MACARIO SAKAY

“I face the Lord Almighty calmly but we must tell you that we are not bandits and robbers as the Americans

accuse us, but members of the revolutionary force that defended our country. Long live the Philippines! Adios

Filipinas!”

EARLY LIFE

Born on 1870 in Tondo, Manila to parents of obscure identity, Macario Leon Sakay was

considered one of the leaders of the Philippine Revolution. He was born to a working class

background, and started working first as an apprentice in a calesa shop. He later became a tailor,

barber, and also as an actor in comedias and moro-moros popular during his time.

PARTICIPATION IN THE KKK

He was introduced to the Katipunan in 1894. He joined the Dapitan, Manila branch and soon

became its president. He was hailed as one hardcores of the Katagalugan. Sakay was

instrumental in ensuring the promulgation of information to its members. He was a zarzuela

stage actor in Teatro Porvinir, a theater production founded by Andres Bonifacio. Being an actor

camouflaged his involvement in the Katipunan. He also assisted in printing and distributing

Kalayaan, the official Katipunan newspaper.

During the Revolution, Sakay was known to be a brave leader and fighter. He was one of the

companions of Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto in the early battles of the revolution: in the

conquering battle of Montalban , in the battle of Nanka River and the retreat to Balara. When

Bonifacio was captured in Cavite, Macario Sakay continued to fight against the Spanish

government until he was captured.

He was released in 1902 when the war ended. During this time, Americans also entered the

country and was soon engaged in deadly battles against Filipinos fighting for independence.

When Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela he called for Katipuneros to lay down

their arms and heed the governance of the American conquerors. Die hard Katipuneros did not

heed the call. They were labeled bandits and the Katipunan was called the guerilla arm of the

Republican Army.

REPUBLIKA NG KATAGALUGAN

After his release, Sakay, along with other Katipuneros established the Republika ng Katagalugan

(The Tagalog Republic). This signaled the revival of the Katipunan after the capture of

Aguinaldo and the surrender of Gen. Miguel Malvar.

The First Katagalugan Republic was initially led by its Supreme President ,Andres Bonifacio.

The Katagalugan Republic of Sakay was the government of the revived Katipunan. Francisco

Carreon was the vice-president and handled Sakay's correspondence. Julian Montalan was the

supervisor for military operations. Cornelio Felizardo was in charge of the northern part of

Cavite (Pasay-Bacoor) while Lucio de Vega handled the rest of the province. Aniceto Oruga

operated in the lake towns of Batangas. Leon Villafuerte headed Bulacan while Benito Natividad

took over Tanauan, Batangas. The Katagalugan Republic has a constitution patterned after the

Katipunan. Sakay delivered a manifesto to all foreign consulates, declaring that they are patriots

fighting for their countries not bandits as the Americans tried to portray them. He issued a

warning that Filipino collaborators and traitors will receive severe punishment. For Sakay, the

new Katipunan was simply an extension of Bonifacio's revolutionary struggle for independence.

WAR AGAINST THE AMERICANS

1904 was a very memorable time in Philippine history. Sakay and his men started the guerilla

warfare against the Americans. This includes hit and run, ambushes of smaller enemy patrols,

guerillas dressing in enemy uniform and vanishing within the population They were efficacious

in seizing firearms in their raids. Using Philippine Constabulary uniforms as disguise, they

captured the U.S. military garrison in Parañaque and managed to escape with a large amount of

revolvers, carbines, and ammunition. Sakay's men often employed these uniforms to confuse the

enemy. Using guerrilla warfare, Sakay would use a large number of his men against a small

band of the enemy. They usually attacked at night when most of the enemy was relaxing or

sleeping. The masses gave them food and information on troop movements. The people also

assisted Sakay's men avoid checkpoints.

Americans did not react well to their movement. They put the whole populace inside a

concentration camp and declared areas outside its perimeters as "no man's land"-where every

person caught in these areas are declared enemy combatants and can be killed on the spot. This

counter insurgency measure resulted to farms remaining uncultivated, thus food supplies were

cut off. Local land owners and town officials were vulnerable to Americans confiscating their

properties, removal from officce and facing sedition charges. Large cases of diseases also

became rampant among the masses.

THE FALL OF A HERO

American forces decided to mete out measures against the Katagalugan Republic which was

wreaking havoc on their forces. Former Filipino revolutionists like Gen.Licerio

Geronimo,Gen.Pio delPilar, Gen.Juan Cailles ,Col. Agapito Bonzon ,Maj,Lazaro Macapagal

were enlisted to aide the Americans hunt their former comrades-in-arms. Rich citizens were also

pacified by the establishment of a National Assembly and the sponsored local elections.

Another tactic was the entrapment of rebel leaders. Col. Harry H. Bandholtz, conceived a plan to

deceive Sakay and his men. In 1906, the labour leader Dominador Gomez was enlisted as a

peace mediator. Sakay , in good faith, was convinced by the smooth-tongued Gomez that the

struggle has shifted to constitutional means, with the Assembly as means to winning Philippine

Independence. Sakay and his whole military staff came down to Manila upon the safe conduct

pass issued by the American authorities. While attending a dance ball in their honor in

Cavite,Sakay and his staff were arrested and brought to Manila as prisoners. Sakay and company

were brought to the Hotel de Oriente in Binondo before being incarcerated in Bilibid Prison.

Inside the Bilibid prison, the North American colonizers secretly killed 400 of Sakay's men by

hanging and by lethal serum. Sakay and his men were tried in court as bandits, and the American

controlled court found them guilty of the crime. He was hanged and died at 37.

HIS LEGACY

Macario Sakay was a proof that a person can serve his country without prejudice and selflessly.

He was example of how patriotic a person can be, knowing he can be caught or killed any time

and yet he continuously devoted his time and skill ensuring that his fellowmen will soon

experience independence soon. He was a revolutionary hero.