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Pedro Javier Cuevas | |
|---|---|
 Pedro Javier Cuevas, aka Datu Kalun | |
| Born | 1845/05/06 Bacoor, Cavite |
| Died | 1904/07/16 Basilan, Lamitan |
| Other names | Datu Kalun |
Pedro Javier Cuevas
[edit]Introduction
[edit]In today's world, our impression of individuals who have faced and triumphed over various trials in life, willingly accepting their fates, often seems almost mythical. This sentiment rings particularly true in the case of Pedro J. Cuevas’s life story.
His journey mirrors the struggles of Papillon and the adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Cuevas confronted numerous challenges, from his early years in Cavite to his exile and harsh treatment at the Zamboanga penal farm, culminating in the grueling tests he faced in Basilan. Despite enduring profound psychological, emotional, and physical hardships, Cuevas emerged victorious, driven solely by his will to survive.
His life is an extraordinary tale of courage and resilience, with Basilan representing the pinnacle of his legendary journey and remarkable achievements.
Early life
[edit]Pedro J. Cuevas was born in Bacoor, Cavite, on May 6, 1845, to parents Sebastian Cuevas and Gregoria Javier. His birth year coincided with significant social unrest characterized by the friars’ expansive and often unjust land claims, alongside the authorities’ imposition of polo y servicio, a system of mandatory forced labor. This combination of factors contributed to widespread civil discontent among the populace. The period during which Pedro grew up is referred to in Philippine history as the Period of Uncertainties (1841-1872), a time marked by socio-political upheaval and bitterness against colonial administrations. The populace was generally unhappy..[1][2][3]
In 1852, when Cuevas was just seven years old, his parents enrolled him in a parochial school in Bacoor. His teacher was Fr. Mariano Gomez, a Filipino priest who was part of a group of three priests known as GomBurZa, who would later become martyrs. The school and surrounding community conditions were harsh, and young Cuevas disliked the Spanish authorities and friars all the more. Unfortunately, this got him in trouble with a Spanish priest, who punished him for insolence. [1][2]
In 1857, at 12, confused and disheartened, the young boy left school and helped his parents with the farm and household chores. He was a hard-working boy and intelligent. During this time, he developed a keen interest in the Filipino martial art of Arnis. Quick to pick up new skills, he soon became proficient in self-defense. Cuevas showcased remarkable agility, skillful hand movements, and precise footwork, which helped him win several competitions. He was a born fighter. By 17, he was the youngest Arnis champion in Bacoor. His love for the sport drove him to continue training and competing until he reached mastery. In the following years, his military service and later involvement in anti-Spanish activities sharpened his combat skills even further, making him confident in one-on-one encounters and dueling. [1][2]
In the 1860s, growing resentment toward the Spanish authorities continued among the local population. Cuevas was arrested, along with several others, for refusing to comply with **polo y servicio**, a mandatory forced labor. In the ensuing years, like many able-bodied young men, he was conscripted into the Army, where he ultimately rose to the rank of Corporal. It is believed that he either deserted or was discharged from the Army, after which he formed a small group of five individuals who participated in anti-Spanish activities, which the authorities labeled as "tulisanes".[1][4][5]
In February 1872, Cuevas participated in a significant uprising called the 1872 Cavite Uprising. He was accused of being involved in the death of a Spanish officer from the Guardia Civil, a local police force. To avoid being captured, Cuevas hid in the mountainous areas of Cavite. However, in retaliation for his actions, the authorities placed his entire family under house arrest. His parents and sisters were punished. Eventually, he decided to surrender and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was sent to the San Ramon Agricultural Farm in Zamboanga, a newly created penal farm intended for political prisoners, where he faced harsh conditions, including being chained up and receiving severe beatings from the prison guards [6][7][8][9].
Struggles in Zamboanga
[edit]In 1873, he led a successful revolt and escaped from the sprawling penal farm; three Spanish prison officials died in the process. He and six other escapees found a temporary haven in the Ayala mountain range in Zamboanga.[7][10]
Final Destination- Basilan
[edit]In 1874, Cuevas and five companions who survived an ordeal crossed the Basilan Strait on a vinta.
Between 1874 and 1882, Cuevas encountered numerous challenges but ultimately emerged as a notable leader in Basilan. He displayed impressive skills in both strategy and diplomacy while navigating challenging circumstances. He formed a mutual alliance with several village chieftains, converted to Islam, and married the daughter of a revered elder Yakan chieftain of Balagtasan village. He assumed a leadership position following the passing of his father-in-law, solidifying his leadership. This event marked the gradual unification of the Yakan tribe.
Among Cuevas's various challengers, Panglima Calon distinguishes himself as a formidable chieftain with a significant following and extensive territorial influence. In a public duel, Cuevas emerged victorious. The origins of Panglima Calon remain ambiguous, with differing accounts regarding his background. Arnold Henry Landor, who interviewed Cuevas in 1903, suggested that Calon hailed from Sulu. Conversely, Governor Romero of Isabela de Basilan stated in his Memoir of 1893 that Calon was a respective and prominent figure from Jolo, having been sent by the Sultan. Furthermore, Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera, in a letter dated 1880, described Calon as a prominent chieftain in Basilan. Nevertheless, by local tradition, Cuevas adopts the name of his defeated opponent, acquiring the rights to Calon’s followers and lands. This significant event represents a turning point consolidating Cuevas’s leadership in Basilan.
In 1882, Spain granted Cuevas a pardon for his remarkable leadership in defending Isabela Town from a siege by approximately 400-500 Sulu raiders. This successful defense, which took place around 1878 or 1879, was achieved with 25 deserters and hundreds of loyal Yakan followers [1][2][11][12][13]
In 1882, Cuevas and his second wife established his main encampment and residence in Sengal, a Yakan farming village. Eleven of his co-pardoned associates also chose to accompany him and settled in nearby villages.[14]
On April 24, 1885, Captain General Emilio Terrero y Perinat officially renamed Sengal to Visita de San Pedro de Gubawan.[9][15]
By 1886, Cuevas was appointed Teniente Absoluto of San Pedro de Gubawan.[16][17]
In 1887, Datu Aliudin of Sulu granted Cuevas the title of Datu, and he subsequently adopted the name Kalun. [14][17]
Legacy and Diplomacy
[edit]Datu Kalun's diplomacy was evident in his peaceful resolution of conflicts among his constituents and his relationships with influential Moro leaders in neighboring Zamboanga province, Sulu Archipelago, and Maguindanao region. He was a key figure during the American occupation, fostering cooperation and ensuring regional stability.
In December 1898, Spain capitulated, leaving Isabela Town without a governing body. At the invitation of the town's residents, Datu Kalun traveled from San Pedro de Gubawan, present-day Lamitan City, to establish a provisional government. On January 15, 1899, he was elected as the "Jefe" or Chief of the Provisional Government of Isabela Town.
On August 2, 1899, he met with U.S. Brigadier General John C. Bates aboard the USS Charleston off the coast of Basilan. This meeting occurred during Bates' negotiations for peace with Moro leaders in the South. Kalun's discussions with General Bates helped facilitate a peaceful transition of power to the American administration of Isabela Town, along with the Naval station and Fort Isabella II, in December 1899.
Death and Succession
[edit]On a fateful Saturday, July 16, 1904, Pedro Javier Cuevas, also known as Datu Kalun, finally lost his battle with a long-standing illness at the age of fifty-nine. Following an election by the island's elders and chieftains, his nephew and future son-in-law, Gabino Cuevas Pamaran, succeeded him and was subsequently crowned as Datu Mujammat Murusalun. Datu Kalun was buried at the Cuevas Family Cemetery in Lamitan.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Behrens, Dietlinde (1987). DATU' KALUN. Summer Institute of Linguistics - Philippines. ISBN 9711800527.
- ^ a b c d Pamaran, Edwin Flores (2018). Kalun: A Basilan Odyssey. Pantas. ISBN 9786219583510.
- ^ Blair, Emma Helen; Robertson, James Alexander (1907). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898: explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century, Volume LII, 1841–1898. Vol. LII.
- ^ "Cavite, Erección de Pueblos, 1823-1864". SDS 13980. National Archives of the Philippines.
- ^ "Mindanao y Sulu, 1861-1898". SDS 9346. National Archives of the Philippines.
- ^ Pastells, Pablo (1994). Mission to Mindanao, 1859-1900: From the Spanish of Pablo Pastells, S.J. Translated by Schreurs, Peter. San Carlos Publications, University of San Carlos. ISBN 9789711000639.
- ^ a b Foreman, John (1899). The Philippine Islands: A Political, Geographical, Ethnographical, Social and Commercial History of the Philippine Archipelago and Its Political Dependencies, Embracing the Whole Period of Spanish Rule. C. Scribner's sons.
- ^ "Zamboanga Governor Iglesias letter, Mindanao y Sulu, 1861-1898" (August 2, 1880). SDS 9346. National Archives of the Philippines.
- ^ a b Mallari, Francisco (1977). The exploits of a Christian Caviteno datu. Solidaridad Publishing House.
- ^ "Pedro Cuevas’s letter, Mindanao y Sulu, 1861-1898" (July 1880). SDS 9346. National Archives of the Philippines.
- ^ "Memoria, Governor Marquez de Estraella" (March 1, 1883). SDS. National Archive of the Philippines.
- ^ "Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera’s letter, Mindanao y Sulu, 1861-1898" (July 31, 1880). SDS 9346. National Archives of the Philippines.
- ^ "Fr. Pedro Llaussas, SJ's letter" (September 26, 1881). Memoria de Ysabela de Basilan por el Gobernador Jose Romero 28 Mayo 1895. National Archives of the Philippines.
- ^ a b Arcilla, José S., ed. (1998). Jesuit Missionary Letters from Mindanao: The Zamboanga-Basilan-Joló. Vol. 2. University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies, National Historical Institute, the UP Press. ISBN 9789717420462.
- ^ Medina, Isagani R. La Madre de Los Ladrones: Tulisanismo in Cavite in the Nineteenth Century. University of the Philippines.
- ^ "Rafael Cabezas. Governor. 1888. Memoria de Basilan 1887-1893". SDS 13762. National Archive of the Philippines.
- ^ a b "Francisco Vasquez Perez de Vargas, 1893. Memorias de Basilan 1887-1893". SDS 13762. National Archive of the Philippines.