Surprise

STUDENTS reading about the Philippine Revolution or Filipino-American War from their boring textbooks find it hard to imagine how the battles were actually fought. They often ask what common soldiers felt or thought at the time of engagement with the enemy.

Textbooks provide general outlines of the struggle for independence. We know the outcome but we lack the details. We have a skeleton rather than flesh and blood. This is why my reading list contains a lot of primary source material, usually first-person accounts that will connect my students with their past.

To keep my readings current and interesting, I keep searching for new material. Recently, I came across a draft letter from Emilio Aguinaldo to a certain Raymundo Melliza in the Visayas giving instructions to launch a surprise attack on the enemy, thus providing an insight into the way our heroes--both known and unknown--fought over a century ago.

"Let the attack on Iloilo, the capital, be a surprise, making use of bolos, daggers, and clubs, so as to avoid as many casualties as possible, because if the attack would be made with rifles, they would begin to fire at a long distance from the town and it is easy to see that the same would not be taken quickly in that event. Therefore, surprise is better, and none will be engaged in it but those of the town itself, in the following manner: Convene inhabitants of the town, in number equal to the fourth part of that of the Spaniards, and divide them into platoons equal also to in number to the posts or barracks of the same. Besides this, let there be five or six men, previously instructed who will enter two at a time into the barracks, carrying with them presents for the commanders under the pretext of asking a pass or of denouncing several revolutionists and diverting them by such means."

Obviously, the barracks had both Filipino and Spanish soldiers. The object of using hand weapons was to keep casualties down. Only the foreigners were to be attacked; the Filipino soldiers were to be convinced to shift loyalties.

Aguinaldo was also worried because the soldiers, often poorly trained, discharged their weapons before they got within range, thus not only wasting bullets but alerting the barracks long before the attack could be successfully mounted. Aguinaldo continued:

"Before all this is done, fix upon an hour, say 12 o'clock daytime, and instantaneously and simultaneously let the attack begin. Apart from all this, let there be in the same way persons charged with dissuading the people of the town from giving assistance which they might feel like extending to their brethren engaged in battle. Direct them to call out in a loud voice to the people not to be afraid, and other words that may serve to cheer their hearts and stimulate their courage.

"Endeavor to secure the sentinels and commanders; if they will not surrender, kill them. Also, secure their armories, and when this is done, the arms found there will be taken by our men. Those who are to fight, or to help those who previously entered the barracks, should look out well, and charge those who carried the presents, that they shall under no circumstances take a rifle; bolos are preferable in hand-to-hand conflict while they are mixed together. At all parts, they will use but the bolo and will be merciful to our compatriots, the native Filipino soldiers, persuading them to unite with us, shouting in a loud voice the words 'The Visayans and Filipinos are not enemies,' and I am convinced that victory will be almost certain; on the contrary, if timidity should prevail, nothing will be accomplished; but Filipinos are far from being of a cowardly nature when defense of their country is in question, especially the Visayans."

What is shouted during battle? Textbook history teaches us that Andres Bonifacio's rallying cry was "Sugod mga kapatid!" or "Kalayaan!" Common sense, which by the way is not common, should tell us that prior to or aside from these lofty words, Bonifacio surely shouted one of the most glorious words in the Filipino language that begins with "P." It cannot be quoted here, so following Mon Tulfo's example, let's just put it down here as "@#$%^&*!"

To conclude, Aguinaldo wrote:

"In view of this, I entertain the hope that you will not allow the Spanish government to continue there any longer, nor allow them to fortify and renew their courage. I repeat, carry this out in a short time, and if you obey me, it is advisable that the 10th of this month shall not go before they are prevented from constructing more entrenchments, as mentioned above. Families should not leave their respective houses, but dig holes where they can take refuge from the bullets and bury their money in the ground so it may not be discovered.

"Brothers, take courage, for in 20 minutes, the battle will be over and the Spaniards will have surrendered, if you follow the methods I have described above, and such others as may appear to you to be conducive to final success; also we shall probably have no casualties."

In hindsight, we read this and realize it is easier said than done.

* * *

Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu.

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.