'Ang Huling Katipunero,' dokumentaryo ni Howie Severino ngayong Sabado sa I-Witness

Sakay: Ang Huling Katipunero

Then there was just one.

Fighting the emerging superpower America at the turn of the 20th century, Filipino revolutionary leaders fell one by one until a single general remained

As comrades surrendered or were captured  and cooperated with the US colonial government, one kept fighting in the forested mountains of Luzon. His name was Macario Sakay, an original Katipunero and the president of the Republic of Katagalugan.

Yet he is still recalled by many today as a “tulisan,” or robber, a notoriety that caused some of his descendants to change their names.

How did Sakay acquire this reputation? How did he extend the war against the Americans? Does Sakay’s resistance in the face of great odds yield lessons for today’s Filipinos? Who becomes recognized as heroes in history?

Howie Severino and his documentary team explore a cave, visit a prison, and find Sakay descendants to assemble a portrait of a misunderstood historical giant.

Macario Sakay’s descendants share with Howie Severino and his documentary team the burdens and belated pride of bearing his name.

One the of the Sakay descendants, Christian Sakay Cuaderno, was teased as a child. Other clan members changed their names.

Rolando Sakay saw a movie as a youth that depicted his forebear as a horse-riding robber.

Where did this reputation originate? And how come such a figure now has a statue in Tondo?