HISTORY WATCH: Development of Heroes Hill in Agusan completed; historical site now open to public

The development of the historical Heroes Hill in Barangay Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City has been completed and the project was officially turned over by Cong. Rufus Rodriguez, with Vice Mayor Jocelyn “Bebot” Rodriguez and DOT-10 Regional Director Mae Unchuan, to the Local Government of Barangay Agusan, represented by its Punong Barangay Andrew Melliza. The site is where the Battle of Agusan Hill took place on May 14, 1900.

Cong. Rufus personally funded the development of the site costing around P870,000.

The Heroes Hill is the site of the historic Battle of Agusan Hill where Capt. Vicente Roa and his men hid and waited for the Americans during the Philippine-American War in 1900. Capt. Roa and his men had a vantage view of the bridge where the Americans will pass and of the road leading to the barrio.

However, Capt. Roa did not anticipate that an American warship followed the troops and started to bomb their position in the hill. Capt. Roa died with most of his men on top of the hill and they were all buried there.

Remington rifles captured by Americans in Agusan;
photo-https://criticsrant.com/the-war-in-1900-1901/

The remains of Capt. Roa and his men were later interred in 1931 in a monument dedicated to their memory in Plaza Divisoria.

A historical marker by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines now stands on the hill, installed there on May 4, 2000, the centennial anniversary of the Battle of Agusan Hill.

Here’s the text of the historical marker.

LABANAN SA BUROL AGUSAN

SA POOK NA ITO, MAYO 14, 1900, ANG UNANG KUMPANYA NG LAKAS PANGHIMAGSIKAN NG BATALYONG MINDANAO SA PANGUNGUNA NI KAPITAN VICENTE ROA Y RACINES AT MGA KABALYERIRYA SA PAMUMUNO NI SARHENTO ULDARICO AKUT KASAMA ANG MGA MACHETEROS AY MADUGONG NAKIPAGLABAN SA MGA SUNDALONG AMERIKANO NG IKA-40 REHIMYENTO NG BOLUNTARYONG INPANTERYA NG ESTADOS UNIDOS NA PINANGUNGUNAHAN NI KAPITAN WALTER B. ELLIOT. SI KAPITAN ROA, KASAMA ANG IBA PANG MAKABAYANG PILIPINO AY BUONG KABAYANIHANG NAMATAY SA LABANANG ITO.

SA MGA DAKILANG TAGAPAGTANGGOL NG KALAYAAN NG DATING LALAWIGAN NG MISAMIS LALUNG-LALO NA YAONG MGA NAMATAY SA LABANAN SA BUROL AGUSAN, ANG PANANDANG PANGKASAYSAYANG ITO AY INIAALAY NG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO BILANG PAGGUNITA SA IKASANDAANG TAON NG MAKASAYSAYANG LABANANG ITO.

Steel stairs are built leading to the top of the hill.