Bontoc, Mountain Province – It was at the end of year 1899 and the start of year 1900 that the first President of the Republic and his revolutionary troops found their way to the province amidst the rough terrains and trails riding in horses.
The book of Scott relayed through other local journals chronicles the path of General Emilio Aguinaldo and his troops in December 2, 1899 passing through Cayan, now Kayan, where they were welcomed by natives.
They passed through Tadian until they reached Bagnen, Bauko where Aguinaldo received news of the battle of Tirad Pass and the death of General Gregorio Del Pilar.
The following day, December 3, 1899, passing through Sagada rancheria, the group arrived at Bontoc where they stayed for two days peacefully. Rancheria is a Spanish term for small local settlement that could be Ankileng.
Moving forward on December 5, 1899 Aguinaldo arrived at Bontoc and proceeded to Talubin where they stayed overnight. It was then here that traces of the historical journey was not clear as to where the Aguinaldo group went. They may have advanced towards Banaue passing through the forest presumably at Mount Polis.
This was so because in December 22, 1899, the group were in Ambayuan, now Bayyo, when they received updates about the Americans looking for them.
An oral account relayed by Barangay Captain Joseph Lacwin, Sr. states that Aguinaldo was hidden by the people in a rice granary when they were told that Americans were pursuing the troop. Accordingly, the locals provided foods and concealment for days.
Another oral account shared that here the wife of Aguinaldo was sent back to return to Manila as the pursuit of the enemies was becoming intense and fleeing was harder.
The rest of the days that started 26 December 1899 indicated the Aguinaldo troop was in Banaue and in various places in Mayoyao and the present Aguinaldo, Ifugao.
But in February 15, 1900, the group was in Butigue, Paracelis. They came from Aguinaldo, Ifugao.
The following day, February 16, 1900, Aguinaldo and his troop passed by and spent the night in Balinsuugan, Mabaclao. Municipal Tourism Action Officer Flora Madanom surmised that the group might have gone to the place because of the abundance of water.
In February 17, 1900 the group arrived in Parasili (Paracelis) where they stayed for two days as they rounded up empty houses for palay they pounded for their food provisions.
Started February 21, 1900, the group visited the settlements in Guinabuan, Marallag, and Caradcad, Calaccad of today, and other places before they reached Maduccayan, Natonin on February 24, 1900 where they rested.
Oral accounts shared by Natonin Mayor Jose Agagon sates that Aguinaldo and troop stayed in Maducayan for five days where locals offered food provisions for them.
In an earlier expedition for tourism spots in the place, the mayor was kind enough to have toured the group composed of this writer and some tour guides of Sagada years ago to an amazing “Aguinaldo Cave” which is a two-hour trek from the main village.
The purpose of the trip of some personnel from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) was to validate and confirm the places visited by President Aguinaldo prior to installation of markers that could be unveiled sometime in December 2024.
The NHCP personnel were Architect Dan Paul Awarayan, Engineer Lionidas Ongkingco, and Christine Dulnuan, Senior History Researcher.
They visited Kayan, Tadian, Bagnen in Bauko, Sagada, and Talubin and Bayyo of Bontoc last March 12-13, 2024. They will conduct a second leg validations in Natonin and Paracelis on a later date still to be scheduled.
