A Chronology: The Ilonggo Nation Part 1

By Dinggol A. Divinagracia
Ilonggo Nation Movement

CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE DESTINY OF THE “ILONGGO NATION” Part 1

PREFACE:”To appreciate where you are now…you should know where you came from.”

Proceed to Part 2

I - THE BIRTH OF THE ILONGGO NATION:

Sometime in the 13th Century:

The Maragtas legend explained that sometime between 1200-1250’s; Ten (10) Malay Datus together with their families, households and subordinates fled the tyrannical rule of Makatunaw, the Shri-Vijaya Sultan of Bornay (Borneo).

Led by Datu Puti, the Sultanate Minister, they landed in the Island of “Aninipay” or Panay. They bartered their gold and jewelries with the local Ati Chieftain Marikudo for the lowlands, plains and valleys of the Island they called “Madya-as” or Paradise. The land where time began; the birth of the Ilonggo Nation and the cradle of ancient Filipino civilization.

For about 300 years before the coming of the Spaniards, the Ilonggos lived in comparative prosperity and peace under an organized government, the “Katiringban et Madia-as” or the Confederation of Madya-as and with such laws as the Code of Kalantiaw.

II - THE SPANISH CONQUEST:

-1566: The Spaniards under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi came to Panay and established a settlement in Ogtong (now Oton, Iloilo). The conquistadores, subjugated our forebears not only with superior weapons and the sword; but likewise, with the Cross.

-1581: The encomienda, the seat of Spanish power was moved from Ogtong (Oton) to La Villa Rica de Arevalo.

-1616: Due to recurrent raids by Moro pirates and foreign privateers, the Spaniards moved close to the mouth of Irong-irong river and built the Fort San Pedro;

-1688: The Spaniards shortened Irong-Irong or Ilong-Ilong to “ILOILO”, which became the capital of the province.

-1855: The rapid economic growth of the place, led to the opening of the port of Iloilo to world trade. Thanks to British Nicholas Loney, Iloilo soon emerged to be the biggest center of commerce and trade in Visayas and Mindanao, second only to Manila. Thus, earned the title “Queen City of the South”.

-1896: The Ayuntamiento on Iloilo (City government) which was established in 1890 under the Becerra Law was given the honor by virtue of the Royal Decree of having a Coat-of-Arms with the inscription “La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo”.

This is considered a sham and an act of ignominy by todays patriotic ilonggos. Like the title “Queen City of the South” which is being disputed as bestowed upon us for being the Queen Regent’s minions, “TUTA” or pet City.

III - THE REVOLUTION AGAINST SPAIN:

Meanwhile, centuries of Spanish subjugation; cruelty and injustice; apathy, greed and misconduct of the elite; the immoral and abusive theocracy alienated the populace. These created a social volcano of an angry enslaved society in despair and discontentment, especially among the masses.

-1586: The “Igbaong Revolt” (Igbaras-Ogtong) started when the local leaders protested against the cruelty and abuses of the encomienderos and friars due to conscription or forced labor, either to work in their haciendas or construction of churches.

-1663: “Tapar”, a babaylan and nativist of Oton, Iloilo waged the “Tapar Revolt”. Poorly armed these early movements were easily quelled. But the Ilonggo patriots did not give up; they continued their struggle for freedom.

-1889: February 15 - In Barcelona, Spain the first issue of “La Solidaridad” a political propaganda publication founded by Graciano Lopez Jaena of Jaro, Iloilo City was published. With Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar, Antonio Luna and others; they advocated reforms for the welfare of the Filipino people.The “La Solidaridad”-El Filibusterismo and Noli mi Tangere; notwithstanding, difficulties since circulation was strictly banned in the “Islas”; was the spark that ignited the event that changed Filipino history.

-1892: July 7-The Katipunan “KKK” was founded by the “Great Plebeian” Andres Bonifacio and fellow workers in Tondo, Manila that planned and initiated the Philippine Revolution.

-1896: December 30 - Dr.Jose Rizal of Calamba, Laguna; an illustrado-reformist of many talents, who was not in favor of the planned Revolution was executed by the Spaniards at Bagumbayan now Luneta. This emboldened the “Indios”, including the elite and other illustrados to join in the revolution.

-1897: May 10 - Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were executed in Cavite after a bogus trial for treason. A black chapter in the history of the Revolution. A victim sacrificed in the altar of ambition and self-serving interest of the illustrados as personified by Emilio Aguinaldo.

-1898: March 18 - The “Comite Conspirador” was formed in Molo, Iloilo which was the nucleus that started the well organized Ilonggo Revolutionary Movement, who fought the foreign invaders.

-1898: June 12 - Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared in Kawit, Cavite the Independence of Filipinos and birth of the Philippine Republic; its flag unfurled for the first time while Marcha Nacional Filipinas was played which became the Philippine National Anthem.

NOTA BENE: According to Dr. Luis C.Dery, an eminent Filipino Scholar:

Expounding the extent of Aguinaldo’s Philippine Army; the Bangsamoro nation’s Mindanao, Sulu, and the rest of its islands never fell under Aguinaldo’s politico-military control and sovereignty.

In fact as late as August 1898 much of northern Luzon, southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao remained outside of the control of Aguinaldo’s Republic. Thus, several military expeditions were sent to these places to bring’ them to recognize the First Philippine Republic.

IV - THE ILONGGO NATION’S INDEPENDENCE!

-1898: November 5 - After outsmarting and defeating the Spaniards, Gen. Juan “Tan Juan” Araneta and Gen. Aniceto L. Lacson declared in Bago Plaza, Negros Occidental the “Independent Republic of Negros”

Earlier, Gen. Marciano S. Araneta led the revolutionarios attacked and captured the Spanish “Cuartel General” in Mangkas–now La Carlota City; while Don Diego de la Vina and his men overthrew the Spanish authorities in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.

-1898: November 6- Don Diego de los Rios, last Governor-General of Spain in the Philippines formally surrendered to Independent Republic of Negros revolutionary leaders: Gen. Aniceto Lacson - Presidente, and Gen. Juan Araneta-Secretary of War in Bacolod City. The people of Negros at last won their freedom!!!

-1898: November 17 - Gen. Martin Delgado proclaimed at Sta. Barbara, Iloilo the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Visayas and Mindanao.

This was later changed by the Iloilo elite to Federal Republic of the Visayas since they did not want to recognize the supremacy of Aguinaldo and the Tagalogs.

They preferred instead a federal arrangement composed of - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as a logical substitute because of its indigenous elements.

-1898: December 10 -The “Treaty of Paris” to end Spanish-American War was signed.Spanish commissioners argued that Manila had surrendered after the armistice and therefore the Philippines could not be demanded as a war conquest, but they eventually yielded because they had no other choice, and the U.S. ultimately paid Spain 20 million dollars for possession of the Philippines.

-1898: December 23 - In Iloilo City, last Capital of the Spanish Empire in Asia; Governor-General Diego de los Rios formally surrendered to the Independent Federal Republic of the Visayas thru Iloilo City’s “Alcalde” Jose Ma. Gay.

The Revolutionary Forces led by Gen. Martin Delgado(Gral. en Gefe) and Gen. Pablo Araneta -Island Commanding General, had by then taken all the towns in Panay and encircled the City.

-1898: December 24 - Defeated and after the formal surrender to the “Ilonggo Nation” in Negros and in Iloilo; Don Diego de los Rios, semblance of the last Spanish authority in the archipelago evacuated for Zamboanga on the way home to Spain together with his entourage.

-1898: December 25 -Following the departure of the Spaniards, Gen. Martin Delgado and the Ilonggo Revolutionarios made a triumphal entry into the City of Iloilo with victorious parade to Plaza Libertad.

-1899: January 21 - Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the Malolos Republic with a Constitution drafted by Gregorio Araneta- Secretary General and other illustrados of the Malolos Congress.

-1899: January 23 -The First Philippine Republic with Emilio Aguinaldo as President was formally inaugurated and the Constitution ratified in Malolos, Bulacan.

Continue to Part 2

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