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