MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 6

In 1683, Francisco Catindig became the Kapitan. He sponsored the self-help construction of the Roman Catholic church, which is still useful to the community of Catholic faith. Every male of age had to contribute a bamboo and four pieces of split rattan whenever he came to town. The ladies were assigned to haul sand to the church plaza and the schoolchildren had to carry stones daily and pull the logs from the river to the site. The citizens who disobeyed the above arrangement were punished. The penalties were as follows: male persons were whipped while the females were the recipients of palm-lashings.

The construction of the church was completed after 15 years of hard labor. That was in 1698, when Lucas de los Santos was the Kapitan.

In 1701, Pedro Catapang was the Kapitan. In 1719, when Sebastian Saclob was the Kapitan, the vacant lot at the back of the church was made the additional cemetery site.

At 11 o'clock P.M. of April 11, 1778, almost one half of the Catholic church was burned. Tiburcio de la Cruz was the Kapitan, then.

As the Moro raids were not uncommon, Kapitan Paulino de San Buenaventura managed the construction of a Casa Mata at the end facing the Maling River of a mountain range which is across the national road from Lucena. This Casa Mata was used as the storage of cannon bullets.

In 1800, when Eduardo de los Santos was the Kapitan, the curate refused to marry those who could not recite the rosary, so more often than not, the rice sticks (suman) for the occasion rotted. The marriages were postponed until after both had mastered the required prayer. The lady was then required to stay in the convent, where she was tutored

During the incumbency of Kapitan Manuel Decena in 1821, the title "Kapitan" was changed to "Alkalde Constitucional." But when Mariano de San Luis took the reins of government in 1824, the title Kapitan was restored.

The town experienced the longest drought in 1840. All rivers, streams, and brooks dried. The plants could not survive and the animals died. Confronted with famine, some people looked for food in the mountains and some went to the forests. Yet, they succumbed to death. Those who sojourned along the seacoast boiled stones and took the broth to satisfy their hunger. The Kapitan during this time of excessive drought was Onofre Modato.

The Catholic Cemetery was transferred from the church plaza to the present site. The aforementioned site could accommodate 8,000 graves aside from the niches which was good for 106 holes. During that time, all the graves could be filled in five years at the normal death rate.

Kapitan Juan Manalo was responsible for constructing a passage through the mountain for the people's convenience in entering the town of Atimonan. Prior to the construction of the said passage, the passers-by had to detour towards the Casa Mata to the present cemetery. A gate shutter was made made in this passage which was closed late in the afternoon up to seven o'clock every evening as the community's recitation of the Holy Rosary was in progress.

The soil from this passage was hauled to a swampy road by the inhabitants, men and women from seven years of age up to sixty. The event took place in 1850.

Kapitan Juan Morales encouraged the people to change their family names identical to the saints and the Spaniards' surnames.

The other Moros were astounded when they saw their leader beheaded. They ran to their bangkas to escape and unforeseen punishment. Iskong Bantay's comrades did not bother about them.

With Elena in his arms, he and his men returned to the Castle of San Francisco. After a few minutes, the Angelus struck, the signal for the community to recite the Holy Rosary.

During the time of Kapitan Antonio Manalo, the largest church bell arrived from Manila via Laging Manok (Laguing Manok, a barrio of Atimonan, now known as the Municipality of Padre Burgos).

The top portion of the roof of the six-tory church tower was destroyed to make possible the installation of the large bell. It was pulled up by Jose Garcia, alias Purgatorio, whose exceptional strength was far renowned. With the aid of large pulleys, the installation of the bell was facilitated.

In 1872-1873, the first term of office of Kapitan Praxedo Urgino, the first public school was constructed. The school was located at the corner of the following streets: Independencia (now Doña Aurora), Angeles, and Washington (now P. Enriquez St.).

In 1874-1875, the second term of Kapitan Praxedo Urgino, the first municipal building, which was popularly known or called Casa Tribunal, was constructed.

The installation of the first telegraph office took place in 1880-1881, when Jose Villamiel was the Kapitan. The telegraph office was housed at the residence of Mr. Andres Sales, who during those days was called Juez Mayor de Sementera.

The increase of the personal tax (now residence certificate) was advocated by Kapitan Severino Estrada in 1884-1885. Enforced labor in the maintenance of the Camino Real was also initiated by him.

Filomeno Manalo became the Kapitan in 1886-1887. Because of his strictness in the implementation of the ordinances, some of his townsfolks instituted a civil suit against him to the Civil Governor of the Province. The basis of the suit was that he ordered some persons to carry a large python to Tayabas, then the capital of the province, with meager provisions and compensation not commensurate with the difficulty of the job. Messrs. Domingo Febrer (alias Bukol) and Maximino Luzano, two of the most interested parties, presented the accusation. Kapitan Filomeno Manalo was found guilty of the charge against him and was fined. From that time on, the term "Noong Magsawa" was attributed to the administration of Kapitan Filomeno Manalo.

For the third time, that was in 1890, Praxedo Urgino held the position of Kapitan. During this period, the method of making copra was by drying the divided unhusked coconuts under the sun. Copra was bought at one peso and fifty centavos (₱1.50) per picul (63.25 kilos). This encouraged the farmers to grow more coconut trees.

In one of the public meetings of Kapitan Vicente Pardales (1891-1892), Messrs. Domingo Rodriguez (alias Kabo Inggo) and Domingo Febrer (alias Bukol) voiced their personal opinions contrary to the Kapitan's plans of administration. The ex-Kapitan could not swallow the ill remarks of the two and so they were obliged to condemn the two critics. As a penalty, the two were deported to Iligan, Mindanao.

One of the controversial acts of Kapitan Pardales was the increase of personal tax (now residence certificate) from one peso and eighty-seven centavos (₱1.87).

In 1893-1894, Kapitan Bernardino Enriquez required every couple to pay the amount of fifty centavos annually. This collection was appropriated for the street lights (kerosene lamps) and an additional contribution of twelve and one-half centavos per couple, too, for the purchase of crowbars and hoes for the use of the local government.

Kapitan Mariano Campomanes assumed office in 1895. His services lasted only for nine months due to the ill treatment of the Spanish priest Friar Braulio Pelas, a Franciscan, and of Lt. Ramiro del Amo, and other Spaniards living in this town. Kapitan Vicente Manalo took over his position.