Bohol Participation in the Philippine Revolution

Bohol Participation in the Philippine Revolution

The first Philippine independence was proclaimed at Gen. Aguinaldo's headquarters in Cavite on June 12, 1898. There was peace and order in the areas controlled by the republic under Gen. Aguinaldo particularly in Luzon. The Malolos Congress had set up all necessary agencies to run the government, smoothly. The relationship between the Americans and the Filipinos was cordial. But the Treaty of Paris which was arranged for the transfer of the islands from Spanish to American rule aroused anger among Filipinos, reacting to the US$20 million sum paid to Spain. Filipinos resented and reacted vehemently and declared that the Americans considered the Philippines and the Filipinos their own property that could be bought and sold like horses and houses. Hostilities broke out and war resistance started in Manila and spread all over Luzon and on the Visayan islands including Bohol.

Upon knowing that General Aguinaldo had declared the Philippines an independent country, Tagbilaranons organized a Regional government and had the following officials: Salustiano Borja as - Presidente Municipal (Mayor); Margarito Torralba - Delegado de Justicia (Deputy for Justice); Macario Sarmiento - Delegado de Policia (Deputy of Police); Mariano Parras - Delegado de Rentas (Deputy of Revenues). These officials who were loyal to the Revolutionary government of General Aguinaldo sent a report to him in Cavite.

On January 16, 1899, Gen. Aguinaldo issued a decree on the elections and organization of the armed forces in Bohol. The decree authorized two Cavite-born Boholanos, Bernabe Reyes to act as temporary Provincial Governor and Eduardo Calceta as chief of the army in the island of Bohol. General Aguinaldo chose Bernabe Reyes and Eduardo Calceta due to the fact that they were from Cavite married to Bernardina Fortich and Eduardo Calceta married to Januaria Mendoza both of Tagbilaran. After the elections, Bernabe Reyes was elected Governor, Salustiano Borja - Vice Governor and at the time Mayor of Tagbilaran; Rafael Reyes, brother of Bernabe - Adviser for Public Treasury; Eduardo Calceta - Adviser for Justice; Macario Sarmiento - Adviser for Police and Braulio Flores, then mayor of Inabanga was elected General of Division for the whole province.

In March 1899 Tagbilaran was captured by the Americans. The Regional Revolutionary government, was moved to the mountains interior part of Bohol to continue their guerilla resistance. On September 15, 1900 one of the great events that ushered the 20th century took place in Kabantian pass, a narrow pass along the highway between Duero and Guindulman, Bohol. Captain Martin Cabagnot and a handful of his men, armed only with bolos and spears, no rifles and of course carrying "anting-anting" (magic charm) fought the Americans without mercy. Although they were no match with the American troops in the open combat, they were formidable opponenets in guerilla warfare and were able to massacre close to one hudred Americans. The Americans were not able to use their guns for fear of hitting their fellow Americans. There were isolated encounters, attacks and counter attacks where the Americans were garissoned.

The hard-hitting insurgents of Inabanga made a bloody encounter against the Americans in Tubigon. The invasion was a retaliation for jailing their town executive, Ariston Fortich, suspected to have conspired with the insurgents and whose appointment came from Miguel Valmoria the right hand man of Pedro Samson who was the recognized leader of the insurgents in Bohol. The invasion was a great failure which resulted to the execution of the vice-mayor Placido Jumamoy and all town officials and people found to be anti-Americans. They burned the town proper, including the church.

Significant Historical Developments

          Historical Setting                              Muslim Raids On Bohol Coastal Towns
          Sikatuna, The Bohol Chieftain              Dagohoy, The Celebrated Hero Of Bohol
          How Bohol Got Its Name                     Bohol Participation in the Philippine Revolution
          Christianization of the Natives              Lonoy, Jagna Massacre

Bits of World War II History

          April 1942 Bombing of Jetafe              The Moalong and Ubujan Ambushcades
          June 1943 Japanese Kempatai             The Bohol Liberation
          Underground Movement                       How Bohol was Liberated