MUNICIPALITY OF MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA, Historical Data of Part 1

PART I

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About these Historical Data

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F O R E W O R D

On December 7, 1951, His Excellency, President Elpidio Quirino issued Executive Order No. 486 providing for the collection and compilation of historical data on all barrios, towns, cities, and provinces throughout the Archipelago in view of the destruction, during the battle for the liberation of Manila, of the manuscripts, books and other publications forming the collections of the National Library.

The present work is a response to that call, and is in concurrence with the opinion that—“it is for our advancement that such data be regathered and brought up to date from time to time, to serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for our future generations as well as source-materials for historians, investigators and researchers.”

To meet the need, to provide the school children with something more than “a mere historical narrative,” to acquaint them with the development of their own people and not alone with the achievements of the officials who have ruled them,—these, too, have been the main incentives to the production of this manuscript.

As far as possible and consistent with clearness and brevity, due to the absence, in most cases, of official records, the writers have preferred to rely on direct quotations, either from contemporary documents or from verbal information given by well-known and reliable persons of the community; they tried as faithfully as possible to adhere to the outline and suggestions contained in the Appendix to the Executive Order No. 486.

The writers wish to express their gratitude to the prominent leaders of the different barrios who generously supplied many of the valuable data contained herein, and who have willingly affixed their signatures in authentication of the same. Special acknowledgment is made to Mr. Antonio Escobar, Sr. for giving the writers permission to quote from his book, “ACLAT NA PANG ALA-ALA SA MGA PANAHONG NAKARAAN,” from which the data for item numbers 19–25, inclusive, have been taken, and for his invaluable assistance in translating some old documents from Spanish to Tagalog; to Mr. Getulio Vitaza, who contributed valuable data on local customs and traditions.

ROMAN G. COSTES
District Supervisor

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Division of Laguna
District of Luisiana
MAJAYJAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

II – HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN

Part One: History

19. Present official name of the town: MAJAYJAY

20. Former name or names and their meaning or derivation: MAYHAY MAHAYHAY

In the early pre–Spanish days good roads were non–existent and Majayjay could then only be reached from the neighboring towns by way of small trails passing through gorges and ravines and across rivers. These trails were, for the most part, tortuous, considering the high elevation of the place and travelers had to make several stops to rest before they could reach the town. (According to topographical data, Majayjay stands 1000 feet above sea level among the hills at the foot of Banahaw Mountain.)

When the Spaniards under Juan Salcedo came to subjugate the town, they took with them many porters who carried their luggage and at each stop these porters, because of their heavy burdens, gasped “hay–hay,” “hay–hay.” The nearer they got to the town the steeper the trails became and the more the Spaniards heard the words “hay–hay” emanate from the tired men catching their breath. It was from this gasping sound “hay–hay,” that the name MA–HAYHAY originated; the first syllable “MA” of which means many. Some say that in the old days, to reach this town, one had to undergo many “hay–hays.”

21. Date of establishment: 1571

22. Names and social status of the founders:

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

23. Names of persons who held leading official positions in the community, with the dates of their tenures, if possible:

Governadorcillo

Capitan–Municipal

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

1901–1902

1902–1903

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1902–1903 (continued)

1904–1905

1906–1907

1908–1909

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1908–1909 (continued)

1910–1911

1912–1915

1916–1919

1920–1922

1923–1925

1926–1928

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1929–1931

1932–1934

Commonwealth of the Philippines

1935–1937

1938–1940

1941–

Japanese Occupation

1942–

1943–1944

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1945

1946

Republic of the Philippines

1946–1947

1948–1951

1952–1955

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JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

CHIEFS OF POLICE

CURA PARROCO

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JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

CHIEFS OF POLICE

CURA PARROCO

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MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

24. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.:

a. The first church ("Tuklong") made of bamboo was constructed by the Spaniards in 1571 on the West bank of the May-it River. The new Christian converts attended mass in this "tuklong" until 1578, when this church was burned.

b. In 1578 a new church, also of bamboo, was constructed for the enshrinement of the patron saint "San Gregorio Papa Magno." This church lasted till 1599 when authority was received from the authorities in Spain for the erection of a semi-permanent church to the north of the old site.

c. The new church was constructed in 1606, but was burned in 1619.

d. To replace the last church that was burned, the Spaniards forced the townspeople to work without pay on a new semi-permanent church. This forced labor caused many inhabitants to evacuate to the nearby towns of Tayabas Province (now Quezon). This church was burned in 1660.

e. A new church of adobe was constructed a little further from the old site. This fifth church broke down in 1711.

f. The sixth and last church constructed by the Spaniards, which still stands today, was begun in 1711. Work was supervised by Fr. Jose de Puertollano who was the Franciscan Parish Priest at the time. It took 19 years to finish this big church and when completed in 1730 it cost the town people TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND MEXICAN DOLLARS ($26,000.00). Because of this huge contribution the Spanish Government issued a decree exempting all the natives from paying tributes or taxes for 4 consecutive years.

The bricks used in this church were made in Majayjay and women as well as children helped carry them to the site of construction. The mortar used was mixed with water in which leaves of the plant called "Puso-puso" were soaked.

This church is considered one of the biggest and strongest in the entire Philippines; it having withstood many typhoons and earthquakes since its erection. The adjoining convent is spacious and

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its windows facing north have a commanding view of the Laguna de Bay; the towns of Pagsanjan and Santa Cruz are quite visible from there, and even the distant town of Biñan on exceptionally clear weather.

g. At the intersection of Blumentritt Street and A. del Rosario Street the Spaniards constructed a "Tribunal," which in 1760 was donated by the government to become an "Ermita" for the "Nuestra Señora de la Porteria". The image of the Blessed Virgin displayed in the "Ermita" today was painted in Madrid, Spain and brought over by the missionaries in 1759

h. The Origuel Street was named after Don PEDRO ORIGUEL y OSORIO who died a hero's death at the battle in Santa Cruz, Laguna on April 10, 1899. Don Pedro held a Captain's rank during the revolution when he was commissioned by General Juan Cailles to command a division of local revolutionists to fight the Americans who have landed on shores of Laguna de Bay. He was standing beside the trenches giving commands to his men when the first salvo of fire from American arms hit and killed him.

i. The adobe-stone walls of the church patio which still stands today were constructed in 1810.

j. In 1849 Fray Victorino del Moral ordered the construction of a stone bridge across the northern end of the Olla river. This was accomplished through forced labor and the natives who came late for work were flogged. These men were hit especially on their buttocks with heavy sticks by the Spanish guards. From this incident was derived the name "Tulay ng Pigui" (meaning bridge of buttocks).

k. The bridges spanning the Olla river (south) and Atilo river were constructed in 1866 and were completed in 1868 when Don Baldomero Origuel was Governadorcillo.

l. In the year 1904 when D. Antonio Escobar was municipal president, the municipal council formed the first Rizal Day Committee which initiated the construction of the Jose Rizal monument which now stands on Plaza Rizal beside the Roman Catholic Church. The money spent on this project was contributed by the town people. The mason who supervised the

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job was Doroteo Roqueza.

j. Antonio Escobar established the first wine distillery in Majayjay--the "La Aurora" Distillery, A-1-585--in 1907.

25. Important facts, incidents or events that took place:

1. During the Spanish occupation:
   1. Majayjay was discovered by the Spaniard Juan de Salcedo in 1571.
   2. The natives, under the leadership of Gat Yantok refused to submit to Spanish domination so they took up arms and put up their defenses in the barrios of Pi-it and Taytay, making their trenches along the Dalitiwan river. When Salcedo failed to subjugate the town he returned to Manila and came back, in the same year 1571, with Miguel Legaspi and Martin de Soto Mayor, this time bringing with them food and clothing to win the friendship of the natives. The natives were taken by this act of generosity and soon became willing Christian converts. The construction of the first church ("tuklong") near the May-it river followed soon.
   3. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Majayjay was a renowned town in Laguna due to the extent of its territory and the number of its population which reached 15,323 inhabitants. It was bounded on the NE by Cavinti, from Tigas mountain to the Boo river; on the SE by Lucban and the Banahaw mountain; on the SW by Lilio, from the Bungkol river to the Alipit river; on the N by Santa Cruz and Pagsanjan, from the junction of the Boo and Balanak rivers. In 1821 the "visita de Amling" segregated itself from Majayjay to form the town of Magdalena. Then in 1848 the "visita de Nasunog" also segregated itself and formed the town of Luisiana, so that in 1848 Majayjay was left with only about 9,000 inhabitants.
   4. The first semblance of civil government was established by the Spaniards in 1594, after the pacification of Gat Yantok and his men. Don Gaspar Osorio was the first gobernadorcillo appointed who held that office from 1594-1597.
   5. In 1597 Governor Luis Perez Dasmariñas came to Majayjay and established a new Civil government and appointed Don Agustin Osorio its first Capitan Municipal.

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6. The year 1678 saw the laying of the first stone boundaries ("mojon") in Majayjay.
7. The year 1755 was the year of drought.
8. There was small-pox epidemic in 1761.
9. In 1782 the local Spanish officials implemented the tobacco monopoly in the municipality. In this same year a strong typhoon occurred which caused many rivers to change their course.
10. During his term of office as Capitan Municipal, (1808-1809) Don Enrico Castañeda ordered the cutting down of all the coconut trees growing within the poblacion. He also jailed many "Cabezas" for tax delinquency.
11. In 1814 when the Mayon volcano erupted the air around the locality was filled with volcanic ash.
12. Since 1825 the title "Capitan Municipal" was changed to "Gobernadorcillo."
13. The provincial road to Magdalena was begun in 1834 during the term of Jose Manzana.
14. Many natives of Majayjay were killed and many others jailed when the Spanish civil guards arrested in the mountain of Tayabas one, Manong-Pule, who had become an idol of the people. Manong-Pule then had thousands of followers in Tayabas (Quezon) and Laguna.
15. In 1871 all persons of legal age, both males and females were required to pay the "cedula personal." In the same year there occurred another epidemic of small-pox which lasted for 5 months, during which time 4 or 5 persons who succumbed to the disease were buried daily.
16. On the night of Friday, October 25, 1873 a strong typhoon passed over the locality which caused the destruction of 700 houses.
17. The year 1881, during the term of Baldomero Origuel, saw the introduction of Title of Ownership of lands, which certificate was signed by the owner and his witnesses, certified by the Gobernadorcillo and Jues Mayor de Sementeras, and approved by the Registrar.
18. Pestilence visited the town in August 1882. The death toll averaged from 5 to 10 daily.
19. During the revolution General Emilio Aguinaldo appointed Guillermo Vito the Municipal President of the local government.

2. During the American occupation to World War II:
   1. The Americans arrived at Majayjay in 1900 led by Captain Norman, the Provost Marshal assigned to the municipality up to April of

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the following year. By virtue of the first Municipal Code, the military commander appointed the following to run the local government:

These persons held offices until August, 1902 when Law No. 82 of the New Municipal Code required the election of all municipal officials.

Pursuant to article 18, (o) of Law No. 82 of the New Municipal Code all public officials must distinguish themselves by the following manner:

President - should carry a round, black walking cane; gold handle, the other end gold-plated; with cords of silver.

Vice–President - same as that for the President but with black cords.

Councilors - round, black walking cane with silver handle; other end silver-plated; with black cords.

(2) The assessment of all properties for taxation purposes was started in 1903 pursuant to Article 49 (a), Law No. 82 of the same Code. The following composed the Board of Assessors:

(3) The census was begun on March 2, 1903 with the following persons serving as enumerators:

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