The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-20

lust before the soldiers went up to
help that morning, our officers got us
together and tolds US again what good
troops we were, and that all we had to
do was to go forward My first fight
was at Caloocan about February 9Th.
We were all in the trenches and heard
the Americans advancing, and. 7of
course, we were scared from the be-
ginning.
The bullets began striking all around
u.s. Almost the first thing some one
was killed. My brother was killed We
Filipino soldiers, though we don't know
much, do know that good brothers are
scarce. He was hit right in the eye.
Well, We ui..1't stay there very long,
the fire was too hot. We soon left, and
some of us went on through to Polo.
About the only thing that I actually re-
member seeing was that those Ameri-
cans never 'fiickered.' (That was not
the word he used, but it expresses his
idea.)
THEY KEPT COMING
They kept coming. They seemed to
run all the way and how they did
shoot! But Polo was even f1ercer. Ev-
erywhere we looked that day we could
see Americans. There seemed to be
thousands of them. We kept backing
up, but they kept crowding us so much
that we could hardly tell where they
We're or where we We're trying to go.
we had whole brigade there. It's
funny, but a man doesn't seem to know
much else than how to run when he
gets in a place like Polo.
Yes, / have heard good many
speeches by officers but have heard
only one General speak. That was
General San Miguel at Porac, only
little while ago. He praised our ap-
pearance and said we We're so brave in
standing up so for our country Our
Officers. though, never try to explain
why it is that we never stopped the
Americans-guess they don't know
themselves
They frequently, however tell us
that the Americans are very brave
they advance to attack and never stop.
And our officers often tell US that they
wish they had American soldiers in
stead of us. But that is only little
thing to some of their mistraatment
"One thing we do not have that we
should have is religious service There
are no Chaplains and I think that
great mistake Soldiers certainly see
many things and places where father
would be very comforting. When
badly wounded man who is going to die
can be gotten back to a hospital then
they have a eonfessor for him. We SOL
diers have often talked about such
things together.
Another thing that we do differently
is that we do all our cheering before a
fight-not during the shooting. But we
don't swear much. Our officers do not
let US; and, besides, a people fighting
for independence ought not to d:splease
God
zone time we had iesta, or rejoic-
ing; it was at Malolos. We common
soldiers were not very hearty because
we didn't kn5w just what it was for
but we had a great day many speeches
and extra rations.
81 have never seen any American
prisoners. I heard of four; but that
was long time ago. I think that they
are being treated we'll, for We have had
orders many, many times to treat them
we'll.
20, -they.always tell us to be careful
with any prisoners. 1t is enough that
American prisoners are compelled to
live on Filipino food. But no one could
be better cared for than I am here. You
have plenty of money, haven't youo
There is only one thing want and that
is to get some money for my Wife
He stopped there, but finally asked:
'Have you ever heard the Filipino
marching song-our liberty song?"
FILIPINO MARCHING SONG.
1 told him that I had not. He did
not sing it very bravely. One could see
that he had sung it under happier sur
roundings than were the heavy stone
walls of the old convent at Santa Rita;
but his last ''vivas'' had some of the
ring and fire of a soldier in them. The
words he afterward wrote out for me.
They are simply an adaptation of 1.-The
Spanish Volunteer" and are sung to the
music of that stirring march. I give
them as he wrote them--in Tagalo.
.PASo-DoBLE. ta1a
Alerta Katipunan,t
Sa bundoc an tahanAan tahan.
Doom nino fnatitignan,
Hirap nang cataoan
Hirap sa pagtulog, ~
Hirap sa pageain. .5crs la
Hualang unans hualang banig; hualang
thurman ay gulog.
Viva 81 Emelio,
Viva 81 Mascardoi
Viva 81 Gregarioi
Viva 81 Venancio,
Viva ang manga InsurrectOst
Viva ang bandera Filipinoi
Viva guerra ma hualang Katapunan.
Society of Liberty