1898: OUR

LAST MEN
IN THE
PHILIPPINES
ALMAZAN, ASIRI, DIONGA,
HERMINO, MANALO, NARAWI
TABLE OF CONTENT
• CONTEXT MANILA

• GENERAL INFORMATION
• CHARACTERS
• SIEGE
• SUMMARY
• CLIPS
CONTEXT
• The Philippine revolution against the Spanish
began in 1896
• The Spanish-American War began, Filipinos
sided with Americans
• Spain lost to America. The Philippines was
‘sold’ to America through the Treaty of Paris.
• Baler is the last place the Spaniards held at the
end of the Spanish colonial rule.
CONTEXT
• Geography of Baler, Aurora:
WHAT IS IT?
• A bibliographical war film of the LAST siege during the
Spanish Colonization
• Told in the point of view of the Spaniards
• Location: Baler, Aurora

• Duration: 11 Months (July 1, 1898 to June 2, 1899)

Note: Philippine revolution against Spain ended
in DECEMBER 1989 with the TREATY OF
PARIS, but the Spanish soldiers in Baler did not
know. So the siege went on for six (6) more
months. American colonization began while the siege
continues.

• One of the longest sieges in the Philippines

 • "The Last Ones of the Philippines" is the
name given to the Spanish soldiers who
WHAT IS IT?
fought in the Siege of Baler against
Filipino revolutionaries and against the
US Army during the Spanish–American War.
• Motivations (Duty and Patriotism):
- Spanish Soldiers: to defend the empire
- Filipino: for revolution and independence

• Cause of the downfall of the troupe:

• Number (50 vs. 800)
2. War
3. Heat (Fortress was small, hot, humid) - Filipinos
WHAT IS IT?
sometimes set fire
4. Malaria
5. Beriberi (vitamin B1 deficiency)
6. Typhoons
7. Beasts

Note: Apparently, friendly assistance came from the

Filipino in the form of herds of Carabaos for food and
allowing them to farm. (as shown in the film)
 • Lieutenant Cerezo

IMPORTANT • Captain Enrique de las Morenas - first command

among troupes
• Father Carmelo - Church Leader

CHARACTE • Sergeant Jimeno Costa - Sergeant who witnessed

the first attack in 1897, stayed to ‘defend Spain’

RS
• Commander Luna Novicio - Filipino commander
in Baler
• Calixto Villacorta - Diplomatic representative of
rebels
• Carlos - a key/main character, one of the Spanish
souldiers
• Spanish Soldiers - Untrained, only started training
in PH
• Rebels - part of the Katipunan
• Teresa - Sex Worker / Puta
SIEGE
DURATION: 11 MONTHS (JULY 1, 1898 TO JUNE 2, 1899)
• NOTE: THE WAR OFFICIALLY ENDED IN DECEMBER
1989 WITH THE TREATY OF PARIS, BUT THE SPANISH
SOLDIERS IN BALER DID NOT KNOW.
LOCATION: BALER
50 SPANISH SOLDIERS VERSUS 800 REBEL SOLDIERS
FATHER CARMELO’S CHURCH: MILITARY FORT
(BECAUSE OF ITS THICK WALLS)
MOTIVATIONS (DUTY AND PATRIOTISM):
SPANISH SOLDIERS: TO DEFEND THE EMPIRE
FILIPINO: FOR REVOLUTION AND INDEPENDENCE
SUMMARY
• Opening scene: October 1897 - Attack by the rebels that
removed Spaniards from Baler
• Three months later - Cerezo was sent by Capt. Morenas to
reclaim Baler. Morenas followed shortly after.
• The first thing they did was hoist their flag in the town.
• Spanish-American war begins.
• Manila HQ is seized by the Americans. Supplies and
information (on PH, Spain, America) are cut-off.
• They establish a military fort in the church and train the
soldiers.
• FORT: self-sustaining (food, water from deep-well,
infirmary, storeroom)
• War breaks out on July 1, 1898. The Spanish back out.
• Friction in command: Cerezo and Costa
• Filipino send diplomatic representatives. Spain did not
agree.
• Carlo is introduced to Opium.
• October 10, 1898 (three months of siege) -
• Beriberi Outbreak
• (Sick) Captain asks Carlo to cross Manila to get
information
• Captain dies, Lieutenant takes charge.
 • Filipinos try to tell them that Spanish rule is over
through TREATY OF PARIS. They refuse to believe
this.
• Carlos tries to get to Manila but is caught.
• Ways the Filipinos tried to lure them out:
1) Truce
2) Declaration of Philippine Independence
3) Festivities: New Year
4) Sex
• Even Spanish troops/officials came to get them (after
the treaty of Paris but they did not believe them.
 PRIMARY
Recuerdos, Guadalajara, 1904.
SOURCES
Saturnino Martin Cerezo’s El Sitio de Baler: Notes y Diaries of Father Felix Minaya y Rojo, O.F.M Filipino Written Account

Published for public consumption in 1904 Written during and immediately after the war. None, just orally passed account
1. What is the significance of the film in the quest for Philippine Independence?

2. What is the significance of the film in contemporary Philippines?

3. Differentiate the ideas of nationalism

between Filipinos and Spaniards.

4. How were the Filipinos portrayed in the film?

5. How factual was the film?

Guide Questions
 REFERENCE

Calvo, S. (Director). (2016, December 2). Los Ultimos de Filipinas. CIPI Cinematografica S.A.
Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales.
Baler: A history of Filipino-Spanish friendship. (2012, August 19). Philstar.Com.
https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/starweek-magazine/2012/08/19/839584/baler-history-
filipino-spanish-friendship
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