Battle of Noveleta

Memorial stone commemorating the battle

Date	August 30, 1896
Location	Noveleta, Cavite, Philippines
Result	Filipino victory

Belligerents

Katipunan

Magdiwang

Spanish Empire

Commanders and leaders

Strength

10,000 rebels

3,000 combined infantrymen and auxiliaries

Casualties and losses

~500+

~500+ (Several captured)

Katipunan

The Battle of Noveleta was a major battle during the Philippine revolution and was one of the very first engagements of the revolution in Cavite. In the latter part of the revolution, Noveleta played a key role for the Magdalo and Magdiwang factions. From its capture by the Magdiwang at the start of the revolution, various battles were fought and won by Filipino rebels in Cavite. Noveleta became the seat of the Magdiwang faction of the Katipunan.

After the Revolution exploded in the north, under Andres Bonifacio, the generals of Cavite took up arms as early as August 28, and was one of the eight provinces who were put under martial law after the outbreak of the Revolution. Cavitenos first officially joined the revolution on the 31st of August, when Emilio Aguinaldo took his hometown of Kawit and with Santiago Alvares taking Noveleta.

At ten o'clock in the morning of August 31, 1896, Diego Mojica, Mariano Trías and Nicolas Portilla attacked the town hall of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) and Pasong Kalabaw. The attacks of Noveleta and Kawit soon followed, these first 3 battles are known as the first cry of Cavite, starting with the attack at Pasong Kalabaw. The first official victory in Cavite as well as the first victories of the revolution occurred in these hours.

The battle began early on August 30, 1896, At around noon, a number of revolutionaries led by Santiago Alvares and Mariano Alvares attacked and quickly captured the town, guarded by a few Spanish troops under the command of Diego De Los Rios and Ramon Blanco. The town was quickly captured and declared the seat of the Magdiwang council.During the battle, 2 Spanish officers were killed while the rest of the garrison was captured, The revolutionary forces also seized 29 firearms. Similar battles occurred in Noveleta fought by Both factions and Santiago Alvares eventually became the hero of the battle of Calero bridge in November of the same year. This is because of its strategic position near the Puerto De Cavite, the capital of Spanish Cavite and the second most important city to capture for the Revolutionaries. Upon capturing Noveleta, the Magdiwang were reinforced and under the orders of Gen. Alvarez, the Magdiwang built a number of entrenchments outside of the city better known as Bateria numbers 1,2 and 3, and used some captured emplacements (A small redoubt, trenches and a fortification) to prepare for the Spanish counterattack. The Spaniards set up camp near rebel forts in Dalahican and attacked Noveleta again in early November, near The heavily fortified shores of Dagatan and Dalahican.

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Wikipedia