Chapter 44: The New Stage
Three days after the tragedy at Plaridel's city hall, life was gradually returning to the town. Damaged buildings were being repaired, ruined streets were being fixed, and the victims were being cared for by their families and the local government.
But beneath the surface of recovery, a new chaos was spreading—not on the streets, but across the internet.
A video of the fierce battle in Plaridel quickly went viral, igniting widespread controversy and fueling arguments in homes, markets, and even government offices.
The video contained hair-raising scenes: the torture of Filipinos by Spanish soldiers in the Plaridel plaza, the tense confrontation between Ifugao and General Salazar, and Ifugao's courageous stand against Gilo and the rebels to prevent further violence.
Clearly visible in the video were Hustisya's fury, her eyes blazing as she explained her fight for obtaining justice for the victims, and Ifugao's determination to halt the rebellion, even if it meant confronting her fellow sugo.
Many were enraged by Ifugao's demonstrated boldness in facing a government official, yet there were also Spaniards who were angered by General Salazar's actions. His attempt to kill the citizens of Plaridel to test Ifugao's power was considered a major transgression.
The video became instrumental in preventing the immediate punishment of the alleged rebels in Plaridel, as the Spaniards lacked sufficient evidence to conclusively prove their rebellion. Even the generals, despite their power, remained silent on the issue, hesitant to act without clear foundation.
Conversely, the discussion between Hustisya and Ifugao in the video also became a national talking point. Ifugao's insistence on stopping the rebellion, and her battle against Hustisya to prevent the killing of Spaniards, drew mixed reactions from the people.
Some admired her principles, but others judged her as a traitor to her own race. Even though Ifugao had gained the trust of many Filipinos, many rebels were doubtful whether she would be an ally or an enemy to their cause.
Nevertheless, both Hustisya and Ifugao remained on the wanted list. The government sought to hold both accountable for the damages caused by the battle, which led to the formation of a task force to capture the two sugo. This group was deployed directly from Spain.
The leadership in Plaridel was temporarily replaced while awaiting the new Governor of Bulacan, who was to be appointed by the Spanish government.
Amidst all this, in a vast room within Malacañang Palace—regarded as the center of power for the colonial government in the Philippines—Luzon's most powerful generals convened.
The room was filled with tension, its walls adorned with symbols of Spanish authority, and the long table in the center was surrounded by eight generals, each carrying the weight of his duty.
Five of them wore green uniforms, signifying their status as "raw" or honorary Spaniards—Filipinos who had been granted power but were never considered equal to the pure-blooded Spaniards. They had become generals solely because they were sugo of a diwata and had pledged allegiance to the Spanish government.
These were General Manuel of Rizal, General Tiburcio of Pampanga, General Apyong of Cavite, General Luna of Bataan, and General Romeo of Batangas. The other three wore white uniforms, symbolizing their pure Spanish blood and their status as sugo of a diwata from Spain.
These were General Kiki of Quezon, General Jamin of Laguna, and General Felipe of Zambales. At the head of the table, near a massive screen displaying Ifugao's wanted poster, stood a man whose presence alone was enough to silence the room.
He was Viceroy Antonio Magellan, clad in a golden uniform like a Spanish royal. As the King of Spain's representative in the Philippines, he held the highest authority in the colonial government, governing the national capital and overseeing issues concerning the rebels.
"The situation in Plaridel is a great setback for our administration," Magellan began, his voice deep and authoritative. "This sugo they call Ifugao has recently been making noise and presenting herself as a hero to the indios."
"The truth is, I do not consider her a major threat to Spain, but I am gravely concerned by the influencing effect of her actions on others. Many Spaniards are convinced that her methods of punishing generals like Slasher and Salazar were just."
He surveyed the generals in the room, seemingly assessing their reactions, his face conveying the gravity of the discussion. "I concede that generals like Salazar have committed offenses. However, it is not an Indio who should inflict punishment upon them—the law of Spain is what must decide what happens in this country."
The generals listened in silence, their faces showing no emotion. They knew that even if their fellow generals had committed violations, no one had the right to punish them except the Viceroy—and Apyong knew Magellan would not punish a fellow official originating from Spain.
The silence was suddenly broken when General Romeo, the youngest of the group, raised his hand. "Pardon me, Viceroy," Romeo said, his voice calm but tinged with defiance.
"But what should we do if the generals' mistakes are repeated? If their actions put the citizens in danger, are we, as officials, required to act?"
Magellan immediately replied, his tone certain. "That depends on the situation, General Romeo. If a general is proven guilty, the law will determine what is the appropriate course of action for them."
Romeo knew the Viceroy was biased towards the Spaniards and would not punish his comrades, but Romeo remained steadfast. "What if a general has committed a crime, and we cannot avoid fighting them? Are we permitted to pass judgment on them?" he asked, his eyes bravely looking directly at Magellan.
"What I mean is, can I kill them?"
A heavy silence enveloped the room at Romeo's daring question; some generals couldn't believe what the young man had said in front of the Viceroy.
Magellan merely smiled, but his smile did not reach his eyes. "That also depends on the situation, General," he answered.
"Let us not forget that the Governor-Generals are symbols of Spain's power. Undermining their reputation is undermining the authority of our government."
Romeo persisted until he received the answer he sought, and he explained his rationale. "According to the King's law, it is part of our duty to safeguard the lives and rights of the citizens, whether Spanish or Filipino," he said, his voice full of emphasis.
"If a general kills innocent Filipinos without justifiable reason, shouldn't they be punished like anyone else who breaks our law? Murder is a serious crime, and its punishment is execution—whether for an ordinary person or for a general." Romeo stated seriously.
Tension between the Viceroy and Romeo once again plunged the room into silence as every general anticipated Magellan's response to General Romeo's statements.
The Viceroy only smiled, but his expression was full of appraisal. "We are discussing a Governor-General, General Romeo," he said, his voice calm but with a hint of warning.
"They were appointed by Spain to lead and to do what is necessary for the welfare of the colony."
But Romeo immediately countered, seemingly unafraid to speak again. "I am merely confused, Viceroy. The order from the King of Spain is clear that even generals like us must obey the laws commanded by the King," he replied, his voice showing no sign of doubt.
"Is the status of the generals more important than the word of the King of Spain?" Romeo's question struck the room like a thunderbolt, further intensifying the tension. Magellan did not immediately answer. Instead, he slowly walked towards Romeo's seat.
He strode forward and stopped in front of the young general, his posture straight and his gaze sharp. "General Romeo," he said, his voice low but weighted with importance,
"Is your question for the sake of Spain, or for your own personal ambition?"
Romeo was perplexed by the Viceroy's question and knew he was trying to avoid giving an exact command that would allow him to punish other generals. "Pardon me, Viceroy, I do not understand what you mean because..." but before he could finish speaking, Magellan continued.
"Although the King ordered the protection of Filipinos, this does not mean we can dismiss the value of a Spaniard—especially a Governor-General. Those like Salazar have made significant contributions to leadership and fighting the enemies of the government. Their deaths resulted in a great loss for all of us, and until now, there is no definite replacement for them."
Magellan gripped the table, leaning his face closer to Romeo. "A single Governor-General is worth more than a million Filipinos, General Romeo. Therefore, as intelligent officials, it is necessary for us to know how to weigh such matters." His voice was full of emphasis.
The Viceroy looked at Romeo with a fearsome stare, seemingly dictating to him what he must do. "Before all else, let me remind you of one crucial thing, young general."
"You are not here as a defender of the Filipinos, but as a servant of Spain." The tension in the room did not fade. Magellan and Romeo continued to stare into each other's eyes, both full of courage and refusing to yield.
The other generals in the room sat silently and waited, knowing that a single wrong word could provoke a greater conflict. They knew the Viceroy could command whatever he wished, so they understood they could not contradict him and risk incurring his wrath.
In the midst of the silence, General Luna suddenly spoke to change the subject, his voice firm but controlled. "Pardon me, Viceroy, I just want to ask what we should do about the rebels? One of them is a sugo with the power of a diwata. We cannot ignore such a threat."
Magellan stood up straight and returned to the front, where the large screen was. "The sugo of the diwata are highly beneficial to us, especially if we use their power for the sake of Spain," he said.
"But we cannot ensure that they will be loyal to us or to the government."
Romeo suddenly spoke, his voice brimming with confidence. "Allow me to speak with the captured sugo from Malolos, Viceroy. Perhaps they are criminals in the eyes of the Spaniards, but as you said, the sugo are immensely useful. I might be able to persuade them to join us."
Magellan immediately turned to Romeo and questioned him, his eyes filled with doubt. "How can you guarantee their loyalty, General Romeo, despite their anger toward Spain?"
"I cannot guarantee their loyalty," Romeo admitted.
"But the sugo have a powerful connection to their diwata. They are prepared to do anything for their mission. If we grant them a favor they cannot refuse, they will remain loyal to the government as long as their territory is peaceful."
He explained that unlike the sugo who came from Spain, many sugo of the diwata in the Philippines are commanded to protect their territory, and they know that guarding their territory is more important than seeking revenge for the people.
General Kiki of Quezon suddenly intervened, his voice full of worry. "We should also be mindful of the growing number of sugo joining the rebels. Recently, they have become more violent and are gaining the courage to fight the authorities."
General Apyong responded, his tone filled with plea. "Pardon me, Viceroy, but we must do something about the treatment of Filipinos. All Governor-Generals should be informed of the prohibition against oppressing Filipinos. I understand the Spanish belief in their supremacy and I do not question it, but if the cruelty continues, the uprisings of many Filipinos will only recur."
The Viceroy cut Apyong short and disagreed with the idea of issuing such an order, but he acknowledged Apyong's point. "There has been a law prohibiting the oppression of Filipinos for a long time," he said.
"I do not see the need for me to remind all the generals of this again."
But Luna suddenly spoke, his voice bold. "Even though we have had that law for a long time, Viceroy, no one has ever been punished. What is the use of a law if it is not enforced?"
Magellan faced Luna, his expression calm but firm. "That is no longer my problem, General Luna. Your job as Governor-Generals is to enforce the law in your jurisdiction. You know what must be done for the sake of Spain."
Luna knew that the Viceroy clearly did not care for the welfare of the Filipinos and did not like the idea of Spaniards being equal to Filipinos.
Magellan took his book from the table, his voice commanding. "I require reports from each of you regarding the rebels in your territory. And further, we need to find out who is behind the videos circulating on the internet. We can no longer allow the rebels to become this audacious."
Before leaving the room, he boldly added, "Use an iron hand to let the rebels know who holds power in this country. Kill those who should be killed and show no weakness."
"I expect you to fulfill your duty." Silence returned to the room, the generals' faces showing apprehension at Magellan's stern command, which clearly indicated he had no regard for the safety of any Filipinos who might be caught in the crossfire.
The Viceroy excused himself to attend to matters in Mindanao, and shortly after, the generals left one by one.
But before General Romeo could completely leave, Luna intercepted him outside the room to speak. "Be careful with what you are doing, General Romeo," Luna said, his voice low but filled with warning. "Expressing personal opinions in front of the Viceroy is not wise; I know you are aware of that."
Romeo smiled, but his expression was resolute. "I see nothing wrong with what I said, General Luna. I was only reminding him of the King's law; it wasn't about personal ambition."
Luna sighed.
"I know how you feel about the Filipinos," Luna replied. "But you know the Viceroy has immense pride. When he gets irritated, he can make everything more complicated for us—especially for the Filipinos."
"He doesn't care about the Filipinos; all that matters to him is the preservation of Spanish power here in the Philippines," he added.
Romeo sighed. "I know, I just got carried away by my anger, but trust me, I will do everything to be careful next time," he said.
"But I cannot keep silent when they are doing something wrong, especially to innocent Filipinos."
While they talked, Luna joked with him, his smile slightly bitter. "Even I get frustrated with those cursed Spaniards. If it weren't for my duty as a sugo, I might have punched the Viceroy a long time ago. But we know we can't do that."
Romeo stopped walking and looked around. "Someone might hear you. You know how much they treat the Viceroy like a king in this place," Romeo said.
"Do you really think I'm afraid of them? They should be afraid of me," Luna joked.
"You really are as brave as they say, General," Romeo commented.
"Hahaha, that's why I'm here. Cowardice has no room in this place, because if you show weakness to others, those cursed Spaniards will just play you in their hands."
As they walked out of the Palace, their conversation continued about the rebels. "Many of the rebels are beyond reasoning with," Luna said, his voice full of concern.
"Some consider it treason against fellow Filipinos to negotiate with the government. That is why they are becoming more determined to reject our pleas."
Romeo answered with a bowed head, his tone filled with disappointment. "People refuse to listen. They only think of their own self-interest. If the mistaken notion that the Philippines can be pacified by killing Spaniards persists, the chaos will never end."
While walking, Luna suddenly asked, "What are your plans for Ifugao? What she can do is extraordinary for a novice sugo, yet she defeated the warriors from Spain."
"I watched the videos circulating on the internet," Romeo answered. "I do not consider her a major threat to Spain. She is strong, and she could defeat people like us in a fight. But she is defenseless when compared to the power of the Swords of Spain."
"I have seen what they can do once—that is more terrifying than what a young sugo can do," he added. "It is foolish to believe that a young sugo can save the Philippines. From what I can see, the rebels are too desperate for freedom, so they cannot see the country's true needs."
As they walked out, Luna remembered to mention Hiyas. "Oh yes, I spoke with a diwata. She told me she is helping Ifugao and requested that I not capture Ifugao until she is ready."
Romeo stopped walking, surprised by the news. "A diwata? Apart from my own diwata, I have not seen anyone like her."
"I can't believe it either, but there's no doubt she is not human and her presence stems from nature."
Romeo pondered and asked. "And what are your plans regarding her request?" he asked.
Luna merely smiled, but his expression was full of doubt. "I have no idea what to do about that. She is a diwata like my diwata, and to me, it would be disrespectful to oppose her. I also don't know if I should ignore her."
"So I think as long as Ifugao is not causing trouble in Bataan, I have no intention of pursuing her. We have too many problems to worry about."
Luna then asked Romeo about his plan for the young sugo. "And you, what are your plans for Ifugao? She is clearly being protected by a diwata who might want to reclaim the lands of the Philippines from the Spaniards. But as generals, it is our duty to obey and capture people like her."
Romeo stepped away to leave, his voice calm but determined. "I have no intention of fighting the diwata out of respect for them. But the peace in Batangas is more important to me."
"I truly dislike what Ifugao is doing because it makes Spain focus on us even more, but I don't have time to pay attention to her. We face a larger threat from the rebels, the Katipunan, and their leader, Supremo," Romeo said.
Luna smiled, but his eyes were full of concern. "You are right. The Katipunan is our real headache. They have become too audacious, and we need to stop Supremo's madness before it escalates," he replied.
In a secluded warehouse outside Malolos, surrounded by boxes of weapons and supplies, revolutionaries wearing red bandanas on their arms had gathered. They were members of the modern Katipunan, the modern warriors regarded as the children of the nation.
Their faces were filled with determination, their eyes burning with the goal of freeing the Philippines from Spanish occupation.
In front of over three hundred rebels stood Supremo, the leader of the Katipunan. His presence was like a storm—quiet yet full of power. Behind him, a large blackboard held a detailed map of Luzon, covered with marks of their plans and target areas.
He slammed the blackboard with his hand, his voice firm but zealous.
"We need to intensify our operations!" he shouted, his eyes blazing. "I am pleased that we are succeeding in destroying the Spaniards' weapons factories, but it is not enough! If we want to weaken their military force, we must control Northern Luzon and gain the support of more Filipinos!"
The rebels roared in agreement, their voices full of enthusiasm.
But in the middle of the uproar, a man raised his hand. He was Hulyo, the sugo of Pasig, with blue hair and elegant clothing that marked his status as one of the Katipunan officials.
His presence was as strong as Supremo's, but his eyes were full of worry. "Supremo," Hulyo began, his voice calm but serious. "What is our plan for Ifugao? Many believe in her, admiring her heroism. We cannot dismiss this young sugo."
Supremo suddenly banged his fist again on the table, creating a loud noise that captured everyone's attention.
"I acknowledge Ifugao's heroism," he said, his voice full of anger and bitterness. "But I do not favor her beliefs. It is nonsense to think that Filipinos and Spaniards can live together peacefully! That is not realistic!" he added, his eyes blazing,
"I learned that she fought the sugo of Plaridel and prevented his planned uprising. Because of that, the sugo of Malolos was captured, and now he is in danger of being sentenced to death."
"I have no personal hatred for Ifugao, but if her beliefs contradict our struggle, I have no choice but to consider her an enemy." The rebels were quiet, their faces showing mixed feelings—concern, anger, and resolve.
Hulyo replied, his voice steady. "Supremo, we cannot ignore Ifugao's influence. Many see her as a symbol of hope. If we cannot win her over to our cause, she might become an obstacle to our goal."
"I know she has the potential to be an ally or an enemy, but we do not have the time to focus on Ifugao right now, especially as our time is limited," Supremo replied, his tone full of frustration.
"Our focus is on the Spanish military bases. We have done much, and we will do more. We will not stop until we achieve victory!" Supremo raised his machete, his voice echoing in the warehouse.
"We are close to liberating our nation from the colonizers! We will do everything for the Philippines!"
The rebels shouted, their voices filled with zeal. "Long live the children of the nation! Long live the Philippines!" they repeatedly cried, their emotions burning with the determination to achieve true freedom.
Each word was like fire, further strengthening their purpose, and the dream of a free Philippines became clearer in their hearts.
—End of Chapter—