The Filipino American War as seen by diarists in real time with some additional commentary and sourc

On guard at Recollecties [Recoletos]. Nothing of note happened. Saw the arrest of a Lieut. of Aguinaldo’s who was telling Spanish soldiers that we were to fight in a day or two and he wanted them to help.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.



We are living in troublous times here on the Philippines at the present writing. Rumors of a clash with Aguinaldo’s men are rife. Is it a baseless excitement? It would be a reflection on our officers if they were timid & fearful like so many frightened jack rabbits. Soldiers of various regiments have been kept in their barracks since last Friday. Some have orders to keep ready by sleeping in their clothing & on their arms for instant actions. Manila is in danger of attack any night from the Filipinos. Night is their chosen time for such work. Some men say he claims that he has 90,000 men & will take the city the 27th of the present month – such preparations are disquieting.



Visitors to No. 2. 4.



Private Chas. Nelson L. Co. 13th Minn. Vol. Inf. called half sick, despondent & backslidden. Was given straight talk. Kneeled down & confessing his sins to Christ was pardoned. N – went away in better spirits & promised to help me fight. Gave him for free distribution War Cry (S.F.) 7 copies July 16th No. 555; 17 cop. Sept. 3d No. 562 for his comrades & 41 copies July 23d No. 556 for the General Hospital patients.



Private Chester Blaney of 10 Pennsylvania Vol. Inf. brought his comrade Salvationist Private Wm Stauffer of Co. H. Prayed with them, have the for distribution in Co’s A. & C. 45 copies of S.F. War Crys No. 562, Sept 3rd. Blaney brought me 3 copies New York War Cry. — I had a headache all day.

Private Chas. Nelson L. Co. 13th Minn. Vol. Inf. called half sick, despondent & backslidden. Was given straight talk. Kneeled down & confessing his sins to Christ was pardoned. N – went away in better spirits & promised to help me fight. Gave him for free distribution War Cry (S.F.) 7 copies July 16th No. 555; 17 cop. Sept. 3d No. 562 for his comrades & 41 copies July 23d No. 556 for the General Hospital patients.

This is a dandy day. It rained pretty near most of the time. The other half of our Company goes on outpost. Things are quiet around quarters. I am not any better, but the cramps have almost left me. In the evening changed medicines. We have all kinds of rumors in regards to disposing of the Philippine Islands. The straight is that the insurgents establish an independent government with the protection of the United States and England. All of us hope that it may be true. As we go to bed the wind is blowing terribly and the rain is coming down in torrents. [George] Knotts, [George] Miller, [George] Conn, [Albert] McMaster and [John H.] Asendorf are on the sick list.

It was stormy’ and raining both days. We heard we would be called out tonight.

On October 24, 1853, Pedro Serrano Laktaw, a philologist and journalist, a teacher and patriot was born in Kupang, Bulacan, Bulacan. He was a boyhood companion and schoolmate of Marcelo H. Del Pilar.


Laktaw has a distinction as the only Filipino appointed one of the tutors to Prince of Asturias, who later became King Alfonso XIII, when the Prince was about 6 or 7 years old.



Laktaw is said to have been the only Filipino to obtain the degree of Maestro Superior from the Superior Normal School at Salamanca and the degree of Maestro Normal from the Central University of Madrid. Years before leaving for Spain-or about the year 1877-he had obtained the title of Maestro Elemental from the Escuela Normal Superior de Maestros in Manila, an institution controlled by the Society of Jesus of the province of Aragon, and had after graduation from that school, taken to the profession of teaching with an enthusiasm that knew no bounds.



Maestro Serrano Laktaw's humble efforts as a teacher had first carried him to different parts of Luzon. He taught in San Luis, Pampanga; Malolos, Bulacan; and Binondo, Manila. It was as a teacher of the municipal school in Binondo - on what was then Calle de Jolo, now Juan Luna street - that Serrano Laktaw spent some of his best years and acquired quite an educational fame. He returned to this school after he came back from the Peninsula, and during the years that he was in charge of it he took under his benign tutelage numerous boys who later became prominent.



Notably, Laktaw, who also took part of the propaganda movement, along with Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Doroteo Cortes, Deodato Arellano, helped the Comite de Propaganda extolling democratic principles and exposing friars' abuses. The Comite based in Manila, helped finance the publication of La Solidaridad in Spain.



Toward the end of 1891, he was charged with having clandestinely introduced subversive separatist propaganda into the country and with having allied himself with Germans, Englishmen, and other European nationals in the Philippines to promote revolutionary ends; was arrested and thrown into prison. To no avail did he defend himself. It was not until a new Captain-General, Don Ramon Blanco y Erenas arrived, that his case was reconsidered and his release subsequently granted. He resumed his propagandistic career, writing articles for El Heraldo de la Revolucion. He continued writing nationalistic articles under the American regime, for other organs such as Ang Bayan, Ang Kapatid ng Bayan and Kalayaan.



He also became a well-known lexicographer and grammarian when he published Diccionario Tagalog-Hispano in 1914. Together with his earlier volume Diccionario Hispano-Tagalog, the two books were described as the only lexicographical studies of scientific value by American linguist Leonard Bloomfield.



Laktaw, who published his Estudios Gramaticales Sobre la Lengua, is remembered now as one of the spelling reformers of the Tagalog language, along with Jose Rizal and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera.



Pedro Serrano Laktaw was married to Roberta Buison in 1887 with whom he had 13 children. Suffering from an intestinal ulcer, Laktaw died on September 22, 1928.



References



Pedro Serrano Laktaw, The Philippine Magazine, Volume 33, Number 7, July 1940

Philippines News Agency archives

I was on guard as commander at Cuartel del Fortin which included the police at Escolta.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Clear lovely day & not hot, quite a contrast to the storm of yesterday.

After breakfast was cooked, hunger satisfied and dishes out of the way added another page to the write up for the S.F. War Cry, sub-titles to the article of 18 pages: “Tent Tribulations; Holiness Subject to Order; Down on Pasig Quay: Sores & Coughs;

Swamps; Christian Commission; Beggars & Tobacco; Missionary Outlook; Language Barriers; Dewey’s Squadron; Recollections; Future of the Philippines.” Sent with the copy 3 large photographs: negrito in a boat at Mariveles; Dattos or Chiefs of Mindanao Island and Aguinaldo & Staff.

Visitors 9.

Private Herron of 3d Battalion 1st Nebraska Vol. Inf. called. Gave him for force distribution 30 copies No. 564 Sept. 17 War Crys.

Private A.S. Lloyd, Co. E. 1st Montana Vol. Inf. came to No. 2 despondent & backsliders. Dealt with him & the Lord Jesus pardoned & healed his soul. Praise the Lord. Salvationists in the US. Army are constantly backsliding.

Bought 3 newspapers. The trouble with the Insurgents seem to have blown over for a short time. They have withdrawn from the immediate suburbs of Manila otherwise they keep this organization. They are bent on having independence, which may lead to war with them after awhile.

Wrote & copied 2 letters (1) to Lt. Col. Wm Evans with copy: (2) to Capt. Coogan of U.S.S. “Baltimore” to arrange for a service next Sunday.

It has rained pretty near all night but the day is clear and hot until 6 p.m. when we had a heavy storm and it got quite chilly. Just felt like a night in November at home. We were vaccinated again, at least most of us. We had a regimental parade in the evening on out street. We had fresh meat and three good meals this day. [Gilbert] Cuite, [Frank] Christopher, [William] Little and [Curtis] Beatty were sent to the guard house at 11 o’clock for leaving quarters after Taps. [George] Conn, [George] Knotts and [Charles] Herrington are on the sick list.

The weather has been noticeably cooler, which is a blessing. We haven’t taken out our furs yet, but the other night, in a hard rain-storm, I pulled my blanket over me. This envelope was addressed. some time ago, when I was planning to construct a Spanish letter. I began, “ Cara Mia,” only to find a day or two later that cara was “costly,” and not the kind of “dear” I wanted. In other words, I got out beyond my depth in flowing Spanish, and letter-writing is postponed for the present. I find, though, that my colloquial Spanish is progressing well. My vocabulary is about on a par with the Filipinos’ talk, and I really surprise myself the way I can rattle on with the simple natives. When it comes to talking with educated Spaniards, it is a different matter. In explaining the American government I get completely swamped. The other morning General H——— handed me over a letter he had received, and said, “Read that.” I thought he simply meant me to look it through as a matter of interest, but when I finished he wanted it translated to him. I sat down with the dictionary and looked up the dozen words I couldn’t guess at, and at last gave him a sensible though inelegant translation. The letter was a trifle puzzling, as it was written by a native in Spanish with Togali [Tagalog] spelling. I still have a thing or two to learn before I apply for any of the interpreters’ positions. The inclosed ticket and programme of the Filipino theater may interest you. Riordan, an assistant engineer civilian, took me last night to the circus. It was really good. The native tumbling was well done. I send you by this mail a roll of Spanish and American Manila papers. I am not proud of the latter kind, but a little talent may be developed in the future. I don’t feel a bit like an A.B., or B.A., is it? Perhaps when I have. seen the sheepskin may swell a trifle on the strength of my liberal education.

No news yet from Washington, excepting a dispatch that the President is in Philadelphia, and promising instructions sometime today.

At our morning meeting, Mr. Parnow, a German merchant long resident in the Philippines, appeared. He had presented letters of introduction to Secretary Day and myself from Andrew D. White of Berlin, who commended him highly. [He] had been put off for a day or two on account of our engagements with the Spaniards. His testimony was not taken quite so formally as that of previous witnesses about the Philippines. It proved confirmatory of much that had already been told, and developed one or two interesting new points. One was that the Philippines, according to a financial statement which he had presented, had paid the expenses of their own administration and also the cost of the entire consular and diplomatic service of Spain in the East, as well as of the Department of Colonies at Madrid, pensions to soldiers and civilians, who had been in the Philippine service, pensions paid the Duke of Veragua and others on account of their relationship to Columbus, etc.

He said only a small proportion of the Philippine loan had been taken by the individuals and this was in the nature of a forced loan. He spoke well of the natives, both in Luzon and in the Visayas, and was distinctly of opinion that it would be a mistake to divide the archipelago.

All the talk among people one meets and in the newspapers is about the possibility of war with Great Britain over the ridiculous Fashoda incident. . .

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Clear, bright day & quite warm but not uncomfortably so.

Wrote Lieut-Col. Henny Lippincott, Deputy Surgeon General for a permit to visit the hospitals. Copied the letter.

When down town purchased several vocabularies of Philippine Island dialects. Catalogued my pamphlets. Cooked breakfast & supper. Quartermaster Orderly C. J. Scott remained to supper. He is on the sick list. Looks bad. Dysentery pulled him down.

The Lord cheered me & my comrades after supper by bringing 14 U.S. soldiers to No. 2. A holiness meeting was inaugurated. The Holy Ghost made use of His servants praise His name, & 5 men kneeled down at the table: Chester Blaney, 10th Penn., Wm Stauffer, 10th Penn.; Geo. Berry, Co. H. 1st Montana; the foregoing 3 for sanctification. They claimed to get it. Private Henry Keyser, Co. E. 1st Montana & Alva Malony, Battery G. 6th U.S. Artillery, backsliders, were reclaimed thru Christ. Latter is chief engineer of the Ice Plant at Cavite. He formerly belonged to the Cambellite church. Glory to God for victory!

Visitors 15.

The comrades all separated in good spirits. Among the number of present was Private Peter Shipper of the Engineers. He appeared quite humble after the cigar episode. Said he would try to fetch Harry Kline down Sunday night.

Private Hummer of H. battery gave me $2. U.S. coin. He makes a practice of giving one-tenth of his income to the Lord. An excellent practice.

It has rained all night but the morning is clear and very hot until 3 o’clock when we had a sun shower. We had fifteen guards out today. In the evening, we had battalion dress parade. I also had my application returned to me which was disapproved much to my disappointment. At least to my belief, I blame the Captain for it which I frankly told him (will not write the reasons). We also took a vote to buy ice every day. I voted against it for I think it will injure us more than do us good. But, it passed by a majority. [George] Knotts, [George] Conn and [Charles] Herrington were on the sick list.

Simon de Anda y Salazar

On October 28, 1701, Simon de Anda y Salazar, the Spanish governor general who sent a letter to the King of Spain complaining about the irregularities committed by the friars in the Philippines, was born.

De Anda, who ruled the Philippines from October 6, 1762 to March 17, 1764, and again from July 1770 to October 30, 1776, was also the Spanish governor during the British occupation of Manila.

He engaged in negotiations with the British (1763 to 1764) and received the governor's position when the British withdrew in April of 1764 in accordance with the Treaty of Paris of 1763.

During his second term as governor general of the Philippines from July 1770 to October 30, 1776, De Anda continued reforming the army and engaging in public works, although confronted with problems with the Moros who never stopped from causing troubles during his governorship.

He also opposed the king's order of November 9, 1774 to secularize the curacies held by regulars, and had the order repealed on December 11, 1776.

De Anda died on October 30, 1776, in Cavite at the age of 76.

A monument to his legacy was erected on Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila. The municipalities of San Simon in Pampanga, Anda in Bohol and Anda in Pangasinan were also named in his honor.

Reference: Philippine News Agency archives
Photo credit: Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia (http://www.euskomedia.org/)

The Secularization Controversy

Two kinds of priests served the Catholic Church in the Philippines. These were the regulars and the seculars. Regular priests belonged to religious orders. Their main task was to spread Christianity. Examples were the Franciscans, Recollects, Spanish church in Cavite circa 1899 Dominicans, and Augustinians. Secular priests did not belong to any religious order. They were trained specifically to run the parishes and were under the supervision of the bishops.

Conflict began when the bishops insisted on visiting the parishes that were being run by regular priests. It was their duty, they argued, to check on the administration of these parishes. But the regular priests refused these visits, saying that they were not under the bishop’s jurisdiction. They threatened to abandon their parishes if the bishops persisted.

In 1774, Archbishop Basilio Santa Justa decided to uphold the diocese’s authority over the parishes and accepted the resignations of the regular priests. He assigned secular priests to take their place. Since there were not enough seculars to fill all the vacancies the Archbishop hastened the ordination of Filipino seculars. A royal decree was also issued on November 9, 1774, which provided for the secularization of all parishes or the transfer of parochial administration from the regular friars to the secular priests.

The regulars resented the move because they considered the Filipinos unfit for the priesthood. Among other reasons they cited the Filipinos’ brown skin, lack of education, and inadequate experience.

The controversy became more intense when the Jesuits returned to the Philippines. They had been exiled from the country because of certain policies of the order that the Spanish authorities did not like.

The issue soon took on a racial slant. The Spaniards were clearly favouring their own regular priest over Filipino priests.

Monsignor Pedro Pelaez, ecclesiastical governor of the Church, sided with the Filipinos. Unfortunately, he died in an earthquake that destroyed the Manila Cathedral in 1863. After his death, other priests took his place in fighting for the secularization movement. Among them were Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora.

The rain stopped. We had muster and inspection and signed.

Cavite, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Out of bed early. Rushed around & got breakfast, washed the dishes, but prayed & read bible lesson first. The weather was gloomy. Heavy clouds hung low all day. Slow falling rain made everything wet. In the evening a typhoon signal was hung out in front of the building occupied by the Port Captain.

Took the 8.30a.m. ferryboat “M. Nunez” for Cavite. Private C. J. Scott met me at the Pasig quay. Over at Cavite a steam launch from the U.S.S. “Raleigh”, met us at the wharf & took us to the war ship. The officer of the deck received us politely & ordered one of the crew to take us down to the after berth deck where a table was bought out, flag put over it & seats arranged. A queer place it was. Two large torpedo tubes project half (almost across the deck. Along the side of the forward partition 4 torpedoes were stowed. An audience of 30 men listened to us very attentively & sung our songs, but no one responded to our appeal for penitents to come forward. At the close of the service, the man Hanson, a christian, who attends to the large 6 inch rifle on the forward upper deck conducted us around the vessel. Forward we sat down on the deck with the crew & made dinner on black coffee, beef, sweet potatoes, rice & bread. I enjoyed the meal. 1 o’ clock p.m. the offices of the deck sent us ashore in a launch at our request.

We called at 18th Infantry barracks & had conversation with some of the troops – then called at San Felipe Fort, visited the dungeons nearby, also the long barrack & San Domingo church. U.S. soldier (Montana men) are quartered in the buildings. The floor, wooden saints & other wood has been used by the U.S. soldiers for cooking purposes. The church is becoming a wreck sure enough since my first visit. From San Domingo church we visited a high toned house once occupied by Spaniards on Calle Arsenal. It has no number but sets between Nos. 40 & 36. In a back ground floor room are indications of a terrible tragedy. Greater blotches & stains of blood cover the walls & a finger smeared with gore marked a cross & a skull on the same. On a nearby door are the words “Sextus Gloria”. The story goes that the Filipinoes murdered a Spanish officer who swam ashore, the memorable 1st May, when Dewey destroyed the fleet of Spain. He was crucified, head cut off etc. – the unfortunate officer. There are nail holes in the wood & plaster.

Left Cavite 4.30 p.m. I met Joe Stahl on the boat. He spoke of a proposed trip to Mariveles, & promised to remember me when the party goes. Mr. Shelton of San Antonio, chief steward of the Divisional hospital was with Stahl. He gave me some points re getting permission to visit the hospital.

Clayton J. Scott returned to No. 2 with me & took supper. I cooked it & washed the dishes & hurriedly selected hymns & got a bible lesson. Audience 7. Principally Montana & North & South Dakota men. God the Holy Ghost was present to bless. At the close one soul professed conversion: Private Homer Smith, Battery G. 6th U.S. Artillery. Is an American, hails from Linden, Indiana, & was formerly a farmer.

Visitors today II.

On the Warship “Raleigh” we distributed 21 War Crys. No. 564, edition, September 17th 1898.

It has rained pretty near all night and most of the day it rains as well. This is a very quiet day on account of the wet weather. I had an invitation for a dinner out on a plantation with some German friend and enjoyed my trip very much. Had a splendid dinner of eight different courses. We all attended services at the Opera House where Chaplain Fleming from the Colorado Regiment preached and the Colorado band furnished the music which was grand. The South Dakota people are guarding the jails. Co. A, 10th is on outpost. [Charles] Herrington, [Samuel] Rockwell and George Conn remain on the sick list.

I have seen Mrs. R out here. whom I met so pleasantly in Honolulu. She is the wife of Colonel R—–—, of the Thirteenth Minnesota, who since the “battle” of Manila has been a Brigadier-General. They live just outside the city to the south, and I shall enjoy accepting the kind lady’s invitation to call. General R—— has been appointed Deputy Provost Marshal General, so I frequently catch a glimpse of him in General H ’s offce. Mrs. R reached here three or four weeks ago on a transport which brought some Red Cross nurses. I met her last week walking in the Luneta—the sea drive. I had not realized till then how much we were isolated, for it was the greatest treat to see and talk with an American lady. The really nice-appearing Spanish women persistently turn up their noses in disgust at the Americans, and as I do not fancy the advances of the native dames, I had begun to feel no class socially in spite of myself. You don’t know how it braced me up to receive recognition from a real American lady.

I inclose a license for building. I think it is worth keeping, among other things, for the interesting internal revenue stamp at the top of the paper. My Filipino brought it to me the other day with much pleasure. He had unearthed it somewhere about the building. To-day he came in with some mint slips, also some toothache-plant slips, which he wanted me to plant with my palms. He is very watchful and careful of me, and is vastly pleased when I give him a lift in learning English. He can read and write Spanish rather well, but I fear he has a long road to travel to the English. The other day he was talking on about himself. It seems he is an odd thirty-six years old, is married, and has two girls. He lost a son. He supports himself and family on ten dollars Mexican per month, and is altogether the steadiest and most respected native about here. He hoped last month to get a position at the Palace of the Governor-General for ten dollars a month and keep, and he asked me for a certificate, I wrote him out a good one, but the place has not yet been opened to him. My fees for extra services rendered, which amount to perhaps one dollar or one dollar and a half more per month, make him so devoted in his attentions that it would be hard to drive him away. The highest military court here, “The Military Commission,” is engaged at present on a murder trial. A Filipino Lieutenant was killed by a crowd of Spanish soldiers, and the man up for trial was one of the crowd, and was seen by American soldiers jumping. and stamping on the body of the Lieutenant after the latter had been felled-by a rock in the back of his head. The man will be pretty surely convicted, but the case must go before the President before the Spaniard can be executed. A North Dakota Captain is prosecuting attorney, and an officer from defense. The former appears to know some law, and the latter to be a cheerful and more or less clever bluffer. M, a fellow I know in the Oregon regiment, is orderly, or bailiff, or whatever you choose to call him, for the the Thirteenth Minnesota is counsel for the court.

HUNTINGTON.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Sometimes a day comes which stands out from its fellows as a red letter day or day of crisis. The present day give promise of making a radical change in my future. A letter dated September 7th ’98 was received from Commandant Herbert H. Booth who is in command of the Salvation Army in Australia & Oceanica. The Com’dt informs me that I am poaching on his territory, for which he does not blame me, but he is writing London & New York re the matter. Intended to occupy the Islands but hesitated because of Spain having control. The war put a new face on affairs. He now intends to occupy them. Would like me to take charge, but fears New York will never consent to giving me up. However, if the Australasian Division cannot have my services, I must return home via Australia & see the work there & will be a “great hit” for the American War Crys, ask me to write him an exhaustive report re the Philippines – also one for their publications & wants photos. Promises to send a contingent of officers here. Evidently, the archipelago will go under his wing. I commenced writing the report. Did 3 pages.

Called at the port office twice. Another letter of importance came from Deputy Surgeon-General Henry Lippincott, who sent me a written permit to visit the U.S. hospital. Divisional – at all times. To my God be the praise.

The post office clerks furnished at my request the full names of all the captains in Rear Admiral Dewey’s fleet as follows:

“ Olympia” Capt. B. P. Lamberton; *(Gridley is dead.)
“Boston” Capt. H. Wilds; (Not to be trifled 
“Charleston” Capt. H. Glass;
“Raleigh” Capt. J. B. Coughlan;
“Baltimore” Capt. W. H. Dyer;
“Monadnock” Capt. W. H. Whiting;
“Concord” Capt. Asa Walker;
“Petnel” Capt E. P. Wood;
“Nero” Capt. G. Belknap
“Monterey” Capt. E. H. C. Lentz;
“McCullock” Capt. C. H. Hooper; also

“Brutus,” Capt. V. L. Coltman; “Manila”, Capt. F. Singer; “Callao”, B. Tappan; “Manshan”, Capt. B. W. Hughes.

This list will be of value to me when planning for services on board the main vessels.

Took Bro. Clayton T. Scott’s photo, on horseback. Also gave him for distribution among the Astor battery men, 10 copies No. 557 War Cry (S.F.) July 30th ’98, containing my first published report of Philippine expedition. (20) copies No. 563 Cry, Sept. 10th ’98 printing 2d report. Scott brought me a gift of fresh steak – Australian brought in a refrigerator ship, which was highly relished fried with onion for supper.

Visitors 4.

Spoke to several soldiers on the street personally about Christ & salvation.

. . . Judge Day was a good deal troubled [today] by the statement in one of the papers that the French yellow book contained a declaration that our occupation of Manila was only provisional. He had procured a copy of the yellow book, and found that while the protocol and the correspondence relating to it were all right, the French Foreign Office in drawing up a summary of the negotiation for the information of its ambassadors at other courts, had carelessly overlooked the clause relating to the subsequent decision by the Joint Commission as to the control, disposition and government of the Philippines. We discussed the best means of setting this right, and finally agreed that our Ambassador should call M. Delcassé’s attention to it, believing that he would then set it right, and recognize that it had probably been the oversight of one of the Foreign Office clerks. He accordingly left me to consult Gen. Porter about it. Frye and Gray subsequently came in and spent the morning in chat about the situation. Gray inclined to the belief that the Spaniards would break off rather than surrender the Philippines. Frye like myself thought it rather more probable, though by no means certain that the money bait would hold them. …

We had a nice rain shower during the night. Nine of our men went on Outpost and two are at Brigade Headquarters. This was a great holiday for the Catholics here… similar to our Decoration Day. All the large businesses and factories are kept closed. We have fresh meat. We have our regular drills in the morning and evening. I am sending my diary home and a silk shawl and a letter. Sam Rockwell, Herrington and Hustead are on the sick list.

(72 Azcarraga Street, Tondo, the house where the Katipunan was born)

On November 1, 1849, Valentin Diaz, co-founder and one-time treasurer of the Katipunan, was born in Paoay, Ilocos Norte to Geronimo Diaz and Maria Villanueva. His family is said to have moved to Tayug, Pangasinan sometime in 1857.

Nothing is known of the educational background of Diaz but it can be presumed that he had obtained some level of education because he became gobernadorcillo of his town, a position equivalent to that of the present-day municipal mayor. Moreover, he and his family must have been influential, for the Spanish authorities awarded such position only to members of important families.

Exactly when and how he came to live in Tondo, Manila is also not known. However, he was among those listed as members of Dr. Jose Rizal's La Liga Filipina.

Diaz was with other La Liga Filipina members Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, Jose Dizon, and Andres Bonifacio when the Katipunan was founded at the house of Deodato Arellano at No. 72 Azcarraga Street, Tondo on July 7, 1892, the day the banishment of Rizal was made public.

Diaz was one of those who helped drew up the statutes of the secret society. When the first supreme council was established, he was elected as its treasurer.

Before the outbreak of the 1896 Revolution, Diaz already held the rank of major in the revolutionary army. He figured himself in the negotiation of the surrender of Tarlac on July 10, 1898, a successful siege of the town by Francisco Makabulos. He was one of the signatories of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato which was promulgated on November 1, 1897. Later, he joined other revolutionaries who went in self-exile to Hong Kong in keeping with the conditions of the pact.

During the Filipino-American War (1899-1902), he served as colonel in the Philippine Army.

Diaz died in Manila in 1916 at the age of 67.

References:
(All via the National Historical Commission of the Philippines)
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. The Revolt of the Masses, UP, Quezon City, 1956.
Manuel, E. Arsenio Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume II. Quezon City: Filipiniana Publications, 1970.
Dictionary of the Philippine Biography Volume I. Quezon City: Filipiniana Publications, 1955.
Medina, Isagani R. Unang talata tungkol sa Paghihimagsik (Revolucion) noong 1896- 97, sinulat ni Carlos Ronquillo y Valdez. Quezon City: UP Press, 1976.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Busy day. I would like to study for mental improvement but am kept too fully occupied. First thing after getting out of bed & washing – prayer & bible reading. Cooked breakfast, cornmeal mush, fried bacon & cocoa. Dinner jelly bread & lemonade . Supper cornmeal mush, fried bacon & lemonade. Housework is that cause of so much time being taken from my days.

Visitors at No. 2. 7.

Wrote & copied 5 letters; 3 to notify Hawaiian officers that Philippines belong to Australasian Division so American officers will not be necessary. Letters (2) to D.O. (2) Rosie Young, (3) Maud Sharp (4) Letter to Brig. leutz New York notifying her of Comd’t H. Booths letter & requesting her to learn if Consul and Com. Booth-Tucker sanctions me making a tour in Australia & writing the country up for War Crys. Also sent a letter to Capt. E. H. C. Lentz of U.S.S. “Monterey”. Asking permission to hold service in his vessel bet 10 & 12 next Sabbath. This in place of “Charleston” which sails for a cruise today among the Southern islands of the Archipelago. The newspapers are confirming the reports that the U.S. will keep the Philippines. Praise God.

Called at the post office and U.S. Commissary.

After supper walked over to Place [Plaza] de Phillip II barracks & in the courtyard led a meeting with the artillerymen. 35 present. Private Hines & Lloyd of 1st Montana Infantry testified. No souls forward. Got light from candles in lanterns. Visited Hummer and Amie of H. battery who were in bed unwell. Prayed with & for them.

Weather warm & shower. Caught some fresh water.

Secretary Day read this morning a long letter he had sent to the President arguing against the right to hold the Philippines by conquest. In this he took distinctly the ground I had suggested to him weeks ago as to the tendency of the text writers on international law, as to our conquest of Manila. But [he] went much farther in objecting to our acquiring any territory now by that title. I told him it would not do to argue against the validity of such a title, since we had no other to the United States; and that, in fact, hardly any civilized nation had any other. He was strenuous, however, in the belief that we never ought to consent to receive such a title now. I maintained that title by conquest was absolutely recognized by all international law, and that there was nothing approaching a formal utterance against it that could be called binding unless it was Secretary Blaine’s resolution in the Pan-American [Congress]…

This is a beautiful morning. We have regular drills and fresh meat for dinner and supper. The boys are still celebrating pay day. A good many are getting mail and postal money orders ready for the mail which leaves in the morning. And most of us are buying maps of the battlefield which are sold at 25 cents U.S.C. (U.S. Currency). [The maps] are very correct (accurate). We also receive news that the US will very likely hold all of the Philippine Islands. [Charles] Herrington and [Frank] Hustead are on the sick list. [Joseph] Frankenberry is discharged from the Hospital. This leaves John Baird, Fred Jennewine, David Twist and Sam Hagan at the General Hospital.

On November 4, 1835, Lorenzo Guerrero, among the few Filipino teachers of painting who flourished during the latter half of the nineteenth century and Juan Luna's painting teacher, was born in Ermita, then a town independent of Manila.

He was the second of fourteen children of Leon Jorge Guerrero and Clara Leogardo. His father was in the employ of the Spanish government in the Philippines as warehouse keeper (almacenero de la administracion de rentas estancadas) in the Pasig district from 1858, but he left the service rather than to swear allegiance to the newly constituted Spanish Republic upon the overthrow of Queen Isabela in 1868. He studied Latinity in the College of San Jose. One of his early preceptors was Father Jose Ma. Guevara, a Filipino priest later deported to the Marianas for alleged complicity in the Cavite Revolt of 1872.

Lorenzo Guerrero
(Lorenzo Guerrero)

Lorenzo's artistic leanings were manifested early. At the age of 16 he was already giving lessons in drawing. Dr. Jose Rizal described him as a "master who had virtually taught himself". After the death of the Filipino pioneer painting teacher, Damian Domingo, a number of Spanish artists were imported from the Peninsula. Guerrero studied with such newcomers as Cortina and later, Valdes. How long he came under them can not be ascertained. Probably it was not long, for soon these teachers were succeeded by Agustin Saez. Guerrero, together with another Filipino painter, Lorenzo Rocha y Ycaza, was already an assistant (ayudante de naturales) in the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura located in Cabildo Street, Intramuros, as early as 1858. When Saez resigned in 1891, the latter ably succeeded him, with Guerrero still as assistant.

At the same time he gave drawing lessons in the girls' schools of Santa Isabel, La Concordia, and later in the Instituto de Mujeres. He must have had a busy daily program, for he also gave private lessons in the homes of students. He started before six o'clock in the morning and worked till noon, and after lunch was off again until seven or eight in the evening. Most of his private pupils were girls, daughters of prominent Manila families, both from the Spanish community and the Filipino upper class. Of the latter were:

Pacita Paterno,
Asuncion Zamora (Mrs. Maximino Paterno),
Consuelo Roxas,
Juanita Zamora (Mrs. Pablo Ocampo),
Pacita Longos,
Margarita Roxas (Mrs. Andres Soriano),
Maria Icaza (Vda. de Velasco),
Micaela Rosales (Vda. de Marcaida),
Pilar Lontok,
Antera Pantoja,
Clara and Arsenia Tambunting,
Consuelo Hasañas,
Corinta and Clemencia Ramirez (Clemencia later became his wife).
Among his male pupils were:

Manuel Espiritu, painter;
Anselmo Espiritu, sculptor;
Juan Arellano, architect;
Alfredo Guerrero, physician and painter and his nephew;
Miguel Reyes, artist and photographer; and
Eulogio Garcia, sculptor.

In his house he gave lessons to a few, and talked on art to students attending the College of Nuestra Señora de Guia, a school directed by his sister-in-law, Corinta Ramirez. His house soon became a sort of a club in which he was the dominant figure. Toribio Antillon, Ramon Martinez, Vicente Rivera y Mir, and others visited him often and received much encouragement from him as did Fabian de la Rosa. Epifanio de los Santos y Cristobal, the critic, also frequented his place.

Juan Luna, after disagreeing with Agustin Saez, studied under him. Luna's bold and apparently heedless brushwork did not find favor with his Spanish teacher, but Guerrero saw in the young hand the nerves of genius, a strong individuality which only needed guidance and encouragement. When he could teach him nothing more, Guerrero advised Luna to go to Europe. Two paintings of the great painter done when he had established his fame firmly, hang in the Fernando Ma. Guerrero home in Manila, attesting to the gratitude which the former student felt for the teacher.

Lorenzo was married to Clemencia Ramirez, about 1868. The girl's father objected to the union, and when affairs were getting serious, sent his daughter to reside with her maternal uncle, then parochial priest at Mariquina (Marikina). Thither the enamored artist went, disguised in priest's robes. There were ups and downs in his romance but the wedding did took place. During the ceremony a dirge was tolled instead of wedding bells. But this did not discourage the artist. He wrote later in remembrance:

"When you talk of marriage in Manila, employment and wealth are everything to the whites; and among the natives, race and money".

Of the marriage, nine children were born; but only three reached maturity. Manuel S. Guerrero became a physician and was known for his literary inclinations as well as for his scientific contributions, Fernando Ma. Guerrero, considered the prince of Filipino poets in Spanish, and a daughter, Araceli Guerrero. In his youth the older Guerrero showed a predilection for poetry and himself composed verses, only a few fragments of which have appeared in print. They are of varied lengths and include religious poems, lyrics, and dedicatory poems. There are also several playlets and dialogues.

Later, Lorenzo's doggerel was to blossom into Fernando Ma. Guerrero's impulsive heroic and lyric lines, just as his primitive brush strokes found solidity of form and vigor in the canvases of Juan Luna.

"Don Lorenzo", as he was lovingly called, was not only a great teacher to whom men as famous as Juan Luna and Fabian de la Rosa are indebted, but also a most appreciative critic of the literary and musical arts. His counsels not only contributed to form the taste of his children, Fernando and Manuel, but inspired Jaime C. de Veyra and Epifanio de los Santos.

Certainly his influence was greatly felt in the sister art as well as in painting. De la Rosa remembers him as "the most learned Filipino painter who cultivated poetry and literature at the same time and was not indifferent to music. This artist possessed, in the highest degree ... the art of artistic instruction. His great success in the profession lasted as long as he lived, and we can say that the best artists produced by the country acquired their training more or less from his teaching and seasoned counsels".

Fernando Ma. Guerrero said of him: "Needless to say, it was my father who encouraged me to write poetry. While I was a student, he could not see me floundering about, as he often did, without himself writing the opening verses of the topics assigned to me for home work .... My father it was, whom Apollo sent to be my mentor at the outset of my poetic labors".

Mrs. Guerrero had similar artistic tastes. She loved books and had a taste for reading, and she cultivated the fine arts too. She sang; she painted, but only Christian Slaves in Turkey seems to have remained of her paintings. Several used to hang in the Mariquina church before this was burned. Some of her embroidery work reached the court of Alfonso XII. The fine quality of her craftsmanship can be seen from a needlework portrait of Dr. Gregorio Mallen, a Spaniard, now preserved by her daughter. A close view hardly reveals that it is embroidered.

Evidence of Guerrero's helping hand is not absent. The Fernando Ma. Guerrero family now treasures a number of decorative designs, from simple monograms to elaborate designs for women's apparel and priestly robes, all bearing the impress of an artist's imagination. He made ornate patterns for the dresses of the wives of high Malacafiang officials. De la Rosa noted that he was one of the earliest artists to apply art in interior decoration.


One of the illustrations of Lorenzo Guerrero in Flora de Filipinas
One of the illustrations of Lorenzo Guerrero in Flora de Filipinas
As a Filipino he was a nationalist in heart and deed. He always wore a barong Tagalog. When he was asked to put on a European coat on a certain occasion, he declared that the medal of honor could just as well be pinned on his pechera. He spoke correct Spanish and always objected to being spoken to in the Ermita slang; but when he spoke Tagalog, it was the pure Tagalog. During the last twenty years of his life he was afflicted with asthma, so that he was always seen wearing a straw hat, or carrying an umbrella. He habitually wore a flannel coat in his later years.

He was an exemplary father. "My only consolation is the love for my children", he wrote in his Notes. "The laughter of my children in play brings tears to my eyes"; "my days are lengthened every time my children kiss me".

He died suddenly of acute asthma at 8:30 in the evening of April 8, 1904. The cortege the following day was outstandingly long and included many of his pupils. He was buried in the Paco cemetery; his remains were later transferred to the old Ermita Church, in the northwest corner under the choir.

Guerrero left a few works of enduring value. His beautiful illustrations in Father Manuel Blanco's Flora de Filipinas (Manila, 1877) will be remembered. Of the 253 signed plates (laminas) of the Flora, 35 were his. His drawings have an individuality all their own and are distinguished by great accuracy of detail. They are comparable only with those of Felix Martinez. Bodegon (1877), a still-life, is one of the best of his studies of plant life. This now hangs in the National Gallery in Manila. During the Philippine-American war he was commissioned to make designs for the ensigns and uniform of the revolutionary army, and he also had occasion to draw plants for his brother, Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero, the botanist, the tide of war having brought them to different places in Central Luzon, rich in plant life.

Of his paintings only a few have survived. Many were made to order and shipped abroad; others housed in churches were burned. A number that remain are found in private collections and in Manila churches. His brush touched chiefly two subjects: strictly religious themes and scenes which depict native life and customs.

Sources:

Lorenzo Guerrero, The Man and The Artist, E. Arsenio Manuel, Philippine Magazine Volume 33, Number 7, July 1936
Juan Luna by Jose Rizal, Philippine Magazine, Volume 26, Number 6, July 1929
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

On November 4, 1873, Jaime Carlos de Veyra, was born in Tanauan, Leyte.

A patriot, statesman, scholar and journalist, de Veyra graduated from Manila's College of San Juan de Letran in 1893, and engaged in graduate studies at the University of Santo Thomas.


Jaime Carlos de Veyra
(Jaime Carlos de Veyra)
In 1899 he became Secretary to Leyte Province's Military Governor, and later worked as a journalist and served on Cebu's Municipal Council. From 1906 to 1907 de Veyra was Governor of Leyte, and member of the Philippine House of Representatives from 1907 to 1909.

In 1913 de Veyra was appointed to the Philippine Commission until 1916. He was then elected in March 1917, as Resident Commissioner to the US House of Representatives and held this position until March 1923.

In 1936 he became Director of the Institute of National Language, where he served until 1944.

After World War II, he was a historical researcher and archivist at the Philippines National Library and in the Office of the Philippines President.

His wife Sofia Reyes de Veyra was a prominent feminist, suffragist, college administrator and author who also served as Social Secretary to Presidents Quezon and Quirino.

Jaime de Veyra died in Manila on March 7, 1963.

Reference:
Philipine News Agency
Photo credit: WikiFilipinas

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

The newspapers contained nothing today re recommencement of hostilities between the United States and Spain.

The “American Soldier” of present date published a paragraph re the rapid sale of our Chinese War Crys by Landon to the Celestials. By mistake it says I sold them.

Visitors 10.

Went ahead with the article for the Australasian S.A. publications descriptive of the Philippines.

On the streets dealt with several U.S. soldiers personally about salvation. Called at the post office twice hoping to receive letters arranging meetings on the war vessels but was disappointed.

Weather cool; several light shower.

Breakfasted on fried bacon cornmeal mush & cocoa & banana. Dinner jelly, bread, lemonade & bananas. Supper mush, bacon, lemonade & bananas.

Observed the ceremony over the remains of a prominent person in Binondo (Rosario) Roman Catholic Cathedral.

Held a prayer meeting at night in No. 2 Calle Sta. Elena. Aud. 6.

The Commissioners began early this morning on the translation as far as it had advanced, reading and pausing, from time to time, for discussion. Judge Day was more than ever convinced of the ease with which he could dispose of the whole Spanish contention as to the protocol, and indignant over the improper use they had made of the obvious lapse in the yellow book. The effort to drag in the Cuban debt again so soon after having waived that question seemed to all of us extraordinary, if not offensive, and I finally said I would like to write something on that subject. The arguments from international law and otherwise concerning Manila troubled some of the Commissioners somewhat. Senator Frye repeated his belief that we seemed to have no right to hold the Spanish army there as prisoners. I dissented from this on the ground that we owed it to the insurgents not to turn the Spaniards loose upon them. Senator Davis [dissented] on the ground that since the protocol made no exemption of the soldiers, it was a fair inference that they were to be held with the city. Senator Davis finally said he believed he could make a good argument on the ground that the doctrine of military occupancy under an armistice would fully warrant everything we had done at Manila, and expressed his intention of writing a reply to that part of
the paper.

A summary of the Spanish document had been prepared by Mr. Moore to be telegraphed to the State Department; but we all felt that it was too brief, and I insisted especially that it gave no adequate idea of the offensive tone the Spaniards had assumed both with reference to the debt, and with reference to Merritt and Dewey in connection with the capture of Manila. I took out several of the most offensive sentences and insisted on incorporating them in the dispatch. Senator Gray at first protested, claiming that it was not fair to the Spaniards to single out the worst things they said, as if these fairly indicated the tone of the whole document. But after my additions had been incorporated and the dispatch was read to him, he professed entire satisfaction with it, and it was accordingly hurried off.

It has rained all night and raining for most of the day. We had a short drill in the morning; but, on account of the rain had no inspection. We have fresh meat for today. In the afternoon, 10th Pa. is playing [base]ball with the South Dakota [team] but had to quit on account of the rain so the game was postponed. Everything is quiet around our quarters. [Frank] Hustead is the only one on the sick list.