In celebration of the 123rd municipal founding anniversary of Montalban, Rizal, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Municipal Government of Montalban recently unveiled two historical markers related to the town’s pivotal role in the 1896 Philippine Revolution.
The first marker is the establishment of the Gobierno Departamental Del Centro De Luzon (Departamental Government of Central Luzon) which oversaw the revolutionary organizations in Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Morong.
Established on May 13, 1897, it was headed by priest Pedro Dandan, Anastacio Francisco as vice president, with cabinet secretaries Teodoro Gonzales, Cipriano Pacheco, Paciano Rizal, and Feliciano Jocson.
The second marker is the Battle of Mt. Puray which immortalizes the victory of Filipino revolutionary forces under generals Emilio Aguinaldo and Licerio Geronimo against a much-bigger Spanish force commanded by Lt. Col. Felipe Dujiols.
Fought on June 14, 1897, the battle broke the momentum of the Spanish military advance and allowed the Filipinos to reorganize in San Miguel, Bulacan where they established the Republic of Biak na Bato, sued for cessation of combat under a peace treaty, and prepared for the second phase of the Revolution in 1898.
The historical landmarks are located in the upland barangay of Puray, a Dumagat tribal village 15 kilometers away from the town proper near the foot of the mountain where the battle took place.
During the event, Montalban’s municipal tourism and cultural affairs office (MTCAO) premiered the video documentary “Tagumpay sa Puray” which featured the Republica Filipina Reenactment Group (RFRG) as the conflicting forces.
The unveiling ceremonies are part of the month-long Montalban Festival which celebrates the town’s rich history, culture, and adventure destinations.
Montalban was established in 1871 as a pueblo as part of the Spanish-era Manila province, was later incorporated in 1901 into the newly-created Rizal province, and reorganized as a municipality in 1909.