Chapter 4
On the first day of September 1896, news of Bonifacio's recent engagements reached the leaders of Katipunan in the province of Bulacan, which had been busy readying their own local forces since the meeting at Pugad Lawin[1]. Deodato Arellano, a former President of Katipunan, had become instrumental in strengthening the movement in Bulacan during the previous years. From there emerged 3 major leaders: Anacleto Enriquez of Bulacan[2], Isidoro Torres of Malolos, and Eusebio Roque, nicknamed "Maestrong Sebio".
Meanwhile Spanish authorities, in lieu of the imposed martial law by Governor Blanco, increased their repressive measures and began to harass suspected rebels. Several arrests occured, along with more tortures and executions. Almost every house was searched for evidences. This turn of events prompted Torres and Enriquez to regroup into the forests in Paombong. Their combined forces grew to 3,000, as they began to build fortifications around their new camp. In mid-September, they began to conduct a series of raids, starting a long, protracted guerilla war across Bulacan.
In the province of Nueva Ecija, the local Katipunan chapter led by Mariano Llanera had also heeded Bonifacio's call to arms. On September 2, 1896 the combined force (numbering around 3,000) of Pantaleon Valmonte and Llanera, now ranked as Generals, along with a young but highly patriotic lieutenant Manuel Tinio, spearheads a surprise attack on the town of San Isidro. The rebels managed to seize the town's government establisments, along with a small amount of firearms. The Katipuneros held San Isidro for several days before being beaten by Spanish reinforcements. To evade capture, Llanera decides to split their group and disperse among the nearby provinces, with a secondary goal of spreading the rebellion all over northern Luzon. Llanera and Valmonte headad to Pampanga, while Tinio went southward near Bulacan.
By the end of September Andres Bonifacio's forces conducted several hit-and-run attacks accross Morong. Since it was never placed under martial law, the province's security forces were underprepared. Nevertheless, they still managed to give a the Katipuneros a bloody nose. Almost every victory won by the rebels were bloody contests, losing more men than those of the Spanish troops they defeated. On September 28, another large Spanish army under Ricardo Monet seized the town of Cainta, poised to strike at Bonifacio's undefended flank. Bonifacio reacted to this by sending a 4,700-strong detachment led by Col. Licerio Geronimo. Geronimo arrived at Cainta's outskirts by September 29, setting the stage for the battle that may decide the fate of Morong.
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[1] The Cry of Pugad Lawin. On August 23, 1896 Andres Bonifacio assembled all the leaders of Katipunan at Pugad Lawin in Balintawak. This is where Bonifacio officially called for war against Spain. Symbolically, this became the start of the Philippine Revolution.
[2] A town that has the same name as it's province.
On the first day of September 1896, news of Bonifacio's recent engagements reached the leaders of Katipunan in the province of Bulacan, which had been busy readying their own local forces since the meeting at Pugad Lawin[1]. Deodato Arellano, a former President of Katipunan, had become instrumental in strengthening the movement in Bulacan during the previous years. From there emerged 3 major leaders: Anacleto Enriquez of Bulacan[2], Isidoro Torres of Malolos, and Eusebio Roque, nicknamed "Maestrong Sebio".
Meanwhile Spanish authorities, in lieu of the imposed martial law by Governor Blanco, increased their repressive measures and began to harass suspected rebels. Several arrests occured, along with more tortures and executions. Almost every house was searched for evidences. This turn of events prompted Torres and Enriquez to regroup into the forests in Paombong. Their combined forces grew to 3,000, as they began to build fortifications around their new camp. In mid-September, they began to conduct a series of raids, starting a long, protracted guerilla war across Bulacan.
In the province of Nueva Ecija, the local Katipunan chapter led by Mariano Llanera had also heeded Bonifacio's call to arms. On September 2, 1896 the combined force (numbering around 3,000) of Pantaleon Valmonte and Llanera, now ranked as Generals, along with a young but highly patriotic lieutenant Manuel Tinio, spearheads a surprise attack on the town of San Isidro. The rebels managed to seize the town's government establisments, along with a small amount of firearms. The Katipuneros held San Isidro for several days before being beaten by Spanish reinforcements. To evade capture, Llanera decides to split their group and disperse among the nearby provinces, with a secondary goal of spreading the rebellion all over northern Luzon. Llanera and Valmonte headad to Pampanga, while Tinio went southward near Bulacan.
By the end of September Andres Bonifacio's forces conducted several hit-and-run attacks accross Morong. Since it was never placed under martial law, the province's security forces were underprepared. Nevertheless, they still managed to give a the Katipuneros a bloody nose. Almost every victory won by the rebels were bloody contests, losing more men than those of the Spanish troops they defeated. On September 28, another large Spanish army under Ricardo Monet seized the town of Cainta, poised to strike at Bonifacio's undefended flank. Bonifacio reacted to this by sending a 4,700-strong detachment led by Col. Licerio Geronimo. Geronimo arrived at Cainta's outskirts by September 29, setting the stage for the battle that may decide the fate of Morong.
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[1] The Cry of Pugad Lawin. On August 23, 1896 Andres Bonifacio assembled all the leaders of Katipunan at Pugad Lawin in Balintawak. This is where Bonifacio officially called for war against Spain. Symbolically, this became the start of the Philippine Revolution.
[2] A town that has the same name as it's province.
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