Entry 135

Sculpture 17: Macario Sakay

Macario Sakay was perhaps one of the least appreciated historical figures of the Philippine revolution. He fought against the Spanish forces almost a decade into American occupation. A friend to Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio, he went to the fringes firghing in guerilla warfare when the Filipino politicians and intellectuals turned to the new colonizers. In the end, Sakay was branded a mere bandit, this despite serving as a self-styled president of the Tagalog republic that he established in southern Luzon.

He was born in Tondo in 1870. The only statue of his to date, sculpted by Benjamin Mendoza, stands inside the fenced Plaza Morga in Manila. It was erected in 2008 by the Manila Historical Heritage Commission.

His most iconic feature perhaps was his long hair. Sakay and his men wore their hair long to illustrate the length of their struggle for independence while in the mountains.

Unknown to many, Sakay used to be a stage actor together with Andres Bonifacio and Aurelio Tolentino in El Teatro Porvenir, which literally means the “theatre of the future”.

He was executed by hanging in 1907, some time after surrendering on condition of amnesty, which obviously was not honoured.