reporting innocents, even those who had not done anything wrong against the government, they made them appear as insurgents. The soldiers likewise were very zealous in looking for those in the list, who haplessly allowed themselves to be arrested.
“Carreta, that part of the back of “Carcel Provincial” (Provincial Jail), must be aptly called the “Calvario sa Sugbo” or Calvary of Cebu, because it is the place where the condemned Cebuanos, thought to be insurgents or part of the uprising were executed with the use of rifles. The evidence for their execution were their association with the Katipuneros or for having attended its meetings. The first to be shot was Teniente Simplicio Sacedon and three other unknowns, they were four who was made to suffer up to the end. The usual executioners were the Spanish soldiers called the “Setenta-y-Tres”.
“The members of the Katipunan who hid in Kadkad (now Carcar City), most of them, slept in Sangat (part of San Fernando) on Holy Friday, heard of the news that Don Leon Kilat (Pantaleon Villegas, Chief of Army of KKK Cebu) was executed. The sad news brought many thoughts to their minds and apprehensions prevailed. It was dangerous to continue and hard to push through. They decided to just stay in the mountains.
“That is why from Sangat, they turned to Tinaan (Naga), marched to Marmol and then arrived at Tablan, below Sudlon. This is the place made as the Revolutionary Zone, made as quarters of the leaders of the revolution. Among the leaders were: Luis Flores, Eugenio Genes, Alejo Miñoza, and Elpidio Rama. Don Alejandro Tabar, a respected leader of the mountain, was designated as the Chief of the Zone. (To be continued)
- Latest
