Fort Almonte, Mindanao Week of Peace Video Briefer

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FORT ALMONTE Script by Carino Antequisa Video by Boyet Codas Fort Almonte is located in Barangay East Liangan, Bacolod, Lanao del Norte. The fort is still visible with standing cracked walls. It was used as headquarters of the Americans and then the Japanese during World War II. In the 1960's and '70s, the fort become a favourite clandestine destination of treasure diggers who hoped to find gold beneath its stone floors and walls not realizing that the Fort itself is a treasure valuable than gold but can not be owned by anyone because it belongs to all of us. It is our common heritage. The Fort was constructed on the orders of Governor General Valeriano Weyler in 1891 after his campaigns in the Maranaos in the Lake Lanao region and the interior of present-day Lanao del Norte in 1891. Its construction began in 1892 and was completed few years later. In 1754-55, the Spanish Fleet of the Military District of Iligan was organized under the command of Fr. Jose Ducos, S.J. In 1762, all Spanish Forces in Mindanao were recalled to Manila to help in the defence of Manila against the invasion by the British. The defence of the Military District of Iligan was left to the hands of the natives. The reduction of the force of the Iligan-Panguil Fleet made it impossible to guard the whole Iligan Bay. They just become part of the defensive force of the forts in Iligan and Ozamiz. With this situation, the Maranao Moros together with the Maguinadanaos, Tausogs and Ilanons (Iranun), renewed there offensives against the Spanish controlled territories up to Apparri in northernmost part of Luzon. The renewed attacks were to last until the late 1880's. By 1889, the colonial government under the leadership of Gov. Gen. Valeriano Weyler (1888-1892) resolved that the only way to stop the raids by the Maranaos was to destroy their bases and communities in their own territories. Preparations for an all-out military campaign began in 1890 with the planning of the route from Iligan to Marawi. Gov. Gen. Weyler ordered a two pronged attacked against the Maranaos: one will commencing in the Illana Bay through Ganassi and another at Iligan Bay. This strategy was reminiscent to the strategy employed by Captain Francisco Atienza and Fr. Agustin de San Pedro in 1639. The struggle of the Moros at this time were led by the Maguindanao Datu Uto of Buayan (in present day Sultan Kudarat province), and the Maranao Sultans and Datus of Ganassi, Munai, Taraka, Masiu, Bacolod and Marahui. It is worthy to note that the Maranao Sultans was able to organize a strong navy fleet of more than hundred war boats capable of attacking the Visayas, Romblon and Luzon. The Maranaos were also aided by the Iranuns who were based in the Maganding area. (Possibly the present day Lala-Kapatagan-Karomatan region. More research has to be done on this.) In 1889, Spanish forces started landing in Parang and proceeded to Malabang and Baras in present-day Picong Municipality. The purpose of the advance force was to block the forces of Datu Utto from re-enforcing the Iranuns and the Maranaos. The Spanish forces started attacking Maranao and Iranun villages between Malabang and Ganassi. In 1890-1891, Spanish forces also landed in Iligan and started re-enforcing Fort Victoria in Iligan (in the present-day site of PNB-Iligan) and built smaller forts along the route to Fort Marahui. Meanwhile, the Maranaos and the Iranuns were also preparing for war. The Maranao fleet were largely based in Liangan River and the Panguil Bay region. While the Sultans of Ganassi and Munai commands a formidable fleet, the Sultan of Marawi can muster an army that has the capability to threaten and attack the fort of Iligan. In early 1891, a huge Maranao force attacked the coastal villages of Manticao, El Salvador and Pictao (probably the present day Alubijid). This renewed attacks prompted Weyler to send more troops and a fleet to Iligan and immediately commenced the campaign against the Sultanate of Marawi whose army was under the leadership of Datu Akadir Akobar also known as Amai Pakpak. The unit from Baras and Malabang attacked Ganassi while the unit in Iligan attacked Momongan and Pantar then proceeded to Marahui and joined forces with the troops that attacked Ganassi. After weeks of combat and with better weapons, the Spanish-Visayan troops were able to occupy the Fort Marahui on August 21, 1891. Amai Pakpak was able to escape from the heavy bombardment and the final assault of Fort Marahui. The occupation of Marawi was short because Maranao troops constantly harassed the occupation force and threatened their supply lines from Iligan. General Weyler decided to withdraw from Marawi and fortified the fort in Mumongan that was later named after him. To read the complete article, go to http://www.historicaljourney.org/briefer_almonte.html

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Category: Nonprofit
Uploaded: July 6th, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
Author: boyetcodas

Length: 05:50
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Views: 240

Tags: almonte bacolod del fort historical journey lanao mindanao norte of peace spanish week

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