The Battle of Tres de Abril Series – Good Friday (April 8, 1898) Part 2
The book “Ang Kagubot sa Sugbo 1898” provides a narrative of what happened on April 3, 1898 and the following days. The entry on April 8 was written by Don Manuel Roa (who became Governor of Cebu from 1912 to 1922) and Raimundo Enriquez, this is the adaptation of CEBUpedia of the article originally written in Cebuano:
“Many of the families vacated, migrated to other towns, just to avoid the vaunted fierce justice of the Spaniards, fearing that their heads might be cut off. The City of Cebu (note from CEBUpedia: This is proof that Cebu was already a city when even before the Americans arrived, the charterhood of Cebu City in 1937 should be considered as the rebirth of the city and we should claim that Cebu is the country’s first city), especially in San Nicolas, only very few people could be seen, now that no male are being hurt by the Spaniards, no more women, no children, even old that were violated.
“The Spaniards were roaming in the city and in San Nicolas, sometimes in Pardo, seldom in Mabolo, however up to Mandawe up to the north and from Talisay to the south and to the towns all over the province, no Spaniard could be seen. That is the reason why such lands they thought to have found complete peace.
“The Cebuanos who took no part in the uprising, hid in Minglanilla and above Mandawe, however those who helped the Katipunan escaped to Naga, San Fernando, farther, others even to Negros. That is the reason why it is quiet in the city and San Nicolas, it was only the Spaniards at the fort (Fort San Pedro) that were rejoicing.
“There was tight security in the lands that kept the government soldiers at four in the afternoon. That is why at that time during Holy Friday, there was a horse rider, who was in uniform, in a slow gait. When the Spaniards who were guarding the fort saw, the immediately raised their arms. The guard shouted and asked: “Alto, quien vive,” the horse rider answered: “España.” The guard asked again: “De que gente,” the rider then replied: “Ordenansa del General.”
The dispatch came from Kabkad (now Carcar City, that is why their festival is called Kabkaban) bearing a letter for General Montero. The rider was ushered to the general’s office. After reading the letter, he came out saying: “Kayo el animal.” The letter told of the death of Don Leon Kilat (Pantaleon Villegas who was killed on April 8, 1898 in Carcar) at one o’clock early dawn.”
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