Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):
DECEMBER 29, 1896
Seventeen Filipinos from Bicol who were mostly Masons faced a Spanish military court in Manila on charges of sedition and rebellion and accused of being members of the Katipunan.
They were among the first victims of Spanish cruelty during the term of Spanish Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja, who was merciless and ruthless to traitors.
Eleven were executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan now Luneta on January 4, 1897. Executed were three priests, Rev. Inocencio Herrera, choir master in the Cathedral of Nueva Caceres (present day Naga City); Rev. Gabriel Prieto, parish priest of Malinao, Albay; and Rev. Severino Diaz, the first Filipino parish priest of Nueva Caceres who rebuilt the Naga Cathedral.
Also executed were Manuel Abella, a philanthropist and his son Domingo Abella, a surveyor; Tomas Prieto, a pharmacist and brother of Fr. Prieto; Florencio Lerma, a music professor, playwright, essayist, and theatre owner who operated the first movie house in Naga; Macario Valentin, chief of the night watchmen in Naga; Cornelio Mercado, a public works employee of Nueva Caceres; Camilo Jacob, a photographer; and Mariano Melgarejo, a Naga resident who wrote in his diary "I look forward to the day when Filipinas takes her place among the free nations of the world.”
Leon Hernandez, a wealthy and influential teacher died in prison after being tortured. Mariano Ordenanza, a clerk in the Bureau of Public Works was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Deported to Fernando Po (now Bioko Island in Africa) were Ramon Abella, son of Manuel Abella and Mariano Arana, who died while in exile.
Two priests, Fr. Severo Estrada and Fr. Manuel Subarbano, who were also arrested were released after being cleared of all charges.
(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved
Photo credit: wikipedia.org
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