ILOILO – This province’s celebration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12 will be held in Santa Barbara town where, during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas was formally inaugurated at the town plaza in 1898.
This year’s celebration theme is “Pagsuong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas” (Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning).
Mayor Rema Somo said the celebration would be “simple” due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
But it would still be meaningful, Somo stressed.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Cong. Michael Gorrceta (2nd District) are the guests of honor.
The Philippine flag will be raised at 8 a.m.
The public plaza of Santa Barbara was site of the first raising of the Philippine flag outside Luzon on Nov. 17, 1898 five months after General Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
This revolutionary act is now known as the “Cry of Santa Barbara” and also marked the inauguration of the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas.
Ilonggo revolution hero General Martin Teofilo Delgado led the “Cry of Santa Barbara”.
Three weeks before the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas was formally inaugurated in Santa Barbara, Delgado seized control of the municipal building and declared support for the revolution in Luzon.
His move surprised the Spanish authorities who had, four months earlier, appointed him as captain and commander of the Volunteer Militia in Santa Barbara.
Delgado was born in Santa Barbara on Nov. 11, 1858, to a rich and aristocratic Spanish mestizo family.
According to Jose Nereo Lujan, resident historian of Iloilo province, Delgado was educated at Santa Barbara Parochial School, Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer in the then Jaro town (now a district in Iloilo City), and at the Ateneo Municipal in Manila.
After earning his diploma as a school teacher, Delgado returned to his hometown and taught in a public school for some time.
“At the age of 25, he was chosen teniente mayor, later made capital municipal and juez de paz, which positions he held with distinction. Shortly after Commodore George Dewey had smashed the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, and blockaded the capital, the hard-pressed Spanish colonial government organized Filipino volunteer militia in the different regions of the Philippines,” Lujan said.
The Politico-Military Governor of Iloilo Province, General Ricardo Monet, appointed Delgado as captain and commander of the voluntarios in Santa Barbara.
“Delgado, however, turned around and joined the revolution against Spain,” Lujan said. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
