Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Toribio Chaves: Poet and Patriot By A. Paulita Roa Past Speaks
THERE was once a street in the City named Roldan and this was named in memory of Lt. Col. Leopoldo Roldan, the Spanish military governor of the Segundo Distrito de Mindanao from 1877 to 1883. The capital town of the second district was Cagayan de Misamis (now Cagayan de Oro). It was during his administration that the town experienced the golden age of arts and literature.
Among the famous poets of that era was Toribio Chaves, then popularly known as Capitan Bibo. He was born in 1842 to Vicente Chaves and Lina Roa. In those days, a prominent man in the community was sometimes addressed to as Capitan and a lady who was equally distinguished was called Capitana.
Only one short poem composed by Capitan Bibo in Gov. Roldan's time survived to this day aside from the poem, Pinahanongod. Thanks to the eminent historian, Filomeno M. Bautista, who copied the poem that many Kagay-anons in the 1930s could still recite from memory. Below is the poem that was composed in Bisayan:
Aben Hamit, masayod ka,
Sa ako kanimo nga paghigugma
Sa langit dili ako mosulod
Kon sa langit didto wala ka.
This poem was translated to English by Bautista:
Know thou Aben Hamit of my love for thee?
In heaven I shall not enter
If in heaven thou art not there.
Sixteen years after the administration of Gov. Roldan, the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines was over. For the first time in the history of Cagayan de Misamis and the Misamis Province, the people organized a new government based on the laws and regulations of Emilio Aguinaldo and for the first time in history, they elected their own officials. Toribio Chaves was elected Municipal Presidente or Mayor of the town. He was then 57 years old.
Then on January 10, 1899, the people of Cagayan de Misamis celebrated the inauguration of the first Philippine Republic for two days with a parade, cannonades, music and speeches. The two daughters-in-law of Chaves, Agapita and Getulia Neri de Chaves, and a cousin, Paz Roa de Neri, sewed the first Philippine flag that was publicly hoisted for the first time in town on that historic occasion.
The first Independence day parade started in front of Sia Ygua's house and the street fronting that house was then named Victoria to commemorate that special event. Today, this street is known as Hayes St.
The main float in that parade was that of La Libertad Filipinas where the town's most beautiful woman, Isidra Yamomo, was seen holding the Philippine flag while standing on a broken chain that symbolized Liberty. Below her was a girl named Conchita Fernandez who carried a crown of laurel signifying Victory and the boy on the left, Jose Velez, carried a bolo that represented Defense. This float stopped in front of Casa Real (the present site of City Hall) and on the balcony, Pedro Akut recited the poem that the new Municipal Presidente composed for the occasion entitled Pinahanongod or Dedication.
This 24-stanza poem described the symbolic meanings of the float and freedom the Filipinos now had from more than 300 years of colonial rule. Here are some excerpts of that poem that was originally written in Bisaya:
Hiniktan, tiil, kamot ug hunahuna,
Way kitay pamuot nga kaugalingon,
Mga katarungan ta dili paga tagdon
Sa mga mapintas nga mga Katsila.
Karon kita makahiplos na gayod,
Sa hikot sa pagkaulipon,
Wa nay libug sa lihok nga ugalingon,
Aron maka angay sa ubang mga nasud.
Mga igsoon mao kini ang hinungdan,
Sa lungsay ta karong gikalipay,
Ang bandila sa hinandom kaugalingnan,
Mikayab na gayod sa kalangitan.
But the euphoria of independence from colonial rule was short lived. Fifteen months later, on the early morning of March 30, 1900, American battleships unloaded soldiers at the mouth of Cagayan river. In less than a day, American forces took full possession of Cagayan de Misamis. The local leaders acted wisely by not resisting the invaders who had superior arms and equipment. The American officers went to Casa Real and relieved the Provincial President, Jose Roa y Casas, and other officials of their positions but Chaves was told to continue as the town's Municipal Presidente.
Among the most courageous acts that Chaves did as head of his enemy-occupied hometown was when he, together with other men. openly gathered more than fifty bodies of those who fought against the Americans during the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis.
The bodies were retrieved in different buildings and places around the poblacion and were given a decent burial. This gentle poet was placed in a difficult public position during one of the most violent and painful periods in local history. But he was able to perform his duties well and never shifted his allegiance to the enemy.
On one side of the Ramon Magsaysay monument in Divisoria, the name of Toribio Chaves is written along with the other illustrious heroes of the city. And there is also a street in the local commercial district that bears his name. These are tributes to a man who did not fight with a sword or a gun. The grateful Kagay-anons remembered the sheer courage and strength of this poet-turned-mayor who served his town that was occupied by the enemy while most of his people waged a year-long resistance war on the nearby hills.
And for this, Toribio Chaves earned his place among the heroes of Cagayan de Oro.
Among the descendants of Municipal Presidente Chaves are: Hospicia Ch. Avancena, wife of historian Filomeno Bautista; Eloisa Nolasco- Fernan, widow of Marcelo Fernan; Maria Clara Suniel-Canoy, widow of Henry Canoy; business tycoon Jose Ch. Alvarez and his brother, Antonio, congressman of the 4th district of Palawan; Raul Ch. Rabe, former Philippine envoy to the US Virginia Ch. Nable, the Marchioness of Headfort.
(A. Paulita Roa is a member of the Cagayan de Oro Heritage Council.)
