Visayan Heroes: Gen. Arcadio Maxilom: Last warrior standing

CEBU, Philippines - If one has to be strict with local history, December 16, 1898 should be recognized as Cebu’s most historically significant day. On this day, Cebu was freed from the clutches of Spanish colonial rule,” reads an account published in a book entitled “Retracing our Roots” by former The FREEMAN city editor Marivir Montebon.

Tuburan town’s revered leader General Arcadio “Tan Cadio” Maxilom figured prominently in this account being the last fighting man standing.

It was pointed out that the Spaniards were confident that with the death of Leon Kilat on April 8, 1898, the katipuneros had been silenced. After Leon Kilat’s death, hundreds of katipuneros were arrested and executed in the city and its outskirts.

“The Spaniards, with the help of the principalia, recaptured the towns of Carcar, Sibonga, Naga, Tuburan, and Argao. A massacre took place in Talisay involving 56 persons who were made to dig their graves before they were publicly executed,” this was learned.

“On the second week of May 1898, leaders like Jacinto Pacana, Francisco Llamas, Luis Flores, Raphael Tabal, Alejo Minoza and Arcadio Maxilom regrouped in the mountains of Sudlon to launch another offensive.

“The natives provided them food that would sustain them for two months in the battlefield as well as clothing and weapons.

“From the steep mountains of Sudlon, the revolutionaries gathered new strength and spread to the hills of Bitlang, Gintukian, and Budlaan. Later, they reached Pardo, San Fernando, Naga, Barili, Tuburan, Mandaue and Bogo for renewed armed clashes.

“The Cebuano katipuneros were beginning to win the war against the Spaniards at this time.

“But in Manila, a different political climate developed. The Spaniards already ceded the country to a mightier power - America - through the Treaty of Paris which was signed on December 10, 1898.

“In various parts of the country, however, the people had won for themselves their liberation.

Further, the account read that “historian Renato Constantino asserts that the Filipino people had put an end to the Spanish rule because of the overwhelming support among the masses.”

“When victory was finally at hand in Cebu, the guerilla forces of the Katipuneros left the mountains of Sudlon and established the provisional revolutionary government in El Pardo on that fateful Dec. 16, 1898 led by Maxilom who then was given the title Brigadier General by Luis Flores.

It was noted that “it took the Americans less than two days to subjugate Cebu. And in the strictest sense, Cebu experienced true freedom only for two months - that is, from Dec. 16, 1898 to Feb. 21, 1899.

“For a couple of months, Maxilom, backed up by War Secretary Antonio Luna and Apolinario Mabini, Aguinaldo’s chief adviser, remained steadfast in his claim for independence. He appealed to his fellow Cebuanos to bear arms against the Americans “who have hunted us for the past five months.”

So, Maxilom divided the island of Cebu into six military zones, each led by an adjutant, a secretary and a judge advocate.

“His military tactic proved quite effective since several Americans were killed and wounded. Yet this only angered the Americans and prompted them to send more troops and armaments to ensure the city’s capture.

“In order to recover from defeat, Maxilom abolished the military zones and created six guerilla bands on Jan. 16, 1900. The first, fourth and fifth guerilla factions had 10 riflemen, 10 bolomen, two spies and four couriers. The second, third and sixth factions were supported with 20 riflemen, 20 bolomen, four spies and four couriers.

“Each band was stationed near American detachments for the purpose of harassing them. All towns in Cebu, whether occupied by the Americans or not, became actual bases of the guerillas. Although small in numbers, the guerilla forces fought ceaselessly. With the support of the native population, this guerilla tactic proved to be successful.

“Successful encounters in Malabuyoc and Balamban between American soldiers and the natives were recorded.

“However, the increasing pressure for American collaboration weakened the fight for independence. Maxilom tried launching a counter-propaganda by issuing a circular which ordered the execution of traitors after summary trial.

“But with the increasing number of American collaborators, Maxilom had less chances of getting logistical support. Hence, he instituted a system of raising funds to carry on with the resistance movement. Despite this effort, the guerillas were operating on a very low budget.

“Maxilom reportedly sent feelers to the Americans while he was in his hometown in Tuburan, having already felt the pressure of dwindling logistical and social support.

“He was incarcerated at the barracks of Cebu and was released in March 1903 after having been granted pardon by the American authorities. He died in Cebu City after having been bedridden because of a long and painful illness in 1924. His burial at the old Carreta cemetery was attended by prominent people in the city and General Emilio Aguinaldo had purposedly come to Cebu to pay respect to the Cebuano who was among the last to fight when everything else had fallen.”