LUKBAN
on the tenacity of the resistance in the island to renew their calls for the independence of the Philippines . This in turn further emboldened the people to offer life and property in Samar and to continue the struggle for independence . 21
For one , there were sections of the American public that seemed to have been impressed by his courage and tenacity in defying the might of the American army . In July 1901 , a guerrilla in Samar forwarded a letter about “ the views of our brothers over there in America .”
His opponents thought that “ he now felt that the eyes of the world were upon him , and he determined not to surrender , but to continue his operations . Whatever may be thought of Lukban ’ s methods , he is undoubtedly a strong and capable man who had done well with his resources ; but it would seem that he should have realized that the cause of Philippine independence was for the time quite dead , and that nothing he could do in Samar could revivify it .” 22
In their analysis , Lukban was “ one of those obstinate Asiatics who , having once decided to do a thing , find their mind close upon it and from that time – to them – what they have willed to be , is .” Meaning , Lukban was governed by his passion rather than reason . “ Lukban , like some other men among the insurgents , held to independence – not ultimate , not immediate independence – with the same rigidity of will which enables a Hindu ascetic to hold his arm in one position until it withers .” 23
Taking over Leyte command
Indeed , on the first week of August , Lukban wrote that since Mojica , the revolutionary commander of Leyte , had surrendered , he was taking over command in Leyte . For that he sent his trusted secretary Florentino Peñaranda , a Leyteño , to take over the command in his behalf . 24
In the ensuing months when the Americans occupied Samar and set up garrisons in several towns , 25 support from the residents would be more difficult to obtain as the American soldiers kept a tight watch over the movements of the residents . Some of them would eventually transfer their loyalties and became Lukban ’ s hated “ Americanistas ” who supplied information to his enemies or became spies . The rest of the population who tried to remain steadfast became most vulnerable to the enemy ’ s enticements as well as threats . 26
Unwavering
But Lukban ’ s tenacity was shared by many locals as amply shown in several instances where residents bordered on the state of near rebellion in varying degrees of intensity and breadth . In some interior towns
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