ALTHOUGH not the first battle of the Philippine Revolution, the Battle of Pinaglabanan on Aug. 30, 1896 was definitely the consequential clash which initiated that revolution. On the day it happened, martial law was proclaimed in eight provinces by Governor-General Jose Blanco on mere suspicion that there were Katipunan members there (although the revolution had only started at this point in Manila and Cavite). Those eight provinces are now represented in the eight rays of the sun in our flag.

As a young instructor, my knowledge of Pinaglabanan, also known as the Battle of San Juan del Monte, was based on the most basic text on the Revolution of 1896, Teodoro Agoncillo's Revolt of the Masses. He wrote that since Bonifacio's plan to "surprise the Spaniards in Manila on the night of August 29, the deadline for the offensive against the city, did not materialize," Bonifacio and Jacinto just "seized the powder magazine, and besieged the Spanish Garrison manned by a handful of Spaniards who, realizing their predicament, fought a delaying battle until reinforcements arrived. Cavalry and infantry contingents were immediately sent to the defenders, and in the battle that followed the rebels were driven off." He also mentioned among the attackers, a certain Sancho Valenzuela. So, two battles of Pinaglabanan in this version, one winning and one losing.

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