Heroes of Balangiga identified in memoir

Eugenio Daza y Salazar plotted and led the surprise attack on the US Army detachment in Balangiga, Samar, on Sept. 28, 1901. A major in the Philippine Revolutionary Force, he relied mostly on volunteers. The strike force of 700 civilians wielded only clubs, lances, and bolos. Yet they slew 36 superior armed and trained colonial troopers. In retaliation, the US general ordered the slaughter of all males capable of bearing arms, aged 10 and older, and “to turn Samar into a howling wilderness.”

In a sworn memoir 34 years later, Dec. 23, 1935, Daza identified and paid tribute to his comrades-in-arms. Excerpts:

• “At one o’clock in the morning all women, children, and sick men were ordered to leave town immediately and concentrate in a secluded place. After this precaution, I ordered our armed forces to surround the town at points assigned to each company. First company was under my direct command and of the town President Pedro Abayan. Second company was under Revenue Delegate, Captain Benito Canillas, and Lieutenant Artemio Belaez. Third company was under Giporlos Barrio Lieutenant Petre Abit and town leader Bartolome Ayjon. Fourth company was under Captain Lopez Angorin and infantry Lieutenant Pelagio Acosta. Fifth company was under Messrs. Pedro Avila and Andres Hilaria, both officers of the corps of cazadores (hunters). At six o’clock the Sixth company commanded by ex-Municipal Captain Custodio Salazar and Mr. Pablo Gacho, head of Barrio Laua-an, proceeded to the church with other officers, having been assigned to capture the American officers.

“With the usual Sunday cockfight and the coming of men summoned to clean the streets, the Americans would not suspect the sudden increase of the number of men in town as revolutionaries quartered in the convent of the church; some rebels were attired in feminine dress and simulated praying in church and from there they proceeded to the convent; others brought firewood and young coconuts, the water of which the Americans drank for fear of being poisoned. These men posted themselves in front of the American guards at the stairway of the convent. Seventh company under Chief of Police Valeriano Abanador, composed of municipal policemen together with the street cleaners and prisoners, was assigned to occupy at any cost one of the American headquarters. This Seventh company was divided into three groups, each to occupy one of the quarters assigned it.

“To dissimulate and in order that their intentions would not be prematurely discovered, the policemen and the workers were armed only with clubs and dull bolos. The group headed by Captain Santos Davanadero and Lt. Gonzalo Abejero was assigned to take the municipal building. The group under Police Corporal Mariano Valdenor, the assistant of Chief of Police Valeriano Abanador, was assigned to take charge of the other quarters; Sergeant of Police Pablo Abejero was also assigned to the group which was to occupy the municipal building.”

• “In our ranks, 28 revolutionary soldiers died in line of patriotic duty, as follows: Benito Canillas, Geronimo Albarina, Pablo Abajero, Elegino Albarina, Augusto Hilarion, Guno Canonigo, Agustin Ascidillo, Mariano Bajo, Rosauro Cabillos, Ceferino Basdante, Basilio Abing, Esteban Aguirre, Hilario Garcia, Felipe Cebero, Laureano Gandia, Lucio Elacion, Ignacio Faduypa, Brijido Ave, Catalino Espina, Salvador Elecho, Ponciano Delanter, Felino Balasbas, Felipe Andres, Patrico Gacos, Raymundo Bajo, Costodio Elacion, Isidro Bajo, and Velarde Catalogo.

• “The following were wounded: Santos Davanadero, Remedios Canilla, Juan Bajar, Gonzales Eder, Graciano Balcos, Martin Anistoso, Isidro Dado, Ruperto Duran, Paulo de Ocampo, Roman Sabido, Domingo Enario, Venancio Balasbas, Vicente Garilla, Valentin Castro, Daniel Avincula, Braullo de Claro, Mateo Abellar, Alvaro dela Dia, Toribio Avejero, Isidro Dalino, Valeriano Eluspa, and Jose Edejar.”

(Daza’s memoir was first published in a souvenir program in his honor. It is reprinted in full in “The I-Stories,” eyewitness historical accounts compiled and edited in 2006 by Dr. Augusto de Viana, History department chairman, University of Santo Tomas. Copies available at the UST Publishing House.)

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CORRECTION: Sen. Panfilo Lacson will not be termed out in June 2019; apologies for my misreporting. His tenure is till June 2022, with possible reelection to another six years. That means more indefatigable exposing of illegal pork barrels in annual national budgets. As I wrote last Monday in “Are Our Lawmakers So Untrustworthy?” Lacson is the only one left holding the line against the multibillion-peso insertions laden with kickbacks.

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Ted Failon, the Philippines’ most awarded radio host-commentator, is back on ABS-CBN DZMM Teleradyo. Millions of followers worldwide missed his in-depth interviews and analyses during his three-month retreat. This week he resumed 8-10 a.m. daily, with renewed vigor, faith, and content. Expect from “Failon Ngayon” more comprehensive coverage of events and trends to guide listeners.

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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ (882-AM).

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