Overheard
by Rosalinda Velasco Petinglay
I am rewriting this story as told by his ancestors to Deogracias M. Petinglay, native of San Remegio, who was a writer and college editor of "The Agustinian Mirror" a publication of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. He later became Registrar of Antique School of Arts and Trade now known as University of Antique.
History of San Remegio
The Place, Structure of the Locality, Buildings and Others
Bato-Cueva, Langagon, Paniwsiwan, Bato-Inca, Tubudan, Tulabong, Mangolay, Manlabog, Igbaong, Talakuan, Igkahoy, Igparina, Aningalan, Lumpatan, San Martin, Igkatumbal, Igang, Palakupak, Bolawan, Lomburin, Cadlunan, Rondajun are the historical places of San Remegio during the Pre-Spanish and Spanish times. During these years these places were frequented by criminals and bandits coming from the interior towns of Iloilo, almost all of the inhabitants of the town and its surroundings were subjected to the molestations of the said criminals and bandits who robbed them of their animals and sometimes attacked them at night in their homes and dwellings, taking their movables, clothing and utensils once the place was captured.Upon notice of an impending robbery or attack inside the municipality is received by the authorities of the town, a possee is formed to repel and pursue the robbers. Should an encounter be made, a fighting ensued wherein bolos and spears were used. Should they emerge victorious over the bandits, valuables are retrieved though this does not always happen.
In the year 1845, Don Rafael Agustin Baladjay, one of the prominent sons of Tigbagacay asked the help of the authorities of the province to safeguard the tranquility of the inhabitants of the place who were oppressed by the forces of the bandits and that local patrols had to be formed in the place. His petitions were in vain because the idea was considered as against the policies of the government at that time. Instead, he was imprisoned in the Antique Provincial Jail. When the folks in Tigbagacay learned about his imprisonment without just cause, the male citizens of the barrio took arms in order to free their idol. After organizing themselves, they marched to the capital town of San Jose. Upon arriving in Atabay, they captured the night guards of the place and killed some of them. Those captured were made as guides to the prison cells.
It was midnight and the soldiers of the jail were asleep except for the nocturnal sentinel. One of Baladjay's men leaped towards the lamp that lighted the door of the cell and put the light out. The sentinel was paralyzed with fear as the Baladjay men broke open the cell door and freed their idol. They immediately returned to the jurisdiction of Tigbagacay towards the mountains of Manlabog where they encamped and regrouped their forces.
The government forces mobilized its forces in order to suppress the rebellious activities. After several bloody battles, he was taken prisoner again, subjected to torture and later he was deported to the island of Burias where he befriended the natives. There in his exile, he planted various useful trees like Buri, Coconuts, and others. The authorities upon seeing his good conduct in the place of exile, granted him pardon and was allowed to return home. He led a quiet life till the day he died. His daughter Teodora Baladjay married Francisco Masa a native of San Jose. The descendants of Baladjay are the two sons of Teodora Baladjay Masa. They are the brothers Anastacio Masa and Martin Masa. Later on, when Claveria issued an order for Filipinos to change to Spanish names, some of the Masas changed the spelling from Masa to Maza.
In the year 1870, a detachment of the Guardia Civil was assigned to this town (San Remegio or Tigbagacay) was still part of Sibalom) and stayed until 1898 when they had to return to Sibalom to regroup their forces during the outbreak of the Filipino-Spanish Revolution.
In August 1887, it was rumored that a certain Hilario, alias Gregorio Palmero, son of Francisco, who lived in a cave in the barrio of Igba-ong was made a King. The people of San Remegio, Hantik, Valderrama and Dao spread the news that this King had a palace in the cave of Igba-ong. The "palace" became the object of gatherings of the people all day long. People visiting the "palace" brought gifts as presents for their King. The newcomers turned into fanatics or subjects of the "King."
Later, news reached the Gobernadorcillo of San Remegio , Don Castor Libertino, that in Igba-ong people were forming themselves against the government. Don Castor Libertino ordered his forces called "Sumatan"
to capture and bring to his presence the "King" Gregorio Palmero. He formalized a denouncement against Hilario before the Justice of the Peace, Don Cesario Murillo. The court proceedings were not carried out because it was said that the judge fully knew Hilario as pastor of his animals and was being sent away for reasons of insanity. And so, Hilario who was captured, was released.
After a week's stay in the barrio of Igas (could be Igbaras or Sido) Hilario returned to his imaginary palace in Igba-ong. His followers upon hearing that he was freed, gathered the people and submitted themselves to the orders of their "King". His army was formed and was led by Martin Tandayag. They marched from Igbaras, towards Monte Olay in the Municipality of Hantik, formerly a suburb of San Jose, the capital of the province. They reached the barrio of Pis-anan and befriended the inhabitants at the same time putting to death the Guardia Civil assigned to that place. They continued their march until they arrived at Mt. Olay where they were attacked by the Spanish forces whom they repelled and put to fight.
In May 1888, the forces of Hilario marched from Mt. Olay to the capital of the province of Antique but they were not able to carry out their intentions because it was on the Feast of Corpus Christi. They mistook the
procession coming out of the church to be men of the government troops. They gave battle to the men in procession which was defended by a Spaniard and his wife who were residents of the locality. The fighting continued until a detachment of the Guardia Civil of Guintas, Sibalom and San Jose arrived to help. After long hours of fighting, the forces of Hilario were defeated and put to flight by the Spanish forces.
After the fight it was known that Hilario did not suffer anything from the battle. For this reason more people came in order to become his followers.
Towards the end of May of the same year, Hilario and his followers, again returned and regrouped themselves together in Igba-ong, this time in greater number. After a lot of preparations, they transferred to the locality of San Martin with the intention of attacking the capital of the province. There was a worker in the site of Cubay, now barrio Trinidad, named Dionisio Vilvar. He was knowledgeable about Hilario's hostile forces and he offered his services to the Politico-Militar Governor of San Jose. He and Pedro Mandigal served as guides to the dispatched forces of the Spanish government.
On June 9, 1888 the government troops arrived at the locality of Lumpatan, south of San Martin in two platoons. The first platoon took their position in a hill of Lumpatan and trained their guns towards the forces of Hilario. The other platoon under the command of Sgt. Felix Velasco marched by way of of the river Maninila to capture the stronghold of Hilario.The fight lasted for half an hour and the rebels demoralized by the unexpected attack, retreated leaving their deads. Those who lived were captured and later deported to the island of Palawan, Puerto Princesa and Mindanao (Zamboanga). Those who were left in the province suffered the tortures of the Provincial Jail.They were only released just before the capture of San Jose by the Filipino Revolutionists under General Leandro Fullon.
In August 1897, a local force called "Voluntarios" was formed as a preparation for the defense against the revolutionists under the command of Lts. Felix Velasco and Martin Maza.
In December 1898, the "Voluntarios" instead of fighting the revolutionaries, went to San Jose in order to help the revolutionist troops of Gen. Fullon in capturing the garrison of San Jose. During the said month, the Spanish Lt. of the volunteers in Sibalom went to the Revolutionary authorities to offer his services.
January 1899 was the formation of the Filipino Municipal Government under the auspices of Gen. Fullon. The following persons were designated to the following posts: Martin Maza, Municipal President; Luis Occena, Vice-President: Evaristo Villar, Justice of the Peace; Florentino Marfil, Chief of Police, and Eugenio Sancha, Revenue Commissioner.In the Middle of the said year, Martin Maza left his post to Luis Occena
and discharged the duties of Lt. Col. of the Militia.
In February 1899, Lt. Col. Martin Maza and his militiamen went to the barrio of Balantang in the province of Iloilo to reinforce the troops of the Filipino Government under the command of Generals Ramon Diocno, Martin Delgado, and others, against the attacks of the American Troops, where they stayed for one month.
During their stay in that place, the Yankee soldiers did not move out of their fortifications in the town of Jaro.
For this reason, Gen. Fullon sent an order to Lt. Col. Maza to move out his troops and return to the town of San Remegio. They returned crossing the mountains by way of the town of Leon (Iloilo).
In Jannuary 1900 almost all of the rice products of the towns of San Jose, San Pedro and Sibalom were
transported to the barrio of Bugo in order to be stored in the military camps in the locality of Bawang, as a provision for the troops of the Philippine Government in case the defense of the town of San Jose would
not be possible against the invasion or landing of the American soldiers. According to the agreement among
heads of the Philippine Government, in case of the defeat of the capital, the troops would be concentrated in the town of San Remegio as the war zone. Thus various trenches were dug along the provincial road from Sibalom to this town especially from the barrio of Cadolonan and in the southern hills of Barangbang and in Mt. Igtu-og. The town proper of San Remegio was very well fortified up to the southeastern top of the hills of Bugtong Bigay with cannons.
On the 24th of January 1900, fortifications were built by the troops of the Philippine Government near the shores of Calala by the provincial road designed to repel amphibious landings of the American Troops.
The said fortifications were occupied by the regular troops of the Philippine Government, Militiamen, and the bolo men.
In the first week of February 1900, Lt. Col. Martin Maza received orders from Gen. Fullon to gather his forces in San Jose. In complying with the said order, he commanded the captain of his troops, Simeon Cabrillos to gather the troops and without losing time, they went to San Jose to receive further orders.
While in San Jose, Lt. Col. Martin Maza received orders as immediate chief of the government forces both
regulars, militia men and bolo men to defend the fortification in the frontiers of Calala.
After inspecting the fortifications Col. Maza gave out the first orders to Capt. Demetrio Nava and Capt. Simeon Cabrillos to assume their duties as Captains of the regular forces and as commander of the defense of the left wing and the other as commander of the militia men and bolo men of the defense to the right.
On the 24th of February 1900, Lt. Col. Maza selected a high site for the command post. On the evening of the same day he gave out orders to Capt. Cabrillos delegating him the command of the troops and the supervision of the same to Lt. Pedro Armonio. Once the command has been carried out, Cabrillos was made to return to the command post to carry out his duties as aide-de-camp to Lt. Col. Maza.
On the dawn off the same day, the warships of the American Navy started the bombardment of the fortifications in Calala giving protection to the amphibious landings of their troops. Once the troops have landed, a battle ensued and after hours of combat, the Filipino Troops were forced to retreat due to the superiority of arms and ammunition of their adversaries who at the same time were aided by the firepowers of the cannons of the warships. The retreat plan was to the direction of San Remegio where they arrived at
one o;clock in the afternoon. While in this town, they gathered their remaining forces and covered the main trenches of a half kilometer up to the main entrance to the town, with cannons. The inhabitants of the town were ordered to evacuate so as not to interfere with the troops once the battle has begun.
The people evacuated to whatever place they thought was secure. The Governor of the Province together with his family and other neighbors in San Jose also arrived to this town in the afternoon of the same day.
They could not find lodging because almost everybody has fled. The Governor and his company continued
their trip up to the locality of Talibong where they met the families of Lt. Col. Maza and that of Capt. Cabrillos, and Municipal President Luis Occena. After a lengthy conversation, they partook of whatever food was brought and they rested for the night.
At one o'clock early the next morning, Lt. Col. Maza and his Capt. Simeon Cabrillos arrived at the locality coming from Calala where they have done fighting with the American Troops.They have been selected by Gen. Fullon to direct and command the forces in the place. After crossing through mountains,a conference was held in the barrio of Cuyapyao in the Municipality of Patnongon. Half an hour after the refugees left,
the Municipal President, the Lt. Col., and the Captain together with their families left the place and proceeded to the locality of Bulawan. The commandant of the troops assigned in Igbolo, Florentino Marfil sent out a notice that the American troops coming from Iloilo by way of the mountains have arrived in Bagumbayan, and the resistance to them....
This is the end of my report because the continuation to this story as told by Deogracias Petinglay was lost.
