MUNICIPALITY OF BATAC, Historical Data Part II
PART II
PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V | PART VI | PART VII
[Acknowledgements, 1939.]
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
--oOo--
This is not an attempt to write down local history. Said patriotic and arduous task awaits a better-qualified mind and a more discerning brain which can assemble with patience the very rich materials that make up the History of Batac and assemble them with logic and precision into the beautiful and marvelous fabric as decreed by a colorful existence of more than three hundred and fifty years.
For the town of Batac has a very colorful history.
What is presented now for the first time is only a modest attempt to comply with Executive Order No. 136, dated January 3, 1938, of His Excellency, the President of the Philippines. What was accomplished was a mere scratch on the surface, the rich vein of fact, legend, tradition, to lie and await the magic wand of the future historian.
However, it must be confessed that making this bare compilation was very thrilling while it lasted. It was a labor of love and study because the researchers were elated at times when they unearthed facts which they come to know for the first time. Here is hoping the same spirit of sacrifice will inspire the future historian when he will improve and enlarge this first compilation.
Headed by the incumbent Municipal Mayor, Don Leon Q. Verano, the following made this modest work possible: Attorney Tomas R. Daradar, Attorney Florendo N. Pablo, actual Member of the Provincial Board of Ilocos Norte; Mr. Juan C. Javier, a law graduate; Mr. Mariano N. Nalupta, Municipal Secretary; Mr. Raymundo Sibucao and Mr. Pablo C. Ayson.
Acknowledgements to other individuals who furnished materials for this work are made in the course of this chronology.
Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
[Letter, 1939]
Batac, Ilocos Norte
Commonwealth of the Philippines
July 30, 1939
Mr. Leon Q. Verano
Municipal Mayor
Batac, Ilocos Norte
Dear Mayor Verano:
We are submitting here with the finished draft of what we made called "A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BATAC," which your good self entrusted to usfor compilation.
In undertaking the work, we were always conscious of our limitations but inspired by the dire need of such an important record in the locality and imbued by the great desire of serving you and our people, we undertook the work in the scope as outlined by you and required by Executive Order No. 136 dated January 3, 1938, of His Excellency, the President of the Philippines.
We cannot very well say that what we are submitting now is complete and executive. Such apparent shortcomings may be all due to the scarcity of materials for the purpose. Here is only hoping the present compilation will serve the purpose for which it was intended.
Due acknowledgements of the valuable help and cooperation of certain individuals in the work are made in the compilation. It can be rightly stated here that without said help and cooperation, this work would not have been possible.
In closing, should you make your suggestion that in order to bring the work always up to date, a committee should be appointed every January to appraise the events of the past year for eventual inclusion in this compilation.
Reiterating our gratitude to you and of the esteemed trust and confidence you reposed on us and hoping to be always of service to you and our fellow townsmen, were [we're?], Sir.
Tomas R. Darader
Juan C. Javier
Mariano N. Nalupta
Raymundo R. Sibucao
Pablo C. Ayson
[Resolution.]
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF BATAC
ILOCOS NORTE
EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF BATAC, ILOCOS
NORTE, HELD ON THE 28TH DAY OF JULY
1939
PRESENT:
Mr. Leon Q. Verano, Mayor
Mr. Tomas Magno, Vice-Mayor
Mr. Eugenio Mendoza, Councilor
Mr. Vicente Teanño, Councilor
Mr. Ligrimas Najera, Councilor
Mr. Andres Lopez, Councilor
Mr. Francisco Nalupta, Councilor
Mr. Deogracias F. Castro, Councilor
ABSENT:
N O N E .
RESOLUTION NO. 93*
As per Executive Order of His Excellency, the President of the Philippines, The Municipal Mayor presented the chronological History of the Municipality of Batac prepared and compiled with the instrumental help of Attorney Tomas R. Daradar, Attorney Florendo N. Pablo, Incumbent Member of the Provincial Board of Ilocos Norte, Mr. Juan C. Javier, a law gradaute, Mr. Mariano Nalupta, Municipal Secretary, Mr. Raymundo R. Sibucao and Mr. Pablo C. Ayson.
On motion by Councilor Andres Lopez, seconded by Councilor Francisco M. Nalupta, it was.
RESOLVED, that this Council accepts as true and correct the history of Batac as submitted, thanking the collaborators, Attorney Tomas Daradar, Attorney Florendo Pablo, incumbent Member of the Provincial Board of Ilocos Norte, Mr. Juan C. Javier, a law graduate, Mr. Mariano N. Nalupta, Municipal Secretary, Raymundo Sibucao and Mr. Pablo Ayson, who were responsible for the work in compliance with Executive Order No. 136.
Carried unanimously.
I hereby certify to the correctness of the above quoted resoluton.
MUNICIPAL SECRETARY
Copy for:
Attorney Tomas R. Daradar
Attorney Forendo M. Pablo
Mr. Juan C. Javier
Mr. Mariano N. Nalupta
Mr. Raymundo Sibucao
Mr. Pablo C. Ayson
[p. 1]
[This section was untitled in the original document but appears to be the start of a timeline of events compiled as per instructions of Executive Order No. 136 dated 1938.]
1714 - The town curate was Fr. Eugenio Costales and the Capitan Bazar was Don Valentin Crisostomo.
1715 - The town curate was Fr. Manuel Viloria and the Capitan Bazar was Don Francisco de Peralta
1716 - The town curate was Fr. Francisco Fontanilla and the Gobernadorcillo was Don Alonzo Sagban. Begining this year, the term "Capitan Bazar" was changed to "Gobernadorcillo." The highest official of the province was HERIARUS. [A] Smallpox epidemic occurred in the locality.
1717 to 1718 - The town curate was still Fr. Francisco Fontanilla and the gobenadorcillo was still again Don Francisco de Peralta.
1719 - The town curate was again Mr. Luis Marzan and the gobernadorcillo was again Don Andres Quiaoit. The course of the river was changed to make it pass through Sitio Nagribkan. Since then, said river was commonly called Quiaoit River. The road to Paoay was also transferred to another route.
1720 - The town curate was still Fr. Luis Marzan and the gobernadorcillo was still Don Andres Quiaoit.
1721 - The town curate was still Fr. Luis Marzan and the gobernadorcillo was Don Manuel Esquibel. The Roman Catholic Church, which was yet a temporary building of cogon, roofing was burned down.
1722 - Town Curate - Fr. Jacinto Rivera; Gobernadorcillo - Don Andres Quiaoit.
1723 - Town Curate - Fr. Jacinto Rivera; Gobernadorcillo - Don Simon Leonardo. The highest official of the province was Sr. Cordova.
1724 - Town Curate - Fr. Jacinto Rivera; Gobernadorcillo - Don Gabriel Mangal-lan. Stone bridge west of the Roman Catholic church was built.
1725 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Bartolome; Gobernadorcillo - Don Simon Leonardo.
1726 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Bartolome; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Piñget.
1727 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Bartolome; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Piñget.
1728 - Town Curate - Fr. Cristobal Collado; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Piñget.
1729 - Town Curate - Fr. Cristobal Collado; Gobernadorcillo - Don Simon Leonardo. The road leading to Paoay was started. This was a transfer from the old route which ran along the Quiaoit Tiver.
1730 - Town Curate - Fr. Cristobal Collado; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Laureano. Smallpox epidemic occurred during this year.
1731 - Town Curate - Fr. Marcos Arachita; Gobernadorcillo - Don Francisco Muños.
1732 - Town Curate - Fr. Marcos Arachita; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Pidal.
1733 - Town Curate - Fr. Marcos Arachita; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Piñget. The highest official of the province was Sr. Jube. During this time, [a] smallpox epidemic occurred.
1734 - Town Curate - Fr. Josef Cantero; Gobernadorcillo - Don Ambrocio Garcia.
1735 - Town Curate - Fr. Josef Cantero; Gobernadorcillo - Don Simon Leonardo.
1736 - Town Curate - Fr. Josef Cantero; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pedro Garcia.
1737 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Davalos; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pedro Garcia. The bridge southwest of the Tribunal was built.
1738 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Davalos; Gobernadorcillo - Don Gabriel Manglal-lan.
[p. 2]
1739 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Davalos; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Eraldo.
1740 - Town Curate - Fr. Josef Herise; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Eraldo. The visit of the Attorney General Don Ignacio Rebollido Arzadon, who brought with him standard weights and measures for the Philippines such as the steel-yard, ganta, chupa, cavan, contracts, and ordinances.
1741 - Town Curate - Fr. Josef Herise; Gobernadorcillo - Don Ventora Felix.
1742 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Calderon; Gobernadorcillo - Don Josef de la Cruz.
1743 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Calderon; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Guillermo Quiaoit.
1744 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Calderon; Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara. Earthquake and smallpox epidemic among children occurred.
1745 - Town Curate - Fr. Tomas Matote; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Eraldo.
1746 - Town Curate - Fr. Tomas Matote; Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara.
1747 - Town Curate - Fr. Tomas Matote; Gobernadorcillo - Don Manuel Esquivel.
1748 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Calderon; Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara. The Administration of Sr. Vallejo of the Province. The visit of Oidor; and laying the cornerstone of the present Roman Catholic church at 10:00 A.M. on a day in the month of March.
1749 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Calderon; Gobernadorcillo - Don Josef de la Cruz.
1750 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Calderon; Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara.
1751 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Garis (Gasis); Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara. Putting the rafters of the present Catholic church.
1752 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Garis (Gasis); Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara.
1753 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Dumrigue; Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara.
1754 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Beytia; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pedro Garcia. Cholera epidemic in the months of October and November; about 700 people perished; the people observed the superstition of beating their floors in their belief to drive the plague away.
1755 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Beytia; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Mariano.
1756 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Garis (Gasis); Gobernadorcillo - Don Bernardo Acosta.
1757 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Garis (Gasis); Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Toribio.
1758 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Garis (Gasis); Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Toribio.
1759 - Confirmation ceremonies in the church.
1759 - Town Curate - Fr. Marcos Echivaria; Gobernadorcillo - Don Diego Gorospe Lara.
1760 - Town Curate - Fr. Marcos Echiveria; Gobernadorcillo - Don Josef de la Cruz. On Tuesday, March 15, at about 10:00 in the morning, a big conflagration in Barrios Batac, Nalasin, and Kaoayan, all within the poblacion; more than 200 houses, 92 kitchens and 54 granaries were burned down.
1761 - Town Curate - Fr. Marcos Echivaria; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pedro Lopez.
1762 - Town Curate - Fr. Pedro Vivar; Gobernadorcillo - Don Felix Victorino de Perlata. Smallpox epidemic; from December 24, 1752 to May 27, 1763.
[p. 3]
the Ilocos rose in revolt under the leadership of Diego Silang, a native of Zambales. He proclaimed himself as the leader of this province and wanted the people to be friends with the British invaders and cast away their allegiance to the Spaniards. His followers even went to the extent of imprisoning the friars, including the Bishop, Don Bernardino Oxtaris in the convent of Bantay. Silang was murdered by a Spanish mestizo named Vico who shot him with a revolver (tribulo). After the tragedy, the imprisoned friars were set free on May 28, 1763, through the intervention of Caoiki's reinforcement. Caoiki was a native of Batak.
1763 - Town curate - Fr. Pedro Vivar; Gobernadorcillo - Don Felix Victoriano de Peralta.
1764 - Town curate - Fr. Pedro Vivar; Gobernadorcillo - Don Felix Victoriano de Peralta.
1765 - Town curate - Fr. Manuel Alvarez; Gobernadorcillo - Don Alberto Hipolito.
1766 - Town curate - Fr. Vicente Gallejo; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Guillermo. The highest official of the province was Sr. Vicos. The road to San Nicolas was opened.
1767 - Town curate - Fr. Vicente Gallejo; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Guillermo.
1768 - Town curate - Fr. Vicente Gallejo; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Toribio. Cholera epidemic during the month of December 1768 and January and February 1769; more than 800 people died.
1769 - Town curate - Fr. Manuel Paras; Gobernadorcillo - Don Antonio Eugenio. Big flood.
1770 - Town curate - Fr. Manuel Paras; Gobernadorcillo - Don Antonio Eugenio. Building the foundation of the southern bridge.
1771 - Town curate - Fr. Manuel Paras; Gobernadorcillo - Don Alberto Hipolito.
1772 - Town curate - Fr. Melchor Garbido; Gobernadorcillo - Don Manuel de la Cruz y Castro (He was a native of Laoag.).
1773 - Town curate - Fr. Fernando Rey; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Corpuz.
1774 - Town curate - Fr. Fernando Rey; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pastor, Justo. Demonstration made by the women in the town because the curate forbade them to go naked when taking a bath.
1775 - Town curate - Fr. Fernano Rey; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Lopez. Smallpox epidemic.
1776 - Town curate - Fr. Fernando Rey; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Garcia y Castro.
1777 - Town curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pascual Antonio. Burning of the house of Don Pedro Bubo, standing on the southwest corner at about 4 to 5 o'clock in the morning. Ceremonies during Easter Sunday were going [on] in the church and in the rush of the people to go out, 20 persons were trampled to death at the door of the church.
1778 - Town curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Miguel de la Cruz y Castro. Digging of the well by the kitchen south of the church.
1779 - Town curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Garcia y Castro.
1780 - Town curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Antonio Pascual.
1781 - Town curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Melchor Lagmay.
1782 - Town curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Josef Cantero. Tobacco monopoly, branding of large cattle.
[p. 4]
1783 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Josef Cantero. Famine because of general drought and the appearance of locusts in the month of June and September; strong earthquake causing a big crack one yard wide east of the sacristy.
1784 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Pedro Albano. Measles epidemic causing the death of 150 persons.
1785 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Cristobal Borromeo Quiaoit. Digging of the well south of the church; conflagration at Barrion Nalasin.
1786 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Cristobal Borromeo Quiaoit.
1787 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Andres Sabas (The surname of the gobernadorcillo was "Invencion," but he preferred to use the surname of his godfather.
1788 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Antonio Mariano Mercado. Smallpox epidemic occurred during this year.
1789 - Town Curate - Fr. Agustin Pedro Blaquer; Gobernadorcillo - Don Felipe Santiago Quiaoit.
1790 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Mariano Lopez.
1791 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Marcos Felipe. Cementing of the walls of the new church which enclosed the old church building. The walls were of stone up to the windows of fifty yards long; designed and built by Fr. Manuel Aparicio, with Jose Cleto as the master mason, with different imbarangays working on particular positions of said building assigned to them.
1792 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Josef Antonio.
1793 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Andres Sabas. Continuation of the work and building of the church.
1794 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Manuel Crisostomo (A descendant of one from San Nicolas).
1795 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Josef Quiaoit. Completion of the church building, with tiles as floors, the chancel was of hard wood.
1796 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Cristobal Borromeo Quiaoit.
1797 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Lucas Rodriguez.
1798 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pascual Santiago Baylon.
1799 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Carlos Alejandro Mercado.
1800 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Andres Sabas. On Friday, January 24th, at about 11 or 12 at noon, the church and convent were burned including the pipe organ which was bought for ₱4,000.00 and the costly frames adorning the pillars of the church. The fire spread and 274 houses, 111 kitchens and 77 granaries were burned down. Four persons were also burned to death. This tragedy was said to have been started by a cat on whose tail the servants of the curate tied a piece of cotton which [was] later set fire by them.
1801 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nestorio Castro.
1802 - Town Curate - Fr. Manuel Aparicio; Gobernadorcillo - Don Pedro Crisostomo.
[p. 5]
1803 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Mauricio Lopez.
1804 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Salvador Castillo. This year, a general famine occurred.
1805 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Nicolas Bispo. General conscription by Taguinod, even married males, or with children or widows were taken. This was the beginning of a great famine because for two years, 1805 and 1806, because of severe drought, there was no harvest from the unirrigated rice fields and very little harvest from those [with] irrigation ditches. Don Antonio Lazo y Lopez, who had a sailboat and who used to travel to Pangasinan, was considered to be the savior of the people because he brought home palay, which was bartered to the people with cotton yarn; that in said barter, an equal weight of cotton yarn was exchanged for an equal weight of palay; and that when cash was used in the purchase, said cash was measured by means of a "taradio" (one joint of a bamboo, which was used as a dry measure) so that the number of taradios of rice would be bought by an equal number of taradios of money. Locusts invaded the locality. In the succeeding year, 1807, on December 8th, at about 4:30 P.M., the house of Don Antonio Lazo y Lopez was burned down, the first starting from a room where balls of cotton yarn were stored.
During this year, the people started planting corn, and one ganta of shelled corn coming from Cagayan cost 25 centavos.
1806 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Mercado
1807 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Vicente y Sabas. On September 22, between 10:00 and 11:00 A.M., under the leadership of Don Pedro Mateo and Salpugo Ambaristo, a father and his two sons, 40 soldier deserters, mostly from Piddig and other towns in the north, entered the town as a demonstration or uprising against the tobacco monopoly which they wanted to end; that they should be allowed to manufacture basi; that a married male and widowers should be free from conscription.
The incumbent gobernadorcillo, Don Vicente Sabas, was mixed in the trouble because he furnished a drum to the soldier-deserters. For this act, he was banished to Misamis for a period of eight years.
1808 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Cristobal Borromeo Quiaoit. On the epidemic of malignant smallpox from the month of May to July, 839 people died from this epidemic.
1809 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Carlos Alejandro Mercado.
1810 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Miguel Silvestre. Confirmation ceremonies in the church.
1811 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Juan Josef Quiaoit. Fire at barrio Binagan where 32 houses were burned down.
1812 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Martin Bautista de Jesus.
1813 - Town Curate - Fr. Francisco Antonio Abella; Gobernadorcillo - Don Vicente Braceros Cubangbang. Uprising of the masses because of the severe
[p. 6]
punishment inflicted by them on the gobernadorcillo.
Stone wall around the orchard north of the church was built.
1814 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Arriortua; Gobernadorcillo - Don Francisco de Panta Valentino. Abolition of enforced labor among the people.
1815 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Arriortua; Gobernadorcillo - Don Martin Rubio de Peralta. Bridge across the Garasgas Creek was built, improving and strengthening the road to Paoay.
1816 - Town Curate - Fr. Andre Rodriguez Castro (Castaño); Gobernadorcillo - Don Esteban Nicolas Quiaoit. Revolt in Sarrat. The people of Sarrat rose in revolt and entered the town of San Nicolas where they killed people and ransacked the town.
1817 - Town Curate - Fr. Andres Rodriguez Castro (Castaño); Gobernadorcillo - Don Leon Rubio de Peralta. Building of the roofing of the southern bridge of the poblacion; also of the bridge across the Garasgas Creek.
1818 - Town Curate - Fr. Andres Rodriguez Castro (Castaño); Gobernadorcillo - Don Marcos Laureano Reyes. A general sickness of mumps (pañgo) from February up to March in which 396 people died.
1819 - Town Curate - Fr. Andres Rodriguez Castro (Castaño); Gobernadorcillo - Don Pedro Nolasco Quiaoit. The building of the masonry of the convent, designed by Don Francisco Francisco. The Judge, Don Jacinto Pinto, was then holding court in Laoag.
1820 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampiego; Gobernadorcillo - Don Prudencio Antonio Quiaoit. On Sunday, April 5th, just after the Mass at 8:00 in the morning, a severe storm arose and destroyed many houses and fruit trees. On Friday, December 24th at 7:00 P.M., there was a strong earthquake and the bell hanging from the frontage of the church fell down.
1821 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampiego; Gobernadorcillo - Don Guillermo Corpuz. Cholera epidemic from February 27 to the month of October, more than 906 people died. The people observed the superstition of striking their floors in the belief to drive the epidemic away.
1822 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampliego; Gobernadorcillo - Don Julian Mercado.
1822 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampliego; Gobernadorcillo - Don Manuel Quiaoit. Note: Concerning this year, the term "gobernadorcillo" was changed to "Alcalde" to signify the highest official of the town.1
1822 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampliego; Alcalde - Don Domingo Asuncion Pimentel (He assumed the office in September with the title of Alcalde).
1823 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampliego; Alcalde - Don Justino Casimiro.
1823 - Town Curate - Fr. Miguel Pampliego; Alcalde - Don Gabriel Remegio. Fr. Miguel Pampliego died in this town.
1824 - Town Curate - Fr. Justo Hermosa; Alcalde - Don Julian Mercado.
1824 - Town Curate - Fr. Justo Hermosa; Alcalde - Don Facundo Primitivo de Mata. On September 23, big fires in Barrios Binagan, Caoayan and Calungbuyan occurred.
1825 - Town Curate - Fr. Justo Hermosa; Alcalde - Don Marcos Laureano Reyes.
1826 - Town Curate - Fr. Justo Hermosa; Alcalde - Don Leon Rubio de Peralta.
[p. 7]
1827 - Town Curate - Fr. Justo Hermosa; Alcalde - Don Maximiano Antonio. There were big fires in barrios Labukao, Batac, and Kaoayan, which started from the house of Jose Julian and which burned down more than 266 houses.
1828 - Town Curate - Fr. Justo Hermosa; Alcalde - Don Balbino Rubio Pimentel.
1829 - Town Curate - Fr. Gregorio Martin; Alcalde - Don Tomas Paulo.
1830 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Quiles; Alcalde - Don Miguel de la Cruz Dangcil.
1831 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Quiles; Alcalde - Don Dedacio Alcala y Castro.
1832 - Town Curate - Fr. Abdon Joaquin Ramirez; Alcalde - Don Joaquin Ramirez (Apparently, no new alcalde was appointed this year).
1833 - Town Curate - Fr. Abdon Joaquin Ramires; Alcalde - Don Leon Rubio de Peralta. The cross of the frontage of the church was struck by lightning during Corpus Christi Day.
1834 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Clemente Bangcud.
1835 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Juan Francisco Rodriguez.
1836 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Miguel de la Cruz y Dangcil. Building the bell tower; appearance of Moro pirates in the port of Currimao.
1837 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Felipe Rubio de Peralta.
1838 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Balbino Rubio Pimentel. Opening of the road going to Maglaoi; work in the project was done for five consecutive weeks to make it ready for the Archbishop Fr. Don Jose Segui to pass on his carriage from Cagayan to Vigan; confirmation ceremonies among the children in the church performed by Archbishop Segui because the bishop in Nueva Segovia died.
It was Easter Sunday when the Archbishop arrived in Batac, arriving at the same time the with Capt. Gen. of the Philippines, Don Andres Garcia Camba. To celebrate the great event, a comedy show, the Life of Noe, was shown at the theater at night. When the show ended between 9:00 and 10:00, fire arose in the northwest corner of the roof of the convent which was burned down, including the church and 5 houses standing across southwest from the church. The fire was said to have been started by a skyrocket. The next morning, while the embers were being put out, one soldier started to make an investigation. The people were enraged by this act and they tried to grab him. He ran to the headquarters and he was followed by the mob. All the soldiers in the barracks were routed by the people, and the soldiers ran to the house of Don Joaquin Sabas for protection, where they fired their firearms. Their corporal was separated from them because he ran to the churchyard where he was manhandled by the crowd who wanted to kill him, but he was saved by the Teniente Mayor, Don Benito Luis, who took him under his arms.
1839 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Benito Paterno Luis. The rafters of the church were put on.
1840 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Lucas Baptista. Poor rice crop due to drought and plant pest. The roof of the church was finished. One Tomas Corpuz pushed a carabao on which two children were riding and one of the children died because the carabao fell on him.
[p. 8]
Agustin Mauricio murdered his wife, his wife's parents, his nephews and nieces.
1841 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Facundo Primitivo. Building the bell tower.
1842 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Sagusti; Alcalde - Don Tomas Valdez. Building the roof of the convent.
1843 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Lijoco; Alcalde - Don Silbestre Manglal-lan. Appearance of the big comet on the southwestern part of the sky. Its tail was white and long. June - cholera morbo epidemic; 148 people died. The people observed the superstition of striking their floors at 8:00 at night in their belief to drive the plague away.
1844 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Lijoco; Alcalde - Don Feliciano Juan Lopinto. Under the leadership of Geronima Martin and Josefa Domingo, two daring women leaders, women of the locality protected [probably protested] against the "holy ball" (santa bola) because the town curate wanted them to give alms which they were to throw at the space west of the convent.
1845 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Lijoco; Alcalde - Don Juan Joaquin. Appearance of a small comet in the south. March 8th - burning of the church and convent in Laoag. Opening of the road in Patapat leading to Cagayan. Tranferring the observance of the Sabbath Day from Saturday to Sunday.
1846 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Lijoco; Alcalde - Don Manuel Quiaoit. (He studied for the priesthood and had already finished the course but did not assume the office of the minister.)
1847 - Town Curate - Fr. JuanLijoco; Alcalde - Don Justo Crisostomo Quiaoit. Marriage of the Queen of Spain. General drought. October - storm, measles epidemic. Dood [good or poor?] harvest. One Tomas Corpuz stabbed himself in his attempt at suicide. One Damaso Jesus escaped from the municipal jail at 3:00 in the morning. On the 28th of the same month, [the] body of said Damaso Jesus was found by the authorities under the bridge in front of the church with piece of cloth tied around his neck and a big stone tied to his feet. His body was not buried at the cemetery but was buried instead in the hill west of the cemetery.
The masses rose in revolt against the friars.
1848 - Town Curate - Fr. Juan Licoco; Alcalde - Don Maximino Castro. This year was the first exercise of the right of suffrage. Only 30 officials, including the teniente mayor, were selected.
1849 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Jorda; Alcalde - Don Rafael Marcos. Removing the frontage of the church. March 15 - Inauguration of the new cemetery south of the town. On the next day, which was Friday, one old man and one child, Isidro Tomas, were buried there.
May - beginning of the contract for the slaughterhouse for carabaos, cows and pigs, including leather and horns.
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1851 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Jorda; Alcalde - Don Manuel Maria Sabas. Smallpox epidemic among children. Defeat of the Moro Joloaños by the fleet headed by Captain General Don Antonio Urbiztondo.
1852 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Jorda; Alcalde - Don Estanislao Pe Benito (He was a native of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, but married a lady from this town.). Important event - Festival in Spain in honor of Princess Maria Isabel. Building of two bridges north of Barrio Baay. Beginning of conscription.
1853 - Town Curate - Fr. Antonio Jorda; Alcalde - Don Leoncio Franco Ruiz. Changing of the roofing of the convent. Building of culverts in the roads going to the west and to the north.
1854 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Francisco Javier Quiaoit. Appearance of rice worms among rice seedlings; good rice harvest. Arrival of Provincial Vicar Fr. Jose Ines, who brought with him bronze musical instruments, silver processional candle holders, statues, and church bells. He put decorations inside the church. He finished the building of the bell tower.
1855 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Alejandro Quiaoit (Alejo). Big fires in barrios Suabit, Nalasin and Caoayan. November 3 - Falling of the ceiling of the church caused by a hurricane.
During the celebration of the town fiesta, while the Mass was being celebrated, a person died because of the explosion of a brass mortar which was used in the celebration.
1856 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Pedro Morales (He was a native of Vigann.). May - arrival of an official bulletin describing the strong earthquake which destroyed the city of Yeddo, Chinese Empire. It also related that on November 11, 1855, at about 10:00 P.M., said city of Yeddo sank down to the level of the sea wherein 50,000 people perished and 100,000 houses and 50 churches were totally destroyed.
Very poor harvest because of the drought.
1857 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Leon Quiaoit. Completion of the bell tower. June 30 - the day following the celebration in honor of the gobernadorcillo upon his assumption of office, there was a big flood and only the church and the convent were not flooded. July 15 - a bigger flood; from this date, it continued to rain up to the month of November. Enforcement of the curfew law at 10:00 at night. One Lorenzo Rubio murdered his wife, Filomena Rodriguez.
1858 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Fabio Lopinto Juan. The people began to plant tobacco.
1859 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Francisco Javier Quiaoit. Cementing the church inside the cemetery.
1860 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Francisco Javier Quiaoit. May 8th Birth of Mos. Dr. Gregogio Aglipay in barrio Calungbuyan. The sitio is now uninhabited with a cement marker. Nov. 6th Luisa Quimoyog murdered her brother Anastacio. Good harvest in rice. Improving the road to San Nicolas.
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1861 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Daniel Maria Sabas. Cholera epidemic with 4 to 5 deaths a day. May 27th, big flood accompanied by storm, three days of heavy rain.
June 11th - Another big flood commencing from 10:00 at night; it was so strong that the mail could not go through; three weeks of heavy rain. No rain in the month of August until September 10 when it rained and supplied the necessary water in the fields. It was only then that the people began planting rice. Appearance of plant pests and rust.
July - in Barrio Camara, the body of one Pascual Umarog was found to have drowned in front of a dam. When it was found, the body had already been in the water for three days. One Prospero Magno was nearly castrated by one Teodoro Quimoyog in a fight over a woman.
1864 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Juan B. del Castillo. The Tribunal or Municipal Hall was a temporary building of light materials from August 16, 1865. Beginning with the term of Gobernadorcillo Don Juan B. del Castillo, the term for said office was changed from one year to two years.
1866 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Ciriaco Oannañgan. October 20th - Birth of General Artemio Ricarte y Vibora in Barrio Nalasin.
1865 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Juan B. del Castillo.
1867 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Ciriaco Oannañgan. The masses made a demonstration protesting against the arrogance and inequities made by one of the directors named Cesario in connection with the buying and selling of tobacco. They caught him and carried him to the plaza where they took hold of his legs and arms and did not put him down for a long time. They might have killed him had it not been for the Teniente 1rst [curious word], who rescued him.
Very poor harvest because of severe drought; rain only started in September; the rice plants could not bear fruit because they were uprooted by the people.
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1869 - Town Curate - Fr. Jose Ines; Alcalde - Don Eliodoro Borgonia. Father Jose Ines died and was buried in this municipality.
1870 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Higidio Franco Luis.
1871 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto. The house and parcels of land were measured for taxation purposes.
1872 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Antonio Quiait.
1873 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Antonio Quiaoit.
1874 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Antonio Quiaoit. Erection of posts for telegraph wires along the provincial road.
1875 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Eugenio Franco. A very good crop of tobacco was realized; the camarin could not hold up all the produce and they utilized the Tribunal for storing the excess.
1876 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Reynaldo Pambid.
1877 - Town Curate - Fr. Saturnino Pinto; Alcalde - Don Raymundo Pambid. The community made an uprising against the excesses and cruelties of the town curate to the masses. He made them cut timber. His sweetheart (Dispensara) was the one who collected the proceeds from the mutual aid association (birbires). People assigned to work in the convent were falsely accused of theft and, thus, were made to pay for supposed things lost such as plates; chicken whose tail feathers were cut as mark and goats whose ears were clipped to show that they were parts of the proceeds of the birbires were claimed by her as her property. She required the young ladies of the town to pound rice every afternoon. After staying for about a year in Batac, the town curate falsely accused the community of revolt by telling the judge in Laoag that the people were planning a revolt when in fact, they were not. He was very cruel not only to the masses but [also] to the headmen and officials because he wanted to usurp the offices of Judge, Gobernadorcillo, and Inspector. So, letters were sent to the provincial authorities and they came to know that his Dispensera was Doña Felisa Lagasca.
Very poor harvest due to [a] long drought in the month of November; famine.
The following year, there was an epidemic of cholera and dysentery which caused the death of many children.
Father Clemente Hidalgo became the acting town curate.
Retirement from active service of 1st Lieutenant Martin Antonio Gongona from the Spanish Army. Lieut. Gongora was born in Batac on November 11, 1835, and he died on November 29, 1904. He enlisted as volunteer in the Spanish Army [missing month] 10, 1848 and was retired as 1st Lieut. on May 12, 1877.
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The Provincial Judge made a list of the people who had pending cases in court, and he sent them to Manila, passing through Abra from where they started on April 24 that year.
One mother and her daughter were stabbed to death at 7 o'clock in the evening.
General drought caused poor harvest but there was a good crop in spite of the invasion of locusts in the community.
Malaria epidemic caused the deaths of many of the landholders.
1879 - Town Curate - Fr. Vidal Perez; Alcalde - Don Eugenio Franco. The epidemic stated above started in February and ended in March 1879 with a duration of two months.
1890 - Town Curate - Fr. Vidal Perez; Alcalde - Don Juan Caoili. Good harvest.
1891 - Town Curate - Fr. Vidal Perez; Alcalde - Don Juan Caoili. By order of the King of Spain, the houses were taxed and wooden sugarcane mills, lakes, and other merchandise were made to pay licenses.
One Acebedo Tabangcay was stabbed to death and Maximo Salamana, Juan Oducayen and Sixto Credo were imprisoned for the crime.
July 18, Sunday - The acting Provincial Judge came to Batac and made payment for the tobacco crop.
At about 12:30 P.M., on the same day, there was a strong earthquake which lasted for about 3 minutes. It was said that the same earthquake destroyed many houses in Manila and many people perished. The town fiesta of Batac, December 8, 1880 [probably meant 1890], in honor of Nuestra Señora La Purisima Concepcion, who was the patron saint of the town, was postponed in prepration for the coming visit of His Excellency, the Captain General, Don Fernando Primo de Rivera, who made an inspection of the northern provinces amidst general rejoicing.
Plenty of crabs appeared in the streams and lakes of the locality.
January 1, 1881 [likely 1891], the Provincial Judge came and made payment for the tobacco crop.
April - arrival of the decree of the Captain General in Manila inducing anybody to go and settle in Cagayan, promising said settlers freedom from taxes and enforced labor, and living rations from the government for a period of eight years. In the same month, Commissioner Captain Manuel of Cagayan arrived in Batac to induce the people to settle there; and there [were] so many people who presented themselves that Currimao was the scene of bustling humanity. To feed these people, three cows a day were barely enough. Two ships plying from Currimao to Aparri carried the settlers from April to June. Many more settlers went to Cagayan through the overland route.
May - one Matias Buguis murdered his cousin, Juan Buguis.
The roof of the church [was] destroyed.
December - Many comets appeared in the east. One comet that appeared in the north was so big that its tail appeared to be one yard long.
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