1898: Our Last Men in the Philippines

In October 1897 Tagalog rebels allied with the Katipunan attack the Spanish garrison at Baler, Aurora. The assault results in heavy casualties and a brutal siege that would test the defenders' endurance. The initial victory sets the stage for a long, costly standoff.

Three months later, the 2nd Expeditionary Battalion is dispatched from Manila to retake Baler. The force is led by Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossí and Lieutenant Martín Cerezo. They approach cautiously, warned by Brother Carmelo that the rebels might already have departed.

On reaching Baler they meet Sergeant Jimeno Costa, a survivor, and Teresa, a local resident who makes clear she bears no grudge against Spain. Morenas emphasizes that the real enemy is not only the rebels but also the harsh environment that ravages soldiers. The encounter foreshadows the tense stalemate to come.

News from Manila arrives: the United States has declared war on Spain and the fleet has been destroyed at Cavite. With Manila under siege and supplies dwindling, Morenas orders the battalion to fortify the church as a potential fortress against renewed assault.

On 30 June 1898, Tagalog rebels strike anew, forcing the Spanish to retreat into the sanctuary of the church. The defenders brace for a prolonged siege as ammunition and supplies wear thin. The church becomes both fortress and prison for the military.

The following morning, Calixto Villacorta proposes a one-day truce so both sides can bury their dead. During the ceremony, Juan defects to the rebels, signaling a shift in loyalties inside the besieged church.

By 10 October, beriberi strikes several cadets due to contaminated rations, and Morenas dies that night. Lieutenant Cerezo assumes command and wrestles with the defense while morale frays under strain.

On 31 December, Brother Carmelo dies of beriberi, a heavy blow to morale inside the church. The siege tightens as hunger and disease take their toll on both sides.

Days after Carmelo's death, Teresa's singing in the village sparks a confrontation; Cerezo shoots Teresa and the Tagalog forces retaliate by shelling the church. Carlos steals food and burns nearby houses, and Carmelo's opium pipe is found, leading to his confinement in the basement.

On 18 May 1899, Lieutenant Colonel Cristóbal Aguilar arrives to demand surrender. Carlos volunteers to go to Manila to verify the truth, but is captured by Tagalogs. Luna reveals that Spain had sold the Philippines to the Americans for $20 million, triggering the Philippine–American War.

That night, Carlos, José, and Carvajal attempt to flee; Costa executes Carlos, and Cerezo orders the execution of the other two cadets. The betrayals and harsh decisions underscore the desperation inside the besieged church.

The next day, Cerezo raises the white flag from the church tower and surrenders to Luna, who pledges not to take the battalion prisoner and leaves their fate to the American forces. The poignant line 'it has been four centuries, lieutenant' marks the moment of capitulation.

A guard of honor escorts the departing battalion. Carlos receives a letter of exemplary conduct, but he refuses to stay quiet about the truth of their situation, discarding his art book as the surviving cadets leave the church behind.

The siege endures for 337 days, claiming 17 Spanish lives and more than 700 Filipino deaths. The conflict signals the end of Spanish rule in the region. Cerezo is awarded the Laureate Cross, while the enlisted men receive the Cross of Military Merit and a pension for life.