LUKBAN
anchored. The large out-triggered vessel was unloading earthen wares( pots, jars, etc.), but mostly 20-liter kerosene cans. The kerosene cans were, in the normal course of trade, being readied for delivery to consignees in town. But today, they would have other uses.
The belfry boys got their instructions the night before. Usually they rang one bell for the customary ringing at 6:00 A. M. on a Sunday of ordinary time. But today they were to stay put and wait for a small-arm gunfire, at which instance they were to ring in full blast all three bells, including the giant de ruida. This de ruida bell was rung only on solemn occasions, such as the arrival of dignitaries, or at the inception and completion of a High Mass during town fiestas, or in cases of calamities such as fires beyond control.
Rebadulla however objected to the small-arm gunfire, for it could in fact mean hostilities. Instead, he ordered the dropping on the concrete street of an empty kerosene can to produce the loud, sharp decibels. That was supposed to mean that the American garrison did not accept the town leaders’ demand to surrender with their guns and military wares and to vacate the convent and the church premises.
At about 7:00 A. M., just before the Americans started their daily morning drills, a courier was dispatched by the town capitan to hand in an envelope to the doorman at the rectory containing the demand. As expected, the garrison turned the demand down. A thumb-down signal from the courier as he emerged from the rectory caused the fall of an empty kerosene can from a husky longshoreman while he was stacking kerosene cans not far from the town square. That sudden fall was the signal that the belfry boys were awaiting. A few bell rings sent the token force of militiamen at the rear of the convent firing to decoy the Americans in that direction. Then the shooting war began. 1
“ The garrison was alarmed by shots coming from the rear of the church on the left side of the barracks. The men immediately prepared to resist the attack. Almost at the same time a heavy fire was opened on them from the hills on the right and left, and also from every available part of the town which could be utilized by the insurgents,” said a report by Capt. Dey, who commanded the detachment. 2
The bells of Catubig, especially the giant de ruida that day, kept spinning in crescendo, as the other two bells were tolling unusually fast. All able-bodied men ran toward the convent even without orders and volunteered to fight. But unarmed, they instead ended up rolling the hemp bales around the convent to serve as shields to the militiamen. But the Americans were shooting too and in higher volume of fire. After all, they had better guns. Their bullets were proportionately taking higher tolls than those of the native militia. 3
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