The Widow
Exactly 247 years ago today, bravery of Filipinos is being written in history as a revolutinary leader challenges a powerful conqueror/nation in a historic battle. And these revolutionaries with Ilocano and Tinguian warriors were led not by a General but a woman, a widow named Gabriela Silang. Few days after the battle, Gabriela was executed but her legacy lived on.
Born in Barangay Caniogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur, Silang was a mestiza, of Spanish and Ilocano descent. In 1757, she married a 27-year-old Ilocano insurgent leader, Diego Silang. She became one of his closest advisors, a major figure in her husband's collaboration with the British and the brief expulsion of Spanish officials from Vigan, Ilocos Sur during the British occupation of the Philippines.
After her husband was assassinated by order of royal and church authorities in Manilaon May 28, 1763, Gabriela fled on horseback to the mountains of Abra to establish her headquarters, reassemble her troops, and rally the Tingguian community to fight. They descended on Vigan on September 10, 1763. But the garrison was ready, amassing Spanish, Tagalog, and Kapampangan soldiers, and Ilocano collaborators to ambush her and rout her forces. Many were killed. She escaped, alongside her uncle Nicolás and seven others, but later caught on September 29, 1763. They were summarily hanged in Vigan's plaza, with Gabriela being the last to die.
Her complete name is María Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Philippines: April 9
The Bataan Death March (also known as The Death March of Bataan) (Batān Shi no Kōshin バターン死の行進)
April 9, 1942 was not just an important moment in the Philippines but in the history of humankind. If the Germans were the infamous villains in Europe, in Asia are the Japanese. After the Japanese army’s successful raid in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, they turned their forces to the American controlled Philippines. For three months, the joint Filipino American forces defended Bataan. They have fought bravely until their supplies were exhausted.
At dawn on 9 April, and against the orders of Generals Douglas MacArthur and Jonathan Wainwright, Major General Edward P. King, Jr., commanding Luzon Force, Bataan, Philippine Islands, surrendered more than 75,000 (67,000 Filipinos, 1,000 Chinese Filipinos, and 11,796 Americans) starving and disease-ridden men. He inquired of Colonel Motoo Nakayama, the Japanese colonel to whom he tendered his pistol in lieu of his lost sword, whether the Americans and Filipinos would be well treated. The Japanese aide-de-camp replied: “We are not barbarians.”
The prisoners of war were immediately robbed of their keepsakes and belongings and what follows is one of the most inhumane incidents in human history.
The 75,000 prisoners of war forced to endure a 61-mile (98 km) march in deep dust, over vehicle-broken macadam roads, and crammed into rail cars to captivity at Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac. Thousands died en route from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution.
Those few who were lucky enough to travel to San Fernando on trucks still had to endure more than 25 miles of marching.
Physical abuse and murder resulted in very high fatalities inflicted upon the prisoners and civilians along the route by the armed forces of the Empire of Japan. Beheadings, cutting of throats and casual shootings were the more common actions—compared to instances of bayonet stabbing, rape, disembowelment, rifle butt beating and a deliberate refusal to allow the prisoners food or water while keeping them continually marching for nearly a week in tropical heat. Falling down or inability to continue moving was tantamount to a death sentence, as was any degree of protest or expression of displeasure.
Prisoners were attacked for assisting someone falling due to weakness, or for no apparent reason whatsoever. Strings of Japanese trucks were known to drive over anyone who fell. Riders in vehicles would casually stick out a rifle bayonet and cut a string of throats in the lines of men marching alongside the road. Accounts of being forcibly marched for five to six days with no food and a single sip of water are in postwar archives including filmed reports.
The exact death count has been impossible to determine as thousands of captives were able to escape from their guards, but some historians have placed the minimum death toll between six and eleven thousand men; whereas other postwar Allied reports have tabulated that only 54,000 of the 75,000 prisoners reached their destination—taken together, the figures document a casual killing rate of one in four up to two in seven (25% to 28.6%) of those brutalized by the forcible march. The number of deaths that took place in the internment camps from delayed effects of the march is uncertain, but believed to be high. All told, approximately 5,000–10,000 Filipino and 600–650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach Camp O'Donnell.
After the surrender of Japan in 1945, an Allied commission convicted Masaharu Homma of war crimes, including the atrocities of the death march out of Bataan, and the following atrocities at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was executed on April 3, 1946 outside Manila.
At dawn on 9 April, and against the orders of Generals Douglas MacArthur and Jonathan Wainwright, Major General Edward P. King, Jr., commanding Luzon Force, Bataan, Philippine Islands, surrendered more than 75,000 (67,000 Filipinos, 1,000 Chinese Filipinos, and 11,796 Americans) starving and disease-ridden men. He inquired of Colonel Motoo Nakayama, the Japanese colonel to whom he tendered his pistol in lieu of his lost sword, whether the Americans and Filipinos would be well treated. The Japanese aide-de-camp replied: “We are not barbarians.”
The prisoners of war were immediately robbed of their keepsakes and belongings and what follows is one of the most inhumane incidents in human history.
The 75,000 prisoners of war forced to endure a 61-mile (98 km) march in deep dust, over vehicle-broken macadam roads, and crammed into rail cars to captivity at Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac. Thousands died en route from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution.
Those few who were lucky enough to travel to San Fernando on trucks still had to endure more than 25 miles of marching.
Prisoners were attacked for assisting someone falling due to weakness, or for no apparent reason whatsoever. Strings of Japanese trucks were known to drive over anyone who fell. Riders in vehicles would casually stick out a rifle bayonet and cut a string of throats in the lines of men marching alongside the road. Accounts of being forcibly marched for five to six days with no food and a single sip of water are in postwar archives including filmed reports.
The exact death count has been impossible to determine as thousands of captives were able to escape from their guards, but some historians have placed the minimum death toll between six and eleven thousand men; whereas other postwar Allied reports have tabulated that only 54,000 of the 75,000 prisoners reached their destination—taken together, the figures document a casual killing rate of one in four up to two in seven (25% to 28.6%) of those brutalized by the forcible march. The number of deaths that took place in the internment camps from delayed effects of the march is uncertain, but believed to be high. All told, approximately 5,000–10,000 Filipino and 600–650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach Camp O'Donnell. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, an Allied commission convicted Masaharu Homma of war crimes, including the atrocities of the death march out of Bataan, and the following atrocities at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was executed on April 3, 1946 outside Manila.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Philippines: April 7
After arriving to Samar on March 16, 1521, Magellan decided to explore more of the islands that will later become the Philippines. On April 7, 1521 Magellan reached Cebu and meet with Rajah Humabon. The two performed a sacred tradition of the native people called the blood compact as part of the tribal tradition to seal their friendship and treaty.
Seven days later,Rajah Jumabon and 500 of his men were baptized as the first Christians (Catholics) in the Philippines. Humabon was named Carlos in honour of king Charles I of Spain, while his principal wife Hara Amihan was named Juana, after king Charles' mother, Johanna.
According to Antonio Pigafetta, a Venetian scholar born in Vicenza who was traveling with Magellan, it was Humabon who had requested Magellan to kill his rival Datu Lapu Lapu, the Datu (chieftain) of nearby Mactan island. Humabon's conversion to Christianity however, had an adverse affect of allowing the Spaniards to control Humabon and his people. After quarrel and mis-understanding erupted between the Spaniards and the Cebuanos, Rajah Humabon and his warriors plotted to poison the remaining Spanish soldiers in Cebu after the death of Magellan at the Battle of Mactan.
On April 7, 1976, the Philippines Arts Center was inaugurated in Mt. Makiling, Laguna by First Lady Imelda Marcos as a haven for young and aspiring artists. Its various buildings and facilities are scattered over 13.5 hectares of the Makiling Forest Reservation and also houses the Philippine High School for the Arts, a government-run secondary educational institution for gifted young artists.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Philippines: April 6
On April 6, 1924, the first Balagtasan was held in Manila between Jose Corazon de Jesus and Florante T. Collantes. They are both from Bulacan.
José Corazón de Jesús, also known by his pen name Huseng Batute, was a Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for independence specially during the American occupation of the Philippines, a period that lasted from 1901 to 1946. He is best known for being the lyricist of the Filipino song Bayan Ko.
On March 28, 1924, De Jesús and other leading Tagalog writers met at Instituto de Mujeres (Women's Institute)in Tondo, Manila to discuss how to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tagalog poet Francisco Balagtas on April 2. They decided to hold a traditional duplo, or a dramatic debate in verse that was in its waning days in the 1920s. They changed the format of the duplo and renamed it balagtasan in honor of Balagtas.
There were three pairs of poets who participated in the first balagtasan on April 6, 1924 at the institution, but the audience were most impressed by De Jesús and another Filipino poet, Florentino Collantes.
The balagtasan was an instant hit and it later became a common feature in Manila's biggest and most expensive theaters until the 1950s. De Jesus and Collantes were pitted against each other in a contrived rivalry and a showdown was set for Oct. 18, 1925 at the Olympic Stadium. De Jesús was acclaimed winner of the showdown and was dubbed "Hari ng Balagtasan" (king of versified debate). He held the title until his death in 1932.
José Corazón de Jesús, also known by his pen name Huseng Batute, was a Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for independence specially during the American occupation of the Philippines, a period that lasted from 1901 to 1946. He is best known for being the lyricist of the Filipino song Bayan Ko.
On March 28, 1924, De Jesús and other leading Tagalog writers met at Instituto de Mujeres (Women's Institute)in Tondo, Manila to discuss how to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tagalog poet Francisco Balagtas on April 2. They decided to hold a traditional duplo, or a dramatic debate in verse that was in its waning days in the 1920s. They changed the format of the duplo and renamed it balagtasan in honor of Balagtas.
There were three pairs of poets who participated in the first balagtasan on April 6, 1924 at the institution, but the audience were most impressed by De Jesús and another Filipino poet, Florentino Collantes.
The balagtasan was an instant hit and it later became a common feature in Manila's biggest and most expensive theaters until the 1950s. De Jesus and Collantes were pitted against each other in a contrived rivalry and a showdown was set for Oct. 18, 1925 at the Olympic Stadium. De Jesús was acclaimed winner of the showdown and was dubbed "Hari ng Balagtasan" (king of versified debate). He held the title until his death in 1932.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Philippines: February 23
On February 22, 1986, Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos breaks from Marcos and secured Camp Aguinaldo and draw People Power Support. The next day, about 2 million civilians ringed Camps Aguinaldo and Crame against Marcos Force. It was known as the EDSA revolution that toppled the 20-year reign of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines.
EDSA Revolution
The event astonished even the international community that it became headlines to major newspapers and magazines. It was the inspiration for subsequent non-violent demonstration around the world. One of the most significant part of the Philippine History.
Death of the Tiger
Forty years before the EDSA revolution, another significant history happened in Los Banos. The great General Tomoyuki Yamashita, also known as the Tiger of Malaya, the defender of the Philippines against America was hanged for war crimes.
On December 8,1941, General Yamashita has conquered the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, where his 30,000 front line troops captured 130,000 British, Indian and Australian troops earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".
In 1944, when the war situation was critical for Japan, Yamashita assumed the command of the Fourteenth Area Army to defend the Philippines on 10 October. The U.S. Army landed on Leyte on 20 October, only ten days after Yamashita's arrival at Manila. On 6 January 1945 the Sixth U.S. Army landed at Lingayen Gulf in Luzon.
Yamashita commanded approximately 262,000 troops in three defensive groups. He was forced out of Manila and retreated to the mountains of northern Luzon.
Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi was left to defend the city. He took command of the 3,750 Army security troops, and against Yamashita's specific order, turned the city into a battlefield that resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 Filipino civilians. This would be later known as the Manila Massacre. The fierce battle happned from February 4 to March 3 in 1945.
Yamashita used delaying tactics to maintain his army in Kiangan (part of the Ifugao Province), until 2 September 1945, after the surrender of Japan, where his forces were reduced to under 50,000 by the tough campaigning by elements of the combined American and Filipino soldiers including the recognized guerrillas. Yamashita surrendered in the presence of Generals Jonathan Wainwright and Arthur Percival, both of whom had been POWs in Manchuria. Ironically, Percival had surrendered to Yamashita after the Battle of Singapore. This time, however, Percival refused to shake Yamashita's hand, being angered by the exterminationist tactics that Yamashita had allegedly employed against Allied prisoners of war, so Yamashita burst into tears. Although Yamashita might have been expected to commit suicide prior to this surrender, he reportedly explained his decision not to kill himself by saying that if he did "someone else will have to take the blame."
Ali Mudin's Treaty
More than 200 years ago, another significant History happened in Jolo. The King Ali Mudin signed a treaty with the Spaniards.
Ali Mudin was the King of Jolo and was captured by the Spaniards in their battle against the Moro in 1749. He was brought to Manila with his son Israel. Israel was allowed to study in San Jose, a school by the Spaniards. In his absence, Bantilan assumed the throne as King.
After few years with the Christians, Ali Mudin was encouraged to be baptized and was given the name Fernando 1. After a few years, the Governor Obando decided to bring Ali to his throne. He went back to Julo with the Spanish soldiers and fought the Moros. A treaty was signed between the Moro and the Spaniards.
When Ali Mudin did not go with the Spaniards to Zamboanga, they assumed that he is a traitor and he together with his 200 people were brought back to Manila. From then on, the Spaniards lead a continues battle against the Moros.
Ali Mudin asked the Spaniards to let his daughter Fatima to return to Julo and negotiate peace. In 1753, his request was granted and Fatima brought back a letter from Bantilan. He requested that Ali Mudin will return to Julo and they will sign a new treaty of peace. The released Ali but requested that he stay in Manila. He was given a home and servants.
In 1762, Manila was attacked by English forces. Ali Mudin and his 50 warriors fought the new invaders. With his brave contribution in the battle, Ali Mudin was allowed to return to Julo to battle the English forces who have camped in a nearby island. A new treaty was signed between the Ali Mudin and the Spaniards on February 23, 1763.
Ali Mudin returned and drove the English away. He continued to rule and died in his homeland.
EDSA Revolution
The event astonished even the international community that it became headlines to major newspapers and magazines. It was the inspiration for subsequent non-violent demonstration around the world. One of the most significant part of the Philippine History.
Death of the Tiger
Forty years before the EDSA revolution, another significant history happened in Los Banos. The great General Tomoyuki Yamashita, also known as the Tiger of Malaya, the defender of the Philippines against America was hanged for war crimes.
On December 8,1941, General Yamashita has conquered the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, where his 30,000 front line troops captured 130,000 British, Indian and Australian troops earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".
In 1944, when the war situation was critical for Japan, Yamashita assumed the command of the Fourteenth Area Army to defend the Philippines on 10 October. The U.S. Army landed on Leyte on 20 October, only ten days after Yamashita's arrival at Manila. On 6 January 1945 the Sixth U.S. Army landed at Lingayen Gulf in Luzon.
Yamashita commanded approximately 262,000 troops in three defensive groups. He was forced out of Manila and retreated to the mountains of northern Luzon.
Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi was left to defend the city. He took command of the 3,750 Army security troops, and against Yamashita's specific order, turned the city into a battlefield that resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 Filipino civilians. This would be later known as the Manila Massacre. The fierce battle happned from February 4 to March 3 in 1945.
Yamashita used delaying tactics to maintain his army in Kiangan (part of the Ifugao Province), until 2 September 1945, after the surrender of Japan, where his forces were reduced to under 50,000 by the tough campaigning by elements of the combined American and Filipino soldiers including the recognized guerrillas. Yamashita surrendered in the presence of Generals Jonathan Wainwright and Arthur Percival, both of whom had been POWs in Manchuria. Ironically, Percival had surrendered to Yamashita after the Battle of Singapore. This time, however, Percival refused to shake Yamashita's hand, being angered by the exterminationist tactics that Yamashita had allegedly employed against Allied prisoners of war, so Yamashita burst into tears. Although Yamashita might have been expected to commit suicide prior to this surrender, he reportedly explained his decision not to kill himself by saying that if he did "someone else will have to take the blame."
Ali Mudin's Treaty
More than 200 years ago, another significant History happened in Jolo. The King Ali Mudin signed a treaty with the Spaniards.
Ali Mudin was the King of Jolo and was captured by the Spaniards in their battle against the Moro in 1749. He was brought to Manila with his son Israel. Israel was allowed to study in San Jose, a school by the Spaniards. In his absence, Bantilan assumed the throne as King.
After few years with the Christians, Ali Mudin was encouraged to be baptized and was given the name Fernando 1. After a few years, the Governor Obando decided to bring Ali to his throne. He went back to Julo with the Spanish soldiers and fought the Moros. A treaty was signed between the Moro and the Spaniards.
When Ali Mudin did not go with the Spaniards to Zamboanga, they assumed that he is a traitor and he together with his 200 people were brought back to Manila. From then on, the Spaniards lead a continues battle against the Moros.
Ali Mudin asked the Spaniards to let his daughter Fatima to return to Julo and negotiate peace. In 1753, his request was granted and Fatima brought back a letter from Bantilan. He requested that Ali Mudin will return to Julo and they will sign a new treaty of peace. The released Ali but requested that he stay in Manila. He was given a home and servants.
In 1762, Manila was attacked by English forces. Ali Mudin and his 50 warriors fought the new invaders. With his brave contribution in the battle, Ali Mudin was allowed to return to Julo to battle the English forces who have camped in a nearby island. A new treaty was signed between the Ali Mudin and the Spaniards on February 23, 1763.
Ali Mudin returned and drove the English away. He continued to rule and died in his homeland.
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