Tabloid Issue Vol XL No 3
By Irvin Ian Pacheco
That the eight rays of the sun found on the Filipino flag signify the eight provinces that first rose against the Kastilaloys is a fact most students learn on their elementary years. That Bulacan was one of the said provinces elicits a certain amount of pride among Bulakenyos, a tradition of heroism stretching back from Bangkusay to Kakarong peppered with its own pantheon of heroes such as Marcelo Del Pilar, Mariano Ponce and Gregorio Del Pilar.
Historical fact, however, is different from actual historical remembrance. It is not only Bagumbayan, where Dr. Rizal was shot, or Kawit in Cavite where Aguinaldo and the rest of the illustrados declared independence, or Biak-na-Bato where the same group first betrayed the Philippines for Php800, 000 that are to be considered as historical places. These places are not the only ones to be preserved and to be studied about.
There are places close by that also played a significant part in securing our freedom against tyranny and foreign oppression. One such place is Kakarong de Sili.
To pay tribute to all the Katipuneros who died at the Battle of Kakarong de Sili, ‘Inang Filipina’ Shrine was erected in 1924 in the actual site of the battle at Real de Kakarong, Pandi, Bulacan. However, Kakarong de Sili had not escaped the fast changes brought by natural and man-made phenomena. It is gradually degrading physically and it seems that Bulakenyos already forgot the lives taken on that very same spot for the independence of the Philippines.
The actual establishment of a Bulakenyo self-governing republic independent of the Spanish Frailocracy predates the declaration of independence by almost two years. This revolutionary republic started when Eusebio Roque, member of the Katipunan, had successfully established himself as the Captain-general in December 14, 1896. Kakarong de Sili is a former part of the town of Bigaa which is Balagtas now and this was now part of the town of Pandi.
“Masasabi na isang republika ang Kakarong de Sili dahil mayr’on na s’yang pamayanan noon, isang demokratikong pamahalaan, mayro’n silang pandayang bolo at gawaan ng iba’t ibang sandata, marami na rin ang nakatira noon d’on,“ said Bobby Lopez, a Socio-Anthro and History instructor of Bulacan State University (BulSU).
Over the years, Kakarong was steadily forgotten. The history that lies underneath its grounds remained unspoken as it never got the chance to be recognized as one of the most historic places in the Philippines. The neglect can be seen on the fact that Real de Kakarong de Sili isn’t familiar to the students and to the citizens of this
Pacesetter conducted a survey among BulSUans to identify the percentage of the students who do know about Kakarong de Sili. Sadly, out of 100 students, only one knows the story behind it. Some students do not know even a detail about it; in fact they assumed that this is a vegetable, a food or even an insect.
Due to the reason that Kakarong de Sili seemed to be overlooked by the people involved, President Mariano De Jesus of BulSU came up with the idea of rehabilitating the place. In connection with this, he wanted to tour the students and the exchange students from the other countries to let them know that there are still places like that in here. BulSU is the only state university in the province and it is one of the university’s duties to educate the Bulacan youth regarding this matter.
The president shared his idea about rehabilitating the Kakarong De Sili to Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and to the Municipal Government of Pandi. De Jesus’ intention is to develop the historical place and make it a tourist spot for the students to know, to realize the essence of the fort and to distinguish the real importance of Kakarong De Sili for the Filipinos, as well for the Bulakenyos.
Unfortunately, BulSU doesn’t have the sufficient budget to solely start the move of reviving the Real de Kakarong de Sili, so Dr. De Jesus took the initiative to call the attention of Atty. Rustico De Belen, Provincial Director of Bulacan Environmental and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) to introduce the project he contemplated.
The Provincial Government of Bulacan, Municipality of Pandi, Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and BulSU, discussed the plans of restoring the ‘Inang Filipina’ Shrine, Real De Kakarong de Sili to save it from dilapidation and revive the history and the reputation of the site incorporated in saving the Mother Nature as it will be transformed in to a Eco-heritage Park.
“Nagtulong-tulong kami dito upang ipaalam sa madla na hindi lamang ang kahalagahan ng kalikasan kundi pati ang kasaysayan,” said Atty. De Belen, Provincial Director of BENRO
The problem of the place is the undeveloped road network going to Kakarong de Sili. The rehabilitation of these rocky and narrow pathways to the shrine challenged the Provincial Government and the municipality of Pandi.
Other than the road network, BENRO will conduct a study in Real de Kakarong de Sili to look for relics and artifacts that will give more evidences on how the early Bulakenyos in Kakarong lived and the items that would be recovered will be placed in a museum in ‘Inang Bayan’ shrine.
Meanwhile, BulSU, with the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and Sentrong Edukasyon, Ekonomiya at Kalikasan will join hands to help promoting the environmental awareness and in protecting and saving the environment through a reforestation project, like what the university did at Biak-na-Bato Shrine in San Miguel, Bulacan. BENRO provided a budget of 500 thousand pesos for the said project.
The landscape of the place and the design for a commemorative arch is handed over to the students of College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA). The design of the arch was made by Laurence Cosdy, Levieditha Madla, Rhea Ann Manipol, Aries Angelo Manlapaz, Sheenah Mae Silvestre, John Moeses Atienza, Lucille Ann Ranola, Alenor Mae dela Cruz and Aldous Amiel Bulaong.
“S’yempre nakaka-overwhelm, kasi design proposal namin ‘yong napili. Hindi s’ya naging pabigat sa amin, kasi part naman s’ya ng pagaaral namin by means of these na-e-enhance ‘yong talent namin,” Bulaong shared to Pacesetter.
“It’s proper na tayo ang mag-ayos, dahil tayo ang nasa Bulacan, dapat ‘yan ay ituro natin sa mga kabataan na mayro’n tayong ganitong mga historical places, not only the Barasoain church and the Biak-na-Bato but also the Kakarong de Sili na hindi alam ng karamihan sa mga estudyante,” supported CAFA Dean Arch. Saturnina Parungao.
By means of joining activities and projects in preserving historical places, students could be informed and they can participate at the same time. But not all the students have this perception that this project would be that successful and that it would mark an effect in the lives of the Bulakenyo youth.
“Kung iisipin, huli na para pagtuunan pa ito ng pansin, alam naman natin pare-pareho na iba na ‘yong takbo ng isip ng mga kabataan ngayon, baka hindi na nila ito mabigyan ng pansin lalo na at marami ang hindi nakakaalam ng tungkol dito,” stated Marylle Correa, BA Journalism student, resident of Cacarong, Pandi for 14 years.
Nonetheless, hope burns fierce.
“We cannot decide in the present, unless you look back at the past,” stated De Jesus.
Next time you happen to see a Filipino flag, remember that Bulacan is a province of heroes. However, this province of heroes of ours would also fade away into obscurity if Bulakenyos themselves will not exert effort on revivifying the history that took part and had contributed to the liberation of Inangbayan.
(with a report from Carolyn Russel Vitente)
By Irvin Ian Pacheco
That the eight rays of the sun found on the Filipino flag signify the eight provinces that first rose against the Kastilaloys is a fact most students learn on their elementary years. That Bulacan was one of the said provinces elicits a certain amount of pride among Bulakenyos, a tradition of heroism stretching back from Bangkusay to Kakarong peppered with its own pantheon of heroes such as Marcelo Del Pilar, Mariano Ponce and Gregorio Del Pilar.
Historical fact, however, is different from actual historical remembrance. It is not only Bagumbayan, where Dr. Rizal was shot, or Kawit in Cavite where Aguinaldo and the rest of the illustrados declared independence, or Biak-na-Bato where the same group first betrayed the Philippines for Php800, 000 that are to be considered as historical places. These places are not the only ones to be preserved and to be studied about.
There are places close by that also played a significant part in securing our freedom against tyranny and foreign oppression. One such place is Kakarong de Sili.
To pay tribute to all the Katipuneros who died at the Battle of Kakarong de Sili, ‘Inang Filipina’ Shrine was erected in 1924 in the actual site of the battle at Real de Kakarong, Pandi, Bulacan. However, Kakarong de Sili had not escaped the fast changes brought by natural and man-made phenomena. It is gradually degrading physically and it seems that Bulakenyos already forgot the lives taken on that very same spot for the independence of the Philippines.
The actual establishment of a Bulakenyo self-governing republic independent of the Spanish Frailocracy predates the declaration of independence by almost two years. This revolutionary republic started when Eusebio Roque, member of the Katipunan, had successfully established himself as the Captain-general in December 14, 1896. Kakarong de Sili is a former part of the town of Bigaa which is Balagtas now and this was now part of the town of Pandi.
“Masasabi na isang republika ang Kakarong de Sili dahil mayr’on na s’yang pamayanan noon, isang demokratikong pamahalaan, mayro’n silang pandayang bolo at gawaan ng iba’t ibang sandata, marami na rin ang nakatira noon d’on,“ said Bobby Lopez, a Socio-Anthro and History instructor of Bulacan State University (BulSU).
Over the years, Kakarong was steadily forgotten. The history that lies underneath its grounds remained unspoken as it never got the chance to be recognized as one of the most historic places in the Philippines. The neglect can be seen on the fact that Real de Kakarong de Sili isn’t familiar to the students and to the citizens of this
Pacesetter conducted a survey among BulSUans to identify the percentage of the students who do know about Kakarong de Sili. Sadly, out of 100 students, only one knows the story behind it. Some students do not know even a detail about it; in fact they assumed that this is a vegetable, a food or even an insect.
Due to the reason that Kakarong de Sili seemed to be overlooked by the people involved, President Mariano De Jesus of BulSU came up with the idea of rehabilitating the place. In connection with this, he wanted to tour the students and the exchange students from the other countries to let them know that there are still places like that in here. BulSU is the only state university in the province and it is one of the university’s duties to educate the Bulacan youth regarding this matter.
The president shared his idea about rehabilitating the Kakarong De Sili to Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and to the Municipal Government of Pandi. De Jesus’ intention is to develop the historical place and make it a tourist spot for the students to know, to realize the essence of the fort and to distinguish the real importance of Kakarong De Sili for the Filipinos, as well for the Bulakenyos.
Unfortunately, BulSU doesn’t have the sufficient budget to solely start the move of reviving the Real de Kakarong de Sili, so Dr. De Jesus took the initiative to call the attention of Atty. Rustico De Belen, Provincial Director of Bulacan Environmental and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) to introduce the project he contemplated.
The Provincial Government of Bulacan, Municipality of Pandi, Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and BulSU, discussed the plans of restoring the ‘Inang Filipina’ Shrine, Real De Kakarong de Sili to save it from dilapidation and revive the history and the reputation of the site incorporated in saving the Mother Nature as it will be transformed in to a Eco-heritage Park.
“Nagtulong-tulong kami dito upang ipaalam sa madla na hindi lamang ang kahalagahan ng kalikasan kundi pati ang kasaysayan,” said Atty. De Belen, Provincial Director of BENRO
The problem of the place is the undeveloped road network going to Kakarong de Sili. The rehabilitation of these rocky and narrow pathways to the shrine challenged the Provincial Government and the municipality of Pandi.
Other than the road network, BENRO will conduct a study in Real de Kakarong de Sili to look for relics and artifacts that will give more evidences on how the early Bulakenyos in Kakarong lived and the items that would be recovered will be placed in a museum in ‘Inang Bayan’ shrine.
Meanwhile, BulSU, with the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and Sentrong Edukasyon, Ekonomiya at Kalikasan will join hands to help promoting the environmental awareness and in protecting and saving the environment through a reforestation project, like what the university did at Biak-na-Bato Shrine in San Miguel, Bulacan. BENRO provided a budget of 500 thousand pesos for the said project.
The landscape of the place and the design for a commemorative arch is handed over to the students of College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA). The design of the arch was made by Laurence Cosdy, Levieditha Madla, Rhea Ann Manipol, Aries Angelo Manlapaz, Sheenah Mae Silvestre, John Moeses Atienza, Lucille Ann Ranola, Alenor Mae dela Cruz and Aldous Amiel Bulaong.
“S’yempre nakaka-overwhelm, kasi design proposal namin ‘yong napili. Hindi s’ya naging pabigat sa amin, kasi part naman s’ya ng pagaaral namin by means of these na-e-enhance ‘yong talent namin,” Bulaong shared to Pacesetter.
“It’s proper na tayo ang mag-ayos, dahil tayo ang nasa Bulacan, dapat ‘yan ay ituro natin sa mga kabataan na mayro’n tayong ganitong mga historical places, not only the Barasoain church and the Biak-na-Bato but also the Kakarong de Sili na hindi alam ng karamihan sa mga estudyante,” supported CAFA Dean Arch. Saturnina Parungao.
By means of joining activities and projects in preserving historical places, students could be informed and they can participate at the same time. But not all the students have this perception that this project would be that successful and that it would mark an effect in the lives of the Bulakenyo youth.
“Kung iisipin, huli na para pagtuunan pa ito ng pansin, alam naman natin pare-pareho na iba na ‘yong takbo ng isip ng mga kabataan ngayon, baka hindi na nila ito mabigyan ng pansin lalo na at marami ang hindi nakakaalam ng tungkol dito,” stated Marylle Correa, BA Journalism student, resident of Cacarong, Pandi for 14 years.
Nonetheless, hope burns fierce.
“We cannot decide in the present, unless you look back at the past,” stated De Jesus.
Next time you happen to see a Filipino flag, remember that Bulacan is a province of heroes. However, this province of heroes of ours would also fade away into obscurity if Bulakenyos themselves will not exert effort on revivifying the history that took part and had contributed to the liberation of Inangbayan.
(with a report from Carolyn Russel Vitente)