I-Witness: 'Ang Huling Katipunero: Macario Sakay,' dokumentaryo ni Howie Severino (full episode)

Nowadays, you wouldn't realize that the streets of Binondo and Tondo in Manila have historical value. Almost no buildings way back during the Spanish colonial years remain standing. Here at Calle Tabora (Tabora Street) right next to the Divisoria mall There was a teenage girl that gave birth around circa 1870 He was an "illegitimate child", so they say. But he made a name for being one of the greatest warriors in his time. Severino: "Do you know who Macario Sakay is? Have you heard of the name "

Macario Sakay"? bystander: "Macario Sakay? Is he like a hero? Severino: Ah yes... Severino: "Did you know he was born here? At Tabora Street." bystander: "Oh no I don't know." Severino: "How about you, do you know Macario Sakay?" Lady in red: "I don't even know who he is... (chuckles)" Severino: "Have you heard of the name "Macario Sakay"? "Did you know he was born here (on Tabora Street)?" "You guys don't know who Macario Sakay is?" bystander: "Macario Sakay..." Severino: "do you know who Macar

io Sakay is?" Vendor: "Isn't he a hero?" "I just don't recall which others (heroes or figures) was he working with at the time" "It was like Gregorio Del Pilar, there they are one of those who were the contemporaries of Macario Sakay in those days" Statue of Macario Sakay Indeed, Del Pilar and Sakay were both involved in the Revolution led by Andres Bonifacio But, for a long time the name "Macario Sakay" Before it was forgotten It was heavily slandered. During times of war, even to the present d

ay It was common among rebels, warriors and fighters to hide in the mountains of Tanay, in the Province of Rizal. And this cave, Calinawan cave, was a frequent hiding spot and a refuge among the rebels Guide: "Okay please, let's go down carefully because it is very muddy" "Slippery." Guide: "Now, here at Calinawan Cave" "We will find lots of interesting stuff here." "We have what we call 'optical illusions'" "That is the face of a person in 'side view'" "This one on the other hand" "Is a formati

on of a skull of a person" "We also have here stalactites" "There are stalagmites, columns, curtains" "helictites" "Those right up the cave ceilings there are natural crystals formations" "Now one the other hand, the reason this is called a 'grotto'" "is because that small stalagmite" "It looks like the Virgin Mary" "Right here is our 'pet'" Severino: "looks like a horse" Guide: "It looks like a T-Rex" Guide: "No, most of them are already adults" "Because the fruit bats here happens to be small

ones" Severino: "Are they mating?" Guide: "No, they are hugging each other because of the cold" Severino: "Oh, and it looks like they are all trying to fit into a small hole" Because animals beside the fruit bats are quite rare here It is possible that these fruit bats Were a source of food for those who hid here before Guide: "Right now, there are fewer fruit bats living in this part of the cave" Severino: "How do they taste?" Guide: "Taste like chicken." Guide: "These bats are hunted for food.

" Not only do they have food, they have a big space that almost looks like a room. Severino: "You can have meetings here..." Guide: "Yes, some examples include Japanese soldiers" "back in World War II" "Right in that spacious part of the cave" "They turned that into a receiving room, an office" "and as a hospital as well" Guide: "Keep your heads down" Guide: "Good thing there isn't any more water" "The path we're walking on is slippery" "We're walking on 'clay soil'" "Now, this is what we call '

Sole Eater'" "Sole Eater" "They eat the soles of your shoes" "That is because they are sticky" "We're walking on clay soils, you can use that to make pottery, vases" "So Calinawan Cave" "served as a tunnel passage" "to get to distant places" "Such as Montalban" "Although you will be travelling for 6 days and 6 nights" "That's just here inside this tunnel" "During the Spanish period" "When it was not yet inhabited by Japanese soldiers" Severino: "people do that during the Spanish period?" Guide:

"Yes." "This was a tunnel passage" "This is the heart of Calinawan" There were a lot of stories about this cave Others are hard to prove, yet sounded convincing Just as this cave was purported to have taken refuge the most wanted rebel active in the town of Tanay In the early years of the American period It was reported that Sakay was in Tanay But the exact location was not clearly identified in surviving documents My cave guide (Chris) also have a personal story about Macario Sakay Her surname

before she got married was Sakay Guide (Chris): "Even back when I was in school we already knew" "that somehow we may have a connection to Macario" "Because of course our surname is Sakay... although of course our schoolmates used to tease us" "Oh! Maybe they're a family of outlaws" (chuckles) "Well there you go people knew Macario Sakay as an outlaw" I went to Chris' parents, uncles, and aunts of Chris living in Angono, Rizal Severino: "Good Afternoon!" "Good afternoon as well" "My mother" (sha

kes hand) "Did you come from Tanay?" "Yes." "I was talking to Chris... she's my daughter." I later learned that because of the constant teasing Some of the family members changed their surnames "You changed your surnames in different ways" "What are other variations?" "Mangsakay" "Madla?" "Madlangsakay" "Do you remember a time when there were those who reacted to your surname?" Rolando Sakay: "Yes, there was." "It used to be like 'Oh there, those people are bad people, savages "they are a family

of outlaws and bandits... stuff like that." "But I don't really react that much because "most of what they know are probably "just rumors "So I tell them that those accusations are not true." The idea came from a movie "Alyas Sakay" He was portrayed by the actor Mario Montenegro And that one I actually watched that film It was in black and white back then around 1964 or 1965 Severino: "How was he portrayed there?" Sakay: "Definitely like an outlaw." "Long-haired, mounting a horse, "But at th

e same time, he was like a Robin Hood" "One who helps the poor." "For example, those who are rich "who are of Spanish descent" "He definitely robs them" "He will then give the loot to the those who" "don't have food, to poor people, but he gives it out" The first film depicting Macario Sakay that was released in 1939 During the American period It etched in the minds of many Filipinos the image of Sakay as an outlaw It was even made by the national artist Lamberto Abellana The film was a box-offi

ce hit That concurs with the propaganda of the American colonists, Sakay's enemies for 8 years I noticed in this tarpaulin that it was in the poblacion of Tanay There's a few of our national heroes depicted in the illustration yet that one hero that lived for so long in Tanay and fought here Is not in that tarpaulin. Sakay grew up in Tondo Carrying only the name of his single mother This district is used to be known for its many industries Which allowed Sakay to work as a tailor, barber, and as

a carromata (kalesa) maker. "The Katipunan also started in Tondo in Calle Azcarraga, in Tondo proper And let's recall that Macario Sakay is the best friend of Andres Bonifacio." "So if you look at it more closely Andres Bonifacio is not just working class we can also consider him as a theater actor." Bonifacio and Sakay met at the Teatro Porvenir in Tondo The ability of "artist-activists" to roam around to perform became an opportunity to organize in different places without it being obvious to

the Guardia Civil "The Teatro Porvenir in Tondo it was like a form of entertainment." yet it was not only a form of entertainment because they perform plays of stories that seek to awaken consciousness." "For example, one favorite story of Sakay, Bonifacio, and Aurelio Tolentino Is the story entitled "Bernando Carpio." So the story of Bernardo Carpio is about a person that saves oppressed people But what happened to (Carpio) is that he was locked up by nefarious forces in the mountains mountains

of Montalban Which is where the Pamitinan cave is located." Sakay was one of the early members of the Katipunan A movement led by Bonifacio to fight for the independence from Spain. It might have helped Bonifacio and Sakay their experiences in the theater in the most important role that they played as true leaders. Severino: "When I saw this higher part of the cave "I remembered the stage in Macario Sakay's youth when he became an actor in comedies and at dramas occuring then at Tondo Macario S

akay might have stood here, delivered a speech, and convinced his comrades sitting down below to continue the fight of the Katipunan. Bonifacio has been dead for many years when Macario Sakay camped here. The Spanish have already been defeated But there is a new colonizer While the old revolutionaries are busy cooperating with the Americans There is one that didn't surrender Now, what the Americans think of what Sakay is doing is something that reeks of rebellion and banditry. And they exaggerat

ed his actions by claiming that Sakay and his comrades rape that they burn people's homes Sometimes, the Americans would burn houses themselves and blame it on Sakay. Instead of being totally defeated by the Filipinos Spain sold the Philippines to the United States to the tune of $20 million at the Treaty of Paris in 1898. War erupted between the Americans and the First Republic of the Philippines led by Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo was captured after two years And pledged to be an ally of the Un

ited States The revolutionaries that didn't surrender were considered bandits and outlaws by the Americans and will be tried for the death penalty under the law. But Macario Sakay not only continued the fight He also formed a new government that accords with the advocacy and the vision of the Katipunan. The "Republika ng Katagalugan." Sakay became its president. Severino: "So one criticism about the 'first revolutionaries' that "that what they only wanted was 'regime change' but a broader change

in society is something that they didn't really aspire to. "Was Sakay different from them?" From that viewpoint?" Rafael: "His emphasis was the original 'Katipunan spirit' which emphasizes on egalitarianism, that we should act with compassion towards others those things... So "So it's like he revived the original spirit Which he and his comrades felt that it was destroyed that it was corrupted by the Malolos Republic... That was the problem. Severino: "So, is he in favor of say "redistribution

of wealth and land?" "Does he hold views like that?" "I don't know if he went that far" "But I think that in general "He seems much more democratic-minded." Sakay administered his 'Republika ng Katagalugan' for four years. Which in reality is a guerilla movement that has chapters in Manila, Mount Banahaw, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, and the present-day province of Rizal which was once the province of Morong. There was a quality that Sakay and his comrades possessed that left a mark in Phi

lippine history. "He once said 'Until our homeland doesn't achieve freedom I will not get a haircut.'" "What happened there was that the Americans are set to hunt them down "One time, they thought that they should rest by the riverside... and while they are resting, Macario Sakay got himself a haircut. While he was getting a haircut, The Americans suddenly went on to attack surprising Sakay's army They were almost captured But they were able to run and fight back They weren't arrested. But Macar

io Sakay believed that his attempt to get a haircut was the reason why we almost got captured. So this means, I will fight with a long hair. and the duration of the fighting could be as long as my hair. He's pretty badass So his comrades followed his style Sakay campaigned for independence in the remote towns of the Southern Tagalog. His supporters multiplied And Sakay's guerilla army achieved numerous successes in battle. Which led the Americans declared Martial Law In Sakay's territory and the

Americans poured its military forces there. The Americans threatened Filipinos That it cannot form its own government until Sakay surrenders. Later on, with the help of an illustrado politician named Dominador Gomez He convinced Sakay to come down from the mountains to talk with the Americans. He was given a safe conduct pass So he could freely enter Manila. The problem, however, is that the people applauded him he was welcomed by the people as the nation's hero. While he was being given a welc

ome party he was suddenly captured and arrested So there you go, he was arrested the promise for his freedom was insincere and they were legally charged for cases of banditry rape, arson, all kinds of criminal charges that were blamed on them Sakay and his camp denied the accusations Sakay and one of his generals, Lucio De Vega, were brought to the Old Bilibid Prison, presently the Manila City Jail After that, Sakay and De Vega were brought to the to the gallows Back in those days, the gallows k

ept a hang; it has a noose, and the stool you are standing on will collapse causing the spine to be stretched to a point that it kills the victim That's what happened to Macario Sakay and Lucio De Vega Their last words Macario Sakay's last words were apparently "Adios Filipinas" The revolutionary and nationalist Filipinos were hanged as outlaws a slander that was more thoroughly stressed in films a slander, that continues to persecute the subsequent generations of the Sakays. For almost a hundre

d years, Sakay was always considered a villain in films The public does not recognize him as a hero that fought for freedom Dialogue: "President of outlaws!" But since the 1990's, Sakay began to be viewed differently in films. Beginning with Raymond Red's film "Sakay" which was released in 1993 Now, we see that history has its way straigthening itself. So, we can see that even if you are called a bad person later on, someone will read the records relating to our lives and people will see what ki

nd of a life did we embody. and what kinds of convictions and principles did we fight for A military camp previously known as Camp Eldridge in Los Baños, Laguna Was renamed Camp General Macario Sakay A recognition of his contributions as a general and a warrior of the Revolution Because he brings with him the thought and spirit of Bonifacio to the end, He was referred to as the "Last Katipunero." The family Sakay now openly prides in their ancestor's legacy. It was with the Sakays that I realize

d that it seems history is repeating itself. Rolando Sakay: "In these present times, with the intentions of China, there might be a need for someone similar to a Macario Sakay just like your question whether we should have a Macario Sakay in this time and age In my view, indeed I think we should. Severino: "Why?" R. Sakay: "Because of the gains we have now We were freed from the Spaniards, we were freed from the Americans We were given our sovereignty Maybe that is something that we should fight

for However, it seems that it makes sense to find a Macario Sakay to rule to truly fight for our sovereignty But maybe one Macario Sakay isn't enough, we probably need thousands of Macario Sakay." Here in Tondo where everything started Where the Katipunan was founded Where the political consciousness of Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and many others were awakened freedom now possesses a fierce dimension to it Severino: "Of course, Sakay's relatives idealizes their ancestor Well now our enemy is Chi

na yet it seems that it is easy for us to fold here you go, the Americans are here in Manila Americans have colonized the Philippines and Sakay is still fighting." "What is your reaction to that find of a perspective?" Rafael: "While you are in a fight, what that actually means, what's important there It's not whether you win or lose but that you are all in solidarity and in that solidarity, you are helping form a sense of belonging, a community." "In an act of surrendering, it is as if you are

saying 'let's go on our separate ways' that we shouldn't care about each other anymore That it doesn't matter anymore if we will be abused That we don't care about others anymore That is the painful part there." Each generation goes through serious setbacks And it rests with each one of any generation the challenge of how to respond There are those who fold There are even those who aid the enemy But there are still those who protect and fight to the death Sakay: "You are sinning against your mot

herland..." History itself will reveal of whom among us are the outlaws or traitors or that the outlaws themselves Are the heroes From Tondo, Manila I am Howie Severino And this is the I-Witness.