August 30, 1896, Governor Blanco Placed 8 Provinces Under Martial Law
Due to the spread of rebellion led by Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan, Spanish Governor-General Ramon Blanco declared a “state of war” in the provinces of Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija and place them under martial law on August 30, 1896. The declaration also provided a 48-hour amnesty to rebels except for their leaders.
This outbreak was the start of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 begun on August 29, 1896, when hundreds of rebels attacked the Civil Guard garrison in Pasig, just as hundreds of others, personally led Bonifacio, were massing in San Juan del Monte, which they attacked hours later on the next day.
Bonifacio planned to capture the San Juan del Monte powder magazine along with a water station supplying Manila. The defending Spaniards were outnumbered, and fought off rebels until reinforcements arrived. Once reinforced, the Spaniards drove Bonifacio’s forces back with heavy casualties.
After their defeat in San Juan del Monte, Bonifacio’s troops regrouped near Marikina, San Mateo and Montalban, where they proceeded to attack these areas. They captured these areas but were driven back by Spanish counterattacks, and Bonifacio eventually ordered a retreat to Balara.
On the way to Balara, Bonifacio was nearly killed shielding Emilio Jacinto from a Spanish bullet that grazed his collar.
North of Manila, the towns of San Francisco de Malabon, Noveleta and Kawit in Cavite rose in rebellion.
In Nueva Ecija rebels in San Isidro led by Mariano Llanera attacked the Spanish garrison.
The 8 provinces would later be represented in the eight rays of the Sun in the Philippine flag.
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