On November 7, 1898, the liberators of Negros, assembled in Bacolod to promulgate a constitution and establish the Republica Cantonal de Negros (Cantonal Republic of Negros), following the unconditional surrender of the town on November 6, 1898, by the Spanish authorities to the Negrenses.
Earlier, on November 3, 1898, the people of Negros rose in revolt against the Spanish authorities headed by Politico-military Governor Colonel Isidro de Castro.
The revolutionaries, led by General Juan Araneta from Bago and General Aniceto Lacson from Talisay, were said to carry fake arms consisting of rifles carved out of palm fronds and cannons of rolled bamboo mats painted black.
By the afternoon of November 6, 1898, through the mediation of José Ruiz de Luzuriaga, a rich businessman who was deemed acceptable to both rebels and Spanish authorities, Colonel Isidro de Castro agreed that the Spanish troops both European and natives surrender the town and its defenses unconditionally, turning over arms and communication and public funds to the new government. De Castro and the rebel leaders signed the Acta de Capitulación on the same day.
This thus ended the Spanish rule in Negros.
The following were elected officials of the new Republic
Aniceto Lacson, President
Juan Araneta, Secretary of War
Eusebio Luzuriaga, Secretary of Treasury
Simeon Lizares, Secretary of Interior
Nicolas Golez, Secretary of Fomento
Antonio Jayme, Secretary of Justice
Agustin Amenablar, Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce
Melecio Severino, Executive Secretary
On March 1899, the American forces led by Colonel James G. Smith occupied Bacolod, the revolutionary capital of Republica Cantonal de Negros, which led to the eventual dissolution of the Republic.
A historical marker commemorating the surrender of the Spaniards to the Negrenses was installed in Bacolod at the city’s Fountain of Justice in 2007.
Reference: Pambansan Komisyong Pangkasaysayan
(JR/ AMIGO/ai/mnm)