Of bolo rush & bolomen

KuKulzA28 · 28th April 2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

The survivors apparently also did not take things personally against the Filipinos. Three of the survivors were sergeants. One of them was Frank Betron. After his discharge from the army, he married a Filipina and settled in the Philippines.

Interesting how at the end of war, bloodshed, and oppressive times people can still look at each other and love. It's a very comforting thought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Betron was also the only soldier cited by Abanador (the Balangiga police chief who led the attack, and who's also a tournament-caliber arnis master) as having truly learned arnis. Abanador apparently earlier tutored interested American soldiers arnis ...

Now that is an interesting thing to note. Any examples of other US soldiers learning Filipino/Moro fighting arts?

migueldiaz · 29th April 2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

Interesting how at the end of war, bloodshed, and oppressive times people can still look at each other and love. It's a very comforting thought.

Not to be mushy here, but Sgt. Barton's first love (in PI) was apparently a Balangiga lass. Unfortunately, our lovers were overtaken by events (and in the subsequent punitive expeditions to Samar, that lady's mother was one of the casualties). The sarge's crush died a spinster. These are all in Borrinaga's books.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

Now that is an interesting thing to note. Any examples of other US soldiers learning Filipino/Moro fighting arts?

Do the pics below count?

On a more serious note, let me find out if I can dig up info on that. My impression is that the Moro warriors were secretive about their martial arts ..

migueldiaz · 29th April 2009, 04:34 PM

In imagining the blade the Balangiga bolomen used, the following passage from Borrinaga's The Balangiga Conflict Revisited would be relevant:

He [1st Lt. Bumpus, the second-in-command] noted the "great many coconut trees along the lowlands near the seacoast." He added that the "meat of the coconut and its milk are highly prized by the natives, and they get a good price for the oil." ...

It could be inferred from the above observation that, unlike western Samar towns around Catbalogan and Calbayog that engaged in hemp production [thus abaca instead of coconut would be the main crop], Balangiga in the south was more into coconut oil production for export. [p. 43]

Earlier, we saw that the Leyte-Samar coconut farmers' bolo of choice would be the talibon (also known simply as sundang among the natives).

So that must be it ... the Balangiga encounter would be a talibon vs. Krag encounter, if we may wrap up the type of weapons used in the Balangiga incident.

migueldiaz · 14th June 2010, 10:02 AM

Capt. Leonard Furlong is part and parcel of the story of the bolomen and the krismen. This morning, I went to the Manila North Cemetery to look for his grave and am pleased to have found it.

After clearing the debris and dirt on Furlong's tombstone from last night's rains, I took the photos below.

From Vic Hurley's Jungle Patrol, on Furlong's last days --
"On detail as Senior Inspector of Lanao, Furlong demonstrated the old fighting genius that had made him one of the most powerful figures of the Constabulary. But his old vitality was gone, and he was gnawed by thoughts of his trial and the attendant publicity. Always a strange, sensitive figure, he broke at last under the strain of the years of jungle campaign. He was sent to Manila for observation and treatment, arriving there on June 21. 1911.On the evening prior to Furlong's death he dined with the officers at the mess, and during the meal gave no sign of depression. At nine o'clock in the evening of July 9 he passed two officers on his way to his quarters. A moment later a shot was heard; and when they entered his room, Furlong was found dying on the bed from a gunshot wound."

Dimasalang · 14th June 2010, 11:20 AM

Awesome! Thank you for taking these photos! Very much appreciated.

migueldiaz · 14th June 2010, 11:36 AM

dimasalang, glad you liked the pics.

then of course the bolomen's leaders were buried just a few paces away. below are some pics. i'll also upload to flickr the pics of the individual crypts, as well as the separate tomb of gen. pawa -- then i'll send you the link.

KuKulzA28 · 14th June 2010, 06:20 PM

Migueldiaz, thanks for posting these pictures up!

Dimasalang · 14th June 2010, 09:41 PM

Thanks for those extra photos also. Yes and please post up the pics of Gen Pawa's tomb. I also tracked through Manilas North Cemetery back in 2005. At the time I didn't know Furlong was buried there, and I didn't know about the mousoleum of the revolution...biggest regret not seeing those two. I was also looking for Gregoria de Jesus's tomb as well but ran out of time...let me know if you seen hers!

This cemetery is extremely huge!..along with people living there, it can literally be its own separate town. You can spend two days in there and not see everything. Too many famous people buried there.

29th April 2009, 04:34 PM	#3
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	In imagining the blade the Balangiga bolomen used, the following passage from Borrinaga's The Balangiga Conflict Revisited would be relevant: He [1st Lt. Bumpus, the second-in-command] noted the "great many coconut trees along the lowlands near the seacoast." He added that the "meat of the coconut and its milk are highly prized by the natives, and they get a good price for the oil." ... It could be inferred from the above observation that, unlike western Samar towns around Catbalogan and Calbayog that engaged in hemp production [thus abaca instead of coconut would be the main crop], Balangiga in the south was more into coconut oil production for export. [p. 43] Earlier, we saw that the Leyte-Samar coconut farmers' bolo of choice would be the talibon (also known simply as sundang among the natives). So that must be it ... the Balangiga encounter would be a talibon vs. Krag encounter, if we may wrap up the type of weapons used in the Balangiga incident. Attached Images

14th June 2010, 10:02 AM	#4
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Leonard Furlong's grave Capt. Leonard Furlong is part and parcel of the story of the bolomen and the krismen. This morning, I went to the Manila North Cemetery to look for his grave and am pleased to have found it. After clearing the debris and dirt on Furlong's tombstone from last night's rains, I took the photos below. From Vic Hurley's Jungle Patrol, on Furlong's last days -- "On detail as Senior Inspector of Lanao, Furlong demonstrated the old fighting genius that had made him one of the most powerful figures of the Constabulary. But his old vitality was gone, and he was gnawed by thoughts of his trial and the attendant publicity. Always a strange, sensitive figure, he broke at last under the strain of the years of jungle campaign. He was sent to Manila for observation and treatment, arriving there on June 21. 1911.On the evening prior to Furlong's death he dined with the officers at the mess, and during the meal gave no sign of depression. At nine o'clock in the evening of July 9 he passed two officers on his way to his quarters. A moment later a shot was heard; and when they entered his room, Furlong was found dying on the bed from a gunshot wound." Attached Images

14th June 2010, 11:36 AM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	dimasalang, glad you liked the pics. then of course the bolomen's leaders were buried just a few paces away. below are some pics. i'll also upload to flickr the pics of the individual crypts, as well as the separate tomb of gen. pawa -- then i'll send you the link. Attached Images

14th June 2010, 11:20 AM	#5
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Awesome! Thank you for taking these photos! Very much appreciated.

14th June 2010, 06:20 PM	#7
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Migueldiaz, thanks for posting these pictures up!

14th June 2010, 09:41 PM	#8
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Thanks for those extra photos also. Yes and please post up the pics of Gen Pawa's tomb. I also tracked through Manilas North Cemetery back in 2005. At the time I didn't know Furlong was buried there, and I didn't know about the mousoleum of the revolution...biggest regret not seeing those two. I was also looking for Gregoria de Jesus's tomb as well but ran out of time...let me know if you seen hers! This cemetery is extremely huge!..along with people living there, it can literally be its own separate town. You can spend two days in there and not see everything. Too many famous people buried there.