Pinaglabanan Day in San Juan Date in the current year: August 30, 2025

The seeds of the revolution were sown by the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary organization founded by a group of Filipino nationalists in 1892. The Katipunan aimed to overthrow the Spanish colonial government through an armed rebellion. After several years of careful planning, the organization was discovered by Spanish authorities on August 19, 1896, setting the events of the Philippine Revolution in motion.

On August 23, 1896, Katipunan members led by Andrés Bonifacio declared war on Spain in Caloocan. Several skirmishes followed, but the first major battle of the revolution was fought in San Juan del Monte a week later.

On the evening of August 29, Bonifacio and his aide, Emilio Jacinto, led a group of revolutionaries to a Spanish gunpowder depot called El Polvorín in San Juan. They intended to seize the depot and El Deposito, an underground water supply that provided fresh water to Manila and its surrounding areas.

After two successful skirmishes with the Spanish guards, Bonifacio’s troops were joined by about 400 more Katipuneros. Meanwhile, the Spanish were joined by the 73rd Regiment, composed of Filipino conscripts and Spanish officers.

After regrouping, the revolutionaries attacked the Spanish troops. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Spanish killed about 150 revolutionaries and captured 200 more, suffering almost no losses themselves (two killed and several wounded). The disastrous outcome of the battle forced Bonifacio and his troops to retreat toward the Pasig River.

Although the Battle of San Juan del Monte resulted in heavy losses for the revolutionaries, it played a significant role in spreading armed resistance to other provinces. This battle is also known as the Battle of Pinaglabanan, which translates from Tagalog as “battleground” or “place of struggle”.

The Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, built in San Juan in 1976 near the former site of El Polvorín, was constructed to commemorate the Battle of Pinaglabanan. The shrine’s centerpiece is a brass sculpture called the Spirit of Pinaglabanan, created by the renowned Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo. On August 30, 1996, the Katipunan Museum (originally named the Museum of the Revolution) opened within the Pinaglabanan Shrine grounds.

Pinaglabanan Day was designated a special nonworking holiday in San Juan by presidential proclamation. The holiday is marked by special events, including a flag-raising ceremony, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, and a 21-gun salute in honor of the revolutionary heroes who bravely fought against the Spanish.

Pinaglabanan Day is celebrated just five days after another holiday inspired by the Philippine Revolution, National Heroes’ Day. National Heroes’ Day is a national holiday that honors all heroes of the Philippine Revolution, known and unknown, who do not have their own holiday.