Martyrdom, Finest in Aklan Culture & Tradition

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

Remembering Kalibo heroes and patriots in the month of March is a positive move to inculcate the love of country among the people particularly the youth. The highlights of the month-long celebration are presented in the "Kapehan Sa Aklen" on Saturday, February 28. The guest resource persons are shown above from (l to r) SPO2 Benny Jones Mendoza, Police Senior Insp. Arnolito Laguerta, Hon. Lilian Quimpo Tirol, Sec. to Mayor Rebaldo, Randy A. Rebaldo, Noel Dela Cruz, Admin. Officer-Kalibo, Hon. Emmanuel Soviet Dela Cruz and Boy Tabares.

A big event is underway to mark the 112th death anniversary of the XIX Martyrs of Aklan. Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo in an approved SB Ordinance No. 2008–02 has declared the whole month of March Aklan Martyrs and Patriots Month in Kalibo. March 23 is also proclaimed a holiday in Kalibo in order to allow people from all walks of life to render fitting tribute in the form of civic parade, comme-morative program, info drive, visual arts and public display of flags.

In the Guardian of March 4, 2003, a historian and writer, Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino wrote of that fateful day of March 17, 1897:

"Ro Katipuneros sa Akean hay nagakilita kato sa barrio it Mabilo ag Nalook. Si Castillo imaw ro Superomo o hepe it Katipunan sa Akean. Ro ibang lideres it Katipunan sa Akean hay sanday Candido Iban, Albino Rabaria, Cornelio Delfin, Teodorico Motus, Pedro Pamati-an, Isedoro Jimenez, Isedoro Madayag, Canuto Segovia ag Gabino Sucgang.

Si Castillo, Iban ag Rabaria hay may anda ra nga baroto nga andang guin ngaeanan it Sagrada Trinidad. Guin usar nanda ra sa pangisda sa baybayon it Batan ag Sapian. Si Castillo hay sa anang mga ka-ibahan nga Katipunan sa Banga ag ko Marso 17, 1897 guinsuguiran imaw nga ro andang baroto hay guin confiscar ag guin guyod it isaeang ka barko it Español sa baybayon it Kumtang. Pagkabati ni Castillo karon hay dayon imaw nga nag-adto sa Tigayon, Kalibo si-in hakita na eon nga nagatilipon eagi ro mga Katipunan.

Ro Katipuneros hay armado ag sa formasyon military. Sa pamuno ni Castillo nga naga sakay it kabayo, nagsueod ro mga Katipuneros sa Poblacion it Kalibo ko agahon it Marso 17, 1897. Nagpondo sa baeay ni Capitan Juan Azarraga. Ro baeay ngara ni Juan Azarraga hay it sa medyo garrison, si-in ko adlaw it Marso 17, 1897 una sa sueod ko baeay ro mga local nga officials, may mga guardia civil ag voluntarios. Ro Katipunan nagpondo sa baeay ngara ni Juan Azarraga ag sa pag-ayat ni Heneral Castillo ag ko mga Katipuneros, ro mga guardia civil hay nagbaril dayon it segedas kay Heneral Castillo. Si Moises Ilicito isaeang ka guardia civil nga taga Malinao hay naghimunto it mayad ag ha-igo nana si General Castillo. Sa pag-igo kay Heneral Castillo it grabe, dayon imaw nga nahueog sa anang kabayo nga patay eon. Ro anay mga tinawohan ni Castillo hay nagdaeagan dayon sa iba ibang direksyon."

This is very significant since narrative is in Aklanon and many people undoubtedly could understand and render judgement on this piece of history. It is lamentable that no other manuscript about the 19 Martyrs of Aklan is available as to fine details and perspective. With due respect and prudence to our departed heroes, their surviving kins and our local leaders, allow me to comment on the above episode:

1. Katipunan offensive led by Gen. Francisco Castillo on March 17, 1897 against headquarters of Capt. Juan Azarraga was basically borne out of personal rage.

The fact that their fishing boat named Sagrada Trinidad was confiscated and dragged to shore in Kumtang by the Spanish Navy earlier, drew levied rage from Gen. Castillo. From Banga he then went to Tigayon where he found his men prepared for military action.

2. Inherent weakness in the battle strategy of Gen. Castillo.
Courage demands careful planning and execution in order to succeed. One must realized that Katipuneros during those time were not prepared for military offensive. They were ill-equipped, ill-trained and their asset: naked force. Carrying out an offensive in broad daylight with just a handful of daring men was indeed no match for a well trained guardia civil and who were safely barricaded from armed attackers. It should be noted that enlisted men of Gen. Castillo fled in several directions after seeing their injured leader fall from his horse.

3. Death of Gen. Castillo resulted from hail of bullets from headquarters of Captain Juan Azarraga.

There is no account whether Gen. Castillo ever fired his service pistol toward the direction of the enemy nor did any of his men. We only know that Moises Ilicito, a guardia civil mortality hit him in the first burst of gunfire.

There is no sense to discredit the heroic exploits of men and women who offered their lives for freedom and democracy. In ancient Greece and Rome they were revered as god, demi-gods or immortals.

However, based on above narrative on the 19 Martyrs of Aklan the celebration must be held in its true light of events. No emotional overtones but simply the truth. That March 17, 1897 was one of sitbacks of the Katipunan. Armed struggle of the once secretive organization became known to Spanish authorities. Proclamation of amnesty by Col. Ricardo Monet on March 19, 1897 was actually a ploy to ferret out all known Katipuneros.

The Katipunan based in Aklan was largely a propaganda and recruit-ment organization. Although beset by lack of funds and logistics they donated the printing press they bought from HongKong for the exclusive use of the Supremo, Andres Bonifacio in Manila. That left nothing much in terms of output of propaganda materials in winning mass base support. Nevertheless, we have 18 Aklanons who showed the finest trait of our culture and tradition namely: Roman Aguirre, Tomas Briones, Domingo dela Cruz, Claro Delgado, Angelo Fernandez, Simon Inocencio, Catalino Mangat, Lamberto Mangat, Vale-rino Masinda, Maximo Mationg, Simplicio Reyes, Valeriano Dalida, Isidro Jimenez, Canuto Segovia, Gavino Sucgang, Francisco Villorente, Benito Iban, Candido Iban and Gabino Yonsal.

Today, we honor Gen. Castillo with a monument and school named Gen. Francisco Memorial School at Mabilo, Kalibo. A distinct monument dedicated to the 19 Martyrs of Aklan as fitting tribute is the level the descendants can ask. The absence of pictures of departed heroes and martyrs are needed for inspiration and posterity. Necessarily this must include checkered life of Pastor Martelino, hero of World War II who preferred death rather than turn traitor to his country. /MP