Topic: 15 Martyrs of Bicol

Title: “Doon Po Sa Amin, may Quince Martires: Pagsalingoy sa Nakaagi.”

Category: History

I.                    Background of the Story

a.        History

Many of us who raised on textbook history can still remember things like “Sublime Paralytic,” “Brains of the Katipunan,” “Great Plebeian” and “Great Malayan.” We easily connect the titles with the names without really knowing how these came about. Then, to complicate things, we have sets like “Martyrs of Bicol.” But it is one thing to know all the names and another to know what they did to deserve a bullet in the back.

                Despite a century of commemoration, we know little about these men and whether they should rightfully be remembered as martyrs or heroes. Textbook history remains basically unchanged. To remedy this, there is a move to erect a wall of remembrance in Rizal Park to remind us of all the martyrs of Bagumbayan, and not just those who were shot in January 1897.

In Naga, just opposite Naga's tallest structure, the Holiday Hotel, you will see a park situated between Peñafrancia Ave. and Elias Angeles Street, and right in the middle of it the lofty monument to Bicol's Quince Martires. Actually, Bicol's martyrs of freedom number in the thousands but these fifteen have been specially singled out as symbols of the rest because on January 4, 1897, just five days after Dr. Rizal was executed, eleven of them were likewise shot at Bagumbayan field in Manila. The others died for country in exile or in prison. This  is a monument that was dedicated in 1926 to remind us of the “Quince Martires de Bicol” who endure verbal and physical abuse in the province. What we know is not enough to validate and underscore their sacrifices.

                Among the 15 martyrs were Leon Hernandez, Mariano Ordenanza, Ramon Abella, Mariano Arana, Fr. Gabriel Prieto, Severino Diaz, Innocencio Herrera, Manuel Abella, Domingo Abella, Tomas Prieto, Camilo Jacob, Macario Valentin, Cornelio Mercado, Mariano Melgarejo and Florencio Lerma.

b.       Significance of the study

Ø  We personally chose this topic because we want to pay tribute and unveil the sacrifices and sufferings of our beloved countrymen for our fatherland and so that full honors could be given to their heroism and ultimate sacrifice for Filipino freedom and complete independence.

Ø  To elucidate and clarify the issues about the wrong belief of 13 Bicol Martyrs.

Ø  To know more about island Fernando Po, which has a special meaning and symbolism for Bicolanos.

II.                  Community profile

The City of Naga (Bikol: Ciudad nin Naga; Filipino: Lungsod ng Naga) is a city of the Philippines. Located in the Bicol Region, a peninsula on the southeasternmost tip of the island of Luzon, it is 377 kilometers southeast of Manila, the nation's capital, and about 380 kilometers northeast of Cebu City

It is the most densely-populated city in the region, and is locally known as the "Heart of Bicol". It is the commercial, financial, educational, religious and cultural center of the Bicol region. Residents of the City are called Nagueños.

Naga City is at the core of Metro Naga, an unofficial designation given the city and 14 municipalities in the area administered by the Metro Naga Development Council. MNDC covers the entire 2nd district of the province of Camarines Sur, and part of its 1st, 3rd and 4th districts.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_City)

III.               Methodology

To start in on our project, we need to collect information about our chosen topic, Quince Martires de Bicol. We search from the net, books in Roco library and information from elder people. Then the three girls in our group started to make a storyboard that would guide us in shooting videos.

IV.               Team Profile

Diane Lyka Manigo-information officer,editor, researcher, photographer

Grazel Espiritu-information officer,researcher,photographer, blog designer

Jannie Viel Carable-information officer, researcher

Allen Roi Cledera-interviewer

Russel Alek Dean Aco- interviewer, photographer

Mark Ian Villar

V.                  Reflections and Insights

VI.               References

-websites

-bicol mail

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_City)