69. AGRARIAN AND POLITICAL UNREST IN MAGALANG IN THE 1930s

 

Magalang is one of the important agricultural towns in Pampanga. Since the Spanish period, Magalang has been one of the chief producers of sugar and rice. Due to its rich agricultural industry, the town attracted several land prospectors to plant cash crops and establish relevant industries such as rice and sugar milling and alcohol distilling. When the Americans came, its landlords became more prosperous and powerful as evidenced by their lifestyle and influence on the local affairs. Tenants were left behind and they were subjected to abuses by their landlords which led them to discontent. In the late 1930s, several ideologies such as communism and socialism plus the teachings of Sakdalism attracted tenants who they thought these were the solutions to uplift their well-being. Tenants in turn were radicalized and they aggressively demanded to increase their wages and even asked their landlords to distribute their lands to them. Their landlords refused to grant their demands and the tenants became more aggressive and this will led to widespread unrest. 

Aside from agrarian issues, politics is another reason why unrest prevailed in Magalang in those times. One of the examples is the political feud between Atty. Jose Morales and Don Antonio Y. Luciano. In 1931, both Morales and Luciano ran for the municipal president post and Morales later won. In 1932, the sugarcane field of Don Antonio mysteriously burned and the landlord sued Morales and others in the court. In 1934, the court dismissed the case filed against Morales and others. Morales claimed that the action brought against him by Luciano was politically motivated. Don Antonio also served as municipal president of Magalang in 1923-1925. 

In 1934, the local chapter of the Socialist Party was established. This party was founded by Don Pedro Abad Santos and fielded candidates in 1937 and 1940 elections such as Eusebio Aquino and Pastor David. In August 1937, the tenants staged a general strike and paralyzed the local sugar industry. In the same year, the tenants of Don Eustaquio F. Dizon staged a strike and they demanded the increase of their wages. The local officials and the Catholic church were alarmed by the situation. In 1938, Mayor Jose M. Navarro together with Fr. Sixto Manaloto organized Accion Catolica to counter the spread of communist, socialist and Sakdalista taught through catechism in the schools. In the same year, Labor Secretary Ramon Torres organized a conference in Magalang to conduct a dialogue between the tenants and the landlords. In June of the same year, fifteen soldiers were sent to barrio Santo Rosario to disperse the alleged meeting organized by the Socialists. 

In October 1939, the former tenants of General Servillano Aquino faced eviction after the latter relinquished his leased property to the original owner, Don Jose Gueco. The landlord filed an eviction case after the former tenants refused to vacate their lands and even threatened to burn the houses in the town which led to the deployment of the Constabulary patrol in Magalang. To help the Constabulary to restore order, thirty landlords of the town formed their vigilante squads to augment the force of the Constabulary to avoid further escalation and violence. 

In January 1940, the workers of Pasudeco declared a strike and the violence erupted. One of the workers who was believed to be a Socialist killed Enrique Sembrano and his assistant while hauling sugarcane in barrios Balitucan and Turu. In August of the same year, the lifeless body of Don Jose Dizon was found in his sugarcane field. The authorities accused the Socialists as the perpetrators of the crime but they strongly denied it. Another case of murder was reported in October on the same year. The lifeless body of Gaudencio Vivar, land manager of Don Antonio Y. Luciano was also found in the sugarcane fields. The Constabulary alleged that Vivar would provide a lead to solve the mysterious murder of Don Jose Dizon which they believed that the landlord is acquainted with the Lucianos.    

Source:

La Vanguardia, November 9, 1932. page 3. 

Letter to the Archbishop of Manila dated January 28, 1938, Magalang, Pampanga, 169 signatories, Archdiocese of Manila Archives. 

Louie Aldrin L. Bartolo, The Magalang Book, The Historical Life and Culture of the Kapampangan Town (1605-2015) (Manila, Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2016) 59-61. 

Labor Office Moves to End Farm Trouble, The Tribune, January 22, 1938. page 1. 

Troops Rushed to Stop Meeting of Socialist, The Tribune, June 7, 1938. page 3.

Frustrate Threat to Burn Town, The Sunday Tribune, October 8, 1939. page 2. 

Tenancy Dispute, The Tribune. October 10, 1939. page 9. 

Call Truce In Strike, The Tribune. January 7, 1940, page 29.  

2 Suspects Held For Killing, The Tribune, October 29, 1940. page 14. 

Nab Another Socialist for Murder, The Tribune, December 17, 1940. page 11. 

52. MAGALANG AND THE AQUINOS

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino (center) during his Court Martial Trial
with his wife, Cory (right) 

Aquinos are not only actors and actresses on the historical and political scene of the Philippines; but also, they also heavily influenced the local historical, political and revolutionary scenes of Magalang; starting from their forefather, Hilario Aquino up to his descendant Noynoy. How they molded the local scene of Magalang? And this was started from:

HILARIO AQUINO- a native of then undivided Magalang. He was also a landowner, owned parcels of land in barrios Sta Rita and San Antonio, now part of Concepcion, Tarlac. He married a local lass, Isabela Lacsamana. He served as cabeza de barangay and later, he was elected as gobernadorcillo (now mayor) of Magalang in 1854. 

BRAULIO AQUINO- son of Hilario Aquino and Isabela Lacsamana. He was born in Magalang and baptized in Angeles. He finished his secondary education in Colegio de Primaria y Latinidad in Bacolor (now Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University), where it was happened that his mother, Isabela was one of the big donors for the foundation of the new school. He started his career as teacher in Angeles. During his stay in Angeles, he married Maria Antonina Petrona Aguilar, scion of prominent Henson clan of Angeles and of Aguilars of Sta. Ana, Pampanga. They later settled in Concepcion, where he was elected gobernadorcillo of Concepcion in 1885-1887.  After Antonina's death, he married Paula Cristobal and one of his daughter, Elena married Lorenzo Gueco of Magalang. 

SERVILLANO AQUINO- son of Braulio Aquino and Maria Antonina Petrona Aguilar. He was born and baptized in Angeles. He rose his prominence during the revolution. He was initiated as member of Katipunan in Camansi in Mt. Arayat. He was promoted as major and together with General Francisco Macabulos, they helped to organize the Magalang revolutionary committee. He later fought in the famous battle of Camansi in 1897; but he escaped after they lose the battle. When the Americans pursued Emilio Aguinaldo, he was promoted to major general and he was tasked to defend Magalang against the Americans. He fought the huge force of the Americans led by Major General Arthur MacArthur and Colonel Jacob H. Smith (who later was implicated in the infamous Balangiga massacre). After his defeat in Magalang, he waged guerrilla warfare against the Americans and he was stationed in Camansi. In 1901, he was captured by the Americans and he was briefly imprisoned in Manila. In 1904, he was granted pardon by US President Theodore Roosevelt. His sisters Brigida and Maria married the half brothers,Andres and Alfredo Ganzon respectively. Andres and Alfredo are sons of Teofisto Ganzon, capitan municipal of Magalang in 1894-1895; while his son Alfredo served as muncipal president of Magalang in 1916-1918. 

BENIGNO AQUINO, SR.-son of Servillano Aquino and Guadalupe Quiambao; he was elected as representative and senator representing Tarlac. During the apex of his political career, he and his wife Aurora Aquino attended several grand balls in different towns particularly in Magalang. During annual balls of Mountain Side Club of Magalang, they are the one of the prominent guests together with other high profiled politicians such as Jose Abad Santos, future presidents Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas and others. 

BENIGNO "NINOY" AQUINO, JR.-son of Benigno Aquino Sr. and Aurora Aquino. He was known in his late teenage years where he courted the young Imelda Romualdez during her brief stay with the Guecos in Magalang. Imelda is a cousin of Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez and husband of Paz A. Gueco; an aunt of Ninoy. Imelda was eventually the arch rival of Ninoy during the martial law years. When martial law was imposed, Imelda's husband President Ferdinand E. Marcos ordered the arrests of his political enemies such as Ninoy and others including his Magaleño friend, the future governor Bren Z. Guiao.  He was later freed due to health problems and he went to exile in the United States. On August 21, 1983, he returned to the Philippines but unfortunately, he was assassinated; created a public uproar which led to the downfall of Marcos and installing his wife, Corazon "Cory" Aquino as the new president in 1986.

BENIGNO SIMEON "NOYNOY" AQUINO, III- initially reluctant to run in presidential race, he later joined the race brought by public clamor in reaction to the death of Cory in 2009. He eventually won and sworn as 15th president of the Philippines in 2010. Under his administration, he signed two local laws including Republic Act No. 10605 converting Pampanga Agricultural College into Pampanga State Agricultural University and Republic Act No. 10694 providing for reestablishing Municipal Trial Court of Magalang. He died peacefully in June 24, 2021 due to renal failure secondary to diabetes. 

PLUS:

EUSEBIO AQUINO- native of Concepcion and later migrated to Magalang; where he setup his blacksmith shop nearby Pasudeco station in barrio San Nicolas I, Magalang. He is a distant cousin of the revolutionary general Servillano Aquino. He rose to prominence when he organized the Magalang chapter of Aguman ning Maldang Talapagobra or AMT, a socialist party founded by Pedro Abad Santos. He later ran for mayoralty post of Magalang in 1937 and 1940 elections under AMT but he lost due to influence of the landlords in Magalang politics. During Japanese occupation, he was one of the founders of Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon in 1942. He organized several squadrons led by his sons Pablo, Felix and Aquilino who they became commanders. Tatang Bio, as he is fondly known; recruited Remedios Gomez who later known as Commander Liwayway. Tatang Bio and Commander Liwayway led the so called "battle of Camansi" where they managed to kill several Japanese soldiers. Tatang Bio took care also escaping American soldiers from Death March. On of them is Major Donald Blackburn and Capt. Russell Volckmann. After their brief stay with Tatang Bio, Blackburn and Volckmann continued their journey up to the north, where they organized the largest guerilla force in Northern Luzon; the United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon known as USAFIP-NL. This group led the attack to the forces of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, which they also managed the eventual capture of Yamashita himself. Tatang Bio had three sons, Pablo, known as Commander Paul married Brigida Manaloto of Mexico, Felix, known as Commander Flax married Remedios del Mundo, a daughter of notorious mafia-like leader, Faustino del Mundo, known as Commander Sumulong, and Aquilino, known as Commander Kinung married Irene Paras who ran for mayoralty post in Magalang in late 1950s but he lost due to dominance of the landlords in local politics. Tatang Bio's daughter, Gloria married Peregrino Taruc, brother of Huk supremo, Luis Taruc.

Photo Credits:

www.philstar.com.ph

Sources:

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), Manila, 2016.

37. EPISODES OF MAGALENO REVOLUTION

Every June 12 each year, the Philippines celebrates the one of the important dates in our Philippine history, the Independence Day. Our first president, Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence from Spain in his balcony in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. However, it was only during the presidency of our own Kapampangan president Diosdado P. Macapagal moved the celebration from July 4 to June 12. Thus, many colorful celebrations were held throughout the Philippines, especially in the neighboring town of Angeles, whom it witnessed the first celebration of the Philippine independence in 1899. 

The town of Magalang is one of the historic places in Pampanga. Its contribution during the revolution is enormous, due to the valiant Magaleños who fought for the independence from Spain and its proximity to the historic places such as Camansi, located in Magalang side of Mt. Arayat. In line of commemoration of Philippine independence, these are the some important dates in Magalang in relation to the attaining independence:

September 8, 1896- a combined Filipino volunteers from Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija sucessfully crushed the group of revolutionaries in Magalang.

February 18, 1897- a plan was hatched in the house of Don Tomas Dizon (present site of Blessed Sacrament Chapel) to free Magalang from Spanish rule. The conspirators are Major Servillano Aquino, Lt. Lorenzo D. Camaya, Don Cayetano Rivera, Don Ladislao C. Dayrit and some local elite supporters such as Don Teopisto Ganzon, Don Daniel O. Lacson, Don Buenaventura Paras, Don Juan Feliciano and Don Paulino Gueco. 

August 29, 1897- a band of revolutionaries attacked Magalang, but it was repelled by the Spanish forces. Thirteen revolutionaries killed. 

November 27, 1897- the Spanish general, Ricardo Monet led two columns to capture the revolutionaries' base in Camansi. Despite of windy rainstorm, the two columns gained opposite edges of the plateau by ten o'clock in the morning. By eleven o'clock, the two columns encircled the revolutionaries led by General Francisco Macabulos; forced to abandon their first line of defense due to heavy resistance. The Spanish troops of Lt. Col. Jose Maria Olaguer Feliu lose 23 men; while those of Major Angel Fernandez lose 4 men and 19 injured. Aside from Macabulos, his wife Dorotea Pascual also holed up in Camansi; together with Magaleños, Candido Niceta, Carlos Guiao, and the Chinese general, Jose Ignacio Paua. 

November 28, 1897- the troops of Lt. Col. Olaguer Feliu resumed the battle to capture Camansi. They successfully captured the fort due to intense artillery bombing against the revolutionaries. The battled concluded with 93 revolutionaries dead, and numerous equipment with horses and carabaos were captured. However, General Macabulos and his subordinates especially Major Servillano Aquino escaped. 

May 8, 1898- to monitor the revolutionaries' movement in Mt. Arayat, an order was issued by General Ricardo Monet to construct blok haus located in barrio San Antonio. Heliograph towers was also constructed to send Morse code signals to other Spanish posts around Magalang. The surviving heliograph towers were still seen in barrios Sta Cruz and San Isidro, inside of Cariyana Monastery. These towers are recently declared as Important Cultural Properties by National Museum. 

June 26, 1898- the hostilities against Spaniards resumed. Magalang joined with the towns of Bacolor, Mexico, and Arayat and they swear their allegiance to Katipunan. On that day, the revolutionaries arrested the last Augustinian parish priest of Magalang, Fr. Pedro Diez Ubierna in Magalang church convent. He was brought to the town tribunal together with two Spaniards. It was reported that he was maltreated by the revolutionaries. 

December 18, 1898- some Spanish prisoners were taken to the Magalang church convent including the last Augustinian parish priest of San Fernando, Fr. Antonio Redondo. A fierce attack was conducted by the forces of Gen. Pedro Pedroche against the forces of Magaleño colonel Lorenzo D. Camaya in Magalang church convent. However, the attack was repelled. The Spanish prisoners were freed later in 1899 in orders of President Emilio Aguinaldo. Fr. Redondo died before the order was issued.   

Photo Credit:

www.onwar.com

Sources: 

Alcubierre, Casimiro, España en Filipinas, Los Ultimos Años Su De Dominacion en el Archipelago, El Imparcial, Manila, 1910 pages 52-55.

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2016.

Dizon Lino L., Alaya, Kapampangan Research Journal; Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, 2008. page 152.

Joaquin, Nick, Aquinos of Tarlac, Manila, Solar Publishing Corporation, 1986.

Rodriguez-Prada, Fr. Jose, Memorias de Un Prisionero Durante La Revolucion Filipina, Imprenta de la Viuda e Hija de Gomez Fuentenebero, 1901.

The Philippine Rebellion, The Utica Observer, August 30, 1897.

Three Significant Battles in Pampanga by: Marco D. Nepomuceno https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.language.kapampangan/RwG5aML_fwc; Retrieved: June 10, 2017

1. NOVEMBER 5, 1899: FALL OF MAGALANG TO AMERICANS

Major General Arthur MacArthur, Jr.

After the capture of barrio Calulut in San Fernando and nearby town of Angeles by the Americans; Major General Servillano Aquino (great grandfather of former president Benigno S. Aquino, III) was pushed to the southern half of Magalang. To capture the town, Major General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (father of General Douglas MacArthur) ordered his 4th Cavalry to resume their march to Magalang from Calulut. The cavalry was joined by the combined forces of 17th Infantry, 1st Artillery and Signal Corps, led by Colonel Jacob H. Smith (later known for his brutal exploits in Balangiga Massacre) whom they marched out from Angeles. They were able to join the marching 4th Cavalry along Angeles-Magalang road in barrio San Jose. In that day, they fought the forces of General Aquino, and they successfully captured barrio San Jose; with 49 casualties, 15 wounded and took 28 prisoners. 

Major General Servillano A. Aquino

The massive American forces also captured the outpost in barrio San Francisco, with 100 casualties, and they captured 50 prisoners. In the following day, Americans captured the last stronghold of the insurgents in barrio San Pedro until they withdrew in San Bartolome Church. Americans fought a fierce battle on November 5, 1899; and in the afternoon of the same day, Americans finally captured the church and the town proper with 200 casualties on the insurgents' side. Americans also looted the town and they burned all of the houses surrounding the town proper. General Aquino made his last stand in barrio Masapinit (present day barrio San Antonio and probably, Dolores) but they were finally drove by the Americans in November 7, 1899. 

Photo Credits:

Major General Arthur MacArthur: www.wikipedia.com

Major General Servillano Aquino: The Aquinos of Tarlac by Nick Joaquin

Source:

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), Manila (2016), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, pages 44-49.