Chapter 5 - Controversies in Philippine History PDF

MODULE: OLSS01 – READING IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY CHAPTER 5 - CONTROVERSIES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY A. Criticize conflicting views concerning certain historical issues B. Compare and contrast views of prominent people on particular issues, C. Debate on controversial historical...

MODULE: OLSS01 – READING IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY CHAPTER 5 - CONTROVERSIES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY A. Criticize conflicting views concerning certain historical issues B. Compare and contrast views of prominent people on particular issues, C. Debate on controversial historical issues. Unveiling controversies in Philippine history, we focus on three crucial events. First, the "Cry of Rebellion" challenges established narratives about our fight for independence. Then, the Battle of Tirad Pass brings forth conflicting perspectives, adding layers to the heroic tale. Lastly, the surrender of the last Filipino general to the Americans in the Filipino-American War prompts questions about strategy and loyalty in the quest for Philippine independence. Explore these events with us as we unravel the complexities, shedding light on nuanced truths in our shared history. CASE 4: CRY OF REBELLION 32  MODULE: OLSS01 – READING IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY The "El Grito de Rebelion" or "Cry of Rebellion" in the Late Nineteenth Century In the late nineteenth century, the "El Grito de Rebelion" or "Cry of Rebellion" marked the beginning of a revolution that took place in August 1896 in the northeast of Manila. During this event, rebels declared their rebellion against the Spanish colonial government, and it stands as a crucial moment in the history of colonies striving for independence against their colonizers. Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo underscores a specific incident during the event when Andrés Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before the Katipuneros, who followed suit. Some writers identify the first military encounter with the Spaniards as the moment of the Cry. In response to the failure of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned an "Himno de Balintawak" to inspire the renewed struggle. Eyewitness accounts, however, present marked disagreements among historical witnesses regarding the place and time of the Cry. Utilizing primary and secondary sources, four places have been identified: Balintawak, Kangkong, Pugad Lawin, and Bahay Toro. The dates also vary, with possibilities on 23, 24, 25, or 26 August 1896. It's important to approach accounts with caution, particularly in the case of Valenzuela, who initially told a Spanish investigator that the Cry happened in Balintawak on Wednesday, 26 August 1896. However, in his later Memoirs of the Revolution, he stated that it occurred at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896. Such inconsistencies in accounts serve as red flags when dealing with primary sources. According to Guerrero, Encarnacion, and Villegas, all these places are in Balintawak, then part of Caloocan, and now in Quezon City. As for the varying dates, it's suggested that Bonifacio and his troops might have been moving from one place to another to evade detection by the Spanish government, which could explain the several accounts of the Cry. CASE 5: THE BATTLE OF TIRAD PASS The youngest general of Bulacan who fought in the Filipino and American war in1889, he is known for his defense due to the mountains of burning Tirad in Ilocos Sur against the Americans. General Gregorio Del Pilar was born on November 14, 1875 and lived with his uncle Deodato Arellano where the first congregation was founded and he was educated at the Ateneo Municipal De Manila in 1881. In March 33  MODULE: OLSS01 – READING IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY 1886 he graduated from Ateneo De Manila with a Bachelor of Arts course. At an early age he joined the Katipunan, became the leader of the katipuneros and joined the troops of Colonial Vicente Enriquez. He also attacked Paombong which also strengthened him where he held 3,000 thousand Filipinos against Ramon Blanco's ranks with 560 hundred Spaniards, as a result of the Filipinos' tactical victory. When Antonio Luna died In Nueva Ecija Gregorio Del Pilar succeeded Aguinaldo's small army. They hide in the mountains of Ilocos Sur, Aguinaldo gathered the combined forces in Cavite and Bulacan. The Tirad pass, is a mountain gap in the Cordillera, where Filipino soldiers fought against American soldiers on December 2, 1899 so that Emilio Aguinaldo could walk. In November1899, Aguinaldo's party reached the town of Conception Ilocos Sur and they climbed to the top of Mt. Tirad. Del Pilar ordered to dig 3 lines. Del Pilar left with sixty soldiers to watch out for the Americans, while Aguinaldo and the rest were left in Cervantes. It was the second of December in the year 1899 when the battle broke out between Del Pilar and Payton March's ranks in the Tirad mountains and it was called "The Battle of Tirad Pass “The US Army 33rd Infantry Regiment, led by Peyton Marc, was captured by the town of Conception at the foot of Mount Tirad. On December 1, 1899, they hurried across the Pasong Tirad mountains to cut off Aguinaldo's communication with General Manuel Tinio's brigades. The Americans found it difficult to climb the mountain of Pasong Tirad because Del Pilar's ranks were defending the net at the top of the mountain, but a traitor in Del Pilar's ranks told the Americans a secret road. Of Del Pilar's sixty men, only eight were left, Del Pilar was killed in a skirmish from a gunshot wound to the neck and he died instantly. During the Philippine-American War, the Igorot’s — hardy mountaineers from the Cordilleras of northern Luzon Island—sent a contingent of men to fight the Americans at Caloocan. However, the group soon fell out with the Philippine army and became U.S. allies, acting as guides for American troops in the rugged highlands of northern Luzon. A Tingguian Igorot, Januario Galut, led U.S. troops to a position where they could surround and defeat the forces of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass on Dec. 2, 1899. Source: Philippine-American War,1899-1902 by Arnaldo Dumindin. Of the 60 original defenders, only 8 managed to escape. However, del Pilar’s heroic delaying action— which lasted for five hours—against the numerically superior and better-armed Americans bought enough time for Aguinaldo to escape and fight another day. As for Galut, no exact reason can be given for his betrayal; however, it is speculated that he experienced discrimination from his own countrymen, prompting him to switch to the American side. 34  MODULE: OLSS01 – READING IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY CASE 6: LAST FILIPINO GENERAL TO SURRENDER TO THE AMERICANS Simeon Ola was a brave general on a long list of brave generals. With people such as Miguel Malvar in Batangas, Vicente Lukban in Samar, and Macario Sakay in Morong (now Rizal), it’s hard to make your name stand out. But Ola from Albay managed to do just that. And yet, Ola is somebody we remember but don’t really know all that well. Beyond the surface, it seems that facts about Ola remain few and far in between. We do have a lot of facts on Ola. He was born in 1865, in Guinobatan, Albay, to Vicente Ola and Apolonia Arboleda. He managed to rise to the position of teniente de cuardillos in his hometown, and he took Philosophy at the University of Nueva Caceres. But the call of Revolution in 1896 meant that he stopped his studies at 31 years old. We know Ola used his position as teniente, as well as his close relationship with the parish priest to secure arms and ammunition. We know the battles he fought in: Camalig, under General Vito Bellarmino, where he attained the rank of captain; Binogsacan, right in Guinobatan; Oas, Macabugos, and many more. Philippines’ prominent historian Teodoro Agoncillo recognizes Miguel Malvar as the last filipino general to surrender to the American. In his book “Introduction to Filipino History” On April 16, 1902, General Miguel Malvar surrendered in order to save his people from the brutality of the enemy and from hunger. With the surrender of General Malvar, systematic opposition to American sovereignty ceased. It is true that here and there, as in the case of Macario Sakay, patriots refused to surrender, but their effect ton the Americans was negligibly.” Note that Teodoro Agoncillo was from Batangas Province and historians are insinuating that he favored Malvar even though he surrenders earlier two years than Simeon Ola. JOSE MALVAR ACCOUNT, MALVAR’S GRANDSON 35  MODULE: OLSS01 – READING IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY Jose Malvar, grandson of Miguel Malvar, in his article to the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated November 12, 2016, did not contest the claim that it was either Simeon Ola or Macario Sakay and not his grandfather Miguel Malvar at the last Filipino General surrender to the Americans but rather he claimed that “there was no surrender that took place but rather a peace agreement with the Americans”. One April 15, General Malvar and his went down Mount Makiling. There is a newspaper photograph of General Bell and General Malvar shaking hands. The photograph shows a crowd watching the occasion with the women in the crowd in festive attire. It is evident from the picture that there was not even an indication of a token of firearms. General Malvar did not surrender. He entered into peace agreement. But the newspaper give the occasion the spin of victory by calling the occasion a surrender. Santos, E. D. (2019). Revisiting Controversies in Philippine History: Perspectives and Challenges. Philippine Journal of History, 25(3), 112-128. Rivera, M. A. (2021). Contested Narratives: Exploring Historical Controversies in the Philippines. Asian History Journal, 8(4), 201-218. 36