Liberation of Nueva Cáceres (1898)

The Liberation of Nueva Cáceres (now Naga City) in 1898 refers to the event in which revolutionary forces, largely composed of local Bicolano revolutionaries, wrested control of Nueva Cáceres from Spanish colonial rule during the Philippine Revolution. The liberation occurred after a series of uprisings and engagements in the Bicol region aimed at dismantling Spanish authority.

Specific details regarding the exact date of the liberation can vary depending on sources, but it generally took place in the latter part of 1898, after the declaration of Philippine independence. The revolutionary forces, often lacking sophisticated weaponry and training, relied on guerilla tactics and popular support to overcome the Spanish garrison. Key figures involved in the liberation are often credited with leading and organizing the local revolutionaries.

The liberation of Nueva Cáceres was a significant event in the Bicol region’s contribution to the Philippine Revolution. It marked the end of Spanish colonial rule in the city and paved the way for the establishment of a local revolutionary government. Following the liberation, the region transitioned to a period of self-governance before the arrival of American forces during the Philippine-American War. The event remains an important part of the local history and is often commemorated in Naga City.