1

Kapampangan poet Amado Gigante (seated) gets his gold laurel crown as the latest poet laureate of Pampanga; Dhong Turla (right), president of the
Aguman Buklud Kapampangan delivers his exhortation to fellow poets

NEWSBRIEFS of November. Museum curator Alex Castro

explained that early Kapampangans had
their wakes, funeral processions and burials
PIESTANG TUGAK
The City of San Fernando recently held at
POETS SOCIETY photographed to record their departed loved the Hilaga (former Paskuhan Village) the
The Aguman Buklud Kapampangan ones final moments with them. These first-of-its-kind frog festival celebrating
celebrated its 15 th anniversary last pictures, in turn, reveal a lot about our Kapampangans penchant for amphibian
November 28 by holding a cultural show at ancestors way of life and belief systems. cuisine. The activity was organized by city
Holy Angel University. Dhong Turla, Phol tourism officer Ivan Anthony Henares.
Batac, Felix Garcia, Jaspe Dula, Totoy The Center participated by giving a lecture
Bato, Renie Salor and other officers and
MALAYA LOLAS DOCU on Kapampangan culture and history and
members of the organization took turns lending cultural performers like rondalla,
reciting poems and singing traditional The Center for Kapampangan Studies, the choir and marching band.
Kapampangan songs. Highlight of the show womens organization KAISA-KA, and
was the crowning of laurel leaves on two Infomax Cable TV will co-sponsor the VIRGEN DE LOS
new poets laureate, Amado Gigante of production of a video documentary on the
Angeles City and Francisco Guinto of plight of the Malaya Lolas of Mapaniqui, REMEDIOS POSTAL
Macabebe. Angeles City Councilor Vicky Candaba, victims of mass rape during World COVER
Vega Cabigting, faculty and students War II. The project is being supervised by
attended the affair. Sonia Soto, KAISA-KA president, based on A first-of-its-kind
a project proposal by Tonette Orejas of commemorative
Infomax. The Malaya Lolas were abducted cover featuring
and then raped by Japanese soldiers after the Baliti image
witnessing the massacre of their menfolk. of Virgen de los
With only 70 members remaining, they are Remedios,
asking the Japanese Government for a Patroness of Pampanga, was recently
public apology. launched in cancellation ceremonies held
at the Center for Kapampangan Studies.
Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, DD,
Asst. Postmaster-General Diomedio
Villanueva, PhilPost Region III Director
UNDAS EXHIBIT Amelia Cunanan graced the affair. The
A photo exhibit entitled Kematen was the project is a brainchild of Jorge Henson
featured attraction at the Center for Cuyugan, President of the Philippine Stamp
Kapampangan Studies gallery for the month Collectors Society.

2
 RECENT Center co-produces
V I S I TO R S ArtiSta.Rita CD
AUGUST
ArtiSta. Rita, the
Luis Lorenzo, Secretary
sensational singing group from Sta.
of Agriculture
Rita, Pampanga, in cooperation with
Rep. Oscar Moreno,
the Center for Kapampangan
Misamis Oriental
Studies, recently launched a
Yeng Guiao, Board Member L. LORENZO
compact disc of 11 traditional and
Clayton Olalia, former Pamp.
four contemporary Kapampangan
Vice Governor
songs. The groups director, Andy
Jay Sonza, TV/radio personality
Alviz, said that the CD aims to make
Elwood Perez, film
Kapampangan songs accessible to
director
todays sophisticated listeners. Lush
Mayor Babes Evangelista,
orchestration and soaring vocals
Candaba
have given folk songs, rarely sung
Leopoldo Valdes, Jr.
and often taken for granted, a new
Frankie Villanueva
refreshing spin. The pop
O. MORENO inspirational song, Kapampangan
SEPTEMBER
Ku, composed by Alviz, features
Ricardo Trota Jose
vocals by well-known Kapampangan
Rep. Jesli Lapus, 3rd District Tarlac
artists Nanette Inventor, Jeff
Dr. Ronald Post, US Arcilla, Michael de Mesa and
Embassy Mon David.
Tony Perez, SpiritQuest The ArtiSta. Rita CD is a worthy follow-up to the groundbreaking CD Pamalsinta
Dr. Jaime Veneracion qng Milabas, produced three years ago by the Sapni nang Crissot, and an alternative to
Ramon Zaragoza, the spate of pirated Kapampangan CDs flooding the sidewalks today. Last December
antique collector 22, a formal launching was held at Villa Epifania in Sta. Rita, attended by such luminaries
Councilor Louie Reyes, as Prof. Randy David, film director Marilou Diaz Abaya, Levi Laus, Rep. Oscar
R. ZARAGOZA
Angeles City Rodriguez and others. HAU President Bernadette Nepomuceno delivered a message,
Kathleen Crittenden while Alviz thanked the University for its support. The projects musical directors are
Dom Martin de Jesus H. Gomez,OSB Recy Pineda, Randy del Rosario, Gie Lansang and Hancel Lapid.
Archt. Augusto Villalon The CDs can be purchased at the Center for Kapampangan Studies and other
Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, major outlets. For orders, call (045) 888-8691, or email [email protected] or text at
DD 0918 941 8599.
Fr. Gabriel Casal
Fr. Roy Rosales
Willie Layug, sculptor
Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, OP,
Kapampangan Research Journal
Manaoag Museum RICO JOSE The maiden issue of Alaya: Kapampangan
Regalado Trota Jose Research Journal has been released by the Center.
Edited by Prof. Lino Dizon, the journal features
OCTOBER, NOVEMBER articles on the Historical Data Papers (HDP),
Bayani Fernando, saniculas biscuit, the Philippine Revolution in
MMDA Chairman Pampanga, former towns of Tarlac, the Pampanga
Bishop Raul Q. Martinez, furniture industry and the resettlement
Antique phenomenon in Bacolor. Aside from Prof. Dizon,
Efrain Soto, Sapni nang the contributors include Dr. John Alan Larkin,
Crissot Dr. Niels Beerepoot, Dr. Jean-Christophe
Gaillard, Fray Francis Musni, OSA and Erlita
Victoriano Dungca, J. SONZA
intl. airline consultant Mendoza.
Malu Rivera, PLDT Makati Reviews of books published by the Center
Faculty, Siena College Taytay, Rizal for Kapampangan Studies are also included in the
Dr. Linda Andaya, issue; reviewers include Nick Joaquin, Dr. Jaime
Univ. of Pangasinan Veneracion, Fr. Jose Arcilla, SJ, Fr. John
Dr. Catalina Felicitas, Schumacher, SJ and Dr. Randolf David. There
Pangasinan State Univ. is also a write-up on the First International
Dr. Juanita Anoc, Conference on Kapampangan Studies held at Holy
Pangasinan State Univ. Angel University two years ago.
Marino Repalda, Dagupan B. FERNANDO The editorial board of the refereed journal
City is composed of Dr. Dante Canlas, Dr. Eusebio Dizon, Dr. Emmanuel Ramos, Dr.
Msgr. Jose Barrion, Pakil, Laguna Rodolfo Tamayo, Jr., Dr. Randolf David, Dr. Jean-Christophe Gaillard and Dr.
Noel Lopez Catacutan, AAP John Larkin. For queries, please contact (045) 888-8691 loc. 1311, or email at
[email protected].
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National Convention of Church Heritage Workers
Protect the churches!

Convention delegates marvel at the restored retablo inside Bacolor church; below, animated discussions at the conven-
tion venue in HAU as well as inside the Betis church
THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Among the speakers were
Philippines (CBCP), through its Permanent Architect Augusto Villalon, Prof.
Committee for the Cultural Heritage of the Regalado Trota Jose, Dom. Bernardo
Church, called on the faithful to protect their Ma. Perez, OSB, Atty. Rose Angeles and
old churches against burglars, antique Faustino Ramos of the PNP. The
smugglers and destruction by natural and Kapampangan lecturers were Fr. Pablo
manmade causes. David, Prof. Lino Dizon and Fray Francis
At the recent Third Biennial Musni, OSA.
National Convention of Church Cultural The conventions guest speaker,
Heritage Workers hosted by the Archdiocese Archbishop Francesco Marchisano,
of San Fernando, Pampanga and held at President of the Pontifical Commission for
Holy Angel University in Angeles City, the Cultural Heritage of the Church, failed
Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak, DD of to come as he was elevated to Cardinal by
Tagbilaran, who chairs the said CBCP Pope John Paul II right on the conventions
committee, appealed to more than 100 opening day.
delegates from the country s 70 Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto,
archdioceses and dioceses to be the DD of San Fernando, welcomed the
guardians of the Churchs cultural patrimony. delegates and announced the creation of
The convention tackled issues such an archdiocesan commission on church
as church renovations, antique trafficking, heritage which will, among other tasks,
role of clergy and laity in managing church provide technical assistance to parishes
property, and the perennial debate of undertaking church renovations. He
apostolate versus aesthetics. The speakers appointed the Director of the Center for
urged dioceses and parishes all over the Kapampangan Studies as first member of
country to set up their own museums, the commission.
libraries and archives not only as haven for The delegates toured Bacolor
church artifacts but as instruments of church, which was half-buried by lahar in declared a national treasure; Sasmuan
evangelization. 1995; the Betis church, which was recently church, now undergoing renovation; Lubao
church, recently renovated; Minalin church,
which contains centuries-old murals; the
Archdiocesan Museum; and Sto. Tomas
church, also recently renovated. The
delegates were warmly welcomed by parish
priests and parish pastoral councils.

4
 Intercultural show
Traditional
Japanese dancer
performs at
the Center
Einojoh Senju of the Hanayagi School
of Dance recently performed traditional
Japanese dances at the Center for
Kapampangan Studies.
Einojoh Senju heads the Senju
Ryu or the Senju School of Classical
Japanese Dance, and is the founder of
the Senju Buyodan or Senju Classical
Japanese Dance Group whose aim is to
make elegant classical Japanese dance
more appealing to a wider audience.
The groups most recent performance
was at the Lawiswis, a cultural show Tarlac Rep. Jesli A. Lapus and Dr. Ronald J. Post at the book launching
sponsored by the City of Manila.
On hand to annotate and Tarlaqueos, Pampangans
translate the proceedings were
Kapampangan historian Siuala ding co-publish book
Meangubie, Nakano Takuya (iaido, ka-
Prof. Lino Dizons Mr. White: A Thomasite History of Tarlac
rate, musician, architectural designer) and
Lt. Commander Fukuda Takashi (WWII Province 1901-1913, co-published by the Center for Tarlaqueo
historian, iaido instructor, Phil. Coast Guard Studies and the Center for Kapampangan Studies, was recently
and Air Force). launched at Holy Angel University. Dr. Ronald J. Post, Counselor
Kaye Mayrina Lingad, Public Re- for Public Affairs of the US Embassy, and Rep. Jesli A. Lapus of
lations Officer of the Center for Tarlacs Third District led guests who included scholars, government
Kapampangan Studies, organized and leaders and academics from Tarlac and Pampanga. Dr. Ricardo Trota
emceed the show in cooperation with the Mr. Jose, chair of the UP History Department, read his book review, while
White Fr. Raul de los Santos, parish priest of Magalang, read the review
Municipality of Mabalacat.
of Fr. John Schumacher, SJ. HAU President Bernadette M.
Nepomuceno delivered the welcome remarks.

At DepEd convocation
Center urges schools not to penalize
students who speak Kapampangan
Elementary and high school students who declamation piece entitled I am a
speak their native language should not be Kapampangan as well as CDs of a 12-
made to pay a fee as a punishment, Robert minute audio-visual presentation on the his-
Tantingco, Director of the Center for tory and culture of Kapampangans.
Kapampangan Studies, said in his speech The convocation was sponsored by
before 5000 public school teachers and ad- the Department of Education Region III Di-
ministrators celebrating Pampanga Day. vision of Pampanga, headed by Superinten-
He said schools should instead en- dent Rosalinda G. Luna, CESO IV. Gov. Lito
courage their students to learn as many lan- Lapid also came to greet the jampacked au-
guages as they can to equip them for a world dience at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Cen-
that is becoming multi-lingual. He also urged ter.
schools to include Kapampangan Studies in Tantingco also called on teachers
their syllabi, and to start local museums by to lead their students in a campaign to learn
collecting documents and artifacts from their more about Kapampangan history and cul-
community. ture. To be better Filipinos, we have to be
Tantingco distributed copies of a good Kapampangans first, he said.

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Translation of Huseng Batutes Gloria
Kapampangans, Tagalogs launch book
The book Gloria: Roman Leoncios Kapampangan Translation of
Huseng Batutes Verse Novel, Lost and Found, published by Holy
Angel University and co-edited by Ambassador Virgilio Reyes,
Jr. and the Center for Kapampangan Studies, was launched last
October 23 at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The guest speaker, the late Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Blas Ople, cited the cultural convergences among Tagalogs and
Kapampangans, while President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in a
message read by her daughter Luli Arroyo, congratulated the
Tagalog-Kapampangan team that produced the book.
The Center mounted an exhibit at DFA showing the
intertwining cultures and histories of the two ethno-linguistic tribes.
This theme was also reflected in the program which featured
crissotan and balagtasan, performed respectively by students of
Del Carmen Elementary School and veteran poets from Pampanga.
The book contains the original Tagalog narrative poem of
Jose Corazon de Jesus (a.k.a. Huseng Batute) and the
Kapampangan translation by Leoncio, an obscure poet from Guagua
in the 1920s. Annotations were made by Dr. Albina Peczon
Fernandez, Prof. Lino Dizon, National Artist Virgilio Almario
and Dr. Lourdes Vidal. Reviews were contributed by National
Artist Nick Joaquin (in Philippine Graphic), Lito Zulueta (in
the Philippine Daily Inquirer) and Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera
(who read it during the program).

Top: Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera as book reviewer; Ms. Luli

Arroyo read the message of her mother President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo
Left: The late DFA Secretary Blas Ople, Ms. Arroyo,
Ambassador Virgilio Reyes Jr., HAU President Bernadette
Nepomuceno and Senator Rodolfo Biazon
Below: Kapampangan poets perform crissotan

6
 99
KAPAMPANGANS
WHO MATTERED
IN HISTORY, AND WHY
Some well known, others not at
all, these are some of the
Kapampangans who expressed
the great themes of their times
and who made an impact on the
world around them, and on the
generations beyond theirs,
representing the best, sometimes
the worst, qualities in us all.

7
 1. Malangsik 2. Pansonum 3. Pande Pira
Because he and his kin Because his last will Because his works shaped
organized pre-colonial defined the vast ancient Kapampangan
Kapampangan society Kapampangan region warfare and agriculture
Prince Balagtas was the Tagalog- Christened Francisco Malang Pande (Panday in Tagalog, meaning
Kapampangan sovereign of the Balagtas, Pansonum was a direct smith) Pira ( Pilac, silver ), a
Madjapahit Empire who came to Luzon descendant of the Madjapahit rulers of Kapampangan from Capalangan, Apalit,
from Malang, east central Java, in 1380 Luzon, Malangsik being his father and made cannons, farm implements and
to start a dynasty. He married a Bornean Prince Balagtas his grandfather. He other weapons for local chieftains like
princess, Panginoan; they had three lived in Tambugao in Calumpit, Bulacan Tarik Soliman. His products, such as
children: Malangsik (who married first shortly after the arrival of the Spaniards. kampit (knife), palang (bolo for clearing
cousin Mandik), Dapat-magmanuk He died on March 21, 1589 at the San thicket), panabud (bolo for chopping
(who married Monmon) and Carlos mission in Pangasinan, leaving wood), sudsud (plowshare), talibung
Makayabongdili. Malangsik ruled the behind a will that described in great (scabbard), sundang (dagger) and lepia
Kapampangan region in the late 1400s detail the Kapampangan territory (which (moldboard), were of such superior
and early 1500s. His sister-in-law, he claimed was his property) that quality that he was recruited as official
Monmon, is said to have founded extended all the way to Ituy (Cagayan cannon-maker of Spain for the colony.
Bakulud (before landlord Guillermo Valley) and present-day Carmen, When he died in 1576, Spanish officials
Manabat organized it into the pueblo Rosales, San Quintin, Umingan and wrote their King that no one among
Bacolor with the help of Spaniards in Balungao in Pangasinan (formerly of us can take his place. But his art
1574); Malangsiks descendant Nueva Ecija, which in turn was formerly spread to places like Taal and Balisong
Kapitangan and his wife Bayinda of Pampanga); Baler in Tayabas (later in Batangas; Meycauayan, Bulacan;
founded Apalit. When the Spaniards Aurora); Tarlac, Bataan and portions of Orion, Bataan; Calasiao, Pangasinan;
came in 1571, they found several heavily Zambales and Bulacan. The present-day Santa, Ilocos Sur; Cabagan, Isabela
populated settlements with organized descendants of Pansonums great clan places where the craft has survived
societies, such as Kandaue (Candaba), include Kapampangans and Tagalogs even to this day.
Purak (Porac), Macabebe, Baba (Lubao), with the surnames Musngi, Dumandan, Reference: The Province of Pampanga and
its Towns (A.D. 1300-1962) by Mariano A.
Pinpin (Sta. Ana), Betis, Uaua (Guagua) Lumanlan, Madlangbayan, Salalila, Henson. Angeles City.
and Balayan ning Pambuit (Arayat). Gatbonton, Gatmaitan, Gatdula,
Indeed, Malangsik and his kin can be Capulong, Soliman, Lakandula and
credited for having organized Macapagal.
Kapampangan society starting in the 14th
century. Reference: The Province of Pampanga and
its Towns (A.D. 1300-1962) by Mariano A.
Reference: The Province of Pampanga and its Henson . Angeles City; also Luther Parker
Towns (A.D. 1300-1962) by Mariano A. Henson.
Collection.
Angeles City; also Luther Parker Collection.

Prehistoric Kapampangans
and their weapons of war
by Joel Pabustan Mallari

Taram is the Kapampangan term Kapampangans were known not only for Tundun (now Tondo) led by Tarik Suliman
for the adjective sharp and the noun blade, their ingenuity in making weaponry but also of Macabebe challenged the invading
examples of which are sundang, palang, for their military prowess, and for this reason Spaniards. Later, Spanish master-of-camp
tulipas, sisip, bangkuku, sibat, palatio, they were much feared among prehistoric Martin de Goiti encountered strong
talibung, etc.; mangatapang, on the other tribes and much sought after by colonizers resistance from the belligerent
hand, may be associated with visionaries recruiting augmentation troops. Kapampangans of Betis when they
and fighters for freedom because it In 1571, the original battle of penetrated the interior of the province. The
connotes bravery. Indeed, Bangkusay on the north of Pasig and near Spaniards, according to chroniclers, were
surprised to encounter strong fortifications
and advanced weaponry in the settlements
along the Pampanga River. After pacifying
them, the Spaniards, thousands of miles
away from Spain and strapped of cash and
equipment, began to depend on
Kapampangans for their fine craftsmanship
in household, industrial and military
Pre-colonial cannon called lantaka, left, implements, as well as for their brave
and the Spanish-made cannon, right
(Discovering Philippine Art in Spain)
8
4. TARIK SOLIMAN
Because he refused to kowtow to white men;
because he was smart enough to discern the Bible-
quoting invaders true motives; because he dared
to stop the tidal wave of colonialism sweeping the
continent in the 16 th century; because he
challenged an entire Spanish armada to preserve
and defend civilization as he knew it; and because
he was the first Filipino to show that the nations
freedom was worth dying for
By Robby Tantingco
Hundreds, maybe thousands, of years were partly anito-worshippers, partly
before the Spaniards came, the central plain Muslim converts. Their houses are
in Luzon island was already populated with filled with wooden and stone idols
Kapampangans and Tagalogs, as well as for they had no temples, wrote a
with dark-skinned Aetas who lived mostly Spanish chronicler in 1590 (Blair &
in the forests of the surrounding mountains. Robertson, XXXIV, p. 378), while
The pre-Hispanic Kapampangans were land- another reported that (Pampanga)
tillers and seafarers who traded with China had two rivers, one called Bitis and
and sailed to neighboring kingdoms. They the other Lubao, along whose banks Acrylic painting by Joel Mallari

soldiering. to fortify Intramuros against points. In Lubao, by the way, pieces of

Archaeological and ethnographic Chinese pirate Lim Ah Hong and black-and-white decorated jars dating
evidences reveal that expert potters, later against the Dutch and British back to Sung (AD 960-1279) and Ming
weavers and ironsmiths in Pampanga invasions. The timber must have (AD 1279-1368) Periods were found.
played a role in defining social classes. The come from indigenous species of Other archaeological sites in
legendary Pande Pira of Apalit was apalit, bulaun, betis, balacat, dau, Candaba, Guagua and Mexico all
recruited to equip the walled city of calantas, balibagu, tarlak , etc. apparently indicate patterns of pre-
Intramuros; he set up a foundry for thriving in the foothills of Mount Spanish settlements.
cannons and other artillery for the Pinatubo in Porac, Angeles, When Tarik Suliman faced the
defense of Menila (now Manila), Mabalacat, Bamban and Capas; the Spanish ships in Bangkusay in 1571,
founded at the same time as Pampanga. logs may have been transported he had with him not only his valor
He invented the lantaka, a small cannon through Abacan River, Sacobia River and his hotheaded audacity, but also
that could be rotated or maneuvered at and Pasig-Potrero River down to Betis the products of best Kapampangan
any desired angle and direction during River (now Guagua-Pasak River) and technology at the time lantaka,
battle. He was also asked by the Pampanga River and into the bay in sundang, talibung, sibat, bangkuku
Adelantado (Legazpi) to manufacture Macabebe (part of which later became and all sorts of palang, which my
lantakas for galleons and warships as the Masantol), which is now known as Ingkung Larion described as Deng
Spaniards prepared to conquer more lands Pampanga Bay, part of Manila Bay. palang a ren, ila pin deng taram da
in the archipelago and throughout The active trade network reng mangatapang!
Southeast Asia. (Prior to this, Pande Pira throughout the pre-Spanish
References: The Philippine Islands Vol. XL
surprised Rajah Suliman when he made Kapampangan Region is partly proven by E.H. B lair and J.A. Robertson;
a cannon using a mold of clay and wax.) with the discovery of an ancient Kapampangan Prehistory: Focus on the
Systematic Archaeological Excavation at
Today, metal smith and pottery settlement high up in the hills of Porac, Pampanga by Amalia de la Torre,
industries are standard fare in barangays Porac. Archaeological excavations in paper presented at the First International
Conference on Kapampangan Studies at Holy
Capalangan, Casinala and San Vicente, all 1930, 1959, 1960 and in the 1990s Angel University; The Metal Age in the
Philippines: An Archaeometallurgical
in Apalit town, as well as in barangays unearthed the remains of an Investigation by Dr. Eusebio Dizon ;
Sapa and San Matias in nearby Sto. Tomas extensive community dating back to Chiefdoms in Archaeological and
Ethnohistorical Perspective by Timothy
town and barangay Gatbuca in Calumpit, the 14 th -16 th centuries, or a few Earle; Philippine Archaeology Up To 1950 in
Bulacan. In prehistoric times, decades before the Spaniards arrived Philippine Journal of Science by Alfredo
Evangelista; Artifacts: An Introduction to
Kapampangans in these areas probably in 1571. A cemetery of 300 graves Early Materials and Technology by Henry
had specialized craftsmen like indicates it was a large settlement, Hodges; The Pampangans by John Larkin;
Candaba Artifacts: Implication and
mangkukuran (potters), magpande (metal quite unusual for its location. Also Inference to Kapampangan
smith), lalala (weavers) and others who discovered were chinaware sherds, Prehistory(Unpublished) by Joel Mallari;
First Conclusions of the April 2002
catered to the needs of the timaua and postholes and metal Archaeological Excavations in Porac,
the datu . They defended their implements, 15 pieces of Pampanga b y Dr. Victor Paz; Craft
Specialization,Refuse, Disposal and the
communities against pirates and invaders which were metal blades Creation of Spatial Archaeological
Records in Prehispanic Mesomerica by
by building forts and palisades using used for agricultural and R. Santley and R. Kneebone; notes in
hardwood from the rich dipterocarp forests ceremonial activities, but Kapampangan Timeline by Siuala ding
in the province. Chroniclers mention some resembled sundang and Meangubie; notes by Sevilla Yaga Sumala.
Macabebes bringing in logs from Pampanga talibung (scabbard and dagger) and spear

9
dwell three thousand five hundred Moros. brave nation, led by a brave youth who
(Blair & Robertson, IV, p. 80). (Islam had was the bravest on the islandTarik To colonize or
overthrown the Hindu Madjapahit Empire in Soliman (often confused with Rajah Soliman
1478 and reached the archipelago shortly of Manila, who later succeeded his uncle not to colonize:
thereafter.) Rajah Matanda; the name Tarik Soliman is
Tarik Soliman (or Sulaiman) was a just for purposes of differentiating him from
Even Spain had
Kapampangan datu (chieftain) in 1571, most these two rajahs since the records do not
likely from a barangay in Macabebe now mention his name). An early Spanish
second thoughts
known as Sagrada, Masantol, located
chronicler wrote: They entered the town What right did the
at the mouth of the Pampanga River.
of Tondo through an estuary they called
Bancusay without being seen by the
Europeans have to
As datu, Tarik Soliman held Spaniards, where they stayed for a few gatecrash into
executive, judicial and military days discussing with Lakan Dula the a free Asian nation?
powers, determining planting and best way to start the battle.
harvesting dates, trying cases not Legazpi sent two emissaries to Only a few years after the
involving himself (otherwise a Tondo to win Tarik Soliman over Spaniards first arrived in Luzon, many
group of datus from neighboring to their side. Tarik, wrote the of them were already complaining about
villages tried him), and ruling over Spanish chronicler, replied the mosquitoes, diseases, constant
the timawa (freemen) and the slaves excitedly that neither he nor his followers threat from pirates and savage natives,
wanted to see (Legazpi) nor have his and low morale.
(those who had failed to In his memo to the King of
settle debts). friendship, nor that of the
Castillians. Having said Spain in 1588, Jesuit missionary Alonso
Apparently, the Sanchez lamented the sorry state of
Pampanga of Tarik this, he stood up and the colony. It was so far from Spain,
with audacity and he said, that the only Spaniards who
Soliman was a fully
ferocity unsheathed his cared and dared to go to the Philippines
functioning civilization sword. Brandishing it,
because every man, were impoverished and unprincipled
he said, May the sun adventurers, and the officials appointed
woman and child could strike me in twain, and may to govern it were out to enrich
read and write, and it had I fall in disgrace before the themselves instead of looking after the
a government system, an women for them to hate me, colonys welfare. The colony, he said,
agricultural system that if I ever became for a moment had been cut up into encomiendas
produced food in surplus, friend to the Castillians. (H)e owned by private citizens, and little was
a trading network with left and without going down left for the general treasury, and
other Southeast Asian the stairs, to show his bravery, therefore for public welfare and
jumped out a window to the services.
kingdoms, a class Still, the Jesuit argued that
structure, religion, laws, street then went directly to his
caracoa. He told the Spain should not give up the colony
taxes and festivals. because the monarchy was committed
It was into this Spaniards to inform their to serve four groups of people there,
captain that he was waiting namely:
quiet, developing world of
at the mouth of the estuary, 1. The Spanish citizens
Tarik Soliman that a where he had entered, to
Spanish armada from already residing in the colony; Sanchez
fight. After saying this, he said these Spaniards had the right to
Cebu gate-crashed one Helmet made of sea-hedgehog, began sailing, amid occupy the island because it was
summer day in 1571. torso armor made of carabao hurrahs, to the place he considered neither a private property
The sight of huge, fully horn plates, used by Moro mentioned. nor public domain since the natives had
armed ships sailing past warriors (Discovering Philippine Art in In response, no concept of such; if the property was
the tiny caracoas set Spain) Legazpi sent 80 private, the Spaniards had the right to
the natives into panic. Spaniards to Bancusay acquire it by barter or purchase and to
The Tagalog tribal chieftains in Manila, led by his master-of-camp, Martin de Goiti. build houses and settlements on
Ahead of them, wrote the chronicler, property thus acquired, to fortify and
Rajah Matanda and his nephew, defend it, and to wage war against
Rajah Soliman (despite initial was the caracoa of the Moor leader
(Tarik Soliman) who courageously rulers of such property who prevented
misgivings), as well as the king of them from exercising this right and, if
fired some shots (and) fought victorious, to take the lawful rewards
Tondo, Lakan Dula, welcomed the
animatedly and without showing of victory; furthermore, the Pope had
European visitors led by Miguel any weakness or disarray, until he
Lopez de Legazpi, who assured authorized Spain to evangelize heathens
died from a rifle shot by one of our by establishing permanent, autonomous
them that he had come mainly to soldiers. With his death they Spanish settlements;
teach them the true law of the one, began to fade away. They quickly 2. The natives who had
all-powerful God, creator of heaven scattered and fled. embraced Spanish rule and Christian
and earth. After he made them More than 300 Kapampangans faith; they had the right to have priests
swear allegiance to the King of Legazpi died in that Battle of Bancusay on to strengthen their faith continuously
Spain, Legazpi quickly dropped all May 24, 1571, and the Spaniards and a right to have governors and
niceties and ordered his hosts to proceeded to conquer the rest of the troops to ensure their safety and welfare
build a large house for him to live widely spread province, meeting against those who would take away
resistance only in Betis, the most their newfound faith;
in during his stay, a chapel for the 3. The natives who had
friar, and 150 medium-sized houses fortified throughout the island of
Luzon. Thus, the prehistoric been conquered but not yet converted,
for the rest of the Spanish soldiers. who needed to be restrained and
Kapampangan Nation became La eventual ly converted since their
When the Kapampangans
Pampanga, Spains first province in constant co-mingling with the newly
saw this, they derided their Tagalog Luzon, on December 11,
neighbors for sleeping with the converted natives might weaken the
1571. latters faith;
enemy. More than 200 warriors Reference: Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas
4. The natives who had
on 40 caracoas sailed from De Goiti 1565-1615 by Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA. not been conquered and converted,
Manila: San Agustin Museum.
Pampanga, the most warlike and

10
who needed to be subjugated as well as
converted to permit the preaching of the 5. Francisco 6. Juan Manila
faith in their territory.
Actually, there were Spaniards
who believed it was possible to
Palaot and the Because he was among the first
to revolt against Spanish abuses
evangelize without colonizing; to them,
natives were fully functioning human
Early Macabebes
Because they started the 300- Tarik Solimans suspicions about the
beings with all the rights inherent in
human nature, and that all aggression year alliance between Spain sweet-talking Europeans were confirmed
was unjust and the use of force was when a prominent Kapampangan from
never justified. and the Kapampangans Candaba, Don Juan Manila, sent Spanish
And then there were Spaniards After putting up initial resistance, the officials a complaint letter in 1586 (barely
who believed that natives were naturally early Kapampangans decided to help the 15 years after Tariks death), in which
an inferior race for whom it was Spaniards build Intramuros and
necessary to use force, because they he described Spaniards as arrogant and
volunteer for military service. The
were barbarians brutalized by a savage Spaniards began exploring and haughty (who) seize rice, pigs and
way of life who possessed no moral or conquering lands in the archipelago and everything else, unreasonably. And
spiritual sensibilities and who recognized Southeast Asia, tagging along when we beg them not to, they take us
only physical force as the arbiter of Kapampangan soldiers from Macabebe with them to Manila, they beat us up
things. Thus, missionaries had the right to augment their lean army. As early as
to military escorts whose task was not and worse, they insult us. They pay
1574, Kapampangan recruits had fought
to intimidate natives or seize their side by side with Spaniards in repelling nothing for what they take from us.
possessions, but merely to command Chinese pirate Limahong. One (T)hey take our women, and send us to
their respect for the missionaries, to Kapampangan captain won distinction look for women, to ravish them and if
create the conditions where the faith for himself in these expeditions. His we do not they insult us and beat us
could be freely taught and freely name was Francisco Palaot. He stood
receivedsince moral suasion alone did up, calling us sodomites, drunkards and
side by side with Bravo de Acua, who
not work with primitive, savage people. led a voyage to the Moluccas in 1606. other such painful names. We work
After hearing the pros and Earlier, in 1591, Kapampangans joined incessantly and are not allowed to rest.
cons, King Philip II (after whom Ruy a contingent of 80 Spanish soldiers led He also complained that taxes were
Lopez de Villalobos named the colony) by Luis Perez das Marias, son of the being collected from even the aged, the
decided to: build fortifications around governor general, to an exploration of
Manila, raise the salary of soldiers, handicapped and the dead. Juan Manila
the jungles of Tuy (now Nueva Vizcaya).
rationalize the tax system, halt the In 1596, Kapampangans sailed to and a Nicolas Mananguete led an
pacification voyages outside the colony, Mindanao in a pacification drive led by uprising among members of the
send 100 Spanish farmer settlers to Rodriguez de Figueroa. In 1638, they principalia (native ruling class) which
revitalize agriculture in the colony, make went to Jolo under Gov. Gen. Sebastian ended tragically when Spanish officials
the galleon trade a monopoly of colonists Hurtado de Corcuera. In the years
in the Philippines, put up hospitals, free conspired with Indios to entrap Juan
to come, Macabebes would always be
slaves and abolish slavery for good, depended upon to massacre the Chinese Manila through disguise, not unlike what
exempt natives from tithes and give in 1603 and again in 1640, ward off the Macabebes were made to do with
them the option to pay in currency or in Dutch invaders in 1646, retaliate against Emilio Aguinaldo centuries later.
goods of equal value, whichever they the British Navy in 1764, and tragically, Source: Don Juan Manila: The First Kapampangan
preferred. These royal decrees hinted defeat the revolts of fellow Filipinos and Rebel? by Marc D. Nepomuceno, K Magazine
at the statesmanship of the Spanish King in one instance even of their fellow Issue 7. Angeles City.
which could bode well for Indios in the Kapampangans. Palaot and these early
colony that bore his name. soldiers of fortune had unwittingly 1593 map of Asia by Cornelis de Jode
Unfortunately, most of them started an alliance with the Spanish
were never carried out in a colony that Empire which would define not only the
was 5000 leagues away. relationship between Kapampangans
Reference: The Jesuits in the Philippines 1581- and their colonizers in the next 300 years
1768 by Horacio de la Costa, SJ. Cambridge, Mass.: but also the reputation of
Harvard University Press. Kapampangans among their fellow
Filipinos.
Reference: The Pampangans by John A. Larkin.
Los Angeles: University of California Press; The
Province of Pampanga and its Towns (A.D.
1300-1962) by Mariano A. Henson. Angeles City.

11
 O n and the rest
April 19, of the
1586, the catechism in
Spanish p e r f e c t
officials in Spanish.
Manila met The ten-
to take stock year-old
of the brown native
situation in f r o m
the new Pampanga
c o l o n y, confidently
which, in performed
those early before the
years did not m o s t
yet have the powerful
opulence man on earth
that the in the
galleon trade h i g h e s t
would bring a forum any
few decades colonial
later. The Filipino could
city was hope to
reach. King
nothing more
Philip asked
than a cluster
a few
of a hundred
questions to
thatched
further test
h o u s e s
him; Martin
surrounded
Oil painting by Herminigildo Pineda S a n c h o
by mosquito-
answered
infested
them all without faltering. When
marshes; the city walls had not
yet been constructed. Across 7. MARTIN SANCHO the boy was ushered out of the
hall amidst thunderous
the river, Chinese merchants and
artisans lived in their dirty Because he became a child prodigy at applause, Alonso Sanchez
parian. a time when natives were treated as stepped forward to present his
case for the Philippines,
The meeting was a savages and barbarians; because he confident that the Kings
debate on the merits of
maintaining the colony under
not only came within spitting distance favorable response had been
these harsh conditions. Some with the King of Spain (something even ensured by the Kapampangan
boys performance.
wanted to abandon the islands Rizal never dreamed of), but also Martin Sancho stayed in Spain
altogether, while others engaged him in an IQ quiz and probably then moved to the Jesuit
wondered if they should ask the
King of Spain to grant incentives made his royal jaw drop; because he novitiate in Rome when he was
and privileges to colonists. shed off his glory days and retired to a 17 years old. He became the
first Filipino to be admitted to
Before it adjourned, quiet life of prayer to become the first the Society of Jesus. Martin
they decided to send a letter to
King Philip II, and the person
Filipino Jesuit stayed in the province of Toledo
and went to college in Murcia
they chose to travel across the By Robby Tantingco and then proceeded to Mexico
globe to deliver the letter was
the Jesuit priest Alonso attention and convince the Their ship encountered in 1599. In 1601, he returned
to the Philippines with a group
Sanchez. On May 6, 1586, monarch that the natives could many storms as it crossed the
of Jesuit missionaries headed by
Sanchez made the voyage to be worthy, even spectacular, Pacific Ocean. It reached Mexico
Gregorio Lopez. He had
Acapulco on the ship San Martin. bearer of Christian virtue and eight months later, in January
1587. The group left Acapulco contracted tuberculosis while he
With him was the precious letter erudition. Born in 1576, barely
was in Europe, where Jesuit
and another hot property: a ten- five years after the Spaniards on May 18, 1587 and sailed
houses remained unheated
year-old Kapampangan boy first came to Pampanga, Martin across the Atlantic Ocean for
seven months. On December during winter. Barely a month
named Martin Sancho who had Sancho was living proof that this
15, 1587, Alonso Sanchez and after he set foot on his native
amazed everyone with his ability particular colony was an
land, the talented Martin Sancho
to speak fluent Spanish and extremely fertile ground for the Martin Sancho were ushered
died. He was only 25.
recite the entire catechism. Not seeds of their mission, which into the court of King Philip II. Reference: The Jesuits in the
only was he a proof that were already taking root and The boy was introduced and as Philippines 1581-1768 by Horacio de
la Costa, SJ. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
evangelization was working in bearing fruit faster than Spain the King and members of the University Press; Laying the
could send additional court leaned forward, Martin Foundations: Kapampangan
the colony, Alonso could also use
missionaries. Sancho recited prayers, articles Pioneers in the Philippine Church
him to attract the Kings 1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago.
of faith, Church rules, doctrines Angeles City: Holy Angel University Press.

12
Early Kapampangan uprisings
betrayed, and many or children. Many their priests. Admiral Rodrigo
1584 Kapampangans were executed. Kapampangans had remained de Mesa, a local
In 1583, the Spaniards forcibly unmarried to escape this encomendero, came with a few
recruited Kapampangan men 1585 scourge; some even killed their others to negotiate peace; they
to work in the Cordillera The next year, Kapampangans children in advance. were killed instead by the
mountains where gold had teamed up with Tagalogs in rebels who fled to the
been recently discovered. protest against the encomienda 1645 mountains afterwards. A
They labored for months, thus system, under which natives Soon after a devastating combined contingent of
missing the planting season. must pay a tribute for what their earthquake in the town of Spanish soldiers and Macabebe
As a result, famine broke out private land yielded. It was the Gapan, Nueva Ecija (formerly volunteers quelled the
in Pampanga the following encomenderos abuses that riled part of Pampanga), a rebellion; the Augustinians
year. Kapampangans sought the natives. For example, heads Kapampangan leader led an then sent the respected and
the help of their kins in Borneo of families who were unable to uprising in which the natives wel l-loved Fray Juan de
and together they drew up a pay the exact amount were seized arms, sought the help of Abarca, OSA who succeeded
plan to massacre the Spaniards publicly flogged, sometimes Zambals, and torched the in pacifying the natives.
in the colony, which at that crucified. If the men did not churches in nearby towns, Refer ence: Literature of the
time numbered only a few show up to pay, the exhorting the people to Pampangos by Rosalina Icban-Castro.
Manila: University of the East Press.
hundred. The plot was encomendero seized their wife massacre the Spaniards and

8. Diego Guinto 9. Juan Salonga

Because his generosity spawned a whole Because he started the tradition of family
generation of native clergy dynasties in Kapampangan politics
The early Kapampangans must have taken their new religion Colonial local governments were run by cabezas de barangay
quite seriously, because they made churches much larger than (barrio heads), who essentially were the datus of pre-Hispanic
their own houses, and donated more lands to the priests than society; among themselves they elected the gobernadorcillo
was necessary. Rich families considered it a great honor to be (known today as town mayor), and the gobernadorcillos of different
able to support a seminarian, and the greatest honor to have a towns elected one of themselves as alcalde mayor (known today
family member attain the noblest profession of all. They funded as the provincial governor). The Kapampangan family with the
capellanias (chaplaincies) from the earnings of large tracts of most number of elected gobernadorcillos was the Salonga family
land. The very first Filipino to do this, in 1592, was Don Diego of Macabebe, and their first gobernadorcillo was Juan Salonga,
Guinto of Bacolor, who donated a capellania to the Augustinians elected in 1617. Between 1615 and 1765 (150 years), the Salongas
serving Pampanga at the time. His example set off similar held the office 17 different times, thus starting a tradition in
sacrifices among the Kapampangan principalia, as well as among Macabebe (and the rest of Pampanga) of family dynasties. The
Spaniards in the Philippines (the first of whom was Don Gabriel Sonsong family had 14 terms, the Zabalas 12, the Tolentinos 10,
de la Cruz, dean of the Manila Cathedral Chapter, who in 1601 the Dueas family 9 terms, the Dimasangcays 8, the Centenos 7,
formed a capellania in favor of the Archdiocese of Manila). In the Yabuts 6, the Balingits and the Punsalangs both 5 terms, and
the 1600s alone, the Augustinians received 134 capellanias, 70 the Darays, the Punus and the Sumangs 4 terms each. In other
words, only 13 families held the annually elected office 105 times,
per cent of which came from Kapampangans.
Reference: Laying the Foundations: Kapampangan
or two-thirds of the entire total.
Reference: The Pampangans by John A. Larkin. Los Angeles: University of
Pioneers in the Philippine Church 1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago. California Press.
Angeles City: Holy Angel University Press.
Arayat church;
pious native
lady; mestizo
cleric (Kasaysayan,
Luther Parker
Collection)

13
10. MARTHA DE SAN BERNARDO
Because she dared to join a monastery that banned native women;
because she moved an entire congregation of Spanish nuns to rally her cause;
because she became the first Filipino nun under the most extraordinary
circumstances; and because she blazed the trail for countless other brave and
selfless Filipino women
For being accepted into the hundred witnesses, including 15 skinned figure at the monastery, Undaunted in their
prestigious and exclusive Royal Kapampangans, came forward Martha stood out for her virtues. conviction that Martha
Monastery of Santa Clara in to testify in the investigation, However, the Franciscan deserved to be a member of the
1632 despite the prohibition which caused quite a stir Provincial, who supervised the Poor Clares, the nuns conspired
against native applicants, monastery, disapproved of an to go around the official
throughout the region. The
Indio woman becoming a prohibition by sending Martha
Martha de San Bernardo, a nuns were moved by the popular
Franciscan nun. A Franciscan along with her Spanish batch-
ladina (Spanish-speaking support for the cause of their
chronicler wrote: She was so mates to their new monastery
native) from Pampanga, had foundress beatification that they in the Portuguese colony of
the monasterys foundress, influential a woman and so
made an exception for the first Macao where the restrictions of
Madre Doa Jeronima de la moral and virtuous that all the
qualified native to apply: the the mother house in Manila did
convent urgently requested that
Asuncion, to thank for. Kapampangan Martha de San not apply. Hearing this, the
that she be conferred the
Madre Jeronima, from Bernardo. Franciscan Provincial allowed
novitiate habit. The nuns
a noble family in Spain, had The only brown- her to receive the holy habit
petition fell on deaf ears.
arrived in Manila in 1621 to set but only on a boat in the middle
up the monastery, the first of the sea, where she was
nunnery in the Philippines as beyond the reach of Spanish
well as in Asia. Although native laws and prejudices and where
women had a reputation for the officials who allowed it
spirituality, as evidenced by the could always claim no
number of women mystics (like knowledge or jurisdiction.
Clara Caliman and Isabel of Sor Martha de San
Butuan, Maria Guinita of Bernardo stayed in Macao until
she died. She had a chance to
Pangasinan, Cecilia Tangol of
return to the Philippines with
Bataan, Melchora la Beata of her fellow Poor Clares but she
Abucay, etc.), the church and chose to stay behind to avoid
civil authorities did not allow revival of interest in her
their admission into the new exceptional case.
monastery. Madre Jeronima In 1684, Mother
tried to build a separate Ignacia del Espiritu Santo
monastery for them in founded the first congregation
Pandacan but again, the for native women. It has
officials rejected the idea. The endured to this day as the
turning point occurred when Congregation of the Religious
the foundress died in 1630 and of the Virgin Mary (RVM).
the nuns petitioned the Source: Laying the Foundations:
Archdiocese to initiate a Kapampangan Pioneers in the
Philippine Church 1592-2000 by
beatification process. Over a Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City:
Pencil/watercolor painting by Joel Mallari Holy Angel University Press.

Pampanga towns and their Founders

At least 11 towns of Pampanga roads and driving Aetas and established the first primary after the titular patron saints
had existed long before the Zambals farther up the school in 1822, and donated 35 of the town, Los Santos
Spaniards arrived in 1571; the mountains. hectares of their own land to the Angeles Custodios (Holy
only thing left for the ANGELES church. The parish priest of San Guardian Angels). Its first
colonizers to do was rename Don Angel Fernando bitterly opposed Don gobernadorcillo was Ciriaco
them or reorganize them into Pantaleon de Miranda, Angels petition to set up a new de Miranda, the founders
pueblos with the church at the capitan of San Fernando, parish; on May 12, 1812, the son. The following year, 1830,
center, instead of the pre- together with his wife Rosalia new parish was created, and on Angeles held its first La Naval
Spanish Period set-up where de Jesus, cleared the December 8, 1829, the creation fiesta, to honor Our Lady of the
houses lined the rivers. The northernmost barrio of San of the municipality of Angeles Rosary, whose intercession led
rest of the towns were Fernando in 1796 and named it followed after Don Angel paid Spanish victory against Dutch
belatedly founded as Kuliat, after a vine. The couple with his own money the invaders in 1646 and whose
Spaniards and Indios alike settled there in 1811, introduced equivalent amount of taxes to image was the one brought to
pushed the frontiers by cutting the first muscovado sugar mill, be collected from 160 settlers. Kuliat during the forest
down forests, building new erected the first distillery and He renamed the town Angeles clearing. Don Angel Pantaleon

14
11. Madalena de la Concepcion 12. Juan de Guerra
Because she was a living saint during her time Because he was the second
Like Sor Martha de San Bernardo before her, Madalena de la Concepcion was a Filipino martyr, after
noblewoman from Pampanga but unlike Sor Martha, she was admitted to the monastery Saint Lorenzo Ruiz
of the Poor Clares without a hitch. She received their habit on February 9, 1636 and Thirty-year-old Juan de Guerra, a
professed the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience the following year. Sor Madalenas Kapampangan seaman from Betis, was in
biographer wrote that as a nun, she persevered for 49 years in such an exemplary the wrong place at the wrong time that day
way and in the strict observance of the Rule; in all those years, no deficiency whatsoever in Macao in 1640, when the Portuguese city
was noted in her compliance with the policies of the convent, ever excelling with sent an all-layman delegation to Japan to
diligence in the performance of the most humble and difficult tasks in the community improve diplomatic relations. He was one
and always abhorring positions of honor. With this example of humility and regular of two Filipinos among the 70 crewmen
observance, she persevered until her death on April 5, 1685. accompanying four Macao diplomats; no
Reference: Laying the Foundations: Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church 1592-2000
by Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City: Holy Angel University Press. friar was allowed on the trip to show the
anti-Christian Japanese officials that they
had no covert mission to evangelize. (Japan
had recently outlawed Christianity in the
empire, executing Japanese Christians as
well as foreigners who had come to re-
introduce the religion. One of those killed
three years earlier was Lorenzo Ruiz of
Manila.) As soon as the delegation reached
Japan, they were thrown in jail on charges
of conspiracy to propagate the outlawed
religion. After they refused to renounce
the Faith in exchange for freedom and
repatriation, they were marched off to the
red mountain in Nagasaki for execution.
Sixty-one, including Juan de Guerra, were
beheaded while 13 were sent back to Macao
with the warning: If King Philip himself or
indeed the Christian God, or the great
Buddha, violates our laws against alien
religions, he too will lose his head! It is
the detailed eyewitness account of these 13
survivors that served as basis for a 1698
book on the martyrdom by Fray Joseph
Sicardo of Madrid, and will serve as
evidence in possible beatification and
canonization of the martyrs in the future.
News of Juan de Guerras and his Filipino
companions martyrdom was greeted with
A 17th century depiction of the beheading of 61 martyrs in Nagasaki. great ecclesiastical celebration in Manila.
One of the dark-skinned figures is the Kapampangan seaman Juan de Reference: Laying the Foundations:
Guerra. (A Embaixada Martir by Benjamin Videira Pires, SJ) Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church
1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City:
Holy Angel University Press.

de Miranda died on June 21, later in the 1500s. Magmanoc, founded the pre- of the present-day church.
1835 at age 70. ARAYAT Hispanic Bacolor, then called BETIS
APALIT The pre-Spanish Period Bakulud from the word Vitis (Betis),
Malangsic and his name of Arayat was Balayan makabakulud, meaning upland according to Spanish
cousins Taui and ning Pambuit , an ancient surrounded by lowland chroniclers in the 1500s, was
Pampalong founded Sulipan settlement originally located in ( cababan or baba lubao in a prosperous settlement with
and Capalangan, the oldest barrio Palinglang (the present ancient Kapampangan). In more than 7000 inhabitants
villages in Apalit, but the poblacion used to be a jungle 1576, a local landlord, when the colonizers chanced
foundation of the town itself, inhabited by Aetas). The town Guillermo Manabat, with the upon it as they made their way
which was named after a local was renamed Dayat , which help of the Spaniards, founded into the interior of the
tree (a narra variety living on means irrigated farmlands, while the pueblo and dedicated the province. They were mostly
the banks of the river), is the mountain was originally church to his namesake, San Moros who put up a brave
credited to either called Bunduk Alaya (which Guillermo Ermitao, whose feast resistance before being
Capitangan and his wife means eastern mountain). is celebrated on February 10 pacified. The name of the
Lady Bayinda (whose BACOLOR (the other great feast of Bacolor town came from betis, a large
names appear in the Balagtas Lady Monmon, wife is La Naval in November). tree that grew in the vicinity
Will) or to Agustin Mangaya of Malangsiks brother Dapat- Manabat was buried in the site of the churchs present site. In

15
 t h e the Revolution (1896-1898) and the
13. The Talangpaz Sisters quality of
t h e
Philippine-American War (1899-1902), as
well as the earthquakes of 1863 and 1880
Because, against all odds, they started what would applicants and the Second World War (1941-1945).
eventually become a worldwide congregation and their Today the beaterio is known as the
o w n Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect
ability to Sisters, the oldest non-contemplative
sustain religious community for women in the
t h e Augustinian Recollect Order throughout the
beaterio. world. It is credited for the establishment
T h e of the Colegio de Sta. Rita in Manila in 1907.
belea- In 1999, the cause for the Talangpaz sisters
guered beatification was formally started.
f r i a r s Reference: Laying the Foundations:
Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church
decided 1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City:
not only Holy Angel University Press.
to stop
t h e 14. Andres
screening
but to
de la Cruz
recall the Because, barely 12 years old, he
sisters was tasked with the man-sized
religious job of brokering peace between
habits savage tribes
Dionisia Mitas Talangpaz de Santa and expel them from the convent garden.
Andres de la Cruz was only 10 when he left
Maria and her younger sister, Cecilia The Talangpaz sisters returned to their nipa
the country in 1668 with three fellow
Rossa Talangpaz de Jesus of Calumpit, hut where they continued their spiritual
Kapampangans to start a mission in the
Bulacan were half-Kapampangans. Their duties. Prophetically they told their
Marianas, then called the Ladrones, which
paternal grandmother, Doa Juana confessor: It is clear that God and the Most
was the farthest outpost of the diocese of
Mallari and maternal grandfather, Don Holy Virgin have deigned to test us and Cebu. The group of 17 was headed by
Agustin Sonsong de Pamintuan (a purify our souls in the crucible of sorrows. Diego Luis de San Vitores, and with them
leader in the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660) But we are so determined in our endeavor was Pedro Calungsod (later the second
were from Macabebe. The Talangpaz that we find more courage to suffer each Filipino to be beatified), another youth who,
sisters gave up the good life to stay in a day. We are like mustard seeds which have like Andres, was chosen for his spiritual as
humble nipa hut in Bilibid Viejo praying been pressed and nearly crushed. From well as physical strength. Two years into
continuously and doing penance and these shall emerge a sapling which shall the mission, Andres de la Cruz was assigned
needlework. After six years the Augustinian grow into a big tree under whose shade the with nine other boys to the Island of
Recollect friars in the convent of the San birds will build their nests and sing their Buenavista de Tinian to restore peace
Sebastian church invested them with the canticles to God. Amazingly, the Recollect between two warring tribes. One of the
religious habit and gave them a small house friars had a sudden change of heart and tribes resented their intervention, and in one
in the convents garden. Other native not only ordered the sisters back but also attack on the Christian camp, Andres had
women began applying to join the built a larger beaterio in the same spot in no choice but to slay the chieftain. He and
Talangpaz sisters and soon the house was the convent garden and assured them of the rest of the boys survived the incident
converted into the Beaterio de San continuous support. Cecilia and Dionisia and lived on to continue their work as
Sebastian de Calumpang. As the number Talangpaz died in 1731 and 1732, missionaries in the Pacific island.
of applicants grew, the Recollect friars who respectively, but the beaterio endured, Reference: Laying the Foundations:
Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church
screened them began to have doubts about surviving the British Occupation (1752-64), 1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City:
Holy Angel University Press.

January 1904, Betis was account of its antiquity and who is said to have visited the spel ling was hispanized,
downgraded to a mere perhaps beauty. place in the early 1800s. probably to differentiate it
barangay of Guagua. FLORIDABLANCA GUAGUA from the Kapampangan word
CANDABA Floridablanca was Although ancient, for saliva.
The towns pre- founded between January 5 and Guagua was not a prosperous LUBAO
Hispanic name was Candaue, 31,1879 by 39 settlers headed settlement like Betis, Bacolor, Originally Baba
an area near the present by surveyor Ramon Orozco; Lubao or Macabebe, probably Lubao , meaning lowland
cemetery, which the earlier, the barrios Caumpaui, because it was prone to frequent (opposite of bakulud, meaning
Spaniards later spel led Santul and Carmen were flooding. Its original name was upland), Lubao was a
Candave, Candava and finally transferred from the older town Uaua, meaning the mouth of a prosperous pre-Spanish period
Candaba. Its oldest barrio, of Lubao to a site called river. Although this Hindu- settlement that early Spanish
Mandasic (now Mandasig), Manggang Punglud, where a Malayan word was used chroniclers also called Baras
was founded by Mandik, church had been erected. The throughout the country (e.g., (Sp. barras, sandbars). Even
wife of Malangsik. Another town was not named after a Wawa River in Agusan and today, some Kapampangans
village in Candaba was later flower, but after Jose Moino, Barrio Wawa in Batangas, still refer to the town as Baba
called Little Castilla by the Count of Floridablanca in Spain, Cavite, Mindoro and Bataan), it (just as they continue to refer
first Spanish settlers on a popular Spanish political figure was only in Pampanga where its to Bacolor as Bakulud). The

16
15. Nicolas de 16. PHELIPPE SONSONG
Figueroa Because he gave up more than what could be
Because he suffered a expected of one man in one lifetime: he gave up a
gruesome death one day career as a privileged Macabebe soldier; he gave up
ahead of Blessed Pedro his family to enter the religious life; he gave up a
Calungsods martyrdom
life of comfort to work as domestic helper and
Nicolas de Figueroa of Bacolor was also carpenter for the Jesuits; he gave up his country to
one of the four Kapampangans in the
mission to the Ladrones Islands in 1668.
work in the missions in the Pacific; and finally he
Like Pedro Calungsod and Andres de gave up his life for his faith
la Cruz, he was a boyish catechist who Born May 1, 1611, Phelippe Sonsong Augustin had earlier subdued a smaller
was eager to baptize the babies and belonged to a family of politicians and uprising among Kapampangans in 1645 in
children of the islanders. On April 1, 1672, soldiers in Macabebe who served Gapan, Nueva Ecija (then part of
while searching for a Mexican fellow in the Spanish colonial Pampanga).
missionary who turned out to have been government. His father, Phelippe was one of the
murdered, Nicolas and three companions Don Ramon Macabebe soldiers so
were ambushed by 20 ferocious islanders. Sonsong, was valued by the
Though outnumbered, Nicolas group put gobernador of Spanish royal army
up a fight; Nicolas killed the gangs leader Macabebe twice, for their military
and chopped off his head to scare away in 1630 and skills. He had
the rest. Nicolas and his two surviving 1632, and his fought side by
companions fled in separate directions; b r o t h e r, side with the
he ended up in a village where he was Augustin Spaniards in
welcomed and then suddenly seized by Sonsong, was the revolt of
an islander, dragged to the cliff and the caveza de the Chinese
barangay of in 1639.
thrown off the edge. Below other
Caputatan, H o w e v e r,
islanders mercilessly attacked him with
Macabebe in when the
lances. The following morning, it was
1633 and later Kapampangan
San Vitores and Calungsods turn to be Revolt broke
captain of a
executed. Later on the same day, one of company of out in 1660, he
the survivors in Nicolas group took refuge M a c a b e b e sided with his
in the same village and suffered the same soldiers in the kin and turned
fate as Nicolas while the last companion royal infantry, against the
lived to tell their story to a tribunal which which guarded the Spaniards. After
conducted the first beatification inquiry city of Manila (for his experiencing defeat,
in Guam in 1673. News of their deaths loyalty he was conferred he became a devotee
reached Manila on May 3, 1672; church the highest military title that to Our Lady of Mount
bells rang all over and congregations sang a native officer could aspire Sketch by Joel Mallari Carmel, wearing the
Te Deum to celebrate their martyrdom. for, that of maestre de campo). brown scapular around his
Augustins son and Phelippes nephew, neck for the rest of his life. He thus started
Reference: Laying the Foundations:
Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Augustin Pamintuan de Sonsong, was a family tradition that was passed down
Church 1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago. Francisco Maniagos emissary to the generations, including the Talangpaz
Angeles City: Holy Angel University Press.
Pangasinan and Ilocos during the sisters, who were Phelippe Sonsongs
Kapampangan revolt of 1660. The older descendants.

first printing press in the parish. In fact, the towns part of Masantol). Macabebe out to have worse flooding
country was set up in the town foundation is credited to the first was already a thriving caused by the Parua River
by the Augustinian friars. missionary there, Fray Andres community long before the (now Sacobia-Bamban River).
MABALACAT de San Fulgencio, OAR, a Spaniards came, probably Magalangs principales,
Named after the famous theologian and spiritual occupying the entire coastal namely the Suing, Cortez,
balacat tree, the first settlers adviser to the saintly Talangpaz section of the province, from Pineda and Luciano families,
in the town were Aetas. It Sisters. which came Tarik Soliman and decided to divide the town into
functioned as a mere barrio of MACABEBE the early Kapampangan two: some families moved
Bamban until 1712, when the Macabebe and warriors. north of the river to a placed
first mayor, an Aeta named Pampanga both mean MAGALANG called Sto. Nio, which they
Garangan, was appointed by riverbanks, although some An original settlement renamed Concepcion; the
the Spaniards. Mabalacat is townspeople insist that the town named Magalang was located other families remained in San
the only Pampanga town not got its name from clams (cabibi). farther north, in Macapsa; due Bartolome and retained the
evangelized by the Its oldest barrio, Bebe, originally to its proximity to Cuayan and name Magalang. On
Augustinian friars. Like the Bebay, was founded by Mandic, Maisac Rivers which frequently September 22, 1858, floods
southern towns of Tarlac, wife of Malangsik (since 1878, flooded it, the people transferred transformed Magalang into a
Mabalacat was a Recollect however, this barrio had been a to San Bartolome, which turned lake. The town was

17
 After being widowed
in 1667 at age 56, Phelippe left Popular Rebellion and Religious Vocation
all his properties to his son
Jeronimo (who later served as
Macabebe gobernadorcillo for
(1660-1719)
an unprecedented 10 terms) Or, how even the worst of times in Pampanga
and entered the religious life inspired the best in men and women
among the Jesuits, whom he
served as a domestic helper
By Dr. Luciano P.R. Santiago
and carpenter despite his noble One of the ironies of the origins of the Filipino clergy as well as the Philippine beaterios
background. He was among was the fact that these could be partly traced to a popular uprising. In October 1660, the Pampangos
the four Kapampangans who successfully took arms against Spanish exploitation in their prominent province. The revolt spread
accompanied Diego San
like wildfire to the Pangasinan and Ilocos regions. Although the conquistadors praised the
Vitores and Pedro
Pampangos as the Castilians of the Indios, they failed to compensate them for their multifarious
Calungsod in the mission to
Ladrones Islands. services such as supplying rice to the capital, cutting timber in the forests and building and
Tragedy occurred on manning ships for the Mexican trade. The gallant Master-of-Camp Don Francisco Maniago and
July 23, 1684 when hostile his brother, Cristobal led the rank and file. Setting up a provisional government, they were
islanders attacked and assisted by other principales such as Baluyot of Guagua, who served as the secretary, Don
attempted to behead him. Juan Panlasigui and Don Augustin Pamintuan who was designated ambassador to
Phelippe, then already 73 years Pangasinan and Ilocos. Pamintuans uncle, Don Phelipe Sonsong was also apparently involved
old, sustained severe head and though not as a headman. 1
neck injuries, but survived. He The Pangasinan rebels were incited in December 1660 by Don Andres Malong of
suffered continuously from his Binalatongan who was also a master-of-camp and minor encomendero. Malongs mother, Doa
open wounds until his death six Beata de Sto. Domingo was evidently a Dominican tertiary as indicated by her name. Malongs
months later, on January 11, forces reached as far north as the town of Bolinao then situated in the
1685. He died while praying province of Zambales, where they burned down the parish church. In
on his knees. He was buried January 1661, Don Pedro Almazan and his son also declared the
still wearing his now bloodied Ilocos province a royal realm under their sway. 2
scapular. A Spanish Jesuit The cause of the Pampangos weakened considerably when
wrote in 1686 that Phelippe the Governor General Sabiniano Manrique de Lara personally
Sonsongs solid virtues were solicited the alliance of the most influential Pampango of his
an example to his countrymen time, Don Jun Macapagal, great-grandson of Lakandula
and who, being a noble among
and chief of the strategic town of Arayat. The governor now
his own people, is now, we
promoted him a Maestre de Campo like Maniago and Malong.
believe, from his blameless life,
Standing out among the governors troops was a dashing
a most notable citizen of the
realm of Heaven. Another young Captain Don Simon de Fuentes who also served
Jesuit from the mission wrote: as the notary. 3
We have also learned of the Realizing the futility of the struggle at this point and
death of the saintly Philippine, to prevent further bloodshed, Maniago appealed for
Felipe Sonson. amnesty through the intercession of an Augustinian priest.
Reference: Felipe Sonson: 17th Century However, the other Pampango leaders, notably Maniagos
Filipino Jesuit Missionary to Marianas
by Fr. John N. Schumacher, SJ in brother (Cristobal), Balyot, Panlasigui and Pamintuan
Landas IX. Quezon City: Ateneo de rejected the peace overtures and continued the
Manila School of Theology; Laying the
Foundations: Kapampangan resistance. The rebels elected Don Nicols Manuit to
Pioneers in the Philippine Church replace Maniago and chose Pamintan as his deputy. In
1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago.
Angeles City: Holy Angel University
Press. Augustinian friar (100 Events that Shaped the Philippines)

transferred once again, this year-old Pablo Luciano y the area, or because the town reverted to the original name.
time to its present site, farther David as first gobernadorcillo. was where santol fruits were MEXICO
south. San Bartolome, the old Some scholars theorize that the heavily bartered The pre-Spanish
Magalang site, came to be first settlers of Magalang were (Kapampangans being fond of Period name of the town was
known as Balen Melacuan migrants from a village in sinigang dish). Masantol, Masiku, meaning abundance
(abandoned town) and is now Indonesia called Magelang, originally a part of the ancient of water (the town had vast
a mere barrio of Concepcion; which was also located at the Macabebe town, was founded as irrigated farmlands); other
Magalangs present site is in foot of a volcano that resembled a separate town and renamed scholars claim it got its name
Talimundoc or San Pedro, Mount Arayat. In Bergaos San Miguel on May 1, 1878, from chico fruits, or from the
which is why the complete dictionary, magalang was an composed of the former description makasiku,
name of the town is San Pedro ancient Kapampangan word for Macabebe barrios of Bebe, meaning river elbowing or
de Magalang (although its abundance. Bulakus, Kaingin and Nigi; its town elbowing neighboring
patron saint remains to be San MASANTOL proponents were Manuel towns. Least likely is that the
Bartolome, whose feast day is The town got its name Fajardo, Gregorio Bautista town was named after Mexico
August 24). The town was from the fruit tree, either and Juan Lacap. For a while it in Central America, although
formally established on because there was a came to be known as San Miguel the Spaniards resorted to
December 24, 1863 with 22- proliferation of santol trees in Masantol, until popular usage spelling the towns name that

18
a few months, the rebellion was completely crushed by superior arms. 133 of its leaders, including Maniago, who had been promised
amnesty, were rounded up and executed in a brutal manner.4
The spectacular executions did not go unprotested by the conscience of the Spanish community: Licenciado Don Manuel
Surez de Oliveira, the senior magistrate of the Royal Audiencia. He published a treatise condemning the retributive judgment of the
military court, considering the causes of the rebellion. But his was a lone voice in the Spanish colonial wilderness. In an earlier
controversy in 1636, his house and other properties were confiscated when he took the side of Governor Corcuera who lost in his
jurisdictional clash with Archbishop Guerrero. 5
Despite his fierce participation in the uprising, Pamintan, together with his uncle, Don Phelipe Sonsong, was remarkably
spared in the holocaust perhaps because of his personal merits and their ancestors solid military service. The two survivors, as well as
the offspring of the tragic leaders of the rebellion refused to let their excruciating experience break their spirits. They realized that the
Catholic Faith, for all the shortcomings of its ministers and representatives, had nevertheless taken firm root in their land. In fact, at
crucial points of the unrest, the ambivalent rebels even implored the friars to hear their confessions and celebrate masses for their
intentions. Henceforth, the descendants of their chiefs resolved to sublimate their energy in education, and when the time came, in the
special service of God.6
Thus, the first Indio priest ordained by Archbishop Camacho when he launched the Filipino clergy (1698) was Bachiller Don
Francisco Balyot of Guagua. At least three others with the surnames Maniago, Balyot-Panlasigui and another Balyot, also belonged
to the first group of native priests. The Baluyots loomed as the first Filipino priestly clan. The sequestered house of the fearless
magistrate Surez de Oliveira was transformed into the first native seminary, that of San Clemente (1705), precursor of the present
San Carlos Seminary. The survivor Sonsong joined the Jesuit mission to the Marianas in 1668 where he suffered martyrdom in 1685.
Even Governor Manrique de Lara ended his days as a monk in a monastery in Madrid. 7
The rebellion in Pangasinan interrupted but did not discourage the efforts of the pastor of Bolinao, Fray Juan de la Madre de
Dios Blancas, OAR, in organizing the first Philippine beaterio, which he had just begun a year earlier (1659). The widow and sister of
Captain Simn de Fuentes became the foundresses of the Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Sena (1696). The Talangpaz
sisters, granddaughters of Pamintan and great-grandnieces of Sonsong, established the
Beaterio de San Sebastin de Calumpang (1719). 8
9
Casimiro Diaz, OSA. Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas (1616-94). (Valladolid: Graviria, 1890) pp. 568-590 & in
BR 38: 139-215; AGI. Carta del Gob. Sabiniano Manrique de Lara al Rey. Madrid, 20 Jullio
1661. Fil. 9 doc. 77, pp. 20- 35v; Luciano PR Santiago. The Hidden Light. The First
Filipino Priests. (QC: New Day, 1987) pp. 27-30; Stars of Peace. The Talangpaz
Sisters. (Manila: ARS, 2001) pp. 50-52.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid.
13
Ibid.; BR 26: 73-86; 36: 134-5; 38: 56, 130,
160 & 210-11; 45: 172, 202 & 203; 47: 28,
73 & 213.
14
Santiago. Hidden Light & Stars of
Peace.
15
Ibid.; Schumacher. Early Filipino
Jesuits & Felipe Sonson; AGI.
Carta del Gob. Manrique de Lara.
16
Pedro de San Francisco, OAR.
Historia General . (Zaragoza, 1756)
pp. 481-2; Francisco Sadaba, OAR.
Catalogo de los Religiosos Agustinos
Recoletos . (Madrid: Asilo de
Huerfanos del Corazon de Jesus,
1906). pp. 97-98; Santiago. Hidden
Light & Stars of Peace.

Dominican
friar
Jesuit
Franciscan friar
friar

way (x and s in Latin are land from a datu. When it was Minalis, meaning moved to. due either to lack of priests or
phonetically the same). On time for the Augustinian One of the succeeding to fear of the Zambal
December 8, 1800, the missionaries to build a church in gobernadorcillos, Diego headhunters. In succeeding
demarcation between Mexico Sta. Maria, the people of another Tolentino, misspelled it as years, it was administered
and San Fernando towns was settlement called Burol (hilly Minalin and the error stuck. from the larger parish of
set; its proponents were native place) argued that the church be PORAC Bacolor and later, from Lubao.
principales Joseph Diego built in their place instead of the Andres Maaquil On September 16, 1867, due
Manalang and Nicolas low-lying Sta. Maria. In 1683, and other pioneer settlers to drought-like conditions on
Manuel Pimping. nature resolved the debate (Quiandan, Lundan and the hills, the town transferred
MINALIN when a big flood inundated Sta. Dumandan, nephew of Prince to its present site called
The town, formerly Maria and carried the logs Balagtas) founded the town on Capatagan (plain), near a river
located in Macabebe, was intended for the construction of the slopes of the Batiauan called Porag, from which the
called Sta. Maria in honor of the church downstream, right on mountain. The Augustinians town borrowed its name. The
the wives of the towns four the riverbanks in Burol. The arrived in 1594; they organized river, on the other hand, got
founders, namely, Mendiola, residents interpreted it as a the Aetas of the various its name from kurag or purag,
Nucum, Lopez and Intal, heavenly sign, built the church rancherias; three years later, the a rattan plant growing near
who had negotiated a piece of on the spot and named the place mission abandoned the place the river.

19
17. FRANCISCO MANIAGO
AGO
Because he led the Kapampangan
Revolt of 1660 which nearly sparked
the Philippine Revolution 200 years
ahead of schedule; because he was
probably the first Filipino to have a
concept of nation; because when the
rebellion withered under the
brilliance of Governor Manrique de
Laras genius, he had enough sense
not to bring down the whole province
with him
By Robby Tantingco
In the early days of colonization, when the Spaniards
were severely undermanned and had no one to maintain order
and collect taxes, the once-belligerent Kapampangans ironically
became the colonizers new best friends. This was because the
native chieftains and the Spaniards struck a convenient alliance
in which the chieftains retained their positions in the village in
exchange for performing the task of collecting taxes for the
Spaniards. These local leaders and landowners eventually evolved
into the principalia, the privileged ones who were exempted from
taxes, enjoyed the title of Don and controlled local government Acrylic painting by Joel Mallari
positions that were more hereditary than elective. The peasants, By October, 1660, the loyal Kapampangans had had
meanwhile, were only too willing to be sent by their datus to enough. The wood-cutters burned their huts in the forests of
Spanish shipyards, armies and galleons in exchange for land to Malasinglo and Bocoboco, swearing by the light of the fierce flames,
till. To them, serving Spaniards was synonymous to serving their their intention to fight for freedom and justice. They were led by
local chieftains. For a while the arrangement worked. Don Francisco Maniago of Mexico, Pampanga, formerly a master-
But the colonial government was never in a financial of-camp in the Spanish army. Playing deaf to pleas by the wood-
position to pay a just wage to laborers it drafted or a just price cutters Dominican chaplain, Fray Pedro Camacho, the mutineers
for the goods it bought. Gov. Gen. Hurtado de Corcuera (1635- pitched their tents in Bacolor, barricaded the rivers to halt commerce
44) introduced the system of vandala, or compulsory sale of native between Manila and Pampanga, and sent word to their compatriots
products, particularly rice, to the Spanish government , which in Pangasinan and Ilocos to urge them to join their fight. Maniago
paid in promissory notes that were never redeemed. By 1660 appointed Don Augustin Pamintuan of Macabebe as his emissary
the government had owed Pampanga farmers the then huge sum to these provinces.
of P200,000.00, since most of the rice consumed in Manila came It was the revolt that sent shock waves across the colony,
from this province. Worse, Kapampangan men were repeatedly the one that the Spaniards had feared the most because it was led
hauled off to distant mountains and forced to cut timber for the by the same Kapampangans they had trained in combat, and
shipyards in Cavite; the conscription sometimes lasted eight because, with the participation of Pangasinan and Ilocos, it
straight months, leaving the farmlands in Pampanga untilled. threatened to become a nationwide conflagration. For the first

SAN FERNANDO certain Doa Luisa, wife of the Anda transferred the capital of side of the greater town of
The town was carved towns legal counsel who the Philippines to Bacolor, Bacolor. It is likely that parts
out of the much older towns successfully defended it against Pampanga, the town was of the town had been carved
of Mexico and Bacolor. It was a land claim by the neighboring renamed in his honor. out of Porac.
founded in 1754 and named town of Pinpin (Sta. Ana) in SANTA ANA SANTO TOMAS
after its patron saint, the 1761. The name of this The old name of Sto.
Spanish king Fernando III, SAN SIMON ancient settlement was Pinpin, Tomas was Baliuag ;
Rey (King) de Castilla y Leon. The town was founded most likely after an important Augustinians renamed it in
SAN LUIS by Mariano del Pilar de los person during the time of honor of the Apostle. The
Originally named Reyes either in 1766 or 1771; Malangsik. It was renamed Sta. town came to be known as
Cabagsak (from bagsakan thus, the towns original name Ana by the Augustinians, in Sto. Tomas Baliuag, then Sto.
kabag, plenty of fruit bats), it was Virgen del Pilar, after Our honor of the mother of the Tomas Minalin (its matrix until
was renamed San Nicolas Lady of the Pillar, whose feast Blessed Virgin. 1792), then Sto. Tomas de San
Cabagsac in honor of its first day is October 12. After the SANTA RITA Fernando (which absorbed the
parish priest, Fray Nicolas de British Occupation in 1762-64, The towns original town from 1905 to 1951).
Orduo, OSA. Much later it during which the Spanish name was Santa Rita de Lele, SASMUAN
was renamed San Luis, after a Governor General Simon de because it was located on the The town was

20
time, a local revolt was on the verge of becoming a multi-region, The presence of the Spanish governor and his army inside
even a national, revolution. Macabebe was freaking out the townspeople, who were caught
But the rebels were not prepared for someone like between their loyalty to the Kapampangan rebels and their duty to
Governor Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, who turned out their important guests, and whose homecourt advantage had been
to be a master of cunning and bluff. neutralized by the Spaniards show of force. The rebels in the
neighboring towns were also puzzled by the presence of the Spanish
fleet. In Apalit, for example, mutiny leaders hurriedly retrieved
the letters Augustin Pamintuan was supposed to deliver to
Pangasinan and Ilocos, fearing interception or worse, defection.
All were afraid at the so close proximity of the governor, wrote
Fray Casimiro Diaz, OSA, imagining that they already had upon
them the entire Spanish power.
Don Sabiniano had another ace up his sleeve: Don Juan
Macapagal, a chieftain in the strategic town of Arayat, possible
passageway for augmentation troops from Pangasinan. The
Governor invited Macapagal to Macabebe, where he promised
rewards, including transferring his family to a safe haven in Manila,
if he pledged loyalty to Spain. Don Sabiniano also made him master-
of-camp of pro-government Kapampangans, and ordered the
construction of a fort in Arayat.
Hearing this, Maniago sent someone to convince
Macapagal to change his mind; Macapagal instead had the emissary
killed. This, and the transfer of Macapagals family to Manila, where
they were feted and treated like heroes and put under the custody
Early Kapampangans were made to cut trees, work in
shipyards...

The alcalde mayor (provincial chief) of Pampanga, Don

Juan Gomez de Payva, had informed the Governor of the
uprising on the same night of the mutiny. Don Sabiniano first
asked Fray Camacho and the other friars in Sexmoan and Baua
to pacify the rebels. Next he decided to go into enemy territory,
despite being undermanned. Accompanied by 11 boats and 300
men, three generals, two admirals and four pieces of artillery, the
Governor sailed from Manila Bay into Pampanga River, pulling
out the barricades along the way but cautioning his soldiers against
firing at the enemies who were watching them from the riverbanks.
His arrival in Macabebe caught the natives by surprise;
they feigned loyalty even as they hid their weapons. Sensing
this, Don Sabiniano played along. He stayed in the house of
local leader Don Francisco Salonga although the convent was
offered to him; he patronizingly ordered all women out of sight
so that his soldiers would behave. His stay had created an
awkward delay in the plans of the Macabebe natives, who had
been preparing to leave and join the mutineers. ... and build churches (100 Events That Shaped the Philippines)

of the alcalde-mayor of Tondo no less, began to demoralize the

formerly called Sasmoan (from of California Press; A Brief History rebels.
sasmo, to assemble) because of the Town of Angeles by Mariano
A. Henson. San Fernando: I ng It was obvious that while Francisco Maniago had the
it was where Kapampangan Katiwala Press. numbers, General Sabiniano Manrique de Lara had the brains. All
soldiers assembled prior to the friars in Pampanga took his cue and began convincing their
attacking Chinese insurgents in parishioners in earnest to give up the fight.
upstream Guagua. The name Maniago saw the handwriting on the wall when his own
somehow was mispronounced officers left their posts one by one to save their skin. He dispatched
Sesmoan and when the Fray Andres de Salazar with a letter to Don Sabiniano, offering to
Spaniards wrote it down, they lay down their arms if the government paid its debts. The Governor,
misspelled it as Sexmoan (x aware that the royal treasury was almost empty, offered to pay
and s in Latin are phonetically P14,000 instead of the P200,000 the government owed the
the same) and the name Kapampangans. He sent his secretary and two generals to establish
stuckthat is, until 1987, when peace and publish the general amnesty. When the writ of amnesty
Rep. Emy Lingad corrected was drawn up, a Kapampangan amanuensis (transcriber), a certain
the colonial faux pas. Baluyot of Guagua, repeated the words to them in the vernacular
Reference: The Pampangans by
but when he got to the part that read In the name of his Majesty,
John A. Larkin. Los Angeles: University I grant pardon, for the sake of avoiding all bloodshed, he altered
it to mean the exact opposite, catching the Spaniards by surprise.
21
Then he slipped out of the conference room again, the rebels and Don Sabiniano were
and repeated the false statement to the It was the revolt that the caught in a mutual guessing game, and once
crowd, and all hell broke loose. The angry again, the Governor outwitted them. First he
mutineers stormed the conference hall, Spaniards had feared the let all of them enter his presence, and ordered
detained the Spanish officials and chose a new most because it was led by his soldiers to disarm even as he allowed the
leader, Don Nicolas Manuit, who the same Kapampangans rebels to bring in their weapons. Having won
summoned everyone to prepare for battle.
The friars tried to tell everyone that a mistake
they had trained in combat their confidence, he next asked the leaders to
make their followers go away. Fray Diaz wrote
had been made, and surprisingly, the and because, with that the multitude gladly took their
Kapampangans did calm down, but now it was Pangasinan and Ilocos departure.
Don Sabiniano who had had enough; he Alone with the rebel leaders, the
getting involved, it had the Governor began scolding them. He could not
ordered his troops to attack.
potential of becoming a pay them the amount they were asking for,
Afraid of the Governors wrath, the he said, because in war all the wealth that
rebels released his secretary and sent him nationwide conflagration one had intended to increase is destroyed.
back to Don Sabiniano with peace offerings. Who has ever grown rich through war? And
Even the friars shuttled back and forth to mediate, promising to who has not lost in war that which in peace he held secure? (The
work for the rebels amnesty and to convince the King to reward wealth) vanishes through the very means by which it is secured.
the governor. Don Sabiniano demanded that his two generals be You make an arrogant demand upon the king, when you know that
released with their weapons, furnishings and clothing intact, he cannot pay you. Ignorance may serve other provinces as an
excuse, but not you, whom our continual intercourse with you has
without a thread missing, and warning that should any of these rendered more intelligent! Let me remind you of the way in which
articles be missing, only an exchange of fire would settle the you lived; your huts were the tall trees, like birds nests! He went
issue. (At this point the question must be raised on whether the on and on, showing them computations of government
Kapampangan amanuensis had purposely altered the expenditures, asking them to pity underpaid
amnesty order to sabotage the negotiations or had Spanish soldiers, pity the King of Spain himself
sincerely misread it, or Don Sabiniano, ever cunning,
You make an who taxes himself in enormous sums for your
had planted an altered statement to sabotage the arrogant demand on safety and defense alone, and finally threatening
them with I would grieve much if we came to
peace that he never really was interested in, as his the King when you
blows, since if fighting began I could not restrain
subsequent actions hint at.) the soldiers from compelling me, against my
The rebels promptly released the two
know that he cannot
wishes, to behold your entire ruin. The ashes of
generals; emboldened, Don Sabiniano ordered the pay you! your villages must be mingled with those of your
provincial alcalde-mayor to surrender the mutiny bodies. Still, he ended his performance with I
leaders to him the next day. Fray Diaz wrote: Those who were have forgiven you for what is past; and beware that you do not
present looked at one another in surprise, wondering that the repeat your faithless ingratitude.
The hapless natives took the barrage without a word, and
governor should not know the condition in which the chiefs still
the affairs of the province were immediately put in order.
were, united and armed in so great a number that their submission Kapampangans agreed to continue cutting timber for the
was not to be expected at a mere summons. government but to be allowed to return to the province to attend
But at one hour past midnight, the rebel chiefs did arrive, to their domestic activities. Don Sabiniano left Macabebe and
together with their people, all on 80 boats, in Macabebe. The returned to Manila with Francisco Maniago, under the pretext that
Governor, unsure why they had come at such an hour and in so he would give him a job in the office of the master-of-camp of
big a number, postponed meeting with them until daybreak. Once Kapampangan soldiers in the Spanish army.
Only a few days later, Don Andres Malong of
Binalatongan (now San Carlos City, Pangasinan), partly inspired by
Francisco Maniagos revolt and partly fueled by his ambition to be
king of Pangasinan, started his own rebellion. He sent thousands
of troops to invade Pampanga, Cagayan and Ilocos, leaving only a
Fort Santiago few behind to defend him. In the end, the Spaniards had had
enough of rebellions and they executed all the leaders, including
Francisco Maniago, who was shot in his hometown Mexico, together
with brother Cristobal Maniago, while the rest of Kapampangan
leaders, including the amanuensis, Baluyot of Guagua, were hanged.
Another wave of discontent swept the province as a result, but the
Augustinian friars, as usual, managed to calm down the hotheads.
Reference: Blair and Robertson Vol. XXXVIII; The Aquinos of Tarlac by Nick
Joaquin. Manila: Cacho Hermanos; The Literature of the Pampangos by Rosalina
Icban-Castro. Manila: University of the East Press.

22
 The Mutiny of 1660-61 in Pampanga
By John A. Larkin
One of the most publicized happenings in the history of Pampanga during the seventeenth century is the timber cutters revolt, led by Don
Francisco Maniago (or Maago). The story of this event, as told in Spanish chronicles, stresses how this rebellion was suppressed by a show of
colonial armed force and through negotiations between the rebels and the clever Governor General Sabiniano Manrique de Lara (1653-63), assisted
by friars from some Pampanga parishes. What the record does not emphasize is the strategic role played by several Pampangos in preventing
violence and settling the local grievances that produced the heightened tensions in the first place.1
This rebellion, or more likely mutiny or strike, occurred in late 1660 and early 1661 and centered on a protest against the excessive demands
of Spanish authorities. The cash-strapped government had collected rice to feed its garrisons, for which it had not paid the Pampangos, and it had
overworked them felling trees to build galleons for the Manila Acapulco run. The Capampangan, who had been undertaking corve labor in the
forests for eight strenuous months, burned down their huts and refused to do any further work. This strike alarmed the Spanish exceedingly.
What made the mutiny so perilous in the minds of the Spaniards was the reputation for valor and skill of the Pampangos who had been
trained and employed as mercenaries by the colonial government. Furthermore, the Spaniards feared that the superior reputation of the people of
Pampanga might encourage more distant ethnic groups, for example those in Pangasinan and Ilocos, to go out in rebellion as well. As Casimiro Diaz
put it, the Pampangos were the most warlike and prominent people [of the Philippines], and near to Manila.2 If the rebellion spread widely enough,
it might threaten colonial rule in the archipelago. The fact that a good share of the colonial army was then engaged in protecting Ternate from the Dutch
added to the danger. Moreover, the treasury was bare, due to the failure of the silver payment from Mexico to arrive in time. Thus, Governor Manrique
de Lara had every reason to settle peacefully this protest in Pampanga.
The governor marshaled two to three hundred troops and transported them and four cannons in eleven boats to Macabebe where they
camped out while he began negotiations. Interestingly, Manrique de Lara took up residence in the home of Don Francisco Salonga rather than that of
the local parish priest, because the former residence was the best in the village.3 Even then the Capampangan were providing their famous
hospitality to outsiders! The presence of the governor and his troops started to reduce some of the tension and discouraged violence among the men
of Macabebe, known for their martial skills.
Eventually, after one botched attempt at negotiations almost led to conflict, the issues between the government and the aggrieved
Capampangan were resolved. A show of force by both sides and the persuasion of the local Augustinian Friars facilitated the settlement. The one
failed effort was attributed to an error in translation on the part of a Capampangan scribe and it was soon cleared up. The most cited account of the
affair by Casimiro Diaz accentuates the machinations of Manrique de Lara and the Spanish clergy in quelling what they considered to be a dangerous
revolt. Finally peaceful relations were reestablished, and, by 1662, loyal troops from Pampanga played a leading role in the suppression of a putative
uprising by the Philippine Chinese.4
There is enough internal evidence in the Diaz account, however, to suggest that the Capampangan had a more prominent role in the
outcome of the mutiny. To begin with, there was Francisco Maniago. Why was a maestro de campo with the title Don leading a group of polista
woodcutters? Perhaps he owned a share of the Spanish debt for the rice shipped to Manila, in which case the settlement that included an initial
payment of P14,000 against a whole debt of P200,000 was to his advantage. In any event, Maniago, although a leader of the strike, was awarded a
military command in Manila for his service in the resolution in the dispute.
Don Juan Macapagal, an old soldier and village head from Arayat, assumed a more central part in restoring order. Descended from the
Lacandulas, Macapagal employed his considerable prestige and reputation to aid the Spaniards. His military career had begun in the late 1630s, and
in January, 1661 Manrique de Lara made him maestro de campo of all Capampangan troops.5 According to Diaz, the honor conferred upon Macapagal
discouraged the leaders of the mutiny; furthermore, Don Juan rejected the overtures of the strikers, killing their envoy. But he performed his most
important service by returning to strategically located Arayat. His presence there kept the strikers from establishing contact or an alliance with rebels
in volatile Pangasinan and Ilocos. Envoys from the mutineers in southern Pampanga would have had to follow the Pampanga River passing through
this town to reach their northern counterparts. Macapagal blocked their way; thus, he prevented a wider conflict from erupting and discouraged
violence in lower Pampanga. As a reward for his contributions, he received higher rank and trusted military assignments in the colonial service.
Eventually, he became one of the rare native Filipinos awarded an encomienda.6
Other Capampangan leaders likely acted to prevent the uprising from turning bloody, but they remain anonymous. Only three other names
are mentioned in Diazs rendition of the story, although little information is available about them or their role. Perhaps Don Francisco Salonga assisted
in cooling tensions while serving as Manrique de Laras host in Macabebe. Don Nichols Maago took over leadership of the mutineers in the middle
of the crisis, but his contributions to its resolution went unrecorded. Finally, Diaz identifies Don Agustn Pamintuan from Apalit as a rebel leader, but
offers nothing more about him. One can only speculate as to their motivation. Did any of these figures have an interest in the government debt to the
Capampangan? Were they simply idealists?
Collectively, what role did the corve lumberjacks play in reaching a final settlement? They did gain some relief from their work obligations
and may have asserted their rights in some unrecorded way. Perhaps further research in the archives would reveal more about their participation.
The timber cutters mutiny concerned specific grievances, and its resolution dealt with those issues. The strikers received time off from
cutting logs to take care of their agricultural and domestic needs, a down payment on the rice debt and a full pardon. Issues were handled peaceably
for the most part, and both the Spaniards and the Capampangan saved face. The Pampangan leaders acted effectively and earned suitable rewards
for their efforts in resolving the crisis. While this revolt did not signify the first blow in the struggle for independence, the people of Pampanga asserted
their rights and received some satisfaction from their Spanish overlords. Meanwhile, the Spanish government in the Philippines had weathered a
crisis when it was most vulnerable.
1
For an early account of this event see Casimiro Diaz, O.S.A, Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas[1720]. Valladolid, 1890. Also in Blair and Robertson [B&R], XXXVIII, pp. 139-161. See
also: Ana Maria Prieto Lucena, Filipinas durante el gobierno de Manrique de Lara, 1653-1663, Sevilla, 1984, pp. 57-73.
2
Ibid., p. 141.
3
Ibid., p. 146.
4
H. de la Costa, S.J. The Jesuits in the Philippines, 1581-1768 . Cambridge, MA, 1967, p. 484.
5
Relacin de servicios de Juan de Macapagal,Manila, May 23, 1665, Archivo General de Indias, Indiferente 121.
6
Nicholas P. Cushner, Spain in the Philippines: From Conquest to Revolution
. Quezon City and Rutland, Vt., 1971, p. 107.

23
No other Filipino had been Spanish governments appeal
given the singular honor of for support, Francisco
leading the biggest Spanish Laksamana and his 4,000-
army in the Philippines in Fort strong Kapampangan
Santiago for a day; it was the volunteers brigade came to
exclusive feat of Francisco the scene. On June 6, 1662,
Laksamana when Governor- he relentlessly pounded on
General Sabiniano the insurgents in their
Manrique de Lara appointed encampment and, after two
him maestre-de-campo of the successive assaults, captured
capitals honor guards in June it and massacred the Chinese.
of 1662. There is not much Laksamana and his men
biographical data on this triumphantly returned to
valiant Kapampangan soldier Manila the next morning
except that he was, according without any prisoner.
to a Jesuit account, a direct Thus the Governor-
descendant of Rajah General entrusted to this
Lakandula. Kapampangan Spains royal
He was given this army at Fort Santiago for 24
rare tribute after saving the hours. It was the highest
whole capital of Manila from military honor accorded to a
the Chinese uprising earlier Filipino throughout the 300-
that year. Said uprising was year Spanish rule, and the
triggered by the over-reaction first and only time it
of the Chinese (known then as happened in the countrys
Sangleys) to rumors that they colonial history. Although it
was significant more for its
would be massacred,
prompting many of them to
flee the Philippines in sampans
18. FRANCISCO ceremonial value than
anything else, at least for one
and go to China and Formosa
(Taiwan). Their anxiety was
LAKSAMANA Acrylic painting by Joel Mallari
night the Spaniards in the
Philippines had a good nights
further fanned by threats sleep.
coming from Kue-sing
Because he organized 4000
Kapampangan volunteer soldiers to help
Spain crush the Chinese revolt;
because he was the only Filipino who
had ever won the Spaniards confidence
so completely that they entrusted to him
the capital citys royal army for a day
the first and only time it happened in
colonial history
By Lino L. Dizon
(Koxinga), the Chinese burning the arrabales of Santa
conqueror of Formosa. With a Cruz, Binondo and Quiapo on
letter brought personally by May 25, 1662, killing many
Fray Victorio Ricci, a Filipinos and Spaniards,
Dominican who was invested including a Dominican priest,
with the rank of a mandarin by Fray Jose de Madrid, who was
Koxinga himself, the Chinese then escorting Fr. Ricci at the
leader demanded that the Parian. But according to another
Philippines send him slaves since source, what actually ignited the
the colony was a tributary of his incident was the Spanish
empire. Filipinos and Spaniards sentries firing upon a group of
alike considered the demand unarmed Chinese, mistaking
outrageous, so defense them for insurgents. After their
measures were taken in the city. uprising, the Chinese fled to the
Officials proposed a decree to mountains of Taytay and
expel the local Chinese Antipolo, where they established
residents. their camp fortified with heavy
The Chinese stones and stakes.
preempted this proposal by Responding to the

24
At the start of the Spaniards of
300-year Spanish good birth, were
regime in the a l r e a d y
Philippines, the accepting
King of Spain applicants of
divided the mixed parentage
colony among as early as 1599,
the missionary and pure-
religious orders, blooded Filipinos
each given a began to be
territory to admitted in the
evangelize. early 1660s,
Pampanga, for although only as
example, was domestics, i.e.,
assigned to the they performed
Augustinians. duties inside the
Because of their boarding school
sheer number, as Mass servers,
the religious butlers, waiters
c l e r g y and porters
while they
19.MIGUEL
(collectively
20.
Acrylic paintings by Joel Mallari, Bryan Tayag,
known as the Rickson Gueco, Christopher John Vilan studied with
friars) ran the their Spanish
p a r i s h e s
throughout the JERONIMO FRANCISCO classmates.
They were not
archipelago,
although the
Council of Trent
DE MORALES BALUYOT paid; in fact, it
was they who
paid to be able to
had dictated that Because they dared to reach the most unreachable star at do these things.
parishes be that timethe priesthood; because they overcame Some of them
administered by formidable obstacles imposed by race, station in life and even brought
s e c u l a r along their
(diocesan)
historical circumstances; because as the first Filipino slaves, who
clergy, and that priests, their pioneering spirit was a rebellion against the served them
they in turn be inferior status to which colonialism had consigned them when they
supervised by their respective Archbishop Felipe extend his hand to be kissed! returned to their quarters after
diocesan bishops. Pampanga, Pardo in 1677 wrote the King What reverence will indios serving their Spanish masters!
an Augustinian territory, fell that Filipinos had little inclination themselves have for such a More than other
under the Archdiocese of for theological studies, that even priest, when they see that he is Indios in the colony,
Manila. the adults behaved like children of their color and race? Kapampangans were being
It was an explosive because of evil customs, their In 1750, Juan Jose accepted in schools in Manila
situation. The friars vices sloth, effeminacy, levity Delgado, SJ refuted this as a result of privileges won by
threatened to resign en masse of disposition. Fray Gaspar de damaging description of Filipino Kapampangan soldiers and
if the bishop insisted on what San Agustin, OSA in 1720 also clergy, calling it injurious to chieftains who had helped the
he considered his right and objected to the ordination of these illustrious prelates to Spaniards ward off invaders
duty to visit every year to Filipinos: Their pride will be whom we owe so much respect and put down revolts. Rich
check parish records. (In fact, aggravated with their elevation and reverence. He noted that families in Pampanga also
the Jesuits and the to so sublime a state; their Spanish friars often humiliated founded capellanias
Augustinians were removed avarice with the increased their Filipino assistant priests by agricultural or residential lands
from their parishes in 1768 and opportunity of preying on ordering them to say Mass and whose income was donated for
1771, respectively, and the others; their sloth with their perform other duties in front of the support of a seminarian or
controversial Archbishop of having to work no longer for a them, and chastising them a priest.
Manila, Basilio Sancho de living; and their vanity with the when they committed mistakes. Miguel Jeronimo
Santas Justa y Rufina adulation that they will He further argued that many de Morales was the first
hastily ordained Indios to necessarily seek How much Spaniards, too, sought the Filipino to be ordained a priest.
replace the friars in the better it is to be a reverend priesthood as a livelihood, and Born of noble parentage in
abandoned parishes.) While father than to be a yeoman or a that the first converts of the Bacolor on September 29,
there was pressure on sexton! What difference Apostles were also natives of 1620, feast day of St. Michael
seminaries to accept native between paying tribute and their own regions. Indios, and eve of the feast day of
students, just in case the friars being paid a stipend! Between already used to parish work, Saint Jerome (hence, the
made good their threat, the being drafted to saw logs and would do well as secular priests, name). He entered Colegio de
ordination of the first Filipino being waited on hand and foot! whose duties were mostly San Juan de Letran in 1632. In
priest took longer than Between rowing a galley and parish-based. 1654, the Archbishop of Manila,
necessary because of riding in one!...Imagine the airs Meanwhile, colleges in Miguel de Poblete (a Mexican),
passionate opposition. with which such a one will Manila, founded primarily for ordained him and a Chinese

25
 companion, Gregorio Lo returned to Guagua to celebrate with those of the cities of Spain priests; in fact, the Baluyots
(who later became the first Mass for his townmates and especially in solemnity and became the country s first
Chinese bishop). Records only family. Guagua, at that time, adornment. priestly clan, serving all the four
show that he was assigned to was second only to the Guagua and the dioceses in the Philippines at
the diocese of Nueva Caceres provincial capital, Bacolor, surrounding towns held a fiesta that time; his hometown
as pastor of Payo, although it was probably older, to celebrate the Guagua (including Betis) is
Catanduanes. busier and more populous, since accomplishments of the known as the town that has
(Other historians refute this it was beside a major river. The homecoming local boy. The produced the highest number of
claim, saying that no Indio was Spanish chronicler, Fray Gaspar maxim It takes a village priests, even the first Filipino
ordained prior to 1698.) de San Agustin, OSA, in his book applied to the training of a cardinal, Rufino Santos y
Meanwhile, the new Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas priest so that when he returned Jiao.
Archbishop of Manila, Diego (Madrid, 1698), wrote that for his first Mass, the entire Padre Miguel Jeronimo
Camacho y Avila turned out Guaguas church was very community went out to cheer de Morales and Padre Francisco
to be a crusader for the long- beautiful, made of stone and him as well as themselves. Baluyot overcame discrimination
overdue ordination of Filipino nearly as big as that of the After Padre Baluyot delivered and other historical obstacles
secular clergy. On December convent of Manila (San Agustin his first homily and heard his not only to equal their colonizers
20, 1698, he ordained the first Church in Intramuros), and that first confessions of February in their own turf or beat them in
of what would turn out to be a the people of Guagua were well 20, 1699, he left to assume his their own game but to become,
wave of new Filipino priests, mannered, reputed to be noble post in Cebu. Unfortunately, as Prof. Randolf David puts
Francisco Baluyot of and courageous, and very good World War II destroyed the it, a purer receptacle of Gods
Guagua, who was singled out Christians who revere their Cebu diocesan archives so no wisdom than the Spanish friar.
from among his batch of pastor more than any other document of his stay there
natives of the towns of Reference: Laying the Foundations:
seminarians for his academic exists. Kapampangan Pioneers in the
performance and spirituality. Pampanga. They are very Padre Baluyot blazed Philippine Church 1592-2000 by
Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City: Holy
Padre Baluyots first demonstrative during public the trail for other Angel University Press; The Jesuits in
assignment was the Diocese of ceremonies. Their Holy Week Kapampangans: many of his the Philippines 1581-1768 by Horacio
de la Costa, SJ. Cambridge, Mass.:
Cebu but before embarking, he processions can compare well brothers and cousins became Harvard University Press.

21. Blas de Sta. Rosa 22. Jose Manalastas

Because this first Filipino parish priest proved Because his brave attack on Gen. William
a powerful Archbishop wrong Draper nearly ended the British Occupation
As an extension of and courage amazed the
the Seven Years War between British, wrote A.P. Thorton.
England and Spain, a British (They) repeated their assaults
fleet commandeered by and died like wild beasts,
General William Draper gnawing the bayonets. After
attacked and occupied the ill- that foiled attempt to retake
prepared city of Manila on Manila from the British,
September 23, 1762. One Archbishop Manuel Rojo,
Signature of B.D. Blas de Sta. Rosa week later, the combined force the acting governor general,
of 3000 Kapampangans and surrendered. However, Gen.
He was one of the earliest his controversial letter to the 200 Spaniards made an Simon de Anda y Salazar
Indio graduates of the King of Spain denouncing all attempt to recover the city organized a guerilla resistance
University of Santo Tomas, in native priests in the colony. from British troops. The movement, fled to Pampanga
1692. On September 7, 1703, Four days later, the report Kapampangan field marshal, where he transferred the seat
Jose Manalastas of Candaba, of government to Bacolor. His
right after his ordination, he came, and it heaped praises aide-de-camp, Santos de los
was appointed parish priest of on Padre Blas Sta. Rosas entered the tent of General
Angeles, a Kapampangan, led
San Policarpio de Tabuco (now integrity and diligence! Draper, dragged the British Kapampangan soldiers tasked
Cabuyao, Laguna). Thus he Padre Sta. Rosa died general out of the tent and with securing his stay in
became the first native parish in 1733, after bequeathing the stabbed him in the chest Bacolor. When the Seven
before releasing him when Years War ended on February
priest. Meanwhile, the new then magnificent amount of 10, 1764, the British left the
Archbishop of Manila, P998 for the maintenance of British reinforcements arrived.
Philippines; one month later,
Francisco de la Cuesta, a church he had built, which The Kapampangans ferocity
the new Spanish
suspicious that native priests still stands today. His parish governor general,
recently ordained by his is one of the few that Francisco de la
predecessor Archbishop remained in the hands of Torre arrived and
Camacho were incompetent Filipino clergy until the took over the reins
and unworthy, ordered his Spaniards left the country in of government from
vicar forane in Laguna to 1898. Anda in Bacolor. On
conduct a secret investigation March 31, the
on the first native parish priest. Reference: Laying the
Foundations: Kapampangan Spanish troops
Without waiting for the results Pioneers in the Philippine Church marched back to
1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago.
of this investigation, the Angeles City: Holy Angel University Manila. (Lino L.
Archbishop de la Cuesta wrote Press Dizon)

26
 Betis, was one of the first But the pageantry of
23. Manuel Francisco Tubil enrollees. He graduated the conferment of the
Bachelor of Arts in 1767 and doctorate was worth the stress
Because he broke down a racial barrier by
Bachelor of Sacred Theology in of the oral defence. It
becoming the first Filipino doctor 1770; he obtained his licentiate involved, on the first day, an
on November 4, 1771 academic parade through the
and was ordained streets of Manila, where
consecutively as everyone, except the
subdeacon, deacon musicians, rode a horse. The
and priest on new doctor rode between the
December 20, 21 and University Rector and the
22 of the same year. College Dean. On the second
He became a Doctor of day, the ceremonies of
Sacred Theology on conferment were held at the
March 15, 1772the Santo Domingo church in the
first Filipino doctor in presence of the Governor-
any field. To achieve General himself. The new
this, he had to defend doctor delivered an oration in
three theses each for Latin, and then was embraced
licentiate and fraternally by the rector, dean
doctorate, in which and all doctors present. It was
the subjects were the first time these snooty
given after the Mass Spanish academics were doing
and the candidate was it to a brown-skinned graduate.
given only one hour to Dr. Tubil served the
When the University to more Indios than usual,
prepare his arguments and Church for 34 years before he
of Santo Tomas reopened in especially to Kapampangans
conclusions in writing, to be died of stroke in his hometown
1764 after the B ritish whose town of Bacolor served
submitted to four faculty on September 6, 1805.
Occupation of Manila, it was as the colonys capital during the
panelists who would debate with Reference: Laying the Foundations:
ready to offer degrees (leading crisis. Manuel Francisco Tubil, Kapampangan Pioneers in the
him the next day in the Philippine Church 1592-2000 by
to licenciado or maestro titles) son of the gobernadorcillo of Luciano P.R. Santiago. Angeles City:
jampacked university chapel.
Holy Angel University Press

24. appointed him to head the

seminary. As President, Carpio
Balthazar worked closely with the
seminarys Director, a Spaniard,
Banta who concentrated on the
seminarys academic program
Because he was the first Filipino while Carpio took care of
plebeian priest. He could not administration and finance.
send himself to the seminary so
the wealthy founders of
capellania financed his studies. 26. Mariano
He was ordained in 1730. He
became a coadjutor of San
Henson y
Roque parish in Cavite, where
he served for more than 50
Paras
years. His superiors described Because he was the first Filipino
Banta as of venerable age, of layman who became a Doctor of
virtuous life and conduct and of Laws . Born in Kuliat (now
well-known competence. Angeles), Henson (originally
spelled Engson) earned the

25. Juan doctorate from the University of

Carpio
Santo Tomas in 1824 (the first
Filipino to earn that degree was 27. Juan Severino Mallari
Bernardo Justiniano, who was a Because he was the celebrated serial killer of Magalang in the
Because he was the first native priest). Henson practiced in his
President of San Carlos 1800s. After his ordination in 1809, he was assigned to Gapan,
village (instead of Manila), Lubao and Bacolor and finally Magalang, where he was afflicted
Seminary, the training ground where he married Don Angel
for secular priests in the with severe psychosis, thinking that he could save his mother
Pantaleon de Mirandas only from being bewitched by murdering people. All in all, he killed
Archdiocese of Manila. Barely a daughter, Juana Ildefonsa. One
few months after his ordination 57 hapless parishioners. He became ill in 1826, was arrested
of his children became the and executedthe first Filipino priest to be executed (by
in 1768, his administrative skills ancestor of the Nepomucenos of
caught the attention of hanging) by the Spanish Government, ahead of Frs. Gomez,
Angeles City and another Burgos and Zamora. His calligraphic illustrations such as the
Archbishop Sancho, the became the great-great
advocate of Filipino clergy, who one above show his artistic genius.
grandmother of Ninoy Aquino.
27
 28. Asuncion Ventura 30. Joaquin Arnedo Cruz
Because he drew the line between the lofty
Because she was the first ilustrados and the mere principalia
Filipino woman to establish
an orphanage. In fact, the The material and political support of the Kapampangan principalia
orphanage, Asilo de San to Spanish authorities was repaid in terms of privileges like access
Vicente de Paul, which she to schools in Manila and in Europe. Thus did a few select
founded in 1885 in a six- Kapampangans acquire European ways and tastes even as a new
hectare lot in Looban, Paco, term, ilustrado, was used to describe the mega-rich, as opposed to
Manila, still exists today. Sor the simply rich. Land, wealth, education and broad social contacts,
Asuncions real name was wrote Larkin, differentiated the nineteenth-century ilustrado from
Cristina Ventura Hocorma y the rest of the principalia. The extremely wealthy sugar-planter
Filipino Heritage

Bautista, of Bacolor. from Sulipan in Apalit, Don Joaquin Arnedo Cruz, personified this
new divide in the hierarchy of the 19th-century elite. His mansion
on the banks of the Rio Grande was filled with European luxuries;
in it he regularly hosted exquisite banquets and grand balls for
such illustrious guests as the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, son
of the Emperor himself, and the Prince of Cambodia. Other
29. Anselmo Jorge Fajardo Kapampangan ilustrados were the Liongsons, the Jovens and the
Venturas of Bacolor.
Because he
Because he wrote
wrote the
the longest
longest play
play Reference: The Pampangans by John A. Larkin. Los Angeles: University of California
Press.
in
in Philippine
Philippine literature
literature
31. Luisa Gonzaga de Leon
Because she liberated herself from the
constraints of her times, her family and her
gender to do what no Filipino woman had done
before: write a book
translated the book
Ejercicio Cotidiano (Daily
Devotion), which was a
compilation of prayers
during the Mass, prayers
for confession and
communion, examination
of conscience, Way of the
Cross (translated from
Tagalog by Macario
Pangilinan for De
Leons book), the rosary
and a trisagium to the
Holy Trinity. It had 308
pages, with illustrations
of the different parts of
the Mass. She had
Heroica de la Conquista de The viewers were so enamored already written a preface
Granada o Sea Vida de Don with the plays lyrical passages and was about to publish
Gonzalo de Cordoba is a that they often entertained it when she died on June
kumedya (comedia) in three themselves by reciting passages 1, 1843, at age 38. Thus,
volumes with 31,000 lines on from it. A well known preacher the book was published
832 pages. The three volumes in Spanish, Padre Anselmo was posthumously in 1844 or
represent the three journeys in also elected as one of the 1845, and reprinted in
the storyline, a fictional romance Philippine delegates to the 1854 by the University of
between Don Gonzalo, also Spanish Cortes in 1822-23, but Doa Luisa Gonzaga de Leon Santo Tomas Press, and again
known as Gran Capitan (Great due to a shortage of public was the first Filipina, and first in 1867, 1910 and 1967. The
Captain), a general in the service funds, he and the other Filipino Kapampangan of any gender, to 1854 edition had this subtitle:
of Queen Isabella I, and his delegates remained in the author a book. Born June 21, Iti amanu yang Castila bildug
Moor princess Zulema. country unable to fulfill their 1805 in Bacolor, Doa Luisa ne quing amanung
Although Padre Anselmos play mandate. He was the only Gonzaga belonged to an Capampangan nang Doa
has a Spanish title and Spanish known priest playwright in the illustrious family in Bacolor. She Luisa Gonzaga de Leon, India
directions, its dialogue is in entire Spanish Period. married Don Francisco Paula quing balayang Baculud.
Reference: Laying the
Kapampangan. It premiered in de los Santos, a prominent Foundations: Kapampangan
Pioneers in the Philippine Church
Bacolor in February, 1831 and Reference: Literature of the politician at the time, with whom 1592-2000 by Luciano P.R. Santiago.
Pampangos by Rosalina Icban-Castro, Angeles City: Holy Angel University
lasted seven consecutive days. Manila: University of the East Press. she had three sons. She Press
28
32. Agapito Conchu the organ and the piano, played the violin. Julian Felipe became
its famed Conductor. On certain occasions, Agapito also sang at
Because he was one of the first martyrs the Church of Porta Vaga, and as if his services to the church were
of the Revolution not enough, assisted in painting the reredos of the Church of San
By Alex R. Castro Pedro. His main source of income, however, was his burgeoning
printing business. In 1892, during a regional exposition, Agapitos
Agapito Conchu was a Chinese mestizo born in Guagua
lithographic prints won for him a Silver Medal and a Certificate of
on 18 August 1860. He went to Manila where he pursued a
Honor. The winning works included paintings and artworks.
Bachelor of Arts degree at the Ateneo de Manila. While
In the Revolution of 1896, Cavite and its towns
still a student, he moonlighted as a church organist
actively participated in the revolt against Spain. A
at the Binondo Church and worked in the printing
plot was hatched by the principalias in the province
press of Salvador Chofre as lithographer. He
but was thwarted when Victoriana Sayat of
soon set up his own printing shop at Calle Real
Imus told Da. Victorina de Crespo, wife of
in Cavite in 1890. His studio, established next
the military governor, of the suspicious moves
to the pharmacy of Victoriano Luciano,
of Severino Lapidario (jail warden),
was called Foto-Litografia Moderna de A.
Alfonso de Ocampo (asst. warden) and
Conchu. Here, he printed colorful labels for
Luis Aguado (connected with the arsenal).
medicines, cigars, perfumery and
On 3 September 1896, Agapito was arrested
pharmaceutical products.
on the basis of the testimony of de Ocampo,
It was also at this time that
who, under torture, named Agapito as one
Agapito settled down with Isabel Basa
of the cabecillas of the revolutionary
with whom he had nine children. To
association of Cavite. Together with 12
supplement his income, he returned to his
others (Victoriano Luciano, Maximo
first love, music. He taught piano to
Inocencio, Francisco Osorio, Antonio
children of government officials and other
San Agustin, Hugo Perez, Jose Lallana,
prominent families. When Agapito Escacio,
Eugenio Cabezas, Maximo Gregorio,
the music teacher of the local elementary
Feliciano Cabuco along with Aguado, de
school passed away, Agapito Conchu took his
Ocampo and Lapidario), Agapito was arrested
place.
and executed at the Plaza de Armas at the Cavite
Agapito lent his talent to the social
arsenal on 12 September 1896. Thus one brave
events of the town, organizing orchestras for both
Kapampangan joined the pantheon of noble heroes
young and old. He launched La Compaa del Trueno,
collectively known today as the Trece Martires de Cavite.
a band which included Francisco Osorio (drums), Victoriano Reference: Mga Anak ng Tangway sa Rebolusyong Pilipino by Emmanuel Franco
Luciano (bass, violin), Dr. Hugo Perez (fife, triangle), Basilio Calairo.
Borromeo (violin, piano, cantor). Agapito himself, aside from

Towards the end of the 19th century, the buildup of dissent exploded in a conflagration that led to the collapse of
Spanish rule in the Philippines (A Philippine Album, Jonathan Best)

29
The only Tarlac-born general of
the Philippine Revolution,
Francisco Makabulos hailed from
33. FRANCISCO Government, it had dominion
over most of Central and

MAKABULOS
Northern Luzon provinces,
La Paz town at the border including Pampanga which he
between Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. placed under Maximino Hizon
His Lubao-born father, Because this revolutionary general who became also a general of
Alejandro, a viajero and expert liberated Tarlac and Pangasinan from the Revolution. The Committee
in arnis de mano, came to La 300 years of colonial rule; because also had its own constitution,
Paz by boat through the Rio he continued the fight even when promulgated a day later.
Grande de Pampanga and then Gen. Aguinaldos
Rio Chico. There he met and Aguinaldo had gone into exile and return from Hong Kong in May,
married Gregoria Soliman. again after Aguinaldo had abandoned 1898 signaled the resumption
In his youth and even the province to the Americans; of the revolutionary struggle.
later in life, Francisco Makabulos because his military exploits did not On July 10, 1898, aided by other
was a moro-moro aficionado , prevent him from writing plays and Kapampangan revolutionary
both as actor and as writer. Also, leaders, Gen. Makabulos
though without formal translating Aida; and because he liberated Tarlac from three
schooling, Francisco learned to retired as a farmer and died a centuries of Spanish colonial
write and speak in Spanish from forgotten hero rule. Later he became the first
his mother, who taught him the By Lino L. Dizon Filipino governor of Tarlac
caton, the cartilla, as well as his province.
first set of prayers. This enabled Ten days later after
him to become an escribano de expelling the Spaniards from
parroquia, cabeza del barangay, Tarlac, he went on to liberate
and deudor del Estados and the province of Pangasinan, on
which entitled him to be a July 22, 1898. He would be
principalia of La Paz. He got taking active role in various
married to a scion of a landed activities of the Revolutionary
family of the town, Doa Government, including the
Dorotea Pascual. Malolos and Tarlac Congresses.
It was in his position as During the Filipino-
a parish clerk (in 1894, he was American War, even after the
under the famous Augustinian fall of the Aguinaldo
author, Fray Bernando Government in Tarlac on
Martinez) and as a town and November 10, 1899, Gen.
barrio official that he earned the Makabulos continued his fight
trust and respect of the people for the Philippine flag through
of La Paz and eventually his guerilla activities in the
developed followers of his own. mountains of western Tarlac.
It was in this capacity that he However, without arms and
learned about the Katipunan. resources, he had no other
After joining it, he started recourse but to surrender to
advocating its tenets and Gen. Arthur McArthur in
founding chapters in various Bayambang, Pangasinan in
towns of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. June of 1900.
One of the first With his retirement
revolutionary acts of Makabulos from military affairs, Gen.
was the organization of a bolo Makabulos held some minor
brigade that took over the positions in local politics and
municipal hall of La Paz on spent his time as a farmer. It
January 24, 1897, during the was during this time that he
town fiesta celebration. This is wrote his comedias, including
now known as the First Cry of Federico at Rosaura and a
Tarlac. It marked his coming out Lino Dizon Tagalog translation of the opera
as a full-fledged revolutionary, Luzon, setting up his Aida.
defiance of the Pact of Biak-na-
affiliating himself with the encampment in Sitio Kamansi, Makabulos died in La
bato of December 14, 1897 in
struggle of General Emilio on the slope of Mt. Arayat. It Paz on April 30, 1922, a
which his fellow revolutionaries
Aguinaldo. took no less than the massive forgotten hero. As President
went on exile in Hong Kong, he
In June, 1897, in Spanish force of General Aguinaldo lamented at that
continued the revolutionary
Mt.Puray, Montalban, Morong Ricardo Monet in November time, It is a pity that our living
struggle. An evidence of this
(now Rizal), Gen. Aguinaldo of 1897 to eject him from his generations seem to know so
defiance was the creation of the
promoted Makabulos as one of Sinukuan sanctuary. little of the life and exploits of
Comite Central Directivo Centro
the brigadier-generals of the Gen. Makabulos was this heroic Tarlaqueo who had
y Norte de Luzon, on April 17,
Revolution. Thereon, Makabulos one of the signatories of the served well the libertarian cause
1898, in Lomboy, La Paz.
took charge of the revolutionary Biak-na-bato Constitution of of our nation with his fighting
Referred to by historians as the
struggle of the whole Central November 1897. However, in sword.
Makabulos Provisional
30
 34. Servillano Aquino
Because he started the great Aquino clans tradition of patriotism
Not many people know that the first Katipunan chapters in the war broke out between the
Aquinos originated from province. In 1897, he became Philippines and the United
Angeles. Their patriarch, Don a major under General States, Aquino became one of
Servillano Aquino was born in Francisco Makabulos, an the generals of the
this town on April 20, 1874. enactor of the Constitution of Revolutionary Army. In the
Apung Mianong transferred to Biak-na-Bato and a member of Tarlac Congress of 1899, he was
Tarlac when he became a the entourage of President appointed to represent the
municipal presidente of Murcia Emilio Aguinaldo when he was province of Samar. He died in
town. In Concepcion, he exiled in Hong Kong during the Concepcion, Tarlac on February
founded Buenavista, one of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. When 3, 1959. (Lino L. Dizon)

Was Andres 35. MAXIMINO HIZON

Bonifacio Because he gave up his youth and the comfort of his
class to join the fight for freedom; because intrigues
from within the revolutionary government did not stop him
Masantol? from carrying out his mission; because he was the
greatest Kapampangan revolutionary hero
In barangays Sagrada and
nearby Cambasi in Masantol, Maximino Hipolito Hizon of Mexico town was a teenager in search of meaning
near the mouth of the and mission in life in the 1890s, at a time when the country was in search of
Pampanga River, residents claim heroes who would fight for its independence. It was a serendipitous moment
that their villages produced two in which the national need coincided with a personal need, and young Hizon
of the country s greatest wisely stepped forward to meet his appointment with destiny and to secure
freedom-fighters: Tarik Soliman, his place in history.
the first in Luzon to resist the Born May 9, 1870 in Parian, Mexico, he left behind his days as a
Spaniards at the start of their spoiled brat of the Pampanga principalia class to join the Katipunan
300-year colonization, and in 1896; when the secret organization was discovered by the Spanish
Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan authorities, he was captured and banished to Jolo, where he was
founder who ignited the imprisoned for almost a year. Released after the signing of the Pact
revolution that eventually ended of Biak-na-Bato, he became the Comandante General of Pampanga
the Spanish regime. Bonifacios in the latter part of the Revolution and promoted to the rank of
official birthplace, of course, is Brigadier General during the Philippine-American war. He convened
Tondo, Manila but the locals and presided over the meeting of town representatives, held on June
insist that his forebears must 26, 1898 in San Fernando, to solicit support for the Revolutionary
have come from Masantol, which Government of Emilio Aguinaldo. He was appointed delegate to
is just an hour away by boat via the Malolos Congress representing the province of Sorsogon One of
Manila Bay. Another evidence: his most difficult missions was to recapture Manila from the Americans.
almost two-thirds of Cambasis In a fierce battle near La Loma in Caloocan on February 10,
population is surnamed either 1899, he exhibited extraordinary courage and heroism; he and his
Castro or Bonifaciowhich were men occupied a block house but soon forced to retreat after running
the surnames of Andres out of ammunition. Along with 50 soldiers, he escaped to the Pinatubo
Bonifacios mother and father, hills from where he staged guerilla attacks on Americans in Pampanga,
respectively. Bataan, Tarlac, Pangasinan and Zambales; he was wounded in Dumandan
Source: Interview with Bajun Lacap, Vice and captured by the Americans while recuperating from his wounds in a
Mayor of Masantol
house in San Jose Malino, Mexico. He was tried and sentenced for sedition
and murder by the US military court and ordered deported to Guam along
with Apolinario Mabini, Artemio Ricarte and Mariano Llanera. He died of
heart attack at high noon on September 1, 1901. His fellow exiles commended
him for his steadfastness and patriotism; Gen. Ricarte even proposed an
independent Philippine Republic to be known as Rizaline Republic, with a
military zone named Gen. Hizon District, composed of Pampanga, Tarlac and
Albina Peczon Fernandez

Bataan.
He was a puny figure crossing swords with two global superpowers,
but he became truly heroic after he refused to be waylaid by internal
problems and intrigues but instead gave his all to the larger cause of
liberating the country from two sets of colonizers, and also after he
refused to surrender and collaborate with the enemy but instead
chose to be exiled. Hizons life could very well be used to inspire the
youth, especially those in need of self-redemption from errant ways.
Reference: Notes from Dr. Albina Peczon Fernandez, University of the Philippines

31
36. JOSE ALEJANDRINO
NO
Because he helped Rizal publish
El Filibusterismo; because he was a hero
of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 and
the Philippine-American War of 1898;
because he was able to reinvent himself
to serve his people in a variety of ways
and well into the next century
His rich parents were from Arayat but he was born in Binondo,
Manila on December 1,1870. He studied at the Ateneo Municipal
and the University of Santo Tomas, where he acquired a Bachelor
of Arts degree. He pursued his studies in Spain and at the
University of Ghent in Belgium, where he distinguished himself
through his superior academic performance. He graduated with a
degree in chemical engineering.
While in Spain, he became an active member of the
Propaganda Movement by working in the
editorial staff of La Solidaridad. A close friend
of Jose Rizal, he was the one who brought
the manuscript of the El Filibusterismo to the
printing press for publication.
When the Revolution broke out in 1896,
he and Feliciano Jocson journeyed to Kawit,
Cavite, to seek a meeting with General
Aguinaldo. Alejandrino volunteered to
undertake the dangerous mission of procuring
arms for the revolutionaries from China or
Japan. When Aguinaldo accepted his offer,
he proceeded to Hong Kong, where he helped
organize the Revolutionary Council along with
Felipe Agoncillo, Jose Basa and Mariano of the American army in the Philippines.
Ponce. Much later, he became part of the He was assisted by Lt. Col. Ramon
group in the Hong Kong Committee, which Soriano and Maj. Evaristo Ortiz. Later,
included Agoncillo and Galicano Apacible; he also conferred with Gen. Arthur
the committee staunchly advocated MacArthur, who had replaced Otis as
independence, as opposed to the circle led by chief of the American forces. The two
Jose Basa and Doroteo Cortes, who were generals had a frank discussion about the
for annexing the country to the United States. brutal, dehumanizing abuse of Filipino
Initially, Alejandrino was able to dispatch civilians by American soldiers. Meanwhile,
to the revolutionaries in the Philippines only the revolutionary struggle was being
dynamites and rifle pistons. Thus, in February weakened by cowardly Filipinos whom
1897, he left Hongkong for Japan, to try Alejandrino had expelled for collaborating
acquiring more weapons and supplies. with the Americans.
In 1898, he served in the Malolos Congress first convoked In May 1901, after much suffering and the tragic loss of
on September 15 by the revolutionary government. He became a countless comrades in the field, Gen. Alejandrino surrendered, in
Arayat, to General Frederick Funston. The American general
member of two crucial committees to draft the Constitution. On
had initially refused his offer to surrender and, instead, had him
September 26, he was given the position of director of agriculture placed under arrest, demanding that he present a certain American
and industry of the revolutionary administration. Later, President Negro, named Fagan, who was wanted for desertion. Although
Aguinaldo designated him chief of the engineers of the army. he resisted Funstons demand, Alejandrino was released the next
When the Philippine-American War erupted, he affiliated with day.
Gen. Antonio Luna and his troops. Subsequently, as chief In August 1901, he accepted from Gov. William H. Taft the
engineer, he directed the building of trenches in several areas, position of second city engineer of Manila, but discharged his duties
including Bulacan and Caloocan. for not more than a year. He retired to lead a farmers life until
He rose to the position of brigadier-general, and served as 1925, when he was designated senator for Sulu and Mindanao by
acting secretary of war. He was also appointed commanding Gov. Gen. Leonard Wood. A member of the Partido Democrata
general of the military operations in Central Luzon (in place of Nacional, he was elected representative of Pampangas second
Gen. Pantaleon Garcia), and military governor of Pampanga, district to the Constitutional Convention in 1934.
replacing Gen. Maximino Hizon, earlier captured by the Senator Alejandrinos account of the Philippine Revolution
Americans. By then the beleaguered government of Aguinaldo against Spain and the Philippine-American War, La Senda del
had been pushed back to Tarlac by pursuing American forces. Sacrificio, tells of the noble revolutionaries and the lonely wars
In September 1899, Alejandrino headed the three-man that they fought in order to attain national freedom. Senator
commission tasked with releasing 13 American prisoners and Alejandrino died on June 1, 1951.
negotiating ceasefire with General Otis, the commanding general Reference: Senate of the Philippines Homepage..

32
37. Isabelo 38. MACABEBE SCOUTS
del Rosario Because two world superpowers needed them to
Because his playing the violin
moments before being hanged
win their wars; because they helped capture the
was a class act President of the Philippines himself; because by
doing so, they ended their compatriots quest for
Isabelo del Rosario y Tuazon was born July
8, 1878 in San Fernando. He actively
independence and sabotaged the birth of a nation;
participated in the Revolution as a captain because they offer no apology and need no
of the Katipunan. After the revolution, redemption for their role in history
he returned to his hometown with his wife,
Emilia Abad Santos, sister of Jose and During the Spanish Period, Kapampangans who allied themselves with the colonizers
Pedro Abad Santos, with whom he had were always referred to as Macabebes, whether or not they came from the town by
two children, Pastor and Agapito. His the bay. The Macabebes reputation as brave warriors and their notoriety as
words about the Americans (Den, e la collaborators have made this enigmatic tribe one of the most recognizable cultural
sasaup, sasakup la!) became prophetic icons in Pampanga.
when the true intentions of the occupying After the departure of the Spaniards, when the revolutionary forces of Gen.
forces became apparent. He considered Antonio Luna all but obliterated the Macabebes and their town from the map, the
the Americans worse colonizers than the Americans came to resurrect them and give them one last role to play in history. A
Spaniards because they snatched away group of 78 Macabebes, chosen for their ability to speak Tagalog, were recruited for
the Filipinos independence and deprived a top-secret plan to capture the President of the Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo, who
them any claim of victory over the was then hiding in Palanan, Isabela. Tagalog defectors from Aguinaldos camp, Lt.
Spaniards . He refused to lay down his Col. Hilario Tal Placido and Pvt. Cecilio Segismundo, along with a Spanish
arms even after the Americans had offered defector, Capt. Lazaro Segovia (who had earlier defected from the Spanish Army to
amnesty to revolutionaries; he was Aguinaldos campa defector twice over), briefed the Macabebe Scouts, led by 1st
captured at Sapa Libutad in Mexico town, Sgt. Pedro Bustos, his brother Sgt. Federico Bustos and Sgt. Bonifacio Dizon.
imprisoned in the town proper and (Some historians say the Macabebes never knew what the mission was; others say
sentenced to die by hanging. On the day they volunteered to do it to get back at Tagalogs, whom they considered their tribal
of his execution, April 12, 1901, the enemies.)
American captors granted his On March 1, 1901, Col. Frederick Funston and four other American officers
last wish to play the led the defectors and the Macabebe Scouts on board the US warship Vicksburg,
violin. He played where 20 of the Macabebes were issued the blue-gray riadillo uniform of Aguinaldos
Danza Habanera de revolutionary army as well as rifles used by Aguinaldos soldiers. It slowly dawned on
Filipina on his way to them that the ruse involved them playing revolutionary soldiers taking their prisoners,
the gallows in the plaza. Col. Funston and the four Americans, to Aguinaldos camp in Palanan. The Macabebes
After the last note, as took their role so seriously that throughout the four-day, 90-mile trek through mountains
the Americans and forests, they spoke only in Tagalog and tied their American officers as they would
approached to prisoners when they came across even solitary farmers.
retrieve his violin, On March 23, 1901, Aguinaldo welcomed the party inside his hut where Col.
Del Rosario Funston dropped the pretense and declared the arrest of Aguinaldo. Outside, the
i n s t e a d Macabebes exchanged gunfire with the surprised Tagalog troops, who later fled. It
smashed it at was a stunning capture that made news around the world. The Macabebes were
the foot of the later absorbed into the Philippine Scouts; some even went to the United States for
gallows and advanced studies at West Point; the others fought valiantly in the Second World War,
proudly walked after which nothing more was heard from them.
Reference: How We Captured Aguinaldo by Bonifacio Dizon (Manila Times, March 28, 1946)
up to his
executioner. He
was only 22.
Sour ce : Ang
Kabayanihan ni
Ka Pedro Abad
Santos by Luis
M. Taruc;
additional
notes by
D a n
Dizon
The Pampangos

33
LOYALTY, DUPLICITY OR REBELLION?
Macabebes first claim to fame was When the country finally got its act colonialism. He adds that the Macabebes
the patriotic Tarik Soliman, probably the together in the Revolution against Spain, were just good soldiers doing a good job,
first Filipino from Luzon to resist the the last Spanish forces took refuge in the calling it a matter of vocation, not politics.
Spaniards and the first Filipino ever to die most Spanish-friendly place in the Prof. Randolf David argues that
doing it. After him, Macabebe became archipelago, the town of Macabebe; there, colonial Kapampangans aimed for excellence
synonymous with the embarrassment of Aguinaldos revolutionary forces in hot as an expression of their aspiration to
racial profiling that Kapampangans suffer pursuit of the retreating Spanish friars, transcend colonial subjugation, preferring
even to this day. officials and their families were confronted to conform rather than rebel but only
As soon as Tarik died in that fateful by the Kapampangan-Spanish mestizo Col. because they knew they could do what the
Battle of Bangkusay, the account goes, his Eugenio Blanco and hundreds of Spaniards did and were eager to prove it.
supposedly warlike men jumped off their Macabebe soldiers, who formed a line of Thus, Kapampangans became the first
caracoas and swam in different directions. defence around the Spaniards. The Filipino priests because they did not think
As the Spaniards penetrated the Spaniards scampered on every available the Spanish friar was superior to them, or
Kapampangan region, the only place where boat on the river and sailed to the sea, that the priesthood was an unattainable
they encountered aggressive behavior was leaving behind their trusted Macabebes and profession reserved only for white men.
Betis; the rest were no problem at all. When promising to rescue them in the future. Similarly, Kapampangans became great
the Spaniards established the capital in They never did; weeks later, Gen. Antonio soldiers fighting alongside their masters
Manila, it was the Kapampangans who Lunas soldiers destroyed Macabebe town precisely to show them they were as good,
supplied them with logs, and when Chinese and massacred its residents. if not better. It gave them a great sense of
pirates and Dutch and British invaders The Macabebes resurfaced in pride that they could be depended upon for
attacked, and when Spaniards needed to history shortly afterward when the their masters very survival. It was a way
conquer other islands and other countries, Americans took over the colony. One day, of rebelling against the inferior status to
who else did they turn to but their ever Lt. Matthew Batson of the US 4th Cavalry which colonialism has consigned him as an
faithful and reliable friends, the rode into Macabebe town to recruit Indio, says David. He adds that this concept
Kapampangans. In fact, Kapampangans volunteer soldiers. He only wanted enough conforms exactly with Jose Rizals powerful
could be depended upon to crush the for a battalion, but the Macabebe women admonition that progress to authentic
rebellion of their fellow Filipinos and even came forward, eager to have their sons, nationhood could only begin if we could
of their fellow Kapampangans. It was a husbands and sweethearts to go with him show the world that we were capable of self-
Kapampangan who betrayed the first known that he could have enlisted an entire rule and did not deserve to be enslaved by
Kapampangan rebel Juan Manila by way regiment. The Macabebes exacted their a foreign powerbecause we are as good
of disguise, and it was a Kapampangan who vengeance against the revolutionary as any other people in all the things by which
sabotaged the Kapampangan Revolt led by government when they later joined a team human achievement is measured: art,
Francisco Maniago. Kapampangans also that captured no less than President Emilio education, engineering, philosophy,
helped end the minor Kapampangan revolts Aguinaldo. literature and even sports. And indeed,
in 1584 and 1645. Dr. John Larkin writes that the even soldiering.
reputation of Kapampangans for duplicity Reference: The Macabebe Scouts and their Reputation
by John Larkin in Singsing Magazine Vol. 1 No. 4;
is obviously undeserved. Like any other Randolf Davids Review of Laying the Foundations:
group in the Philippines, they were forced Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church
1592-2001 by Luciano Santiago.
to make some compromises with

34
39. Praxedes 40. Nicolasa 41. Matea 42. Adriana
Fajardo Dayrit Sioco Hilario
Because she was one of the Because she played an active Because she was a major Because she helped distribute
few women who risked their role in preventing a schism financier of the Philippine propaganda materials during
lives in actively supporting the between Gen. Antonio Luna and the Revolution. Having had no
Revolution in Pampanga. She
Gen. Tomas Mascardo from formal education, Adriana
cause of the Philippine turning into an all-out war. She married the wealthy Jose Sioco,
Revolution against Spain. Born a widower who was actually learned by eavesdropping on
and other Bacolor women met
July 21, 1874 in Bacolor, Gen. Luna, on his way to attack after her sister Maria, who had her brothers tutorial lessons.
Praxedes Fajardo y Puno Gen. Mascardos forces in been betrothed to another man. She is one of the four
headed the Pampanga chapter Guagua. Luna was appeased, After her husband died, Matea Kapampangan women of the
of the Philippine Red Cross. and the revolution did not break married Juan Arnedo Cruz of Revolution.
She died August 10, 1928. apart. Nicolasa Dayrit y Apalit.
Pamintuan was born September
10, 1874 in San Fernando.

43. Valentin 44. Tiburcio 45. Ceferino 46. Macario

Ventura Hilario Joven Arnedo
Because he was an active Because he and his brother Because he organized Bacolors Because when he became
member of the Propaganda Cecilio refused to testify against first theatre company, Compania Governor of Pampanga, he
Movement in Spain. Belonging Rizal during his trial in Manila. Sabina, when he was Governor supervised the transfer of the
to the wealthy family in When they were still law of Pampanga in 1901. This provincial capital from Bacolor
Bacolor, Ventura financed the students, they witnessed the singular act sparked popular (hometown of his predecessor
printing of Jose Rizals novel martyrdom of the Gomburza interest in Kapampangan plays Ceferino Joven who had
El Filibusterismo. His brother priests which galvanized their and attracted the likes of Juan objected to the transfer) to San
Balbino was tortured for his resolve to fight for Crisostomo Soto, Felix Fernando. The crucial Manila-
Masonic links; he was made to independence. Tiburcio was Galura, Mariano and Dagupan Railroad crossed the
walk, with hands tied and in exiled to Jolo while Cecilio to Cornelio Proceso Pabalan new capital but not the old; the
full public view, from Bacolor Balabac. After the Spaniards Byron and others, eventually transfer has led to the
to San Fernando. He died soon left, Tiburcio became Governor leading to the Golden Age of elevation of San Fernando to
afterward. of Pampanga. Kapampangan Literature. the status of regional, not just
provincial, center.

35
 The Philippine
Revolution &
the Philippine-
American War
in Pampanga
After Jose Rizal visited his
friends in Tarlac, San
Fernando and Bacolor a few
years before the outbreak of
the Revolution, their houses
were torched and some of
47. Braulio 48. Domingo 49. Francisco them were deported. It

Mendoza Panlilio Liongson turned out that Rizal was

already being shadowed by
Because, like Mendoza, he was Because he was one of the elite authorities. Those who had
Because he risked his life and
his familys by sheltering Filipino one of the wealthy landowners who sent financial support to formed Masonic cells in the
revolutionaries.When in Bacolor who hid Filipino Aguinaldos new republic after province also suffered the
Commodore Dewey sailed into soldiers at the height of the the defeat of the Spanish army same fate. When the
Manila Bay and the beleaguered in 1898. Liongson was an Revolution did break out,
Revolution, thus putting his own accomplished poet as well as
Spaniards got nastier, the Hilario life and that of his household in some of Pampangas elite
politician. He became Governor
brothers returned to Bacolor, extreme danger. Tiburcio and of Pampanga in 1912 and was joined first Andres
saw their house burning from a Cecilio Hilario also sought later elected Senator of the Bonifacio and later Emilio
distance and sought refuge in countrys 3rd senatorial district, Aguinaldo; most, however,
refuge in his house in barrio
Mendozas house in barrio San covering Pampanga, Bulacan, remained uninvolved or loyal
Antonio. Estelito Mendoza is Maliwalu during the chaotic days
Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. He was to Spain. For this loyalty, the
his progeny. of the American takeover of the the first Kapampangan senator.
colony.

Kasaysayan

36
Gen. Aguinaldo arrives in San Fernando, Pampanga in 1898
Spanish Governor of finally reached Pampanga, and entity, a nation that reached Age of Kapampangan
Pampanga Jose Canovas Kapampangans started beyond the ethno-linguistic Literature. Because the town
petitioned Spain to grant the rearranging their allegiances borders of any one area. was becoming the center of
province the permanent title again. Many members of the Sharing this vision were the intellectual and cultural
Muy Heroica y Siempre Fiel, or elite supported the new generals Maximino Hizon, activity in the region,
Muy Noble y Muy Leal, or Muy American colonial government, Jose Alejandrino, Servillano prompting others to call it the
Espaola. some continued aiding the now Aquino, Francisco Athens of Pampanga, Soto
After the defeat of guerilla army of Aguinaldos Makabulos; Governor and his followers chose to
the Spanish army by Filipino Republic, and the rest stayed Tiburcio Hilario; landholder preserve the art and culture
and American forces, many neutral in the crossfire. Those Francisco Liongson; writers of the place rather than
wealthy Kapampangans who supported Aguinaldo were Aurelio Tolentino, Modesto adhere to the vision of a
supported the government of either exiled or ostracized, so Joaquin and Felix Galura; national community. Although
Aguinaldo, organizing once more, they went Ceferino Joven, Pedro Abad it was the more restricted
provincial government on underground. Santos and others. view, it was, at least to Soto
behalf of the Republic and Historian John A. Larkin says there was and others, more vivid and
participating in the Malolos Larkin points out that around another vision of community tantalizing as the province was
Congress. This nationalistic this time, one group of held by another group of experiencing growth and
tendency was becoming Kapampangans had expanded Kapampangans, led by frontier expansion.
widespread in the province. their concept of community to a playwright Juan Crisostomo Source: Pampanga Views the
And then, in April nation, concluding that Soto whose body of work Revolution: Imagination and Memory
of a Time of Suffering and Sacrifice
1899, the American forces Pampanga belonged to a larger launched in Bacolor the Golden
by John A. Larkin in Alaya:

50. Mariano Proceso 51. Felix Galura

Pabalan Byron Because this poet led the uprising the started
Because he wrote the countrys the Revolution in Pampanga
first vernacular zarzuela
He and his younger brother Cornelio, along with Soto, Galura
and the Tolentino brothers, Aurelio and Jacinto, were writers
who took up arms as Katipuneros during the Revolution. Like
Soto, the Pabalan brothers served under Gen. Tomas
Mascardo; Mariano was one of the Bacolor townsfolk who threw
burning coconut husks at the Spanish garrison and decimated
the guardia civil there, thus sparking the revolution in the
province. But he is best known for his play Ing Managpe, the
first non-Spanish zarzuela written in the Philippines. The son
of a Kapampangan-Negrito father and a Portuguese mother,
Pabalan Byron wrote religious books and pamphlets including
the Pasion ning Guinu tang Jesucristu, Tuntunan qng Masampat
a Caniwan ning Taung Bininiagan and Historia Sagradang
Capampangan.

Felix Galura y Napao, whose pen name was Flauxgialer, was among
the first to write zarzuelas in Bacolor. He also denounced cumidya
( moro-moro ) as a great stumbling block to the progress of
Kapampangan literature. One June 4, 1898, at the Escuela de
Artes y Oficios de Bacolor (now DHVCAT), Galura, together with
Alvaro Panopio and Paulino Lirag, led the Voluntarios Locales
de Bacolor in revolt against Spain. They burned the Casa Real
(provincial capitol) and killed the pro-Spanish Cazadores and
Macabebes. The event was the basis for Mariano Proceso Pabalan
Byrons play Apat Ya Ing Junio.
Turn of the Century

37
 52. Juan Crisostomo Soto LAND OF POETS AND
Because he wrote outstanding works
in practically all literary genres PLAYWRIGHTS
The proliferation of playwrights, actors, poets and painters in
Bacolor in the late 1800s was almost Elizabethan in proportion.
The triumvirate of Juan Crisostomo Soto, Mariano Proceso
Pabalan Byron and Felix Galura carried Kapampangan
literature to its golden age when they wrote and staged numerous
zarzuelas. The patronage of the local population, the financial
support of the towns principalia and the presence of a theatre,
the Teatro Sabina, were responsible for the quantity and quality
of literary output in Bacolor. The other writers from the town
included Cornelio Pabalan Byron, Jose and Eduardo
Gutierrez David, Padre Jorge Anselmo Fajardo, Isaac C.
Gomez (who wrote over 20 plays including Sampagang Asahar),
Zoilo Hilario, Modesto Joaquin and Edilberto Joven.
In the coastal towns of Guagua and Sasmuan, Teatro
Trining fueled literary achievement. Jacinto Tolentino wrote,
among others, Ing Mangaibugan, while his brother Aurelio
Tolentino wrote Kapampangan, Spanish and Tagalog plays.
Felino Simpao, a medical doctor, and Monico Mercado, a
relative of Jose Rizal, were also prolific writers.
In the 1920s, another wave of Kapampangan writers
swept the province: Urbano Macapagal (Diosdados father, who
wrote the zarzuela Bayung Jerusalem)), Felix B. Bautista,
Conrado Gwekoh and Zoilo Hilario, who was crowned poet
laureate by Crisostomo Soto in 1918, shortly before Sotos death.
Just before World War II, the following writers appeared: Emilio
Aguilar Cruz, Amando Dayrit, Fidel de Castro, Jose Luna
Castro, Sol Gwekoh, Crispulo Icban Jr., Diosdado
Macapagal, Sergio Navarro, Silvestre Punzalan, Belarmino
Navarro, Ramon Talavera, Jose Felicisimo Yonzon, Balbino
and Simeo Talao, Roman Reyes, Brigido Sibug, Agustin
Bustos-Zabala, Constancio Pineda and Amado Yuzon, who
was crowned poet laureate in a literary contest held during a
carnival on capitol grounds. Their works were published regularly
in weekly periodicals and magazines like the bi-lingual El Imparcial-
Ing E Mangabiran, Ing Balen, Ing Alipatpat, Ing Catala, Ing
Catimawan, Ing Kapampangan, Ing Bandila, Ding Capampangan
By sheer volume and quality of Zafirot Rubi, Ing Anac ning and Campuput. When these publications closed down, the ranks
literary output, the greatest Katipunan, Julio, Agosto, and of writers began to thin as well.
Kapampangan writer is Juan Sigalut . Sotos best known After World War II, Kapampangan writers persisted
Crisostomo Soto y Caballa novel is the Gothic romance despite substantial loss of patronage. They were Delfin
(1867-1918) of Bacolor. He Lidia, while his short stories Quiboloy, Rosa Yumul Ogsimer, Armando Baluyut, Rosario
wrote 50 plays (including 3 include Ing Sampagang Baluyut, Aurea Balagtas, Serafin Lacson, Lino G. Dizon
Adelfa, Ing Katala, Celia, (who wrote the proletarian Pasyon ding Talapagobra), Canuto
tragedies, 8 comedies and 20
Tolentino, Jose Sanchez, Cecilio Layug, Querubin
zarzuelas), more than 100 Margarita, Kuwadrong
Fernandez and the prolific Jose Gallardo. Today, competitions
poems and dozens of short Matuling, Perlas a Matuling, that select poets laureate have altogether stopped; the aging
stories, essays and novels. At the comic Miss Phathupats poets content themselves with writing occasionally for school
the end of the 300-year and Ing Virgen king Kakewan. programs and town fiestas.
Spanish rule, Kapampangans He edited three newspapers,
watched Spanish zarzuelas less El Pueblo, El Imparcial and Ing
and less; the breakthrough Alipatpat . Literary verbal
came when Mariano Proceso jousts in Kapampangan, the
Pabalan Byron, Sotos counterpart of the Tagalog
townsmate, wrote the first balagtasan , are called
vernacular zarzuela ever, Ing crissotan, named in his
Managpe. Soto came up with honor, although he never
his own Kapampangan wrote one. Many of his works
zarzuela, Paninap nang Don mirrored his intense
Roque , and later, his most revolutionary fervor; he wrote
enduring work, Alang Dios! for La Independencia and
Written after the death of his served in Gen. Tomas
daughter Maria Luz Mascardos army as a major
Generosa (its music was of infantry.
supplied by another Reference: Kapampangan
Literature: A Historical Survey
townsmate, Pablo Palma). and Anthology by Edna Zapanta
Manlapaz. Quezon City: Ateneo de
His other plays include Perla, Manila University Press.

38
Born October 13, 1867 in the cast and crew. He was
Sto.Cristo, Guagua,Aurelio charged with sedition,
received early education in sentenced to two years in
San Luis, Pampanga and jail and fined $2000. In
then in Malolos, Bulacan; 1911 Gov. William
later earned Bachelor of Arts Cameron Forbes
degree at the College of San pardoned Tolentino.
Juan de Letran. His law Tolentino founded
studies at the University of Katimawan , a laborers
Santo Tomas cut short by cooperative, and El Parnaso
his father s death, he Filipino, a school for the
returned to Guagua where promotion of Tagalog
he took a teaching job in a literature (Tolentino
private school. Five years advocated Tagalog as
later, he got a job in the national language to help
court of first instance in speed up national unity).
Tondo, where he met He married Natividad
Andres Bonifacio and Hilario, a fellow
other patriots. Tolentino Kapampangan, with whom
offered his help in the he had four children. He
printing and distribution of died July 5, 1915 and was
propaganda materials; he buried at the North
was one of original Cemetery. In 1921, his
members of the Katipunan. bones were transferred to
He was imprisoned the base of his monument
for nine months when the in downtown Guagua.
Revolution broke out in Tolentino had 67
1896; after his release, he titles to his credit, some of
served in the Bicol which he rewrote in
campaigns of Gen. Vicente different genres and
Lukban; he was one of the languages. For example,
signatories of the his Spanish 3-act drama
Declaration of Crimen Sobre Crimen was
Independence at Kawit, redone into a 6-act
Cavite on June 12, 1898. Kapampangan drama Ing
When the Buac nang Ester , which
Philippine-American War became a two-volume
broke out, President Kapampangan novel Ing
Aguinaldo tasked
Tolentino with recruiting and 53. AURELIO Buac nang Ester, which he
translated into the Tagalog
Ang Buhok ni Ester. All in
organizing guerillas; he was
arrested and charged with
conspiracy. After his release,
TOLENTINO al l, Aurelio Tolentino
produced 33 Tagalog
he continued indulging his works, 21 Kapampangan
militant nationalism; he and 13 Spanish. His
Because he was imprisoned nine times Kapampangan works
contributed editorials,
articles and sketches which for his seditious writing; because he include Daclat Kayanakan
were critical of the United trampled on the Stars and Stripes in full (1911), a book of
States. He edited two admonitions to the youth
nationalist papers, La Patria
view of American soldiers; because he (e.g., how to vote wisely,
and El Liberal and founded was the countrys first nationalist patronize Filipino
businesses, good
his own, Filipinas, which was dramatist; because he proved that grooming, polite
closed down and caused
another jail term for the pen is indeed mightier than the sword conversation, etc.);
Tolentino. Afterwards, he Kasulatang Gintu (1914), a
edited the Spanish-language newspapers El Pueblo and El narrative of pre-Hispanic Pampanga, which may be a political
Imparcial and their Kapampangan counterparts, Ing Balen and allegory (with characters like Bayung Aldo and Atlung Batuin);
Ing E Mangabiran. and Napun, Ngeni at Bukas (1913), an allegorical poem which
As a playwright, Tolentino wrote the Tagalog verse drama is not to be confused with the controversial Tagalog drama
Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas; during its presentation at Teatro published in 1903, but is the Kapampangan translation of a
Libertad in Manila on May 14, 1903, when an actor refused to Tagalog update of the former.
haul down the American flag and trample on it as the script
required, Tolentino went on stage and did it himself; the Source: Aurelio Tolentino: Selected Writings ed. by Edna Zapanta Manlapaz.
Quezon City: University of the Philippines Library.
jampacked theatre erupted in a riot and the Americans in the
audience promptly arrested Tolentino and several members of

39
 54. Monico Mercado
Because this ilustrado fought in the Revolution
and wrote lofty literature as well

Rizals sisters and was Don Monico, like many National Colleges. He died on
the first to translate other Kapampangan poets, January 26, 1952.
Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios fought during the Revolution During his birth
i n t o Ka p a m p a n g a n . under Gen. Tomas Mascardo. anniversary on May 4, 1966,
Mercados and Rizals His most famous work is the the people of Sasmuan
forebears were verse novel Quetang Milabas, in honored him by holding a
brothersone chose to which he vividly depicted the town celebration and erecting
stay in Laguna and traditional practices of a marker, which was unveiled
fathered Rizals parent, Kapampangans, and the plays by the Director of the National
while the other, Mariano Anino ning Milabas and Iraya o Historical Commission Galo B.
Mercado, resettled in Sultan ning Tundu. When the Ocampo and attended by
Sasmuan where he Americans came, he helped in Pampanga Governor
married Catalina the pacification campaign. He Francisco Nepomuceno.
It is said that Monico Mercado was elected to the Philippine
Limpin, with whom he had four Reference: Interview with Lillian
y Del Rosario witnessed at Assembly twice. He served as Mercado Lising Borromeo of Mexico.
children including Romulo, legal adviser (and vice
close range the execution of
Rizal in Bagumbayan, consoled Monico Mercados father. president) to the Guagua

55. Socorro Henson

Because she started the long tradition of Kapampangan pulchritude
By Alex R. Castro
Philippine-American ties were at their most cordial in the wonder then that at the age of 19, in a glittering Hindu-Arabic
early 1900s. To mark this harmonious period, a national themed pageant, Socorro was chosen Carnival
fair was proposed. That was how the Manila Carnival Queen of 1926, the first ever Pampanguea to
was born in 1908two weeks of revelry, parades, win a national beauty title. Her neighbors
exhibits, sports competitions and crowd-drawing festooned the streets of Intramuros with
shows, held in February, at the old Wallace colored buntings to celebrate her victory.
Field in Luneta. At her coronation, she was resplendent
Highlighting the Carnival was the in a beaded sari gown with a
crowning of the Carnival Queen, whose magnificent crown topped by a foot-
selection was based on ballots bought and long panache. The stately queen,
cast in her favor through private seated on a howdah, was borne by
subscription campaigns. As such, a real elephant in her ceremonial
candidates often came from affluent evening parade. Her King Consort
backgrounds, like Pura Villanueva of was Vicente Rufino. But another
Molo, Iloilothe future Mrs. Teodoro escort from her court caught her
Kalawwho holds the distinction of eye: Francisco Limjap y
being the first Carnival Queen of 1908. Escolar, of the influential and
For many winners, the title was a socially affluent Limjap clan from
passport to fame, fortune and social Manila. Socorro and Francisco
prominence. 1920 Queen Trinidad de were married on 26 January 1928.
Leon of Bulacan eventually married Marriage did not deter her from
Manuel Roxas, while 1922s Virginia completing her Home Economics
Llamas married her escort, Carlos P. degree at the Holy Ghost College.
Romulo. Maria Kalaw, 1931 Queen and She bore four children: Francisco
Puras daughter, went on to become a Jr.,, Baby, Josefina and Ginny.
successful senator. The elder Francisco died on 8 October
In 1926, the Manila Carnival 1975. A few months later, on 26
committee decided to open another Miss February 1976, Socorro, the last of the
Philippines Contest (won by Anita Noble of original Carnival Queens, succumbed to
Batangas), but the luster of the original Carnival cancer of the throat.
crown never dimmed. That year, a Kapampangan It can be said that long before the national
beauty reigned supreme: Queen Socorro I. triumphs of Pampanga-born binibinis and mutyas
Socorro Henson, born 29 August 1907, was the like Myrna Panlilio, Malou Apostol, Violeta Naluz,
eldest of 10 children of Jose Bartolome Henson of Angeles Melanie Marquez, Abbygale Arenas, Maricel Morales,
and Encarnacion Martinez Borcena, a Spanish mestiza from Marilen Maristela, Darlene Carbungco and Carla Gay
Manila. Socorro had a quiet kind of beauty and her complexion, Balingit, there was one original beauty who thrilled and captivated
as recalled by younger brother Col. Antonio Henson, was so a whole nation 75 years ago, leaving a legacy of Kapampangan
translucent that you could see delicate traces of her veins. No pulchritude at its finest.
40
 HONORARY KAPAMPANGANS Luther Parker
By John A. Larkin
Simon Flores
By Alex R. Castro
Flores won the silver medal in the
Philadelphia Exposition of 1876. In 1891,
With a degree from Chico (California)
Normal College, Luther Parker came to
he bested 52 contestants to garner the Masantol in 1901 as one of the earliest
Simon Flores was the toast of the art world highest honors in an art contest to Thomasites. In 1904 he became an
in Manila when he met Monsignor Ignacio commemorate the tercentenary of the birth instructor at the Bacolor Trade School and
Pineda Tambungi, a canon of of St. John of the Cross. its principal from 1908 to 1910. He
the Manila Cathedral and Unlike artists of means possessed no formal training as a historian
chaplain of the San Juan de like Felix Resurreccion or as an anthropologist, but he maintained
Dios Hospital. Msgr. a genuine enthusiasm for Pampangas past
Hidalgo and Juan Luna
and its contemporary culture. His
Tambungi, a Kapampangan who could afford to connection with the trade school put him in
from Guagua, commissioned exhibit in the great touch with Bacolors leading literary and
Flores to do design and galleries in Rome, Paris political figures. He undertook a field report
painting jobs for churches, and Madrid, Simon Flores on the Negritos of Pampanga and other
cemeteries and mortuary homegrown purist style researches for American scholar
niches which led to a church was just as expressive, administrators back home, which he also
decorating project in Guagua virtuous and dazzling. contributed to the collections of
and later in Sta. Rita, Mexico, His works include anthropologist H. Otley Beyer. He
Betis and Bacolor where portraits of Andrea Dayrit, corresponded with the renowned librarian
Simon Flores decided to settle Quiazon Family, Msgr. and document compiler James A.
down, in barrio San Vicente. Ignacio Tambungi and Robertson.
He had also fallen in love with the His part in the creation of
various paintings in the Betis church. He
monsignors sister, Simplicia, whom he Kapampangan studies derived from his
died March 12, 1904 from a gangrenous bite
research between 1904 and 1910 into the
married soon afterward. wound inflicted by a crazed student. earliest history of the towns of Pampanga.
He set about to determine the foundation
dates for all of the churches in the province
turned down his request for safe passage and to compile lists of all the priests in the
Eugenio Blanco for Gen. Ricardo Monet s family for
By Kragi B. Garcia humanitarian reasons. Under his command,
the Macabebes warded off the
revolutionaries until the last Spanish soldier
had sailed off to safety, but the price he
paid was high: the town was razed to the
ground and hundreds of Macabebes
massacred. Col. Blanco survived to live a
full life among the post-revolution people
of Macabebe.
Old folks still remember him as
Apung Tenyung or the koronel, his Castilian
temper, and his being an avid sabungero.
One time he heard of a batikang panyabung
from a faraway sabungan. He did not stop
until he had the Ilonggung sabungeru
summoned to his house where, right there
Kragi Garcia

and then, he bought the prized cock.

Another incident was when the
neighborhood kids playing tatsing disturbed
his tudtud-ugtungaldo (siesta); he gave
written notes to the culprits which reportedly
Col. Blanco (right) and his brother sent shivers down their and their parents
Macabebe Mayor Jose Blanco spine. Nobody would dare say what the
contents were. But the happier memories
of townsmates were about his patronage
Colorel Eugenio Blanco, a Spanish of brass-band music; as manager of the
mestizo whose mother was a Kapampangan Bandang Macabebe, Col. Blanco always
from Macabebe, was the commanding made sure his band won in all competitions.
officer of the Macabebe soldiers who He owned a piece of land in barrio
defended the retreating Spanish soldiers and San Isidro parallel to the towns main road,
their families, including Augustinian friars, which people called banding koronel or
against the revolutionary troops in hot koronel for short. It is whispered about as
pursuit. Col. Blanco had earlier defected to the kutkutan (burial ground) for butangeros
the revolution after his brothers murder in or troublemakers. When Col. Blanco died,
the whole town went out to see his casket Luther
the hands of the Guardia Civil, but returned
on a horse-driven caruaje paraded around Parker
to the Spanish fold when Gen. Aguinaldo
town until it was brought to Manila for burial.
41
parishes from 1572 to 1905. It was in this Philippine Library (eventually they came to
focus on all Pampanga towns that the idea rest, after World War II, in the UP main
of Kapampangan studies had its origins. He library). Among the compilers of town
conceived the idea of each municipality in histories brought together by Parker were
the country compiling its own local history, Felino Simpao of Guagua, Manuel
and he took that scheme to Robertson, then Gatbonton of Candaba and Mariano
head of the Philippine Library. Robertson Vicente Henson of Angeles, whose
liked the project and convinced Governor nephew, Mariano A. Henson, who later
W. Cameron Forbes to issue an executive composed histories of Angeles and
order enacting Parkers plan. Parker Pampanga. In 1911, Parker transferred out
collected a set from most towns of of Pampanga, and his project of writing
Pampanga, which he then deposited in the Kapampangan local histories ended.

Fernando Garcia, OSA

By Lino L. Dizon
Fray Fernando Garcia, OSA came to the herded like cattle and made to walk from
Philippines in 1875; the Augustinian Order town to town all over Luzon, paraded like
assigned him to the newly created parish war booty and used as hostages as the
of Victoria, Tarlac and later transferred to Americans, recently victorious over Spain,
San Simon, Pampanga and then Macabebe, pursued Aguinaldos army. During a
where the Revolution found him. He was moment of confusion high up in the

Fr. Policarpo Hernandez

among the Spanish friars who took the last Mountain Province, he and other priests
boat out before the revolutionaries burned escaped, took a boat to Manila and fled to
the town and massacred the Macabebes the safety of the San Agustin Convent in
loyal to Spain. However, a storm blew the Intramuros until a deal was made among
friars boat towards Hagonoy, Bulacan, the key players of the Revolution, including
where they were captured by Gen. the Vatican.
Aguinaldos troops. Fr. Garcia wrote his memoirs in
Kapampangan, addressed to his to the town. His epistle is probably the only
Fr. Garcia joined over a hundred
parishioners in Macabebe, where he came account of the Revolution written in
friar-prisoners from other religious orders
back as parish priest when peace returned Kapampangan, by a Spaniard at that.

Crowd ogles at Spanish friars held captive by the revolutionaries

(Turn of the Century)
42
56. Honorio Ventura
Because his philanthropy helped one student
become the President of the Republic
By Fray Francis Musni, OSA

57. Pedro
Danganan
Because he was the countrys
celebrated faith healer in pre-war years
By Alex R. Castro
Alex Castro

Pedro Danganan of His public ministry in pre-war

Sapangbato, Angeles achieved years unnerved medical
national fame as Apo Iro, ang practitioners, and estampitas
manggagamot ng Pampanga. bearing his image sold like
His parents, Alejandro hotcakes.
Danganan and Eusebia Apo Iros penchant
Samonte, were from Angeles for making suggestive
and Guagua, respectively. comments to women proved
After her widowed mother took his own undoing. He shocked
him on a pilgrimage to Antipolo, women by asking them
where the frail boy reportedly pointblank to marry him and
put his arms around the Virgins bear his children. His followers
image, Pedros healing powers abandoned him after he got
became evident. His first married. He retired to Guagua
patient was his own mother, where he spent the rest of his
whom he cured of paralysis. days peddling vegetables.

43
58. VICENTE ALVAREZ DIZON
Because, realizing the irony of a country of
many art geniuses and no art aficionados,
he pioneered the teaching of art appreciation
in the Philippines; because his historical
costume researches and paintings
helped preserve a cultural heritage;
and because this Kapampangan painter
beat Salvador Dali and Maurice Utrillo
in an international competition
Today, nobody knows its
whereabouts, but in 1939,
Vicente Alvarez Dizons
After the Days Toil was
the hottest painting in the
world. It had just won
first prize in the
International Competition
on Contemporary Art held
at the Gallery of Science
and Art at the Golden Gate
Exposition in San
Francisco, California. New He suggested that art appreciation be made a
Yorks International part of the curricula in public schools. In this
Business Machines way, he wrote, there will be awakened in the
Corporation, a.k.a. IBM, After The Days Toil early life of our youth, an aesthetic sense and
sponsored the contest appreciation for arts. He wrote two books on
which drew entries from 79 countries. Among the entries were the subject matter, Living As An Art and Art Education and
Appreciation, which was used as a textbook at the National
Enigmatic Elements in a Landscape by the great Spanish surrealist
Salvador Dali and Church of St. Aignan at Chartes by famous Teachers College. He said, however, that aside from instruction,
French impressionist Maurice Utrillo. Dalis work only placed a cohesive museum system should be established in the country
second to the Kapampangan painters entry. so that local museums should not be mere storage of art works
Only weeks earlier, in another IBM-sponsored art but dynamic exhibit areas so that people from all walks of life
could understand and appreciate art. The public, especially the
competition held at the World Fair in New York, another Filipino
poor, he said, needed an institution, a civic centera museum
painter, Fernando Amorsolo, garnered first prize, proving Filipino
where they may go during Sundays or their free hours, instead
artists eminent position in the world even in those early years.
of going to gambling houses and dancing saloons.
Unfortunately, as Dizon observed, only very few of his countrymen
understood and appreciated art. Born in Malate in 1905, Dizon was, at 16, already a paid
illustrator for prewar magazines like Graphic, Liwayway (where
he illustrated the stories of Lola
Basyang), Free Press, and Womans
Home Journal. He won first prize in
an art exhibition held at the Manila
Carnival of 1927; he graduated from
the UP School of Fine Arts in 1928,
where he was head caricaturist of the
Philippine Collegian. After graduation,
he immersed himself in research on
indigenous costumes. He executed 39
watercolor paintings he collectively
entitled Filipino Costumes 1500-1935.
His work earned him the recognition of
his peers, and a scholarship from Yale
University in Connecticut, where he
graduated with a degree Bachelor of
Fine Arts after only one-and-a-half
years (instead of the usual three). Lord
Enigmatic Elements in a Landscape(left) by Salvador Dali Barnby, President of the London
(upper right); Church of St. Aignan at Chartes by Maurice University, also offered him $10,000 for
Utrillo (lower right) the paintings, which he declined.

44
 While in Yale, he became the first Filipino elected to the
schools exclusive fraternity of artists called Phi Alpha, the first
Filipino artist invited to become a member of the National
60. Pablo Angeles David
Geographic Society of America in recognition of his historical Because all his life, he championed
costume paintings, and the first Filipino to become an associate the poor and the oppressed
member of the American Museum of National History. He also
Born August 17, 1889 in Bacolor, he attended the private school
won first prize in Major Bowes Amateur Hour program over NBC
of Don Modesto Joaquin in Bacolor and completed segunda
in Radio City by playing musical instruments.
enseanza in Liceo de Manila in 1906. He enrolled in the Escuela
When he returned to the Philippines, he taught at the
de Derecho, choosing the law course because he wanted to
National Teachers College and at the Mapua Institute of
Technology; he also was part of the committee tasked to reorganize defend the cause of those who had less in life; he passed the
the UP School of Fine Arts in 1938. bar at age 21, thus becoming the youngest practicing attorney
Dizon introduced finger painting in the Philippines, which in the Philippines that year. He was appointed Justice of the
he propagated throughout the country through lectures and Peace in Bacolor but resigned in protest against the unjust
demonstrations. He was also known for his chalk talk lectures and rigid enforcement of quarantine regulations by American
copied by many today, in which someone from the audience is soldiers, especially among the poor. He was appointed Deputy
asked to sketch any form or line on the blackboard and the artist Provincial Fiscal in 1913 and resigned in 1914. He decided he
would transform it into a meaningful figure. could help his people by
But After the Days Toil continues to be Dizons greatest running for Congress
legacy. After the competition, the painting went on a world tour instead. He was elected
of IBM offices, including the one in Ermita, Manila, before going Representative for the First
on permanent display at the IBM Gallery of Fine Arts in New York. District of Pampanga in 1919
In 1968, IBM unloaded some of its art collections to American art but retired to private life in
galleries. The Dizon painting went to Hirschl Adler Gallery in New 1922. In 1931, he returned
York, which sold it to an anonymous collector. Dizon died October to public service and won as
19,1947 in Angeles at age 42. Governor of Pampanga.
Realizing he could do more
Reference: The Legacy of Vicente Alvarez Dizon by Ruben Defeo in Philippine
Star, February 5, 2001. Additional notes by Eric Dizon. as governor, he ran again
and was re-elected in 1934.
59. Vicente Manansala He served as Senator from
1947 to 1953.
Because his leadership and vision Reference: Encyclopedia of the
redefined Philippine art Philippines, Vol. XVII, ed. By
Zoilo M. Galang. Manila: Exequiel
This barbers son was born in UP in 1930. After World War Floro.
Macabebe on January 22, 1910 II, Manansala organized the
but at age 4 the entire family Thirteen Moderns, an artists
relocated to Intramuros where
he was tutored by Ramon
group that
Hernando Ocampo, Cesar
included
61. Jose Leoncio de Leon
Peralta, Teodoro Legaspi, Alfredo Roces and Because he personified the best qualities
Buenaventura, Pablo Anita Magsaysay-Ho, of Kapampangan entrepreneurship
Amorsolo, Fernando whose styles challenged the
Amorsolo, Fabian de la prevailing emphasis on realism
Jose Leoncio de Leon y Hizon, born September 12, 1867 in Bacolor,
Rosa and other masters. He and ushered in modernism.
was a humble tenant who made his first step to success by putting
left painting for a while to work He received fellowships which
up a small-town bazaar, the El Indispensable, from savings. It
as a mess boy aboard the liner enabled him to study abroad,
attracted Spaniards and prominent citizens who liked de Leons
Silver Palm, which was his and earned a slew of awards,
personalized service to his customers (he sometimes walked several
opportunity to see the world. including the ultimate National
Artist Award in 1981, given miles to replace a defective lamp purchased from his store). The
He earned a diploma in arts at
posthumously (he died bazaar, and everything else he owned, was destroyed during the
August 22 that year). Revolution, and De Leon had to work in the farm to pay off debts.
His legacy of Although he could have easily filed for bankruptcy as the stores
masterpieces includes loss was due to an act of war, De Leon honored all his debts.
the statue of the Thus, his credit standing in Pampanga and Manila became
Crucified Christ at the St. unquestioned; even the reputable London firm Clayton and
Andrews Church in Bel- Shuttleworth, for which he had become an agent, was impressed.
Air, the mural entitled In 1917, Americans from Hawaii built a sugar mill in Del Carmen,
Development for Pampanga; De Leon thought that if foreigners could do it, so could
Progress at the he. He convinced many Kapampangans to invest in a venture led
Development Bank of by him, among whom were Jose Escaler, Augusto Gonzales
the Philippines, various and Manuel Urquico. In 1918, he founded the Pampanga Sugar
murals at the Development Company (PASUDECO), which has become one of
International Rice the largest sugar mills in the Philippines. De Leon became a
Research Institute at Los successful businessman without formal education and political
Baos, and the Stations connection. After his murder on July 12, 1939, unknown people
of the Cross at the UP
started showing up at his wakebeneficiaries, it turned out, of
chapel. (Alex R. Castro)
his unpublicized philanthropy.
Reference: Historically Speaking by Jose N. de Leon III in Philippine Star, July
28, 1990.
45
62. Zoilo Galang 63. Zoilo Hilario
Because he put together the first Philippine Because he revolutionized Kapampangan
encyclopedia and wrote the first Philippine orthography
novel in English
Born in Bacolor on June 27, He was born in San
1895, Zoilo Mercado Fernando on June 27, 1892
Galang was educated in the but grew up in Bacolor,
Bacolor Elementary School, where he discovered his
Trade School of Pampanga, literary calling. He studied
Pampanga High School and in the private school of
Escuela de Derecho de Hilarion Caiza of Dagupan
Manila where he graduated and in the school of
in 1919. He learned typing Modesto Joaquin in Bacolor,
and stenography in English later transferring to Liceo
and Spanish by himself; he de Manila and the Escuela
attended a special course de Derecho where he took
in English at the University up law. He passed the bar
of the Philippines in 1925 in 1911, was elected
and an advanced course on councilor in Bacolor and
literature at Columbia then worked as secretary of
University, New York in the Provincial Board of
1926. He toured the world Pampanga from 1925 to
in 1926-1928. He authored 1931, when he won as
books of fiction, biography representative for the
second district. As a poet,
and philosophy, such as A
Child of Sorrow (the first English novel written by a Filipino, made he wrote two volumes of poems: Adelfas and Patria y Redencion.
into a movie in 1930), Nadia, For Dreams Must Die, Springtime, He was crowned poet laureate of Pampanga for his poem Ing Babai.
Leaders of the Philippines, Glimpses of the World, Life and He also served as editor of El Imparcial and El Paladin and
Success, Master of Destiny, Unisophy, Barrio Life, and others. contributed to various newspapers in Pampanga and Manila. He
He is the first Filipino novelist in English. His early poems were founded the fraternities Katipunan Mipanampun and Laborantes
published in E Mangabiran. But his greatest work is the 10-volume Civicos. But it was his mimeographed Bayung Sunis (1962) that
Encyclopedia of the Philippines, which he edited, first published revolutionized Kapampangan orthography by arguing effectively
in 1934-36, with a second edition in 1948 (destroyed by fire), and that the Kapampangans had possessed the required alphabet and
a third 20-volume edition in 1949-58. Galang is the first Filipino to orthography before the Spaniards came, and therefore advocated
edit and write portions of a Philippine encyclopedia, which deals the use of k instead of the Hispanized c and q, which many had
thought to be the original Kapampangan spelling (in fact, the pre-
with Philippine literature, biography, commerce and industry, art,
Spanish Kapampangans used a syllabary of Devanagari origin,
education and religion, government and politics, science, history,
similar to the one still used by Bornean tribes) His being a member
builders of the new Philippines, and general information and index.
of the Institute of National Language helped him advance his cause.
Reference: Introduction by Camilo Osias in Encyclopedia of the Philippines, Reference: Encyclopedia of the Philippines, Vol. XVII, ed. By Zoilo M. Galang.
Vol. XVII, ed. by Zoilo M. Galang. Manila: Exequiel Floro. Notes by Alex Castro Manila: Exequiel Floro,Kapampangan Writing: A Selected Compendium and
Critique by Evangelina Hilario-Lacson.Manila: National Historical Institute.

64. Jose Gutierrez David

Because one lifetime was simply not enough for him
Jose Gutierrez David was one of the first 19 graduates of Pampanga High School in 1912;
only a few months later, he married Concepcion Roque with whom he eventually had
seven children. Juggling his time between his young family, his job as a working student
and his law studies, he graduated at the top of his class and passed the bar in 1916. He
learned Spanish on his own, since most judges and lawyers at the time used only Spanish.
He opened a tiny law office with one decrepit typewriter and slowly built his reputation;
only two years later, he became an Auxiliary Justice of the Peace in San Fernando, was
elected municipal councilor and continued to practice law for the next 20 years. He became
one of the framers of the 1935 Constitution (having chaired the committee on impeachment),
and afterward was appointed district judge of the Court of First Instance by President
Quezon, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals by President Roxas, Presiding Justice
of the Court of Appeals by President Magsaysay, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
by President Garcia. Jose Gutierrez was also a prolific poet, playwright and stage actor;
his best known poem is Tuqui Ca Baculud, a paean to his idyllic hometown, and his plays
include Amanda, a one-act zarzuela; Migdusang e Micasala, a verse drama; and Ing
Independencia, a three-act nationalistic play. Together with Crisostomo Soto, he edited
the Kapampangan magazine Ing Balen and the Kapampangan-Spanish newspaper Ing
E Mangabiran-El Imparcial. Before he died on March 24, 1977, he wrote an unpublished
memoirs which contains anecdotes about the guardia civil, the Katipuneros, Thomasites,
and houseguests Manuel Quezon, Juan Luna, Epifanio de los Santos and Jose Palma.
His life and accomplishments had spanned several regimes in history: the Spanish, the
Philippine Revolution, the American, the Japanese Occupation, the Philippine Republic and
Martial Law. Reference: Biographies of Famous Kapampangans by Alejandro Camiling.

46
 65. Amado Yuzon
Because he was a true renaissance man
Born in Guagua on August 30, 1906, Amado Magcalas Yuzon was one of those rare
breed of Kapampangans who could run a business, dabble in politics, practice law,
write poems, edit newspapers and perform on stage all at the same time. He finished
two graduate programs: Master of Arts summa cum laude and Master of Science in
Business Administration, again summa cum laude; he finished law cum laude and passed
the bar in 1939. He got his Doctor of Literature degree in London; afterwards he
taught at Far Eastern University and at Quezon College (now MLQU). He represented
the first district of Pampanga in 1946-49; as congressman, he introduced the Magna
Carta of Labor after the war. He edited the newspapers Ing Catuliran, La Libertad
and the poetry magazine Laurel Leaves which had an international circulation. He
published a collection of poems entitled Salitang Paca-Versu and translated works of
Shakespeare, Omar Khayyam, Tagore, Euripides, Sophocles, Hugo, Sappho, Edgar Allan
Poe, Longfellow, Rizal, etc. He wrote and recited poems in four Filipino and three
European languages. He was crowned Poet Laureate of the Philippines in 1959 and
Poet Laureate of the World at the World Congress of Poets in 1969. He convinced
Malacaang in 1965 to proclaim a National Poetry Day; was honored as the Most
Outstanding Man of Letters of the Philippines in 1962, being the only one who could
crown poets laureate in any region in the country.. The Pampanga Provincial Board
passed a resolution proclaiming him Ari ning Parnaso and Ari ning Crissotan for life. He
died January 17, 1979 and was buried in his hometown.
Reference: Biographies of Famous Kapampangans by Alejandro Camiling.

66. Joaquin 67. Vivencio 68. Agapito 69. Pedro

Alejandrino Cuyugan del Rosario Santos
Because he fought the Span- Because he was the first Because he gave up his life for Because he was the first
iards and later the Americans Socialist mayor in the his country. He was just a Kapampangan to become an
as a ranking military officer. Philippines. Vivencio Cuyugan month old when his father, Capt. Archbishop, in 1951, two years
When the Spaniards surren- y Baron co-founded the Isabelo del Rosario, was ahead of Rufino Cardinal
dered and demanded to be Socialist movement in the executed by the Americans. He Santos. Born Pedro Pablo
treated as prisoners of war in country. He was elected mayor grew up in the care of his Santos y Songco in Porac, he
accordance to the Geneva Con- of San Fernando in 1938; the maternal uncle, Pedro Abad was ordained in 1913, became
vention, he told them, We are war interrupted his term but he Santos, who tutored him on the parish priest of Bacolor
not signatories to the Tratado was reinstated in 1945. socialist ideas. He won as mayor (where he founded St. Marys
de Ginebra (Geneva Conven- However, the Americans of Angeles in 1940 during the Academy in 1919) and Angeles
tion). We recognize no ginebra replaced him after he was wave of socialism sweeping the (where he founded Holy Angel
other than that sold in flasks! quoted as saying that the province. He was arrested by University in 1933). In 1938,
Later, he ran as a Socialist can- Hukbalahap would never lay the Japanese when the war he became the Bishop of
didate but lost; he migrated to down their arms. broke out and imprisoned at Fort Nueva Caceres (where he
Mindanao, where he died in Santiago. When he refused to founded Ateneo de Naga), and
1942. Jose Alejandrino wrote swear allegiance to the in 1951, Pope Pius XII
that his brother rendered Japanese flag, he was executed named him the first
greater services to the country in March, 1942. He was 41 years Archbishop of Nueva Caceres.
than I did, yet he is much less old.
known than I am.

47
70. Sotero Occupation, he was appointed
member of the Council of State
could aspire for. A native of
Guagua, he started as an
Because he designed the
Philippine Republic coat-of-
Baluyut as well as Speaker and Director-
General of the KALIBAPI
employee in a billiard hall, then
put up a repair shop for billiards,
arms and the seals of the
President and the Vice
(Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa then expanded to President, as well as those of
Bayan). He died in Manila on manufacturing billiard tables, provinces and cities. Ocampo,
December 20, 1947. barbers chairs and dentists
born 1913 in Sta. Rita, was the
chairs. His son Gil Puyat
72. Emigdio became the head of the only Filipino to study heraldry;
he was a painter, mosaicist,
Nacionalista Party and Senate
Cruz President. stained glass artist and disciple
of Surrealism. His best known
74. Renato work is the Brown Madonna

Tayag (1938) which Filipinized the

image of the Blessed Mother,
creating a stir among Church
officials. (Alex R. Castro)

76. Serafin
Because he fast-tracked Quiason
Pampangas development by
undertaking massive
cementing of highways.
Baluyut was an engineer who
became Governor of Pampanga
in 1925 and reelected in 1928. Because he was, in the words
he was called the Father of the of Gen. Douglas MacArthur,
National Electric Power and the most important agent to
Development Company. He enter the (Japanese-occupied
won as Senator in 1931 and Philippine) Islands in 1942. He Because he was a prolific writer
became President Quezons penetrated Manila to contact the of Kapampangan culture and
Secretary of Public Works and Commonwealth officials left history. A native of Angeles,
President Quirinos Secretary of behind to verify rumors that they Katoks Tayag graduated from
Interior. had switched allegiance. Later the UP College of Law in 1939
with friend Ferdinand Marcos,
71. Benigno he fought as a guerilla until he
escaped back to Austral ia with whom he also passed the

Aquino, Sr. aboard a US submarine in 1944.

This Arayat-born patriot was the
bar in 1940 and with whom he
started a law firm soon Because he made the country
get interested in its history;
private physician of President afterward. He served as
Director of the Philippine this Angeleo headed the
Quezon; he was instrumental
in showing him the tract of land National Bank for 19 years until National Library for 21 years
that later became Kaledian , his death in 1985. He authored and the National Historical
Quezons hacienda and rest many highly readable books, Institute for 13 years; he was
house at the foot of Mount including Recollections and responsible for the Institutes
Arayat. Digressions and The Sinners of new sense of direction in terms
Angeles , as well as wrote of staff development and
73. Gonzalo countless newspaper and
magazine articles, mostly
upgrading of collection.

Puyat dealing with local history and

culture. 77. Fernando
75. Galo Ocampo
Ocampo
Because he was one of the first
advocates of Filipinism by
pushing for the independence
of the Philippines when he was
a senator (before the war).
Born in Concepcion, Tarlac on
September 3, 1894 and the son
of General Servillano Aquino,
Benigno Sr. finished law at the
University of Santo Tomas in
1918; he was a representative
to the Philippine Assembly from
1919 to 1928 and majority Because he became, in 1932,
leader and senator from 1928- the President of the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce, the Because he was a pioneer in
1941. During the Japanese modern architecture. In
highest post a local merchant
48
partnership with Tomas stand out for their sleek art deco 1985 he discovered use of a hometown Betis; his carvings,
Arguelles, Ocampo, a native design. (Alex R. Castro) canvas and oil technique (COT) which adorn palaces, hotels
of San Fernando, formed his to enhance print blowups; native and churches both here and
own archictectural firm in 78. Bob of Mabalacat. abroad, have spawned a
1928. In 1930, he founded the
U.S.T. School of Architecture Razon 79. Juan generation of imitators. The
three large wood and glass
and was a member of the
Board Exams from 1929-1930. Flores chandeliers in the Ceremonial
Hall of the Malacaang Palace,
His contributions to Philippine considered masterpieces of
architecture were honored with Philippine artistry in wood,
a Gold Medal of Merit from the were carved and installed by
Philippine Institute of Juan Flores in 1979. His
Architects in 1953. His best townsmates, whom he trained
known work is the in his shop, have carried on the
reconstruction of the Manila woodcarving tradition which
Cathedral in the 1950s. He has sustained the cultural and
likewise restored the economic life of barangay Sta.
Cathedral of San Fernando Ursula in particular and Betis
after it was destroyed by fire in general. Flores was much
in 1939. Among his commercial publicized in Europe and the
projects, the Arguelles Bldg. Because he was the Dean of United States when he won a
along Rizal Avenue, Cu-unjieng Portraiture in the Philippines; as 1972 sculpting competition
Bldg. in Escolta and Angela early as 1946 he was a popular Because he started the organized by the University of
Apartments along Roxas Blvd. photographer of celebrities; in woodcarving industry in his California.

made education accessible to

locals who could not afford to
study in Manila. Before World
War II, they also set up the
Reina-Aurora Softdrinks Factory,
which had a distribution base of
Pampanga and Bataan, and a
Burlap Sack Factory , which
provided industrial-grade sacks
to farmers and sellers in the
region and the production of
which gave jobs to the women
of Angeles.
The post-war years
saw the rise of the Villa Teresa
Subdivision (1965), the premiere
residential address in the newly
chartered city, and Nepo Mart
Commercial Complex (1968),
the central district of business
and commerce of this
Kapampangan urban axis.
Juan and Teresa
80. Juan and Teresa Nepomuceno Nepomuceno were also known
for their philanthropy; it is said
Because
Because their
their partnership
partnership powered
powered the
the first
first city
city that people lined up at the door
of
of the
the Kapampangan
Kapampangan Region
Region of their house for their daily rice,
By Erlita P. Mendoza salt, sugar, etc. as well as for
catechism and quick fix for a
Two of the most remarkable philanthropy among their 10 The Teresa Ice Plant variety of ailments, for which
Kapampangans in the 20 th children and created the (1921) contributed to the Teresa seemed to have been
century who shaped local academic and business- growth of Angeles as a thriving gifted. They also had funds
society, as wel l as the industrial institutions that have station-town and distributing ready for scholarships,
mindscape and soulscape of empowered (literally as well as center of the Manila-Dagupan improvement of hospitals and
Angeles and Pampanga, were figuratively) Angeles and its Railways, while the Angeles upkeep of local churches.
the spouses Juan D. environs for almost a century Electric Corporation (1923) Like the Cojuangcos,
Nepomuceno (1892-1973) and now. They were a pioneering provided electric power to the Osmeas and other larger-than-
Teresa Gomez Nepomuceno couple who set up enterprises community and transformed the life Filipino families, the
(1893-1970). that illustrate the spirit of civic 19th-century gas-lit pueblo to Nepomucenos of Angeles could
Married March 19, nationalism while maintaining one of the countrys brightest take credit for the development
1919 on the Feast of St. their lay religiosity, which seems cities. Holy Angel University of the region but unlike them,
Joseph, theirs became a to be the hallmark of old families (1933), the first Catholic school they seem to possess no
partnership which, by precept in Pampanga. run by laypersons in the country, tendency to create a political
and example, instilled dynasty to extend their influence
beyond what Juan and Teresa 49
Nepomuceno had originally
intended.
 81. Mariano A.
Men of influence, Henson
women of substance Because he launched the modern
era of Kapampangan Studies
By Lino L. Dizon
Gregorio Singian of Santo Tomas, called The Father of Philippine Surgery by Josie Henson
historian Gregorio Zaide; he fought in the Philippine-American War and later founded
the Anti-Cancer League of the Philippines
Roman Santos y Rodriguez of Apalit founded Prudential Bank and Trust Co. in
1952 and other major insurance companies.
Vidal Tan, Sr. of Bacolor, a math wizard and poet, became Dean of two Colleges
of the University of the Philippines: College of Arts and Sciences and College of
Engineering; also President of the University of the Philippines and Far Eastern
University
Ricardo C. Galang of Apalit led intelligence operations in Palawan during World
War II; one time he changed the position of a road sign at night which misled three
enemy truck convoys into a narrow dead-end, allowing US planes to strafe them.
His uncle, Ricardo E. Galang, an ethnographer, became the dean of UPs College
of Anthropology.
Josefina Gonzales of Apalit, elevated Kapampangan fashion to art; the daughter
of Roberta Tablante Paras, originator of the RT Paras Dressmaking School
ironically never learned to sew, she only cut and fitted but she went on to become
a doyenne of couture.
Bienvenido M. Gonzales of Apalit was the sixth President of the University of the
Philippines
Amelito R. Mutuc of Arayat, Philippine Ambassador to the United States, was
elected President of the World Law Association in 1977
Tina Santos, prima ballerina of Harkness Ballet, toured Europe and the United
States as solo dancer of the San Francisco Ballet; her sister Cecile was an early Mariano Angel Henson, the noted local historian
Broadway performer of Pampanga, was born in Angeles on October
Carlos Valdes of Bacolor put up the countrys most prestigious accounting firm 3, 1897. His parents were Jose Pedro Henson
Estelito Mendoza of Bacolor, Governor, Solicitor General, Justice Secretary, and and Maxima Rosario Sadie.
Henson is best known for his
above all, a true patron of Kapampangan art and literature
monumental work The Province of Pampanga
Aber Canlas supervised the construction of the Folk Arts Theatre, which stood on
and Its Towns (A.D. 1300 1962). Typewritten
land reclaimed from the sea and finished in 77 days, in time for the Miss Universe
and mimeographed, the book provides
Pageant in 1974 comprehensive data on Kapampangan studies,
Fe S. Panlilio of Mexico was a world-famous gemologist and philanthropist particularly on local and church histories of each
Bren Z. Guiao of Magalang started his stint as governor of Pampanga in 1986 municipality as well as on the former territories
when the nation had just been unshackled from a dictatorship, and ended in 1995 of the Kapampangan region. Containing well
after he effectively supervised the provinces recovery from the Pinatubo disaster researched details, the book has seen several
Vicente Catacutan of Apalit founded the Apalit Small Christian Communities editions through the years and is one of the
(ASCOM) in 1980, one of the countrys top innovative development organizations, most indispensable reference books in
as well as the ASCOM Multi-Purpose Cooperative which initiated livelihood programs Kapampangan Studies, along with John A.
for farmers, factory workers and small merchants Larkins The Pampangans .
Manuel Pangilinan of Apalit, President and CEO of the Philippine Long Distance Henson also wrote A Brief History of
Telephone Co. (PLDT) and one of the most influential businessmen in the country Angeles City, a monograph with a Kapampangan
today version (Ing Pangatatag ning Balen Angeles).
Cid Caesar Victor Reyes of Apalit, adjudged art critic of the year by the Art He has also a string of publications on other
Association of the Philippines; publisher of Larawan Publishing House facets of Kapampangan studies, including
Beatriz Patis Tesoro of Angeles is a leading fashion guru whose advocacy for ABCDE Capampagan (Pampango Primer),
the use of indigenous materials and designs has helped put the country on the Tastes and Ways of a Pampango (on
fashion map Kapampangan culinary arts), Evolution of
Ben Cabrera (a.k.a. Bencab) of Sasmuan, internationally known visual artist Pampango Writing over the Centuries, and
now based in Baguio City Ejercicio Cotidiano (Daily Spiritual Retreat in
Claude Tayag of Angeles whose watercolor and acrylic paintings, wood and rattan Pampango).
sculptures, furniture designs and serigraphs have made him one of the most He was also a prolific genealogist. A
respected and influential Filipino visual artists number of endeavors in this field include the
Pepe Baltazar of Sasmuan made the folksy brass band a Kapampangan cultural genealogies of Eugenio Juco and Maria David
mainstay by founding Banda 31, which became nationally famous of Guagua, the Gatbontons of Candaba, the
Gang Gomez of San Fernando, the Philippines top fashion designer now a Hensons of Pampanga, Mariano Cruz de
Benedictine monk in Bukidnon (known as Dom Martin de Jesus, OSB); he recently Miranda and Magdalena Ticsay of Santa Rita,
published a book on vestments using indigenous materials and Francisco de los Santos and Luisa Gonzaga
Lea Salonga of Angeles (father is from Porac), star of Broadway and West End de Leon (the Kapampangan translator of
Efren Bata Reyes of Betis (later, Angeles) won the 1999 World Professional 9- Ejercicio Cotidiano in the 1840s).
Ball Pool Championship in Cardiff, Wales; together with fellow Kapampangan from Henson also wrote on diverse topics
like agriculture, mathematics, and recreational
Tarlac, Francisco Bustamante, made billiard respectable again
References: Armando Regalas Homepage; Alejandro Camilings Homepage; notes from Alex Castro games.
and newspaper clippings He died on July 5, 1975.

50
 82. Jose Gallardo
Because he was the most prolific and influential
Kapampangan writer of his generation

Jose Mauro Crucifijong Pilak, staged more than 100 times between 1956 and
Gallardo y 1972 (all productions directed by him).
Manapul (1918- He won the Yuzon trophy at Torneo Poetico in Sto. Cristo,
1986) was the son Guagua in 1950, was the Ari ning Crissotan in 1952 and was
of a poor farmer declared Ari ning Parnaso, successor to Amado Yuzon, in 1979
who directed the highest literary honor than can be achieved by Kapampangan
kumedyas in poets, which is for life.
barrio Gulap in Gallardo invented malikwatas (short for malikmatang
Candaba. They kawatasan), or magic poems, in which a single poem can be
lived in a kubung rearranged to become several new poems. In 1961, he revived
garosa , a hut Compania Ocampo in Candaba; it was suspended in 1972 when
doubling as a martial law curfews made it difficult to stage plays after dark. In
carabao-driven 1964, he helped organized the Aguman ding Talasulat
gareta during Kapampangan (AGTAKA); he edited the two-page spread Ing
watermelon Siuala, the Kapampangan section of the community paper The
harvest season; Voice. At a time when the Kapampangan long narrative form was
when Jose was 8, losing its popularity, he wrote the hugely popular Alas Diez ning
they moved to the house of his widowed eldest brother Laureano. Bengi and Burac a Guintu.
Due to poverty, Gallardo was not able to go beyond According to anthologist Edna Manlapaz, Gallardo was
elementary school, but at 14 he could memorize poems published the only playwright of the postwar period who achieved a relative
in Catimawan and Liwayway magazines, and at 16 he started writing degree of eminence. With the proliferation of movies and
for Bulaklak, and at 17, he wrote his first verse narrative Apat a television, Kapampangans watched Kapampangan plays less and
Banua, the story of his first love. He had developed a talent for less; the closure of Kapampangan magazines and newspapers
public speaking and had become an avid fan of Kapampangan further discouraged poets and short story writers. Gallardo,
poets Amado Yuzon, Roman Reyes and Isaac Gomez. He however, continued to churn out new scripts and poems, shifting
was elected first councilor of Candaba at 22; when World War II to radio and Tagalog whenever necessary. He had burned his
broke out he joined the HUKBALAHAP as a ranking officer. After bridges behind him and literature was the only thing he knew
the war, Gallardo became involved in theatre as writer, director how to do.
and actor. Among his early plays were Ing Pugante, Torneo, Siculi Before he died on January 8, 1986, he organized the
ning Camatayan and Linamnam ning Pait. Ligligan Pamanyulat Kapampangan, a project of Gov. Estelito
He wrote 200 poems, 26 plays and zarzuelas, 30 crissotans, Mendoza. Most of the last remaining Kapampangan poets today
6 novels and countless short stories, but his best known work is have been influenced by his style of writing and delivery.

By Lino L. Dizon
The barrio of Balitucan lies at the aslagan,
or the extreme eastside, of the town Magalang in
Pampanga, near the Tarlac town of Concepcion.
Although known officially as San Ildefonso, its people
prefer the pre-Hispanic place-name which they
attribute to balitug (cornfritters), a Kapampangan
delicacy of dried, sugar-powdered corn kernelthe
synthesis, actually, of the two main products of the
place: corn and sugar cane. But there are those who
believe that it was derived from the Ilokano balituk or
gold. This substantiates yet another historical tale that
the pioneering settlers were actually Ilokano migrants
from the province of Nueva Ecija, and not the presently
dominant Kapampangans from Central Pampanga. The
ethno-linguistic barriers and merges notwithstanding,
the amber fields reflecting a golden resplendence at

Balitucan harvest time make Balitucan live up to its name.

Balitucan appears in a list of Magalang barrios
in 1853, but so does San Ildefonso, which means they

as Dalan-Sinukuan: started separately but eventually merged. There is an

expediente in the National Archives concerning a
trek
Where insurgents trek request of the people to form a barrio named San
Fulgencio apart from barrio San (Y)ldefonso to be
the road to freedom composed of sitios Balincutan(sic), Turu, and Balud
and cultists walk the path to mysticism and this was dated June 10, 1876. A follow-up
51
(solicitud) was also on file, dated August 18, 1877. It is obvious his bastion on top of Mt. Arayat to complement the Sierra Madre
that these motions did not materialize. lair of the supreme revolutionary council, the Biak-na-bato
Balitucan, which straddles the three provinces of Tarlac, government of General Emilio Aguinaldo in San Miguel de Mayumo,
Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga , is the largest barangay of Magalang Bulacan. General Makabulos and his troops, which included his aide-
in terms of land area. It consists of eight sitios whose provenances de-camp, Major Servillano Aquino and the Filipino-Chinese
are somehow reflective of the idiosyncrasies of their geographical revolutionary, Jose Ignacio Pawa or Hao A-pao, settled in sitio
settings. These are Pasiro (patiro, or contoured?) , Balud (balut, a Kamansi, a densely wooded plateau on the slopes of the mountain.
duck-egg delicacy conjuring a river setting?), Malatumbaga (a huge On the Piedra Blanca they built houses and barracks for the troops.
tree), Balibago (another tree, Paritium tiliaceum, thriving along The Makabulos camp, 500 meters in length and camouflaged by
streams), Sua (suha, a type of citrus fruit), Turu (toro, or bull, but lush rainforests, served as the watchpoint for the whole Central
it could be turo, the tree Ardisia squamulosa), Kabayung Sarul Luzon plain.
(horse-plow, a variant to the more common carabao-plow) and The Spaniards under General Fernando Primo de
Malabug (dirty water; suggestive of a swamp). Interestingly, the Rivera used the Balitucan path in the last quarter of 1897 to get
latter, together with Almendras and Sabanang Tugui, was identified to the Makabulos fortress, which they had to destroy to get the
by the Augustinian historians Cavada and Font as the original site upper-hand in their Central Luzon campaign. As early as mid-
of Macapsa (a balen- September of 1897,
balenan or proto- Colonel Joaquin
town) that gave birth Milans de Bosch and
to San Bartolome de his aides, Lt. Cols.
Magalang in the 17th Carbo and Olaguer
century and the binary Feliu, upon
towns of San Pedro de instructions from the
Magalang and Capitan-General and
Concepcion. Due to the Cmdte Gral del
the Malong Rebellion Centro y Norte de
of 1660 (wherein the Luzon , were already
leader s aide-de- scouring the foothills of
camp, Melchor de Arayat, in search of
Vera, with an army of Makabulos and the
6,000, marched to enemigos. But it was
Macaualu [now the only two months later,
barrio of Santiago, in in the early days of the
Concepcion, Tarlac]). Biak-na-bato Republic
Macapsa, in the of November, that
Balitukan area, was fiercer and more real
abandoned and battles took place. The
became for some time Spanish offensive was
a despoblado (ghost- led personally by
town). Of etymological General Ricardo
interest here is that Monet, the former
the sitio of Spanish governor of
Malatumbaga is Tarlac and Nueva Ecija
popularly known as (thus very familiar with
Pitabacan (lit. a place the terrain) and the
where a bolo was then Commandant of
used); aside from its the Commandancia
being, geographically, General del centro de
a sharp junction to Luzon , with no other
Balitucan, it could intent than to seize
have been the site of control of the
a battle that Kasaysayan Makabulos camp in
transpired centuries ago. Sitio Kamansi.
Balitucan is a pilawen, a lookout with a vantage point where After surveying the place, Monet discovered the two
one can view Mt. Arayat in its fullness, and the mythical Piedra possible routes to the Makabulos camp: one route an almost vertical
Blanca (the gigantic White Rock). This is believed to be the Olympus ascent to the mountain peak (through Balitucan), and the other a
of Aring Sinukuan , the revered mountain god of ancient circuitous path via the poblacion of Arayat town itself. For the
Kapampangans. It was most likely in Balitucan that countless tales process, General Monet had to make preliminary adaptations for
about the mountain were woven. Furthermore, this barrio is known his troops, choosing the other side of the mountain as his buttress,
as Dalan king Sinukuan because it offers the easiest route to the the pueblo of Magalang. One of his first moves was to block all
mountain. possible escape routes for the rebels, namely the Pampanga River
Actually the dalan-Sinukuan, via Balitucan, has always been and its tributary the Chico River as well as the towns around the
a controversial itinerary in the shaping and re-shaping of Philippine mountain like Concepcion (Tarlac), Mexico (Pampanga) and Cabiao
(Nueva Ecija). It was a massive Spanish force divided into three
history.
columns; the first being the assaulting team of 600 under Major
Balitucan was the route used by the Tarlaqueo
Angel Fernandez, then the artillery under Lt. Col. Olaguer Feliu,
revolutionary general, Francisco Makabulos, when he assumed
and finally a reserve troop; not to mention also the native loyalist
control of the revolution in Central Luzon in mid-1897, establishing
soldiers, the Makabebe volunteers, guarding the Piedra Blanca.
52
 The Monet asalto was actualized on the dawn of November from the hills some hundred yards in rear. The town was then
27, 1897 and Sastron accounted for at least six attempts by the taken with practically no resistance, the enemy retreating into the
former before an advance to the rebels stronghold was made mountains. Five American prisoners were found in Camansi who
possible. After the lull of the night, which allowed Monet to get had been shot, boloed, and mutilated by insurrectos just before
reinforcement and stronger artilleries for the final assault, the abandoning the place. Three of the men are from the Ninth Infantry
Spaniards found in the Makabulos camp nothing but the carcasses and two from the Twelfth. The buildings and stores were burned
of 93 rebels, with leftover lantakas, ammunitions and beasts of and the command returned by the other road to Magalang.
burden grazing nearby. General Makabulos, Major Aquino and the During the initial years of the American Period, a traveler
majority of the 2000 rebel force were nowhere to be seen. Accounts, included this direction of a journey (actually, a puga or a jailbreak)
like that of Dr. Leonardo Guevarra of the Tarlac Historical Society, he made in 1902, in his testimony of 1910 prepared for the
have it that Makabulos was rescued by his wife, Dona Dorotea Philippine Constabulary:
Pascual Makabulos. In this bloody encounter between General Monet ..Acopoi naptungo sa Bundoc na sinucuan ng acoi dumating sa
and General Makabulos, the would-be Chinese general in the service tabi ng ilog acoi nacaquita ng bangcang may tauo acopoi ng hinge
of the Philippine Revolution, Jose Ignacio Pawa was promoted ng canin ay acopoi biniguian at ng acoi macacain ay acoi napatauid
to the rank of a colonel in the army. General Monet, who figured sa ibayo... (...I went to the Sinukuan mountain and upon reaching
prominently in the role of the Spanish government in Aguinaldos the river bank, I came upon a banca with people in it. I asked for
Hong Kong exile during the Pact of Biak-na-bato in December of some rice , I was given and was able to replenish and manage to
1897, saw the importance of the Camansi encampment in securing cross the river.)
Central Luzon from the continuous The traveler
rampage of the rebels (Gen. wandered in the vicinity for a
Makabulos being the most hard- couple of days, particularly the
headed of them all), despite the footholds of Sinukuan (Guilem
ceasefire of the pacto . After and Tilburan) and continued to
Makabulos defeat, Monet assigned live off the generosity and awa
a detachment from his brigade to (pity) of the simple folks of the
the camp. It was only in May of area. After a much-needed
1898 that this unit was tranferred rest, he related:
to San Antonio, also in Magalang, ... ng acopoi manggaling doon
where a formidable blok-haus pinunta co po ang lugar ng
(blockhouse) was built for the cabalatucan acopoi nacaquita
purpose. General Monet proudly ng cubo sa gubat na maytao
informed his Capitan-General that ang ngalan ay Vicente.1 Acopoi
a torre heliografia (watchtower), 20 ng hingi ng canen. Acopoi
meters high and with materials biniguian at pag cacain copo
directly taken from Manila, was ay kami nagsalitaan.
being built in Mabalacat instead of (Thereafter, I went to the place
in Sinukuan. of Cabalatucan (Balitucan)
Two years later, after where I saw a hut in a forest
the fall of the Philippine inhabited by a man named
government in Tarlac on November Vicente. I asked for some rice
10, 1899, and two days after he and I was given. After the
engaged one of the last battles of meal, we conversed...)
the Republic against the Americans The traveler (or the
in the Bamban-Concepcion road jailbreaker) was none other
with about 1,200 men , General Servillano Aquino followed the than Felipe Salvador, the papa (pontiff) of the Santa Iglesia
1897 footsteps of his comrade, General Makabulos, by choosing cult; he was describing the initiatory weeks that led him to the re-
the Sinukuan area in continuing his struggle against the Americans, foundation or resurrection of his katipunan, a millenarian movement
this time through guerilla warfare. Following instructions of President that started in 1899 as a guerilla force against the Americans and
Aguinaldo that remnant Filipino leaders should continue the fight initially folded up after his capture in 1902. Convicted of sedition,
as roving bands, General Aquino and his remaining 500 men settled he was being brought to Bilibid prison (Manila) from Nueva Ecija
in Sitio Pader, Kamansi. when he managed to escape and return to his base in Sinukuan.
Two months later, in the first week of a new year, the Claiming that from the mountains peak his spirit had traveled to
Americans began their assault of the Aquino lair, obviously taking heaven and conversed with God, muses Ileto, Salvador announced
the same convenient Balitucan route. A report of the U.S. War the coming of independence. Displaying shoulder-length hair,
Department went: On the 5th of January 1900, upon information Biblical attire, and an impressive crucifix, and promising a rain of
obtained by previous reconnaissance, Companies B, K and M of the gold and jewel and a redistribution of land upon the installation
25th Infantry ... left Magalang and attacked the stronghold of the of his supreme government, which could be achieved by raiding
insurgent General Aquino...The troops scaled heights of great constabulary camps in order to secure the arms needed for a great
difficulty and crawled thru dense undergrowth. An officer-member battle to come, the peasantry of Central Luzon rallied to his cause.
of the American expedition mentioned that upon approach, they There is enough data on that decade regarding the disturbances
were fired on by insurrectos of undetermined number (around 15- that the Santa Iglesia had caused in the whole region. By the end
20), from a hill about 100 feet high (replaying the experience of of that decade, on July 24, 1910, three months after his triumphal
the Spanish offensive in 1897). He had a vivid recollection: entry to Arayat, he was recaptured by the Americans in, as in a
This hill was very steep and was difficult to climb. It was taken in palindrome, the same place where he resurrected his katipunan.
the face of a severe fire, the enemy retreating by a well-defined He was publicly hanged on April 15, 1912; some of those who
trail along a ridge. In taking the hill the men were annoyed by a fire attended his wake observed that he seemed only asleep, a certain

53
sign that he would be coming back to life to continue his lakaran. with his company. The personnel of this Company were thoroughly
It was also in this vicinity that the HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo screened from the four major services of the AFP. A military report
ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon) was born: a peasant guerilla cited that out of the 32 officers, 18 enlisted personnel (EP) and
movement led by Luis Taruc and others to fight the Japanese in 209 ex-trainees screened, only 13 officers,72 EP, and 22 ex-trainees
1942 and to campaign for agrarian and social reforms after World qualified and passed the rigid selection .
War II. It is rather odd to be relishing this fact with a confectionary Upon its organization, the units primary activity was
story about the town, that went: designed for both internal and external deployment. The training
Magalang is a quiet little town in Pampanga which is otherwise that followed consisted of specialization courses on Special
noted for being the cradle of the Hukbalahap Movement. That Operations, Ranger, Airborne, Weapons, Communications, Medical,
peasants rose and took to the hills indicates the presence of an Demolition, and Intelligence; duration of which averaged to a 16-
antithesis: the caciques...But while they are remembered for their week period. In such a short time, the members of this elite unit
abuses against the peasantry, from autocratic paternalism to outright managed to familiarize themselves within the Balitucan
exploitation, they are also credited for the flourishing of the environment; with its sugar cane fields and the then operational
Pampangan cuisine lutong Capampangan. For who else would dalan-tren (railroad) run by PASUDECO (Pampanga Sugar
be able to indulge in the luxuries of the table but those who had all Development Corporation).
the resources at their command? Having attained its goals, the laboratory camp then folded
The movement was resuscitated in 1946, only months after up. And that young captain who once roamed the dusty roads and
the Philippine Liberation from the Japanese, when the dissatisfied railroad tracks of Balitucan in the turbulent 1960s, in defense of
peasants continued their struggle, calling themselves as HMB his country, became the 12th President of the Republic of the
(Hukbong Mapagpalaya sa Bayan) or the Huks. Philippines exactly thirty years later.
Two decades later, in the 1960s, the stragglers of the said Balitucan, the hotbed of dissidence for centuries, is now
movement, particularly the warring factions of Kumander cleansed (at least, for the time being) of this stigma. At present,
Sumulong (Faustino del Mundo) and Kumander Alibasbas this barrio is one of the most peaceful in Magalang, shimmering in
(Cesario Manarang), confined themselves in the same terrain. The the splendor of balituk or golden fields. But it continues to provide
rivalry was capped by the massacre of the latter with nine of his kin the convenient dalan-Sinukuan, or, at the risk of sounding gasgas
and men in Almendras (then still a sitio of San Bartolome) (ghgas in the Magalang-Concepcion accent), or overused, Robert
Concepcion, Tarlac. Actually, the encampment of Alibasbas, Frost, it was a road less-taken. Like the fate of the cogon grass
described by a Philippine Constabular officer as open to observation undulating on the roadside, this may be the cogent reason so
and therefore open to attack, the site of the massacre that occurred many glorious chapters of Philippine history have been waylaid,
at 1:00 a.m. on February 2, 1966, is already in the vicinity of and need to be re-taken.
Cabayungsarul, in Balitucan, Magalang town.
This gruesome event stirred a flurry of opinions in many
areas of Central Luzon at that time. As in the case of Felipe Salvador,
barrio folks did not see Alibasbas death as a blessing. As disclosed
by some informants, Alibasbas and his men gave help to the poor
families ...in the form of clothing, food, and even money. He had
reportedly become a Robin Hood of sorts to the people after his
split with Kumander Sumulong. He gave protection to the people
whenever other dissident elements reportedly tried to terrorize the
place; he even had a chapel built for them. For some, however, the
massacre was the result of a conspiracy between Huk leaders and
government officials in Tarlac and Pampanga. Alibasbas was then
ready to surrender, as he surmised in as secret interview he gave in
Concepcion if he had been able to eliminate his rival in the Huk
hierarchy.
The Alibasbas massacre did not yet eliminate the
environment of dissidence in Balitukan. A prodigy of Kumander
Sumulong, Bernabe Buscayno or Kumander Dante, barrio folks
still remember, learned the rudiments of his own revolution the
New Peoples Army in the Balitucan landscape.
Around the time of the Alibasbas massacre - though no
one is about to admit the connection - a young captain of the
Philippine Army, Fidel Valdez Ramos, chose Balitucan as his
laboratory for the 1st Special Force Company (Airborne) then under
General Romeo Espino. Organized on June 25, 1962, this was the
first regular Special Forces Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippine
(AFP). Still fresh from his training in a special anti-insurgency course
(which included psychological warfare) from Fort Bragg in North
Carolina, USA, Capt. Ramos took advantage of the chaotic political
conditions in the barrio to apply the theories he had learned.
The old folks of Balitucan point to the backyard of its high
school as the site where Capt. Fidel Ramos made the encampment
Kasaysayan

54
 83. PEDRO ABAD 84. JOSE ABAD
SANTOS SANTOS
Because while they represented the farthest opposite ends of the countrys
political and ideological spectrum, they were one in their commitment
to alleviate poverty and injustice; because they both had a vision for their
country and gave up everything to attain it; because they died as heroes
in their own separate ways
By Robby Tantingco
Pedro was born January 31, Thus, Pedro Abad Santos and death sentence was commuted government agencies. In quick
1876 in San Fernando to parents Jose Abad Santos attempted to to life imprisonment. US succession he became Attorney
Vicente Abad Santos and impose on history their separate President Theodore General and then Secretary of
Toribia Basco (native of ideologies, representing Roosevelt pardoned him later. Justice, and ultimately Chief
Guagua), while Jose was born revolution and evolution, He joined politics, first running Justice of the Supreme Court
10 years later, on February 19, respectively, as means of as municipal councilor and later during President Quezons term.
1886. But it was the younger securing change in the existing as representative of the Meanwhile, Don
Jose who achieved greater order. provinces second district; in Perico, as Pedro was now being
prominence because he would Pedro finished 1922, he joined the called, ran as Governor and was
become the countrys Chief Bachelor of Arts in the University independence mission to the defeated, although he was
Justice of the Supreme Court of Santo Tomas; he took up law United States headed by gaining popularity as a
and suffer a high-profile and was admitted to the bar in Speaker Sergio Osmea. champion of the poor, offering
martyrdom during the Japanese 1906. During the Philippine- His brother Jose also free legal assistance and helping
Occupation. Pedro, on the other American War, he became Chief passed the bar, in 1911. He organize labor organizations. In
hand, would be increasingly of Staff of Gen. Maximino was given a license to practice 1932 when the Partido
marginalized from civil society as Hizons Command. He was law in the United States. Unlike Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP)
he went farther and farther left captured and charged with his ascetic and celibate brother, was outlawed by the Supreme
in his political ideology. While guerilla activities, for which he Jose married a townmate, Court, Don Perico founded the
both of them had the same was meted a death sentence. Amanda Teopaco, with whom Partido Sosyalista ng Pilipinas
mission in life, which was to He joined Hizon, Apolinario he had five children. He became (PSP). Two years later, together
improve the condition of the Mabini, Artemio Ricarte and the first Filipino corporate lawyer with his assistants Agapito del
masses, they held opposite Melchora Aquino in exile in of the Philippine National Bank, Rosario, Luis Taruc, Lino
views on how to attain this. Guam; upon his return, his Manila Railways and other Dizon and others, he

55
reorganized the Aguman ding help us if he just sits in his
Talapagobra ning Pilipinas (ATP) office.
into the Aguman ding Maldang When the war broke
Talapagobra (AMT), similar to out, the Japanese jailed Don
the general workers unions in Perico and other communist
Spain, Mexico and France, which leaders at Fort Santiago.
advocated the expropriation of Secretary Jose Abad Santos, on
landed estates and friar lands, the other hand, was left behind
farmers cooperative stores and by the evacuated President
the upliftment of peasants living Quezon to head the caretaker
conditions. On November 7, government. He was arrested
1938, during the anniversary of by the Japanese in Carcar, Cebu,
the Russian B olshevik subjected to grueling
Revolution, members of the PKP interrogation and asked to swear
and the PSP held a convention allegiance to the Japanese flag.
at the Manila Grand Opera Justice Abad Santos told his
House where they declared their captors: To obey your
merger as the Communist Party command is tantamount to
of the Philippines. Crisanto being a traitor to the United
Evangelista was elected States and my country. I would
president, Pedro Abad Santos prefer to die than live in shame.
vice president, Guillermo He was taken to Parang,
Capadocia secretary general. Cotabato and then to Malabang,
In those few remaining Lanao del Sur, where he was
years before World War II, executed on May 2, 1942. He
socialism was sweeping the had told his son, Jose, Jr., not
Kapampangan Region. The to cry and to show these people
Socialist Party even went as far that you are brave. It is a rare
as fielding candidates in local opportunity to die for ones
elections. Pedro Abad Santos country. Not everybody is given
stature was reaching mythic that chance.
proportions. He was known to Pedro Abad
have the biggest collection of Santos, meanwhile, had
Marxist and Soviet literature in been released from
Asia. He often advised peasants prison due to his failing Born in Minalin,
to keep all harvest and promised eyesight and stomach Poblete (a.k.a. Jose
legal assistance if sued by ailment, and was instead Banal) organized
landowners. put under house arrest in the first
The paths of Pedro and his nieces residence, HUKBALAHAP
Jose Abad Santos crossed in a right beside that of the
( Hukbo ng Bayan
dramatic public confrontation on leader of the puppet
government, Jose P.
Laban sa Hapon )
Valentines Day in 1939, when
Laurel. He reportedly on January 1, 1942
President Quezon accepted
asked Laurel to allow him as a guerilla unit
Pedros invitation to a farmers
and workers rally in San to return to his people in against the
Fernando. Eager to please the Pampanga to die, which Japanese. Shortly
troublesome peasants hero and Laurel granted. Ka afterward, the
assured by Pedros brother Jose, Roberto Datu of Communists gained
who was then Secretary of Abelardo Dabus control of the Huk
Justice, President Quezon came Squadron in the movement, making
to the public gathering. Don Hukbong Mapagpalaya Luis Taruc the
Perico introduced the President ng Bayan (HMP), fetched Huk Supremo.
as a friend of the masses and Don Perico; they escaped Taruc converted the
the poor and admonished his by boat through Hukbalahap as the
listeners to plant in your heart Bangkusay in the Tondo Communist Partys
what he will say. Just as area, made their way to armed forces. Jose
Quezon was rising from his seat, the Manila Bay and into Banals unit
Don Perico enumerated the Pampanga River. Pedro seceded and
peasants grievances, accused Abad Santos stayed in Joseph Dado continued its
judges and fiscals of being the residence of the separate campaign
pawns of rich landowners, and
then turned to his brother Jose,
Manansala family in Alasas
village in San Isidro, town of
85. Bernardo against the Japanese. He led
fierce battles and ambuscades,
who was seated beside the
President, and challenged him
Minalin where he died on
January 15, 1945, three years
Poblete the most notable of which was
the firefight along the
as Justice Secretary to clean up Because he founded
after his younger brothers Macabebe-Masantol channel
the courts. Unable to hide his
contempt for Joses peaceful
execution. the original Huk which led to great casualties
Reference: Ang Kabayanihan ni Ka on both sides. Banals unit was
temper and methods, Pedro Pedro Abad Santos by Luis M. Taruc; movement
notes from Fray Francis Musni, OSA and the only unit recognized by the
added, The Secretary cannot Ivan Anthony Henares. United States Army.
56
 Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP).
On March 29, 1942, in a place
86. Luis Taruc described by Teodoro Agoncillo as a
clearing in the forest that joined the
Because he led a massive provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Nueva
and sustained campaign Ecija and identified by Benedict J. Kerkvliet
for social justice as a barrio in Concepcion, Tarlac at the foot
By Lino L. Dizon of Mt.Arayat, Taruc was selected to lead a
movement that became known as the
Hukbalahap (Hukbong Laban sa Hapon:
Anti- Japanese Army), whose mission was
to harass the Japanese through guerilla-style
activities. Undoubtedly, Kerkvliet believes,
his demonstrated commitment and
leadership was why those at the founding
meeting of the Hukbalahap selected him to
lead the resistance army.
After the war, Taruc and his men
refused to surrender their arms and were
not recognized as genuine guerillas by the
United States Army. Later, Taruc became the
Secretary-General of the Union of Workers
and a top-rate labor leader. In the 1946
elections, he ran for congressman along with
six Communists; they won, only to be
The son of a tenant farmer, Luis Taruc grew full time to the movement. In that same unseated by Congress on charges of
up in San Luis, where he became a farmer year, he met Pedro Abad Santos in San terrorism. He fled to the mountains and
like his father, and worked as a tailor in San Fernando and joined his Aguman ding hoisted the flag of defiance against the
Miguel, Bulacan. He graduated from high Maldang Talapagobra (AMT, or Workers and government.
school in Tarlac, Tarlac and finished a year Peasants Union). Taruc also joined the On June 21, 1948, Luis Taruc
of college in Manila. In 1936, when he Socialist Party in 1938; when the socialists agreed to surrender; he was brought to
became involved in peasants organizations, merged with the Communist Party, he Manila where President Quirino received
he left tailor shop to his wife and devoted became a ranking officer in the Partido him in Malacaang. The President also

Journalist Ninoy Aquino (with glasses) discusses terms of surrender with Ka Luis Taruc in 1954

Kasaysayan

57
g r a n t e d
amnesty to all
Huks on
condition that
they give
themselves up
and surrender
their weapons.
The six
Communist
legislators, as
well as Taruc,
would regain
their seats in
the Congress.
There would be
no prosecution
of any Huk,
save those
guilty of
Kasaysayan

c o m m o n
crimes. The
benefits of the
amnesty could
be enjoyed until the deadline of August 15. Bernabe Buscayno a.k.a. Kumander Dante and President Marcos
The government, however, accused the
Huks of violating the terms of the Quirino-
Taruc agreement. Taruc once more fled to
the mountains and the Quirino When Kapampangans
Administration hardened its stance against
the dissidents.
The election of President Ramon
sang the Internationale
Magsaysay in 1953 would change the
picture. Barely a few months in office,
President Magsaysay secretly appointed
Benigno Aquino, Jr., then a reporter of
the Daily Mirror, as his emissary to the rebel
leader. On May 17, 1954, after four months
of negotiations, Taruc surrendered. Brought
to court in Manila, he was sentenced to
twelve years in prison.

87. Bernabe
Buscayno
Because he founded
the New Peoples Army (NPA),
which has grown into
the most serious armed
threat against the government
In 1965, Faustino del Mundo (alias
Kumander Sumulong) led the Huk
movement following the capture of
Benjamin Hizon and the killing of Cesario
Manarang (alias Kumander Alibasbas).
Two years later, when it was clear that
Kumander Sumulong was creating an
Kasaysayan

extortion network in Central Luzon with

Angeles City as base of operations, a
disillusioned Buscayno (alias Kumander
Dante) distanced himself from the Huk
movement and in 1969 founded the New In 1938-1940, the most popular and influential person in Pampanga was Pedro
Peoples Army. Today Buscayno runs a Abad Santos, the founder of the Socialist Party of the Philippines. Although he lost
farmers cooperative in his hometown the elections for governor (to Sotero Baluyut), Socialist candidates won as mayors in
Capas, Tarlac. eight (8) towns, namely, Angeles, San Fernando, Mabalacat, Arayat, Floridablanca, Mexico,

58
 88. FELIPA CULALA
89. ELENA POBLETE
Because they abandoned the security of
home to become Kumander Dayang-Dayang
and Kumander Mameng, respectively;
because despite their gender, or maybe
because of it, they led their men to victory
By Tonette T. Orejas
The feminist re-examination and One did manage to break out from
reconstruction of history attest to the obscurity. Felipa Culala, more
the fact that women, even within known as Kumander Dayang-
or especially outside the privileged Dayang, gained fame for leading
class, were capable of courage. In a daring operation on a Japanese
the case of the anti-Japanese armory in Bataan. The attack
Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon equipped the then fledgling
(Hukbalahap), the military arm of Hukbalahap, founded in 1942, with
the merged Partido Sosyalista ng an adequate cache of firearms,
Pilipinas and the Partido according to oral accounts by her
Komunista ng Pilipinas during lone surviving niece and some
Joseph Dado

World War II, the female guerillas in Candaba.

combatants and commanders still But what exceptional bravery
remained largely anonymous. Culala showed was immediately
Researches are so wanting. diminished by accusations of
Elena Poblete

San Luis and San Simon. In the countryside, torch parades were caught in the crossfire.
a familiar sight at night, participated in by tenants clad in red The government stepped up its war against the Huks by
creating various military and paramilitary armies (e.g. Civilian
shirts, waving red flags and sickles, and singing the Communist
Guards, Philippine Constabulary, etc.). Even members of the
anthem Internationale. Landlords cringed in fear whenever they Iglesia ni Cristo were armed to fight insurgency. It was at this
heard the tambuli (carabao horn), which signaled the start of time when barrio folks evacuated en masse to poblacions where
every peasants meeting. they stayed in designated areas, returning to their villages only
Pampanga had become a Little Russia, wrote Justice during Holy Week. It was on a Good Friday, April 15, 1949, when
Leopoldo Rovira in the Philippine Free Press (January 4, 11, 1941) the Civilian Guards allegedly massacred villagers in Maliwalu,
where it is not the voice of judges and jurists that prevails, but Bacolor who were suspected of being Huks and behind the
the voice of Lenin and Stalin. assassination of a Civilian Guards officer.
Government records show that Pedro Abad Santos and Judge and Senator Pablo Angeles David wrote that at
some of his followers went to Moscows Lenin Institute for training the height of Huk power, two governments existed in central
and indoctrination (although Luis Taruc refutes this). Earlier, Abad Luzon: the lawful but impotent one, and the super government
Santos had organized the Socialist Party after the Supreme Court of the Huks from whom the former looked for obedience and
dictation. In Angeles, prominent residents, Catholic leaders and
declared illegal the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) which
Chinese businessmen supplied Huks needs with pilfered
was founded in 1930 by Crisanto Evangelista and company. ammunition from Clark Air Base in collusion with American GIs
When the Japanese occupied the Philippines in World and Clark employees.
War II, Abad Santos, Evangelista and Guillermo Capadocio were In 1950, the Hukbalahap was renamed Hukbong
arrested and jailed in Fort Bonifacio. Evangelista was promptly Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB), with Casto Alejandrino as
executed while Abad Santos and Capadocio were later released. chairman. Luis Taruc was relegated to the Communist Partys
On October 14, 1943 the Japanese proclaimed the so- organizational division. Both Alejandrino and Taruc were under
called Second Philippine Republic with Jose Laurel as President. the Communist Party of the Philippines central committee headed
The Huks, expectedly, did not recognize this government. In by Dr. Jesus Lava of Bulacan. By this time, the HMB had
1945, when the combined Philippine-US forces liberated the recruited more than 21,800 members (9000 active and 12,800
archipelago from the Japanese, Taruc and fellow Huk leader Casto reserve).
Alejandrino of Arayat were arrested by the US Counter- In a show of force, the HMB staged simultaneous raids
Intelligence Corps; they were jailed in Iwahig, Palawan. After in 12 provinces in Luzon and Visayas on the 8th anniversary of
the Huk movement, on March 29, 1950, throwing the government
the Third Republic was proclaimed on July 4, 1946, President
off-guard. It seemed that the country was about to fall into the
Roxas tried to convince the Huks to lay down their arms. In hands of Communists.
response, the Huk leaders held a council of war in Candaba and And then came Ramon Magsaysay, who was appointed
decided not to accept the government offer. Instead, they declared Secretary of National Defense by President Quirino one week
war, set up their own alternative government, collected their own after the raid. His multi-pronged approach to the Huk menace
taxes, issued firearms licenses and solemnized marriage. They gained quick results: Huks surrendered by the hundreds, and
also campaigned for countryside peace. Thus, both government people returned to their villages. Taruc surrendered, and
military and Huk guerillas competed for the trust of the masses Communist leaders were decimated.
but quite ironically and tragically, it was the masses that were Reference: The Province of Pampanga and its Towns by Mariano A. Henson

59
 banditry. Her execution, helping Abad Santos obtain could not detect us if we moved Bunso mo ay umiiyak,
confirmed by Huk leader Luis sanctuary in Minalin. Lopez lived in smaller units. We did as she matitiis mo sa hirap?
Taruc, occurred at Mt. Arayat, two houses away from told us. Hayot magbalikwas kung ina
the fortress of the guerillas in Manansalas house where the Waiting for others to kang
Pampanga. The fallacy or socialist leader hid in Sitio Alasas break out, Lopez said Elena may damdamin at paglingap!
authenticity of those charges in Barangay San Isidro. sustained the main defense line. Kumander Banal
remains a dark area until now, And then Lopez The enemy, eager always to get outlived his daughter by
lost in the Hukbalahaps rush mentioned Pobletes daughter, the leader, and Kumander several years. Between 1944
to defeat, or at least survive, Elena. Lopez recalled that she Banals daughter at that, fired and 1946, he joined Taruc in
the enemy. was the commander of the the fatal shot. Citing the organizing the Democratic
Very recently, the squadron to which he belonged. accounts of his comrades who Alliance, which won several
traces in the life of another He could not tell Elenas exact remained with Elena, he said the seats in Congress to represent
Hukbalahap commander had age. In an undated colorized bullet pierced through above her the farmers, workers and the
leaped from the shadows. The photograph that Joseph Dado of right brow. middle class. Elenas heroism
retelling of the role of Elena Minalin provided the Universitys Lopez could not is eclipsed by the legacy of his
Poblete or Kumander Kapampangan Center, Elena remember the exact year, month near-legendary father. What
Mameng in the liberation appeared barely in her 20s or and day of Elenas tragic but prompted her (and Felipa
movement seemed accidental. 30s. Wearing the Huks valiant end. The late Dr. Jesus Culala) to join the revolution,
Moises Lopez, a 71-year-old standard brown uniform but Lava, former secretary-general assume military leadership and
Huk veteran from Minalin, was without her insignia or medals, of the old communist party, be in thick of warfare? These
only recalling the last chapter Elena had a sad but stern look. recalled that the Japanese army questions beg answers so that
in the life of socialist founder The Japanese chased us up to launched the biggest operations we can at least determine why
Pedro Abad Santos during Dampulan, narrates Lopez. We in the Central Luzon provinces a woman, so unlikely of the era
an oral witnessing session at had to retreat to Saguin. of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and she belonged to, would choose
Holy Angel University. Lopez Kumander Mameng said Lets Tarlac in 1943. Even Taruc could a life of high risks instead of
was narrating how Abad rest. Most of you are tired and not give precise details. Did she remaining in the cocoon of
Santos, then hunted by the sleepless. But somebody might marry or remain single? If she domesticity. Was it because of
Japanese army, took refuge in have tipped us off. Early the next married and had children, did her underprivileged class? Out
Minalin until his death on Jan. day, the Japanese bombarded she take up arms to defend of any pressure from her
15, 1945 when he mentioned the area. From planes, they them as the Huk song O father? Out of the necessity of
Jose Poblete a.k.a. were dropping bombs here and Babaeng Walang Kibo wanted survival? Or was it because she
Kumander Banal, Tarucs there. Kumander Mameng the mothers to do? was a woman?
first battalion commander in ordered us to disperse in smaller Bakit hindi ka magtanggol?
Pampanga, as instrumental in groups. She said the enemy May anak kang nagugutom?

90. Adelaida Villareyes

Because she did not betray her comrades despite hunger and torture
By Rhonie de la Cruz
Sweet and compassionate Daling Villareyes was an original member bullets and grenades. By 1943, the Japanese campaign in Bamban
of the Bamban guerilla outfit, the 101st Squadron under Capt. had become vicious. Earlier, bicycled Japanese reconnaissance
Alfred Bruce, which fell under the Luzon Guerilla Force (LGF) of troops were ambushed by Filipino soldiers; in response, the Kempei-
Lt. Col. Claude Thorpe during the Second World War. She served tai executed four Filipinos at the back of the municipal hall in full
the Bruces unit as supply officer, which meant she carried rifles, view of local residents. Daling was wounded and captured during
a dawn raid of their hideout in sitio Tapuak, barangay Sacobia.
She was forced to walk to the Japanese headquarters at the sugar
central in Bamban where she witnessed the torture and execution
of captured guerillas, and where she was interrogated. Refusing
to talk, she was taken the next day to Camp ODonnell in Capas for
more interrogations, then sent back to Bamban. I saw guerillas
tortured everyday just to make them reveal the names of other
guerillas. The Japanese dipped them into the swimming pool and
then sat on their stomachs, Daling recalled. She was next taken
to a prison camp in Magalang, where she suffered severe hunger
and torture from September 3 to December 7, 1943. After her
release, she immediately rejoined Capt. Bruces unit in the Bamban
hills. This unit played a major role in the local intelligence of Gen.
MacArthurs Southwest Pacific Area Command as well as and in
the Liberation and in the Bamban-Stotsenburg campaign. Daling
Villareyes survived the war with the rank of captain, the fifth name
in the roster of officers of the Bamban Battalion-Bruce Guerilla,
Kasaysayan

Tarlac South Military District and the only woman among the guerilla
soldiers in Bamban during the war.

References: Case No. GR L-800 Dec. 17, 1947, Supreme Court; Report No. 139
GHQ, United States Army, Pacific War Crimes Branch; various interviews

60
91. The Malaya Lolas From Tarik to Taruc
Because the unspeakable horrors of war
did not break their spirit KAPAMPANGANS
On November 23, 1944, Japanese
FROM THE LEFT
soldiers bombed the village of Throughout history, the Kapampangan Region has always been
Mapaniqui in Candaba to smoke out the breeding ground of patriots whose ideologies occupy the
suspected guerilla soldiers. The whole range of the left-wing spectrum. Tarik Soliman and
villagers were herded to the school Francisco Maniago used their swords to resist invaders and
grounds where the men were mauled protest colonial abuses, while the pioneering achievements of
and executed in full view of their the first clergy and nuns was a form of rebellion against the
families. Some men were stripped, inferior status of a colonized race. During the Revolution against
their penises cut and inserted in their Spain and the war with the United States, even Kapampangan
mouth to further demoralize the poets either used their pens or took up arms to join fellow
villagers. A few were beheaded. Their Filipinos in their fight for independence. When the Japanese
bodies were dumped inside the school invaded the country, Bernardo Poblete and Luis Taruc led the
building which was then torched. Next Hukbalahap while thousands of nameless, faceless
the women, including little girls, Kapampangans gave up their lives defending their country. The
numbering about a hundred, were social unrest before and after World War II made Kapampangans
made to walk two kilometers carrying turn to socialism and communism; the radicalism created by
looted sacks from the village. When the 20-year dictatorship of Marcos pushed them deeper into
they reached the Japanese the Left.
headquarters, a rouge-painted These fearless Kapampangans include:
mansion called bahay na pula, the Eugenio Santos a.k.a. Kumander Kislap, leader of the
soldiers pulled their respective partners Hukbalahap in Macabebe;
into rooms and tents and raped them. Nilo Tayag of Porac co-founded with Jose Ma. Sison the
Mothers and children were raped in the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) which nearly drove President Marcos
same room, sometimes by the same out of Malacanang;
soldiers. The next morning, they were Rodolfo Salas, a.k.a. Kumander Bilog of Angeles City, who
shooed away from the mansion and once served simultaneously as chairman of the Communist Party
made to walk back to Mapaniqui. They of the Philippines (CPP) and commander-in-chief of the New
collected the burnt remains of their Peoples Army (NPA) in 1976-1986, after Sison left the country.
husbands and sons and buried them Felixberto Ka Bert Olalia of Tarlac, who organized the Union
in a common grave. With their men, de Chineleros y Zapateros de Filipinos in 1920, one of the first
houses and honor gone, the women industrial unions in the country; founded the Kilusang Mayo Uno
of Mapaniqui walked away in separate (KMU) in 1980 and the Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawang Pilipino
directions to start again their lives (PMP); was arrested during the labor crackdown of August 13,
elsewhere. It was only years after 1982 and died of pneumonia while in detention in 1983;
the war, when President Magsaysay Rolando Ka Lando Olalia, son of Felixberto Olalia; lawyer
promised peace in the countryside, that and charismatic trade union leader who was abducted and
they returned to Mapanique and brutally murdered by suspected RAM soldiers on November 13,
rebuild the community. A few years 1986, during President Cory Aquinos term;
ago, after Rosa Henson of Angeles Satur Ocampo of Sta. Rita, son of landless tenants; founding
came out as a World War II comfort member of the National Democratic Front (NDF); arrested in
woman to demand compensation from 1976 and suffered severe torture for nine years; a military tried
the Japanese government, about 70 him for seven years (he was never convicted); headed the NDF
remaining Mapanique women braved peace panel during negotiations with the Aquino government;
societys alienation and their familys rearrested in 1989 together with wife Carolina Malay; after their
shame by telling the world their story release, they continued to work for nationalist, democratic
and asking Japan if not for agenda; presently serves as Bayan Muna Party List representative
compensation at least for an apology. Randolf Randy David of Betis, sociologist, political activist
They flew to an international court in and founding director of the Third World Studies Center; former
Japan to testify against everyone in the chairman of the socialist organization BISIG and editor of the
Japanese hierarchy responsible for the journal Kasarinlan; host of the longest-running public affairs
massacre and rape, including the talk show on Philippine television, Public Forum
Emperor himself. Today the women
Roland Simbulan, political activist and expert on US-Philippine
have organized themselves into the
Malaya Lolas, looking after one military relations; as chairman of the Nuclear-Free Philippine
another, going around the province to Coalition, he led campaigns against US military bases in the
country; author of the best-selling book The Bases of our
Women of Mapaniqui

warn young people about the horrors

of war, any war, and singing Insecurity
Kapampangan songs not only about Ma. Theresa Cherith Dayrit Garcia of Lubao, a cum laude
their terrible experiences but also double-major graduate of St. Scholasticas College who became
about hope and love. a ranking officer of the New Peoples Army (NPA); died in ambush
on July 16, 2000 in Isabela

61
92. DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
Because he had the tenderness of a poet
and the savvy of a politician;
because under his Administration, the
country became the most progressive
country in Asia, next only to Japan;
because who would have thought that
the poor, barefoot lad from Lubao would
one day become the President of the
Republic?
By Erlita P. Mendoza
Born in Lubao, Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (1910-1997) armed
himself with hard work and perseverance to cut the shackles of
poverty and used education as the ultimate means to economic
freedom. The second of four children of a soft-spoken, religious
laundry woman and a popular itinerant vernacular playwright, he
overcame the devastation of hunger and material want, personal
tragedy and heartbreak to become a lawyer, politician, champion
of the common man and the Fifth President of the Philippine
Republic in 1962.
Macapagal topped the bar examinations in 1936, was
elected representative of Pampangas First District in 1949, Vice
President in 1957 and finally, President in 1961, defeating
Alex Castro

reelectionist Carlos P. Garcia. As President, he moved the

anniversary celebration of Philippine Independence from July 4 to
June 12, made a claim to Sabah, enacted land reform and other
laws that made the Philippines gallop to economic prosperity never
before achieved and never again after. And yet, he was still defeated
in his reelection bid by Ferdinand Marcos. prized student-declaimer. When he went to Manila to get his college
Macapagal was elected President of the 1971-1972 education, he was a working student who wrote and published in
Constitutional Convention, held on the eve of martial law. He died Ing Catimawan, a Kapampangan forthnightly which enjoyed
April 21, 1997. His daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became enormous readership and following at the time. It was to
President of the Republic in 2001. Kapampangans what Liwayway is to Tagalogs. Here he published
This public part of his life is one that is familiar to Filipinos. his now famous poems as Sapa, Gareta, Gripu, and Angin,
However, a careful study of his younger years, with their virtual which exemplify his use of the bayung sunis, new rhyme, under
unbeknown details, reveals that the heart and soul of Macapagal the literary column Cundiman (love song). He became such a hit
were attuned to his provinces literary arts and belle lettres. It is with regular patrons of the publication that eventually he became
the former president as y Dadong, watas ning balen (our Dadong, its editor, a post he carried for almost a decade.
poet of the people) that Kapampangans remember. Meanwhile, he too was an actor of the zarzuela, the most
Macapagal started writing verse while still a student in beloved form of theatre during his youth. Having grown up in the
Lubao. At the Pampanga High School in San Fernando in the 1920s, company of zarzuelistas in his hometown, he co-authored the work
he became editor of the school organ The Pampangan as well as a Bayung Jerusalem with his father Urbano Macapagal (with music
by Victor Lumanug) and starred in its premiere and run in 1932.
He went around the towns of Pampanga with his fellow poets like
Amado Yuzon, Silvestre Punsalan, and Roman Reyes to
declaim during town fiestas and to crown local beauties with verses
and praise in glittering nights of putungans. He was a much sought-
after minstrel of the Kapampangans whose poetry and song brought
gladness in the midst of their trials and adversities.
His other works include the poems Sintang Cayanacan
(earlier known as Chant D Amour), his well-remembered love
poem that shows the speakers youthful idealism; Requiem,
Macapagals poetic tribute to his mentor-benefactor, Don Honorio
Ventura of Bacolor; and Sintang Asawa, dedicated to Evangelina
Macaraeg Macapagal in 1961, as well as short stories Sisilim
and Gulong ning Palad.
*Concise edition of Mendoza,E.P. From a Footnote to History to a Literary Exposition:
The Story of Diosdado Macapagal as a Kapampangan Poet (1st International Conference
of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, September 2001).

President Macapagal with teenage daughter Gloria (extreme

right), later also President of the Philippines

62
 93. JOSE LINGAD
Because he dared fight the
dictatorship at a time when it was most
dangerous to do so; because his death
was the first high-profile assassination
during the martial law years; because
together with Ninoy Aquino, Jose
Climaco and the other martyrs, he
helped pave the way for the historic
People Power Revolution
By Kaye Mayrina-Lingad
supposedly by the Huks; days later, a group of men descended
upon Maliwalu killing dozens of villagers in cold blood. The
massacre so terrified the people that Maliwalu became a ghost
town for many years. There was suspicion that it was done in
retaliation of Nonong Serranos murder. Governor Lingad lost his
reelection bid later.
In his book, The Huk Rebellion, A Study of Peasant Revolt
in the Philippines, Benedict Kirkvliet acknowledged it was Lingad
who had personally organized the Civilian Guards in 1946 to
neutralize the growing Hukbo insurgency. He was worried because
Sylvia Lingad De Guzman

farmers had stopped tilling their land knowing that the Huks would
seize the harvest anyway. President Marcos would later adopt the
concept of this civilian volunteer group, renaming i t Barangay
Self-Defense Units (BSDU) under the command of the Armed
Forces. Ironically, it was Lingad who was the most outspoken
against this group because they had become abusive. His tirades
against the BSDU was how he first got the dictators ire.
Long ago, on a lazy afternoon in the town of Lubao, three Of the few political opponents JBL had, none was worse
farm boys sat under a mango tree vowing to be friends forever. than President Marcos. Lingad was among the first to be arrested
No matter what happened, they swore, they would help each other and jailed at Camp Crame after martial law was declared in 1972.
attain their dreams. After his incarceration in 1972, he retired from public office but
And so, years later, one of the boys became the King of maintained contact with several opposition leaders. Ninoy Aquino
Philippine Movies, the second became the President of the Republic, allegedly was the one who convinced him to run again for Governor
but it was the third one who achieved the highest honor of all: in the 1980 local elections. (According to JBLs son, former
martyrdom. Congressman Emy Lingad, JBL would certainly have been
Jose B. Lingad is not as well known as Rogelio de la appointed Defense Secretary in a Ninoy Aquino administration.)
Rosa and Diosdado Macapagal; today, he is better known for Meanwhile, Marcos made several attempts to win Lingad to his
his initials, JBL, and for the provincial hospital named after him. side, convinced that it was better to have the feisty and influential
His name, more often than not, is merely indexed and footnoted in Kapampangan as an ally than as an enemy. Ex-barangay chairman
books about his two more popular childhood friends. But among Eddie Lingad, a nephew of JBL, recalls a meeting at the Mandarin
the three, he was the one who helped the other two become what Hotel in Makati prior to the 1980 elections, in which emissaries
they eventually became. allegedly delivered Marcos offer to appoint him as Governor of
In return, President Macapagal gave Lingad positions of Pampanga. JBL was supposed to have defiantly replied: Mas
responsibility in his administration. In his book, Stone for the Edifice: pikasaman ke pa i Marcos keng buldit ku. Eku bisang maging
Memoirs of a President, Macapagal appointed Lingad as Labor puppet na. Art Borjal, in his Philippine Star column later wrote:
Secretary because JBL, in his stint as Commissioner of Customs, minions of the Marcos regime approached Joe twice and offered
had displayed interest in the welfare of labor and an ability in him top jobs in the government. Joe Lingads response was
getting along with labor leaders. The President relied on Lingad predictable. He told them Marcos can go to hell, and he and Ninoy
in solving a serious labor situation involving a certain Roberto Oca, and the few who still cared for genuine freedom had a covenant to
whose labor leadership contributed to the division and consequent continue the fight against authoritarianism.
weakness of the labor ranks. Lingad was instructed to negotiate The 1980 elections were widely perceived as rigged. Initial
with Oca and arrive at a satisfactory compromise agreement. results of the counting showed Lingad edging the administration
JBL was able to do so in a matter of hours. On another occasion, candidate. At that point the government declared a failure of
Macapagal lauded Lingad for his fine graft-cleaning record as elections in San Fernando and scheduled special elections at a
Chairman of the Games and Amusement Board. Nick T. Enciso, a later date.
columnist for the Manila Bulletin wrote, His stint at the customs Then two bullets from an assassins gun felled Lingad.
bureau was devoid of any cloud of wrong-doing. Art Borjal: Very few remember the heinous crime now.
Lingads political enemies, however, thought otherwise. But the murder of Joe Lingad, Cesar Climaco and Ninoy Aquino
One of the worst accusations against him, never proven, was his solidified the opposition in the early 80s and helped fuel the anti-
implication in the celebrated Maliwalu (Bacolor) Massacre on Good Marcos crusade. The three - Jose, Cesar and Ninoy were especially
Friday of 1951, while he was Governor of Pampanga. A captain of chosen to lead the way because they could neither be bought nor
the paramilitary Civil Guards, Nonong Serrano, had been killed terrorized.
63
 The original King of Philippine Movies
ran for President but backed out
to pave the way for his fellow
Kapampangans victory

95. Rosa Yumul

Ogsimer
Because she was the first
Kapampangan woman to
become a poet laureate
By Erlita P. Mendoza

Although only an elementary school

graduate, Rosa Yumul Ogsimer (b. 1913),
according to anthologist Evangelina Lacson,
had enough accomplishments to be
proclaimed Princesa ning Crissotan in 1930.
94. Rogelio de la Rosa In 1933, she was crowned the first poetess
laureate of Pampanga and Tarlac with her
Because
Because his
his personal
personal sacrifice
sacrifice changed
changed poem, Mutya which was awarded first prize
the
the course
course of
of Philippine
Philippine history
history in a poetry contest. A woman with many
talents and distinction, her poetry has been
Born Regidor de la Rosa in Lubao on to withdraw from the race. President included in the anthology Parnasong
November 12, 1914, he was a farm boy Macapagal later appointed him ambassador Kapampangan, a 1997 publication of the
in charge of a piggery, a poultry and an extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Aguman Talasulat Kapampangan (AGTAKA).
orchard who initially trained with sisters Cambodia from 1965 to 1971. President
Africa and Purita and brother Tomas Marcos appointed him chief of mission in
(later Jaime) in the Kapampangan
zarzuela tradition, along with friend,
The Hague, with concurrent accreditation
to Poland. His last assignment as diplomat
96. Aurea Balagtas
townmate and brother-in-law Diosdado was in Sri Lanka. He died at age 72 on Because she was one of the rare
Macapagal (whose first wife was November 26, 1986. Rogelio de la Rosa is Kapampangan women who
Purita). The six-foot basketball team regarded as the greatest Filipino matinee spent their entire lives writing
captain was discovered for the movies idol ever. By Erlita P. Mendoza
by Jose Nepomuceno in 1929, paired Reference: Kapampangan Artist in the Golden Age
of Philippine Cinema by Erlita P. Mendoza in Singsing Born to one of the prominent families of turn-
with another new discovery, Rosa del Vol. 1 No. 4. Angeles City: Holy Angel University
Rosario and together they were Press; additional notes by Alex Castro. of-the-century Guagua, Balagtas wrote
launched in Ligaw na Bulaklak (1932). Alex Castro mostly during the pre-war
He was one of the few actors who made years (c1925-1938). At the
a successful transition from silent movies height of her creative seasons,
to talkies by shedding off his she was a self-publishing
Kapampangan accent. His filmography, author and she kept a steady
which includes numerous genres, speaks stream of private writing in the
of de la Rosas range, quality of work and form of personal journals and
bankability: Bituing Marikit, Himala ng unpublished manuscripts.
Birhen sa Antipolo, Seorita, Maalaala Mo Around the early 1930s, she
Kaya, Victory Joe, Prinsipe Amante, published a collection of short
Anong Ganda Mo, Pagdating ng stories entitled Catuging
Takipsilim, Jack and Jill, Milyonarya, Sampaguita (A Strand of
Florante at Laura, Sonny Boy, Higit sa Sampaguita). It featured her
Lahat and many more. De la Rosa was a short fiction dated 1925 to
natural baritone but his singing parts 1930: Josefina Hidalgo,
were dubbed by Frankie Gordon and Elvira, Lihim (Secret),
by Jimmy Navarro (Leah Navarros Catasan (Pride) and Dona
father) His love team with Carmen Consuelo, among others. In
Rosales is one of the most enduring in 1936, she published a poem
local cinema but it was another actress, entitled Buri Cu Sa in the
Lota Delgado of Angeles City, whom he newspaper Ing Bandila
eventually married. After retiring (his last republished in 1984 by Lacson,
movie was Veronica with Lolita Rodriguez while Manlapaz, in her
and Paraluman in 1957), he ran and won Kapampangan Literature ,
as an independent candidate for Senator. included an undated Balagtas
In 1961, he ran for President but was poem entitled Milabas Na.
prevailed upon by Diosdado Macapagal (1981)

64
 97. Rosario Baluyut
GALAXY OF Because she was the best Kapampangan woman writer
of the 20th century
KAPAMPANGAN By Erlita P. Mendoza

Rosario Tuazon Baluyut of Bacolor publish her poetry and prose, give
STARS started writing and publishing in the
1930s with the publication of her
public readings of her works and
promote the local literary arts in
works in the local newspaper Ing the regional language until the
One favorite pastime of Kapampangans is to name as Balen and of her novella and 1980s. Lahar buried most of her
many personalities in show business as possible who collection of poetry and short fiction manuscripts; she resettled in San
hail from the Kapampangan Region, or whose roots can in Eloisa: Novelang Capampangan, Fernando where she died, but she
be traced to Pampanga and Tarlac. Old folks remember, Ampong Salitang Macuyad at Poesias was buried in her hometown as she
of course, popular director Gregorio Fernandez of (1938) in which her unforgettable had wished.
Lubao, action stars Bernard Belleza of Macabebe, Ing Pamamali (Revenge) found its
Sources: Lacson,E.H. Kapampangan
Tony Ferrer (also of Macabebe, whose brother Atty. first publication, and in the post-war Wri ting (1984); Manlapaz, E.Z.
Espiridion Laxa is a producer) and Jess Lapid; Eddie collection Bayung Casulatan! Salitang Kapampangan Literature (1981); Mendoza,
E.P. Preliminary Notations in Relocating
del Mar who played Rizal in several movies; comedians Macuyad, Dalit at Cawatasan (1946). Rosario Tuazon Baluyut, Kapampangan
A self-publishing author, she was a Woman Author (CIS Journal, UST,2002),
Vic Pacia, Patsy (Mateo, of Tawag ng Tanghalan, which Rosario Tuazon Baluyut: Amazona ning
launched the careers of Pepe Pimentel, Edgar Mortiz, major proponent of the crissotan and Literaturang Capampangan (Kapampangan
wrote lyrics for gozos and dalit Center Lecture Series, HAU, November
Diomedes Maturan and Nora Aunor)), Ben O 2002) and Preliminary Discussion on Ing
hinde!David, Pugak and Tugak, and Chiquito; the Pamascu as well as verses especially Musa ning Wawa: Aurea N. Balagtas (1902-
1991) and Pre-War Writing in
sepulchral voice of Kuya Cesar (Cesar Nucum of for the use of schoolchildren in
Candaba); radio commentator Rafael Yabut; singers Bacolor. She continued to create and
Fred Panopio of Bacolor and Fides Cuyugan
Asencio; and the drama stars Dante Rivero and
Rosita Noble of Floridablanca, Oscar Roncal of
Sasmuan, Tony Santos Sr., Liza Lorena (Elizabeth
Winsett Luciano in real life) of Magalang, brothers
Jaime and Rogelio de la Rosa of Lubao, brothers
Pepito and Ramil Rodriguez of San Fernando, and
brothers Luis and Bobby Gonzales.
Mabalacat folk consider the following their
kabalen: Miss International Melanie Marquez, actors
Joey Marquez and Chuck Perez; director Elwood
Perez; folk singer Ysagani Ybarra and comedian Jon
Santos. Gracita Dominguez, at the time a young
ingnue from Mabalacat, was launched in Manuel
Condes classic Siete Infantes de Lara and got stellar
billing in Hiwaga ng Langit (1951). She is better known
as Dolphys first wife (whose children by her were Sahlee
and Rolly Quizon). Contemporary singers like Rico J.
Puno, Nanette Inventor, Mon David (of Sto.
Tomas), as well as composer Louie Ocampo, are
Kapampangan, so is the entire Gil family (Rosemarie,
Cherie and Mark Gil and Michael de Mesa, of Porac).
Big stars like Vilma Santos (from Bamban), Sharon
Cuneta (aunt Helen Gamboa and mother Elaine are
Kapampangans from Sta. Ana), Lorna Tolentino (from
Concepcion), Lea Salonga (father is from Porac), Kris
Aquino (of Concepcion), Alma Moreno (of Macabebe)
and Judy Anne Santos (from San Fernando) are
Kapampangan. The prolific scriptwriter Racquel
Villavicencio and jet-setter Minda Feliciano, former
wife of British actor Micahel Caine, are from Angeles
City; pianist Cecile Licad can trace her roots to Lubao.
Isabel Preysler, Countess de Grion of Spain and
former wife of Julio Iglesias, is a granddaughter of Pepe
Arrastia, hacendero also from Lubao. Well, if even the
sitting Governor and the Vice Governor of Pampanga
(Lito Lapid and Mikey Arroyo, Presidents son no less)
are showbiz personalities, should one still wonder?
Reference: Notes from Alex Castro, Armando Regala, Ernie Turla, Pol
Kekai Manansala, et al.

65
66
Alex Castro
 98. RUFINO SANTOS
Because he was rescued on the eve of his executiona clear sign of manifest
destiny; because, sure enough, he became the first Filipino, and Asian, cardinal,
the crowning glory of 400 years of Catholicism in the Philippines; because by
founding the Catholic Charities, upholding celibacy and initiating reforms, he
reminded his people of the true mission of the Church
by Alex R. Castro
Rufino Santos y Jiao was born in barrio Sto. Nio, Guagua but glorious ceremonies attended by an international crowd
on 26 August 1908, the youngest male of 7 children of Gaudencio numbering in thousands. Finally, after 400 years of Christianity,
Santos and Rosalia Jiao. His siblings included Manuel, the Philippines had a cardinal! It was a thrilling piece of news that
Emiliano, Quirino, Clara, Jovita and Exequiela. Gaudencio, was flashed around the globe, reverberating throughout the country
who was working as an overseer for a farm near Arayat, moved his and echoing louder in his native Pampanga. Cardinal Santos then
family to Intramuros, Manila after the death of his wife where he issued his first message to a proud Filipino nation that included a
hoped to find better livelihood prospects. There, at the Manila prayer and a wish : Honor and glory to the LordBlessed be the
Cathedral Parochial School, the 8-year old Rufino was enrolled in great Lady of the Philippines, the Immaculate VirginMay God
first Grade. He was one of the star students of the school, often bless my Country!
rendering his services as altar boy or choir boy during the Holy Cardinal Rufino J. Santos 20 years of ministry as pastor
Mass at the Cathedral. His formative years at the parochial school of the See of Manila will be remembered as the years of major
obviously instilled his early ambition to serve God. reforms in the church as adjured by the 2nd Vatican Council. Liturgical
Finishing 4th grade with honors, he was accepted at the changes, attitudes on family planning, Filipinization of the clergy
San Carlos Seminary on 15 June 1921. His road to priesthood took all these transpired during his term, not to mention controversies
a major turn when, in 1927, he was accepted as a scholar of the like married priests, an issue that is very much now (Of this, the
Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Just 19, he left for Italy cardinal says: A priest is not supposed to get married. When he
together with another scholar, 24-year old Leopoldo A. Arcaira. made the vows, he knew what he was doing. Priesthood is a
He obtained his Baccalaureate in Canon Law after 2 years, and sacrament that eliminates another sacramentmarriage.). It was
then further pursued his Doctorate in Sacred Theology for another also during his cardinalship that Pope Paul VI made his historic
2 years. At age 23, he was one year short of the required age for visit to the Philippines in 1970.
ordination to priesthood, so a special dispensation had to be secured On 29 June 1973, Cardinal Santos suffered his first stroke
from the Pope. Finally, on 25 October 1931, Rufino Santos was while praying the rosary at Villa San Miguel; he would never recover
ordained at the magnificent Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. from his condition. At age 65, the good Cardinal died peacefully at
Following his return to the Philippines, Fr. Rufino Santos, San Juan de Dios Hospital on 3 September 1973 and was interred
or simply Fr. Pinong to those close to him, was named as assistant seven days later in a crypt at the Manila Cathedral. A whole nation
priest of Imus, Cavite and then parish priest of Marilao, Bulacan. mourned the passing of the first Filipino cardinal, a Kapampangan
Later, he was transferred to the see of Manila where he became who made good his promise to win mens souls for Christ... Indeed,
Vice Chancellor (1932), Superintendent of Instruction and Financial Pampangas loss was heavens gain.
Secretary-Treasurer (1939) all at the same time.
The Philippine Catholic Church was not spared from the
onslaught of World War II in 1942. On 4 February 1944, Fr. Santos
Kapampangans
was arrested and jailed at the Fort Santiago where he was beaten
and tortured by Japanese soldiers; he was eventually moved to
in the Church hierarchy
Bilibid where he was rescued by Americans a year lateron the The small town of Betis is said to have produced the most
eve of his execution. Barely had he recuperated when he was named number of priests in the country. Angeles City, much maligned
by Archbishop Michael ODoherty as Vicar General of Manila. for its red-light district, is really a bastion of Catholicism; the
Two years later, he was elected as the Titular Bishop of Barca and parish church has five fully packed Masses every day and at
Auxiliary Bishop to the archbishop. Upon ODohertys death, least ten Masses on Sundaysand that is only one church in
Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes of Cebu assumed the archbishopric a city that has several parish churches scattered all over.
of Manila by papal appointment, the first Filipino to do so. Pampangas fidelity to the Church is probably the most
Fr. Santos took on the position of Military Vicar of the enduring legacy of the Spaniards to Kapampangans.
Philippines in 1951. Upon Archbishop Reyes death in 1953, Pope In addition to the pioneers, Rufino Cardinal Santos
Pius XII named Fr. Rufino Santos as the new Archbishop of Manila. and Archbishop Pedro Santos, other Kapampangans who have
In his new role, he quietly worked towards building a local church climbed up the ladder of the Catholic hierarchy include
sensitive to the needs of the masses, organizing welfare projects Silvestre Lacson, OSB of Angeles City, the first Filipino
such as the Catholic Charities. He launched religious crusades (Purity Benedictine Prior; his nephew Tarcisio Ma. Narciso, OSB
Crusade for Mary Immaculate), built seminaries (Our Lady of also of Angeles City, the third Filipino Abbot; and then there
Guadalupe) and restored Manila Cathedral to its old grandeur. are the bishops, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Bishop
The highlight of his religious life was his elevation to the Federico Escaler, SJ, Bishop Crisostomo Yalung (formerly
rank of cardinal at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome at 9:30 a.m. on of Antipolo), Bishop Teodoro Bacani (formerly of Manila),
31 March 1960. In the company of his brother and sisters, and Bishop Jesus Galang of Urdaneta, Archbishop Oscar Cruz
amongst kabalens like Vice President and Mrs. Diosdado of Lingayen-Dagupan, Bishop Alejandro Olalia (formerly of
Macapagal, Msgr. Rufino Santos was conferred the galero or Red Lipa), and the present Archbishop of San Fernando, Paciano
Hat, the symbol of cardinalate, by Pope John XXIII in solemn Aniceto, a native of of Sta. Ana, Pampanga.

67
99. BENIGNO AQUINO JR.
Because from being the fastest-rising
and fastest-talking political star, he
mellowed into a profoundly spiritual,
almost ascetic, human being;
because he showed the world
that the Filipino is worth dying for;
because his martyrdom inspired a
People Power Revolution, toppled a
dictatorship, catapulted his widow to
the presidency, and continues to
animate the soul of an entire nation
By Erlinda Cruz

Prior to martial law, Benigno Ninoy Aquino was only one of the
usual politicians that paraded before the country during election
year. In the first 40 years of his life he was an unlikely hero.
Coming from a political family in Tarlac, Aquino was described as a
very determined and ambitious politician.
His high-profile journalistic career in the 50s, covering
the Korean War as well as other Southeast Asian countries brought
him to national limelight. The Manila Times, then the most widely
circulated newspaper in the Philippines, published his dispatches.
Later, he exclusively covered and negotiated the surrender of HMB
Supremo Luis Taruc, thus boosting his popularity further.
Only 22 when elected mayor of Concepcion town, he had
always tested the strictures of the law. In 1963, he was elected
governor of Tarlac and four years later as Senator of the Republic Pencil sketch by Daniel Dizon
a few weeks short of the prescribed age.
As a senator, he became one of the most outspoken critics of Marcos. As a reelected senator in 1971, he loomed as the most
serious contender for the presidency, since Marcos was
constitutionally disqualified for a third term. Ninoys path to the
presidency was blocked by the declaration of martial law in 1972.
But this event turned the traditional politician into the thoughtful
leader of the opposition. One of the first to be arrested, his
detention made him ironically the most visible symbol of opposition
to the dictatorship.
In 1977, he was sentenced to death on charges of
subversion. By this time he has further broadened his support
after his campaign for a seat in the rubber-stamp Batasang
Pambansa (his ticket was wiped out by Imelda Marcos party), which
would explain why President Marcos allowed him to leave for the
United States in 1980 for medical treatment.
He returned on August 21, 1983 hoping to prevent a total
military military takeover which he believed was likely in the event
of Marcos death (the President was then afflicted with a rare kidney
disease). He was instead assassinated while he was escorted out
of the plane by government soldiers. The brazen act led to an
explosion of anti-Marcos sentiment and patriotism, the sheer
magnitude of which was never before seen in the country. His
funeral is said to be the biggest in the history of the world, bigger
than that of Mahatma Gandhi.
Aquinos decision to return despite the risk of imprisonment
or death made him both a martyr and hero. It also sounded the
death knell for the dictatorship. Although it would take three more
years before the collapse of the Marcos regime, Aquinos
assassination in 1983 set into motion a series of events that
inexorably led to the ouster of Marcos and the restoration of
institutions of liberal democracy in 1986.
With wife Cory Aquino, later President of the Philippines Ninoy Aquino has truly become an authentic Filipino hero.
68
 Course on Pampanga church history
Church heritage expert Prof. Regalado Trota Jose, author of
Simbahan, Visita Iglesia: Bohol and other books, has started his weekend
seminar-workshop on the history of Pampanga churches this semester at the
Center for Kapampangan Studies.
The special course is held every Saturday for 20 consecutive weeks.
Aside from lectures and archival researches, participants visit various parishes
in the province, hold interviews and collect architectural materials from sites,
like bricks, stones and wood. The course aims to equip students with research
skills for collating data and preparing basic histories of church communities
in Pampanga. The students will also serve as a pool of researchers and
writers who will assist in the preparation of a book on Pampanga churches to
be authored by Prof. Jose. Photos show Prof. Jose and students examining
the old retablo and paletada behind the main altar of the Sasmuan church,
now undergoing renovation.

Singsing is published quarterly by The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies of
Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Philippines. For inquiries, suggestions and comments, please
call (045) 888-8691 loc. 1311, or fax at (045)888-2514, or email at [email protected]. Visit website
at www.hau.edu.ph/kcenter.
Editor: Robby Tantingco
Editorial Assistants: Ana Marie Vergara, Sheila Laxamana

69
 43 Monico Mercado, poet
44 Diosdado Macapagal
45 Rogelio dela Rosa
46 Bienvenido M. Gonzalez,
UP President
47 Vidal Tan, UP President
48 Jose Abad Santos, Chief
Justice, martyr
49 Juan Crisostomo Soto, poet
50 Francisco Bustamante,
billiard champion
51Amado Yuzon, poet laureate
52 Efren Bata Reyes, world
billiard champion
53 Gen. Mariano Llanera
54 Bernardo Poblete, founder
HUKBALAHAP
55 Benigno Aquino, Sr.
56 Praxedes Fajardo
57Nilo Tayag, Kabataang
Makabayan chair
58 Benigno Aquino, Jr.
59 Aurelio Tolentino, poet
60 Isabelo del Rosario, martyr
61 Roberta Tablante Paras
62 Lea Salonga, winner,
Laurence Olivier Award and
Antoinette Perry Award
63 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
64 Gene Gonzalez, author,
Cocina Sulipea
65 Gov. Macario Arnedo
66 Gov. Ceferino Joven
67 Don Domingo Panlilio
68 Bernabe Buscayno a.k.a.
Kumander Dante
69 Don Mariano Vicente
Henson
70 Carmeling del Rosario, Miss
Pampanga 1935
71 Don Jose Leon y Santos
72 Ka Luis Taruc, Huk
Supremo
73 Vivencio Cuyugan, first
Socialist mayor of the Phil.
74 Rufino Cardinal Santos
75 Jose M. Gallardo, poet
76 Capitan Juan Gualberto
1 Patis Tesoro, fashion guru Pampangos 29 Exec. Sec. Amelito Mutuc Nepomuceno
2 Sen. Gil Puyat 16 Delfin Quiboloy, poet 30 Jose Lingad, martyr 77 Socorro Henson, first
3 Amb. Bienvenido Tan, Jr. 17 Honorio Ventura 31 Edna Zapanta Manlapaz, Kapampangan to win national
4 Amb. Carlos Valdes 18 Pablo Panlilio author, Kapampangan Litera- beauty contest
5 Ambeth Ocampo, NHI chair 19 Rafaelita Hilario Soriano, ture: A Historical Survey and 78 Fr. Pedro Santos, arch-
6 Gov. Lito Lapid author, The Pampangos Anthology bishop of Nueva Caceres
7 Gov. Estelito Mendoza 20 Evangelina Hilario Lacson, 32 Francisco Liongson 79 Renato Katoks Tayag
8 Albina Peczon Fernandez, author, Kapampangan Writing: 33 Justice Jesus Barrera 80 Patsy, comedianne
feminist writer A Selected Compendium and 34 Eusebio Dizon, first Filipino 81 Don Conrado Gwekoh
9 Cecilio Hilario Critique doctor of archaeology 82 Gregorio Fernandez, actor
10 Justice Ricardo Puno 21 Gen. Francisco Makabulos 35 Archbishop Paciano Aniceto 83 Pedro Abad Santos
11Jose Feliciano 22 Justice Roberto Regala 36 Abbot Tarcisio Narciso, OSB 84 Pedro Danganan, a.k.a. Apo
12 Ysagani Ybarra, folk artist 23 Gen. Servillano Aquino 37 Don Augusto Gonzalez Iro, faith healer
13 Fr. Venancio Samson, 24 Agapito del Rosario 38 Bro. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC 85 Don Juan de Dios
translated Bible into Kapampangan 25 Gen. Maximino Hizon 39 Amb. Sedfrey Ordoes Nepomuceno
14 Randolf Randy David 26 Gen. Jose Alejandrino 40 Nicolasa Dayrit 86 Judge Zoilo Hilario
15 Rosalina Icban Castro, 27 Macabebe Scouts 41 Sor Dionisia Talangpaz
author, Literature of the 87 Justice Jose Gutierrez David
28 Felix Galura, poet 42 Sor Cecilia Talangpaz
70