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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/macario-sakay-and-cabinet.webp" alt="Macario Sakay" />
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(Seated L to R: Julian Montalan, Francisco Carreon, Macario Sakay and Leon Villafuerte; standing, L to R: Benito Natividad and Lucio de Vega. Photo taken in 1907.)
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Born on January 3, 1870 in Tondo, Manila, Sakay, a close confidante of <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/786/today-in-philippine-history-november-30-1863-andres-bonifacio-was-born-in-tondo-manila" class="news_link">Andres Bonifacio</a>, was one of the early members of the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/906/about-the-katipunan" class="news_link">Katipunan</a>.


During the Filipino-American War, General Sakay fled to the mountains, organized the revolutionary forces in Bulacan, Pampanga, Morong (now Rizal), Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas, and later on proclaimed what he called the Tagalog Republic.


The Tagalog Republic had its own flag and with Sakay chosen as president, Francisco Carreon as vice president, drew up a Constitution largely based on the Katipunan creed of Bonifacio and warned all Filipinos not to swear allegiance to the United States.


Sakay became a threat to the Americans; they did not recognize his government and through the Bandolerism Act passed by the Philippine Commission labeled him as an outlaw. The Bandolerism Act proclaimed all captured resistance fighters to be tried in court as bandits, ladrones, and robbers.


However, Sakay and his men enjoyed popular support mostly evident in the countryside. Rural folk offered them food, refuge and shelter. They contributed 10 percent of their income to the revolutionary coffers. They even celebrated Sakay in a popular song.


So popular was Sakay among the people that the Americans had to resort to deception to effect his capture. They persuaded Sakay to lay down his arms for the sake of peace, so that Filipino delegates could be appointed to the new legislative body, the Philippine Assembly.


In July 1906, after receiving a letter from the American governor-general promising amnesty for him and his men in exchange for surrender, Sakay finally surrendered. However, he was arrested and thrown into prison.


Sakay was hanged on Friday the 13th of September 1907 on charges of banditry and armed rebellion, along with Lucio de Vega.

September 13, 1907: Macario Sakay was hanged