THE ILONGGO" NATION" MOVEMENT (By: dinggol a. divinagracia- Dec.25, 2005) Introduction: In observance of the 107th anniversary of the formal surrender of Spain to the ilonggo revolutionarios at Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City on December 25, 1898; the Foundation Day celebration of the Ilonggo Nation Movement today in Clinton, Michigan, USA; and the birthday of Jesus Christ " Our Lord and Redeemer": this article is written as a tribute to the ilonggos, a proud and deeply religious people with rich and noble heritage. Mga Kasimanwa: The Ilonggo Nation of Western Visayas existed since 1214 up to the early 1900's. It had a seperate and distinct political set-up; its own culture, ethnic languages and traditions; history and aspirations. A proud race of noble heritage. The Spaniards who colonized the archipelago for about 330 years were defeated and formally surrendered to the heroic ilonggo "Nation" revolutionarios at Bacolod Plaza in Negros Occidental on November 6, 1898 and at Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City on December 25, 1898. Thus, supposed to signal the end of foreign sovereignty and domination. Unfortunately, however, our leaders in the Federal Republic of the Visayas in Panay and in the Independent Federal Negros Republic had decided to merge our "Ilonggo Nation" with that of General Emilio Aguinaldo of Cavite to form a Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. On Jan. 23,1899 saw the birth of the “First Filipino Republic” after its inauguration in Malolos, Bulacan. The first in Asia! The rest is history.. The “Ilonggo Nation Movement” with it's Banwa_Mo eNews bulletin .. a group organized in a bold attempt to resurrect our glorious past; redeem the lost prestige of the Ilonggos and hopefully create a force to reckon with; that perhaps, might deter perpetuators of the maladies that now confronts our people. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we shall wage this war not in the fields of battle but in cyberspace. The adversaries: not foreign invaders who trampled our sacred shores but a callous and undisciplined (ourselves included) society of apathy and injustice. The main objective: to instill awareness worldwide; win the hearts and minds of ilonggos of today and generations to come; so that they, may be able to participate in the war against dismal poverty and landlessness due to greed of the oligarchy (the modern day ilustrados); despair and hopelessness due to graft and corruption in all levels of government; and the existence of the well entrenched Political Dynasties "Psuedo Royalties" of traditional politicians who controls "Perlas ng Silanganan" from "Katigulangan Kag Kaapohan"; that's the new "KKK" for you... Bugtaw na Banwa! .. Pass this on! .. Madamo guid nga salamat!! ---------------------------------------------- Allow me to rectify some misconception on the above-article: Excerpt from: The Ilonggo "Nation" Movement INTRODUCTION "....Unfortunately, however, our leaders in the Federal Republic of the Visayas in Panay and in the Independent Federal Negros Republic had decided to merge our "Ilonggo Nation" with that of General Emilio Aguinaldo of Cavite to form a Revolutionary Government of the Philippines On Jan. 23,1899 saw the birth of the “First Filipino Republic” after its inauguration in Malolos, Bulacan. The first in Asia! The rest is history....." ------------------- After a thorough consideration, I must admit...I stand corrected on the above erroneous statement, in view of the following, viz: -------------------- 1) The Philippine-American War was not of a national character, having been limited to certain areas in Luzon and the Visayas, and was but endemic in nature in Mindanao. --------------------- 2) In November 5, 1898 When Gen.Juan Araneta and Gen. Aniceto Lacson proclaimed in Bago, Negros Island the Independent Federal Negros Republic and when they accepted the formal surrender of Spain the next day...they did so not for and in behalf of the Aguinaldo's Republic. -------------------- 3) In November 17, 1898 - Gen. Martin Delgado proclaimed at Sta. Barbara, Iloilo the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Visayas and Mindanao. This was later changed by the Iloilo elite to Federal Republic of the Visayas since they did not want to recognize the supremacy of Aguinaldo and the Tagalogs. The Ilonggo Leaders, likewise, accepted the formal surrender of Spain on December 25, 1898 not for and in behalf of Aguinaldo's Government. -------------------- 4) According to Dr. Luis C.Dery, an eminent Filipino Scholar: Expounding the extent of Aguinaldo's Philippine Army; the Bangsamoro nation's Mindanao, Sulu, and the rest of its islands never fell under Aguinaldo's politico-military control and sovereignty. In fact as late as August 1898 much of northern Luzon, southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao remained outside of the control of Aguinaldo's Republic. Thus, several military expeditions were sent to these places to bring' them to recognize the First Philippine Republic. ------------------- 5) Ilonggo Katipuneros in Manila who personally joined Aguinaldo's Government and later directed to go back to their respective provinces; such as Gen. Leandro Locsin Fullon of Antique, Candido Iban and Francisco del Castillo of Aklan were not able to persuade the local leaders to submit to Aguinaldo's authority. Although they fought side by side for the same cause and under one flag with a star emblem of the Visayas Republic. -------------------------------- 6) From: Professor Philip Khalid of Bacolod City - Mike Luz, formerly Undersecretary, Dept. of Education, claimed we do not share the same history. It is coming out only now that, not all the provinces who fought against Spain, were aligned with Aguinaldo. There is even now an interpretation that the Katipuneros were only interested in a Tagalog Republic. Evidently so, since Generalisimo Macario Sakay the last who succeded the reign of the Katipuneros as President fought openly under the banner of the Katagalugan Republic. ------------------- My apologies to our forebears.. Sa guihapon...dinggol.. (1/15/2006)