THE MALABANAS RAILROAD BRIDGE: AN IMPORTANT RELIC OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899

Investigating History
THE MALABANAS RAILROAD BRIDGE: AN IMPORTANT RELIC OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899

Currently, I am doing extensive research on the Philippine-American War in Pampanga, Tarlac and the Aeta domain in a period of 1899-1900, where I plan to publish a book about these forgotten conflicts. In the course of my academic research, I visit the former battlefields and define the place in historical context.

NEW FOOT BRIDGE AND THE HISTORIC BRIDGE
Recently, we visited the iron bridge of the old Manila-Dagupan Railroad Line, still in existence and standing over the Balibago Creek, Malabanas, Angeles City. Someone in Facebook posted it and upon seeing it on-line, made it to a point to have a field inspection on August 7, 2025. Upon reaching the site, there perhaps the only remaining iron bridge of the former Manila-Dagupan Railroad, looks ancient but still in its glory as a witness in history on the struggle of our Nation in 1899. Beside it, is a modern footbridge being finish for construction. According to the lead engineers, the old railroad bridge will be preserved but removed to another site. As of this writing, the footbridge should be already opened for the locals to use. As for the iron railroad bridge, I just wish it could be preserved, or part of it, for museum exhibit and related purpose.

THE MALABANAS IRON RAILROAD BRIDGE
The Malabanas railroad bridge is located 770 meters from SM City Clark, in Barangay Malabanas, with GPS coordinates at 150 09’ 40” N, 1200 35’ 05” N. We made a quick estimate of the length of the bridge at about 20 meters (70 feet), width at about 4.5 meters (15 feet) and a height of 1 meter (3 feet).

It is amazing how locals took care of the railroad bridge that instead of destroying and looting the iron bridge, like what happened to most of the small bridges in the aftermath of the 1980s when the operation of the railroad line stopped, people made use of it to cross the Balibago Creek. The Balibago Creek is quite deep down from the bridge to the river banks, which looks more of a gorge with approximately more than 9 meters (30 feet).

THE BEGINNING
Looking at the remains of the iron bridge is like going back into history, the dark colored brown surface of the iron with signs of heavy corrosion but still intact, the welds and bolts, as well as the rivets protruding all signify a journey in history from the time the railroad line was open to traffic in 1892 until its demise in operation in the 1980s. With the opening of European markets for Filipino products, the Spanish colonial government highlighted the importance of the modern transportation system like the railway line from Manila to Dagupan for the speedy transportation of goods, services and people across Luzon.

King Alfonso XII of Spain promulgated the decree for the development of the railroad line, and commissioned Don Eduardo Lopez Navarro for the project study, which eventually opened on November 24, 1892. Thus, the railroad bridge was opened for traffic of the railroad line on the same day.

THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899
The operation of the railroad line was cut-off when the hostilities erupted between the Americans and the Filipinos, with the outbreak of the Philippine-American War in 1899 which started in Manila. As the war dragged on to the north, with Major General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. of the 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps leading the American forces along the railroad line, the railroad became an important military use in transporting troops, guns, cannons and supplies across the vast plains of Central Luzon. American troops under General MacArthur entered Pampanga Province when the Filipino defenders on the north side of the Rio Grande (Pampanga River) under General Antonio Luna were defeated. The battlefield was established along the railroad line, as Filipinos defended each strategic points as the Battle of Apalit (April 28, 1899), Sto. Tomas (May 4, 1899), San Fernando (May 5, 1899)and Angeles (August 16, 1899).

THE ABACAN LINE 1899
At Angeles, General MacArthur established headquarters of his command at the Pamintuan Mansion (now the Museum for Philippine Social History), his 1st and 2nd Brigade. The front was established along the Abacan River in Angeles, where to the north side, the Filipino forces under General Luciano San Miguel, was posted and the area was fortified with series of trenches on both sides of the railroad tracks in the area around the bridge. Main base of military operation was at the barrio of Malabanas and Balibago, where to the right side, the Aquino Brigade was deployed do guard the enemy entry into Magalang and to the left side, the Sapang Bato and Pulasapis were important camps. Further to the southwest of Angeles, in the direction of Porac, was the Mascardo Brigade.

A MUTE WITNESSS TO HISTORY
The headquarters of the Philippine Army was established in Bamban (Tarlac), as well as an important base of the Corps of Artillery. Thus the railroad bridge over the Balibago Creek in Malabanas became a testament to the history of the struggle of our Nation at the height of the Philippine-American War from August 16 to November 8, 1899. Along that railroad bridge, traversed the Filipino defenders, the cannons and the rapid-fire guns and even American prisoners who were brought by General Jose Alejandrino on September 30, 1899 to be handed over to General MacArthur and General Wheaton at the Pamintuan Mansion headquarters.

SITE OF HISTORIC BATTLE: THE SAN MIGUEL BRIGADE
Filipino soldiers, mostly from the Zambales Battalion, Lacuna Column and the Kawit Battalion defended the area of Malabanas against the attacks of the elements of the American 1st Brigade and the 22nd U.S. Infantry. Major battles fought on September 28, 1899, the Americans under 22nd U.S. Infantry, were able to penetrate that side of the Abacan Line of the San Miguel Brigade and fought on that bridge. On October 16, 1899, an all-out attack was made by the San Miguel Brigade, in conjunction with the operation of the Aquino and Mascardo Brigade against General MacArthur’s Angeles base.

The railroad bridge and the railroad line were utilized for transportation of military supplies and weapons and in reinforcing troops on the front line, coming from Tarlac and the north. Finally, on November 8, 1899, the main Filipino forces on the Abacan Line retreated further to the north, as General MacArthur and his headquarters and division begun the advance along the railroad line for the attack on Mabalacat and crossed the Malabanas railroad bridge.

RELIC OF THE PAST, SYMBOL FOR THE FUTURE
The bridge had become mute witness to history. It can be concluded that series of repairs were conducted on the railroad bridge during the American colonial era and after WWII. But the main bridge must have some of the original iron planks in the passage of time, that are still visible and attached to the original frame of the bridge. Unfortunately, the railroad line and the bridge suffered a devastating setback, when our politicians decided the fate of the important transportation system that instead of rehabilitation, it was sunk into the oblivion of neglect and ultimately demise in the 1990s.

Seeing the remains of the railroad bridge brought me back into history. if only the steel and iron planks of this relic in history can speak and tell us vividly of the wars and battles that fought around that bridge for our national liberation and freedom.

© 2025 Rhonie Dela Cruz
2024 Bamban Historical Society
Bamban WWII Museum
Provincial Government of Tarlac –
Tarlac Provincial Tourism Office