Sumad: Essays for theCentennial of the Revolution in Cebu.
Manila: De laSalle University Press, 2001
pp. 41-42.
WHEN MUSLIMS AND ZAMBOANGUEÑOS FOUGHT TOGETHER
[Naga, Minglanilla]
Now it may sound unseemly, but around 150Muslims (led by a Datu Mandi) fought side by side withZamboangueño voluntarios and Spanish cazadores orlight cavalry from May to September 1898 against therevolutionary forces in Cebu. They constituted thereinforcements that bolstered the sagging spirits ofthe Spaniards who sought refuge at Fort San Pedro inthe early days of the Revolution in Cebu. These soldiers figured in skirmishes around theSudlon mountains, at Bitlang (called the “Tirad Pass”of the south), at Budla-an in Talamban, and at Mt.Ginkiutan; and in the hills of NAGA and MINGLANILLA.
In most if not in all these encounters, theKatipuneros won, their intimate knowledge of the steephillside enabling them to outsmart the approachingenemies. The Spanish forces would retreat at dusk forfear of the dark in unknown territory. Accounts ofhow many of the latter forces were killed or woundedin the hills vary, but their biggest casualty wasprobably 70 in the battle of Budla-an. A Katipunero watchman would sight theapproaching enemies from a tree like the dalakit, rollboulders and logs that could wound or kill thosebelow, and get an official (like Alejo Miñoza atBudla-an) with a few men to bait the soldiers into aforested area where around 200 men would be waiting toattack. The Spaniards and the rest would retreat, butthey vented their frustration on the innocentvillagers on their way down. They killed the farmersand their families (or burned their houses as they didin Paril after the Budla-an fiasco). The Muslims wereespecially noted for their atrocities. It is saidthat they would cut off the ears of the unfortunateKatipunero and string them for a demonstration in thecity before General Montero and his men. Othersupposed witnesses said that they removed the liver,boasting that all the insurgents were killed. [p. 41 starts here] Paeng Tabal bore theatrocities of the Muslims heavily and waited for achance to avenge his fellow Sudlonons. One day, uponhearing that Captain Pueg and his combined forces werein Pardo courting some women, he asked Gen. LuisFlores or Unos if he could go down and hear massthere. The General objected, perhaps guessing Paeng’sreal intentions. Nevertheless, the four Tabalbrothers and some men, accompanied by Gen. NicolasGodines (who may not have expected an encounter),
proceeded to Pardo. It was probably the bloodiestfight between the Katipuneros and the forces of thevoluntarios, cazadores and Muslims, lasting from 9:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Katipuneros were grosslyoutnumbered, for they could not expect reinforcementsfrom an unknowing commander, but they beheaded someMuslims (a mere handful by then) and Spaniards. Fromthe latter they snatched rifles and cartridge belts,while from the Muslims they took the krises and somesilver that had spilled from their waist. Thisadventure, however, caused Paeng Tabal his life. The Spaniards had learned the Katipuneros’strategy of using macheteros (originally referring tothose who clear away bushes with cutlasses), whofunctioned to penetrate the thick mass of Spanishtroops during a battle. The Muslims and Zamboangueñoswere made to peform a similar function, and with thisborrowed strategy pushed the Katipuneros in turnfurther into the hills. Later, when the Muslims and Zamboangueñosdispersed and the latters’ weapons were confiscated bythe Spaniards, four of the voluntarios were arrestedby Col. Engayo’s men. Questioned by Engayo why theyvolunteered when they would be fighting Visayans likethem, they said that they were captured in the townsof Zamboanga and put on a boat for Cebu. NearingCebu, they were each given a rifle (presumably, to theMuslims who came with them, a kris) and made to wearthe rayadillo uniform. Were they telling the truth? And would theMuslims have joined them for another reason?
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