‘Battle of Pinaglabanan’ remembered

A week after the "Cry of Pugad Lawin", the Manila katipuneros led by their Supremo, Andres Bonifacio, attacked a Spanish arsenal in San Juan.

This was the first time in the 350 years of Spanish subjugation that the Filipinos mustered the courage to fight their colonizers.

The "Battle of Pinaglabanan" which sparked the Philippine Revolution and which is celebrated on Aug. 30 each year in the municipality of San Juan will be celebrated this year with a different twist.

One hundred five years after the historic event that led to the end of the Spanish dispensation and the proclamation of Philippine independence, the San Juan administration led by Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito will launch a nationwide movement to celebrate this historic event.

In preparation for the said event, an ad hoc committee composed of representatives from the National Historical Institute, the Municipality of San Juan, Balikatan sa Kaunlaran and wives of the Municipal Council members have launched the first phase of the Pinaglabanan Park Project which entails the cleaning and greening of some three hectares of what used to be a temporary dumping site for garbage and habitat of several thousands of squatters.

The park, replete with tropical gardens and rain forests will be developed around the shrine done by famous Filipino sculptor Ed Castrillo and a monument with an "Eternal Flame" to signify the Filipinos’ adherence to the principles of liberty.

The Pinaglabanan Park Project will also commemorate other historical events such as "The Battle of San Juan Bridge" of August 1899 which led to the Philippine-American War where the Philippine Army led by Generals Emilio Aguinaldo and Antonio Luna fought three-fourths of the US Army led by its best generals including Arthur McArthur, Otis, Marshall, Wood and Pershing.