CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 3, 2011-To set the heroism of General Mariano Llanera and other revolutionaries in its proper perspective, Malacanang yesterday bats the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to look into several “historical errors” about events involving the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija”.
“The NHCP led by its executive director Ludovico Badoy should conduct a thorough research on the historic event and make facts and figures “accurate” and “realistic” to give justice to its heroes,” said Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO).
At the sidelines of the 115th anniversary of the revolution at the municipal compound here yesterday noon, Coloma said that there is a pressing need to rectify historical errors because facts and figures are significant in such a historic event as the Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija.
Coloma together with PCOO Undersecretary Jose Mari Oquinena, Philippine Coast Guard commandant, Admiral Ramon Liwag and Director Maria Montelibano among others were welcomed here by Congco, Vice Mayor Ernesto Talens Jr. and 88-year-old Aurora Llanera-Adriano, daughter of the late general.
Coloma reacted to the remarks made by local historians that historical documents and accounts of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” were full of glaring errors and inaccuracies.
“One of these errors included the accounts that up to 3,000 revolutionaries from this town marched towards San Isidro with the use of a “musikang bumbong” where they assaulted the Spanish garrison in the afternoon of September 2, 1896,” local historian Jose Hipolito said.
He said that it is fatally wrong. The fact is only 753 revolutionaries laid siege in San Isidro and they marched there accompanied not by “musikang bumbong” but by a brass band.
“The 3,000 supposed revolutionaries were too bloated a number and would clearly constitute an overkill on the part of Llanera’s group since they were up against only 100 Spanish soldiers,” Hipolito said.
Hipolito revealed that he knew of no one who conducted a realistic and in-depth research about the revolution and its heroes. “I was the only one who went to the National Archives to conduct my own research,” he said.
Aside from the glaring historical inaccuracies, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco also questioned that the center of celebrations for the annual event is often held in the provincial capital Palayan City and not in this town. She said she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.
The 69-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in San Isidro also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the rightful venue for anniversary rites.
Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) cannot be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held Fort.
Yesterday, Governor Aurelio Umali and Vice Governor Jose Gay Padiernos led similar anniversary rites at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in the provincial capital.
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| Vice Gov. Gay Padiernos in an interview during the celebration of "Unang Sigaw sa Nueva Ecija". |
Congco said it is only fitting that organizers consider Cabiao as the center of celebrations because General Llanera was from here, adding that the great revolutionary leader hailed from Barangay San Roque.
The event marked the day when Llanera and General Pantaleon Valmonte led home-grown revolutionaries, armed only with 100 guns, bolos and pointed sticks in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro on September 2, 1896, two days after the “Unang Sigaw ng Balintawak.”
Waving black and red flag, the revolutionaries caught the Spanish guardia civil by surprise.
The province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight (8) rays of the sun, each ray representing the province that revolted against the Spaniards as its role in the revolution. (Jason de Asis)
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