Bikers explore the historical sites in San Juan through the “Karaban ng Kasaysayan, HisTOURy sa San Juan” bike tour of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). (Photo Courtesy of NHCP)
The first “Karaban ng Kasaysayan, HisTOURy sa San Juan” brought together a group of bikers, history lovers in a cycling tour that allowed them to pedal through time to explore the rich history of San Juan City.
The activity was organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to offer an eye-opening cycling adventure around the historically significant sites in San Juan which form part of the country’s enduring cultural heritage.
A brief lecture was presented to bikers in each of the waypoints of the tour. A QR code containing facts about the sites was also provided to ensure an inclusive tourism experience, especially for differently-abled bikers who also actively participated in the activity.
The tour traced back to the origin of Katipunan led by Filipino revolutionary heroes who fought for the independence of the country from the Spanish colonial rule.
Santuario del Santo Cristo
The starting point of the tour is the Santuario del Santo Cristo, also known as the Church of San Juan del Monte, which was founded in 1602 by the Dominicans. It faced a series of destruction including the Chinese uprising in 1639 and British invasion of Manila in 1763. It was then rebuilt in 1774 and served as a refuge for Katipuneros during the Philippine Revolution.
The church is also where the remains of Marcela Mariño Agoncillo, the principal seamstress of the first and official flag of the Philippines, were laid to rest.
Tuberias (Arkong Bato)
The next stop of the tour was the Tuberias, which refers to the “water pipes” that were part of the Carriedo Waterworks System. It was pivotal in storing and supplying water to homes and establishments in Manila during the Spanish colonial period by sourcing water from Marikina River.
El Polvorin
This cycling tour continued in El Polvorin, a key site used for storing gunpowder and other ammunition by the Spanish military. The facility was built in 1781 and stored at least 184,000 kilograms of gunpowder.
This site served as a significant witness to early stages of the Philippine revolution in 1896 when Andres Bonifacio and the other members of Katipunan launched an attack on El Polvorin to secure ammunition and firearms in an attempt to protect the El Deposito, the water reservoir that supplied water in Manila.
The former grounds of the El Polvorin is now beneath the San Juan Elementary School. A linear park was also established inside the school grounds to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs who valiantly fought for Philippine independence.
Diwa ng 1896
The next site explored during the tour is the Diwa ng 1896 or the Battle of Pinaglabanan Memorial which served as the catalyst of Philippine Revolution. It is situated at the corner of N. Domingo street where the first battle between Katipuneros and Spanish colonizers occurred in 1896 in their attempt to win over El Polvorin.
The battle resulted in the tragic death of 153 Katipuneros and this site was built as a monument dedicated to their bravery and selfless courage to fight for the freedom of their country.
Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John the Baptist
The tour also made a stop at the St. John the Baptist Church, also known as the Pinaglabanan Church, which was damaged due to the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution alongside the Philippine-American war. It was then renovated in 1951 and became a parish named after St. John the Baptist, the namesake of San Juan City.
Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine
The guided tour ended in the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine dedicated to the Katipunan revolutionaries. The list of Filipinos who were identified as possible Katipuneros can also be found in the shrine. The local government of San Juan commemorates important historical events in the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine including the Independence Day (June 12), Bonifacio Day (November 30), and Araw ng Pinaglabanan (August 30).
The NHCP also provided the participants with a guided tour inside the Museo El Deposito and the Museo ng Katipunan which feature artifacts and interactive modules relevant to the Carriedo Waterworks System and the contributions of Katipunan to the fundamental freedoms of the Philippines.
Beyond providing a tourism experience that anchors love for history, the event also promoted active mobility.
29-year-old Shiela Serquiel, one of the bikers who joined the cycling tour, particularly lauded the initiative of the NHCP to integrate history and a cycling activity.
“Para sa akin, marami kang pwedeng mapuntahan kapag naka-bike ka and mas encouraging siya sa bikers na mahilig sa history na ma-explore ‘yung city sa paraan na nae-enjoy nila which is through biking,” said Serquiel.
(For me, you can go to many places using a bicycle and it is more encouraging for bikers who love history to explore the city in a way that is enjoyable for them which is through biking.)
The Karaban ng Kasaysayan, HisTOURy sa San Juan will again enjoin bikers in a historical cycling holiday on November 29. Bikers or bike groups who are interested in joining the activity are advised to wait for the guidelines of NHCP o their official Facebook Page. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
