THE LITTLE KNOWN STORY OF A REVOLUTIONARY BROTHA IN THE P.I.

Not really a halloween fan but the image may be a bit timely. (look closely)

The remains (replica) of DAVID FAGEN (photo taken by the author from Cinemalaya 2013 exhibit) the African American (one among a handful) who defected to Aguinaldo's Revolutionary Army and later promoted as captain as he gained the trust of the revolucionarios who fondly referred to him as "Heneral Fagen." 

After the capture of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan in 1901, the Filipinos tried to secure amnesty for Fagen but the gringos refused due to their hatred of him and the overwhelming obsession to end his legend. Knowing he'll be briefly court-martialled and executed, he refused to give up and evaded bounty hunters and the Americans together with his Filipina wife.

It is unclear to this day what precisely happened to David Fagen. There were claims that his severed head was presented to american authorities by a Tagalog hunter named Anastacio Bartolome who claimed to have chanced upon Fagen bathing in a river with Aetas (indigenous people. But reports of Fagen sightings were still lingered months later after his "supposed killing."

A few years ago, I wrote about Fagen and several foreigners who joined the Filipinos' struggle for independence, perhaps I should write about them once again to recognize their sacrifices and shame some of us who take our independence for granted and unknowingly take part in our decay.

Ay, QUE HoROR!

Excerpts from the Cinemalaya Film DAvid F.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBDPyHaMnrM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwQX_WWykQ4