Francisco Dagohoy

Infobox revolution biography
name = Francisco Dagohoy
lived = unknown
placeofbirth = unknown
placeofdeath = unknown


caption =
alternate name = Francisco Sendrijas
organizations = Boholano insurgents

Francisco Dagohoy, (born Francisco Sendrijas) is a Bol-anon who holds the distinction of having led the longest revolt in Philippine history, the famous Dagohoy Rebellion. This rebellion against the Spanish colonial government, took place in the island of Bohol from 1744 to 1829, [http://www.aenet.org/bohol/boholhis.htm Readings From Bohol's History] www.aenet.org, Source: Philippine Political and Cultural History. Volume I. Gregorio F. Zaide Retrieved 15 November 2006. ] roughly 85 years.

Dagohoy features in the Bohol provincial flag as one of the two "bolos" or native swords with handle and hand-guards on top. These two bolos, which are reclining respectively towards the left and right, depict the Dagohoy and Tamblot revolts, symbolizing that " a true Boholano will rise and fight if supervening factors embroil them into something beyond reason or tolerance." [ [http://www.bohol.gov.ph/pseal.html Bohol Flag and Seal] [http://www.bohol.gov.ph Provincial Government of Bohol] Retrieved 21 December, 2006.]

About Dagohoy

There is little known information about Francisco Dagohoy. There are no available records on his parentage, birthday and boyhood. [ [http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Pool/1644/dagohoy.html Francisco Dagohoy] www.geocities.com Retrieved 25 November, 2006.] The only information known is that his real name was Francisco Sendrijas and that he was a native of Inabanga, Bohol. He was also a "cabeza de barangay" or one of the barangay captain of the town. [ [http://www.ualberta.ca/~vmitchel/alan-article.html The Boholano Revolution Against Spain] www.ualberta.ca Retrieved 25 November, 2006.]

Historians believe that his alias, Francisco Dagohoy, was derived from a belief that he had an amulet (called “agimat” in Tagalog and “dagon” in the Cebuano language) that protected him from being harmed by his enemies. The people believed that he possessed the charm of a gentle wind or “hoyohoy” in the Cebuano language that allowed him to jump from one hill to another and from one side of the river to the other. He was believed to have a clear vision inside dark caves and be invisible whenever and wherever he wants to. The Dagohoy surname was derived from his local alias “Dagon sa hoyohoy.” [http://www.globalpinoy.com/ch/ch_category.php?category=heroes&name=Francisco%20Dagohoy&table=ch_heroes&startpage=1&endpage=15 Cultural Heritage Home: National heroes] www.globalpinoy.com Retrieved 25 November, 2006.]

According to a local historian, Jes Tirol, the name "Dagohoy" is a concatenation of the Visayan phrase "dagon sa hoyohoy" meaning talisman of the breeze. [http://www.theboholchronicle.com/opinion.php?issue=94&s1=1274&s2=1279&s3=1288&s4=1299&s5=1286&s6=356&s7=1287&s9= Establishment of the town of Dagohoy, Bohol] www.boholchronicle.com Retrieved 8 July, 2006.]

The Dagohoy Rebellion (1744–1829)

The Dagohoy Rebellion was one of two significant revolts that occurred in Bohol, Philippines during the Spanish Era. The other one was the Tamblot Uprising in 1621 led by Tamblot, a "babaylan" or native priest from Bohol which was basically a religious conflict. Tirol, Jes. [http://www.theboholchronicle.com/opinion.php?issue=158&s1=2100&s2=2105&s3=2114&s4=%09%09%09%09%09%09%09&s5=2112&s6=603&s7=2113&s9= Abatan River Cruise: A travel through history] www.boholchronicle.com Retrieved 21 November, 2006.]

Unlike the Tamblot revolt, the Dagohoy rebellion was not a religious conflict. Rather, it was like most of the early revolts which were ignited by forced labor, Spanish oppression,"bandala", excessive tax collection and payment of tributes. On top of these injustices of the Jesuit priests, what triggered Dagohoy most was the refusal of the Jesuit priest to give a Christian burial to his brother who died in service while chasing a fugitive who went against Christianity. This caused Dagohoy to call upon his fellow Boholanos to raise arms against the oppressors. The rebellion outlasted several Spanish Governor Generals and several missions. [http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=2 The Revolts before the Revolution] www.nhi.gov.ph Retrieved 21 November, 2006.]

In 1744, Father Gaspar Morales, the Jesuit curate of Inabanga, ordered a constable name Sagarino, to capture a man who had abandoned his Christian religion. The brave constable pursued the fugitive, but the latter resisted and killed him. His corpse was brought to town. Father Morales refused to give the constable Christian burial because he had died in a duel and this was banned by the Church.

Francisco Dagohoy, brother of the deceased Sagarino, became so infuriated at the priest that he instigated the people to rise in arms. The signal of the uprising was the killing of Father Giuseppe Lamberti, Italian Jesuit curate of Jagna on January 24, 1744. Shortly afterwards, Father Morales was killed by Dagohoy. The rebellion rolled over the whole island like a tropical typhoon. Bishop Miguel Lino de Espeleta of Cebu, who exercised ecclesiastical authority over Bohol, tried vainly to mollify the rebellious Boholanos.

Dagohoy defeated the Spanish-Filipino forces sent against him. He established a free government in the mountains, and had 3,000 followers, which subsequently increased to 20,000. The patriots remained unsubdued in their mountains stronghold and, even after Dagohoy's death, continued to defy Spanish power.

The Francisco Dagohoy Cave in the town of Danao was the headquarters of Dagohoy. One of the many crystal-studded passages within Dagohoy's cave has an underwater route leading to dry land, and it is said that every time Spaniards would search the cave, Dagohoy would swim underwater through this passage to hide in the breathing space. [Hellingman, Jeroen. [http://www.bohol.ph/article29.html Bohol, Cave Country] www.bohol.ph Retrieved 28 November, 2006. ] Twenty Spanish governors-general, from Gasper de la Torre (1739–45) to Juan Antonio Martinez (1822–25), tried to quell the rebellion and failed. In 1825, General Mariano Ricafort (1825–30), a kind and able administrator, became governor-general of the Philippines. Upon his order, Alcade-mayor Jose Lazaro Cairo, at the head of 2,200 Filipino-Spanish troops and several batteries, invaded Bohol on May 7, 1827. The brave Boholanos resisted fiercely. Alcalde-mayor Cairo won several engagements, but failed to crush the rebellion. In April 1828, another Spanish expedition under Captain Manuel Sanz landed in Bohol. After more than a year of hard campaign, he finally subdued the patriots. By August 31, 1829, the rebellion had ceased. Governor Ricafort, with chivalric magnanimity, pardoned 19,420 survivors and permitted them to live in new villages at the lowlands. These villages are now the towns of Batuanan, Cabulao, Catigbian, and Vilar.

Dagohoy's Legacy

Dagohoy will always live in the pages of Philippine history, not only as a good brother and a heroic man, but also as a leader of the longest Filipino insurrection on record. His revolt lasted 85 years(1744-1829).

The town of Dagohoy, Bohol is named in his honor. It was the former Phiippine President Carlos P. Garcia, then the Vice President who also comes from Bohol, who proposed the name "Dagohoy" in honor of the greatest Boholano hero.

A historical marker on Dagohoy's grave in the mountains of Danao, Bohol has been installed in his honor. The Dagohoy Marker in Magtangtang, Danao, Bohol, 92 km. from the Tagbilaran City was installed by the Philippine Historica Commission to honor the heroic deeds of Dagohoy. [http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=thingstodo&province=39 Things to do and see in Bohol ] www.wowphilippines.com Retrieved 25 November, 2006.] Magtangtang was Dagohoy's headquarters or hideout during the revolt. Hundreds of Dagohoy's followers preferred death inside the cave than surrender. Their skeletons still remain in the site.

The Dagohoy Memorial National High School in Dagohoy, Bohol is named in his honor and his memory.

References

External links

* Chris Antonette P. Pugay [http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=2 The Revolts before the Revolution] www.nhi.gov.ph
* Abeto, Isidro Escare. [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;q1=Dagohoy;rgn=full%20text;idno=akm8935.0001.001;didno=AKM8935.0001.001;view=image;seq=198;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset The Longest Fight for Reform: The Hero of Bohol] in [http://www.hti.umich.edu/p/philamer/ The United States and its Territories 1870–1925: The Age of Imperialism] Chapter XXXIV, pp 167–169.
* Abeto, Isidro Escare. [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;idno=akm8935.0001.001;q1=Dagohoy;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=24 Roster of Chieftains and Warriors] in [http://www.hti.umich.edu/p/philamer/ The United States and its Territories 1870–1925: The Age of Imperialism] Chapter XVIII
* Blair, Emma Helen, ed. [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;q1=Francisco%20Dagohoy;rgn=full20text;idno=AFK2830.0001.048;didno=AFK2830.0001.048;view=image;seq=00000151 Events in Filipinas 17-39-62] in [http://www.hti.umich.edu/p/philamer/ The United States and its Territories 1870–1925: The Age of Imperialism] , page 147–148.
* Artigas y Cuerva, Manuel. [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;q1=Francisco%20Dagohoy;rgn=full%20text;idno=APZ3217.0001.001;didno=APZ3217.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000201 Historia de Filipinas para uso de los alumnos del Instituto Burgos y de otros colegios particulares: pro Manuel Artigas y Cuerva] in [http://www.hti.umich.edu/p/philamer/ The United States and its Territories 1870–1925: The Age of Imperialism] , p. 192