Cavite City: A Journey Back in Time
Text and Photos: Lino C. Soriano
SOME 444 years after the Spanish expeditionary forces founded Cavite Puerto, now popularly known as Cavite City, relics and artifacts around the city still remind us of the glorious days under Spain – one of the most powerful empires before the 20th century.
Cavite City is easily accessible through the twenty-six-kilometer Manila-Cavite Expressway or through the old Bacoor-to-Cavite City Road, that will give you a chance to pass by the residence of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo or the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit.
Cavite City is proud of its colorful history, cultural heritage and scenic spots.
Historical accounts attest to the significant events that transpired in this place. Its native sons and daughters had offered the ultimate sacrifice to help free our country from the clutches of the Spanish colonizers. Some of the chronicled events who made it to the pages of history books are:
· The Cavite Mutiny – one of the earliest cries of rebellion against the colonizers on January 20, 1872, 154 soldiers and workers staged a mutiny against superior Spanish forces. To honor these men and perpetuate their memory, a historical marker was set up at Barangay San Roque, to inspire the new generation.
· As an aftermath of the Cavite Mutiny, three Filipino priests – Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, more popularly known as Gomburza, were executed by garrote (strangulation), after they were deceptively charged with instigating the mutiny.
· Despite failure of the Spanish court to prove their guilt, the 13 Filipino martyrs were executed by musketry on September 12, 1896. They were Luis Aguado, Eugenio Cabezas, Feliciano Cabuco, Agapito Conchu, Alfonso de Ocampo, Maximo Gregorio, Maximo Inocencio, Jose Llalana, Severino Lapidario, Victoriano Luciano III, Francisco Osorio, Hugo Perez, and Antonio San Agustin. In 1906, to honor these gallant men and perpetuate their memory, a monument affirming their martyrdom was built at Barangay San Roque. Their portraits are on display at the Cavite Museum.
· Maestro Julian Felipe, a prominent son of Cavite City, was the composer of Marcha Nacional Filipina, which was later named the Philippine National Anthem. The city government named a school and a street after him. Felipe’s bust also stands prominently at the side of the main road after going past the entrance to the city.
· Ladislao Diwa is also a prominent son of this city, who co-founded the Katipunan with Andres Bonifacio and Teodoro Plata. Students and tourists frequent the Ladislao Diwa shrine at Barangay Caridad. To further honor him, a school became his namesake.·
SOME 444 years after the Spanish expeditionary forces founded Cavite Puerto, now popularly known as Cavite City, relics and artifacts around the city still remind us of the glorious days under Spain – one of the most powerful empires before the 20th century.
Cavite City is easily accessible through the twenty-six-kilometer Manila-Cavite Expressway or through the old Bacoor-to-Cavite City Road, that will give you a chance to pass by the residence of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo or the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit.
Cavite City is proud of its colorful history, cultural heritage and scenic spots.
Historical accounts attest to the significant events that transpired in this place. Its native sons and daughters had offered the ultimate sacrifice to help free our country from the clutches of the Spanish colonizers. Some of the chronicled events who made it to the pages of history books are:
· The Cavite Mutiny – one of the earliest cries of rebellion against the colonizers on January 20, 1872, 154 soldiers and workers staged a mutiny against superior Spanish forces. To honor these men and perpetuate their memory, a historical marker was set up at Barangay San Roque, to inspire the new generation.
· As an aftermath of the Cavite Mutiny, three Filipino priests – Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, more popularly known as Gomburza, were executed by garrote (strangulation), after they were deceptively charged with instigating the mutiny.
· Despite failure of the Spanish court to prove their guilt, the 13 Filipino martyrs were executed by musketry on September 12, 1896. They were Luis Aguado, Eugenio Cabezas, Feliciano Cabuco, Agapito Conchu, Alfonso de Ocampo, Maximo Gregorio, Maximo Inocencio, Jose Llalana, Severino Lapidario, Victoriano Luciano III, Francisco Osorio, Hugo Perez, and Antonio San Agustin. In 1906, to honor these gallant men and perpetuate their memory, a monument affirming their martyrdom was built at Barangay San Roque. Their portraits are on display at the Cavite Museum.
· Maestro Julian Felipe, a prominent son of Cavite City, was the composer of Marcha Nacional Filipina, which was later named the Philippine National Anthem. The city government named a school and a street after him. Felipe’s bust also stands prominently at the side of the main road after going past the entrance to the city.
· Ladislao Diwa is also a prominent son of this city, who co-founded the Katipunan with Andres Bonifacio and Teodoro Plata. Students and tourists frequent the Ladislao Diwa shrine at Barangay Caridad. To further honor him, a school became his namesake.·
Fort San Felipe – a 16th century Spanish garrison which has a long tunnel believed to be an escape route of Spanish officers and clergy, in case the need arises, during the era.
· The old Spanish Slipway, constructed in 1874, was primarily used in the repair of galleons.
· The Belfry of the Recoletos Church was a standout among the eight churches in Cavite City during the conquistadores heyday. It was the only structure that weathered the ravages of time and war.
· The Cavite City Museum which houses timeless pieces, remind Cavite folk and visitors of an opulent past life.
· Sangley Point (now Danilo Atienza Airbase), a former US military naval reservation which was actively used as a staging point of military operations during the Vietnam war.
· The Corregidor Island which is politically part of Cavite City. Formerly known as Fort Mills, Corregidor was a former US military garrison. Until now, a battery of heavy artillery weapons are fixtures found in every nook and cranny of the tadpole-shaped island. Prominent on the island are the bomb-scarred mile-long barracks used by the U.S. armed forces, and the Malinta tunnel which was built on a solid rock that withstood the incessant Japanese bombings during World War II.
A number of tourists call Cavite City a large outdoor museum because of the presence of various historical relics and artifacts around the city. Former city mayor Timoteo Encarnacion, Jr. called it the only historical city with three bays because it is surrounded by Bacoor, Canacao and Manila Bay.
Aside from visiting historical and scenic spots, tourists flock to this city every Holy Week to witness the live Via Crusis, a passion on the life of Jesus Christ, wherein the crufixion of ‘Jesus’ is reenacted. While every 24th of June, a fluvial festival highlights the fiesta celebration, in honor of their patron saint, San Juan Bautista.
Despite radical changes in the Filipino language, would you believe that Chavacano, a pidgin Spanish, is still spoken by many residents here? This proves the unending influence of our former colonizers.
Cavite City is only 11.83 square kilometers, thus one can comb it in just a day. But to savor Corregidor’s local flavor, one has to stay for two to three days on the island.
10 January 2015
References:
Cavite City Museum
Cavite City Archives
· The old Spanish Slipway, constructed in 1874, was primarily used in the repair of galleons.
· The Belfry of the Recoletos Church was a standout among the eight churches in Cavite City during the conquistadores heyday. It was the only structure that weathered the ravages of time and war.
· The Cavite City Museum which houses timeless pieces, remind Cavite folk and visitors of an opulent past life.
· Sangley Point (now Danilo Atienza Airbase), a former US military naval reservation which was actively used as a staging point of military operations during the Vietnam war.
· The Corregidor Island which is politically part of Cavite City. Formerly known as Fort Mills, Corregidor was a former US military garrison. Until now, a battery of heavy artillery weapons are fixtures found in every nook and cranny of the tadpole-shaped island. Prominent on the island are the bomb-scarred mile-long barracks used by the U.S. armed forces, and the Malinta tunnel which was built on a solid rock that withstood the incessant Japanese bombings during World War II.
A number of tourists call Cavite City a large outdoor museum because of the presence of various historical relics and artifacts around the city. Former city mayor Timoteo Encarnacion, Jr. called it the only historical city with three bays because it is surrounded by Bacoor, Canacao and Manila Bay.
Aside from visiting historical and scenic spots, tourists flock to this city every Holy Week to witness the live Via Crusis, a passion on the life of Jesus Christ, wherein the crufixion of ‘Jesus’ is reenacted. While every 24th of June, a fluvial festival highlights the fiesta celebration, in honor of their patron saint, San Juan Bautista.
Despite radical changes in the Filipino language, would you believe that Chavacano, a pidgin Spanish, is still spoken by many residents here? This proves the unending influence of our former colonizers.
Cavite City is only 11.83 square kilometers, thus one can comb it in just a day. But to savor Corregidor’s local flavor, one has to stay for two to three days on the island.
10 January 2015
References:
Cavite City Museum
Cavite City Archives