LUKBAN
where American troops were scarce, the revolutionary government exercised absolute control as in the case of Matuginao. Its residents were mobilized to provide provisional quarters for the revolutionary government, including supplying it with its subsistence, arsenal and ammunition, constructing a town hall, church as well as a cockpit. Residents were also required to rebuild their homes to improve the town since all the houses were reduced to ashes when the Americans tried to occupy it in December of the previous year. In a resolution drafted during the town’ s assembly, all were sworn to implement it“ without any excuses whatsoever.” 27
On January 20, that year, Calbiga chief Feliciano Figueroa was in a fix. The people of Calbiga, a garrisoned town, were eager to rise up against the Americans comprising about 200 officers and men. He wrote Lukban’ s headquarters asking if he could organize guerrillas to launch an attack. He was most likely advised against it because no uprising took place in that town. 28
The commitment to the revolutionary enterprise took on other forms, in many cases requiring the people to sacrifice their homes and properties. One of the favourite tactic of Lukban to deny sanctuary to the enemy was to burn down the town they were intending to occupy, leaving them nothing but burning embers and ashes. This happened in many towns, but that June 12, 1901, the delegates, heads of barrios, wealthy residents and other private individuals of the town of Mondragon met and decided to burn their own houses, including the municipal house( tribunal) and the hamlets Maquivalo and Bugco of this district, located near the sea, to prevent the Americans from taking possession of them. At 3:00 p. m. that day, the Americans took Catarman. On the morning of the next day, the residents of Mondragon burned down their town. 29
Unknown to the Americans, many local officials were loyal to the revolutionary cause even as they pretended friendship with them. One such town was Basey, where the Americans maintained a garrison starting on the 18 th of June that year. They arrived with 135 men commanded by a major, assisted by a captain and 2 lieutenants. Two days later, they held an election of local officials. Joaquin Cabañas became the presidente municipal, Felice Tabongar the jefe de justicia and Agapito Punsion jefe de rentas. A day later, Cabañas wrote the revolutionary headquarters to“ please tell the soldiers in the field about his true sentiments.” He said he did not recognize the American sovereignty and was still a staunch supporter of the revolutionary cause. 30
In another note, local chief Juan Colinares, whose name in the underground was‘ Sergio Robles,’ awaited the instructions on how
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