Author’s Note

            Inspired by the real life story of Brigadier General Vicente Alvarez y Solis (April 5, 1862 – November 22, 1942), who led the Zamboangueño revolt that ended some 200 years of Spanish intermittent colonization, 1595-1662; 1719-1898, of Zamboanga peninsula. On May 18, 1899, under a barrage of bombardment, Governor General Adolfo de los Rios and the Spanish forces surrendered the Fort of the Lady of the Pillar in the island to El General and his rebel forces, and were expatriated to Spain on the Transatlantic ship Philip XIII.

            Celebrated as the only Filipinoinsurrecto to capture thirteen Spanish gunboats at Basilan Straight, Zamboanga peninsula, with their complete ordnance, and a merchant vessel, Butuan. Appointed brigadier general for Mindanao region, May 4, 1898. Succeeded in overthrowing the Spaniards in 1899, but failed against the U.S. forces. Failure wasn’t entirely due to the stronger North American arms; rather because of the betrayal of one Mayor Isidoro Midel of barrio Tetuan and the collaboration of the hinterland Visayans and Moros, then known as Americanistas. One of the most prominent leaders of the Americanistas was Rajah Muda Mandi, the top Muslim leader then.

            The novel concentrates on the evil and wickedness of this betrayal, and without, of course, isolating the bravery and heroism of the Filipino insurrectos. But the Filipinos’ final success and victory was denied them by this treachery (as it was with General Emilio Aguinaldo by the Makabebes of Pampanga province). It brings out the question: will it always impair our inspirations for freedom, for higher life? The novel therefore dwells too on this tragedy.

Acknowledgement 

            To convey the echoes of the rhythms and tones of my mother tongue, Chabacano, a draft of the novel was written in Chabacano, and then translated into English. I wish to acknowledge Pierre-Jakez Hélias, whose epic Le Cheval d’Orgueil (The Horse of Pride) inspired me in this endeavor and gave me the courage to go on when the experiment looked utterly fruitless. For then comes the quiet voice from the foreword of his epic: ‘But it is a surprise to learn that French is not his native language [as English is not ours]. Hélias writes his books in Breton and then translates them into French,’ it states, since he ‘¼ wishes to convey a flavor of Breton, the language in which he obviously feels.’ Touché.

¡§Philippine Copyright "¶ 2006 by A. R.  Enriquez¡