San Remigio Chronicles: Chapter 4, The Lieutenant Colonel (1899)

The new Filipino government in San Remegio, led by former Municipal President Luis Occena, was established just in time to face the newest invaders: the Americans.

Lt. Col. Martin Maza, having swiftly relinquished his civilian post, was quickly mobilized. In February 1899, he received orders to take his militia forces to Iloilo province. The capital of Panay was the flashpoint, and General Fullon needed every able body. Maza and his militiamen crossed the strait to reinforce the troops of Filipino generals, including Ramon Diocno and Martin Delgado, in the barrio of Balantang.

For a full month, Maza and his men stood ready. The American "Yankee" soldiers, however, did not move out of their fortifications in the town of Jaro. The anticipated assault did not materialize. General Fullon, recognizing the strategic importance of keeping his best troops mobile, sent orders for Maza to withdraw and return to San Remegio.

The militiamen made the long journey home, traversing the mountains by way of the town of Leon in Iloilo. They returned to an Antique that was now frantically preparing for an invasion of its own.

By January 1900, it was clear to the leaders of the Philippine Government that the defense of San Jose, the provincial capital, might not be possible against the superior firepower of the American landing forces. A critical agreement was reached among the military heads: in the event of defeat at the capital, all Filipino troops would concentrate in the town of San Remegio, transforming it into the designated war zone.

A monumental effort began to prepare the region. Almost all the rice products from San Jose, San Pedro, and Sibalom were transported to the barrio of Bugo and stored in the military camps at Bawang to provision the retreating troops. Maza's men and local volunteers dug trenches along the provincial road from Sibalom into San Remegio, particularly around Cadolonan and the southern hills of Barangbang. The town center itself was heavily fortified, with cannons strategically placed up to the southeastern hill of Bugtong Bigay.

On the 24th of January 1900, fortifications were rushed to completion near the shores of Calala, along the provincial road. These trenches and earthworks were specifically designed to repel an amphibious landing. They were soon manned by a composite force of the regular troops, militiamen, and the fierce bolo men—all preparing for the inevitable arrival of the American warships.

In the first week of February, Lt. Col. Martin Maza was summoned by Gen. Fullon and ordered to immediately gather his forces in San Jose. He quickly commanded Captain Simeon Cabrillos to marshal the troops, and together they raced to the capital to receive their final, urgent orders. Maza, the grandson of a freedom fighter, was given command of the entire defense force—regulars, militia, and bolo men—tasked with holding the crucial frontier fortifications at Calala. The final, decisive battle for Antique was about to be fought on the coast of San Remegio.