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This
is the conclusion of the three-part series on the article
written by Rudan Alberto Matig-a about the Tagbilaran's evolution
as a city. Read on.
"As
they approached the government house a carriage drove smartly
up to the barrier and a tall man wearing an opera hat, evening
dress and with a red sash around his waist and a cane in his
hand jumped to the ground approached and stopped. He introduced
himself as Bernabe Reyes the Presidente of the Republic of
Bohol that in accordance with the decree of the council he
had come to surrender the government to the Americans but
he did so under protest and because there was no recourse.
The people of Bohol had no guns and could not resist. He held
in his hand the protest of the government, and desired to
proceed to the Government House and there read it and make
the formal surrender in the presence of the Council and chief
men.
At
the government house above the entrance hung the escutcheon
of Bohol, an elliptical shape with the picture of three mountains
with the rising sun and the side with the legend "Gobierno
Republicano de Bohol" all bordered by the color red,
white and blue.
The
President ascended to a large room looking out upon church
and plaza, and found themselves in the presence of the assembled
dignitaries of Bohol. Perhaps forty or fifty men were gathered
together in this large bare room. The proceedings were brief
and the protest read by the President who spoke English was
delivered to Major Hale; a few short brief remarks were made
by the President of the town of Tagbilaran, and then by the
Councilor of Justice, a Tagalog named Don Eduardo Calceta
but one who had lived for thirty years in Bohol and an able
man.
According
to Scriven, the councilor of Justice in his acceptance of
the American occupation that; "he seemed to fear not
that he should become a citizen of the United States but a
slave and so with others who seemed to think that they would
be deprived of their liberties and reduced to virtual slavery."
They were told that their liberties would be respected, and
the words seemed to cheer them. Indeed since then the more
the people learned of the strangers and of their new country
the more reconciled they became to the soldiers and to the
loss of their shadow of independence. The occupying forces
hoped that the feeling of contentment will grow among the
people.
In
response Maj H.C. Hale said: "To the Presidente -- Your
protest is of no avail. I have the force to take your island
and I have done so. "
In
December of 1898 when the Spaniards left for Spain, Bohol
was left with no central government, no army or police and
there was a state of anarchy. The Cebuanos according to Scriven
appeared insolent to the Boholanos that they robbed the people
and taxed them in the name of the government of Aguinaldo
in Manila. All manners of impostors were foisted upon the
simple Boholanos.
Finally
the people of Bohol with the leadership of Bernabe Reyes rose
from their apathy and formed a native army and drove out the
invaders. Reyes a native of Dauis a mixed of Chinese and Spanish
blood was educated in Hongkong and upon seeing that Bohol
was in chaos without a central government went to Manila and
there through the influence of Mr. Florentino Torres succeeded
in obtaining a decree from Aguinaldo making Bohol an independent
republic. The decree was signed by Aguinaldo, January 8, 1899.
He
returned and visited various towns of the island, conducted
elections of local presidents who in turn were to meet at
the capital as representatives of the people of Bohol and
there elected a president of the provisional republic and
established a government. A constitution for all the islands
had been drawn up by Aguinaldo, was adopted with suitable
modifications for Bohol, and on June 11, 1899 the presidentes
of the towns met at the capital Tagbilaran and as representatives
of the people elected Mr. Bernabe Reyes, President of the
Republic of Bohol, with three ministers or councilors of Justice,
Police, and the Treasury to form his Cabinet and execute the
laws.
A
budget was prepared, based upon probable estimates; a system
of taxation was established; a police or military force created;
a postal service provided; schools, road building and internal
improvements commenced. In short everything was done that
should in time convert Bohol into a well governed prosperous
community, independent and self sustaining."
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* * * *
For comments
and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail addresses:
obiter@boholchronicle.com
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