CDAO Participates in the 2009 Wagayway Grand Parade

The Community Development Assistance Office (CDAO) of Imus, Cavite participated in this year's Wagayway Festival Grand Parade held in Poblacion on March 23, 2009. The CDAO Team also acted as mobilizers of the participating groups. Order is as follows:

GROUP 1: Marshall, ITMO/Kabalikat Civic Com/ CDAO, Cavite Explorer's Club, One Caviteno, Star Couriers Riders Association and Corporation, Cavite Crime Watch, Easy Rider Motorcycle Group, Circus Performers

GROUP 2: Banda Kabataan #1, Philippine Flag and Imus Flag Bearer, Cadet Officer Escorts, Wagayway Banner, One Kamalig, Taekwondo/ Karate-do Group, Imus Sports Council and Players

GROUP 3: Anabu Group of Citizens Drum and Lyre, IMUS Club, Imus Haligue Jaycees, Imus Business Club, Imus Bankers Association, Imus Lions Club, Pantogis Club, Pugad Lawin, Rotary Club of Imus, Carabaos Club, United Cavite Mountaineers, Inc., IBAC, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Family, Imus United Doctors - OLPMC

GROUP 4: Federation of Imus Tricycle Operators, Inc., PISMODA, CAPAGPA, IPMTODA, BIDA, BACIMUDA, SAKAY NA, RIMUDA, IZUMUDA, MULTI VAN

GROUP 5: PNU Rondalla Ensemble, MSWDO - Day Care, Imus Cooperative, Senior Citizen, Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas, FIHAI, Legian Subdivision

GROUP 6: Cachapero School-drum and Lyre and Delegates, Servants of God Ministry, Couples for Christ, The Church of the Latter Day Saints, Imus Youth Leadership Devt Program

GROUP 7: Imus Pilot School Drum and Lyre 2, Teachers from District 1, Teachers from District 2, Imus National High School, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldom High School

GROUP 8: COM Star Ati-atihan, Asosasyon ng Ulirang Ina sa Cavite, Pagsulong ng Lahing Pilipino, Aktibong Galaw ng Mamamayan, Maliksing Hanapbuhay Movement, Kilusang Kababaihan ng Kabite, A-Star Foundation, Inc., Pag-asa Youth Association, FIRM

GROUP 9: GEANHS Drum and Lyre 3, SK Federation, Liga ng mga Barangay

GROUP 10: Spirit of San Nicolas Drum and Bugle, Flag Society of the Philippines, Flag Evolution Streamer, Evolution Flag Entourage

GROUP 11: Delegates from Bulacan, 8 Provinces Float, 3 Stars Banner, Guest-artists riding in Calesas-Chynna Ortaleza - Luzon, Raiza Cenon - Visayas, Quennie Padilla - Mindanao

GROUP 12: San Jose Druma nd Bugle Corps, 3 Colors of the Flag, Imus Institute, White Banner, White Flag, Del Pilar Academy, Blue Banner, Blue Flag

GROUP 13: Boyscouts, Imus Unida Christian School, Red Banner, Red Flag, Jesus Good Shepherd School, Scout Masters

GROUP 14: BJMP, BFP, Cavite PNP

GROUP 15: Banda Kabataan 2, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Riding in a Horse (Coun. Aguinaldo), 60 ft Flag, Mayor, Vice-Mayor, SB, Municipal Department Heads and Employees

GROUP 16: Marcela Agoncillo Float - Ms. Jaclyn Jose, Flag Dancers, Mobile Audio, Marshall, ITMO/Kabalikat CivicCom/ CDAO

The event was one of the highlights of the opening events of the 2009 Wagayway festival with the theme "Isang Bansa, Isang Bandila, Isang Wagayway." Prior to the parade a Thanksgiving Mass was held at Imus Cathedral, followed by the inaguration of the new Gen. Licerio Topacio Plaza and the re-enactment of the Battle of Alapan.

Battle of Alapan Re-enactment

Once again, for its second year, the Wagayway Festival featured the re-enactment of the Battle of Alapan dubbed as "ENCUENTRO" Imusenos witnessed the LOUD explosions of gunpowder and intermittent cries of “Fuego! (Fire!)” and “Sugod, mga kapatid! (Charge!)” on May 23, 2009 at the newly inagurated Gen. Licerio Topacio Plaza.

Filipino revolutionary forces defeated some 270 Spanish marines in the five-hour Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898. For the first time, the Philippine flag was unfurled by Aguinaldo.“This flag is the one we will unfurl and wave in our approaching and longed for freedom. And this will be the symbol of our country today and till the next generation. Long live our freedom! Long live the Republic of the Philippines!” the actor who performed Aguinaldo’s role in Saturday’s celebration said in Filipino.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

By May 1898, the army had about 12,000 troops. The battle of Alapan was Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's first victory after returning from overseas (Singapore) on May 19, 1898. The Alapan I Elementary School now stands on the site of the battle.The Filipino national flag was hoisted for the first time after the victory in Alapan.

The flag was unfurled by Aguinaldo at the Teatro Caviteno in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City) on May 28 before victorious Filipino revolutionists and more than 270 captured Spanish marines. A large group of officers and men of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron under Admiral George Dewey witnessed the unfurling ceremony. The flag was designed by General Emilio Aguinaldo and sewn at 535 Morrison Hill, Hong Kong by Mrs. Marcela Marino Agoncillo - wife of the first Filipino Diplomat, Felipe Agoncillo, with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa Natividad, niece of Dr. Jose P. Rizal and wife of Gen. Salvador Natividad.

A Filipino Army battalionGeneral Aguinaldo said of that encounter: "There it was that the first engagement of the Revolution of 1898 took place. The battle raged from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon, when the Spaniards ran out of ammunition and surrendered, with all their arms, to the Filipino revolutionists, who took their prisoners to Cavite.

In commemoration of this glorious achievement, I hoisted our National Flag in the presence of a great crowd, who greeted it with tremendous applause and loud, spontaneous and prolonged cheers for independence."General Leopoldo Garcia Pena, the Spanish military commander of Cavite with 2,800 Spanish troops scattered in various detachments in Cavite Province, was hardpressed by the combined forces of Generals Luciano San Miguel, Mariano Noriel, Artemio Ricarte and Juan Cailles who have between them about 6,000 - 8,000 troops.A column of 500 infantrymen was rushed from Manila to reinforce Pena but was crushed by another combined force in Laguna under Generals Paciano Rizal and Pio del Pilar. By nightfall of May 31, the whole province of Cavite fell into the hands of the revolutionaries. General Pena himself and his surviving troops were made prisoners. (http://philippine-revolution.110mb.com/)

New Gen. Licerio Topacio Plaza Inaguration

The new Imus Public Plaza named in honor of Gen. Licerio Topacio was formally inagurated on May 23, 2009 by Governor Ayong Maliksi, Congressman Pidi Barzaga, Mayor Manny Maliksi and Hon. Kim Kyu Bae, mayor of the County of Yeocheon of Geyeonggi province of the Republic of South Korea.

The new Gen. Licerio Topacio Plaza is one of the legacy projects of Mayor Manny Maliksi and the Municipal Council featuring Gen. Licerio Topacio’s monument with two artilleries which stands there since 1930. Though modern in design, the park is a clear statement of Imus’ past, present and future. A historical display of monument from Imus’ heroes to its 13 martyrs, the spacious park looks like a big waving flag from above.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Licerio Topacio (b. August 27,1839-d. April 19,1925) was a revolutionary leader and hero of Imus, Cavite. It was Topacio who was originally offered to take the presidency of the Revolutionary Government, but instead of accepting the said position, he wholeheartedly nominated his provincemate, Emilio Aguinaldo in the Imus Convention in 1897.

Since then, Topacio had been the constant adviser of Aguinaldo, especially regarding decision-making, and was thought to be Aguinaldo's only companion who can boost the general's morale.
Topacio, during the revolutionary government, was appointed ministro de formento in the cabinet whose role was to formulate military tactics and strategies and to supervise the army in the battlefield. As a high-ranking Filipino rebel official, he was responsible in building the fortification of the Zapote Bridge in Zapote, Cavite. The said bridge was used during the Battle of Zapote Bridge in February 1897, under the leadership of Gen. Edilberto Evangelista. He was designated General of the revolution because of his outstanding achievements and valor in the revolutionary movement.

Licerio Topacio was one of the earliest member of Katipunan upon the organization's introduction in Cavite. He was among the members who encouraged Andres Bonifacio to wage a revolution against abusive Spaniards.

Being a product of Cavite, Topacio was honored by the municipal council by renaming the town's plaza to General Licerio Topacio. (source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/)