History group asked to honor local heroes

CEBU, Philippines - A local legislator wants the National Historical Commission to honor and recognize four Talisaynon heroes because of their "paradigm values of bravery in defense of our freedom."

In a proposed ordinance sponsored by Councilor Socrates Fernandez, chairman of the committee on laws, he is seeking to declare and institutionalize April 2 to honor of the heroes Cuatro Aliños.

According to Fernandez, it was on April 2, 1896 when the four Aliño brothers — Hilario, Felix, Potenciano and Sulpicio — came to know of the secret march of the Spanish soldiers in Talisay in order to demoralize the surging protest of Talisaynons against Spanish dominion.

"The home of Hilario, Felix, Potenciano and Sulpicio Aliños was near to the arsenal, in which was the dungeon where suspected Filipinos were brutally tortured and killed, and the agonizing shouts of cries and pains were overheard by the four Aliño brothers," Fernandez said in his ordinance, which was approved on first reading in the city council.

Fernandez said the Aliño brothers bravely rushed at the boundary of Tabunok and San Isidro where they fought hand to hand against the invaders and confiscated the firearms that led to the defeat of Spanish soldiers.

Other historical accounts say Pascasio Dabasol, Silvestre Cañedo, Simeon Cañedo and Wenceslao Capala were with the Aliño brothers in their revolt.

In Talisay at that time, six guardia civil were assigned, headed by a Spaniard named Sgt. Moscoso, with another Spaniard Engeniero Baldomero and four other natives.

That evening of April 2, at around nine, three of them were patrolling the area when suddenly they were ambushed by katipuneros coming from Tabunok in Barrio San Isidro and their arms were confiscated. These katipuneros used to kill the two Spaniards who were resting at their headquarters.

The katipuneros were identified to be the team of Aliño brothers and company.

The church minister at Sta. Teresa de Avila, Poblacion then sailed by boat to San Nicolas to report the Spanish defeat and the bloody encounter between Spanish soldiers and revolutionaries.

The Cebuano revolutionary groups were informed and made General Maxilom, General Leon Kilat and other leaders prepare for the revenge of the Spanish soldiers.

True indeed, the bloody battle between Cebuano revolutionaries and superior Spanish soldiers in Cebu City happened on April 3, hence "Tres de Abril."

"What's worthy to note is the youngest Aliño, Colonel Sulpicio, in 1905, continued his uprising against abusive Spaniards by his work as an evangelizer and educator to youth and elder Filipinos instilling in them the sublime values of spirituality and loyalty to our country in spite of persecutions," Fernandez said.

Fernandez said that it has been five straight years that Talisaynons have been celebrating annually on April 2 as reminiscence of the heroic acts of the four Aliño brothers.

If the ordinance will be approved on the third and final reading, the city government will appropriate P200,000 for expenses incurred during the celebration namely, physical preparation, sound system, food and other expenses pertinent to the celebration. (FREEMAN)