iWi^'ical

Fil& E OF MARAWI,1895
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Mamitua Saber

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University Research Center

Mindanao State University
j Marawi City, Philippines
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File E OF mARAWI,1895
an wo related articles

Mamitua Saber

University Research Center

Mindanao State University
Marawi City, Philippines
 COLLEGE LIBRARY VERTICAL
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Mamitua Saber
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COLLEGE LIBRARN ^
ATENEO DE DAVAO
■I H'
a'.'.; Published by
>* vJu University Research Center
vTm'j/(It f Mut/ .. .,i' Mindanao State University
Marawi City, Philippines
Cover: A large brass cannon (laila)from Borneo, the type used by Maranaos 1980
against the Spaniards during the battles of Marawi. Drawn by Henry Cocosfrom a 0H9I '^uxndH
photograph by Loren W. Fessier in "Maranao Art and Aga Khan Museum,"Puts oi
Asia. VII, 3(Sept.-Oct. 1977), 31-37.
 FOREWORD

Compared wjlth.such,weE-discussed defensive battles as Lapulapu s

in Mactan (1521) and Rajah Soliman's in Manila (1571), the defense of
. '.-' •'.it .. n. j.
Marawi, twice made, in 1891 and 1895, often appears in Philippine
history only as a minor subject for a footnote. In reality, such is not the CONTENTS
case. The Battle of Marawi, especially in 1895, was a major Spanish
campaign planned meticulously,led by a governor-general and launched
with 5,000 assault troops and field artillery. Led, on the defenders'
side, by Amai Pakpak, the Battle of Marawi, moreover, is historically A Jihad in Defense of Ancestral Larid at Camp Arhal Pakpak, 1
significant as the final chapter of the Spanish colonial wars and Filipino
defensive heroism in the archipelago.
The three articles in this booklet treat of subjects related to that
battle and the subsequent growth of Marawi City from that historic 'Battle of Marawi, 1895 (Review Note on the Spanish Account, 17
turn of events. In the process of reconstructing that segment of history,
the author made use of local oral tradition merged with and authenti
cated by existing historical document, as well as fiction based on
factual data. He hopes that with these essays, he has contributed addi /iMarawi City: From a Kota to a Metropolis,26
tional substance to an important event in Mindanao and in Philippine
mmmi iuijjOD
OAVAQ 30 03irt3TA
Appendix of Photographs and Maps,35
MAMITUA SABER
Dean of Research
' University Research Center
Mindanao State University

February 12,1980
 A JIHAD IN DEFENSE OF ANCESTRAL LAND
AT CAMP AMAIPAKPAK

WHAT IS JIHAD?

The following account is based on oral traditions handed down

The defence of Islam is repeatedly emphasized in the Qur'an and the by Muslim oldtimers in Marawi City and correlated with historical data
Hadith. JUiad, which means strug^e to.the utmost of one's capacity, is a from Spanish, American,and Philippine sources. This account is a small
part of this defence. A man who, physically or mentally, exerts himself or contribution to Moro history. That history in general seems un
spends his wealth in the way of Allah is observing the jihad. In the Shariah, fortunately to be less-known or less-appreciated inspite of.its being a
jihad is used particularly for the war that is waged solely in the name of part of the heritage of the Filipino struggle against foreigii invasion and
Allah and.agaii«tithose who perpetrate,oppression as enemies of Islam. .. oppression.
This supreme sacrifice oflives devolves on all Muslims.If, however, a
section of the Muslims offers themselves in 2i jihad, the whole community is This brief account tells of the. writer's grandparents, father, and
absolved of its responsibility. But if none comes forward, everybody is uncle and their participation in the historic resistance inside their kota
guilty. dispensation vanishes for the citizens of^Islamic State when it (native fortification) against Spanish soldiers in the Battles of Marawi in
is attacked by an external force. In that case everybody must come forward 1891 and 1895, respectively, when the Muslim Maranaos were yet an
for the defence. independent and unconquered nation.^
If the country attacked has not the strength to fight back,then it is
the religious duty of the,neighboring Muslim countries to help her; if they Warrior's Background
fail, then the Muslims of the whole world must fight the common enemy.
Jihad is as much a primary duty of Muslims concerned as are the daily My grandfather was named Datu Sinai(Arabic form, Zainal); my
prayers or fasting. One who shirks is a sinner; his claim as a Muslim is grandmother was Bai Menango. They had two sons, Datu Taurak(my
doubtful. He is a hypocrite who fails in the.test for sincerity. uncle) and Datu Saber(my father). The family belonged to the royalty
(datus and sultans) of Buadi Sakayo, a community located in what is
now Marawi City and which itself is made up of five or seven original
- Rephrased from Abul A'la Maududi, Towards Understanding communities, each having an ancestral laiidclaim handed down to
Islam (Damascus: The Holy Koran Publishing House, 1977), pp. 140-141. descendants.

Datu Sinai was one of the ten children of Sultan Desarip of

Bubong, the former site of "Fort Marahui", which was twice invaded

Reprint from Dansalan Quarteily,1,1(October 1979).

 ; ■. ^ #'.'I:

by the Spaniards in 1891- and 1895. Tlie present-day descendants of east to the common boundary with the landclaim of the community of
Datu Sinai's brothers and sisters- are our co-dlaimants to the fort site Gui^ba, and^on the west to die preinises of the torog^ (royal house)
and its territorial premises at Camp Amai Pakpak (formerly called of the Sultan of Marawi^ The boundanes of the land within Camp Amai
Camp Keithley and earlier Camp Marahui in historical records and arie knowii to the old folks in Buadi S^ayo. Before they died a
government documents). few years ago, my father, Datu. Saber Sihal,^ ,aiid my uncles, Datu
Taurak Sinai and Datu Aiering Palang (one of Desarip's successors as
Bai Menango, my grandmother, was a daughter of Datu Pila Amai Sultan of Bubong) often told me about our ancestral ownership of such
Sambilan, an uncle to Sultan Desarip. As one of the heirs to Datu Pila, land which up to now comprises the site of the camp.
my grandmother also inherited a widie tract of laiid below Signal Hill at
Camp Amai Pakpak, adjoining the landcldm of Sultan Desarip's heirs.
Both original landclaims of Desarip and Pila are today located in the .. Right at;,die center of. this land were the. buildings -and premises
territonal jurisdiction of the community of Buadi Sakayo where Camp of the pretwar(1941)Camp Keithley Element^ty School and the Lanao
Keithley was forcibly established by the United States Army in 1903. High School to which,! was s^t by niy late father between 1928 and
1939. As a schoolboy, I was always conscious that the land was ours
Land Ownership Before Spanish Invasion through our family lineage genealogically described above.
According to tradition ante-dating the Spanish, invasion of
Marawi City, Datu Desarip, grandson.of Datu-sa-Rapitan, was the first
crowned Sultan-sa-Bubong in the indigenous community of Buadi From Sultan Desarip's generation to that of his grandchildren's
Sakayo. Ten kin-groups in the present-day community are heirs to his tiipe, the land was planted with fruit trees, betelnuts, bamboo groves,
royal title as well as to the land which he left behind when he died. md upland rice. Thus,during his time and by native standards, Desarip
Datu Lakongan, who had the royal title of Watamama-sa-Maguindana was a wealthy sultan. He had rich storage of palay(tatyong), animus,
anao
(obviously he had some Maguindanao ancestry) was Desarip's father, slaves, silver coins, md weaponry of cannons, Spanish guns, and
a

son of Datu-sa-Rapitan. numerous kampilans, krises, and spqars. With these respinrces, the sultan
commanded the loyalty of his kinsmen, who were his warriors, and he
also earned the fear of his enemies.
invasion in 1891, Sultan Desarip inherited
rom IS at er and grandfather a wide tract of land and was one of the
hie laml ^ ^^^^^olled the communal fishing grounds adjacent to The chief element in the defense of Sultan Desarip's domain was
h.s land on the north shore of Lake Lanao. his native fortification call Kotawatp (stonefort) identified in Spanish
While Sultan De«!i».;« records as "Fort Marahui". This fort twice resisted Spanish attacks
under the leadership of the Sultan's brother-in-law, Datu Akadir, better
tude ofr
, I
andj the
^^dJip commanded the helpmg hands of a multi-
labor of dependent fouLers(sakops). he eul- known as Amai Pakpak in Spanish accounts. Desarip ha^ died before
tivate ^ mg from the lakeshore on the south to the north, the Moro-Spmisb battles of Marawi in, 1891 and 1895, leaving the
a few hundred meters ffom,signal Hill (Palao a Siningkaongan),on the defense of Fort Marahui to Amai Pakpak and the warriors of Rapitan.
3
 . Spanish Disturbance upon both the land and the kinsmen of Sultan Desarip during the first
half of the 1890*s.
Xs earlier stated, the M a free and independent
nation. Each of their f'pur Prihcipalities (Pat a Paiigamporig)—named Invasion and Occupancy of Fort Marahui
Bayabao, Masiu, Onayaii arid "Baloi—were jdined in a loose and ancieht
confederation which tied^them together for common defense'in case of In the closing decade of Spain's colonial regime in the Philip
invaMon by forei^ enemies.' < pines, the Manila* government was faced with Filipino reform and
revolutionary movements in Luzon. These movements were influenced
Invasion of Maranao territory by outsiders traditionally resilted by the pens and swords of great Filipino agitators of the likes of Rizal,
in jihad,or holy war in defense of religion,land, and people. As early as Mabini, Bonifacio, and Aguinaldo to mention only a few of them. At
1639, a Spanish expedition, under the joint military and religious com the same time,the government planned the final conquest of the unsub-
mand of Gaptaih Francisco de Atiehza krid Fray Agiistin de San Pedro, jugated Muslim areas of West Central Mindanao and the Sulu
c^e for the first time to colonize the Lake Lariao region and to Archipelago.
C nstianizie the Maranaos. Met with jihad resiistahce, the Spanish forces
were nveh back to Iligan Bay in 164G. Thereafter for two and a half
In the unsubjugated Lake Lanao area, the capture and demolition
centuries, no Spanish'soldiers'were able to penetrate the Lake region, of Fort Marahui, the defense of which was taken up by Datu Amai
espite e establishment of permanent Spanish settlements along the
Pakpak after the death of Sultan Desarip, was considered the key to the
coasts of northern Mindanao. projected conquest of the whole region which was alive with numerous
The long period of Spanish control of the north coastal area from native kotas. In these forts every ablerbodied man, woman, and teen
agayan westwards to Ozaihiis was a threat to the'unsubjugated Mara- age child was a jihad warrior.

Lake Lanao. Like their Ilaiion (Iranon) Fort Marahui was constructed of rocks and stones, covered on
kmsmen on the Morn rnK t
naos were
,blockeH
, Ltulf who were traders and sea-farers, the Mara the sides by thick vegetation. The defenders used antique cannons,
r-kt-jci-i-ir. <♦
Christian, and naffatiV tr:!' •
peaceful
, .
commerce
.
with. their
.
Muslim,
, traded or captured Spanish guns, and numerous bladed weapons. The
southern Visay^ Islands. Besides Chinese trade goods, the Maranaos
\r , *^uipmo brothers m northern Mmdanao and the Moro warriors were famous for fierce hand-to-hand encounters. The
e ,^Sar, salt, dried fish, and coconuts from the regions largest of the artillery pieces were three cannons called the Bale, the
Diatris (Spanish Dia Tres) and the Marawi^—all mounted on the walls
sities, Ie to basin. Such
expeditions deprivation
(labelled from economic
"piratical raids" byneces
the of the fort and each requiring large quantities of native gunpowder
paniar s) against t e conttoll'ed areas. These raids were,of course, part (obat).
of the centunes-old Spanish Wars, and they resembled and revenged
Spanish invasions of the Muslim settlements in Mindanao and Sulu and Inside the kota was the torogan or great house of the late Sultan
similarly resulted in the burning of homes, killing, torturing, and cap Desarip, which was given the royal name of Sanipoma. It served as a
turing of human beings. Sp^ish intrusions of this sort were visited
multi-purpose warriors' den, weapons storage house, ceremonial
assemblyplace, as well as the residence of the royal immediate family.
Amai Pakpak 'took command of these defense assets when Desarip Coi'cuera, and S.S. Gen. Almonte. These war vessels—which were
died. transported overland from lligan in sections and then assembled by
English and Chinese engineers and workers on Lake Lanao—constituted
In 1891, the long projerted operations against the Maranaos be a detachment of the Spanish Navy. The gunboats appeared on the lake
gan under the command of General Vaieriano Weyler who landed a after the second capture of Fort Marahui in 1895. Launched with them
^orig force at Parahg oii'Illana Bay and penetrated northward towards were three iron barges,each having a capacity of 220 men.
the lake. This force also occupied Malabang. For the major assault on
Weyler deployed 1,242 heavily armed Spanish and
Filipino soldiers in two columns, one moving up from Malabang and the Meanwhile, as these vessels were under construction, Datu Amai
other coming down from lligah. Pakpak juid his warriors from the Rapitan-Buadi Sakayo community
busily reconstructed Fort Marahui which had been much damaged by
Weyler s forces seized Fort Marahui with a pincer movement at Weyler's artillery in the assault of 1891. Additional giant cannons were
awn on August 21, 1891, which was a Muslim holiday (Ashora). The mounted on the stone walls. Many Moro warriors came forward deter
paniar s and the defenders suffered many casualties. Old folks of mined to join m jihad (c^ed in Maranao prwg sabir, "fighting for
arawi o en related to us youngsters tales of the bloody encounters Islamic cause") under Datu Amai Pakpak's leadership.
etw^n attackers and defenders on the Occasion of the assault on the
b suffering of Datu Sinai's family from the attack General Blanco's expedition had more careful preparation than
iiic Vrtt managed
below. Datucapture
to escape Amai Pakpak
when itwho
fell.had led the resistance of that of General Weyler. On March 10,1895, after severe fighting includ
ing hand-to-hand encounters (krises versus bayonets), and with heavy
losses oh'both sides, Blanco's superior forces succeeded in planting the
satisfattoX'«w^? campaign (Jid not go entirely Spanish flag upon die fort for the second time. But it was at the cost of
the expeditbn admitted,^ for three days later, the survivors of 18 attackers dead and 197 wounded, many of them poorly armed
liaos massed forced to return to their seacoast bases as the Mara- disdplinarios used by the Spanish Army as pawns against the Moro
defeat of iU-fated fort to avenge through a jOiad the krismen who also heavily suffered in dead and wounded.
harassed Spanish Afterwards Maranao raiding parties repeatedly
settlements in northern Mindanao.
Blanco's garrison from Luzon occupied Marawi and assembled
The Manili autK the four gunboats for the campaign against the kotas around Lake
have to be checked decided that either the Moro raids would Lanao. But the government faced two othe' military problems: the
In 1894 Govern subjugation plan would have to be given up. Katipuneros revolt of 1896 and the outbreak of the Spanish-American
eluded that effec^e^""^,
r I- u...
^c/lcfs successor, con-
j • ^'^trol of Lake Lanao could be secured by a fleet War of 1898. The two events led to Spain's downfall in the Philippines.
° gmiboats. The in
Spanish government The Spaniards hurriedly evacuated the Lanao area, sinking their gun
or ere rom e nglisb shipbuilders Hongkong four steelthereupon
gunboatis boats in the lake as they left. Soon the Maranaos faced a new and more
which were later named the s.S. Gen.Blanco, S.S. Lanao, S.S. Gen. formidable enemy who invaded and occupied their land.
 . A Fighting Famfly's Tragedy attackers fell into the secret ground traps (palsang) with sharpened
bamboo splits underneath which were strategically placed in the ap
The defeat, but.heroic resistance, of the Maranaos is immortalized proaches to the fort.
in their oral stories and poetiy (bayok). Right down to the post-World
War II years (1950's-1970's) the old survivors of the 1891 and 1895 Further fighting hopeless,some of the Moro w^iors escaped from
battles of Marawi vividly told and retold tales of their brave and the fort and fled on foot or in bancas across Marawi Bay or into the
pathetic-experiences. One such story was about Datu Sinai, a son of Agus River behind the kota. The Spaniards entered only to find the fort
Sultan Desarip, and his ill-fated family. Here is a summary: littered with dead bodies and the wounded whom they finished off
with their bayonets. They found a halfkiead boy(Makasimbar)wound
It was early dawn (Anj^st 21, 1891 in the Spanish record) when ed in the face. A soldier^thrust his bayonet through the boy's right
the women inside Fort Marahui woke up to cook food for the religious shoulder and threw him into the canal outside the wall.
holiday of ashora which by custom would be served to the visiting
tuans (religious leaders) or distributed to the neighbors. Datu Sinai's Makasimbar's brother, Taurak, with a bullet wound in his leg, pre
Mfe, Bai Menango, finished cooking and started preparing lipet(yellow tended to be dead. Later, he crawled down outside the wall of the
rice, viands, and sweets wapped in banana leaves). Her younger son,
Makasimbar (later re-named Sabir or Saber),less than ten years old, was fort to look for his younger brother whom he thought had been killed.
nearby watching his mother wrapping food. His elder brother,Taurak, Under the cover of thick bushes, Taurak carried Makasimbar to the
was also in the big house with their father and other relatives. lakeshore a few hundred yards southwest from the fort, now held by
the Spaniards.
From a wooded area north of thekota the Spanish troopers sud-
e y commenced firing with their hand-guns and artillery, killing many Soon a boat-load of relatives from Dilabayan across the lake, who
had come to a^ the defenders of the fort, found the two wounded
^A ^instantlyinside the kota;
died over Baishe
the food Menango was fatally
was wrapping hit holiday.
for the in the breast
The bojrs hiding behind rocks on the shore. They took the boys to safety,
and i^eir wounds were treated by native healers. Taur^ recovered fast
^^kasimbar, was hit in the face and thrown to the floor be from his leg wound. Makasimbar's wounds healed after many months,
side his dead mother.
but his right arm, shoulder, and left face skin were permanently de
formed. Both lived to be over 80 years old. Relatives changed the name
flying mixed with the enemy's fire, Amai of Makasimbar to Sabir (hispanized "Saber") which means "martyr",
• ?orce^Ky hundreds
rem iiandful of
of warriors
warriors from
took their positions inside
the neighborhood thehear-
who, kota in memory of the family who suffered from the jihad battle. When
mg me gunfire, rushed to join them in the kota or to man the trenches Taurak and Saber completely recovered, despite their scars, they joined
outside the fort. The exchange of fire and occasional hand-to-hand their widower father, Datu Sinai who also survived the battle. In their
fighting went on all day until dark. The attackers had superior prganiza- old age the two brothers often told about the origin of their scars from
tion and weapons against which the kampilans,krises, and spears of the the enemy's bullets and bayonet during the battle in 1891. When the
fierce and brave defenders were no match. Even so, many of the Spanish victors left Marawi after that battle, Datu Sinai and other
fitting kinsmen helped Amai Pakpak in reconstructing the fort in
readiness for future defense. Among-the survivors who swam across the Agus River to safety
'- The next assault came four years later after General Weyler was was Datu Mering Palang (a nephew and co-cannoneer of Datu Sinai),
succeeded by General Blanco who was determined to have a permanent who, before he died years later. Often related weird stories about the
victory over the lake Moros. By the end of 1894, Blanco had already two battles in which he fought. He was one of Desarip's successors as
massed his army and naval equipment at Iligan Bay preparatory for his the crowned Sultan of Bubong (site of Fort Marahui), being a grandson
operations in 1895. of the old Sultan. The Spaniards, however, became the new "sultans"
of Marawi between 1895 and 1898, until the Americans succeeded to
martial power and control of Lake Lanao.
Datu Sinai, still in his 2p.'s, was one; of the fort's cannoneers. One
tended is still kept as an heirloom by relatives in Trinitario Segui (a Christian veteran of the Marawi invasion who
Diiabayan. When his sons last saw him alive, he was preparing for the had first came to Iligan in 1885) recalled in a published interview after
momentary attack of the Spaniards by digging a ditch outside the World War II: "Had Amai Pakpak submitted to Spain, Mindanao would
kota's west wall. have more railroads than Luzon. I was one of the personnel who re
ceived the first materials for railroad construction ... But then, Amai
He called Taurak saying: Hay wata,kowaa ngka so baloto aken na Pakpak would not have contributed [had he surrendered] to the defeat
perorani ngka sa manga pega ago niyog na song kano ago so ari ngka sa of Spain during the Philippine Revolution."
Toka,ka pelobaan ko si ina iyo. ("Hey son, get my small fishing boat
and load it with oranges and young coconuts and with your younger Aguinaldo's Recognition of Moro Heroism
brother row toward Toka because I will search for your mother.").
General Aguinaldo's revolutionary junta sent secret agents or
With these words Datu Sinil ordered his boys to go away from envoys to contact the sultans and datus in Mindanao and Sulu, urging
the fort to safety. Arid he was telling them that in the forthcoming bat- them to join the Revolution in order to overthrow Spain's colonial
de he would fight and die to join his deceased Wife's soul. The two sons regime. But there was not enough time to mount a common campaigri
obeyed their father. As they reached Toka (on Bacolod Chico Islet), against Spanish adversary. The resistance in Luzon, Mindanao, and Siilu
about a kilometer from the fort, the exchange of fire between the were only connected by a common cause to shed blood against a
Spanish attackers and the Moros commenced. Taurak often recalled the foreign rule, though the Muslims were independent nations. However,
moment. Komiarab a Marawi, he said, meaning,"Marawi was burning." they were also suffering from the common enemy's invasions.

It is possi5)le, though not certain that General Aguinaldo's agents

Blanco gave the Spanish version of the encounter in his report.^ contacted Maranao leaders during the Revolution. If so, we have no
Inside hisdigo-digo (commander's Nation) Amai Pakpak died dghting, information about their reply. It is significant, however, that not long
together with Datu Sinai 'and many of their jihad warrior relatives after World War II, the Board of Pensions for Veterans of the Philippine
whose bodies were not recovered after the Spanish capture of the fprt-. Revolution inquired about survivors of the 1891 and 1895 battles of
The few survivors were unable to withstand the enemy's superior might. Marawi for recognition as fighters for independence. Comrades-in-arm
10 11
and kinsmen of. Amai Pakpak were contacted for processing of pension settlers', w^ys and. sent a few of his^ children to.be educated in the
applications. Datus Mering,Taurak, Saber,Pado, Kamama,Mostari, and American schools in Bacqlod Chico and Camp Keithley. Besides selling
Mapandi of Buadi Sakayo were recognized by the pension board whose Maranao curio articles for a living to tourists, especially antique krises,
chairman was none other than the aged General Aguinddo. Thw were he had a little farm on the outskirts of Camp Keithley which he claimed
approved for monthly life pensions as revolutionary veterans.- They as an ancestral land.,Today.,members of his family living.on that land
regul^ly received monthly checks until ,;hey died. Thus did General are considered "squatters" by the government.
Aguinddo and the-Veterans of the Philippine Revolution recognize that
they had had Moro comrades-in-arms who heroically fought for inde Datu Saber died of illness and pldy^e AprU ^6, 1970; at the
pendence just as surely as the brave men of Luzon and Visayas. Lanap GeniCral Hospital ne^ his residence and was:huped^y« his family
on their ancestrd lot. WM a dead man's skeletal remams he ej^umed
American Occupation from his grave after fighting a war fp^Ms rights to that land? Why
should he and his family be called "squatters?"
In 1902-1903, the U.S. Army established a .base at Camp Mara-
hui, later called Camp Keithley (on and beyond the site of Fort Mara- Most of the rest of Da^ Saber's contemporaries as veterans/pen
hui) which was enclosed with a barb-wire fence. The above mentioned sioners died either shortly before or after he did. Their surviving fami
Moro veterans and their kinsmen live in Bangoii(Buadi Sakayo) outside lies in the Camp ^eithley an^ are likewise cpnsidered as
the fence,although they were allowed to pass through or visit inside the "squatters." Patriotic iOfficers of the.|.^med Fprces mpt long ago re
camp. named the-former American camp in honor pf Amai Pakp^,who was a
real Filipino hero, like Sultan Kudarat whose- monument st^ds at
Among the veterans, the one who became most "acculturated" Makati m Metro Manila. But why are the surviving kinsmen and
was the youngest of them, the disabled and scar-faced Datu Saber Sinai. descendants of the heroes of Marawi deprived of their rights to their
His frequent business dealings with the,American soldiers inside the ancestral land? ..
camp enabled him to pick up their slang.English, and he also learned
some Filipino dialects from the Christian Filipinos who came as Agencies of th? Philippine Republic presently interested in the
workers with the army. He learned "bamboo" Spanish as well from the land-use of Camp Amai Pakpak should npt perpetuate an alien govern
Chinese and Japanese entrepreneurs who followed the America ment's imposition jwhich deprived an indigenous Muslim,cpnmunity of
occupation of Dansalan (Marawi) village. (That village was organized its righ^ and titje to its ancestral home.
into a municipality in 1906-1907 and today it is Marawi City).

Trusting him as an amigo, an American Mess Officer contracted

Datu Saber to provide poultry, bananas, and other local food supplies.
Later, he worked as a labor contractor (sacadero) and capataz for the
American road construction in Momungan, Camp Overton, Kol^bu-
gan, and Misamis Occidental. In time he adjusted to some of the new
12 13
 ' PARTIAL LIST OF CASUALTIES IN THE SPANISH-MORO 18. TUBAKAN Sakayo Dead ' '
i ' BATliES AT"FORT MARAHUI"IN 1891 AND 1895 19. SABANDARAMAIPALENGGEN Sakayo Dead
20. PAEIO GAROK (ILipO) . Rapitan. Evacuated
i891i Aii^^ — Gen/Weylfer7 Comman<^ Spanish attacking
217'taringgan^ ^/ Rapitap, Dead
.21 MAP^pi MATO (ILUDb) Rapitan Wounded .
forces 23. OMBADIR CALI SA MARAWI Bacolod
Chico Evacuated
"T'*lV BAI MEhJANGO SINAL BuadiSakayo 'Dead
24. MERING PALANG ^
viin: :2: u -b v
Rapitan Sakayo Wounded
(Sultan, sa Bub ong) \ Rapitan Wounded
; 3: TAURAK Rapitaii Sakayo Wounded
2 5. DIACATRA'S Grandfa^er Masiu Dead
4^'" GAROk AMAfPADd Rapitan Sakayo Dead
26.' SINAL DESARIP
(Father of Saber and Taurak) Rapitan Dead
~ Blanico, conunanding Spanish attacking 27.' ANGGAY (ILIDO) Rapitan Dead
forces'
y: 28l PORI^ Sakayo Dead
AMAI PAKPAK (Akadir) — Leadfer Sakayo Dead
■I (more)
BAi ATAOk INAi PAKPAK Rapitan Dead
.1 '. <3:: PAiffAKAiCADIR ■ ^ Rapitan Dedd
■ '4! PALANG AMAI MERIhiG Sakayo Dead The above information was found in a notebook (old kitab or
'5: ADI AMAI ADMAIN (ILIDO) ' Rapitan Dead book) written by Guitem Tuan sa Indaratila, father of Hadji Makapask
MAMINTAL Sakayo - Dead Guimtum Kali sa Dansalan who keeps the notebook shown to Hadji
7. AMAI PORNA
Sakayo Dead Lawa Cali, Museum Guide, Aga Khan Museum, MSU, on February 20,
8. MAGANGKONG 1979.
- ri;
(husband of Kalilang) ■ Madalum Dead
9. blAMLASAWATO- ' Wato' Dead
- 10; AMAIDOMRANG Taraka Dead Footnotes:
11. AMAIDIMAREN Rapitan^ Dead
12. AMAI PANGOMPIG Sakayo Dead
13. TUAN
^See my "Marawi City: From a Kota to a Metropolis," The Maianao. Ed. M.
Sakayo Dead Saber and A.T. Madale (Manila: Solidaridad Publishing House, 1975), pp. 21-26.
14. DAIRA (Father of Dirombai
Sinsuat) Rapitan Dead
15. SOKI-AN
These cannons were taken as trophies by the Spanish Army to Fort Santiago
Sakayo Dead
16. DANGGAO
in Manila. During World War 11 they were reportedly taken by the Japanese as
Sakayo Dead trophies or melted for ammunition.
17. RAGA Sakayo Dead
14 15
 ^SeeF.QQftote l.r/j;. . .
BATTLE OF MARAWI,i895
As i'foitmier emplo^efe'of the Filipiniana biVMok,I^atiorial Library, Manila, (Review Note on the Spanish Account)
pre-war (1940), the writer bifce read a tranriation of b'Oveinor-Geheral Blahco's
report iir h'Spahish mi^azme,'La Politica EspaHd en Filipmas, published arouiid
1896 as a rirst-hand accbimt ofthe general's field expeditions. ^
Philippine History texts in wide circulation generaiiy contain ac-
cotints of the so-called Moro "piratical raids'* upon Spanish-held areas,
dece^d Moro veterans' families in Bangoh, Marawi City, still keep
but rarely give detailed descriptions about particular battles in which
their papers.w^ch are ^6 ifiled with the Board of Pisiisions for Veterans of the
the Muslim fought on the defensive side in their own sacred land.
Phihppine Revolution. Before they died, a number of these vetejans, who lived up
to the 1970's were the writer's informants. Veteran Corporal Alvarez of the invad
ing Spanish Afmy(who became Presidente of Pantar Distnct before World War II) Many such battles, in which the Muslims lost to superior forces,
also used to fell this writer Tories of the Spanish-Mord battles iii wliich he foughL have much historical significance, almost as much as the well-known
resistance made by Lapu-Lapu at Mactan (1521) or by Rajah Soliman
in Manila (1571), to rnention only two of the famous battles against
Spanish iiltrusidns. One of these events which should come to light was
the heroic defense of Fort Marahui (Spanish "h" silent, hence Marawi)
in 1895 by Amai Pakpak and his warriors against the forces of General
Ramon Blanco who personally led the military operations.

One might imagine how a chief magistrate of the highest colonial

office at the time could step down from Malacafiang Palace to go into
the battlefield. But it was the time-honored Spanish tradition in
America and the Philippines for conquistadores to wear feathers of
'glory ott theif^ hats. Arid it was so^ because the indomitable Muslims
were for centuries a rival to Spanish power on land and sea.

Muslim oral traditiori^ lack the details Of the sanguinary event, but
sbme'available Spanish accOurits give a more vivid picture of the war
dtdma eighty-four years agd, With more emphasis, of course, on the
Spanish victory. The Spariish versiori of the battle is writteri in a book,
Bajo El GibiO Filipirid, b^ Aritoiiio Alcala Lopez,a Spaniard. Presently,
the book is being trattslated (entitled^ "Under the Philippine Skies")by
16
MorisighOr Benjamin Etruiste of Quiapo Church in Manila. The rare
17
volume belongs to a bibliographer and collector of Mindanao materials, stonefort) to Sunggod, a few kilometers from Fort Marahui on the lake-
Professor Alfredo T. Tiamson of the Mindanao State University Re shore.
search Center at Marawi City.*
It took years to implement this military plan as during that time
Lopez is the son of a soldier who participated in campaigns the trail had to be opened through thick forests, by cutting down trees,
launched from the Spanish base at Iligan against the "Moros marata- negotiating deep ravines, and traversing streams and rivers. Moreover,
ratas" (bad or rebellious Moros) before the fmal capture of their kotas there was the active hostility of the Moro marataratas., plus fever and
in Marahui in 1895. Using literary liberties, but not sacrificing historical poisonous insects that Blanco had to reckon with. Besides constructing
facts, Lopez relates the first-hand accounts made by a fighting Spanish the trail and the forts, one major difficulty was to span a bridge across
corporal (later sergeant) named Andres Duran, perhaps a nom de plume the rapid Agus River (later called Alfonso XII Bridge) between Pantar
or nom de guerre of the true narrator. and Pawak. Since the Moros would not work with the road construc
tions and since not enough Chinese labor could be availed of, tlie work
Distinguishing fact from fiction, we may now summarize Duran's fell on the shoulders of the mixed Spanish and native soldiers.
accounts related to Lopez,as follows:
Nevertheless the military road or trail through the wilderness was
General Ramon Blanco had relieved General Valeriano Weyler as constructed from Iligan, crossing Nonokan and Agus Rivers to Momu-
governor-general of the Philippines. In 1891, Weyler was the first to ngan and Balut (in what is now Baloi), Kalanganan and Pantar, and
besiege and capture Fort Marahui (better known in Spanish records as again across the Agus River to Sunggod (now a barrio of Saguiaran). As
Amai Pakpak'skota), But he immediately abandoned the fort due to an planned, six wooden forts or palisades were constructed to protect the
inadequate force to hold the ground against impending Moro retalia garrisons and secure the trail. They were called Fort of the Rocks (in
tions. Thus, the Moro survivors of the battle who had escaped from the forest somewhere on the way between Iligan and Momungan), Fort
Weylefs bombardment returned and repaired the kota for future Weyler (on the bank of Agus River at Momungan), Maria Cristina Fort
defense, which came four years later. (formerly in the barrio of the same name). Fort Victoria (near Kalanga
nan Lake), Fort Salazar (Pantar), and Fort Sunggod (Saguiaran), about
In his plan for the final conquest of the Lake Lanao Moros, Blanco an hour on foot to Marawi. Troops and supplies had to move in con
repeated the master strategy of Weyler who once opened trails from voys between these fortified encampments on foot, horseback and
Illana Bay on the southwest and Iligan Bay on the north to the shores bullcarts; otherwise small parties would always face dangers from small,
of the Lake. However, the trails had to be defended by forts from fre but dreadful Moro attacks.
quent Moro attacks or raids. Blanco's immediate concern was to first
establish a series of fortification from Iligan (which already had an old With the completion in February 1895 of the Rey Alfonso XII
Bridge over the Agus River between the forts of Pantar and Sungut (i.e.
*The novel: Antonio Alcala Lopez, Bajo el Cielo Filipino (Barcelona: Editorial Sunggod), General Blanco had finalized his preparations for the grand
Juventud, 1943). The author dedicated the book to his father and "those who,like assault on Marawi with an army division with a total of 5,000 men.
him,fought for Spain in the Philippines." This "big army," (according to Lopez retelling Duran's story), com-
18 19
 then the AgUirre'and Jaramillo brigades. In .certain places the soldiers
bined together the 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, 72nd,73rd,and 74th infan had to cut with bolos or machetes their way throughi the underbrush.
try units, two companies of the Disciplinary Battalion, three from the At that-time Lanao was- a wild cotintryliThe multitude ofi marchers
Peninsular Artillery Regiments, three from the Engineering Corps, one scared the monkeys, other wild-animals and,birds and once ih a. while
native cavalry squadron, two mountain batteries, one mortar battery they were greeted with gunfire by enemies hiddendn the thiOkets. These
aiid ariOther from the Cristina unit, two units of the Veteran Civil attacks were countered with superior firepower, after which the ad
Guards and those from the Halberdiers and volunteers from Zam- vance continued. V. ', .
boanga.

At midday the advance units came up over the ridge to what is

Like his glory-seekirig predecessors, Commanding General Blanco now Matampay (Provincial Capitol site) where they halted in sight of
iieirsonally directed the field operations, although the permanent com Lake.Lanao and awaited the arrival- of the other forces. Theyiwere just
mand of the fighting division remained under General Parrado, The about 500 meters from the lake along whose shores,the Maranao de
mighty force Was divided into three brigades, one under General Aguir- fenders were entrenched inside three kotas, the strongest of which
re, the chief of staff, the other uild6r Colonel Jaramillo, and the third being Fort Marahui commanded by Amai Pakpak. The Blanco expedi
tinder Cdlohel Gohzales Mdntero. A notable group of dfficers, proteges tionary force deployed on ;the plain among thelxrogon grass and reeds.
df Biahcd aiid df others in authority^ joined the dpcrations in the hope To their left, eastward, stood Arompac Hill and to their right, west
of Obtaining rich booty, promotion in rank, and other rewards. ward, was Siningkaongan (later called Signal Hill by the Americans).
The generals climbed the latter to scan the lakeshores through their
The combined force assembled in the encampment at Ulama field glasses. Between the lake and the attackers' position was luxuriant
(near Pkiltar). On March lOj 1895 the force crossed the newly construc
cogon grass and a thick woodland with reeds growing close to the
ted Alfonso Xil Bridge to SUnggod where all attended a solemn High water. The Spaniards were advised by the Moro guides (palatiko) that
Mass befdre the campaign. (Lopez mistakerily recorded "May 10, apart from the kotas, there was the populous Moro community hidden
1895" ihd "Alfonso Xlil Bridge"); After the mass, General Blanco, as behind the luxuriant vegetation.
proud as the cohquistadores Gortez and Pizarro,straightened himself up
on the stirriips of his steed and shouted at the top of his voice the
battle command: "BattalionS} squadrons, and batteries, advance in General Blanco decided to direct the battle from Siningkaongan
battle artay!" i
HilL He Ordered the brigades to deploy below in what is now the cen^
tral area of Camp Amai Pakpak (formerly called Camp Marahui by the
The mighty fofce started niarching towards Marawi in single file Spaniards or Camp Keithley by the Americans), forming a semi-circle
parallel to the lake shoreline. Before the infantry moved, two artillery
On the harrow foot trails to reach their objective. They were accompa
pieces opened fire on the supposed enemy positions. The Moro defend
nied by some friendly Mofos serving as guides (regarded as palatiko, ers did not retaliate. The effect of the cannonade was doubtful, so that
spies or collaborators by their brother Maranaos).
further shelling was stopped and order was given for the infantry to
advance.
Ahead of the long eolumh was the Montero infantry brigade,fol
lowed by a vanguard of the fusilier guerilla unit under Colonel Marina, 21
20
 earth and thick logs with sharpened bamboos forming the top battle
The troops went through a forest area with vine and thick under ments. There ensued a bloody handrto-hand fight with the fierce Mores
growth entanglements, where it was difficult to coordinate their move who had rifles but made more use of their spears, krises, and kampilans
ments from Siningkaongan Hill. The command to attack the first kota
against the Spanish Mausers latched with bayonets.
on the left was given and was announced by the bugles. Repeating
shouts of "Viva Espaha!" the soldiers latched bayonets on their rifles
Having won the battle over slain enemies and others who escaped,
and surged towards the fort. As they came closer, the Moros greeted
the Spaniards then proceeded to the second kota(known to the Mara-
them with equally savage uproar of "lyallya!" and fire from their brass
naos as Datomanong), defended by warriors under the leadership of
cannons and rifles. These artillery pieces, however, were only deadly at
Datu Pangapon of Sadok-Guimba. Though it was said to be well-de
short distances.
fended, it took only a quarter of an hour of fighting for the attackers to
hoist the Spanish flag over the fortification amidst repeated shouts of
At about a hundred meters from the kota wall the terrain was
covered with brambles and underneath were traps(palsang), which were "Viva Espafia! "
pits with pointed sticks staked in them. Lieut. Colonel La Sala and'
The Spaniards then realized that fiiey could also overwhelm the
other officers and men fell victims to those traps. Still others were
wounded by sharpened bamboo sticks set up on the field by the Moro third kota, Fort Marahui, which they knew was the "kota of Amai Pak-
defenders. Those who did not fall managed to cross the moat and pak,'* flying defiant flags and very close to the two capitulated kotas.
reached the wall of the kota. But first they had to pick up their casualties, including the slain Lieute
nant Aranda, commander of the 74th Infantry guerilla unit. He was fa
With their superior force, the Spaniards scaled the parapet made of tally wounded by a bladed weapon, though he had bravely fought. The
earth and thick logs with sharpened bamboos forming the top battle seriously wounded Lt. Colonel La Sala was taken out of the trap. He
ments. There ensued a bloody hand-to-hand Moros was pierced in the groin by a sharpened bamboo planted at .the bottom
who had rifles but made more use of their spears, krises, and kampilans of the ground trap.
against the Spanish Mausers latched with bayonets.
Ceasefire order was given for the second kota and the attacking
force withdrew to transfer operation on the third fortification. Fort
About a hundred meters from the kota waU the terrain was co
Marahui (Kota a Wato) which was the main objective, was described as
vered with brambles and underneath were traps (palsang), which were
pits with pointed sticks staked in them. Lieut. Colonel La Sala and "well-defended with lantacas and strong walls built in the form of a star
(two squares joined at an angle) which was impossible to take without
other officers and men fell victims to these traps. StUl others were
first opening a breach in its parapet."(See illustration).
wounded by sharpened bamboo sticks set up on the field by the Moro
defenders. Those who did not fall managed to cross the moat and
reached the wall of the kota. The Spanish wounded during the assaults on the first and second
kotas were withdrawn from the combat line. The center brigade ad
With their superior force,the Spaniards scaled the parapet made of vanced to reinforce the vanguard. The artillery unit, which was moved
with great difficulty from its original combat position, encircled Fort
22 23
Marahui just about 50 meters from the moat and opened fire, opening a knew, the Moro's fate—that of Amai Pakpak who, like Rajah Soliman,
breach on the kota walls. Having taken no active part in the previous as fought and died in defense of his native land, people, and freedom. Like
saults, the artillerymen wanted to be the first to enter the kota. When the warriors of Bataan, the defeat of the Muslims was their glory.
they saw a company from the Engineering Corps and another from the
Disciplinary Battalion rushing to the walls, these artillerymen also COLLEGE LIBRARY
hurled themselves into the> assault. In the ensuing confusion, officers ATENEO DE DAVAO
and men from the different units were all mixed up in the contest for • ■'■Tl
combat glory:

"..liii '^rr . r'Hi:-

The contingent units rush pell-mell towards the ruined kota and '' I . .''ii 'jh*' 'f'' ' ■lih . 'jdi lo
within a few minutes took possession of its interior. After another very
bloody hand-to-hand combat with the suicidal and valiant Muslim de
fenders, whose energies were doubled a hundred times by despair,the ..j. hlo vd' o! Tjfiiidv r, ")() .'.irninsig eriT
Spanish color was again raised over the fort amidsf shouts of "Viva
Jcspanai
! • : : .'..-..ij' • . ' l .-u' j.M rljU?-''L")fruno'J yd bsviojmo
V, -jdT .-f .'r. k ,,.l ,nr.myfrfOTeteA
k;;v 'y'.r. }txo > s- twii'iKM ol moVt ''rrmn "iiaoiVlo"
th an ovillages of Marahui,
^he invaders, Lembak
although theya still
Inged,hadand Sadok also
to pursue withfell into
gunfire' ■ ..•'oi i /d i)iPl ni "nJisiio edl lo Inymbnafn*

the native vintas that were fleeing on the lake. ij -n. . - ".M lo' nuiJthinJ (topf 'to'lo/iori nr animon»i -wIT .ojnolA
j.' -ni: yd /liiufuot8U5 biic .nwon>{ tiffisn vdl
'J.I: ill - rfof)Ml?.irflutLBhT3llB iriintrfl">iiJ yd vYilfiin'o-j ajll
^Jtpedition to Marawi in 1895 had cost the mixed .yjiuufnmoo will v>r0i5>moj
panis 1 ipino forces "many lives and more than 200 wounded," but
any^casualties.
aimed to have
(Seegiven a hard
partial lesson
list in to the Maranaos
the preceeding who suffered
article). ' f d K.'aH II. WfR-miU bu v arft borWY '»rl)
' 7 .fi jodp" os/rinfiW)
The narrator, Andres Duran, made special mention of the guerillas ".b'navoo

among whom he was a fighting soldier. As vanguards or shock troops,

the guerillas had paid dearly in tribute of blood. All their chiefs had fi-. -I ''f. ' '/ir'uM lii bujlool iiyswlii alq- ••'■j i>-rofLrj;<a| -"tT
fallen in battle, excepting Lieut. La Iglesia, an officer of the 71st Uin. ' 4 ^,4r 1 n'r»wi7d -*y»iil:fl^3hi-.'n . »"siliv!i5« bmi dlil lo toJne-
Cavalry. Sergeant Duran and his comrades, Corporals Perez and Jaen, cq: i [{•(-' v'fl <i;: )fi . {rwlu ztrf {leiCt'uaO Ud<rtf03 fi'j« fllion 'id'
came out unscathed of the razor-sharp Moro kampilans. They were h. ' r • II HI .Iwbu.M wai' bnc Mo ni ftoDaa.' snllbwb
Spanish heroes along with their General Ramon Blanco.
'[iiiiHA r>rlfig .bR .oaiimiM ■mTT uioil
The writer Lopez, or Sergeant Duran, failed to mention, if he rtl.-1£ qn .4, ''. vPl aiuKdl hf.l : i.
24 25
 MARAWI CITY: FROM A KOTA TO A METROPOLIS destination—a rendezvous," and, incidentally, close to the Trieahing of
Marawi. '

From a medieval stone-fort to a city was,indeed, a long leap. The

is SS3Ait^pality named Dansalan, conversion of Dansalan into a city did not only mark progress under the
?I f from 1907 to 1940, Commonwealth but also wrote finis to the Muslim resistance against the
government. It climaxed, as it were, the symbolic fall of the kota and
W^daran'Mnri^c
Mindanao and Sulu the Rutaoh **1® xtMoro Provlnce,
' the Department of the hoisting of the white flag of peace. Henceforth a new relationship;
wealth, and fmaUy the ReprUc » "
cause of the advent of tSr^ w'"'" ®°' ^ between Christian and Muslim Filipinos was written.
until September 30,1950. inaugurated
Dansalan was the frontier of Islam; the last Muslim,stronghold to
fall before the onslaught of western power.
jointly conceived^ Dansalan Municipality was
Spain's past military glory is attested to by her subjugation of the
"official" name from Dansalan «^^anging of the Incas of Peru and the Aztecs of Mexico, two powerful Indian peoples.
amendment of the charter m through a congressional It is surprising, howeyer,,that in the Philippines while the Spaniarids
Alonto. The renaming in honor r^f i Senator Domocao completed the conquest of the northern islands, they failed to conquer
the name given, known and r>i ♦ tradition for Maraw^ has been their enemies in Mindanao who defied,them for over 300 years.
the corruptive changes by the the Maranao, despite i. L ..I
comers to this community alien administration and the new- In truth, too., the Muslims never succeeded m expefiipg the
Spaniards from their borders. But never did the latter win a lasting vic
Besides. the varied intemretaf tory over the Muslim defenders. The Spanisli-American War witnessed

I f
(Maranao language)UteraUy means'a'^!''^* "wawi in Basa Iranon Spanish and Muslim forces stalemated on the battlefronts of Mindanao,
centered." y means a Place where thmgs are inclined or The last encounters between these centuries-old enemies took place in
f the region around the Lake. The Spaniards came with superior arms and
well-organized forces; the Muslim Maranao were inferior in arhiis and
center of'^e^facthS^ mMktT' were relatively disunited. But their bravery and way of fighting was
the north sea coastal regions Dan ^ etween Lake Lanao and something the intrepid Spanish soldiers did not leam in their military
dwelling section in old Md new n T'means a place of
<uia new Marawi. Dansalan schools.

Skilled in their own hMive warfare, the Maranao defended them

Reprint from The Maranao. Ed. Mamitua Saber and Abdullah T. Madale (Manila: selves inside fortifibations called kdtas built ofrocks and earth, covered
Solidaridad Publishing House, 1975), pp.21-26. with vegetation as dark as the jungle and studded with emplacements of
ancient canribn. At times when a kota was surrbuhded by enemies,
26
27

L
these warriors would spring like tigers from the,bushes and charge the tured this strategic point lying on one of the old approaches to the
invaders with few captured European guns and numerous bladed weap Lake.
ons of which they were experts at close range. Until the decade 1930-
1940, the shores of Lake Lanao were alive with kotas which obstructed The news of the great body of water lying in the center of Minda
the establishment of peace and order. nao stirred their adventurous spirits, and in the year 1639,they ordered
the exploration of the Lake region. The expedition was under the joint
The lake itself played an important role in strategy. Maranao war command of Captain Francisco de Atienza and Father Agustin de San
riors whose forts were on the verge of demolition by enemy artillery Pedro, a fighting Portuguese-Recollect. On April 4th the members of
would cross the basin on vintas and make good their escape to other the expedition won the distinction of being the first Europeans to see
kotas to renew their resistance. Such was the difficulty of conquering the Lake. Under their command were about a thousand natives carrying
the region prior to the introduction of the steamships which later con six boats "in pieces [constructed] with such skill that they could be
trolled the lake. easily assembled for launching." For three months of exploration by
water and land, they gained full knowledge of the country and its
prospects for colonization.
At about the close of the 19th century, the Spaniards resolved
that in order to defeat the Maranao, it was necessary to commission a
detachment of the navy on the lake to aid the land forces. Thus after In 1640, Bermudez de Castro was sent by Corcuera to establish a
garrison in the region. Tliis action aroused the hatred of the Maranao
his sticcess in establishing the first permanent garrison at Marawi(Mara-
who immediately besieged the fort and drove away the commander
hut in Spanish)-now Camp Keithley—Governor General Ramon Blanco
together with his 500 Boholano troopers. The explorers were on the
launched a fleet of gunboats composed of the steamships Lanao,
General Blainco, General Corcuera, and the General Almonte. But be verge of annihilation; fortunately, a relief column commanded by Fr.
fore this fleet received its assignment,the way to the interior of Minda Agustin de San Pedro rescued the survivors and brought them to Iligan
nao had to be cleared with bloody battles between the 17th and 19th on the north seacoast. Realizing the fighting quality of the Maranao for
centuries.
the first time, the Spaniards postponed their plans of conquering Lake
Lanao for 250 years.

When Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera was governor-general of the In 1891, the operation against the Maranao was again resumed
Philippines and Pedro de Almonte was the governor of Zambo^ga, under the command of Governor-General Valeriano Weyler who built a
they opened the first campaigns against the Lanao Moros. They both chain of fortifications from the sea to the lake for the protection of his
belonged to the best traditions of Cortez and Pizarro whose daring ex garrisons. But for the major operation, he had 1,242 heavily armed
ploits contributed to Spain's becoming a master of the new world. In men. These were loaded with supplies on four transports, the Manila,
starting the campaigns, they fitted a mighty expedition against the Cebu,San Quintin, and the Marquez de Duero; they landed on the
fortification of Sultan Kudarat on the lUana Bay. Here they encounter north shores of Mindanao preparatory to the invasion of Fort Marawi.
ed fierce resistance which historians compared to the campaign of
Cortez against Emperpr Montezuma in the Siege of Mexico. They cap? Weyler divided his forces to effect a pincer movement. Meeting at
28 29
Marawi, they seaed,the strongest native fort on August 21, 1891 after The worsening situation called for the fortification of the garrison
suffering many casualties. Datu Akadir Amai Pakpak, who led the and the construction of a road from the seacoast to Marawi for the
Marawi defense, escaped the heavy bombardment of his kota. purpose of transporting the sectional gunboats. Alfonso Xll Bridge was
constructed across the Agus River at Pantar. Governor Blanco ordered
The campaign was not all satisfactoiy, as Weyler admitted, for the transport of major forces from Luzon to Lanao. Seeing the weaken
three days later, the survivors of the expedition were forced to return ing of the Spanish forces in Luzon, the Katipuneros rose to revolt
to their bases as the Maranao massed towards the ill-fated fort to avenge against the government in 1896. r
the defeat of their kinsmen.
Again, in 1895, anothenxontract was made with the same ship
They repeatedly assaulted the Spanish settlement in Iligan and the building company for two single-screw ships, which were later named'
settlements of Southern Misamis Oriental. The Manila authorities the Corcuera and the Almonte. Also built were three iron barges, each
decided that either the raids would have to be checked or the coloniza having a capacity of 200 men. Between 1895 and 1896 the four vessels
tion plan would have to be given up. In 1894, General Ramon Blanco were launched on the lake with the General Blanco as the flagship. One
concluded that effective control of Lake Lanao can be made by ,a fleet of the ships initiated action on October 16, 1895 under the direct comW
of light, armed steamships.
mand of Governor-General Blanco who reconnoitered the warrior-
infested Ganassi Bay area. This time, the combined action on land and
Immediately, the Spanish government entered into a contract with
water brought havoc upon the Maranao; their kotas were destroyed,
a shipbuilding firm in Hongkong for the construction of two gunboats, and the movements of their vintas on the lake were checkmated. But
each with a single Scotch boiler driven by a compound noncondensing instead of suing for peace, they retreated to the hills and continued the
engine. They were later named the S.S. General Blanco and the S.S.
resistance from there. «
l^anao, each having a maximum speed of 10 mph and capable of trans
porting 80 men with arms and supplies. Each boat was to be armed
with 42 mm rapid fire gun, two 11 mm machine guns, and a 25 mm Trinitario Segui, a veteran iii the invasion of Marawi(he first came
to Iligan in 1885), recalled: "Had Amai Pakpak [Akadir] submitted to
gun,firing projectiles which were ordered from Nordenfelt of London..
Spain, Mindanao would have more railroads than Luzon. 1 was one of
the personnel who received the first material for railroad construction.
While these boats were under construction, Datu Akadir and his Mindanao would have developed first—[even as location for a new]
Rapitan wairiors had also completed the reconstruction of Fort Marawi capital of the Philippines. But then, Amai Pakpak would not have con
(Kotawatp) which suffered heavy bombardment from Weyler's artUlery tributed to the defeat of Spain during the Philippine Revolution."
in the battle of 1891. Additional defenses of giant brass cannons were
mounted on the stone walls.^ On March 10, 1895,after severe fighting The conquest of the Maranao was perhaps near in sight, but the
and heavy losses on both sides, Blanco's mighty expedition succeeded announcement of Commodore Dewey's victory over the Spanish fleet
in planting the Spanish flag upon the fort for the second time, but at a in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, averted the success of the
cost of 400 Spanish soldiers wounded and killed. Datu Akadir fell in Spaniards. In that year, the Spanish high command ordered the aban
battle while the remnants of his forces retreated to other kotas. donment of Lake Lanao, preparatory to the shipment of Spanish forces
30
31
to Zamboanga and ultimately to Spain. In their hurried evacuation,
- Tn 1942, the retreating'USAFFE, fearihg<that she would fall into
they scuttled their gunboats in the lake.
the hands of the Japanese, scuttled her again into,the lake where her
"skeletal" remains support this war story.
The Maranao nurtured the same antagonism towards the Ameri
cans. The first engagement between them took place at the Siege of
Fort Pandapatan, in 1902, and was described by American newspapers The land surrounding the Dansalan Municipal Building, now the
as the "fiercest battle of the entire Philippine insurrection," because of site of Rizal Park, was purchased by the military government fiom.thp
the heavy casualties on both sides. Maranao defeat in this battle alarm datus of Ebango, with the help of Amai Manabilang, who foresaw the
ed the whole native populace; the kotas were rebuilt, and again, the future growth of the "village" into a city. Among those who first lived
vintas regained control of the lake. in the town proper, aside from the natives, were about a dozen Ameri
cans, a dozen Chinese, and about 30 Christian Filipinos, some of whom
The Americans refloated the sunken Spanish fleet which was in came as early as 1903 when Captain John J. Pershing and Major Robert
good running condition. With two American launches—the Relief and R. Bullard ("Boleg" to the Maranao) were yet campaigning against the
the-Flake-they struck at the kotas. When a more friendly relation was kotas.

established between the "Yankees and the Moros, the Lanao, the Cor-
cuera, and the Almonte were disassembled and transferred to other
Dansalan literally means "where waves dash upon." Linguistically
fronts in Mindanao.^ the name means a place of arrival, destination, or resting place. This
latter meaning fits the place for Dansalan is, by virtue of its location, an
The Blanco remained on the Lake. Almost half a c-mry be entrepot. As Marawi's commercial center, it is a distribution center. On
fore the outbreak of the Pacific War, she market days, traders converge at the public market adjacent to the
ceedlng Spanish. American, and Commonwealth During Lake. The market days are a sight to tourists and newcomers. Here are
her service, she carried across
^
the lake military ^ Paut^'^"o™®
Tohn J. P®rsnmg, Paulino San- gathered people dressed in costumes with all the colors of the rainbow
Generals Ramon Blanco, Leonard Wood selling the artifacts and the produce of the lake region.
tos. and others who won distmctmn ni h ^
cre-
no

military gemus really conquered Muslmdan

dit belonged to tactful leaders whose bene won Today, the spot where the formidable kota once stood in defiance
the "More" toward peace. against change or invasion is no more. Nothing of it remains to mark
the spot where once the crimson flag of the proud warriors waved. With
still afloat on the Uke Lanao at the time of the Japanese Inva- liigh explosives, the kota was blown up. The stones were used for
roads and the bigger rocks were rolled down the shore where they were
sion, the General Blanco had witnessed more batt es an any other ves
embedded in sand and made into a wharf.
sel on Philippine waters. Used as constubijlflfy transport during the pre
vious pacification campaigns, the last battle she witnessed was the at Nothing of the citadel remains; the kota had long given way to the
tack on the MakaguUing kota, on the southern portion of the lake in city--a symbol of Maranao modernity.
1937.
33
32
 There were 19 pieces of these cannons, the big ones were called Marawi,
Bale,Barakat,and Diatris taken as trophies by the Spanish victors. ■ ■ft

The S.S. Lanao was transferred to Malabang in 1925, while the S.S. Cor-
cuera to Rio Grande where its skeletal remains arc deteriorating on the river-bank at
Datu Piang, Cotabato.

(left) Author and his father,

"Boy" Warrior Datu Saber Sinai,
i 4-
wounded and disabled during
a.i;
the Fort Marahui Battle of 1891.

(below) Laila, the type of Brunei

Malay cannon, which defended
lU'y.] / ■ ■ 'iC-ji/ ii.r . ".rtfi, ; 'i-k.,-' 'n I '' ' M
Fort Marahui in the Battles of
■•' ' f J.t..;- -/.I:;;,, ,, ^ ■'
1891 and 1895.
'■ r.l ■: i, .-I , , , i m ■ >
O .uri:)'. -hr«i-b ' 4 '. - 11^ .
jiii -J.f .ff . . . j.v ■'•K'"' ' •*' '
'-'li.-JitH ,Ttiem.-r..,T. : ,.i. i.j ,v - ' 'M : ^
•| tsrii r*ti i' ' ' ■
• .. "II! ; iff.
M-', ■ I . • ■ 'Ih

(• i;i . -i
ynilf};3»t' II r b«-li , .tir.ri M > 1
. try
Wkf#: ; .. . .

'Ji /' •• 'I j: -v _ ' , ■ , , I , u . ' 5|f j

'• i " iJ . ' -J.! ' • . .■■/li-olqKft rf^rf

■■ ■' i.-f > i; \j
. 1. ^" »'•■

.If ■» ■■ ■ '

1. 111 ,l I • " • ' - I ''

34 35

aJL.
u>
o\

Vf;

SS Lanao, one o>^ Spanish gunboats used against Maranaos between 1895 and 1898. Its sister steam boats
were the Gen. Almonte,and the flagship. Gen. Blanco. (Photo by Col. Parker Hitt)

Vim

. ivi". V, ■ if" •: .y-

V ...f.: . ■r« (»•?' 0r; ■ .fr-iO; -; 'i ! .-V-.- i

Tl^ f ■
V ; VV -
- ^ ♦ t • ► il

Spanish Fort of Iligan, a stonefort against Maranao retaliation for the invasions of the land.It was washed
OJ
vj down by the Jiigan River flood of 1916. (Reproduced in ink from an old Spanish photo by Noriel Alfonso)
00
r ^j/cbiOOr'><? w - .
f:y ■•>• :-THawp:( i-yT-.?: • '; -fj *

: ■ »ftfr-'»v'-.

•fl'BWl'll;

h-f :■ •

Fort General ' Weyler at Momungan (Baloi), one of the wooden fortresses against the Moros of Lake Lanao in
1891-1898. Tihe others were Fort of the Rocks (between Digan and Momungan), K/c/ora (Kalanganan),
Fort Salazar (ff'antar), etc.

j*5
o*
p
- ■« .•■■ • . • - 'X'-- ■v"»V •<■
o
3
o
A
TO

^■ "•» .' • V 'v-ii

S

g*
Cd

< e.
fi9
CL 'V
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t
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a ^
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%
S' P,
OQ
(T a-
E5'
a z
5" P9
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a
w
o

A 03
E=
09 3.
a o
69

co
■53?
 Bahta
de Ocn Fedenco

® jto^tadwra

/ /'wartXote p.sd--"

"/Puerle ana crisiirxa

o; Fuerta Pfincesa de Astunas

rte de VAomurvaan

Fue»"t« o(« T\ s o Oa^^ar

'Si'Fufcrte
2q TriKid&d
'5) Laq;^ra de kalafM^anan
pyerte
Kaiarteu

\
Coir.puasto de Ulama

Fuer^ de Ffentai- o SalSzar

ruerte de
iA\

Laou^
Gov. General Ramon Blanco who led an am.,, , • .* •
Itinerar/o de IHgan a MaraKui.
rte w.«.o» cf -Pat 5,000..rongag^.stAmai
by Dioiiiaio G. OreUana). (Photo from an old portrait Spanish operations map shows route from nigan to Marawi ca. ca. 1895,
40 during Gen. Blanco's expedition. Today's highway connecting both cities roughly
follows same route which was begun before the 19th century.(Copied by Henry
Cocos from A. A. Lopez,Bajo el Cielo Filipino.)
 I JLJULJUUI
□ 1 LJ LJ !=:! ^ I I—I I—1 Qj^
□□□□□ □aDDDDn OVA

MAR DE JOLO

nni-nnrmn nnnnnnnnnri
to

CA.6&YAW

Taila. -

BaWia de Uiqan
MISAMIP.

LabPiedras

iH»F, Kalagenia
Sa U\ama
0 666666
8
PaiTtav-

Maranui

LaaaiAS de
□ □ Hq to

Hid
jD DC
"ijirijq
TuKuran , — Sultan Desarip's torogan (Samporna)
f ccrciiera JZtazQm
— Amai Pakpak's commander's section (c/igo-d<go)
La ?,abanilla
BAHIA -DIalris (brass cannon)

^Parang P -Marawl (bran cannon)

.a
— Balo (brass cannon)

-Barakat (brass cannon)

Cotabat
— Guns (Spanish or European origin)'
R(0 Gname
— War agongs
i2a2
— Ground-traps (palsang)

Larger Spanish operations map,covering all of Mindanao,ca. 1895. Mindanao — Surrounding canal or most

Sea is erroneously labelled "Mar de Jolo."(Copied by H.Cocos from A. A. Lopez, — War fla^ and buntings

Bajo el Cielo Filipino.) -Parapets (walls)

— Lake Lanao shores (south)