Ma. Aika S.

Doronela September 28, 2017

HIST 2 – X
Reaction Paper on play about Macario Sakay
Last Thursday, September 21, 2017, I watched the play about the life of Macario Sakay at
DL Umali Hall. I became familiar to Macario Sakay because of this play because honestly before
watching this, I have no idea who Macario Sakay was. Even in my history classes when I was in
grade school or high school, I believe that his name was not mentioned, or if it was ever
mentioned, it was without emphasis. However, because of this, my sense of patriotism was
boosted after watching the play because of what Macario Sakay did for our beloved land.

Macario Sakay was known to be the Filipino general in the Philippine-American war who
led resistance against American rule in the Philippines. He was also a member of the Katipunan
movement of Andres Bonficacio. Moreover, he was the founder of the group “Republika ng
Katagalugan”, a group whose members were also the Katipuneros, a group that he led to oppose
the colonial rule of the United States. In his republic, Sakay was the president, Francisco
Carreion was the vice-president, Julian Montalan, the overall supervisor for military operations,
Cornelia Felizardo was the eye in the northern part of Cavite, Lucio de Vega was responsible for
the regulation of the rest of Cavite, Aniceto Oruga responsible in the town lake of Batanga, Leon
Villafuerte in Bulacan and Benito Natividad who is responsible of patrol in Tanuan, Batangas.
All these men work with the interest of Sakay whom they fully respect and trust because of all
the wars that Sakay experienced from Spaniards.

During this time, the president of the Philippines was Emilio Aguinaldo who was then
captured by the Americans. But Sakay did not stop his resistance against the Americans. In fact,
during this time, the movements of his republic became active with the aim that they gain the
freedom of our land from the Americans. During also this time the Philippine Constabulary
force, a newly formed organization was formed which is against the Republika ng Katagalugan.
It includes the American leader Col. Harry H. Bandholtz. It was disappointing that during this
time, brought about by pressures and chaos, clashes in the society arised because some of
Filipinos, some of them were from the republic, left the republic, even those normal filipinos
trade their loyalty to their nation to these foreigners for them to be safe, for them to be
comfortable in wherever they were staying. They clearly represent the people we have today,
who are betraying their group because of their selfish desires, desire for money, for comfortable
life that they are selling their souls to the oppressor perhaps even if the lives of their neighbors
are at stake.

I commend Macario Sakay here because even though all forces of Americans were
against him, he continued to fight regardless of whether he gets hurt or regardless of what other
people think of him as “tulisan”, he still continued because his love to his country exceeds his
love for himself. He thought more of others, more of his countrymen more than he think of
himself. Our freedom from the oppression from American is more important for him that living a
life following his own desires. He was a selfless hero and it saddened me that he is not being
mentioned in history books when in fact he has done great things in our country.
 From what I have gotten from the play, during the rule of Americans in the Philippines,
Filipinos became highly oppressed. Filipinos became the slaves of America, we became the
puppet of them, women were given to Americanos for their pleasure and most of all massacres
were all over the country to spread their rule, to overcome the Philippine government especially
those who oppose them. And because at some points, the republic led by Sakay succeeded in
their war against the Americans specifically when they used the strategy that their soldiers would
be disguising in uniforms like those in Philippine constabulary, they victoriously attacked some
Americans in Paranaque and in other areas in the Philippines. The Americans, started to attack
those cities where Sakay get much support. They destroyed the cities and caused massacre,
outbreaks of diseases and masses of deaths. These things were raised to Sakay and because
hisheart was near them, he let those oppressed to stay in their camp, heal in their wounds brought
about by the Americans there and allowed lower class Filipinos and those living in barrios to
help them in their camps, providing food, money and other supplies in the movement.

It broke my heart that just like how General Luna died, the death of Macario Sakay was
of the same case: it is because of the betrayal of the Filipinos. It is saddening that the fact that
Filipinos kill other or betray other Filipinos for their life to improve, for them to live a desirable
life just what Dominador Gomez did. If it were not because of Filipinos who betrayed the
republic, the whereabouts of Sakay would not be known, no one would ever be able to execute
the plan of American to deceive Sakay. However, with this situation I still saw the goodness of
heart of Sakay. He approved the amnesty because he was thinking of the Filipino people, that
somehow maybe the American would fulfill their promise, to give the independence if he will
approve the amnesty. Until his very last breath, he thought of our country. It was seen in his
last words: “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! Farewell!
Long live the Republic and may our independence be born in the future! Long live the
Philippines!”

Knowing the life of Macario Sakay, there are many things, many characters that every
Filipino must have that I got from him. There were patriotism, love to countrymen, selflessness
and boldness. I believe that Macario Sakay deserves to be known especially by the younger
Filipinos because of all the things he has done for us, for our nation, he deserves recognition, not
just recognition but also the appreciation and gratitude for him, for his love for our country.

References:
http://www.bayaniart.com/articles/macario-sakay-biography/
http://opinion.inquirer.net/78668/remembering-macario-sakay