Battle of San Mateo and Montalban

Part of the Philippine Revolution

Date	November 7, 1896
Location	Nanca Mariquina, San Mateo, Montalban, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Result	Tactical Spanish victory Start of the revolution in Morong

Belligerents

Katipunan

Spanish Empire

Commanders and leaders

Andrés Bonifacio

Emilio Jacinto

Mariano Gutierrez

General Malinis

Macario Sakay

Ramón Blanco y Erenas

Strength

about 500 men (including survivors from Battle of Pinaglabanan) along with 100 irregulars from Antipolo

~50 Infanterias
6 Cannons

Casualties and losses

Unknown (heavy)

Unknown

The "'Battle of San Mateo and Montalban'" was a battle fought between the remaining Katipuneros under the command of Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto after a failed attempt to capture the El Deposito water works at San Juan del Monte.

After the failure to take San Juan del Monte, Bonifacio and the rest of his army retreated to the nearby areas of Mariquina, San Mateo and Montalban, in what was then Manila Province (now Rizal Province). Bonifacio and Jacinto encountered heavy Spanish pursuit as they retreated towards Morong.

Around late August, 1896, after the defeat at San Juan del Monte, Bonifacio and the remaining survivors of his army reached Montalban. There, they encountered moderate resistance as they captured San Mateo and Montalban. While there, they regrouped and Bonifacio and his armies recovered from the major defeat, knowing that it was a vital loss and it would affect the image of both Bonifacio and the rest of the Manila Katipunan. However, this battle that he personally led was rather successful initially, and they continued to occupy parts of Morong until the Spanish counterattack.

With the help of Macario Sakay, Apolonio Samson, Faustino Guillermo and General Luciona, the Katipuneros prepared for their next offensive. Jacinto sent out couriers to the neighboring towns, urging the patriots to join the cause. That same day, the first military ranks were conferred to the members of the Katipunan fighting forces.

The people's army at Antipolo and Uyungan of over 100 men with 32 revolvers and small cannons merged with the Masuyod contingent, and placed themselves under the overall command of General Kiko (alias Labe), a lieutenant of Bonifacio. With renewed vigor, the Katipuneros, armed with bolos and spears, and a few captured Remingtons, set off for San Mateo, and attacked the town. General Mariano Gutierrez and his Tungko troops, as Bonifacio ordered, surrounded San Mateo. The enemy forces were at the convent and parish house of the church, and they had six cannons. Generals Malinis and De la Cruz gave orders to fire and a furious exchange of fire from guns and cannons ensued the whole day until late in the afternoon. Along the Nangka(Nanca) river the Supremo ordered his soldiers to make effigies from banana trunks and straw scarecrows. With KKK hats on the effigies, the duped enemy wasted bullets on these dummies. Routed, the Spaniards fled leaving San Mateo to the triumphant rebels. This was the first significant victory of the Revolutionary Army over the Colonial forces.

...
Wikipedia