|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 10, 2008 20:29:28 GMT -5
www.elgrancapitan.org/foro/viewtopic.php?t=7416Okay, I don't speak or read Spanish but I kinda felt this would be useful and interesting! "UNIFORMES EN FILIPINAS Con el fin de combatir el bandolerismo que asolaba el archipielago en 1868 se aprobo la formación de un Tercio de GC en la isla de Luzon, con ocho compañias y un total de 1.000 hombres de los cuales 824 eran indigenas .Debido a su exito se creo uno mas. En 1872 para sustituir a los diferentes e inoperantes Cuerpos de Seguridad existentes en la capital Manila se organizaba la GC Veterana estando compuesta por un capitan, seis tenientes , seis alfereces, 12 sargentos , 12 cabos , 72 Guardias 1º. 250 Guardias 2º, contando una fracción de Caballeria al mando de un sargento. Suboficiales y tropa eran indigenas. Esta tropa se mantuvo hasta su perdida en 1898 Guardia Civil Indigena en uniforme de servicio en campaña 1897-98 Coronel de la Guardia Civil uniforme de diario 1889 Cabo Segundo de la Guardia Civil Veterana de Manila 1897-98" and "Algunas apostillas complementarias a las figuras: La Guardia Civil de Filipinas contaba en 1898 con 3 Tercios: 23 Tercio, con cabecera en Manila,Luzon, cubria el sur y centro de Luzon, con 52 oficiales y 1.093 guardias 24 Tercio ,con cabecera en Zamboanga, Mindanao,cubria la Isla de Mindano y las Visayas( Cebu,Panay,Mindoro, Leyte, Samar, Negros, etc) con 57 oficiales y 1.260 guardias 25 Tercio con cabecera en Nueva Escija, Isla de Luzon, cubria el norte de Luzon, con 47 oficiales y 1.000 guardias La Guardia Civil Veterana de Manila, encargada del orden publico en la capital, contaba con 15 oficiales y 325 Guardias." (Wow, Luzon had two whole regiments/tercios of GC's one for Manila and the south and one for Nueva Ecija and the North! Funny how there were only less than a hundred officers yet some 2000 Pinoy guardias!) Salutes, Tom
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 10, 2008 21:54:09 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 10, 2008 22:17:09 GMT -5
And the Guardia Civil Website which has dioramas - including one entitled Filipinas 1894 (interestingly it shows a nice little rural scene where the alferez is offered some water by the loyal people) - and uniforms and stuff. www.guardiacivil.es/Enjoy! Tom
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 10, 2008 22:23:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by VeeVee on Mar 10, 2008 22:49:47 GMT -5
Great illustrations! Thanks for posting. I may be able to have some specific captions translated later. Welcome to the forum. -victor
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 10, 2008 23:52:32 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 16, 2008 4:08:32 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 17, 2008 22:02:35 GMT -5
|
|
agmohio
New Member
?Viva Espa?a!
Posts: 37
|
Post by agmohio on Mar 29, 2008 19:21:40 GMT -5
Thought I would post some photos of an original Guardia Civil Veterana Tunic and Treseiana for everyone's enjoyment. I am adding more photos of this uniform to my website. Please stop by and visit. www.agmohio.com/LRgcv.htm
|
|
|
Post by VeeVee on Mar 29, 2008 21:34:19 GMT -5
Nice website. Thanks for sharing. Sometimes the story behind acquiring the articles are as interesting as their history! How did you get your hands on these?
|
|
agmohio
New Member
?Viva Espa?a!
Posts: 37
|
Post by agmohio on Mar 30, 2008 2:25:28 GMT -5
Hello VeeVee, I am glad you like the website. It will turn into a book in a few years. At least that is my plan. Come back often as I add new things all the time. There is a story behind the Guardia Civil Veterana uniform. About 10 years ago a partner and I were buying a collection of WWI uniforms in Nashville, TN. During the course of the deal I mentioned to the seller that my collecting passion was for the uniforms and equipment of the Spanish Army during the late colonial period, better known to us all as the Spanish American War. He got a big smile on his face and said, “I’ve got something you’ll want!”. After digging around a bit he produced a very dirty and badly mothed blue and red tunic and trousers. I knew it was Spanish and of the period, but was not sure exactly what branch it was from. It was wadded up and looked like Hell. One shoulder cord was loose and three of the four “GCV” cyphered buttons were missing, but it was Spanish and I was determined to have it. My partner wanted me to put it in the nearest dumpster so that it wouldn’t infect the WWI uniforms we were spending real money on. I asked the owner how much and after a long and loud laugh, he said “It’s yours, just take it and get it out of here”. I was on cloud 9, my partner just kept on laughing. When I got home I started during some research. It didn’t take too long to find the uniform’s identity in La Guardia Civil: Su Historia, Orgnizacion y Sus Uniformes by Bueno. Having identified the uniform as that of the Guardia Civil Veterana de Manila there was little to do but give it a careful cleaning, stabilized the damage and end the life of the moth larva. In the mean time, about two years ago, I set up a Spanish uniform display at the TMCA military collector’s show near Nashville. A gentleman came by and noted that he had some kind of Spanish kepi or shako and would I be interested in it. Naturally, I said “Yes!”. As the show is held twice a year and our meeting was at the end of the last day, we agreed to meet back at the next show in six months. I did not see him again for a year and a half. Now, back to the uniform. I had searched every flea market button dealer in eight states looking for “GCV” buttons to restore the tunic with no luck. Then, one day about three months ago I was looking over the internet store of a French button dealer that I had some success with in the past buying Spanish buttons and insignia. There, just newly listed were four “GCV” small size cyphred buttons, all I needed with one to spare. I bought them and was able to finally restore the tunic, at least partially, to its former glory. So, two weeks ago I am back at the TMCA Spring show and the long lost Spanish shako guy shows up. He brings in a box and pulls out a dirty, beat up oilcloth kepi with the visor about to fall off. I love it! The first thing I see are the “GCV” buttons! I say, ”Isn’t take odd. 10 years ago I got a GCV uniform here in Nashville and now a Teresiana shows up. The seller then asks me where I got the uniform. I told him the name of the fellow and he said, “Oh, sure, I know him. He was at the same sale where I got this cap. The uniform and cap came together but the auctioneer broke them up.”. Needless to say, I was overjoyed. Not only had I got the ‘Spanish cap’ I had given up on, but it was the very one that had been souvenired by a nameless Tennessee veteran of the battle for Manila all those years ago. They are now reunited after over 10 years apart. How’s that for collector’s karma? Hope you liked the story. Bill
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Mar 30, 2008 22:30:20 GMT -5
Hello there Agmohio so glad to have you here! I saw your site on Los Rayodillos when I was doing some research on the Guardia Civil and Philippine Revolutionary uniforms and it is awesome!! Quite honoured that you yourself are here!
The GCV is actually one re-enactment impression I'd like to work on with my friends - just a quick bit of background, I cosplay with the local Pirates of the Caribbean group as Commodore Norrington and my ward, who's a young teen cosplays my redcoat marine guard. However I've been wanting to do more historical costumes for the longest time and some of those I've worked on include Peter the Great at Poltava, the East India Company and the conquest of Manila 1762, Scottish highlander of the Black Watch 1745 and the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot at Rorke's Drift - Perry saw me in this last saturday. As you can see from the list, I don't mind playing 'the bad guy' hehe, (we have more fun!)
I'd also like to work on uniforms for a Guardia Civil Alferez (played by me) and one or more 'indio' soldiers (played by my ward and his friends) and indeed I'm planning to throw together a quick impression based on the uniform I saw in the recent Osprey book on the Spanish American War w/c shows 2 Guardia Civil soldiers in full dress accoutrements with an 'aeta rebel'. Indeed these photos above are 'heaven sent' so to speak - I've got about a week before I fly out to LA and I hope to wear it on June 12th during the Philippine Independence Day parade in LA.
A few quick questions...
1) The full dress uniform had sardinetas on the cuffs as well as the collar - would these be attached by hook and eyes (ie. removable) d'ya think? 2) Are the facing colours orange or red or somewhere in between - the sketches I've seen indicate red but the photos you posted show orange? 3) The full dress photo indicates red (orange?) broad loops (sardinetas) on the breast. Would these again be removable? 4) The 'Teresiana' would be made of oilcloth in black and the visor would be black as well, right? I'm wondering if I should just wear a buri (straw) hat in case I don't get to finish it. 5) Would all GC/GCV have pocket flaps? 6) Since they're probably not gonna let me into LAX with a bolo (aka the 'Machete Tagalog') I'm thinking I'll get one of these plastic pirate cutlass toys and fix it up to look right hehehe. Also, so I look REALLY mean, I'll either cut me a long leather whip or a cat-o-nine tails so I'm as nasty as the ones in the Rizal stories!
Yeah, the infamous Guardia Civil that every schoolboy in the Philippines (hopefully!) has heard about, the villains of Noli & Fili. Not many people remember that a lot of them (hinted at in El Fili, when Tano/Carolino gets drafted into it) were Filipino soldiers too.
More power to you agmohio! Hopefully by next year the Guardia Civil (SNARL!) will march once more (actually the Filipino living history group BnK does have a guardia civil impression already but reinforcements are always good - numbers are impressive!)
Now if only we could get those rolling block Remingtons...
Salutes, Tom
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Apr 1, 2008 6:28:49 GMT -5
The photos in question:
|
|
agmohio
New Member
?Viva Espa?a!
Posts: 37
|
Post by agmohio on Apr 2, 2008 1:12:55 GMT -5
Hi Tom, Thanks for your kind words about the Los Rayadillos website. It is always nice to know your work is appreciated. I will try to answer some of your questions quickly. I will be the first to tell you that I don't have all the answers, but I will do my best.
1. The troops in the first photo are Civil Guard, not GCV. I believe they are in a dress uniform that predates the 1887 regulations. The revolutionary period uniforms had no sardinetas that I know of, except for those on the collars of the Veteranas. The cuffs and collars, in theory, were removable. However, on my original uniform they are not, or at least not easily removed. In other Spanish uniforms I have seen the colored cuffs buttoned on, hook and eyed on, and loosely sewn on, take your pick. Sewn on is the most common.
2. The cuffs and collar are red, not orange. Different monitors will show color differently. Even though the uniforms are cotton, all the colored collars and cuffs I have examined (a lot!) are made of wool backed in cotton to match the uniform.
3. I don't think the post 1887 uniforms would have had the chest braid.
4. The Teresiana is made of black oilcloth covering a canvas drill base stiffened with shellac. The visor is made of tortoise shell, a common feature of military caps made in the Philippines during this period. I think your best option is to buy one of the copies of the British Zulu war white pith helmet. There are a number of them for sale on ebay all the time. Just type in "pith helmet" into the search in militaria. Most are well made and not badly priced.
5. All the post 1887 tunics seem to have breast pockets with flaps.
6. As for the machete, partner, you’re on your own!!!
I hope this is of some help. Good luck and keep those insurrectos in line. ¡Viva España! Bill
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Apr 2, 2008 7:55:14 GMT -5
Many thanks Bill!
Awww, such a pity, it was such a pretty uniform. All that braid... Hmmm, that doesn't exactly speak well to the completeness or accuracy of Osprey though (the first picture's from the SpanAmWar Osprey, the second is from Filipino heritage but reversed so I flipped the picture so the aiguillettes were on the correct - left - hand side).
So the most basic GCV uniform would just be blue with pocket flaps? Wow, that's easy.
Would anyone know the local (filipino) name for oilcloth?
Would 'tortoise shell' be approximated by perhaps the visors of Pershing military caps (or are those plastic?). I got a Zulu war pith helmet for my 24th Foot impression but it's rather a bit bulky. I'll see if I can get another one while there (will also be good to have more than one pith helmet since I'm planning to do a 24th Foot Officer eventually).
Will be modifying a toy pirate cutlass for the machete tagalog. I'll see if I can come up with a pasteboard Remington by June 12th, if not I'll just use a leather whip and snarl menacingly hehehe.
Many many thanks Bill - the hastily cobbled together for the independence day parade uniform is coming along nicely though the red collar and cuffs will be permanent.
Would it be allowable to wear a havelock with the teresiana - in the Guardia Civil museum they have a diorama which shows the GC in the Philippines wearing a havelock at the back of their pith helmets.
Salutes, Tom
|
|
|
Post by legionnaire on Apr 2, 2008 13:09:31 GMT -5
Aren't Guardia Civil's part of the Spanish colonial troops?
Coming as Spain's colonial troops on a Philippine Independence day event is like having British Soldiers participating in the US Fourth of July celebration and festivities. Or having the US Army dressed in that 1800's period join in the parade.
Just a though.
Philip
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Apr 3, 2008 9:02:27 GMT -5
The majority of the Guardia Civil were conscripted native 'indios' as were the private soldiers of the Spanish native regiments (69-73 or thereabouts) - indeed Rizal was shot by 'indio' soldiers of the 70th Regimento de Magallanes. I tend to take the view that though they were part of Spain's administration in the Philippines they WERE 'Filipino' soldiers racially no less than the kapampangans of Francisco Manalastas who fought for Spain against the British (at the same time that Silang, Palaris and Dagohoy were fighting against Spain) or, I daresay, the Philippine Constabulary, Macabebe and later Philippine Scouts who, some Filipinos would argue were instruments of America's 'imperial regime' from 1899-1946. While there are some even here who would want to deny or 'whitewash' these 'loyalists' they are as undeniably a part of Filipino history as De Lancey's, the King's Royal New Yorkers or the British Legion are a part of American history.
Membership as indicated was by conscription and one of El Filibusterismo (Reign of Greed)'s sadder storylines tells the story of a Cabeza de Barangay (headman of a small village) named Tales (TAH-les) whose futile attempts to protect his land against the avaricious friars eventually destroys his family as his daughter becomes a househelp to pay off his debt, is later raped by a priest and kills herself and his son, Tano, is conscripted into the Guardia Civil. Later on Tales becomes a feared tulisan (bandit) chieftain and in one of the last chapters he is killed by his own son Tano (known by then as Carolino, a nickname from service in the Caroline Islands penal colonies), a Guardia Civil sharpshooter.
Many of these native Guardia Civil went over to the revolutionary forces as did the native soldiers of the 69-73rd Regimentos - hence the greater reliance of the Spanish on Peninsular troops like the Cazadores, particularly during the second period under Polavieja (the Lachambre offensive in Cavite 1897). General Licerio Geronimo's Tiradores del Muerte wore uniforms very similar to the GC, perhaps because some/many of his Tiradores were ex-GCs? Perhaps the BnK chaps can confirm (Selwyn?)
I would not dress up as a member of the Cazadores for Independence Day - those fellows were racially and politically Spanish troops. THAT would be like having British soldiers on the Fourth of July.
I remember the last time (admittedly a long time ago) that I attended the parade there was a very lovely giant scale model of what seemed to be the USS Arizona and General MacArthur - well, let's just say that a lot of people in my university (UP Diliman) would say that those are just clear examples of colonial mentality. For my part I think that they're both quite eligible - the Arizona escorted a convoy to the Philippines in Oct 1941 w/c took P-40s and M3 Stuarts to the islands and of course MacArthur, like it or not, is as much a part of Philippine history as he is a part of Japanese and Korean history.
Also, coming as 'the villain' could open up opportunities for sharing and discussing with Fil-Ams who've not really heard much about the history of their parent's country some of the things I've learned about history - sharing stories from Noli & Fili (where the GC/GCV feature prominently), talking about Dr.Jose Rizal and stories of the revolution against Spain - like I said, many native GC's deserted and joined the Revolutionaries, bringing their weapons and weapon skills with them.
I realize that there is a very strong argument against those which might be considered 'traitors' joining in an independence day celebration. Certainly a Benedict Arnold re-enactor would not be welcome on July 4th (nevermind that he was one of America's bravest officers up to the British defeat at Saratoga) but while individuals like Miguel Vicos or Januario Galut might be made unwelcome I'm less ready to paint entire groups with a broad brush, whether they be kapampangans (who did traditionally support the Spanish colonial regime strongly) or Guardia Civiles. I think we can't say that they were all bad people, but rather, they were people living in a complicated historical period who made choices as best as they could. Some chose to support the revolution, some chose to stay loyal to Spain. Putting myself in their shoes (literally) allows me to ask those hypothetical questions - questions of nationhood, race, loyalty, honour and ultimately right and wrong.
I've always been an individual between cultures. Heaven knows I love my country - I quite seriously would not trade my humble run down circa 1960's house in Quezon City for a Beverley Hills mansion. It's not home. I love my national anthem and I'm proud of how it embodies the history and aspirations of my people better than many others out there. Yet my name is not Filipino - its apparently from the Balkans - and my first and best language was and is English. I guess my wanting to portray a soldier of the Guardia Civil is also an expression of my being between cultures - racially 'Indio' yet drawn to the 'otherness' of foreigners, a mix of contradicting cultures, proud of my country's history, though it be peppered with defeats and betrayals, it has produced some of the bravest, smartest most selfless heroes in world history - from Lapu-Lapu the legendary slayer of Magellan (and so the Filipino bursts upon the world stage in blood and fury), through the indomitable Muslim warriors who like Qudarat who would not be slaves, to the indios who served a patria that treated them like slaves - such as Manalastas (whose courage was recognized by British General Draper) - and those who fought against it - Sulayman, Tamblot, Dagohoy, Palaris, Silang, through the propagandists whose foremost son was the pride of Asia - Dr.Jose Rizal, genius - to the Katipuneros who laid aside the pen for the sword and fought Spain to a standstill before Biak Na Bato. Through the blood and sacrifice of the war against America to the blood and sacrifice of the war where we fought side by side with America, to the soldiers who refused to drive their APCs over nuns and pastors and 'common tao' who massed at EDSA in 1986. We have had many shining hours in our oft overlooked history and as a history conscious cosplayer/re-enactor I hope to do that justice.
Sometimes that involves telling the less savory stories but without the warts history just becomes propaganda. Give me history, warts and all because it's only by looking at ourselves squarely that we can see where we've been, who we are and what we should work towards in the future.
Yikes, didn't mean to sermonize! Hope I didn't tread on any toes here... peace guys!
Humbly yours, Tom
|
|
|
Post by legionnaire on Apr 3, 2008 13:12:32 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
That was one long background on the Guardia Civil role. "I daresay, the Philippine Constabulary, Macabebe and later Philippine Scouts who, some Filipinos would argue were instruments of America's 'imperial regime' from 1899-1946."
This a very generalized sweeping statement of some very narrow minded false nationalistic Filipinos who would like to brush aside their role in Philippine History.
The Philippine Scouts were formed as part of the US Army and proved their role in defending the Philippines from a facist invasion as history as shown. In fact many of the scouts were sons of Aguinaldo's followers.
The only time the PS were used in the Islands was to suppress the fanatical tribes of the MOROS who never wanted to be part of the country even until this day.
Yes we were a huge part of the Imperialist America but we progressed as a nation through education, commerce taught by the Americans and even reached the claim to fame as the PEARL of the Orient under the Philippine Commomwealth Government.
The Macabebe's were an organized foreign mercenary by Spain and later used to fight for the US against the Philippine Revolutionary Army and were originally not from the local population but were from Mexico brough over by Spain.
The Philippine Constabulary was first organized before the PS and were used to police the country side against the fanatical Moros and local bandits.
Philip
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Apr 4, 2008 6:38:05 GMT -5
Hi Philip,
I do agree actually - definitely the Scouts are worthy of honor for their indomitable courage facing the Japanese invasion while the Constabulary has had their finer and less fine hours from the American period through to its reorganization as the PNP. The point though is whichever regime they served - Spanish, American, Filipino - they were Filipino soldiers and worthy of honour.
I tend to take the view that all the successive regimes in the Philippines each gave us something that is a part of us, like it or not. Right or wrong, they made our country what it is today, the same way that we today continue making the country what it will be in the future. That's another reason I love history and want to share it with the next generation.
I think that one can be too nationalistic and say to "hell with the Yanks and the Scouts and all other imperialist scum" and I would say, that idea is stupid. Taking a page from Mr.Obama's lovely speech on race, we can no more disown Spain or America or what they did here than we can disown our grandparents who lived and sometimes served - as mine did by the way - under America or our great grand parents who lived and perhaps served Spain - and perhaps eventually against her in the revolution. These things happened and they are a part of us, like it or not.
Another issue with Philippine history is it is a story of growing national consciousness. For centuries the Spaniards played the divide and conquer game using the pinoys from one region to subdue those in other regions and vice versa. The British invasion period is one perfect example of this - three very powerful revolts (Dagohoy, Palaris, Silang) each going on without coordination without any concept of fighting for one nation, and each eventually put down by pinoy troops from other provinces. It's only later thanks to the propagandists and katipunan that we reached the place where we began to consider ourselves a nation - as the Visayan and Mindanaoan and those in Luzon read the Noli and Fili and other propaganda papers they began to see that the problems of Luzon were the same in the Visayas and Mindanao, and as the katipunan began to spread across the islands with it, the idea of the Filipino nation began to spread. Thus by the time of Biak Na Bato, GGen Primo de Rivera has to concede privately that he is not facing an isolated rebellion but a revolt of an entire nation. Thus by 1899 the American army (much as Otis' propaganda would attempt to deny it) finds itself fighting an entire nation (sadly, our Muslim brethren didn't catch on till it was too late. The Bates Treaty was yet another divide and conquer tactic w/c I daresay condemned them to suffer with valiant futility during the 'Moro Wars').
I agree though, American education and commerce did help the Philippines a lot and I am grateful for it. I'm grateful that it gave my grandfather a chance to become a university professor and a major in the Philippine Commonwealth Army instead of becoming a forgotten farmer in Mindanao or Panay. I'm grateful that through education the idea of a nation became even more firmly crystalized in the pinoy consciousness. And heck, I'm grateful for English - it pays my bills at the most basic level and it's given me the chance to learn from great thinkers across the world and throughout the ages at the most sublime level.
In the case of the Macabebes the question would be, did they remain mercenaries and return to Mexico afterwards or did they remain here and become part of the populace? Like it or not, we do have a very heavy influx of Mexican blood and culture as they were the halfway house here from Spain. The Regimento del Rey Fijo de Manila was, to a large degree Mexican, we had Mexican governor generals and colonists from 'Spain' were in reality from Mexico. Yet those that stayed became part of the local gene pool and local history. There are references that say that the Macabebes formed the nucleus of the first Philippine Scout units.
For me I would say that ultimately they were or became Filipino soldiers no less than the newly immigrated Germans and Italians of Oliver Otis Howard's XI Corps at Gettysburg were American soldiers.
I think that my dream would really be to move beyond region, religion and tribe to the consciousness of being Filipino and accepting what we have been given in our history, looking at the ugly parts with acceptance - not that we accept that what happened was 'right' but that it happened as opposed to what some nations (ehemJAPANehem) are doing {writing out the bad parts}, forgiveness if need be and strength & courage to stand up and prevent them from happening again in the future - and maximizing on the good parts.
When I was a child it was almost embarrassing to be a Filipino - it was the time when dictionaries were calling Filipinas 'domestic helpers'. Now I am about to be 30 and I can see Filipinos making their mark across the world. We have a generation of young Filipinos who, I believe can command respect in their respective fields if they only knew how to hold their heads up. And history is a part of that. Both the bad and good bits.
So this is, ultimately, where my plea for the GC's inclusion is coming from. Because they were Filipino soldiers who were a part of our military history no less than:
Lapu-Lapu and his tribesmen who fought for Mactan Sulayman who fought for Manila Dagohoy, Palaris, Silang and Manalastas who fought against Spain or for her The Manilamen who fought beside Lafitte's Baratarians at New Orleans 1815 and the Manilamen who were General Frederick Ward's elite bodyguard in the Ever Victorious Army of the Taiping Rebellion. The Cavite Mutineers and GOMBURZA The Katipuneros of 96 and 98 The Philippine Constabulary and Philippine Scouts during the American period The Philippine soldier or sailor post 1946.
Salutes to them all, Tom
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Apr 4, 2008 6:47:37 GMT -5
There's another reason actually. There was this BBC special on the British Indian Army veterans of WW2 I saw recently. These were the young men of India who fought Rommel in the Desert and Yamanutsa in Malaya, who stayed loyal to their regiments and their flag till 1945. There were others though, who because of India's desire for independence, joined the Fascist Japanese sponsored Indian National Army. Today those who joined the INA are the heroes fighting against British imperialism while those who stood by their word of honour in the hope that Britain would grant them independence in return are apparently not even given pensions by the Indian government.
It would be like if the Philippine government was awarding the Makapili's pensions and leaving the Philippine Scouts to beg in the streets.
I guess I kinda see the GC's a bit like the Indian Army of WW2. Independence is in the wind yet they are pledged to a colonial master. Putting myself in their shoes who's to say if Aguinaldo would be successful? Most revolts have been crushed quite bloodily before - I'm sure the young GC's of 1896 would have heard stories or perhaps even experienced the heavy hand of repression in the aftermath of the Cavite mutiny of 72, no less than the Indian Army soldier would have memories of Amritsar. Spain is still the mother country as it has been for centuries - it has given us our faith, a cuartel to live in, three square a day, a uniform that is respected and feared AND YET... freedom is in the wind... It's not an easy choice.
This is still the story of a Filipino soldier.
Humbly yours, Tom
|
|