GEN. LICERIO GERONIMO(1855-1924)
***
Si
Hen. Licerio Geronimo ay ipinanganak sa Sampalok Maynila noong Agosto
27, 1855 sa mag-asawang Graciano Geronimo na tubong
Montalban at Flaviana Imaya na tubong Gapan Nueva Ecija. Siya ang
panganay sa anim na magkakapatid. Noong siyay siyam na taong gulang,
nilisan niya ang maynila at tumira sa kanyang Lolo sa San Miguel
Bulakan. Muling lumipat noong siya ay katorse anyos sa tirahan
ng kanyang ama sa Montalban.
Noong
kanyang kabataan ang kanyang pangunahing trabaho ay pagsasaka. Siya ang
gumagawa ng mga gawain sa kanilang bukirin. Namumutol siya ng mga
damo(zacate)para ibenta sa mga alagaing hayop ng mga taga Montalban at
nangangalap ng mga kahoy sa kagubatan upang ipagbili bilang panggatong
ng mga tao sa kanilang mga tahanan.
 |
| Cayetana Linco(Lincaoco) |
Hindi
nakapag-aral si Hen. Licerio Geronimo, ang kahirapan at mga gawain sa
kanilang bukid ang itinuturong dahilan kung bakit hindi niya natapos ang
kanyang pag-aaral. Pero marunong siyang bumasa at sumulat, itoy dahil
sa tulong ng kanyang mga kaibigang nagturo sa kanya kung papaano basahin
ang alpabeto. Sa kanyang pagnanais na matuto, inilaan niya ang kanyang
oras sa pagpapahinga sa pagbabasa ng mga "corredos" at "awit" habang
nasa bukid at nagpapahinga sa likod ng kalabaw.
Napangasawa
niya si Gng. Francisca Reyes, subalit ng ma-byudo, pinakasalan niya si
Bb. Cayetana Linco ng San Mateo at nagkaroon siya ng limang anak dito.
Binuhay niya ang kanyang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka at di
naglaon ay pagbabangkero mula Maynila hanggang ilog Pasig at Marikina.
PANAHON NG REBOLUSYON(1896)
Noong
1925 nakapanayam ni Dr. Antonio Isidro, isang propesor sa UP Diliman si
Hen. Licerio Geronimo sa kanyang tahanan sa Montalban Rizal. Ito ang
huling panayam ng butihing heneral bago ito mamatay noong 1927. Bahagi
ng panayam ang mga kaganapan simula noong unang sumapi siya sa Katipunan
hanggang sa sumabog ang Rebolusyon noong Agosto 1896. Tunghayan natin
ang bahaging ito ng panayan ni Dr. Antonio Isidro kay Hen. Cerio sa
wikang Ingles.
 |
| Supremo Andres Bonifacio |
"From 1892 to the outbreak of the revolution the founder of the
Katipunan and his associates were laying the foundaton of that venerable
association. One day, Andres Bonifacio went to Felix Umali, the aguacil
mayor of Wawa Montalban for the porpose of inducing him to join the
fold of the Katipunan. After a breif explanation of the aims of the
association and an interchange of views, the aguacil embraced the
teaching of the katipunan and called upon his godson litle Cerio who was
living in the neighborhood. This was Geronimos first meeting with
Andres Bonifacio. Upon being informed of the mission of the greatest
Filipino Plebeian he entered the brotherhood of the K.K.K. and became a
secret component of that society. The aguacil and he worked hard for the
cause of the Katipunan. A few days later the number increased to such a
proportion that it became necessary for the father of the Katipunan to
choose from among them a recognized leader. The happy choice fell upon
Felix Umali who refused the appointment on the ground of advanced age,
but recommended his godson Cerio. Acting upon the recomendation,
Bonifacio appointed Licerio Geronimo to be the leader in the community.
This was the beginning of his spendid military career. On the
eve of the revolution of 1896 Licerio Geronimo received a note from
Andres Bonifacio ordering him to proceed directly and immediately to
Balintawak and to receive for distribution among his followers the guns
that had just arrived from Japan. A few days later the "Cry of
Balintawak" was proclaimed and the machinery of the Katipunan was set in
motion. " --- Gen. Liceri Geronimo, an Obscure Hero of the Past Revolution by: Dr. Antonio Isidro
ANG MGA TROPANG NAKA BUKAWE
Ang mga tropang ito na tintukoy sa ating kasaysayan na armado
ng "Bukawe" ay tinatantya kong tumutukoy sa natatanging tropa ni Hen. Licerio
Geronimo na nagmula sa Montalban, San Mateo at Marikina.(Madalas na
ipinakikita sa mga Obra ng mga Pintor ang mga Katipunerong may armas na
Bukawe)
Hindi lahat ng mga Katipunero(lalo na ang mga Katipunero sa Maynila)ay
makakakitaan ng ganitong armas noon. Tanging ang mga Katipunerong mula
sa labas ng Maynila partikular na ang mga Katipunero sa gilid ng bundok
Montalban, San Mateo at Marikina lang ang maaaring nakapag-armas nito.
Talamak kasi sa mga bundok na ito ang mga "buhong kawayan" at sa mga
buhong kawayan kasi nagmumula ang armas na Bukawe(Bamboo
Spear)pinatatalas nila ito at isinasalang sa apoy upang tumulis at
tumibay.
Ang tropang ito na naka "Bukawe" ay kasamang lumusob ni Licerio Geronimo
sa Polvorin(gunpowder depot)at El Deposito(water reservoir)ng mga
Kastila sa San Juan Del Monte noong Agosto 30, 1896. Narito ang
pagpapatuloy ng salaysay ng butihing heneral ayon sa panayam ni Dr.
Antonio Isidro;
"He
went to the Polvorin accompanied by a few of his followers and shot a
lieutenant of the "Casadores"; two days later, under cover of night,
they attacked with their "BUKAWE," the Spanish soldiers in the street of
San Juan Del Monte. After this petty attacks, he returned to
his locality to organize more companions. He was able to recruit under
his banner a number of folowers from the owns of Montalban, San Mateo
and Marikina in an amazing short time. This host of men who were ready
to die for their country's sake greatly admired this brilliant organizer
and elected him as their own lider. With indomitable courage and
fervent patriotism the soldiers equipped with nothing but
spears(BUKAWE)and a handful of guns, left their families in defense of
their brothers in the neighboring provinces. They encountered
strong opposition in Novaliches and San Miguel, where they lost
hundreads of their comrades. In other battles, needless to say, they
won, not because of fortifications and equipment, but by dint of bravery
and strategy."--- Gen. Licerio Geronimo an obscure hero of the past revolution By. Antonio Isidro
HENERAL CERIO
Hindi pa ganap na heneral si Licerio Geronimo ng pumutok ang rebolusyon
at ng lusubin nila ang mga Kastila sa Polvorista at El Diposito San Juan
Del Monte. Lubusan siyang naging heneral noong Oktubre 5, 1896 ng
magpatawag ng pagpupulong ang Supremo Andres Bonifacio sa Balara upang
mag reorganisa at maghalal ng mga bagong heneral ng Katipunan. Narito
ang tala ni Hen. Santiago "Apoy" Alvares sa kanyang aklat na "Ang
Katipunan at ang Rebolusyon".
 |
| Si Hen. Cerio matapos ang digmaang Fil-am |
Nung araw ng lunes ika-5 ng Oktubre 1896 sa Balara ang supremo
Andres Bonifacio ay nagsimula ng pagpapatibay sa mga Pnong Hkbo na halal
ng mga kawal. At ang Katipunang Licerio Geronimo, pinasyahang mag-ayos
at magdala ng mga kawal sa tungkuling Heneral ng Brigada, samantalang
ang Hen. Ramon Bernardo ay itinaas sa tungkuling Heneral ng Dibisyon.--- The Katipunan and the Revolution by: Santiago "Apoy" Alvares
Dito naging ganap na heneral ng Katipunan si Hen. Licerio
Geronimo. Nakilala ang kanyang pangalan dahil sa mga natatanging
tagumpay sa labanan na kanyang iniambag para sa rebolusyon.
PAGBAGSAK NG CAVITE
Bumagsak ang Cavite sa kamay ng mga Kastila, ang itinuturing na
pinakamalakas na moog ng rebolusyon. Napilitan ang nooy tinutugis ng mga
Kastila na si Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo na lisanin ang Cavite at lumipat sa
bulubundukin ng Bulakan para ipagpatuloy ang kanyang laban. Ganito ang
naitala ng mananalaysay na si Quirino tungkol sa pagpapatuloy ng
labanan.
"The back of the rebel army in Cavite, true enough, had
been broken, but the revolution itself, which manifested its resurgence
in a dozen uprising all over Central Luzon during the rest of the month
of May, continued unabated. Bloody skirmishes took place in Zambales,
Bataan, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and
Tayabas."---Filipinos at War by: Carlos Quirino
SI HEN. CERIO AT ANG UNANG PANGULO NG BANSA
Ang desisyon na pumunta sa bulakan ay ginawa ni Hen. Aguinaldo na may pagkunsulta sa kanyang mga heneral. Itoy bilang tugon sa paanyaya ni Hen. Mamerto Natividad Jr. na ilipat ang kanyang himpilan sa Biak-na-bato San Miguel de Mayumo Bulacan. Bago tumungo sa Biak-na-bato ay pumirmi muna ang heneral Miong sa San Mateosa imbitasyon naman ni Hen. Licerio Geronimo.
 |
| Pangulong Emilio Aguinaldo |
Sa panahong ito ng kaguluhan ay naging magkakilala si Hen. Miong at Hen. Cerio. Ayon sa panayam ni G. Nick Marte kay Gng. Victorina Linco hipag ni Hen. Cerio at miyembro ng "KKK women's auxilliary" sa San Mateo noong 1969,
"naaalala niya ang batang Aguinaldo na madalas pumunta at bisitahin ang
kanyang bayaw sa San Mateo na may dala-dalang mga bag ng pera(para sa sweldo at probisyon ng mga KATIPUNERO sa San Mateo)at nanahan sa kanilang bahay", patotoo na nagkaroon nga ng mahusay na ugnayan ang dalawa.
HEN. CERIO BILANG UNANG PSG(PRESIDENTIAL GUARD)COMMANDER
Bilang pagkilala sa kanyang kagitingantan at kakayahan ay ipinagkatiwala ng unang Pangulo ng bansa ang kapakanan ng kanyang Ina, Asawa at mga anak sa ilalim ng pangangalaga at proteksyon ni Hen. Cerio. Sa loob ng araw at mga linggo ay namuhay sila sa ilalim ng pagbabantay at proteksyon ni Hen. Cerio sa moog ng bundok Puray habang ang pangulo ay abala sa kanyang pamamalakad sa rebolusyon.
PAMAHALAANG DEPARTAMENTAL NG GITNANG LUZON
Pansamantala silang nanatili sa Mt. Puray isang bundok sa pagitan ng
Bulakan at Montalban na nooy naging moog ng tropa ni Hen. Licerio
Geronimo. Dito nagpatawag siya(Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo)ng asembleya ng mga
lider ng rebolusyon upang magtatag ng isang PAMAHALAANG DEPARTAMENTAL
NG GITNANG LUZON. Sa asembleyang ito maghahalal sila ng mga heneral para
sa itatatag na mga dibisyon militar(military division)kung saan
hahatiin ang Pilipinas.
MGA NAHALAL NA OPISYAL NG PAMAHALAANG DEPARTAMENTAL NG GITNANG LUZON
Fr. Pedro Dandan (Cavite) ---- President
Dr. Anastacio Francisco (Manila) --- Vice President
Paciao Rizal(Laguna) --- Secretary of Treasury
Cipriano Pacheco (Rizal) --- Secretary of War
Teodoro Gonzales (Rizal) --- Secretary of the Interior
Filiciano Jocson (Manila) --- Secretary of Welfare
MGA HENERAL NA NAITALAGA NG ASEMBLEA NG MGA REBOLUSYONARYO SA PAGPUPULONG SA MT. PURAY
Mamerto Natividad (Nueva Ecija) --- Lieutenant General
Mariano Llanera (Nueva Ecija) --- Lieutenant General
Sinforoso de la Cruz (Bulacan) ---Division General
Melecio Carlos (Bulacan) --- Division General
Licerio Geronimo(Rizal) --- Division General
Hermogenes Bautista(Rizal) --- Division General
Andres Pacheco(Bulacan) --- Brigadier General
Simon Tekson(Bulacan) --- Brigadier General
Narciso Porciuncula (Bulacan) --- Brigadier General
Isidoro Torres (Bulacan) --- Brigadier General
Salvador Natividad(Nueva Ecija) --- Brigadier General
Francisco Makabulos(Tarlac) --- Brigadier General
*Ang Pamahalaang Departamental ng Gitnang Luzon na binubuo ng Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac at Pangasinan ay may Pamahalaang Ehekutibo sa baryo Bagbag, Caloocan, Rizal --- Datos mula sa aklat na: "The Revolutionist" ni ginoong E. De los Santos
Isa si Hen. Cerio sa napiling maging bagong Dibisyon Heneral ng Hukbong panghimagsikan na mamumuno sa dibisyon ng
Rizal.
TAGUMPAY SA BUNDOK PURAY(VICTORY AT MOUNT PURAY)
Matapos ang asembleya sa Bundok Puray ay nilusob sila ng isang malakas
na pwersa ng mga Kastila na nasa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Col. Dujiol ng
Hukbong Sandatahan ng Espana.(Spanish Army)Nilampaso ni Hen. Cerio ang
pwersang ito at pinauwing talunan. Narito ang mga tala nina Hen.
Santiago Alvares at G. Carlos Quirino tungkol sa nasabing labanan.
"Let us now turn the attention to the march of the army of the
President of the Philippine Republic, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, over the
mountains of Rizal and Bulakan. After they left Mount Kabangan, they
crossed Pasig river t the sight called Malapad-na-bato nd proceeded in
Montalban. At the invitation of Gen. Licerio Geronimo, they encamped at
Mount Puray. There they rested several days to allow Gen. Aguinaldo to
recover from an illness he had contracted during the march. They
were attaked by the Spaniards as soon as their whereabouts where
discovered. The peoples troops fearlessly fought against the enemy and
resolutely defended the motherland even at the cost of their own lives.
After about five hours of fierce shooting, stabbing and shouting, the
Spaniards were forced to retreat, scampering over the many dead bodies
of their fallen men. This battle was a signal victory for Gen. Licerio
Geronimo, brigadier general in the army of Supremo Andres Bonifacio.
General Geronimo was then and there promoted to lieutenant general in
the army of the Philippine Republic by Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo. --- The Katipunn and the Revolution by: Santiago "Apoy" Alvares
Sa higit pang detalye sa nasabing labanan, narito ang mga tala ni G. Carlos Quirino sa kanyang aklat na "Filipinos at War".
"Col. Dujiols column forged confidently ahead until it met with
moderate resistance on the mountain trail from snipers hidden in the
brushes. He then decided to move up his troops by following the river
bed of Puray until he came to a slight plateau at the base of the
mountain. Here his advance ground to at halt as the insurgent fire
increased; they could not shoot back effectively at the rebels who were
hidden behind the rocks and brushes.
The stalemate was broken three
hours later when a large group of natives, dressed in loyalist
uniforms(Cazadores)made their appearance at one side of the plateau,
shouting in spanish, 'Dont fire, we are Cazadores!' Then bugles blew the
clear notes of 'cease firing'. Dujiol's troops, believing that the
column led by Major Primo de Rivera had arrived, rose to greet them.
Instead of camaraderie, however, they were met with murderous
close-range rifle fire. The enemy taskforce returned to Montalban and
San Mateo by midnight, thoroughly whipped. The Marquess vehemently
denied that this encounter was a humiliating defeat, but a contemporary
Spanish chronicler described it as a 'glorious calamity'. 'The
insurgents suffered many losses,' admitted the chronicler, 'but ours was
much more.'" --- Filipinos at War by: Carlos Quirino
Lalo pang nakilala sa hanay ng mga rebolusyonaryo ang pangalan
ni Hen. Cerio ng atakihin at mahuli niya ang 50 karwahe(carts)ng suplay
at bala ng mga Kastila.
PANAHON NG DIGMAANG PILIPINO-AMERIKANO(1899)
Noong sumiklab ang Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano noong Pebrero 4, 1899 ang
matapang na Hen. Cerio ay retirado na sa kanyang buhay rebolusyonaryo.
Ayon sa kanyang apo na si Kon. Eddie Ocampo(May akda ng isang
maikling talambuhay Hen. Cerio)ang kanyang lolo ay nasa
kanyang bukid sa San Mateo at nilalasap ang kapanatagan ng buhay kasama
ang kanyang pamilya noong pumutok ang digmaang Fil-Am.
 |
| Hen. Antonio Luna |
Nagambala ang kapanatagang ito ng kanyang buhay pampamilya ng
makatanggap siya ng liham mula sa Kongreso ng Unang Republika. Siya ay
inaatasang makipagkita kay Hen. Antonio Luna na nooy ang Puno ng
Sandatahang Lakas ng Unang Republika ng Pilipinas para sa isang panayam. Matapos ang
panayam, itinalaga siya ni Hen. Antonio Luna bilang heneral ng Tercera
Zona na binubuo ng mga bayan sa Hilagang-Silangan ng Maynila.
ANG BRIGADA HEN. LICERIO GERONIMO
Pinalitan ni Hen. Cerio si Col. Antonio Montenegro bilang hepe ng Tercera Zona ng Maynila matapos ang panayam nito kay Hen. Antonio Luna. Napasailalim sa kanyang command and 1500 strong na "Cavite Battalion" at iba pang mga lokal na tropa mula Marikina,
San Mateo, Montalban at ilan pang karatig baryo at bayan ng Tercera Zona ng Maynila. Kabilang sa mga tropang ito ang isang unique na grupo ng mga sharpshooter na
kilala sa tawag na
TIRADORES DELA MUERTE. Ang kabuuang tropa ay tinawag bilang ang
"BRIGADA HENERAL LICERIO GERONIMO".
 |
| Mga teritoryong nasasakupan ng Tercera Zona | | | | |
Ang Brigada Geronimo ang naatasang lumaban sa mga amerikano sa Tercera Zona ng Maynila na binubuo ng mga bayan ng Mandaluyong, Pandacan, San Juan Del Monte, San Francisco Del Monte, San Mateo, Montalban, at Marikina.
Sa panahong ito ng digmaan, nasakop ng mga amerikano ang
posisyon ng mga tropang Republkano sa Maynila. Dahil dito ikinasa ang
isang
"Pagbawi". Bumuo ng limang brigada si Hen. Antonio Luna upang
pasimulan ang pagbawing ito sa maynila at kasama sa limang brigada ang Brigada Licerio Geronimo.
 |
| Ang Cavite battalion na sinasabing aral mula sa isang sundalong Briton na kilala lamang sa tawag na"Wistar". |
ANG PAGBAWI SA MAYNILA
Ikinasa ang pagbawi ng Maynila sa petsang Pebrero 22 1899. Layunin ni
Hen. Antonio Luna na durugin ang depensa ng mga amerikano sa palibot ng
maynila. Plano niyang pagtagpuin ang kanyang limang brigada sa loob
ng maynila para matulungan ang sampung libong mga "sandatahanes" na
nananalanta duon sa hanay ng mga amerikano.
Limitado ang mga dokumento sa aktuwal na partisipasyon ni Hen. Cerio sa nasabing labanan. Subalit maaaninag ang kanyang nagawa sa tala ng panghapong suplimento ng peryodikong
Heraldo Filipino na may petsang Pebrero 23, 1899. Narito ang pahayag ng may akda na punong-puno ng sigla at kagalakan sa wikang Ingles:
The Filipino army occupies the suburbs of Manila.
***
The three columns commanded by Generals Pio Del Pilar and Licerio(Geronimo) and Col. Hizon now occupy the suburbs of Sampaloc, San Miguel, San Sebastian, Binondo, San Nicholas and Tondo. The Cavite Batallion has possession of the Cuartel de Meisic(present day 168 mall)and the flag is now flying there.
***
The American troops now in Caloocan and La Loma to the number of over six thousand are besieged by the columns commanded by Generals Luna, Llanera and Garcia.
***
This very moment the special train carrying the Honorable President has left for Caloocan.
Viva the Independent Philippines!!
Viva the unconquerable Philippine Army!!!
Mula marikina kung saan nakahimpil ang kanyang brigada(Hen. Cerio)ay umabot hangang Cuartel de Meisic ang kanyang mga tropa.(Cavite Battallion)at duon ay nakipagdigma sila laban sa mga amerikano hanggang maubusan ng bala. Nagpatuloy ang labanan sa Maynila sa sektor ng brigada Geronimo hanggang Pebrero 24 kung saan ay nakatanggap sila(Hen. Cerio)ng isang telegrama(pinagtatalunan kung ang kautusan ay totoo bang nagmula kay Hen. Antonio Luna o gawa-gawa lang ng mga ahente ng mga amerikano na nasa hanay ng mga Filipino para ipatigil ang labanan)mula kay Hen. Antonio Luna na naguutos na itigil ang labanan
.
 |
| Telegrama ni Hen. Cerio kay Hen. Antonio Luna(Pebrero 25, 1899) |
ANG MGA TIRADORES DELA MUERTE
Ang salitang TIRADORES ay salitang Español na nangangahulugang tao o grupo ng mga tao na mahusay bumaril. Ang salita ay karaniwang isinasalin sa wikang Ingles na "marksman" at "sharpshooter".
Naitatag ang mga TIRADORES bilang unit ng REPUBLICAN army noong panahong nirereorganisa ni Hen. Antonio Luna ang KATIPUNAN army upang gawing mas moderno ang anyo at maihanay sa mga kasundaluhan ng mga modernong sandatahang lakas sa Europa.
 |
| Ang pagtatatag ng grupong TIRADORES noong panahon ni Hen. Antonio Luna |
Maraming unit ng mga
TIRADORES ang nabuo, halos karamihan sa mga brigada ng Republican army ay makikitang may kanya-kanyang unit nito. Ilan sa mga kilalang unit ng mga TIRADORES na lumaban sa mga amerikano noong panahon ng digmaang Fil-am ay ang mga sumusunod;
1. TIRADORES ng Brigada Gregorio Del Pilar
2. TIRADORES ng Torres Bugallon Batallion
3. TIRADORES de Luna
4. TIRADORES ng Brigada Llanera
5. TIRADORES DELA MUERTE ng Brigada Licerio Geronimo
Ang pinakatanyag sa mga TIRADORES na ito ng Unang Republika ay ang mga TIRADORES ni Hen. Licerio Geronimo na kilala sa tawag na TIRADORES DELA MUERTE. Sa grupong ito naibigay ang kredito sa pagkamatay ni Hen. Henry Lawton at ilan pang mga amerikano noong panahon ng digmaang Fil-am.
Narito ang pahayag ni G. Daniel Dizon kung papaano naitatag ang TIRADORES DE LA MUERTE ni Hen. Licerio Geronimosa San Mateo.
"The TIRADORES were from a special detachment of the brigade of Gen. Licerio Geronimo who in the late 1899 commanded the San Mateo area, northeast of Manila. Early that year, Gen. Geronimo recognized the need for the used of the Mauser rifle for its fullest effectivity since it was considered "the best rifle of the world" at that time. He endeavored to have his Mauser-carrying soldiers trained to become sharpshooters(TIRADORES)by a European soldier of fortune. At that time many Filipino soldiers of the revolution considered the rear sights of their rifles as mere nuisance and proceeded to simply hammer them away. They just prefer to use the front sight of their rifles during battles for convenience. Unknown to them this kind of shooting produce a high bullet trajectory and tragically missed their targets by as much as 3 feet! Gen. Geronimo sought to remedy this serious problem by hiring a Caucasian trainor who was a former professional soldier. The trainor painstakingly trained the soldiers the judicious use of the Mauser rifle's rear sight in combination with the front sight. In a few weeks they had become deadshots. Extremely satisfied, Gen. Geronimo christened his detachment of sharpshooters: "TIRADORES DELA MUERTE" or shooters of death! Furthermore he issued them a distinctive dark blue uniform" --- By Daniel Dizon, Angeles Museum
ANG LABANAN SA SAN FRANCISCO DEL MONTE
Matatandaan na ang San Francisco Del Monte ay bahagi ng tiretoryo na sakop ng tercera zona ni Hen. Licerio Geronimo. Dito ay nagiwan siya ng mga sundalo ng Republika upang bantayan ang pagsulong at pananakop ng mga amerikano. Tinatayang nakabase ang mga manananggol sa simbahan ng San Francisco Bautista sa retiro Maynila. Dito ay nilusob sila ng mga amerikano na nagresulta sa madugong labanan. Mababasa ang sumusunod na labanan sa wikang Ingles na matatagpuan sa pahina 191 ng aklat ni G. Vivencio Jose na "The rise and fall of Antonio Luna".
"This plan of encircling the Filipinos, however, was at the outset a failure. When Hale's Brigade advanced on March 25, they found out, to their consternation, that no road ran between Manila and Novaliches and that its line of advance was through jungles, which precluded the movement of any wheeled transfortation and over which even reconnaisance by mounted men was etremely difficult. As a result, they swang left four miles south of Novaliches---too far south, in fact that they were unable to stop the withdrawing Filipino troops. Hale's brigade moved ahead, therefore, of all the others by an hour towards Novaliches in a northeast direction. It encountered the first strong resistant at San Francisco del Monte. Here, the Filipino defenders sougth cover in the edge of the woods, in trenches four feet deep, behind tangles of underbrush, waiting until the Americans were 1,000 yards of them. One time, fighting got so close that an hand to hand combat ensued. Captain Lee Forby, a company commander, was killed."
ANG LABANAN SA SAN MATEO
Ang bayan ng San Mateo ay matatagpuan sa lambak ng Marikina may labing limang milya ang layo mula sa Maynila. Ito ay sakop ng nooy "Tercera Zona ng Maynila" at naging moog ng mga sundalong republikano sa ilalim ni Hen. Licerio Geronimo. Tatlong ulit na sinakop ng mga Amerikano ang lugar subalit hindi nagtagumpay. Halos sampung buwang pagtatangka mula ng pumutok ang digmaang Fil-am noong Pebrero 4, 1899 ay hindi nasakop ang lugar, bumagsak lamang ito nang atakihin ni Hen. Henry Lawton noong umaga ng Disyembre 19, 1899. Tagumpay nilang nakubkob ang Poblasyon ng San Mateo subalit ang naging kapalit ay ang buhay mismo ng butihing heneral ng mga amerikano at mahigit isang daang tropa pa mula sa kanyang rehimiento.
ANG PAG-ATAKE NG MGA AMERIKANO
General Lawton, with his aids Captain King, Captain Selwell and Lieutenant Breckinridge, and also Major rogers, Fourth Cavalry, and Lieutenant Fuller, Ordinance department. all of whom had been designated by the General to accompany him, left Manila about 9 p.m. December 18, going north past La Loma, where he was joined by Troop I, Fourth Cavalry, Lieutenant Stewart commanding, and proceeded, via roads and trails, in a northeasterly direction toward the Mariquina River opposite San Mateo.
The expedition against San Mateo, as originally planned by General Lawton while o his northern expedition, was to take the Fourth Cavalry, the Thirty-fifth Infantry, and such Macabebe scouts as were available and strike it and montalban form the north, without returning to Manila, first, then push south and east, passing around Laguna de Bay, taking Santa Cruz from the eastward and putting a force at once near Tayabas to cut off the retreat from Cavite, Batangas, and Laguna provinces. Then he proposed entering Cavite province from the north and Batangas province by way of Batangas and securing the surrender of all in these provinces, instead of risking an escape for them by way of the narrow isthmus near Tayabas. This plan he detailed to me at Cabanatuan on December 8, when giving me my instructions preparatory to starting out towards Biac-na-bato with the Fourth Cavalry. The plan was not carried out, General Lawton being recalled to Manila after reaching San Miguel(near San Isidro).
General Lawton's last expedition, the one against San Mateo, was planned very quietly, in order if possible to effect a surprise. The troops, consisting of one Battalion Twenty-ninth Infantry, one battalion Twenty-seventh Infantry, one mounted and one dismounted squadron of the eleventh Cavalry, had started for the rendezvous about dark December 18 in a heavy rain storm.
General Lawton was called to General Otis quarters about 7 p.m. and advised not to start until the rain, then pouring in torrents, was over, but the former said that he did not think it would amount to much and that the various troops were already on the way and asked that it be allowed to proceed, which was granted.
An officer who was present at this interview said that General Lawton's presence on the occasion was simply superb; he had just gotten off his horse and, in his yellow slicker dripping from the heavy storm, stood before General Otis, who was eating dinner with his staff in the handsome dininghall of the governor-general's palace, General Lawton making light of the storm and begging that the expedition be not interrupted at its present stage.
At daylight, after a long night's march through the mud and rain, the command had concentrated on the high ground opposite San Mateo. The infantry was ordered to deploy in the bottom opposite San Mateo, while the dismounted cavalry was deployed and ordered to cross above, enter the town from the north, and cut off the escape of the garrison. General Lawton told Colonel Lockett, Eleventh Cavalry, who commanded the mounted force, that it would be necessary to cross as quickly as possible, since the river was rising rapidly. The deployment of the infantry was made before the general came down into the rice fields bordering the river, where firing was already going on from trenches about 400 yards distant across the river. The dismounted cavalry was deployed to the general's left and lieutenant Colonel Sargent, Twenty-ninth U.S. Volunteers, was assigned to the command of all the infantry and dismounted cavalry, Colonel Lockett being ordered to force a crossing of the river above San Mateo with his mounted force and proceed to Montalban, attacking the enemy there and preventing a reinforcement of San Mateo garrison.
The plans were somewhat delayed in their execution by high water and the difficulty in finding a ford, but the mounted cavalry found a poor one and crossed by fording and swimming, having several men wounded during the operation(this was about the time General Lawton was killed); they were followed by the dismounted cavalry, who occupied the town of San Mateo, the insurgents fleeing to the eastward.
Our infantry meanwhile was keeping up a rapid fire on the trenches across the river from their positions and at the same time trying to find a ford, which they eventually did, and, after much difficulty, succeeded in crossing(the town at that time being occupied by the dismounted cavalry of Lieutenant-Colonel Sargent's command). The mounted cavalry in the afternoon, about 3 p.m. returned to San Mateo from Montalban.--- From: Annual Reports of the war department 1900
AYON SA MGA FILIPINO FILIPINONG NAKASAKSI SA LABANAN
Ayon naman sa mga tala ng ilang Filipinong saksi, naganap ang labanan sa mabatong lugar na kung tawagin ay Curayao, isang baryo sa San Mateo(Ang totoo, ang Curayao ay bahagi ng pangkalahatang depensa ng mga Filipno sa San Mateo)at na ang unang sagupaan ayon sa nasabing saksi ay naganap noong gabi ng Disyembre 18, 1899. Narito ang pahayag ni Gng. Vitorina Linco, hipag ni Heneral Cerio at miyembro ng KKK women auxiliary ng San Mateo at ni G. Telesforo Santos sundalo at sekreta ng Republican army sa mga nangyari batay sa panayam sa kanila ng mamamahayag na si G. Nick Marte ng magazine na Daily Mirror noong 1969.
"Civilian intelligence sighting the approaching Americans alerted the Filipino forces holed in San Mateo. Their impending arrival heralded by wild rumors that they were out to slay every man, woman and child they met. It sent a wave of terror into the community. The townfolks became nervous and hastily ran towards the nearby hills. Itr was harvest time, rice grains ripening fast in the paddles were abandoned by the planters in thier haste to hide. Capt. Salamat advised his brother-in-law, santos, to evacute his family and bring along mrs. salamat and the children. they stayed in a larger hut built inside a forested gulch in Bundok Kikudang. Only the family general Geronimo among the few remained in the Poblascion. The general is confident that his amulet would protect all of them.
This gave Victorina a chance to watch the battle at close range. It rained hard that day. Thunder and lightning shuttered the gloomy sky. The Marikina river staerted to flood at dusk. The swollen stream reacted their batalan which overhung Sapa ni Sta. Rosa, a small gully of the river. Christmas was nearing. The devotees abruptly missed their December 18 midnitgh mass when at around 9 o'clock in the evening the lookouts atop the belfry noticed the American soldiers massing along the other side of the river. The expectant Katipuneros froze a moment. Orders were given not to ring the church bells.
An eeri sound of silence engulfed the Poblascion. At the opposite bank however, the mounted troopers were having a hell of a time cursing their horses who were afraid to ford the river.
In no time, rifle shots were heard. It lasted all night. The fighting took place very near the Linco house. Tia Ina said the household had to crouch low behind adobe walls as bullets whined overhead. She could clearly hear the Americans shouting orders punctuating the noisy commotion of men and horses. The Filipinos were firing from vantage points on the south bank of the river. Gen. Cerio was busy taking command of the situation. At sunrise, the flooding river subsided allowing the furious Americans to cross into the Poblascion.
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| Mirror Magazine 1969 |
American soldiers filled the town plaza that action-pack day. Curious villagers gawked at the foreigners. The wounded were brought into the convento fronting the square. Among the dead was an impressive body of a tall and big soldier carried on a stretcher. He was bemustache and wearing a dark blue uniform. A white bondage swathed his neck. Many soldiers accompanied the corps.
Towards noontime the dead man was loaded on a carriage and six horses pulled it towards Manila. Tia Ina recalled the impressive scene with a claim that hers was an authentic eyewitness account. Later, she heard that the dead man was General Lawton who was hit fatally during the fitghing. He was atop a horse leading the advancing cavalry. An attempt to retreat to Manila was aborted when the general fell dead a kilometer away from the scene of battle. The Filipino who fired the gun that hit Lawton was found later to be among the casualties." --- From Mirror Magazine dated June 28, 1969
ANG LABANAN AYON SA SALAYSAY NI HEN. CERIO
General Lawton was at the head of the army that pursued general Aguinaldo from the north. In his desire to reach Manila quickly he decided to go by way of San Mateo and Marikina, where the army of General Cerio was encamped waiting for final orders. There were thousands of Filipino soldiers, besides a unique company known as "Tiradores de la Muerte" which was composed of all eligible commissioned officers who were not acting in their capacity due to the lack of suitable vacancies. Upon being informed of the coming of the Americans into his territory he, trained general that he was, ordered his soldier to be on the bank of the Marikina river where the Americans were expected to pass. He personally took command of the Tiradores de la Muerte and placed them in the most strategic position.
The night came. It was dark. The soldiers were in feverish anxiety. Eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock came: the enemy had not yet appeared. The soldiers were in commotion; they were sleepless, ever ready, waiting for the signal to make the attack. With the dawn of a new day news came that the Americans were approaching. Indeed, they came, and the two armies met on the opposite sides of the historic river. From early hours there had been ceaseless killing of man by man. The crystalline water of the river was tinged by the flow of the blood from both camps. Thrice the Americans attempted to break the line in order to continue their march toward the city: but the Filipinos stood fast and resisted bravely. thousands were shot among the Filipinos and thousands were killed among the Americans. Every attempt of the Americans force was in vain and every effort futile. This seeming defeat of the American army aroused the ire of General Lawton and he made the supreme move to advance. he stood behind the firing lines and hit with his saber or mercilessly shot any of his soldiers who dared retreat. Still their determination was of no avail. His resolution to win the day caused him to be exposed to the sight of his enemies. At such opportune time general Cerio saw him and ordered the soldiers around him to direct their aim toward general Lawton. Almost simultaneously two bullets were lodge in his person---one on the face and the other on the breast. America's staunched commander fell; he staggered in vain to see the light of victory. At about nine o'clock of that day, General Lawton passed away with tremendous loss of life among Americans and Filipinos, sacrificed on the altar of liberty.--- From: General Licerio Geronimo, an Obscure hero of the revolution By. Dr. Antonio Isidro
ANG PAGKAMATAY NI HEN. LAWTON AYON SA SALAYSAY NI G. WILLIAM DEINWEDDIE
"When
Lawton came down from the high ground to cross the ricefields, fighting
had already begun. He watched the trenches through his field glasses.
The Filipinos must have spotted him towering over the others. he became a
good target for them. Some one in the group said, 'General, I belive
they are shooting at you.' The General laughed it off. Suddenly Lt.
Brikenridge was hit and Lawton and the rest carried him to a shelter.
General Lawton retured to the open ricefields and watched the battle
again. When his aides, King and Fuller, saw him, they hurried to him to
report o the progress of the battle. When they were within twenty feet
of him, he brushed his hands on his left breast as if stung by an
insect. He turned his head slightly, spat a clot of blood, and cried
God! King, who idolized this brave soldier, sprang forward with a cry.
He asked, 'General, are you hurt?' "Lawton answeard in a most natural
voice, 'I am hit.' "King questioned back, 'Where?' "The General replied,
'Through the lungs.' "Those were the last words the great general
uttered as he fell into the arms of his aide. --- William Dinwiddie/Harper's weekly Correspondence
ANG PAGKAMATAY NI HEN. LAWTON AYON SA OPISYAL NA TALA NG MGA AMERIKANO
To return to the movements of General Lawton, it is recalled that about 9 a.m., while passing across the open where no shelter was available, the general told the members of his staff to open out so as not to make such a good target; they were scaterred thus when Lieutenant Breckinridge was hit, he exclaiming: "I've got it," turning partly round and sinking to the ground. Lieutenant Brekenridge was then carried by the general and three members of his staff to a sheltered position where his wounds were dressed.
In answear to a question the General said that lieutenant Breckinridge was not seriously hurt because the face of a mortally wounded man had a peculiar ashniss that was lacking in his(lieutenant Breckinridge)
The General, after getting Lieutenant Breckinridge fixed as comportably as posible, said he must see how things were going and moved out into the open again. No troops were between him and the trenches. Suddenly he waved his hand before his face in a peculiar way and Captain King said to him "Whats the matter General?" to which he replied, "I'm shot." King asked, "Where?" and the General replied, "Through the lungs." His staff gathered around him, he standing with his teeth together and endevoring apparenly to overcome his increasing faintness, then he seemed to want to lie down, which he did, and turning his head to one side blood gushed from his mouth.
He said no more, but died in about three minutes with his head on Lieutenant Fuller's knee. This was about 9:30 a.m. tuesday, December 19, 1899.
SI HENERAL CERIO AT ANG PAGTATAPOS NG DIGMAANG FIL-AM
Dahil sa kanyang angking kakayahan at mga naipanalong laban ay itinalaga siya ni Hen. Mariano Trias noong July 12, 1900 bilang
jefe suprerior ng pinagsanid na ikalawa at ikatlong sona ng Maynila. Matapos ang eksaktong isang buwan sa kanyang pagkakatalaga bilang jefe superior ng pinagsanid na ikalawa at ikatlong sona ng Maynila ay inatasan siya ni Hen. Trias na maging commander ng distrito ng Morong upang payapain ang lugar.
Noong Marso 30, 1901 ay sumuko si Hen. Cerio kay Capt. Duncan Henderson CO ng Company E, 42nd Infantry Regiment ng U.S.
Volunteers at di naglaon iprinisinta sa opisyal nito na si Col. J. Milton Thompson, sa tulong ni Arturo Dancel miyembro ng pro-american Partido Federalista. Kasama niyang sumuko ang 12 opisyal at 29 na mga tauhan na may 30 mga baril.
Matapos sumuko, nagtrabaho siya bilang fourth class inspector at kalaunan bilang third lieutenant sa kolonyal na Konstabularia ng Pilipinas noong June 1, 1902. Bilang opisyal ng Konstabularya naging trabaho niya ang pagpapayapa sa mga bayan ng San Mateo, Marikina, Malabon at Novaliches. Isa siya sa mga iilan lamang mga Filipino na natatangap sa kolonyal na Konstabularya ng Pilipinas.
Nakatanggap ng liham si Hen. Cerio mula sa biyuda ni Hen. Lawton na nanghihingi ng larawan ng tao na nakapatay sa kanyang asawa. Bilang tugon ay nagpadala ang Hen. Cerio ng kanyang larawan na may mensaheng ganito sa wikang Ingles "I deeply feel the death of your husband; but I could not do otherwise, for such was my country's mandate."
Nanatili siya sa kanyang bukirin sa Motalban hanggang sa kanyang kamatayan noong January 16, 1924.
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Si Hen. Cerio kasama ang kanyang mga anak
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Source:
1. NHI pamphlet about Gen. Licerio Geronimo....
2. Gen. Licerio Geronimo an obscure hero of the past Revolution By. Antonio Isidro....
3. Annual Report of the war department 1900....
4.
Stories From the war; The Filipino general who killed an American
general By. Alberto K. Corvera....Philippines Geographic Vol. I No. 3,
page 17....
5. Short Biography of Gen. Licerio Geronimo...By: SK Edgardo Geronimo Ocampo...
6. The Rise and Fall of Gen. Antonio Luna By:Vivencio R. Jose...
7. Mirror Magazine 1969....
8. Manila Free Press...
9. The KATIPUNAN and the Revolution By: Gen. Santiago Alvares....
10. Filipinos at war By: Carlos Quirino
11. The Revolutionist By: E. De los Santos
