Keep the flame of Filipino courage burning - Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) today called on Filipinos to look back into the country's past with pride to be able to step into the future with confidence, hope and conviction as the country commemorates the 113th anniversary of the Battle of Imus during the Philippine Revolution of 1896.

Gordon said it is fitting to remember the Battle of Imus, which he called "the defining battle of the Revolution," because it was the first victory of Filipino revolutionary forces and it rallied all of Cavite and other provinces to arm against the Spanish colonial government.

"We should not forget our great moments of triumph and vindication. We should remember key chapters in our national story for they form one seamless thread of our national saga and journey. They affirm the continuity and glory of our race," he said.

"We must look at our history and learn from our heroes because they are the ones who had the confidence to break the walls in their minds. We have to recognize the contributions of our martyrs and see why they chose to defend the national interest. We must be able to look at our past with pride so that we can be able to conquer the future with a lot of confidence, hope and with conviction," he added.

The Battle of Imus had a "transformational impact" on the Katipunan uprising that had been prematurely triggered by the betrayal of its plans. Until the storied battle [in Imus], the revolution had been mainly a series of setbacks and retreats.

After three days of fighting in Imus, from September 1 to 3, 1896, however, Filipino forces led by General Aguinaldo and Imus leader Col. Jose Tagle defeated the best of the Spanish forces led by General Ernesto Aguirre. The Filipino revolutionaries captured 70 Remington rifles, assorted battle equipment, and General Aguirre's sword, which he dropped during his retreat.

Gordon lamented that very few people know about this victorious battle because Filipinos have a tendency to dwell on defeat, as well as remember the martyred and the fallen.

"The official Filipino calendar is filled with holidays dedicated to agonizing setbacks like Bataan and Corregidor and the martyred and fallen. But we forget to reserve a place for those who have stood tall and triumphant at the barricades like Lapu-Lapu, the first Asian to beat a foreign invader," he sad.

"Filipinos need to recover the unbroken, continuous life of our nation and recapture the seamless whole. To be able to do this, we should mark and celebrate days like the battles of Imus and Mactan," he added.