Tambuling Batangas Publication April 23-30, 2019 Issue | Page 5

OPINYON
April 24-30, 2019
PNPA, one of the best changes that works
and to graduate as one, ito na iyong Academy, lagi lamang po nating
for women
pinakamalaking change na ibinigay tandaan iyong justice, integrity and
By Joy Gabrido
BEING one of the women who had
finished the race as a PNPA graduate
is the best change Sansiklab Class
Jail Inspector Karen Joy Tuviera has
achieved so far.

Relating to the theme, “We
Make Change Work for Women,” she
said: “Itong opportunity na ibinigay
sa amin to join the Philippine
National Police Academy (PNPA)
sa mga kababaihang kagaya ko
(Being given the opportunity to join
PNPA and graduate as one is the
biggest change given to us women).”

She even encouraged all
other women who are interested
to join PNPA to give it a try. With
determination and God’s guidance,
she said any woman can make it
through just like what she did.

“Sa lahat po ng graduates
ng Philippine National Police
service kung bakit kami pumasok
talaga dito sa loob. And serve the
public!”

As an empowered woman
and a privileged PNPA graduate, she
also challenged all her fellow PNPA
alumni to keep in mind the very
reason they entered the Academy,
which is to serve the Filipino people.

In a personal note, she
said her sister and her single parent
mother are proof that today’s women
have changed for the better, “Kaya
nilang gawin lahat nang kayang
gawin ng lahat ng mga kalalakihan
(They can do whatever men can do).”

Her Mom, Ava Tuviera,
was able to raise her and her siblings
well and support her in her dream of
becoming a uniformed civil servant
in spite of being a lone parent and
provider to their family.

Mom Ava said that her
daughter, Karen Joy, is selfless and
it is really her dream to serve the
country. “Ito na po iyong paraan para
makapaglingkod talaga, binigyan
siya ng Ama ng pagkakataon (This
is her way of serving, the Father
God gave her this opportunity),” she
expressed.

Ava also recounted that her
daughter had been through so much
as a PNPA cadet which has molded
her to be the woman she is now---
empowered as she was stregthened and enriched by her experiences in
the Academy.

This year’s batch is pegged
the PNPA class that has highly
manifested women empowerment
since 23 percent of the total number
of graduates were female. Female
cadets have increased over the past
years.

Aside from that, six
out of the 10 topnotchers of the
Sansiklab Class 2019 are women.
This goes to show that women are
continuously empowered in the only
law enforcement academy in the
country, the PNPA.The life of Jail
Officer Tuviera is one legitimate
testimony that our society is making
change work for their good. One of
the best changes is the increasing
number of uniformed women like her
who are serving the country with all
their strength, soul and heart. (Joy
Gabrido, PIA4A)
at the San Ramon Agricultural Farm.
The facility was intended for political
prisoners at that time. Today, it is called
the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm.

Pedro was chained and beaten
while doing heavy construction work.
The dreadful conditions drove Pedro to
organize a breath-taking escape with six
other inmates. While, unaware of the
immense troubles ahead, the band hastily
crossed the Basilan Strait on a stolen vinta 1904 at the age of 59. His Kris (Moro
sword) and his shotgun were buried along
with him as he wished.

His remains lie at the family
cemetery in Lamitan City, Basilan.
Founded by Pedro, it started as a
farming village populated by around
150 individuals in early 1880’s, based
on Spanish Jesuit priests’ records. The
natives call the village Sengal. It was
officially renamed Visita de San Pedro de
Datu Kalun :The Life-Journey
of Pedro Javier Cuevas
A tribute to his 174th birthday
JUST three weeks after Christmas Day,
on a Saturday evening the 20th January
of 1872, some ninety two (92) Filipino
artillerymen and marines staged a mutiny
at a coastal Spanish arsenal of Fort San
Felipe, Cavite Province. At the nearby
town of Bacoor, on the other hand,
hundreds of civilians gathered attempting
to get over to Fort San Felipe and join
the mutineers. What started as a military
revolt, turned out to be one of significant
general uprisings ever unfolded in the
history of the Philippines. One of those
who participated in the uprising was a
and the abuses by the authorities in their
attempt to rid Cavite and other Tagalog
provinces of rising anti-Spanish activities
were among the most disturbing of all.
These situations occurred during the
Period of Adolescence (1841-1872), a
period in Philippine history characterized
by uncertainties, and series of major
uprisings [Blair & Robertson, 1907]. This
period had one way or another shaped
Pedro’s life-journey, his character, as well
as his destiny.

At five, Pedro was enrolled
by his parents at the parochial school of
Datu Kalun (Pedro J Cuevas) with wife Uraya, a daughter and a servant girl
.circa 1888
Source: Mission to Mindanao (From Spanish Fr Pastelles) by Peter Schreurs
little-known young Caviteňo name Pedro
Javier Cuevas.

Born one hundred seventy
four (174) years ago in Ligas, Bacoor
Municipality, Cavite Province on May
6, 1845, Pedro spent his early days at
his father’s farm in Bacoor, where one
of the biggest Spanish friars’ estates, the
Hacienda de San Nicholas was located.
His parents were devout Catholics, and
raised their children in a disciplined way. It
was from them that Pedro and his siblings
learned the importance of discipline, hard
work, and a strong devotion on faith.

Growing up in a place almost
entirely owned by Spanish friars was no
easy for Pedro. The political instability, as
well as the Spanish friars’ activities had
caused discontent to many inhabitants
including Pedro’s family and relatives.
The unjust land-claimed by the Spanish
friars over vast area of Cavite; the polo
y servicio (a system of forced-labor);
Bacoor. One of his teachers was Filipino
priest Fr Mariano Gomez, parish priest
of the town. Fr. Gomez (August 2,
1799-Februar 17, 1872) who was known
for his kindness to each one of his
parishioners was the officiating priest in
the baptism of Pedro’s mother, Gregoria,
as well as his sisters, Juana and Maria.

Pedro was a hardworking boy.
He would help his father tend the farm
in his free time. Early in his schooldays,
young Pedro was punished by a Spanish
priest for insolence. The gloomy
conditions troubled Pedro’s young mind
and caused him to lose interest in his
studies. He quit school at twelve, and
helped his father on the family farm. Pedro
loved farming, and learned so many things
from it. Fr Gomez convinced him to go
back to school for he was an intelligent
boy, but Pedro was no longer interested.

Aside from farming, Pedro
fell ardently interested in Filipino martial
Datu Kalun(4th from left) with US General Bates to his right on the catwalk of USS Charleston. Picture was taken in August 1899.
arts , Arnis . The sports emphasizes
in bare-hand, stick and sword/knife
combat. A natural fighter, he excelled and
through his uncle’s teachings, Pedro was
acclaimed Arnis champion of Bacoor at
age seventeen, the youngest ever to hold
the title.

Just as he turned sixteen in
May 1861, Pedro was drafted into the polo
y servicio. Resentment on the system was
prevalent, and so with several young men,
Pedro refused to sign up. The unrelenting
chaotic environment pushed Pedro and
some young fellow Caviteňos to embroil
in anti-Spanish activities. And at twenty
seven, he participated in the unsuccessful
general revolt, known today in Philippine
history as the Cavite Uprising of January
1872. The failed unrest led to the
execution of Filipino priests, Fathers
Gomez (Pedro’s former teacher), Burgos,
and Zamora (GomBurZa). This incident
stirred Jose Rizal, in later years, to write
the El Filibusterismo in memory of the
three martyred Filipino priests.

Hunted
down
by
the
authorities, Pedro fled and hid in the
highlands of Cavite. Unable to capture
him, the authorities punished his parents
and sisters instead and put them under
house arrest. Pedro surrendered, and
was sentenced to life in prison. He was
conveyed to Zamboanga and incarcerated
(boat), and landed at the nearby jungle-
covered island of Basilan; only to realize
that three hostile forces were waiting
for them ---the Spanish authorities, Sulu
fighters, and Yakan warriors.

Armed with nothing but
sheer abilities, courage and stamina,
Pedro, together with his surviving five
courageous, but worn-down companions,
opted to face the threats head-on in their
absolute desire to live and survive.

Pedro’s hardest and painful
journey in life had just started. His
unwavering determination to survive
paved the path leading to his destiny.
After years of relentless struggles, and
against overwhelming odds, Pedro by
a twist of fate was bestowed the title of
a datu , and assumed the name of a foe
whom he defeated in a duel. He was then
proclaimed Datu Kalun of Basilan.

Datu
Kalun’s
leadership
unified the diverse culture, faith,
and tribes of Basilan. His reign was
marked by several reforms: agriculture
development, and the formation as well
as the implementation of resilient law &
order in Basilan were among the most
noticeable. His rugged and strenuous life
had nevertheless caught up and drained
him of vigor. Pedro’s health gradually
deteriorated. He lost battle against
pulmonary decease, and died on July 16,
Gubawan on April 24, 1885 by Captain
General of the Philippine Islands, Emilio
Terrero y Perinat, and later given a new
name, Lamitan. Today it as a growing city
of around 70,000 population.

Datu Kalun was succeeded
by his nephew and son-in-law, Gabino
Cuevas Pamaran known as Datu
Murusalon. Since his death up until
today, Pedro’s descendants continue to
play a significant role in the development
of Lamitan and Basilan as a whole.The
Cuevas-Pamaran-Antonio-Flores Clan of
Basilan, descended from Pedro J Cuevas,
and from his relatives who migrated to
Basilan in the late 1880’s.

Pedro’s
life-journey
is
immortalized in the recently published
book, KALUN: A Basilan Odyssey. It
was launched at the University of Samar
in Catbalogan City last October 25,
2018, under the auspices of Philippine
National Historical Society. The book
is based on his interview in 1903 and
sources from the National Archives of the
Philippines, Spanish Jesuit Missionary
letters, unpublished articles, and several
other books. The book will allow the
readers to experience the journey in the
life and struggles of Pedro Javier Cuevas,
better known as Datu Kalun of Basilan.
---Edwin Flores Pamaran
Top picture seated from left to right: Maharajah Guinto, Panglima Musah (Cayetano Pamaran), Datu Kalun (Pedro J Cuevas) , Datu
Mandi, and Panglima Buayah. Circa 1903.