LUKBAN
influence on the socially lower segments of the population living in the coastal towns. He had organized the revolutionary governments following Aguinaldo’ s instructions, but most of these were holdovers from the previous colonial regime.
“ Most of the wealthy and middle class here sacrifice their patriotism in favor of their personal interests and wish to eat when the table is already set, that is to say, they expect us to restore them, but they always offer their lives and lands in word but not by acts …” Lukban wrote in exasperation. Evidently he found them difficult to convince to support the revolutionary cause. But to a large extent, he depended on them to provide support to the revolution. 8
A year earlier, Lukban had tried to win over the local clergy to Aglipayanism, an effort which only isolated him from the priests. After that he would blame the bishop of Cebu since the Samar then reported to the diocese of Cebu, and Luis Flores, the Cebu governor newly appointed by the Americans. Flores used to be a leader of the 1898 revolution against Spain in the island but capitulated to the Americans when the insurrection against the Americans began. Lukban did not hesitate when he lambasted the middleclass here.
“ Those clerks, lawyers, writers and pettifoggers during Spanish domination who appear to be under the orders and thumb of that traitor, Luis Flores, the so-called president of Cebu, who turned over the city to the enemy without firing a shot … this gentleman was solicitor of the Audiencia in the island of Cebu. The tendency of all these men is to sow discord and friction between families; and to this is due the division of parties; all of them under the name or pretest of country, wish to feather their own nests,” he wrote. 9
One of Lukban’ s vocal opponents from the Samar clergy was Fr. Wenceslao Singzon, a native of Calbiga and a younger relative Fr. Pablo Singzon, vicar general of the Cebu Archdiocese under Bishop Alcocer and later appointed the Bishop of Calbayog. The younger Singzon, then a 35-year-old priest of Laoang, issued on June 26, 1901 an open letter to Lukban, telling him to submit himself to American rule since the archipelago, under the Treaty of Paris, was already a property of the United States. The letter, addressed to the leaders of Laoang, Palapag, Catubig and Pambuan, blamed Lukban for the sufferings the revolution was causing the people of Samar because of his refusal to give up.
“ Who is to blame for the ruin here among us? On whom rests the responsibility and the blame before God and man? Those wiseacres
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