MUNICIPALITY OF BACACAY, ALBAY, Historical Data of Part I

PART I

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About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.

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F O R E W O R D

These historical data of the municipality of Bacacay were cooperatively gathered by the public school teachers of the municipality during the school year 1952–53 through interviews with old people in the locality. There being no more available documents except the chronological list of capitanes, municipal presidents, and municipal mayors which was released by the then Municipal Secretary, Mr. Jesus B. Fernandez upon request of Mr. Julian G. Ballaran in 1940, all other data were painstakingly gathered and pieced together by a committee created for this compilation. Those facts which were not corroborated by several stories from different old men were discarded, so only those which are the consensus of different people interviewed were included in this compilation. Hence, they are the best available and most accurate data of the history of the municipality of Bacacay.

This compilation was required by General Memorandum No. 34, s. 1952 of the Director of Public Schools in accordance with Executive Order No. 486 of the President of the Philippines.

It is hoped that this compilation will preserve the unwritten history of the municipality which will serve as a rich source of information for the succeeding generations. Whatever inaccuracies, should there be some, are not purposely designed to influence others to formulate adverse criticisms or attitudes nor to extol the merits of some persons for obvious reasons, but are the unbiased and impartial compilation of the committee primarily for the purpose of preserving the history of the municipality for the enlightenment of the succeeding generations and to bare the culture and civilization of the past inhabitants of the people of Bacacay to serve as a background for the fast changing and coming evolution.

The Committee

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THE POBLACION

The poblacion of Bacacay nestles snugly close to the eastern sea of the province of Albay. It is accessible now by first class road which branches out eastward for a distance of five kilometers at the Legaspi–Tabaco highway either at San Jose, Malilipot or at Bonga, Bacacay.

This town with a population of 25,737 as per the 1948 census, was organized into a municipality in 1792 by the Spaniards with Capitan Juan Totañes as its first town executive. Formerly, the poblacion was only a settlement of a group of Negrito farmers and fishermen clustered along the coast of what is now only a small sitio which still retains the name “Bagacay” in the barrio of Pili. The need for more land because of the increasing population, these inhabitants spread out inland till they reached the plains of San Pedro which eventually became the first seat of the poblacion of Bacacay. Traces of old ruins are still alive to testify the old glory that was San Pedro’s.

Due to the difficulty of transportation, especially during the rainy season which overfloods Baclayon River and in order to be near the sea as most people were either fishermen or farmers, the inhabitants were forced to look for another site of the poblacion. Another problem they encountered was the scarcity of good drinking water as well as irrigation facilities. There was no more place for expansion. So the Spanish government had the poblacion transferred to this present site, it, being the answer to their problems aside from being the center of all the mainland barrios as well as the island barrios.

As to how the town got its name, the following legend will tell us. When the Spanish forces under Juan de Salcedo conquered Albay, soldiers were sent out to explore the province. Some of them reached the Negrito settlement in this part of the province which was covered with thick bamboo groves of different species. When the Spanish soldiers arrived, they found an inhabitant holding a bamboo pole which has long nodes and thin covering, locally known as bagacay. The soldiers asked him, “Cosa este lugar?” The inhabitant, astounded and uncomprehending, thought that the soldiers were asking him about what he was holding.

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So, he answered, “Bagacay.” The Spaniards, thinking that it was the answer to their question, called the place Bagacay. Due to long use of the word, mispronunciation occurred changing the name to “Bacacay.” But to old people, the town is intimately called “Bagcay”, shortened word for Bagacay.

Descendants of the old Negrito population may be still seen in Magsagimsim, a sitio of the barrio of Manaet and in the barrio of San Pablo, who were driven far into the less densely populated parts of the town by the increasing civilized inhabitants.

When Moro piracy was at its height the poblacion was not spared by Moro raids. Oftentimes Moro pirates would land and pillage the town carrying away valuables and even women. In order to warn the people of the coming Moros, the municipal government set up a tall tower near the seashore in what is now known as “Balwarter.” Here the people took turns watching the sea for any approaching Moro vinta. Should the watchers spot some vintas, or a signal is given by those watching the Casulgan Pass, the people are notified. The soldiers would wait at the seashore, while the civilian population would take shelter in a stone–walled fortress near the church, called Cuta or fortress. Sometimes fighting took place in the seashore and at times it reached Cuta where the strong defense is met by the invaders. To this date, these historical spots in the poblacion still stand in a dilapidating condition, but still full of fresh memories of their roles during those times.

Old people still recall those Moro raids, but together with it they do not fail to mention a prominent figure whose name sent the Moros scurrying for cover. That was Teban, to the old folks Teban–Teban, who was said to have an amulet that could make anyone immobile. One time Moro vintas were spotted on the sea heading for the poblacion. The people lost no time in notifying Teban–Teban who was said to be living in Hababang Tucaron, a mountain near San Pedro. When the Moros landed, he was alone in the seashore to meet them. As soon as they all were on land, not one could move, they stood frozen and helpless. The soldiers immediately pounced upon their easy victims. In order to inform the Spanish officials in the province of the wholesale slaughter, Teban–Teban cut off the Moros’ ears and presented them to the Spanish authorities in Albay. There were no less than three hundred ears.

Another story which old people take pride in relating to the young is the story of the Virgin of

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Desamparados. The image of this saint is enshrined in a chapel in Bonga, a barrio of this town. When the novena for the town fiesta which falls on August 30 of every year, is begun, this image of the Virgin of Desamparados is brought to town in a solemn and pompous procession.

It was in the year 1877 when the Negritoes who were then living at the foot of Mayon Volcano in the barrio of Bonga saw an image of a lady holding a baby in her arms inscribed on the trunk of a tree. When informed of this finding, Fr. Mariano Bañez, then curate of this town went to the place and had the tree cut down and the image sent to Rome. The Negritoes revered this place very much. One time, during the eruption of Mayon Volcano, the Negritoes saw the same image near Mayon Volcano who seemed to be defending the town of Bacacay from the flowing lava. Until the last Negrito tribe under Capitan Domingo, the image was very sacred to them, that when the image was reproduced Negritoes are seen in the picture kneeling in front of the Virgin with Mayon Volcano as the background. Another story connected with this saint was that of the two balloons flown during the second day of the fiesta, which, instead of flying with the wind, went against the strong Habagat wind and went down in the present site of the chapel which enshrines this saint.

The town of Bacacay is comprised of the neighboring barrios including the islands of Cagraray and Namanday. On the northern tip of Cagraray Island two barrios now belong to the municipality of Malilipot. They are Salvacion and San Antonio. These two barrios lie along Casulgan Pass which is a small passage between San Miguel Island and Cagraray Island. According to stories, during the Moro raids in the poblacion of Bacacay, people from this town as well as people from Malilipot took turns in watching and guarding that pass. The Spaniards provided them with cannons as well as those guarding Sula Pass. As the people from Malilipot guarded that pass, they made clearings on the place and some lived permanently there. So when the municipal boundaries were set, those two barrios, being inhabited by people from Malilipot, were placed under the jurisdiction of that municipality. These cannons which could have spoken more of their early usefulness to the people of Bacacay have been neglected. The one that guarded Casulgan Pass was brought to Tabaco, while the one in Sula was thrown into the sea.

During the Philippine Revolution as well as during the Philippine–American War, some Bacacayanos, under Capitan Marciano Peñalosa, went to aid the Filipino troops in Albay as well as in Tabaco. These Bacacay veterans of those wars often relate their sufferings in those days when their ill–equipped army would face superior forces especially from

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the American forces. Poorly trained and without sufficient ammunition and food, they rallied to the support of the Filipino troops for independence.

During the American occupation the town prospered and improved along health and education. Roads that were in existence were improved. During the incumbency of Mr. Bartolome Torre as municipal president, a road was constructed between Bes and Real Streets. The incumbency of Mr. Narciso B. Matias as municipal president was marked by the construction of the Rizal monument at the middle of Plaza Rizal. A municipal market and a public dispensary were constructed when Mr. Mariano B. Torre was the town executive. The water system that supplies the town with fresh and sanitary drinking water was constructed through the efforts of the late Hon. Julian Belen when he was representative of the first district of Albay in 1928. The incumbency of Messrs. Juan R. Serrano and Juan B. Villar Jr. as municipal presidents occurred during the depression years; hence, the emphasis in their administrations were directed toward the economic conditions of the people.

The Commonwealth government gave rise to the social upliftment of the masses. This was demonstrated in the overwhelming majority given to Hon. Eulogio V. Lawenko when he was elected municipal mayor. His administration was marked by the social redemption of the masses from the powers of the influential families. Barrio schools were opened through the acquisition of sites.

Then the Japanese occupation came one Friday morning on December 12, 1941. It was a total black–out on the progress of the town which was steadily pushing through. The people in the poblacion fled to the barrios for safety and for economic purposes. One beneficial result of the occupation was that the people took to the soil and many idle lots were made productive. Ordinarily the inhabitants of the poblacion are fond of a life of ease, this may be due to the equitable distribution of land, where almost everybody has a piece to call his own. The occupation brought them to the barrios to till their unproductive lots.

As early as November, 1942, a nucleus of a guerrilla organization was being ushered into the town. This was a branch of the guerrilla outfit under the command of Faustino Flor.

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This guerrilla organization thrived in this town due to the support given it by the people. The town became the center of the organization. Headquarters were set up right in the poblacion. Its operation was spreading throughout the first district of Albay. The presence of this guerrilla organization caused the people so much worry and anxiety due to the several raids conducted by the Japanese soldiers in which many innocent civilians were questioned. In 1944 a Japanese garrison was set up in the Bacacay Central School, so the guerrilla headquarters was transferred to the island of Cagraray. The establishment of this garrison led to a clash between the guerrillas and the Constabulary under the command of Lt. Pedro Los Baños, in an effort of the guerrillas to rescue some of the civilians who were interned at the garrison for questioning.

Many times, the poblacion was threatened to be burned by the Japanese, but the town was spared partly due to the tact and diplomacy employed by Hon. Eulogio Lawenko as municipal mayor during the occupation and partly due to the influence of Hon. Isabelo Binamira who was an officer of the guerrilla organization but was working under the Japanese controlled NAFCO.

Petty rivalries among different guerrilla organizations resulted in sporadic shooting both inside the poblacion and in the outskirts. The Japanese soldiers hunted these guerrillas even in the islands. In November, 1944, a group of Japanese soldiers sailing from the island of Bariw to Mapulang Daga was met at Mapulang Daga by a group of guerrillas under Lt. Jackson Alparce. This led to the establishment of a Japanese outpost in the Barrio of Sula when the people were concentrated in the barrio of Mataas.

The support given by the Bacacayanos to the guerrilla organization brought out one significant characteristic of the people – loyalty to the cause of freedom.

One outstanding work of Hon. Isabelo Binamira which resulted in the initial rehabilitation of the people of Bacacay was the encouragement he gave to the people in handicraft making with abaca slippers as the main project. He bought all the slippers that the people could make, even if he had no market for them. His house was almost a bodega of abaca articles, yet he continued to buy them just so the people would have something to live by. When the liberation forces arrived on April 1, 1945, this industry gave the Bacacayanos a boom. Almost every house was a manufacturer of abaca slippers with both the father and the mother with the help of children as the factory workers. All people engaged in this industry. Children in school as well as teachers, municipal employees and other families who formerly did not give a damn to slipper making, all devoted their time to this handicraft. This project financially rehabilitated the poor earning capacity of the people until abaca and copra were again bought.

One landmark left by the Japanese occupation is a flagpole constructed in the Plaza Rizal during the celebration of the Philippine Independence granted by the Japanese government on October 13, 1943. To this day sometimes “Tagian–Tagian” a kind of plant introduced by the Japanese still spring out from the “late” of the people during

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in the days of the occupation. This was encouraged by the Japanese, but it did not do any benefit to the people.

After the liberation, the town again became the recipient of more public works improvement. When Hon. Eulogio Lawenko was elected congressman of the first district of Albay, a new and permanent municipal hall was constructed and its site was enlarged. The front part of the market site was paved with cement, and the municipal roads were re–macadamized. The irrigation facilities of the Gogon ricefields were improved that many hectares of land were brought under cultivation. Out of his pork barrel funds, he allocated some for the construction of temporary school buildings in the barrios as well as for the purchase of school sites. This facilitated the opening of more barrio schools in the town of Bacacay. When Hon. Eulogio Lawenko was still a municipal mayor, he had a lighthouse constructed at the seashore to guide those sailing at night from the island of Cagraray. But this lighthouse has lost its light due to the inability of the municipal government to appropriate funds, so it now stands in the seashore as a relic. All of these things may be credited to both Congressman Eulogio Lawenko and to his brother, the incumbent municipal mayor, Jose Lawenko. Mayor Jose Lawenko also had the back site of the municipal hall cemented so that it may become a public auditorium for social gatherings, like programs and dances. During the incumbency of Governor Venancio Ziga as provincial governor of Albay, he had the road from San Jose to the poblacion of Bacacay asphalted. The latest public improvement constructed was the market stall which was constructed through the efforts of Congressman Lorenzo Ziga. Lately other barrio schools have been the recipient of temporary school building constructions from the funds provided by this congressman.

The economic conditions of the people were greatly impaired up to this writing by the two strong typhoons that destroyed the coconut as well as the abaca plantations: Typhoon Jean of December 25, 1947 and Typhoon Trix of October 21, 1952. The most remembered typhoon is Trix when many people along the shore were wiped away by a tidal wave and many lives were lost. The shore from Sogod to Pili became the dumping grounds for decaying bodies of persons from the island of Natunawan in the municipality of Tabaco. The seas were feared because of floating bodies.

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BACACAY – ITS CULTURE AND ECONOMICS

The poblacion and its barrios, prior to the establishment of the Spanish rule, were mere settlements of a group of Negritoes. The names of the barrios were either due to some natural phenomena or historical occurrences, while some were derived from names of trees or vines. The growth of the barrios is averred to the pioneering families who cleared the hinterlands. These pioneering groups intermarried with the aborigines which now resulted in the present crop of inhabitants. The arrival of the Spaniards was another factor in the evolution of the tribe such that the race became lighter in complexion while some have acquired an almost occidental complexion.

As was common among the early Filipinos, superstitious beliefs have been connected with any personal or group enterprises such as constructing houses, planting, bathing, etc. Sickness was caused by the anger of evil spirits. But the later education began to combat these superstitions and up to the present writing, only those who are quite below the educational level of at the least the primary education still believe in these things.

Agriculture – The soil is fertile and the climate is fine, such that anything planted is sure of production. The kaingin system was prevalent. They believed that any land planted and cultivated by him is his property. People in the early days count only their plants as their own, irrespective of who the owner was. These later developed into land troubles as civilization progressed.

Because of the volcanic soil and continual rainfall the soil is adapted to abaca. This product formerly gave the town its important source of family income. Due to the exhaustion of the soil and the crude methods that still prevail in the culture of abaca plants, this plantation has been reduced almost into nothing more than cogon lands. These plantations are only cared for and weeded during the time of harvesting, but all the while they only exist by themselves. During the depression decade from 1930 much abaca plantations were transformed into upland rice lots or camote plantations. When the land became barren, they were abandoned and became cogon lands. More cogon lands appeared especially after typhoons Jean and Trix.

The once prosperous coconut industry is now becoming extinct due to the presence of “cadang–cadang,” a kind of coconut pest and the typhoons. Many coconut plantations were converted into ricefields. A new variety of coconut, the tambolilid has been developed, which many coconut ex–

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experts believe that it is a better kind. A big plantation of this variety is found in Sogod in the plantation of the late Simeon Alparce. Many seedlings of this variety have been sent to other places.

In the old days many products were taken from coconut aside from copra. A kind of native beverage called “tuba” was produced from the sweet sap of the tree. Sometimes this tuba was allowed to ferment and became vinegars. Or this sap was brewed into a kind of wine called “Alac sa Niog.” Now this industry has been completely abandoned due to the rise of the price of copra and partly due to the destruction of the coconut plantations.

Lowland rice production still occupies an important industry. Lately many coconut plantations have been converted into irrigated ricefields. The improvement of the irrigation facilities in Gogon brought many ricefields into cultivation. During the first term of Governor Manuel Calleja as governor of Albay, he introduced the two–crop system, that is two crops of rice are grown during the year. The continuous use of this system exhausted the fertility of the soil, such that production has been lowered. Added to this was the unscientific methods that still are widely used. The use of fertilizers has been introduced by the Bureau of Agricultural Extension through the MSA–program, but only a few farmers take advantage of it. This is partly due to their doubts as to its effectiveness, and partly due to the high cost of fertilizer. More than this, the soil has not been tested, such that the use of fertilizers is more of an experimental type.

Other agricultural products such as sugar cane, camotes, cassava, gabi, “linsa,” and others are still grown by the people for home consumption.

Fishing – The most widely used system for catching fish are the fish corrals, and “sinsoro.” The town has many fishing banks, that almost any sea is just as good as any other. The best place for fish corral is the “Cabagcat” in Sula. This place is famous for “bancolis” and “turingan.” A recent method of catching fish by net is the “basnig.” Of course, to a certain extent, such methods as bow and arrow, trapping, and others are still used.

Lately, there has been a decline of this industry due to the wide use of explosives for catching fish. This is noticeable because in the past years, most specifically, before the Japanese occupation, this town was an exporter of fish. Its fish supplied the markets of Tabaco and Legaspi and even reaching as far as Naga. Now, instead of exporting fish the town imports from the markets of Tabaco, no longer fresh, but ice–

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preserved.

Home Industries – From the Spanish occupation to the later part of the American regime, weaving sinamay and piña cloth was a thriving industry, which was especially carried on by women. This weaving later on lost its markets due to the wide use of cotton cloths. But still some hold on to this industry of weaving sinamay but only limited to the production of mosquito nets and fish nets.

Weaving of mats out of caragomoy leaves and bariw are still common in the barrios. In fact, mat weaving out of caragomoy is an important industry among the women. So in almost every coconut plantation caragomoy plants are planted. Caragomoy mats are one of the exports of this town.

The latest home industry which has just been introduced is the making of braided abaca fibers made into squares. But this is limited to the poblacion only due to the establishment of an Amerasia branch. This industry makes use of the lower grade of abaca fiber called “Cantong.” The finished products are sent to the United States to be made into rugs.

Education – During the middle part of the Spanish occupation, education was carried on by some laymen only in their homes. The textbooks used were the “Caton”, the “Kartilla”, and the “Doctrina Cristiana.” Learning was purely memorizing the Spanish as well as Bicol prayers. Of course, in some, the Spanish grammar was taught. During the later part of the Spanish regime, notable teachers such as “Maestrong Eulogio” Alvarado and “Maestrang Juana” may be cited. During their days there was no co–education. The women study under “Maestrang Juana” and the men under “Maestrong Eulogio.” Another school that was believed to have existed was that of “Maestrong Tasio” which was a private school established in Calzada. The schools under Maestrong Eulogio and Maestrang Juana were public primary schools.

In 1893, Fr. Juan Zamora established a higher institution which had both the secondary and collegiate level. Many students from other towns came to attend this school. During the examinations, Dominican priests came here to administer them. Those who passed were eligible to attend the colleges in Manila. This institution died when Fr. Zamora was transferred to Legaspi in 1895.

Then came the American occupation. Immediately in 1901 a public school was established under Mr. Corlet, an American teacher. He was later succeeded by Mr. Mañon, Mr. Schuler,

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Mr. McKen and Mr. Pickle, the last American teacher. In these schools Spanish was still taught and English was being introduced.

Then a primary school was set up in the poblacion under Filipino teachers. The first primary school building was constructed in 1915. Those who would like to attend the intermediate grades could do so in Tabaco. Later a complete elementary school was established.

Meanwhile private tutors still had classes in “Caton” and in the “Doctrina.” On or about 1926, a Catholic primary school under Fr. Joaquin Balana was established near the present convent. This did not live long to the preference given to the public schools.

Almost simultaneously with the establishment of the Central School, public primary schools were established in Bonga, later in 1922, the Cabasan school site was acquired for the purpose of putting up a settlement farm school. Then followed the primary school in San Pedro.

Then other schools were established in the following barrios:

In 1948 a private secondary school was established in this town, the Zamora Memorial Institute. This afforded the youths of Bacacay to finish the high school in their own town. This school was purely academic.

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Sometime in 1939, an adult education class was conducted in the Central School. This class turned out literates who were enabled to vote in the succeeding elections.

The Central School of Bacacay has been cited and made a name in the Division of Albay. After its destruction in 1947, it continued to prosper and temporary school buildings have been constructed to accommodate the growing enrolment. Its cleanliness in site has been noted throughout the province. The typhoon again in 1952 demolished all those improvements originally made in 1948, but again it has almost rehabilitated itself through the efforts of its principal, Mr. Marciano Rosario, and of course through the leadership of the District Supervisor, Mr. Rosalio Gregorio. Lately, it has advocated the launching of the community school program, but it is yet in the initial stage.

Religion – The religion that has dominated this town is the Catholic religion. Since the time of the Spanish occupation the people in this town had been Catholics. Churches have been constructed, one now in ruin, and the other a bigger one to accommodate the growing population. The old church is now in ruins beside the newer one. It is said that the construction of this church was due to the enforced labor imposed upon the Bacacayanos.

In or about the 1930’s the ministers of the Seventh Day Adventists reached this town. Though it did not gain much adherents because it was confined only in the barrio of Gubat in some parts of the island of Cagraray, this religion has survived despite strong competitions.

In 1940 the Protestant religion was extended to this town. Some people discarded their old Catholic religion to embrace the Protestant religion. These two religions who have invaded the town have also set up their own chapels.

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CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF ALL CAPITANES, MUNICIPAL
PRESIDENTS AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BACACAY

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NOTE: The above chronological order of the town executives of this municipality was copied from the records of the municipal secretary.

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PUNISHMENT UNDER THE SPANISH
RULE

1. On early Sundays the “kapitan” of the time which is equivalent to a mayor’s post today, orders the “quadrilla” to go around the town and find out who does not go to church. One who is found is given a punishment by praying on “patio” at 12:00 o’clock noon. After he finishes the prayer given he is dismissed.
2. One who puts on a hat after mass is over and seen walking inside the patio grounds is given another punishment, either by prayers or whipping him with a rod.
3. Couples found to be living together without legal marriage from the church are whipped. A thick piece of wood is used as a rod in the punishment.
4. People found gambling on Sundays before the mass are also given punishment, either by prayers or whipping.

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FOLKWAYS

Births

In practically all rural areas, people had common beliefs, traditions, customs and practices in connection with their domestic and social life.

The people believed that when a woman delivers, the husband goes around the house many times to drive away evil spirits. All dirt under and around the house are burned because the evil spirits are supposed to be in hiding there.

Usually a woman who is to give birth to a baby stays (if her house is new) in a house where childbirth had been had already for there is the belief that there will be difficulty in the delivery. After giving birth the mother uses thick wrappings around the body till after the cold bath. When eating the handle of the spoon are wrapped so as to avoid cold in the hands. Once the mother touches cold things the supply of milk is lessened.

It is a custom to put a coin, a few grains of palay and one or two leaves of a bamboo tree in the basin of water where a newly born baby is to have its first bath.

When the baby is taken out of the house for baptism, coins, books, toys and many other useful things are placed in front of the stairs. The one who carries the baby steps on each of them. In this way bad luck in the future is prevented for the baby.

Babies are baptized early. Old folks often say “Mag para bantay can Moros,” meaning to say that it is useless to take care of one who is not baptized yet or Christened. Baptisms are sometimes had with or without eats. The god–parents chosen were those who were well–bred. The godparents always give an amount to the baby as “pagogom.”

Every child born is baptized in the Catholic Church.

Marriage

The courtship was unknown between man and woman. It was the parents of the dashing Romeo who courts the parents of the humble, lovely barrio swain. If agreed by both parents then the marriage was a go. Together with this contract for marriage was the practice of solemnizing the marriage or the weddings after a year or two or sometimes as long as ten years. During this long period of wooing or courtship the bridegroom spends most of his time in the bride’s home. He helps the family of the bride do some odd jobs. If nothing is wrong with him in the judgement of his supposed father–in–law then the marriage will be realized. If otherwise it will cause dismissal. It was also a part of the contract that while the bridegroom stays in the house of the bride–to–be he is not often allowed to talk to the young bride for it meant a bad omen.

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