ILOILO CITY – The Capiz provincial government has unveiled the historical marker for the Siege of Panay, believed to be the bloodiest battle in the Visayas during the 1898 Philippine Revolution.
THE Siege of Panay historical marker is unveiled in Panay town, Capiz province. (Capiz Tourism and Cultural Affairs)
The marker was unveiled in the municipality of Panay on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
On May 1898, 4,000 poorly armed Capiznon revolutionaries led by Generals Esteban Contreras, Juan Arce, and Macario Lucso defended Panay from an estimated 1,000 Spanish colonial forces led by Gen. Diego delos Rios. One-hundred seventy-two Capiznon revolutionaries were killed in the four-hour battle.
The Siege of Panay historical marker was put up as part of the Project Mohon, a flagship program of the Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office headed by Al Tesoro installing markers celebrating local heritage sites, historic events, and significant personalities of Capiz.
Project Mohon is the provincial government’s collaboration with historian Dr. Vicente C. Villan, a Capiznon history professor at University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Villan wrote the text for the marker with Erwin Bonifacio.
Also present during the unveiling were Vice Gov. James Magbanua, Mayor Vicente Bermejo, local officials, and Atty. Luvim D. Amores of the Capiz Public Information Office.