City remembers heroes of Tres de Abril

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City decided to do away with the traditional reenactment and instead opted to commemorate the Battle of Tres de Abril in a simple ceremony.

A Holy Mass was held, followed by a short program, highlighting the floral offering to the Tres de Abril marker in Barangay San Nicolas Proper as the city commemorated yesterday the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Tres de Abril, the first victorious uprising in Cebu in all 333 years of the Spanish colonization.

It was attended by hundreds of City Hall employees and officials, including Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, barangay workers, and residents.

But for the first time, the city government through the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) spearheaded a poster making contest and quiz bowl.

The winners of the contests were awarded during the program.

The quiz bowl winners are Talamban National High School (first), Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School (second), Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School (third). They received certificates and cash prizes amounting to P5,000, P3,000, and P2,000, respectively.

Winners of the poster making contest, on the other hand, are Lenard Infortuna of Talamban National High School (first), Kent Cyril Palag of Talamban NHS (second), and John Paul Christian Jumao-as of Abellana National School (third). They received certificates and cash prizes of P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000, respectively.

Labella, CHAC chairman, said the youth should take part in preserving the history and the significance of the Battle of Tres de Abril.

Osmeña, for his part, said the historic event should remind every Cebuano of the courage and sacrifices, even death, of Cebuano Katipuneros who fought to defend Cebu.

“Atong hatagan og importansya ug pasalamat ta ni Pantaleon “Leon Kilat” Villegas ug iyang mga kauban. People like them makes the Philippines what it is today,” the mayor said.

Villegas led the April 3, 1898 battle but was betrayed and killed in Carcar early morning of April 8 by Cebuanos led by his aide-de-camp Apolinario Alcuitas.

The Tres de Abril battle was the first skirmish between revolutionaries and the Spaniards in Cebu.  —KBQ (FREEMAN)