Balangiga
Encounter: A day to remember
By DPAO, 8ID PA
September 29, 2012
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City
– The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army
joins the whole Samarnons in commemorating the heroism of the
twenty-eight ranking revolutionaries in their quest for freedom
against the American occupational forces in Balangiga town in a
week-long celebration from September 24-29, 2012.
The highlight of the celebration was the re-enactment of the
“Balangiga Encounter of 1901” which was performed during the
commemorative program at the Municipal Auditorium, Balangiga, Eastern
Samar on September 28, 2012.
The commemorative program was graced by Atty Jonisito Umali,
Undersecretary, Department of Education and was also participated Hon
Vircuso S De Lira, Mayor, Balangiga, Eastern Samar; Hon. Ben P Evadone,
Congressman, Lone District of Eastern Samar; Hon Modesto A Eder,
Sangguniang Bayan Member, Baalangiga, Eastern Samar; and Col Romeo
Labador, Commander, 801st Infantry Brigade.
According to Atty Umali, “tama na ang pagmamalabis ng mga dayuhang
Amerikano, ipinakita dito ang tunay na katangian ng isang tunay
Pilipino, matapang, matalino at higit sa lahat may malasakit at
pagmamahal sa bayan” at “tayo pong lahat ay magsama-samang mangarap,
mangarap po tayo na ating tatalunin ang kahirapan” added Umali.
During the commemoration on September 28, 2012 of the Balangiga
Encounter Day a thanksgiving mass was celebrated which was followed by
a Civic Military Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony participated by the
8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.
The Balangiga Encounter Day was commemorated with a series of
activities such as bloodletting project dubbed as “Dugong Bayani” last
September 24, 2012 followed by a Multi-Hazard Drills; Agro-Industrial
Fair; Jobs Fair; Quiz Bee; Harana Contest; Laro ng Lahi; Poster Making
Contest and the Commemorative Program on September 28, 2012.
Based on the article written by Ruben Matias from the Cultural
Foundation “On September 28, 1901, Filipino patriots armed only with
bladed weapons made a surprise attack on the superior armed American
soldiers of the Company C on the Ninth Infantry Regiment of the US
Army garrisoned in Balangiga, Samar and almost wiped out the entire
Company. The Americans called it a “massacre” and “the bloodiest
chapter in the history of the American Army in the Philippines.” The
Filipinos depicted it as a fair armed encounter employing guerilla
tactics which the American soldiers were not used to as they were
inclined to the classic battle mode of standing your ground and
shooting or charging the enemy and fighting hand-to-hand. Gen Vicente Lukban (named after the main Army camp of 8ID) called the incident as
“Our Glorious Victory of Balangiga.”
