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HISTORY (cont'd. page 2) During the Philippine Revolution, the people of Daet also figured prominently. On September 16, 1896, many Katipunan leaders and sympathizers were arrested and imprisoned by the Spaniards in Daet. In the final days of the Spanish regime, the Casino de los Españoles was encircled. It became the last and most bloody clash with the Spaniards in Daet. The Bikolanos eagerly waited for the arrival of General Lukban who finally arrived in September 1898. Before his arrival, the Spaniards from Daet fled to Mercedes and boarded the ship Serantes. At the time, the local ?insurrectos? were restless and itched for action. Ildefonso Moreno, unmindful of the risk to his life, gave the signal to attack. He died when a certain Arana fired his pistol in retaliation. During the battle, many of the Spaniards left for Mercedes. It was reported that they bayoneted the Filipino soldier they brought along with them before sailing for Iloilo. Two year later, on September 12, 1898, General Vicente Lucban took Daet from the Spaniards. Afterwards, he reorganized and established a revolutionary government in the province. Later, General Lukban turned over the reins of the provisional Philippine government to Don Valeriano Cuaño, municipal captain. He also assigned Capt. Antonio Sanz and a garrison force to defend Daet in case of Spanish reprisal. Don Antonio Sanz, sector commander and officer of the revolutionary forces, inspired the erection of the first monuments built in the Philippines in memory of Dr. Jose Rizal. This monument is found at the corner of Plaza Rizal Libertad of Daet. Unfortunately, the people of Daet forgot their own Bikolano hero, Jose Maria Panganiban, who died much earlier in Barcelona, Spain on August 19, 1880 (?). Other Filipino revolutionaries who were honored were Tomas Zaldua (last of the capitanes) and Jose Abaño. They were tortured for their refusal to reveal the plot to overthrow the Spanish government. A certain Don Aniceto was also burned alive in the public plaza of Daet together with six martyrs on Easter Sunday in April 1898. After two years, the American forces came and occupied the Bicol region on January 19, 1900. On March 4, 1900, the American forces, on board the Steamer Venus, arrive without any resistance. Two companies, under the command of General Bates, establish a garrison at the town proper. Antonio Sanz, the commander of the revolutionary force, surrendered as previously arranged in Camarines Sur (Daet was still under Ambos Camarines).
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