BRIDGING THE GAP
Oto: The folk hero of Maasin
The Panay phase of the Filipino-Amnerican War began on February 11, 1889 and ended in the middle part of 1901 upon the surrender of Gen. Martin Delgado, Gen. Adriano Hernandez, Gen. Leandro Fullon, Col. Quintin Salas and other prominent leaders. By the end of 1901, there was no more “ilustrado” revolutionary leader of note left in the field.
Yet, despite the capitulations and subsequent accommodations of prominent ex-revolutionary leaders in the U.S. government, peace was not attained in Panay after 1901. The reports of the U.S. War Department, the Philippine Constabulary which was organized in August 1901 to campaign for the maintenance of peace and order in the archipelago, and the Governor of the Province of Iloilo from 1901 to 1904 show that the expectation for peace was illusory. Resistance to the Americans dubbed as “outlawry” or “banditry” persisted in the Province, as well in other parts of Panay. It was precisely because of this “outlawry” that, despite the organization of the Philippine Constabulary in the islands, the Americans still had to maintain a strong military presence in the area through the retention of garrisons. The U.S. War Department reported in 1904 that Camp Jossman on the island of Guimaras had 10 companies of infantry and 3 companies of Philippine Scouts, while Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City had a garrison of 2 companies of infantry.
The leaders of the supposed “outlaws” were men like Torribio, Sano, Punso and Oto in Iloilo; Ompong and Pitoc in Antique; and Vertosa in Capiz, who established names for themselves after the surrender of the “ilustrado” leaders of the resistance movement in Panay.
Oto Valentin was a native of Maasin, Iloilo and made Barangay Tranka his home, which is approximately 15 kilometers away from the poblacion. No record shows his real name but he was popularly called “Oto”. The old folks of Maasin remember him to be a “tough and robust man, 5’7” tall, with fair complexion and long hair down to his shoulders.”
Despite the label of notoriety attached to him by the Americans, he was considered as a leader and protector of the natives. Whenever the natives of the barangays under his jurisdiction were harmed by those from the outside, none of the latter can enter or leave the area without a wound or injury as penalty for their actions. This was the way, according to the folks, Oto dispensed justice and vindicated the harm done to his people. Because of this, he was respected by the folks and was provided with plenty of food.
The areas under Oto’s protection were the barangays of Bolo, Dagami, Nagba and Tranka. Strangers suspected to be a threat could not go near his territory for his followers guarded the area. Because he was believed to possess an amulet given to him by a giant monkey, he possessed supernatural abilities. Thus, the presence and approach of enemies were detected by him right away (Rendaje 1998).
Oto’s anting-anting or amulet was bvelieved to have helped him evade capture or death by the Americans and his other enemies. In fact, it is said that the only weapons he carried with him everytime he was out of his hide-out were a bankaw (spear) and a sibat (arrow).
Oto and his two brothers, Sano and Punso, plundered the poblacion of Maasin and neighboring towns which were under American control and engaged the U.S. soldiers in many encounters. Branded by the American authorities as an outlaw, Oto was accused of stealing rice and other properties from towns and barangays, and of having murdered some people. The frequent harassments waged by other local groups were even blamed on Oto and his two brothers.
Oto’s struggle against the Americans continued up to the later years but the new rulers failed to capture him. As stability and prosperity began to seep into the lives of the people of Panay, especially in the lowlands, the desire for peace became stronger. Gonzalo Salinas, a native Philippine Constabulary but a friend of Oto, encouraged him to surrender. He assured the latter of the safety of himself and his family after his surrender. Salinas further promised to assist him to avail of an amnesty grant. Oto finally surrendered some time in the 1920s and his going down from the hills was a historic event in Maasin. Hundreds of people from the town and the nearby municipalities came to get a good view of the man who was a famous fugitive for many years and who openly challenged the might of America.
In retrospect, the resistance movement led by Oto was apparently a quasi-religious cult and did not assume a clear political agenda. Yet, his action when critically viewed today, was clearly part of the Filipino desire to be free from foreign domination.