"NAGSABADO SA PASIG" 1896

"Nagsabado sa Pasig" is the term being used to describe and glorify the Katipunan action in Pasig on August 29, 1896-Saturday. In the early weeks leading to that fateful day in August, the commander of the Spanish detachment in Pasig, the then Lt. Manuel B. Sityar had been noticing uncommon gatherings of men in the wee hours of the night in the areas of Pasig and Mandaluyong. But the rainy season had prevented him from investigating and learning  more of these gatherings. In fact, one of the most important Katipunan meetings the "Asamblea Magna",  happened in May of the same year in Pasig.
Pasig town center in the late 1890s.  Seen here is the church and also the waterway, the famous "Bitukang Manok"


When news that the Katipunan was finally revealed,  local Katipunan leader in Pasig, Gen. Valentin Cruz started sending secret feelers to the Katipuneros from different "visitas" or "barrios" around Pasig that uprising could happen soon. Andres Bonifacio and some members of the Katipunan council at that time had sought refuge in the Morong area (Rizal Province) protected by the local Katipunan chapters of the great plains of Morong/Marikina-Pasig area, later the so-called "Pantayanin". The arrest of suspected Katipunan members in Manila had already started after its discovery

On Aug. 28, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto went to Mandaluyong to confer with Katipunan leaders of Morong. The next morning, he told his men that it was now time to begin the uprising. There was also this tearing of the cedulas symbolizing the break with Spain. After that, General Cruz and other Katipunan leaders travelled back to their respective towns and areas to alert their troops.

In the light of the dusk of August 29, 1896, while Bonifacio was preparing his men in the attack of Mandaluyong the sons of Pasig led by Valentin Cruz were attacking the Spanish detachment in Pasig. Pasig historian Dean Carlos Tech described the events as follows:

  
"Nightfall of Aug. 29, the men from the Pasig barrios of Pineda, Bagong Ilog and Ugong crossed the San Mateo River to Maybunga, where they joined the forces from Santolan, Rosario, Maybunga, Palatiw, Sagad, Poblacion, Pinagbuhatan, Bambang, Kalawaan, Buting and other barrios of Pasig. After some final battle instructions, the gallant sons of Pasig, armed with scythes, bolos, spears, a few guns, and their determination to fight for freedom under the leadership of General Cruz, marched to attack the town. The townsfolk, who were in a fiesta mood, lined the streets, cheering their heroes on. (It was a precursor of the fiesta mood of the Edsa uprising 100 years later.) There were almost 2,000 of them, representing almost every family of Pasig, from all levels of society, in a show of unity against tyranny. At Plaza de Paz, now Plaza Rizal, a sniper in the church tower hit a man from Bagong Ilog who thus became the first Pasigueño to offer his life on the altar of freedom. The revolutionaries attacked the Tribunal and the Guardia Civil headquarters, in what is now the Guanio residence, capturing 17 de piston rifles and three Remingtons. Manuel Sityar, the Guardia Civil commander, hid in the church tower. It was a glorious night for Pasig and the whole town rejoiced in that first victory of the revolution which the old folk remembers as ''Nagsabado.''

General Valentin Cruz, this studio shot was done in a later year.


Lt. Manuel B. Sityar- Like other mestizos in the Spanish army, Sityar would later be recruited by General Antonio Luna in the revolutionary forces in the Philippine-American War. General  Luna would also name him superintendent of the "Academia Militar"- the first military academy in the Philippines.

"Memorias Intimas" by Sityar has a different account. Sityar evaded the Pasig Katipuneros and escaped to Pateros, he even inspected what happened there. The Katipunan revolt in Pateros was bolder and also bloodier compare to that of Pasig.

 What happened then the following days when the guardia civil reinforcement arrived in Pasig?. If ever it was indeed a victory, it was short-lived. Valentin Cruz with his men joined Bonifacio's group and eventually got routed in Pinaglabanan. Valentin Cruz was captured then tortured. He was tied to a rope whereby his body was submerged headfirst to the river  "Bitukang Manok". He endured the torture and was later exiled to the Marianas.

 In an open forum/lecture in the late 1990"s about the events of "Nagsabado", Pasig historian Carlos Tech was asked how many Guardia Civil was with Sityar that time, he answered,  only two. When asked how many casualties were there on the side of the Pasig Katipunan, there was only one.

 "Nagsabado" perhaps needs a new interpretation.

Comments

  1. Gen Valentine Cruz was from Barrio San Nicolas known for brave and civic minded citizen.

    ReplyDelete

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