First Kagay-anon officials and Gen. Capistrano

A. Paulita Roa

THE month of August has been designated as the month that is dedicated to the study and appreciation of our local and national history. So I decided that I will write about our local leaders who were elected in that first historic elections in December, 1898 under the Malolos revolutionary government of President Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy and also about General Nicolas Capistrano.

Who were they? And what brand of leadership and authority did they wield in that heady times of the first Philippine Republic and later, when they supported the local army that waged a year long resistance war with the Americans? History is the best teacher — it is always good to look at our past to understand our present times in order to know and be prepared for the future. In this case, let us take a look at the leadership qualities of these men because there are timeless lessons that we can learn from them.

On Dec. 10, 1898, Spain and the United States signed what is known in history as the Treaty of Paris — first to end the Spanish-American war and second was for Spain to transfer indefinitely to America her colonies, namely the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico in the sum of $20 million. A week later, Spain ordered all the Spanish military, civil officials and residents in the Philippines to leave the country. Lt. Col. Cristobal de Aguilar, the last military governor of Misamis province created a five man junta that will oversee the administration of the province after his departure to Spain.

Shortly afterwards, the people aligned themselves to the Aguinaldo revolutionary government and observers were sent from Malolos to Cagayan de Misamis and the Misamis province where the first ever local elections were held before the end of the month. The first elected Provincial officials of the Misamis Province were:

Jose Roa y Casas – Provincial President ( Governor)

Manuel Corrales Sr. – Councilor for Peace and Internal Order

Pio Roa y Alcala – Councilor for the Judiciary and Civil Registry

Ramon Neri y Abejuela – Councilor for Taxes and Property

Elected in the municipality level just like in other municipalities of the province in 1898 were the following:

Toribio Chaves y Roa – Municipal President (Mayor)

Pedro Roa y Racines – Delegate for the Judiciary and Civil Registry

Anastacio Neri – Delegate for Police and Internal Order

President Aguinaldo then appointed Anselmo Abejuela as the military chief of the whole province. He resigned later due to health reasons and a young lawyer by the name of Nicolas Capistrano was then chosen to take his place. Historians all agreed that though the provincial and town officials who were elected in many parts of the country in that period were illustrados or men who were well educated and belonging to the town’s elite, they were mostly exemplary leaders and patriots.

All the provincial and Cagayan de Misamis officials held office in Casa Real (now the City Hall complex) that was the former Spanish colonial administration building and residence of the military governor. For 15 months the people lived in total freedom from colonial rule and this will bring us to:

Lesson no.1 – Across Casa Real was a big building known as the Club (pronounced as Kloob) Popular was located (it is now the St. Agustine General Hospital and Puericulture Center). At that time, it was a kind of a civic center where people meet daily to discuss civic concerns, town improvements, about the proper administration of the local government and military preparations in the event of the coming of Americans troops who were then in Luzon but were inching their way to the Visayas. Through Club Popular, the local officials were able to positively influence and unite their constituents to help them work for the good of the town.

Lesson no. 2 – When the Kagay-anons and the rest of the province learned that the Americans already occupied Luzon and parts of the Visayas and were on their way to take Mindanao and put it also under colonial rule, people flocked to Club Popular on Jan. 16, 1900 and signed the historic Pact of Resistance. This “pakigsaad” also known as the “juramento” or covenant, simply states that “We fight to protect our homes and our liberty.” Some signed this covenant with their own blood. It takes good and dynamic leaders to inspire their people to do this all for the cause of freedom. While bad and intimidating leaders will drive their people to the arms of their enemy at any given time.

Lesson no.3 – Sacrifice, benevolence and love of country. These were exhibited by the officials when the Americans came to occupy Cagayan de Misamis on March 30, 1900. On that day, the Americans went up to Casa Real and relieved Provincial President Roa and other officials from their duties except for Municipal President Chaves and Cipriano Vamenta who was then the town Police chief. A week later, on April 7, 1900, the Liber Troop led by Capistrano, staged a surprise dawn attack on all the American barracks around the town plaza (now Gaston Park and the Tennis Courts). Fierce fighting ensued but the superior firepower of the Americans made Capistrano decide to call for a retreat. More than 50 bodies of young Kagay-anon soldiers were scattered around town – most of them were signers of that historic pact. Under the watchful eyes of the enemy, Toribio Chaves, Cipriano Vamenta, Anastacio and Policarpio Neri led a group that buried the dead in the town’s cemetery.

Two more battles followed — in Agusan Hill on May 14, 1900 and the victorious one in Macahambus Hill on June 14, 1900. All this time, people were led to support the cause by their leaders. At the Plaza de los Heroes, the only Philippine-American War Memorial located in the township of Pueblo de Oro along the Masterson Avenue, one can see the names of the financiers of the local resistance war. They were known as the financiers, for the local army was not supported by the Aguinaldo government but the local citizenry gave financial and material assistance including swords and guns. Tirso Neri, the wealthiest man in town, was the biggest financier of the Liber Troop as he donated cash, uniforms and armaments. He opened his huge bodega near Macabalan to the local forces in need of food and clothing. He gave his lancha vapor to the revolutionary government and it was used to deliver food, armaments and to monitor enemy positions around the bay.

Many gave food and shelter to those on the run. The Eblacas sisters who lived in their family farm in Kinawi nursed the sick and the wounded soldiers and their father generously provided food from their produce. So with Guillermo Yacapin and even Placido Reyes of Camiguin. Fabian Abellanosa, the local playwright and composer had a seditious theater where his songs and plays had patriotic themes that helped fan the flames of fervor and nationalism to his audience. Many people heeded the call of their leaders to help support the Liber Troop — all for the cause of freedom.

Lesson no.4 – After almost a year of fighting the Americans, Capistrano and his men went up to the mountains of Bukidnon were he was mostly on the run. Most of the American soldiers who were after him were veterans of the Indian wars in the United States were persistently chasing him with their superior weaponry. Sensing that the war would go on for a long time because it was strongly supported by the people, American officers approached Manuel Corrales and other local officials to request for a round of peace talks with Gen. Capistrano. The officials exercised wisdom and prudence by agreeing to the request after they saw the futility of prolonging the war. The first  meeting was a failure. But after Capistrano heard that Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901, Capistrano requested the Americans for terms of peace. Also, he received letters from many people that it was now the time to surrender and to end the war. The leaders knew when to lead and when it is time to surrender. And when it is time to lay down their arms, it will be done not only with humility but with dignity.

On April 7, 1901, exactly a year after the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis, the men of General Capistrano surrendered and pledged allegiance to the United States in the town plaza of Sumilao, Bukidnon. Part of the farewell address of the general to his men was this: “We fought through the war together for the defense of our Fatherland. As your chosen leader, I have done the best I could for you. God grant that hereafter our people will enjoy greater freedom as a result of the war. You are now ready to return to your loved ones and to live in peace and work for the interest of your country.”