Halt and Alto Encounter
By Rudy Arizala
It as been told and retold in most of our history books, but so far nobody has bothered to publish or asked the question what was the version of the "incident" on the Filipino army side? Who were those Filipino soldiers involved in the encounter at San Juan on 4 February 1899? How many Filipinos were killed or wounded? Why is it that most encounters or events of the Philippine-American war of 1899 up to 1901 were narrated by either American soldiers or U.S. correspondents? Were there no Flipino participants in that war who kept records or stories of said historical episodes?
Of course, as the saying goes, "it is the victors who write history."
Did U.S. soldier Grayson act on his own or simply follow standing instructions from his superiors? Did he assume that the "enemy" understand the word "halt"? And the Filipino soldier expected that the U.S. soldier would understand the Spanish word "Alto" which is the same as the English word "halt"?
Why was it known in some history book as the "Battle of San Juan Bridge" when later on historians said the incident did not happen on the bridge but at a small side street of San Juan village near the river? Did U.S. soldier Grayson make it up that the Filipino soldier or soldiers attempted to cross the bridge and occupy the American line on the other side of the river to justify his shooting at the figure allegedly in front of him on the bridge?
Be that as it may, that "encounter" in San Juan Village between "halt" and "alto" was the spark which ignited the Philippine-American war in 1899. If there was a war going on between the Filipino and American forces, why was it that the December 1899 Treaty of Paris (called the "Peace Treaty" by some) was signed between the representatives of the U.S. and of the Spanish Government and the presence or representatives of the Filipinos were ignored or not even allowed to participate as observers?