74. CDO NHCP MARKERS

CDO NHCP MARKERS

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

05 October 2018

My “walking tour” in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) revealed how the people and leaders of this highly urbanized city value history, culture and the arts. The locality is swarming with monuments and historical markers issued by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), private institutions and families concentrated not only in the poblasyon but as far as its rural areas. I took selfies with the six official markers of the NHCP in CDO.

Located near the famous Plaza Divisoria is the Casa del Chino Ygua (Balay nga Bato) at the corner of Velez and Hayes Streets. The two-storey edifice was built in 1882 by the family of Sia Ygua, the first Chinese migrants (from Amoy, China now Xiamen) in CDO who arrived in 1854, and withstood ravages of time; Philippine Revolution, Philippine-American War and World War II. It was the site where Filipino revolutionaries met and gathered for the Fiesta Nacional parade in January 10, 1899. Most of these revolutionaries would die during the Philippine-American War and are buried behind the house. Unfortunately, the house has been renovated twice and its original facade has long been destroyed. The marker was installed on April 7, 2000.

When I reached the city hall, the first to catch my attention is the NHCP marker of the First Hoisting of the Philippine Flag in CDO that was held over a century ago on January 10, 1899 during the town celebration of the First Philippine Republic. The historic event was held in front of the Casa Real (seat of government during the Spanish period), now the City Hall, also at the time that first elected provincial and municipal officials under the Aguinaldo revolutionary government assumed office at Casa Real.

Adjacent the Spanish-period Gaston Park, named after Mayor Segundo Gaston, is a Maternity Hospital building which used to be the site of the Club Popular Pact Resistance where a historical marker is now installed. On January 16, 1900, the people of Cagayan de Misamis (now CDO) learned that the Americans had taken possessions of several provinces in Philippines and they have to decide whether the American invasion of the town should be resisted or not. Scores of patriotic Cagay-anons gathered in the Club Popular, the premiere civic of organization of the town, which once stood at this site. The cry of the populace was "We fight to protect our homes and our liberty." All those present signed the Pact of Resistance and most of those who subsequently died in the Philippine-American War in Cagayan de Misamis were signatories of that Pact.

Near the Club marker is the NHCP (NHI during the time of installation) marker of the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis on April 7, 1900 installed in the year 2000 at the historic Gaston Park. General Nicolas Capistrano led the Filipinos on a surprise dawn attack that was foiled when a lumad warrior shouted a battle cry as they killed an American sentry that aroused the American soldiers. General Capistrano, foreseeing imminent defeat, ordered the retreat of his men. The Americans pursued the Filipino army to the edge of the town. On the part of the Filipinos; 52 were killed, 9 wounded and 10 were captured. On the part of the Americans; 4 were killed and 9 wounded.

About 16 kilometers west of CDO city proper, another NCHP marker was installed to commemorate the Battle of Agusan Hill on May 14, 1900. Capt. Walter B. Elliott, CO of Company I, 40th Infantry Regiment USV, with 80 men proceeded to the village of Agusan, to dislodge about 500 guerillas who were entrenched on a hill with 200 rifles and shotguns. The attack was successful, 2 Americans were killed and 3 wounded. On the side of the Filipinos, 38 were killed, including their commander, Capt. Vicente Roa. The Americans also captured 35 Remington rifles.

Travelling almost ten kilometers south of CDO city proper, I reached the Makahambus Cave where two markers can be seen. One of the markers is the NCHP official plate immortalizing the Battle of Makahambus Hill. The battle, located on a high and steep hill, was one of the victories won by the Filipinos over the Americans during the Philippine-American War. It was fought on June 4, 1900 under the command of Colonel Apolinar Velez of the Maguindanao Battalion. Most of them were volunteers apart from some Filipino army men who joined. Col. Pablo Tecson's Bulacan guerrillas, who included his brothers Alipio and Simon, had constructed a number of fortresses in the mountains. On May 25, they ambushed Capt. Charles D. Roberts' 6 man patrol, killing 3, and taking the rest prisoner, including Capt. Roberts. However, in a humanitarian act, Tecson released the two wounded prisoners, but kept Capt. Roberts captive. The Americans organized a campaign in an attempt to secure Roberts' release. The American was able to destroy some supply dumps in the search for Roberts, but failed to recapture him. American losses totalled as many as 20 dead and wounded and a prisoner of war. The Filipinos, however, suffered one dead and 3 wounded, making this battle a one-sided victory for the Filipinos during the war.

Last on my list is the Macabalan Wharf Marker where the MacArthur Memorial can also be found at Julio Pacana Stree. The wharf was built by the Spaniard of Cagayan de Misamis in the 19^th century and served as a port for sea vessels from Manila, Cebu, Maribojoc (Bohol), Iloilo and Romblon. It served as a defense fort of the Cagayanons to prevent American invasion of the area around January to March of 1900. During World War II, general Douglas Mac Arthur and family docked at the Macabalan Wharf from Corregidor on March 13, 1942 on a Patrol Torpedo (PT) 41 boat with submarine, then proceeded to Del Monte Airfield, Bukidnon and flew to Australia on March 17 of the same year.

Markers are normally neglected by the locals, but for tourists and lovers of history like me, these plates are very interesting and educational. The NHCP is the primary government institution installing these markers and should issue more historical tablets on structures, spots and events in the provinces that contributed to local and national historical development, culture promotion and tradition preservation. The millenials of this LGU, known as the City of Golden Friendship, are very fortunate for their forefathers made sure that private and public commemoratives were installed for this era to remember the past.