It was a classic and epic moment that proved indios can outwit the more superior Spaniards.

That describes a scene in history when a gritty Ilongga heroine, who goes by the masculine-sounding
name Patrocinio Gamboa, and her partner in crime, Lieutenant Honorio Solinap, executed to perfection
a simple plot that heralded the historical milestone known today as the Cry of Santa Barbara.

It was the height of the resistanc” against Spanish rule. In Luzon, where the center of the action and all
the drama was unfolding, big names like Andres Bonifacio, Gregorio del Pilar and General Emilio
Aguinaldo were common fixtures in the revolution. But in this corner of the country, Ilonggos figured
prominently in the fight for freedom.

“The Ilonggos’ in the cause of the Philippine Revolution was seen in their participation in the armed
struggle against the Spanish presence in the country,” said my dearest babaylan friend Joyce Christine
Colon, a history professor at the West Visayas State University.

Western Visayas figured well in the revolution against the Spaniards. Some members of the Katipunan
movement came from Panay—Francisco del Castillo, Ruperto Arce and Candido Iban, to name a few. The
names of Martin Delgado, Quintin Salas and Adriano Hernandez also figured well in Iloilo’s struggle
against the Spanish presence.”

She added, however, that when the Philippine Revolution broke out in August 1896, the elite’s response
in Iloilo was quite different.

“Not all Filipinos readily joined the struggle against the Spaniards. Some of these elites, enlisted as
voluntarios in support to the presence of the Spanish authority in the islands.”

In March 1898, the Ilonggo leaders established the Comite de Conspiradores in Molo. They held secret
meetings and contacted revolutionary leaders in other towns and provinces of Panay.

With the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, which led to the sinking of the Spanish fleet at the
Manila Bay, the surrender of the Spaniards changed the attitude of the people in Panay towards the
Spaniards,” she explained.

The Ilonggo elite then organized the Committee of the Visayas (forerunner of the Comite Conspirador)
which endeavored to secure funds for the purchase of arms and ammunitions. This also tried to establish
contact with the Malolos Republic.
On October 28, 1898, the general uprising in the province of Iloilo took place as agreed by the Ilonggo
leaders. The interior towns of the island were liberated from Spanish control and authority.

Aguinaldo, upon learning that Delgado was to proclaim the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the
Visayas and Mindanao on November 17, 1898, sent the Ilonggo revolutionary leader a Philippine flag and
a saber.

Gamboa and Solinap were tasked to smuggle these items to the Santa Barbara town plaza, in time for
the proclamation.

It was no easy feat, though, as there were scores of guardia civil detailed at exit points from Jaro, some
16 kilometers from Santa Barbara. These guardias were also highly-trained, vigilantly checking every
person and baggage that goes their way. Imagine that? The job, actually, a prequel to the now famous
Mission: Impossible franchise. But despite the danger of transporting the items, Gamboa and Solinap
battled the odds in the name of freedom.

Devising a brilliant plan, Tia Patron, with the flag wrapped around her waist, just below her patadyong,
and the saber hidden under the bundles of bungalon grass in their tartanilla, acted as though she were a
nagging wife who was giving her poor under-de–saya husband a nasty dressing down.

So amused were the guardias at the sight that they never even bothered to conduct a body search on
the couple (or else Tia Patron would have lashed at them, too?) or check their baggage (for what could
be more suspicious than bundles of grass?)

“The revolucionarios under Delgado triumphantly established the Revolutionary Government. In this
event, the Philippine flag was raised for the first time in Iloilo province. For Ilonggos, the raising of the
Philippine flag for the first time is one symbolic act of pride for having won the freedom and
independence from the Spaniards,” said Joyce.

She added that the voluntarios in 1896 became revolucionarios. By the first week of November, only
Jaro, Molo and Iloilo City remained at the hands of the Spaniards. Jaro was finally turned over by the
Spaniards on November 21, 1898.

“The best Christmas gift received by the Ilonggos was on December 25, 1898 with the revolutionary
forces occupying Iloilo City and freeing it from the Spanish authority.”
Ilonggas also participated in the struggle for liberty and independence, she said. In the course of history
writing, men have often assumed a prominent role, relegating women to supporting roles.

“In the Visayan phase of the revolution, some Ilonggas figured well and contributed significantly to the
cause and struggle for independence against the Spaniards. The likes of Tia Patron, Nazaria Lagos and
Teresa Magbanua were examples of women’s participation in the revolution in Visayas. The most
prominent among them was Teresa Magbanua who joined the revolutionary army and was given to
command combat troops in Visayas during the revolution.”

This 120th Philippine Independence Day, we remember the Ilonggo heroes’ and heroines’ contribution in
the fight for freedom. Let this also remind us that heroism, and the greatness that comes with it, is a
collective effort that has united Filipinos since then.

https://jplosophy.wordpress.com/2018/06/12/wit-and-grit-ilonggos-in-the-revolution/

ILOILO – The public plaza of Santa Barbara town – the venue of today’s 125th Philippine Independence
Day celebration – was the site of the first raising of the Philippine flag outside Luzon on Nov. 17, 1898,
five months after General Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite
on June 12, 1898.

This revolutionary act is now known as the “Cry of Santa Barbara”.

Ilonggos were active participants in the Filipinos’ revolution for independence. On Oct. 28, 1898, local
revolutionary leader General Martin Delgado and troops marched into Santa Barbara and took control of
the municipal building. That same day, simultaneous uprisings against Spanish colonizers took place in
towns across Iloilo.

The Spanish forces under the command of Governor-General Diego de los Rios eventually surrendered to
Delgado, and on Dec. 25, 1898 the Philippine flag was raised at Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City (then a
municipality).

Why in Iloilo City?

The capital of the Spanish Philippines was at that time in Iloilo. Spanish authorities continued to fight the
forces of the Philippine Revolution for control of the country outside of Manila.

Desiring to save the Visayas and Mindanao from being conquered by Philippine revolutionary forces, de
los Rios asked Spain to grant some reforms demanded by citizens of Iloilo. He issued in Iloilo a
proclamation to the people of the Visayas calling on them to establish a “Council of Reforms” to be made
up of 24 leading citizens, 12 of whom would be selected by popular vote and another 12 to be appointed
by the governor-general himself. The granted reforms, however, satisfied only a few ilustrado leaders and
the Philippine revolution in Iloilo heated up.

ILONGGOS’ GENERAL UPRISING

The general uprising against the Spanish authorities on Panay Island, particularly in Iloilo, took place on
Oct. 28, 1898. On that day onward, led by Delgado, the interior towns of the province of Iloilo were
liberated from Spanish control. By the first week of November, only Jaro, Molo, and Iloilo remained in
the hands of the Spaniards. On Nov. 21, Jaro was delivered by the Spanish government to the Ilonggo
revolutionary forces.

With the Spanish army being besieged by the revolutionary troops in the positions which they held in
Iloilo and Molo, and being threatened by a decisive attack, the Spanish government under de los Rios
eventually opened up negotiations with the Ilonggos.

The outcome of the negotiations was the evacuation of Molo and Iloilo City by the Spanish troops and
their subsequent surrender to the native forces under the command of General Delgado at Plaza Alfonso
XII (now Plaza Libertad).

In actuality, de los Rios’ term as Governor-General of the Philippines legally ended earlier, on Dec. 10,
1898, when the Treaty of Paris was signed transferring sovereignty of the Philippines from Spain to the
United States. The Philippine Revolution however continued, and would become the Philippine-
American War early in 1899.

https://www.panaynews.net/ilonggos-played-active-role-in-ph-independence-movement/?amp=1
When the Philippine Revolution flared up near Manila in August 1896, the elite leaders in Iloilo reacted
quickly. But instead of joining the revolt, they supported the colonial government.

The officials of Iloilo City, Jaro City and several towns passed resolutions condemning the rebellion and
pledging loyalty to Spain.

The Ilonggo elite went a step farther. They organized a battalion of 500 soldiers to fight for the colonial
government.

After four months of crash training, the Batallon de Voluntarios Ilonggos was shipped to Manila, landing
there on Jan. 16, 1897. For almost a year, the Voluntarios Ilonggos fought with Spanish troops against the
Katipunan army of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato in December 1897 ended the first phase of the revolution. The Voluntarios
Ilonggos returned to Iloilo and were received like a victorious Roman Legion.

The Ilonggos did not join the revolution in 1896 because they were enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
Iloilo was then the richest province and Iloilo City was second to Manila.

Wealth without freedom

The Ilonggos were enjoying the good life but soon they realized that prosperity without freedom was not
enough. In March 1898, a Revolutionary Committee was formed in Molo by Francisco Villanueva, Pablo
Araneta and several other leading persons to plan for the revolution.

On May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey of the US Navy destroyed the Spanish armada in Manila.
The Spanish-American War that had earlier started in Cuba reached the Philippines. A few days later,
General Aguinaldo returned from Hong Kong and launched Phase 2 of the revolution.

Facing new threats, Governor General Basilio Augustin issued a decree to organize volunteer militia units
in the provinces to augment government forces. In Iloilo, the revolutionary leaders organized volunteer
companies in several towns.

After Manila had fallen to the Americans on Aug. 13, 1898, the Spaniards made Iloilo City the new capital
of the country. General Diego de los Rios was named governor general.
The Spaniards never doubted the loyalty of the Ilonggos so General Rios did not hesitate to arm the new
Iloilo Voluntarios.

The Spaniards were therefore totally surprised when rebel forces staged simultaneous uprisings in many
towns. The voluntarios had turned revolucionarios.

Liberation

Within a few days the Ejercito Libertador, as the Ilonggo leaders called their army, had liberated the
whole province except Iloilo City and the neighboring Jaro, La Paz and Molo.

Assured of ultimate victory, the Ilonggo leaders convened in Sta. Barbara on Nov. 17, 1898. After
attending a Te Deum Mass at the town church, the leaders went to the nearby stone house of Vicente
Bermejo where they organized the Gobierno Provisional Revolucionario de Bisayas.

Roque Lopez was elected president. All the officials of the new government were prominent
personalities and professionals.

A very dramatic event followed the organization of the Revolutionary Government—the raising of the
Philippine flag. A bamboo flagpole was erected in front of the Bermejo house. Before it stood a regiment
of the Ejercito Libertador. Behind the regiment on the wide town plaza was a large crowd that had come
from many places to witness the historic event.

General Martin Delgado, the general in chief of the army, went near the pole facing the crowd and at his
signal the Posidio Delgado Band played the national hymn. Two soldiers raised the Philippine flag. As the
flag reached the top and flew in the breeze, the crowd broke in a loud cheer.

Delgado gave a brief charge to the soldiers telling them to fight boldly for the flag. Then he led the crowd
shout, “Viva Independencia! Fuera Espana! Viva Libertad!”

This event is reenacted every year in the Kahilwayan (Freedom) Festival of Sta. Barbara.
As expected by the Ilonggo leaders, Governor Gen eral Rios began to negotiate for peace. First he gave
up Jaro and concentrated his forces in Iloilo City. Finally, on Dec. 24, he surrendered the city and sailed
away to Zamboanga enroute to Spain.

Glorious day

Dec. 25, 1898, was the most glorious Christmas Day in Iloilo. Early that morning, the Liberating Army led
by General Delgado staged a triumphal parade into Iloilo City, Spain’s last capital in the Philippines.

Resplendent in their uniform and fully armed, the Liberating Army marched to the beat of “Marcha
Libertador” composed by Col. Posidio Delgado and played by the famous Banda del Regimento-72.

Thousands of people crowded both sides of Calle Real to see the parade. Most were crying with joy,
shouting “Viva Independencia! Viva Libertad!”

The triumphal march ended at Plaza Alfonso XII (now Plaza Libertad) in front of the Ayuntamiento of
Iloilo City. There the revolutionists again raised the Philippine flag to fly over Spain’s last capital in las
Islas Filipinas.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/697859/iloilos-2-roles-in-the-revolution