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HAPPY PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY!
The patriotism of the Marinduqueno is well documented in numerous accounts during the Filipino-Spanish War, the Filipino-American War, and the Filipino-Japanese War. Truth is, the leaders of Marinduque led by Military Governor Martin Lardizabal were the first, making Marinduque the first province, to declare separation from Spanish rule. When the last of the Spanish casadores left Marinduque on April 23, 1898, Marinduque declared its independence from Spain, an act formally ratified by the representatives (town officials and ilustrados) from the five municipalities of Boac, Gasan, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos. (Buenavista, formerly Sabang was then still a part of Gasan).
No wonder then that when the first Philippine Flag was brought to Marinduque two months later, it was such a big event that brought the Marinduqueno folks together to worship the flag. Ramon Madrigal, the foremost Marinduque historian's eyewitness account is as follows:
“On June 27th, (1898), the Governor’s (Gov. Martin Lardizabal’s) courier, Canuto Vargas, arrived in Boac bringing the first Philippine Flag for the Province of Marinduque. A huge crowd of people went to Mount Santol to welcome the Flag as the flag-bearer was entering the town on Calle Real. The crowd was so big that only the Flag tied to a bamboo pole could be seen moving slowly, the flag-bearer could not be discerned.
Only when it reached the Provincial building* that the bearer was recognized as Canuto Vargas, a short man who was sweating profusely and looking exhausted. The people were most excited to see and admire the first Philippine Flag in the Province – the Flag they came to know and to revere so much and so fondly.”
(*The provincial building referred to here is the ancestral Lardizabal-Trivino house across today's Boac Covered Court. It served as the first capitol building when Lardizabal assumed governorship. Photo of said house as it looks today (shown above)is courtesy of dennisvillegas.blogspot.com)
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