I am a history buff and I am forever curious of historical events. I like reading books about the Filipinos' struggles against the Spaniards, Americans and Japanese who, one after the other, occupied our native land. And from the stories told by my elders many years back and from the accounts of other knowledgeable people in my hometown, I have gained vital details and have started to appreciate the legacy left behind by these freedom fighters.
My maternal great grandfather was an insurgent. He was a Colonel in the revolutionary forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo. His name was Jose Serapio. He was from the town of Sta. Maria and was Captain Municipal or Town Mayor for many years. He was an uncle of Aguinaldo. He was always in the thick of the battles in and around the towns of Bulacan and the insurgents sometimes came out victorious and sometimes defeated.
The revolutionaries employed the guerrilla tactic of attacking the enemy by surprise. The invaders were waylaid on deserted roads and in rugged terrains which were unfamiliar to them. The road leading to Norzagaray and, ultimately, to the other towns of Bulacan was called "Daang Tulisan" as countless ambushes were carried out by the insurrectos against Spanish soldiers along this dirt road which is now known as Quirino Highway.
The rebel forces had their strongholds in subterranean caves, notable of which were the Biak na Bato Caves in San Miguel and the Pinagrealan Cave in Norzagaray. The caves were their hideouts as they seemed impenetrable and undetectable. Aguinaldo and his men conducted meetings at Pinagrealan Cave during their fight against the Spaniards.
And during the Philippine American War, Aguinaldo again sought refuge at the Pinagrealan Cave on his way to the North as the American Forces under General Henry Lawton and, later on, under General Frederick Funston were relentlessly pursuing the rebels. Pinagrealan Cave was Aguinaldo's sanctuary. There, he and his men rested, planned their moves and called the shots. Pinagrealan is tucked somewhere in Brgy Bigte. It is now a national heritage.
Back to my maternal great grandfather Jose Serapio. While General Funston was spreading a dragnet and doggedly pursuing the elusive Aguinaldo, Serapio saw it unwise to continue fighting in the face of insurmountable odds and decided to surrender to the Americans.
Now here is the tale of my elders. While in captivity, Serapio endeared himself to the Americans. He was highly educated and could speak English and Spanish. Not only was he released, he was, after several months, appointed Governor of Bulacan by the powerful Taft Commission. It was a unanimous choice. Serapio was Bulacan Governor in 1900 and 1901. Aside from the transfer of the seat of government from Bulakan town to Malolos, his legacy to Bulacan was the establishment of town councils which we now call as Sangguniang Bayan.
Pinagrealan Cave, General Funston, General Aguinaldo, Colonel Serapio and the Insurrectos. All these names were intertwined at one point in our history.
- Konted
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| Pinagrealan Cave is situated behind this old limestone company in Brgy. Bigte in Norzagaray, Bulacan. |
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| Path leading to Pinagrealan Cave |
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| The historic Pinagrealan Cave |
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| Historical marker in front of the cave |
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| About Pinagrealan Cave |
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| Approaching the cave's entrance |
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| Pinagealan Cave's entrance |
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| Albert Gener simulates a Katipunero's stance. |
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| Closer shot |
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| Pinagrealan Cave is maintained by the Municipal Government of Norzagaray and the DENR. |
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| Souvenir shot |
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| The cave is made of limestones. |
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A deep well in front of the cave. Pinagrealan Cave is located within a private land owned by the Castro
clan. |
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| Proud of their history |
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| The development or improvement of Pinagrealan Cave is the centerpiece of Norzagaray's Tourism Program under Mayor Fel Legaspi. Councilors in support of the program include Kon Junjun Saplala, Kon Jerry Sumbillo, Kon Imee Pascual and Kon Efren Faustino. |
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| General Frederick Funston captured Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela |
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| General Emilio Aguinaldo was President of the First Philippine Republic. He sought refuge at Pinagrealan cave but was captured in Palanan, Isabela. |
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| Colonel Jose Serapio was Bulacan Governor in 1900 and 1901. He was Captain Municipal or Town Mayor of Sta Maria for many years. He had vast landholdings in Catmon, Poblacion, Gulod, Pulong Buhangin. all in Sta Maria, and in other parts of Norzagaray. A Malolos paper describes him as "a towering disciplinarian, an imposing leader and a romantic adventurer." |
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| New York Times article dated February 28, 1901 on Jose Serapio's appointment |
Members of the Revolutionary Government who later joined the Taft administration
| Name | Position under the
Aguinaldo Administration | Position under the
Taft Administration |
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| Cayetano Arellano | Secretary of State | Chief Justice |
| Victorino Mapa | Counselor of the Revolutionary Government | Associate Justice |
| T.H. Pardo de Tavera | Assistant Secretary of State | Commissioner |
| Benito Legarda | Vice President of the Malalos Congress | Commissioner |
| Jose Luzuriaga | President of the Reverend Congress of Panay | Commissioner |
| Felipe Buencamino | Secretary of State | Civil Service Board |
| Felix Roxas | Member of the Filipino Junta in Paris | Governor of Batangas |
| Ignacio Villamor | Malolos Congress delegate | Judge |
| Gregorio Araneta | Secretary of Justice | Solicitor General |
| Martin Delgado | Commanding General od Panay | Governor of Iloilo |
| Ambrosio Flores | Assistant Secretary of War | Governor of Rizal |
| Mariano Trias | Secretary of War | Governor of Cavite |
| Jose Serapio | Colonel of the Revolutionary Army | Governor of Bulacan |
| Gracio Gonzaga | Secretary of the Interior | Governor of Cagayan |
| Arsenio Cruz Herrera | Assistant Secretary of Interior | President of the Municipal Board of Manila |
| Jose Alejandrino | General of the Revolutionary Army | City Engineer of Manila |
| Modesto Reyes | Member of the Filipino Junta in Paris | City Attorney of Manila |
| Daniel Triona | Secretary of War | Provincial Secretary of Cavite |
| Mariano Cunanan | Major in the Revolutionary Army | Principal Secretary of Pampanga |
| Mariano Crisostomo | Malolos Congress Delegate | Provincial Fiscal of Bulacan |
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| Bulacan Provincial Capitol in Malolos. Bulacan was one of the 8 provinces to rise in arms against the Spaniards. |
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| The San Francisco Call's account of the capture of Gen. Aguinaldo by the troops of Gen Funston. General Funston and his men made the pretext thay they were captured by the Macabebe Scouts. After getting near Gen Aguinaldo, the Americans seized the Filipino general. (Phil Am War photo) |
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| This photo was taken right after the capture of Aguinaldo. From left, Col. Simeon Villa, President Aguinaldo, Gen. Funston and Dr. Santiago Barcelona (Phil-Am War photo) |
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| The Macabebe Scouts who helped Gen. Funston and his men in capturing General Aguinaldo (Phil Am photo) |
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| Brig. General Frederick Funston is flanked by four other American officers after the capture of Gen Aguinaldo. (Phil-Am photo) |
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| Gen Aguinaldo and other prisoners of war were taken back to Manila on board the USS Vicksburg. (Phil-Am War photo) |
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| General Aguinaldo as a prisoner of war on board the USS Vicksburg (Phil-Am War photo) |
