STO. TOMAS, Pampanga — A slice of Philippine history largely out of the purview of the general public gets its due recognition in this tiny town of only seven barangays where it all happened.
“Ing Labanan king Sto. Tomas, 1899” or the Battle of Sto. Tomas, 1899 where the retreating Filipino revolutionaries engaged the advancing American forces in the town was marked with its first ever observance on its 125th anniversary hosted by the Don Honorio State University-Sto. Tomas Campus (DHVSU-STC).
Mayor Johnny A. Sambo unveiled an artist’s rendition of the battle which served as the highlight of the first phase of official observance leading to the installation of a historical marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on the site of the battle.
Joining Sambo in the event were DHVSU-STC director Jovita G. Rivera, members of the sangguniang bayan, barangay chairmen and school principals.
Kapampangan artist Aurelio Q. Lobo based his painting on the matrix of historical accounts painstakingly researched by the late Kapampangan historical and cultural advocate Lord Francis D. Musni and Jeffrey M. Gomez, former municipal tourism officer of the town, who presented their research to DHVSU In-House Research on Feb. 24, 2022 and March 23, 2023.
Extant historical records showed that on May 4, 1899, a fierce and bloody battle unfolded in the town of Santo Tomas between the revolutionary forces led by Gen. Antonio Novicio Luna and American soldiers.
The battle was part of the Philippine-American War, a conflict that erupted after the United States’ annexation of the Philippines Islands with the defeat of the Spanish forces.
Luna, hailed by even his American foes as “the only true Filipino general”, led the revolutionaries in the Sto. Tomas engagement that almost cost him his life.
Historical records hold that Luna was hit by a stray bullet in the waist. Fortunately, his silk belt sewn with gold coins which his family gave him for emergency cases, deflected the bullet. In spite of its lessening impact, a deep wound was inflicted causing Luna to bleed profusely. Suffering from blood loss, Luna felt dizzy and fell from his horse.
Surprised at its rider’s fall, the horse “suddenly leaped with great velocity and galloped beyond the line of fire, leaving Luna lying on the ground.”
In his remarks, Enrique G. Baking, DHVSU President, read by Director Rivera, “the
“The battle of Sto. Tomas stands as a testament to the indominable spirit of our ancestors who bravely fought and defended our ideals for the freedom which we cherish today,” said DHVSU president Enrique G. Baking in his remarks read at the occasion by Rivera.
Gomez expressed his gratitude to the late Musni, DHVSU officials, the local officials, and the academe, noting the event “shall be instilled and etched in the hearts and consciousness of Thomasian students, in particular, and the Filipino nation, in general, for their deeper knowledge, appreciation and application of its historical lessons.”
History advocate Joel Mallari, research consultant of Schools Division of City of San Fernando, said the people of Sto. Tomas “must own (The Battle of Sto. Tomas) so that its significance would not be in vain.”
Councilor Anjeli Tantamco, in behalf of Vice Mayor Matias C. Pineda, read the Municipal Ordinance No. 104-2024 entitled: “Declaring and Citing May 4 of each year as Battle of Sto. Tomas Day and appropriating funds thereof” approved on April 26, 2024.
The request by the municipality to secure the first ever national marker of the event from the NHCP and the revised text marker have been resubmitted and now awaiting NHCP approval. Punto News Team/PR
