The Battle of Tres de Abril (Part 2)

This is CEBUpedia’s abridged translation of the tenth story of the book “Ang Kagubot sa Sugbo 1898” or the “Cebu’s Revolt of 1898” written by Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada. The story is a co-authored by Don Gregorio Padilla, Don Elpidio Rama, Don Alejandro Villona, Don Nicanor Avila, Don Hipolito Labra, and Don Raimundo Enriquez de Bracamonte (father of the author):

“The town leaders converged in the house of worship to attend for the mass and receive the palms for them to bring along the procession inside the patio right before the mass.”

“In attendance was the bachelorette Ceferina Llamas (who married Don Pantaleon del Rosario and son, Vicente S. del Rosario who became Cebu City Mayor in 1947)”.

The story notes of the coincidence of the nation’s events that fell on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday):

“On March 21, 1521 which happened on Palm Sunday, was the first baptism in the Philippines which was done in San Nicolas, 800 residents of Banawa or San Nicolasnon received Christianity which was followed by the defiance of Lapulapu.”

“On April 3, 1898 also on a Palm Sunday which was also followed by the revolt in Cebu, exactly of the year 1521.”

“On March 26, 1945 also happened on a Palm Sunday was the ruining of the Church and the convent of San Nicolas, caused by the bombing of the planes of the Americans and the falling of the church bell which was raised during the Palm Sunday of 1898. This was followed by the Liberation of Cebu by the Americans.”

“Three commotions or uprisings was witnessed by Palm Sunday that happened in San Nicolas, 1521, 1898 and 1945. With regards to the convent, we could also say that if America has in its history the bell of liberty, Cebu also has its own bell of the Katipunan in the convent of San Nicolas.”

“The next episode was the event that transpired at 9 in the morning”

“Nine in the morning

“Don Luis Flores, Don Leon Kilat and Don Eugenio Genes which were having breakfast in the same table stood when a running horse stopped driven by Goyong Padilla, They went to the stairs and inquired of the hurried dispatch. Goyong breathing heavily, was ushered inside, sat and after a short rest, spoke. I am here to inform you that Prisco Abreu, was arrested early dawn… those were the words of Goyong.” (To be continued)