Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 9 - American Siege of Iloilo

Chapter 9

American Siege of Iloilo





* highlighted in violet is the timeline or date




Dr. Frank S. Bourns (front left) and  Dean C. Worcester (front right) with their Filipino assistants in Iloilo in 1888



American Spy and their Espionage to Spanish Iloilo and whole of Philippines

1887 - Four American biologist came to Iloilo to study its flora and fauna. They were Dr. Joseph B. Steere a zoologist, Dr. Frank S. Bourns (photo front left), Dean C. Worcester (photo front right), and E.L. Mosley. Worcester collect zoological specimens for the University Museum. They left Iloilo for Concepcion on a sugar steamboat where the Spanish military headquarter was located.

He went back to the US in 1889 and returned to Philippines in 1890. They spent two and a half years (1890-1893) collecting  more than 3000 specimens of birds, reptiles, mammals, butterflies, shells and ethnographic objects. But those are just few of his feats. Worcester expedition was a very prolific one. His documentation such as descriptive details of general condition of Philippines was magnanimous one with hundreds of pictures from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Worcester very quick ascension to high-profile American government office albeit he is just a mere biologist raised a suspicion that he worked for clandestine intelligence service by collecting information to assess Philippine vulnerability to American territorial expansion.

Dean C. Worcester published a book in 1898 "The Philippine Islands and Their People ". In 1899, President McKinley of the United States appointed him in the First Philippine Commission as an only civilian. The following September he returned to Washington to oversee the compilation and publication of the Commission's 1600 page report. He continued his service as a member of the Second Philippine Commission (the only person to serve on both) headed by William H. Taft, Secretary of Interior. In 1901, Worcester was appointed the Secretary of Interior of the Commission Government a position he held until 1913 making him the longest serving administrator in the colonial government.  This was an extremely powerful position that oversaw a number of  government bureaus: Health, Forestry, Public Lands, Agriculture,  Weather, Mining, Government Laboratories, and Non-Christian Tribes. He also published a book The Philippines: Past and Present.



American War Ships Surprise Visit Iloilo Harbor





December 27, 1898 - Just two days after gaining independence as the newly-born Iloilo Nation, a 3,000-strong American military force led by Gen. Henry Miller arrived in four US warships (USS: Baltimore, Boston, Concord & Petrel) to Iloilo harbor to demand the surrender of the city. The commander of the expedition, Gen. Marcus Miller assisted by warships from Admiral George Dewey lowered the  Filipino flag and hoisted the American one signifying American control requested permission to land saying that they had come as friends. But the Ilonggo officials refused to grant his request.



Gen. Marcus Henry Miller





Gen Marcus Henry Miller could not force his way because U.S. President William McKinley had ordered that armed conflict with the Filipinos should be avoided while the Treaty of Paris was pending ratification by the U.S. Senate. A telegram says "To preserve the peace and protect the life and property. It is more important that there should be no conflict with the insurgents, be conciliatory but firm"




Negotiation





One day Gen. Miller tried diplomacy. He sent his army surgeon, Dr. Henry Dur. Phelan to negotiate with General Martin Delgado, Attorney Raymundo Melliza and Attorney Francisco Soriano.

“We  have sacrificed lives and money to destroy the power of Spain,” Phelan told the leaders.

Melliza who was the Ilonggo spokesperson replied, “We  have also made great sacrifices in life.” He paused for a moment and added, “We have the power to govern ourselves and need no assistance.”

Failing to  persuade the native officials to let the American ships land, Phelan dropped a  threat. He said the Americans could destroy Iloilo any time with the big guns from their ships. Melliza stood up and forcefully answered, “We will withdraw to the mountains and repeat the North American Indian warfare. You must not forget that.”




Half-Baked ratification of Treaty of Paris





February 4, 1899 -  The American command claimed that the Filipinos initiated the fighting. The big news of the fighting and the false information was wired to Washington instigating the Senate to ratify the treaty. Previously, Americans made a sham battle at this second time around they made another sham fighting to influence the Senate vote to be scheduled on February 6.


February 6, 1899 -  There was an intense fight in the United States  politicians. The treaty was finally ratified by a margin of just one vote. The ratification of the treaty indicated that the United States was committed to take possession of the Philippine islands and that it would oppose the Filipino independence movement. US President McKinley and his cabinet.



Americans attacked Iloilo





February 7, 1899Gen. Robert Hughes,  an American started to bomb Iloilo about a week that brought irreparable damage and totally demolished the historic “Fort San  Pedro“ citadel.




War Broke Out





February 11, 1899 - At  9:30 a.m. Saturday, February 11 the gunboat Petrel and the cruiser Baltimore bombarded the Filipino shore trenches. Forty-eight marines from the Boston and a company from the Petrel were sent ashore.

The defenders were led by General Martin Delgado and Teresa "Nay Isa" Magbanua y Ferraris, the Visayan "Joan of Arc" retreated.



America totally crushed Ilonggo Independent Movement





February 14, 1899 - American troops landed in Iloilo and took it by storm landing at Fort San Pedro near Santo Rosario and forced their way into the city. Villages were razed to the ground and hundreds of civilians were brutally killed including defenseless women and small children. Soldiers burned Iloilo to prevent the Americans from making it as their base of operations. The Swiss consul's residence was burned. The entire Chinese and native sections of the city were destroyed but foreign mercantile property escaped with slight damage.

“The house was a fine one and richly furnished but had been looted to a finish. The  contents of every drawer had been emptied on the floor. You have no idea what a mania for destruction the average man has when the fear of the law is removed. I have see them—old sober business men too—knock chandeliers and plate-glass  mirrors to pieces just because they couldn’t carry them off. It is such a  pity." (- D. M. Mickle, Tennessee Regiment at Iloilo)

Americans took properties for themselves including the money in the banks.




(In Iloilo: Americans lined up for mess at their headquarters kitchen. Photo taken in 1899)

February 22, 1899 – After two weeks of battle, Iloilo City finally fell to the Americans. Don Raymundo Melliza and Roque Lopez  surrendered readily because they are elderly. Melliza was appointed president of the military branch of the Supreme Court by Gen. Elwell Otis, the military governor of the Philippines on May 29, 1899 with Ambrosio Rianzares, Julio Llorente, Major R.W. Young, and Captain W.E. Brikhimer as magistrates.

Remaining Ilonggo troops fought the Americans in pitched battles in towns around Iloilo City. The resistance continued line in defense outside Jaro from Balabag, Pavia to Jibao-an extending towards Oton and checked American advance. Under Martin Delgado guerrilla warfare was still raging in the province and continued for 8 months of resistance.

March 19, 1899 - The Queen Regent of Spain ratified the Treaty of Paris.

Apr  11, 1899 - Exchange of treaty ratification in Washington by both Spain and the  United States. It was only at this point in time the treaty was actually  formalized and became internationally binding; officially ending the  Spanish-American War. Thus, consummation of the anomalous Philippine  purchase.




Ilonggo Nation - Independent from Manila





April 27, 1899 - A decree abolishing the Federal Republic of the Visayas was issued by Emilio Aguinaldo. This was ignored  by the Ilonggo leaders since Iloilo leaders knew that they are not under his authority. The embattled Visayan government continued to function while fighting U.S. forces. Ilonggo Republic continued to function moving its capital from Sta. Barbara, Jaro, Cabatuan and other towns in the province of Iloilo. On January 18, 1900, Benito Lopez at age 21 was elected a member of the Council of the Federal State of the Visayas.

A new life is ahead Iloilo during the American colonial government.

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