Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):
September 27, 1901
On September 27, 1901, the people of Balangiga, Eastern Samar celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the parish. It was also the day that revolutionaries led by Valeriano Abanador, the town's police chief were preparing to attack the American troops of Company C of the 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment on the following day.
Abanador and Captain Daza disguised some men as a work force for the town's local fiesta. The women and children were sent away to safety. So as not to be noticed that the women left, 34 men from Barrio Lawaan cross-dressed as women worshippers during the dawn service of the church.
These "women" carried small coffins that were used to hide the bolos and other weapons. At the sentry, they were stopped by Sergeant Scharer who opened one of the coffins with his bayonet. After seeing the body of a child, he let the "women" pass after being told the dead child was a cholera epidemic victim.
Days earlier, the parish priest, Fr. Donato Guimbaolibot was approached by Pedro Duran Sr., a local leader who disclosed to him the plot by saying, ''Father, make up your mind, to stay or to leave; there will be a fight on Saturday." Disturbed by the revelation, the priest immediately left on a banca headed for Tanauan, Leyte, where he was previously assigned. The plotters made sure that their priest will not be involved so they asked him to leave.
Balangiga was created as a parish and dedicated to the martyr St. Lawrence (San Lorenzo) by a Diocesan decree of September 27, 1859 through Superior approval on April 1, 1854,
Prior to being a parish, Balangiga was a visita - a village that was part of Guiuan which was a bigger parish. The Church of San Lorenzo de Martir has three bells in its belfry with different cast dates - 1853, 1889 and 1895.
(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved
Photo credit: nolisoli
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment