Chapter 66: Cabezas
Taking control of Boac was the first step to it all.
That was the reason for the grand speech I made at the plaza—to energize the common populace for the war effort and put pressure on the principalia. It was a leap of faith, a move that should work on paper, but things did not always turn out according to plan.
But in my case, it would seem that it did.
I had sent an order to all the cabezas de barangay, giving the barrio chiefs quotas for both men and supplies. They were technically part of the principalia, but unlike the elites in town, the cabezas were somewhat closer to the common people due to the nature of their work. And if my speech had done its job, they would be the most exposed to the patriotic fervor of the people and would find it difficult to contradict my demands.
I had not expected an immediate response, as the requests were not something to be arranged overnight, but I grew anxious when nothing arrived in the following days.
It was only on Friday when the first cabeza turned up at the doors of the Casa Real—and his was from one of the farther inland barangays, about two hours’ walking distance from the town.
Señor Tiburcio Sales was the cabeza of barrio Canat, the same barrio where my abaca plantation was located, and I had long been on good terms with him. Accompanying him was none other than my dutiful capataz, Leonardo Perez.
As I had written down in the quota for the barrio, the cabeza brought with him ten men. I had required less from barangays that already had some of their young men in my current pool of recruits, but being distant, Canat must not have been reached by the colonel or by Pedro in their recruitment drives.
Señor Sales also managed to deliver his quota of resources and supplies—and even exceeded them.