Camp Eldridge in
Laguna renamed Camp General Macario Sakay
Laguna Tourism, Culture, Arts &
Trade Office
September 20, 2016
Camp Eldridge, Los Banos, Laguna, is the
command post of the 564th Engineering Construction Battalion under the Army’s
51st Engineering Brigade, and the Philippine National Police Training Camp for
Scout Program recruits. It was believed to be named after Sgt. George Eldridge,
an Indian fighter Medal of Honor recipient. But other information say that the
camp was named after Captain Bogardus Eldridge of Alabama, US 14th Infantry
Regiment who was killed in action on October 2, 1899 near Bacoor, Cavite. The
camp was first garrisoned by the Company H of the U.S. 13th Cavalry. Survey and
Construction of the barracks for a battalion of infantry soon followed. Years
later, the Signal Corps was assigned here.
On September 13, 2016 the renaming of
the Camp to General Macario Sakay was officially recognized with the
commemorative program spearheaded by the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (NHCP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the
memorandum dated December 28, 2015 signed by then Defense Secretary Voltaire T.
Gazmin.
Born in Tondo, Manila in 1870, Macario
Sakay worked as a blacksmith, tailor, barber and zarzuela actor. A friend of
Andres Bonifacio, he joined the revolution and was a victorious war chief in
Marikina and Montalban. A founder of the short, fiery Partido Nacionalista, he
was forced to take up arms when the Americans implemented the Sedition Law in
1902, which made his party illegal. He and his men vowed not to cut their hair
until the Philippines attained independence.
Sakay continued fighting even after the
surrender of President Emilio Aguinaldo. He made his headquarters at Mt, San
Cristobal near Mt. Banahaw. He even declared his own government; he was
president of the Republika ng Katagalugan. He was eventually lured to surrender
by the Americans. He was hanged on September 13, 1907 as a bandit at the old
Bilibid Prison in Manila.
Historians later declared that Sakay was
a true hero of the Revolution, and the NHCP even placed a historical marker on
the site of his birthplace in Tondo. But it was Lt. Col. Ronald Alcudia (GSC)
Philippine Army, who led the advocacy to rename Camp Eldridge to Camp General
Macario Sakay.
The Provincial Government of Laguna
under Gov. Ramil L. Hernandez played a major role in the commemoration by
assisting in the realization of the physical aspect of the program, band
performance to lend a festive air during the event, and food requirement.
Guests of honor were Major General
Alfredo S. Caytona, who represented the AFP, Dr. Carminda Arevalo of the NHCP,
and Dr. Rosauro A. Sta, Maria, Jr., head of the Laguna Tourism, Culture, Arts,
and Trade Office (LTCATO) who represented Governor Ramil L. Hernandez.
Floral offering was conducted at the
entrance of the camp, followed by a 21-gun salute. A monument of General Sakay
will soon rise on the site, AFP officials said.
Renaming the Camp after General Sakay is
appropriate as this will clear the historical distortion placed upon our
collective memory and rekindle the fire of nationalism so needed in this age of
globalization.
Macario Sakay's
109th Anniversary Commemorated — at Camp Macario Sakay.
September 12, 2016 ·
Camp Macario Sakay, Los Baños,
Laguna—The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) together
with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) led the 109th death anniversary
commemoration ceremonies for General Macario Sakay in Camp Macario Sakay
(formerly Camp Eldridge) in Los Baños, Laguna.
Officials and members of the AFP, local
government of Laguna, Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) and VFP-Sons
and Daughters, Inc. (VFP-SDAI) Laguna district members, students and teachers
from nearby schools, national government officials, and distant relatives of
General Sakay witnessed the commemoration.
A marching band welcomed the guest of
honor for the said commemoration. After the short festivities, wreaths of
flowers were offered at the photo canvass with the image of General Sakay.
Wreaths were offered by Mgen. Alfredo Cayton, Jr. AFP (Ret.), Chief of the
Veterans Affairs Management Division of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
(PVAO); Ms. Carminda Arevalo, Deputy Executive Director of the NHCP; Dr.
Rosauro Sta. Maria, Head of the Laguna Tourism, Culture, Arts and Trade Office;
Hon. Caesar P. Perez, Mayor of the Municipality of Los Baños; Dr. Jocelyn S.
Solana, Schools Division Superintendent of Laguna-Region IV-A; and Bgen. Amador
Tabuga of the AFP. General Sakay’s grandson, Mr. Daniel Sakay, also graced the
commemoration.
The doxology was led by the YMCA Chorale
followed by the welcoming remarks of Los Baños Mayor Perez. In his remarks, he
expressed his joy that the Camp will be finally named after a Filipino: ‘’I am
happy, as a father of the municipality of Los Baños, that a Filipino will be
commemorated here, and this Camp will be named after his honor,” because
‘Eldridge’ is a foreign name.
An inspirational message was given by
Dr. Sta. Maria, representing Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez. He hailed General
Sakay as a “brave and convicted” individual that “fought for our liberty and
sovereignty… together with Emilio Jacinto and Andres Bonifacio.” He also
praised the General for being a true “Lagunaeño” for he lived for many years in
the province of Laguna during the time of the revolution, and expressed his
solidarity in this honouring commemoration as a form of gratitude for the
efforts that the revolutionary heroes has done to achieve today’s liberty and
sovereignty.
The NHCP director made a short
introduction of the Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as the guest of honor of
the commemoration; he was represented by Mgen. Cayton of PVAO who read the
Secretary’s speech. Mgen. Cayton gave a brief historical biography of the great
revolutionary hero. And as part of the commemoration, the Camp which used to be
known as Camp Eldridge, has been renamed Camp Sakay in honor of General Sakay.
This was made possible through the AFP General Order No. 30 of January 11,
2016, in recognition of General Sakay’s heroism and leadership in attaining the
country’s independence from the Spanish and American colonization.
General Macario Sakay was born in Tondo,
Manila and had a career as a zarzuelista which conveyed messages against the
Spanish colonial government. He joined the Katipunan revolutionary movement in
1894. He continued his struggles against the United States following the
official declaration of the end of the Philippine-American War in 1902, and in
April 1904, he issued a manifesto declaring the Filipinos’ right to
self-determination.
In his stay at Laguna, he attempted to
establish his own republic which is known as “Republika ng Katagalugan.’’ He
was later declared as an outlaw by the United States government, but this did
not hinder to expand his fight to Southern Luzon area. He was executed by
hanging on September 13, 1907.
In his last words, he exemplified his
valor and patriotism for the country, and we quote, ‘’Death comes to all of us
sooner or later, so I will face the Lord Almighty calmly. But I want to tell
you that we are not bandits and robbers, as the Americans have accused us, but
members of the revolutionary force that defended our mother country, the
Philippines!”/A. Crescini
NHCP leads
commemoration of 109th death anniversary of Macario Sakay in Los Banos
September 09, 2016
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Sept 9, (PIA) –The
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will lead the
commemoration of the 109th death anniversary of Macario Sakay on September 13,
2016 at Camp Gen. Macario Sakay in Barangay Lalakay, Los Banos.
Camp Gen. Macario Sakay is formerly well
known as Camp Eldridge which was renamed this year, in honor of the heroism of
Sakay as the last general to surrender during the Phillipine-American War
(1899–1902).
“In this coming significant and
historical day, September 13, the 109th death anniversary of Macario, we will
remember on this day, not as the day of his death but his heroism, his exploits
during the Philippine-American War,” Eleonor Samonte of NHCP said.
Samonte is enjoining the provincial
government of Laguna, the local government of Los Banos, the Armed Forces of
the Philippines, the Department of Education, the Philippine Veterans Affairs
Office, the Philippine Information Agency, the University of the
Philippines-Los Banos, and other government agencies to ensure their
participation in this historical day.
“This event is not yet in the calendar
of events of the NHCP this year, so, we have no budget for the expenses that
may be incurred in the activity. With this, I am requesting all national and
local government agencies involved to cooperate and contribute for the
successful staging of the commemoration,” Samonte said.
According to Samonte, the ceremony will
start at 9 in the morning with the traditional flower offering. A photo canvass
with the image of Macario Sakay will be displayed. “We have difficulties
looking for a bust or even a statute of Macario Sakay, so, the NHCP will just
prepare a photo canvass of Macario Sakay.
She said, Defense Secretary Delfin
Lorenzana and NCHP Chair Maria Serena I. Diokno are expected to join local government
officials and the military in the commemoration ceremony.
Other activities aimed to heighten
public awareness about Macario Sakay include, free showing of the indie film
“Macario Sakay” directed by Raymond Red and starring Julio Diaz at AFP Theater,
Camp Aguinaldo on Sept 13 and at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos
Umali Hall on Sept. 13 and 14. (cpg, PIA-4A)
AFP
ACTION RECTIFIES HISTORICAL INJUSTICE
IN SEPTEMBER 1907, Macario de Leon
Sakay, the most prominent of the Filipino revolutionaries who continued the
fight for independence against US forces, was hanged by American authorities in
the Old Bilibid Prison in Manila. Earlier after his arrest, Sakay was charged
and convicted under the Bandolerism (Brigandage) Act of 1902 that proclaimed
all captured resistance insurgents as bandits, robbers and ladrones.
For more than a century this falsehood,
foisted on the Filipino people by colonial rule, was accepted by many
chroniclers of the era.
Last month, as part of continuing
efforts to rectify distortions in our military history, Armed Forces of the
Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri paid tribute to Macario
Sakay’s heroism and leadership in the struggle for freedom and independence
from Spanish rule and American domination. He issued General Orders No. 30,
renaming Camp Eldridge in Los Baños, Laguna, to Camp General Macario Sakay.
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