As I went to search some book in the city library. It so happen I like to read some stuffs about our history.
As I go along I realized that during the Philippine revolution against Spain was organized by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo in the 1890s after the martyrdom of Jose Rizal, the country’s National Hero.
Well Cebu or SUGBO(old school name) itself was the site of a bloody battle on April 3, 1898 between the rebels headed by Gen. Leon Kilat and the Spaniards in the three-day pitched fighting that had the colonizers on the run behind Fort San Pedro. It would have been a victory for the rebels had it not been for the timely arrival of the Spanish armada.
Who could have thought that an innocent lad who didn’t even finish elementary would rise up as a man of distinguished valor to fight for Filipino freedom.
Born in Bacong, Negros Oriental on the 27th of July 1873, "
LEON KILAT," the
nom de guerre (war alias name) of Pantaleon Villegas de Solde was the military leader in the onset of hostilities in April 1898.
The story goes that Leon Kilat also worked as an errand boy for
Botica Antigua, a German-owned pharmacy, a delivery man, at the same time, a baker for Pascuala Cala’s bakeshop and a jockey-horse trainer for Federico Laing.
In the middle of 1896, he joined a circus troupe. Leon was brought into Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary society, the Katipunan in Manila. He was sent to Cebu to help lead the rebel movement. It was here where Leon and his men planned a revolt against the Spaniards on the Easter Sunday of 1898. The Spaniards however, learned about the scheduled uprising. As Leon Kilat was informed about the Spanish discovery of the intended insurrection, he became determined to fight the Spaniards on that day of the discovery. Thus, he said: "
In that case, we rise in arms today."
For that reason, on April 3, 1898, the afternoon of Palm Sunday, General Leon Kilat staged a bloody "hand-to-hand" combat right at the now Leon Kilat and Tres de Abril Streets in Cebu City. As the Spaniards obtained reinforcements, Leon Kilat and his men went to Carcar to seek help from the people. Leon Kilat tried to regroup his men to confront the progressing Spaniards.
However, in the early hours of Good Friday, April 8, Leon Kilat was perfidiously murdered - allegedly upon orders of prominent mestizos of Carcar. The assassination of Leon Kilat was said to have happened, through the "intercession of Don Florencio Noel" in the Sato residence. On that day of Leon Kilat’s death, the Spaniards gained control of Carcar.
Leon Kilat was one of the greatest Filipino revolutionaries in the rebellion against Spain. He was reputed as a tagolilong (one who has an amulet to appear and disappear when one so desires). It was commonly believed that Leon Kilat could also swallow knives, bend bladed weapons and fly on a magic handkerchief. hahaha
i cant believe it pero pwede ghapon..
Now Leon Kilat’s monument stands elegantly as a symbol of Carcaranon gratitude. The monument shows the general with a sword in hand, riding his legendary horse "Puti." it was built to honor Leon Kilat who died in the town. It is a constant reminder to Carcaranons and Cebuanos of Leon Kilat’s remarkable heroism and became one of the Legendary warriors of Cebu.
Didnt even thought also way back naa na gyud traidor during spanish times. Ive read and watch a documentation during our spanish war our war heroes or warriors usually been assassinated or gi - paon nalang sa kontra. I guess they have political issues siguro. This is my first time to know the history of Leon Kilat proud to know..
share sad mo guys?