| tangkulo
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| | Joined: 29 Mar 2006 | | Posts: 452 | | Location: Philippines |
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 Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: Battlegrounds of Eskrima: Eskrima in Antiquity |
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Battlegrounds of Eskrima: Eskrima in Antiquity
This page contains photos of the vestiges of the Moro wars that spread throughout the Visayan coastal villages from the early 16th century to the late 19th century. After the administration of Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, the Spanish fortress in Zamboanga and the rest of the Visayan coastal towns from Cebu, Negros, Siquijor and Panay were abandoned to beef up the Spanish forces and Macabebe warriors in preparation for an imminent assault in Manila and Central Luzon by the Chinese pirate Koxinga. The Moro raids intensified in the Visayan coastal villages and the Christian natives sans colonial firepower had to fend off the invaders with their eskrima skills. The town center of modern day Oslob was a blacksmithing center during the height of the Moro wars. It wasn't until 200 years later that these bastions were reoccupied once again by the Spanish colonial authorities.
Spanish garrison at the gate of Oslob church
Mute witness to a bloody past - ruins of Oslob Balwarte (watchtower)
On these shores eskrima skills were put to the test by early Cebuanos to
repel Moro pirates.
[img]http://cebueskrima.s5.com/images/oslobbalwarte2.jpg
[/img]
View of the horizon from Oslob Balwarte
From this vantage point, Spanish soldiers kept watch of Oslob beach for Moro raiders with the help of native eskrimadors. On a clear day, western Bohol coastline can be seen on the horizon.
Government neglect, corruption and insensitivity to the historical value of this spot has left the Oslob balwarte in a sad state of deterioration.The centrist government in Manila have long ignored the contributions of Cebuano heroes in Philippine history. While we may argue that Lapulapu may not be an eskrimador, nonetheless his defiance against Spanish conquistadors and being the FIRST Asian to repel foreigners, the "Battle of Mactan" should precede all other significant events in Philippine history. Sadly, it is not even declared a national holiday by the Manila governent and Lapulapu's image is found only in a ten centavo coin.
LAST YEAR THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION TORE DOWN 40 FT. BRONZE MONUMENT OF LAPULAPU IN LUNETA, MANILA. THEY DECLARED IT WAS OUT OF PLACE! THE MONUMENT WAS DONATED BY SOUTH KOREAN EXPATS. Other heroes of the North with questionable background like the wife killer Juan Luna and the traitor / murderer Emilio Aguinaldo the first President who sold out to the Americans have earned a more prominent niche.
During World War II, Australia was spared from an imminent Japanese invasion with the capture of General Koga in the town of Minglanilla by Cebuano guerillas. The Japanese general brought with him the blueprints for the invasion of Australia. More than 1,500 civilians paid for their lives to pressure the guerillas to release Koga. Col. James Cushing the leader of Cebu guerillas personally took the captured documents to Gen. Douglas McArthur in Australia. You can't find this story in our history books!
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full article link: http://cebueskrima.s5.com/photo4.html
source: Cebu Eskrima Society, http://cebueskrima.s5.com |
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