Battle of Binakayan
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Binakayan was fought on November 9-11, 1896, and is considered the first major victory of Filipino revolutionaries during Philippine Revolution
. The battle took place at the town of Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit) and lasted for two days after Spanish retreat. Similar battle took place at the same day in the adjacent town of Noveleta
.
, there were two popular councils, formally called as the Sangguniang Bayan which is mandated by the Katipunan
to preside its members over its respective areas. One of this council is the Magdalo Council
which was headed by Katipunero Baldomero Aguinaldo
and encompasses the political municipalities of Alfonso, Bailen (now General Emilio Aguinaldo), Indang
, Magallanes
, Maragondon
, Naic, Rosario
, San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias, Cavite), San Roque (now part of Cavite City
), Tanza
, and Ternate. The other council, Magdiwang, is headed by Mariano Álvarez
and occupies the towns of Amadeo
, Bacoor
, Carmen
, Perez Dasmariñas, Kawit, Mendez
, Núñez (now part of Mendez), and Silang
. Magdalos name originated from Aguinaldo's nom-de-plume for Katipunan which rooted from Santa Magdalena, Cavite's patron saint. Magdalo held its capital at Noveleta
, while Magdiwang was in Imus
.
On August 31, 1896, Aguinaldo successfully led a small uprising in Kawit, in which he defeated and killed the Spanish commander of the Guardia Civil. Because of that, the leadership was passed from his brother, Baldomero, to him, where most of Magdalo members and revolutionists regard him as their natural leader.
Starting at the onset of the revolution, Spanish naval raids are conducted to the shores of Cavite
, where cannonball
s bombarded fortifications of the revolutionaries in Noveleta and Kawit. One of the most fortified location in Noveleta are the Dalahican and Dagatan shores, defended by Magdiwang soldiers, while the adjacent fishing village of Binakayan in Kawit was fortified by Magdalo. Spanish naval operations are determined to crush revolutionary fortification in these areas, mainly because the lake around Dalahican was so strategic that it is connected to the interior of Cavite. Apart from defending Binakayan, the Magdalo soldiers also kept the lower part of Dagatan up until Cavite's border near Morong.
in Imus, Cavite
, Governor-General Ramón Blanco y Erenas
ordered the 4th Battalion of Cazadores from Spain
to aid him in annihilating revolution in the province. On November 3, 1896, the battalion arrived carrying a squadron of 1,328 men and some 55 generals. Apart from that, Blanco ordered some 5,000 men when he learned that insurgents already occupied most of Las Piñas and Parañaque towns in the outskirts of Manila.
Meanwhile, revolutionaries entrenched a mile and a half long stockade
and trench
es on Noveleta
along Dalahican, which cuts land reinforcements towards Cavite City
. The city, the capital of the province and connected by a narrow isthmus to the mainland Cavite, holds the Punta Sangley and Blanco feared of the city falling to the hands of the rebels. Each day, the stockade advances towards the isthmus. To prevent further mishaps and the fall of whole Cavite, Blanco launched twin attacks to the stockades in both Cavite el Viejo and Noveleta.
On November 8, Blanco commissioned Colonel José Marina to command the attack on Binakayan front in Cavite el Viejo. The column assigned to Marina to stop insurgents in Binakayan includes about 1,600 marine infantry, two companies from 73rd Native Regiment, a company of artillery, 60 military engineers from the 6th Company of Engineers, two naval warships, and four gunboats. The 73rd Native Regiment includes Filipino native auxiliaries. Forts in Cavite were opened to fire for the approaching revolutionaries, while warships Castilla, Reina Cristina, and gunboats Bulusan, Leyte, Villalobos and Cebu destroyed stockades in Noveleta and Cavite el Viejo.
The first attack on November 8 coincides with Cavite City's weeklong fiesta
celebrating its patron saint Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga
, or Virgin of Solitude. Despite the wails of revolution, pilgrims of the Solitude flocked the city, whereby revolutionists cooperated and attended all of the festivities and celebrations. The sound of cannonball hitting the shores of Cavite was only taken by local townsfolk as the enemy's contribution to the fiesta. By nightfall, Spanish firings intensified, but the rebels took no action to honor the Virgin of Solitude.
approached entrenchments at Dalahican.
Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo
, the leader of the council defending Binakayan, headed in the boundary of Laguna and Batangas
, thinking that the enemies would approach there. When he heard the news that Spanish forces are building up in Binakayan, he hurried back to defend the village. He was surprised to see that the Spanish forces cannot enter the excellent trench designed by General Edilberto Evangelista
.
The next day, an old woman named "Gloria" (Gregoria Patricio-Montoya) joined Aguinaldo while defending the fort. Because of age, Aguinaldo requested Gloria to leave the fortification, but she refused to. She said that she wanted to revenge the death of his Katipunero husband who died a day ago during the attacks in Dalahican. To serve the post, Aguinaldo gave Gloria several units to delay the incoming Spanish reinforcement marching from Bacoor, Cavite
.
One of the most significant and memorable contribution of Gloria to the Battle of Binakayan was when she, herself only, dismantled the wooden bridge in Mabolo River, which connects the towns of Bacoor and Cavite el Viejo. Because of that, Spanish reinforcement were delayed in coming to Binakayan.
On November 11, the Spanish forces advanced to destroy enemy entrenchment with no development of opposition from the rebels. When the army reached the road forking towards Cavite el Viejo and Imus, the location became overwhelmed with a rain of projectiles in a long line of entrenchments at short range. The main body for defending the fortifications were 22 Remington rifles, a German Mauser rifle and some native cannon gunned with improvised missiles made of scraped irons, which, were destructive of "about 500 arms' length". At each advancement, more Spanish were killed; even the officers. When the soldiers saw that their lieutenants and generals were killed by the defense of Binakayan, they were demoralized: some retreated back to their ships. A small group led by Col. Marina (who had been wounded three times) rallied towards the entrenchment in Dalahican. Thus this terminates the attack on the fortification in Binakayan.
The demoralized Spanish troops left about 200 guns, generally Mausers and Remingtons, and 15 loads of cartridge.
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
. The battle took place at the town of Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit) and lasted for two days after Spanish retreat. Similar battle took place at the same day in the adjacent town of Noveleta
Noveleta, Cavite
The Municipality of Noveleta is an urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 46,336 people. The current mayor is Engr...
.
Background
In CaviteCavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
, there were two popular councils, formally called as the Sangguniang Bayan which is mandated by the Katipunan
Katipunan
The Katipunan was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The society was initiated by Filipino patriots Andrés Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and others on the night...
to preside its members over its respective areas. One of this council is the Magdalo Council
Magdalo (Katipunan faction)
The Magdalo faction of the Katipunan was a chapter in Cavite, mostly led by ilustrados of that province.It was named after Mary Magdalene...
which was headed by Katipunero Baldomero Aguinaldo
Baldomero Aguinaldo
Baldomero Aguinaldo y Baloy was a leader of the Philippine Revolution. He was the first cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, as well as the grandfather of Cesar Virata, a former prime minister in the 1980s.-Early life:Baldomero Aguinaldo was born in Kawit, Cavite...
and encompasses the political municipalities of Alfonso, Bailen (now General Emilio Aguinaldo), Indang
Indang, Cavite
Indang is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines.Although Indang is a small municipality, it is starting to be developed. Now, fast-food restaurants such as Jollibee, have been opened up .Indang has a public market, or palengke, where goods such as vegetables, seafood,...
, Magallanes
Magallanes, Cavite
Magallanes is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 18,890 people. The town is named after Ferdinand Magellan.-History:...
, Maragondon
Maragondon, Cavite
The Municipality of Maragondon is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. Maragondon is 54 kilometers away from Manila going southeast. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 33,604 people...
, Naic, Rosario
Rosario, Cavite
The Municipality of Rosario is a first class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 94,228 people in an area of 38.16 square kilometers, making it the second most densely populated city/municipality in Cavite after General...
, San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias, Cavite), San Roque (now part of Cavite City
Cavite City
The City of Cavite is a fourth class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. The city occupies a hook shaped peninsula jutting out into Manila Bay. Cavite City used to be the capital of the province...
), Tanza
Tanza, Cavite
Municipality of Tanza is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines...
, and Ternate. The other council, Magdiwang, is headed by Mariano Álvarez
Mariano Álvarez
Mariano Álvarez was a Filipino revolutionary and politician.-Pre-war life:Álvarez was born in Noveleta, Cavite. He received formal schooling at the San José College in Manila, and obtained a teacher's diploma. He returned to Cavite and worked as a schoolteacher in Naic and Maragondon. He was...
and occupies the towns of Amadeo
Amadeo, Cavite
The Municipality of Amadeo is a fourth class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is nicknamed the "Coffee Capital of the Philippines". According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 43,722 people.Amadeo is best known for their Pahimis Festival, which showcases the town's...
, Bacoor
Bacoor, Cavite
The Municipality of Bacoor is a first class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is a lone district congressional district of Cavite...
, Carmen
Carmona, Cavite
The Municipality of Carmona is a first class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 68,135 people in a land area of 30.92 square kilometres....
, Perez Dasmariñas, Kawit, Mendez
Mendez, Cavite
Mendez is a 4th class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 26,757 people in an area of 43.27 square kilometers.-History:...
, Núñez (now part of Mendez), and Silang
Silang, Cavite
The Municipality of Silang is a first class landlocked municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2009 census, it has a population of 234,285 people in an area of . Silang is located in the eastern section of Cavite...
. Magdalos name originated from Aguinaldo's nom-de-plume for Katipunan which rooted from Santa Magdalena, Cavite's patron saint. Magdalo held its capital at Noveleta
Noveleta, Cavite
The Municipality of Noveleta is an urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 46,336 people. The current mayor is Engr...
, while Magdiwang was in Imus
Imus, Cavite
The Municipality of Imus is a first-class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines, and it is the officially designated capital of Cavite...
.
On August 31, 1896, Aguinaldo successfully led a small uprising in Kawit, in which he defeated and killed the Spanish commander of the Guardia Civil. Because of that, the leadership was passed from his brother, Baldomero, to him, where most of Magdalo members and revolutionists regard him as their natural leader.
Starting at the onset of the revolution, Spanish naval raids are conducted to the shores of Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
, where cannonball
Cannonball
A cannonball is round shot ammunition for a cannon.By analogy, cannonball is also the name or nickname of:* A diving technique in swimming; unlike competitive diving techniques, however, its purpose is to maximize, rather than minimize, splash upon water entry.People* Cannonball Adderley, jazz alto...
s bombarded fortifications of the revolutionaries in Noveleta and Kawit. One of the most fortified location in Noveleta are the Dalahican and Dagatan shores, defended by Magdiwang soldiers, while the adjacent fishing village of Binakayan in Kawit was fortified by Magdalo. Spanish naval operations are determined to crush revolutionary fortification in these areas, mainly because the lake around Dalahican was so strategic that it is connected to the interior of Cavite. Apart from defending Binakayan, the Magdalo soldiers also kept the lower part of Dagatan up until Cavite's border near Morong.
The battle
Alarmed by previous siege done by Emilio AguinaldoEmilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
in Imus, Cavite
Imus, Cavite
The Municipality of Imus is a first-class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines, and it is the officially designated capital of Cavite...
, Governor-General Ramón Blanco y Erenas
Ramón Blanco y Erenas
Ramón Blanco y Erenas, marqués de Peña Plata was a Spanish brigadier and colonial administrator. Born in San Sebastián, he was sent to the Caribbean in 1858 and governed Cuba and Santo Domingo...
ordered the 4th Battalion of Cazadores from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to aid him in annihilating revolution in the province. On November 3, 1896, the battalion arrived carrying a squadron of 1,328 men and some 55 generals. Apart from that, Blanco ordered some 5,000 men when he learned that insurgents already occupied most of Las Piñas and Parañaque towns in the outskirts of Manila.
Meanwhile, revolutionaries entrenched a mile and a half long stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
and trench
Trench
A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground. Trenches are generally defined by being deeper than they are wide , and by being narrow compared to their length ....
es on Noveleta
Noveleta, Cavite
The Municipality of Noveleta is an urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 46,336 people. The current mayor is Engr...
along Dalahican, which cuts land reinforcements towards Cavite City
Cavite City
The City of Cavite is a fourth class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. The city occupies a hook shaped peninsula jutting out into Manila Bay. Cavite City used to be the capital of the province...
. The city, the capital of the province and connected by a narrow isthmus to the mainland Cavite, holds the Punta Sangley and Blanco feared of the city falling to the hands of the rebels. Each day, the stockade advances towards the isthmus. To prevent further mishaps and the fall of whole Cavite, Blanco launched twin attacks to the stockades in both Cavite el Viejo and Noveleta.
On November 8, Blanco commissioned Colonel José Marina to command the attack on Binakayan front in Cavite el Viejo. The column assigned to Marina to stop insurgents in Binakayan includes about 1,600 marine infantry, two companies from 73rd Native Regiment, a company of artillery, 60 military engineers from the 6th Company of Engineers, two naval warships, and four gunboats. The 73rd Native Regiment includes Filipino native auxiliaries. Forts in Cavite were opened to fire for the approaching revolutionaries, while warships Castilla, Reina Cristina, and gunboats Bulusan, Leyte, Villalobos and Cebu destroyed stockades in Noveleta and Cavite el Viejo.
The first attack on November 8 coincides with Cavite City's weeklong fiesta
Fiesta
Fiesta, a Spanish word that means "party", "feast" or "festival", may refer to:-Film:*Fiesta , a 1941 American film directed by LeRoy Prinz*Fiesta , a 1947 MGM film starring Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalbán-Music:...
celebrating its patron saint Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga
Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, also called "Reina de Cavite" and "La Virgen de la Soledad", is the patroness of Cavite City.-Description:...
, or Virgin of Solitude. Despite the wails of revolution, pilgrims of the Solitude flocked the city, whereby revolutionists cooperated and attended all of the festivities and celebrations. The sound of cannonball hitting the shores of Cavite was only taken by local townsfolk as the enemy's contribution to the fiesta. By nightfall, Spanish firings intensified, but the rebels took no action to honor the Virgin of Solitude.
Attack on Binakayan
At 6 AM on November 9, 1896, and after series of bombardment, Spanish soldiers launched a siege towards rebel fortifications in Binakayan. The columns were two-fold, the first one, commanded by Col. José Marina headed to Binakayan, while the second one, by General Diego de los RíosDiego de los Ríos
Diego de los Ríos was the last Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines. He became the governor during the Spanish American War with the capital at Iloilo on August 13, 1898. He later transferred his capital to Fort Pilar in Zamboanga when he saw the Visayan rebels closing on him in October of...
approached entrenchments at Dalahican.
Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
, the leader of the council defending Binakayan, headed in the boundary of Laguna and Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
, thinking that the enemies would approach there. When he heard the news that Spanish forces are building up in Binakayan, he hurried back to defend the village. He was surprised to see that the Spanish forces cannot enter the excellent trench designed by General Edilberto Evangelista
Edilberto Evangelista
Edilberto Evangelista was a Filipino civil engineer who trained in the University of Ghent, Belgium. His popularity by the time of the Philippine Revolution could have made him president rather than Emilio Aguinaldo, lest he was killed by a bullet in the head.-Early Life and Career:He was born in...
.
The next day, an old woman named "Gloria" (Gregoria Patricio-Montoya) joined Aguinaldo while defending the fort. Because of age, Aguinaldo requested Gloria to leave the fortification, but she refused to. She said that she wanted to revenge the death of his Katipunero husband who died a day ago during the attacks in Dalahican. To serve the post, Aguinaldo gave Gloria several units to delay the incoming Spanish reinforcement marching from Bacoor, Cavite
Bacoor, Cavite
The Municipality of Bacoor is a first class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is a lone district congressional district of Cavite...
.
One of the most significant and memorable contribution of Gloria to the Battle of Binakayan was when she, herself only, dismantled the wooden bridge in Mabolo River, which connects the towns of Bacoor and Cavite el Viejo. Because of that, Spanish reinforcement were delayed in coming to Binakayan.
On November 11, the Spanish forces advanced to destroy enemy entrenchment with no development of opposition from the rebels. When the army reached the road forking towards Cavite el Viejo and Imus, the location became overwhelmed with a rain of projectiles in a long line of entrenchments at short range. The main body for defending the fortifications were 22 Remington rifles, a German Mauser rifle and some native cannon gunned with improvised missiles made of scraped irons, which, were destructive of "about 500 arms' length". At each advancement, more Spanish were killed; even the officers. When the soldiers saw that their lieutenants and generals were killed by the defense of Binakayan, they were demoralized: some retreated back to their ships. A small group led by Col. Marina (who had been wounded three times) rallied towards the entrenchment in Dalahican. Thus this terminates the attack on the fortification in Binakayan.
The demoralized Spanish troops left about 200 guns, generally Mausers and Remingtons, and 15 loads of cartridge.