BRIDGING THE GAP
The brave and patriotic WV freedom fighters
From the initial years of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the people of Western Visayas had proven themselves brave enough to challenge the Castillian might and arms. Their initial leaders were mostly the babaylans, who were believed to possess supernatural abilities and were very influential in pre-colonial societies. All throughout the Spanish rule up to the revolutionary period, the record of colonial administration in the region is replete with uprisings and unrests, a testimony to the bravery and patriotism of the Ilonggo-Bisayans.
The love of the Ilonggo-Bisaya for freedom and independence was further tested in the Propaganda Movement, the Revolution against Spain and the Filipino-American War.
Graciano Lopez-Jaena from Jaro, Iloilo City was one of the outstanding Filipino propagandists. He was the first editor of the La Solidaridad, the nationalist publication launched by the Filipino patriots in Spain. He was the foremost orator of his day as well as a fearless writer. His novel, Fray Botod, which satirized the Spanish friars, caused him to flee to Spain. He was never allowed to come home to his country and his persecution even included depriving him of financial support from his family and relatives. Due to abject poverty and deprived of having decent meals and medicines, he became sick of tuberculosis, died in Spain, and was buried in an unmarked grave.
In the Philippine Revolution that broke out in 1896, General Martin Delgado proclaimed an independent government in his hometown of Santa Barbara, Iloilo in November 1898 after declaring an open defiance of the Spaniards. This act was repeated by Gen. Adriano Hernandez of Dingle, Iloilo who staged his own "Cry of Lincud". General Delgado, together with the other brave Ilonggo-Bisaya patriots, like Col. Quintin Salas of Dumangas, Iloilo, waged a determined war against the Spaniards in Panay. In the end, victory was won and the last Spanish governor-general in the Philippines and his troops surrendered to the native troops under Delgado in December 1898.
Other brave and free patriots were active in the other parts of Western Visayas. In Aklan, there were Gen. Candido Iban and Gen. Francisco del Castillo. In the Capiz section, Gen. Esteban Contreras made a significant dent in the Spanish control and, in Antique, there was Gen. Leandro Fullon who drove out the enemies from the province. Across the Iloilo Strait, in Negros Occidental, two Ilonggo-Bisaya patriots - Gen. Aniceto Lacson and Gen. Juan Araneta - would not be left behind by their counterparts in Panay. They also succeeded in ending Spanish rule in the province after a brilliant deception of the enemy holed up in Bacolod.
During the Japanese occupation of the country, freedom fighters from Western Visayas fought hard against the enemies. Sgt. Jose Calugas of Leon, Iloilo received the highest medal for bravery and valor while the Philippine Commonwealth Iloilo governor, Tomas Confesor of Cabatuan was the recepient of high commendation and honor from the U.S. Congress for his "No-Surrender" policy against the invaders, a true measure of his loyalty and patriotism.
As can be seen, the Ilonggo-Bisaya had proven themselves as brave and valiant freedom fighters throughout the country's history. This clearly makes them among the great patriots in the annals of the struggles of the Filipinos to become a free and independent nation.