Today in Philippine History: Battle of Paete

APRIL 12, 1899

Gen. Henry W. Lawton ordered 220 U.S. soldiers to march to Paete after capturing Sta. Cruz and Pagsanjan. Major John Fraine sent scouts to locate the Filipino positions and were able to see 50 Filipino soldiers manning a breast work. He ordered five soldiers to flank the Filipino lines but were fired upon by those hidden in the thick foliage. The four were killed and the other wounded. In retaliation, the Americans bombarded the Filipinos with artillery fire along with infantry assaults in the front and flanks and Gatling gun fire from the gunboat Laguna de Bay. 5 Americans were killed while 15 Filipinos died in the Battle of Paete.

Today in Philippine History: Leonor "Maria Clara" Rivera

APRIL 11, 1867

Leonor Rivera (April 11, 1867 - August 28, 1893) was born in Camiling, Tarlac. She was Jose Rizal’s sweetheart and the model for his Maria Clara character in Noli Me Tangere. Their romantic letters to each other sealed their relationship for eight years. She was the daughter of Antonio Rivera, who was the cousin of Rizal’s father Francisco. Jose and Leonor’s love affair was opposed by the family. On June 17, 1890 Leonor married Henry Kipping, a British Engineer.

Today in Philippine History: General Lawton Captures Pagsanjan

APRIL 11, 1899

After the fall of Sta. Cruz, General Henry W. Lawton pursued General Juan Cailles and his men to Pagsanjan. The 1st Battalion of Sharpshooters under the command of General Charles King was sent in advance to the town. Some 25 to 30 Filipinos fired shots at the approaching American soldiers but were fired upon by artillery. Owing to the heavy bombardment, the Filipino soldiers and the townsfolk fled Pagsanjan leaving the town deserted. Around 8 Filipinos were killed in battle while only one American was wounded.

Today in Philippine History: Battle of Sta. Cruz

APRIL 10, 1899

The Battle of Sta. Cruz was part of General Henry W. Lawton’s Laguna de Bay Campaign. General Elwell S. Otis, Commander of the US VII Corps ordered Lawton’s 2nd Division to head for Laguna Province and neutralize the Filipino revolutionaries’ stronghold in the town of Sta. Cruz commanded by Gen. Juan Cailles. Lawton led his 1,509 men in attacking the heavily guarded town. In this battle, 96 Filipino soldiers of General Emilio Aguinaldo died, 6 launches and 41 Filipinos were captured. The remaining revolutionaries withdrew to Pagsanjan.

Today in Philippine History: Bataan Death March

APRIL 9, 1942

Immediately after the Fall of Bataan, the Japanese rounded up the 12,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipino prisoners of war. They were gathered in groups of 100 with four guards in each group. The POWs were made to march sixty-five miles for five days from Bataan to their prison camp in Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac. This came to be known as the Bataan Death March. Many died from hunger and exhaustion. Those who fell on the ground or attempted to escape were shot or bayoneted. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 men were killed by the guards.

Today in Philippine History: Bataan Falls

APRIL 9, 1942

The Battle of Bataan began on January 7, 1942 and ended on April 9, 1942. On this day Maj. Gen. Edward King, commander of the Bataan forces composed of men suffering from diseases and malnutrition surrendered after months of fighting Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma’s 14th Army. Earlier, after Gen. Douglas MacArthur left for Australia, the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) made up of Americans and Filipinos was reorganized and became the United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) under Maj. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright. 

Today in Philippine History: 40th Division Gets Orders to Attack Japs in Dumaguete

APRIL 8, 1945

Gen. Douglas MacArthur gave orders for the 40th Infantry Division under the Eight Army together with the 160th and 185th Infantry to attack Japanese defense positions in Dumaguete and the mountain ranges of north-central Negros. The 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team assisted the 40th Division by making an overwater movement from Mindoro. Its thrust was to penetrate the Japanese main defense line on the left flank. The Japanese, well-entrenched in rugged terrain held their ground and resisted the advances slowing down the assault operations.