Battle of Zapote Bridge

Battle of Zapote River
Part of the Philippine–American War
The reconnected Zapote River Bridge in 1899 being guarded by an American soldier after the battle on June 13, 1899. One span of the bridge was removed by the locals, substituted with a wooden span, which was burned down before the fighting.
Date June 13, 1899 Location Zapote, Las Piñas, Manila province, Luzon, Philippines 14°27′50.5″N 120°57′58.8″E / 14.464028°N 120.966333°E / 14.464028; 120.966333Coordinates: 14°27′50.5″N 120°57′58.8″E / 14.464028°N 120.966333°E / 14.464028; 120.966333 Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
First Philippine Republic	United States
Commanders and leaders
Pío del Pilar	Henry W. Lawton
Strength
4,000–5,000	1,200
Casualties and losses
~150 killed, 375 wounded	14 killed, 61 wounded
Location in the Philippines

The Battle of Zapote River, also known as the Battle of Zapote Bridge, was fought on June 13, 1899 between 1,200 Americans and between 4,000~5,000 Filipinos. It was the second largest battle of the Philippine–American War after the Battle of Manila five months before in February 1899. Zapote River separates the town of Las Piñas in what was then Manila province from Bacoor in the province of Cavite. The ruins of Zapote Bridge still stands next to its replacement bridge on Aguinaldo Highway.

Zapote Bridge was made of masonry, spanning the Zapote River. It connected the towns of Bacoor and Imus to the south and Las Piñas and Manila to the north. It has been witness to two major historical events; the Philippine revolution against Spain in 1897 and the Philippine–American War of 1899.

Half of the original Zapote Bridge was destroyed during the battles; thus, the local government of Las Piñas funded the restoration of the other half of the bridge. The reconstructed bridge became a pedestrian promenade, connecting Barangay Zapote, Las Piñas to Barangay Zapote in Bacoor, Cavite. Monument parks were established on both ends of the bridge - one made by sculptor Ed Castrillo in the Las Piñas area and another monument depicting the Battle of Zapote Bridge in Bacoor, Cavite.

In February 1997, Villar Foundation, local governments of Bacoor, Cavite and the City of Las Piñas, the National Centennial Movement, and the Department of Education organized an event to pay tribute to the centennial year of the Battle OF Zapote Bridge. A street drama, based on the events of 1896-1897, was reenacted of the Battle of Zapote Bridge.

The Battle of Zapote River was part of the armed reconnaissance by the U.S. Army between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay that commenced on June 9 to rid the countryside of Filipino Army rebelling against the Americans. A fleet of gunboats - Callao, Manila and Mosquito - led Admiral George Dewey, were on Manila Bay to provide naval gunfire support. These were soon joined by the Helena, Princeton, Monterey and Monadnock gunboats.