MUNICIPALITY OF UNISAN, QUEZON, Historical Data of

About these Historical Data

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL
LIFE OF UNISAN

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CONTENTS

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Map of Unisan, Quezon

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Map of Poblacion Unisan.

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LOCAL MATERIALS TO ENRICH THE CURRICULUM

1. History of the Community UNISAN

a. How was you'r town named?

Like any other municipality in the entire archipelago, there were different versions as to how this town was named. Kalilayan was the first name of this municipality. The name Kalilayan was derived from the Tagalog word "Lilay" a kind of palm similar to buri with similar leaves which can grow in abundance everywhere in this community. Kalilayen means a place where there is abundance growth of lilay lilay.

How did your streets get their names?

The streets were named after our National Heroes. However, there are some which were named after those who became the "governadorcillos" of the town.

b. How did the community come to be in this particular spot?

Kalilayan, now Unisan, was not originally built in its present location. It was located on the other side of the Kalilayan River just opposite the present Poblacion of Unisan. In the days of old, the inhabitants of Unisan enjoyed prosperity, but of all a sudden it was invaded by a fleet of Moro pirates in the year 1609. They attacked and killed many people, and carried away the others as captives. They burned the town behind them. Many people escaped and hid themselves in the forest. For fear of another Moro attack the incumbent parish priest suggested the transfer of the settlement to an interior place called "Palsabangon" now a barrio of the municipality of Pagbilao. Kalilayan being deserted lost its importance and the capital was transferred to the town of Tayabas. Kalilayan was then totally abandoned and become the refuge of lawless people.

After a lapse of some years the people who evacuated to other places returned and settled at the delta east of the Kalilayan River, the present site of the town. Upon suggestion of the old men of the town, sanctioned by the parish priest, the people built a stone castle with a watch tower where they can readily see the approach of the Moro Pirates. When they were no longer molested by the Moros, the people began to improve the settlement and converted the old castle into a "Tribunal" or presidencia until now the existing Municipal Building.

In the year 1755, the new settlement was made a

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"Visita" or "Delegacion" of the municipality of Pitogo. In 1876 under the leasership of the Teniente Mayor, Matias Isaac, the inhabitants presented their petition to the Spanish Provincial Governor of Tayabas, requesting their separation from Pitogo. The petition was granted and by virtue of the Order of the Governor General an assembly composed of the prominent representatives of Atimona, Gumaca, and Pitogo led by their respective gobernadorcillos together with the representatives of the petitiones and with the Spanish governor (provincial) as the presiding officer, was created. The first meeting took place in Kalilayan Settlement on February 18, 1876. In the said meeting the new town of UNISAN was created, after the boundary were established and the written Constitution was unanimously approved.

c. Important events in its history.

1578 Arrival of the first Christian Missionaries Friars, Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa who reconstucted the town in an accidental way.

1591 Proclamation of the town Kalilayan as the capital of Tayabas now Quezon Province.

1609 Invasion of the town by the Moro Pirates.

1876 The old town of Kalilayan was transferred to the present location and was named UNISAN.

1898 Organization of the local government in accordance with the Malolos Constitution of the short-lived Philippine Republic.

1900 Organization of a militia under the leadership of Lieut. Juan Sildora who heroically died in Atimonan on February 20, 1909.

1903 Reannexation of the town of Unisan to Pitogo due to the hostility of the remnants of the Filipino revolutionary forces who refused to lay down arms before the American Army. This was made possible by virtue of Act 956 of the Philippine Commission.

1909 Unisan again was declared an independent municipality in accordance with the provision of Executive Order No. 85 of his excellency the then American Governor General of the Philippines.

1916-191- The Unisan Pitogo and Gumaca boundary dispute was ended.

1919-1921 Construction of the present Central School Building during the term of Municipal President Jose Tolentino, Sr.

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1938-1940 Municipal President Teodorico Valerio effected the construction of the Waterworks; of the Central School shop Building; of the additional rooms in the main building, and of the Hanging Bridge over the Kalilayan River.

d. Great Leaders Who Guided the Life and Progress of the Community.

Rev. Fr. Juan de Plasencia
Rev. Fr. Diego de Oropesa
Mr. Matias Isaac
Mr. Fausto Anacleto
Mr. Leoncio Singson
Mr. Marcelo San Diego
Mr. Julian Estrañero
Mr. Fabian Capistrano
Mr. Isabelo Cataquiz
Mr. Gabriel del Castillo
Mr. Gregorio Remorosa
Mr. Tomas Sigue
Mr. Vicente Tolentino
Mr. Severino Isaac
Lieut. Juan Sildora
Mr. Benito Isaac
Mr. Jose Vargas
Mr. Jose Tolentino Sr.
Mr. Eulogio Fernandez
Atty. Francisco de Jesus
Mr. Dionisio Valerio
Dr. Teodorico Valerio
Mr. Gerardo Maxino
Mr. Pedro Constantino Jr.
Mr. Romualdo Vargas
Governor Gregorio Santayana
Governor Vicente Constantino

e. What spot of historical interest are there in the Community?

The site where the old Kalilayan town flourished.
The old cemetery of the old Kalilayan town.
The old watch tower, now the Municipal Building.
The Malatandang Point.
The Visita of Panaon.

f. Map of the Community. (See the enclosure at the last page of this report)

II. Community Leaders.

a. Leaders who can help in health work.

Dra. Priscilla Carrillo
Mr. Gerardo Etorma
Dr. Albert Villaseñor
Mr. Lauro Pornasa

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Dr. Teodorico Valerio
Mr. Deonisio Valerio
Dr. Eugenio Ortiz
Nurse Miss Carlos

Leaders who can help in Vocational Work.

Mr. Jose Santayana
Mr. Francisco Tolentino
Mr. Victor Alegre
Atty. Francisco de Jesus
All Teachers

Leaders who can help in Citizenship training.

All Elementary and High School Teachers
Dra. Priscilla Carrillo
Mayor Romualdo Vargas
Chief of Police Guillermo Merano
Rev. Fr. Alfredo Obaña

Leaders who can help in providing the people with wholesome Recreation.

Mayor Romualdo Vargas
Rev. Fr. Alfredo Obaña
Mr. Jose Santayana
Mr. Severino Alas
Mr. Amando Altea

b. Who among these leaders have travelled abroad who can be invited to talk about their travel?

M. Florencio Tamesis, Director of forestry.
Don. Vicente Tolentino
Atty. Jose Tolentino Jr.
Dr. Jesus Tamesis

c. Who among the great leaders of the past can be imitated by us?

Don Vicente Tolentino
Mr. Severino Isaac
Dr. Teodorico Valerio

What are their good qualities?

Industrious
Honest
Civic-spirited
Generous

d. How can we arouse the interest and active participation of our local men of prestige?

By electing them as officials of Purok Organization
By making them feel and realize their impor-

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tance in the community.
By touching their sense of pride whenever occasion arises.
By inducing them participate in community program.

III. Literacy and Education.

a. What percentage of our school population stopped studying after completing each of the grades in the Elementary School?

The table on the next page based on the annual enrollment for the school year 1950-1951 will eloquently tell the percentage of the school population who stopped studying after completing each of the grades in the Elementary School.

b. What is the percentage of literacy in the locality?

The latest survey conducted by the teachers showed that almost 82% of the people of Unisan are literate.

c. What do the people like to read?

Liwayway
Bulaklak
Filipino Komiks
Ditiktib
Philippines Free Press
Mabuhay
Manila Bulletin

d. Who are the available teachers for adult education?

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Dra. Priscilla Carrillo
Mrs. Pioquinta A. Vargas
Miss Ely Obaña
Mr. Martin Alvarez
Miss Mennen Vargas

e. What means are available for the promotion of adult Education?

School Building
Tagalog Readers by set
Hyloplates
Desks
Chalk
Posters

IV. Vocational Activities.

a. Ways by which the people earn their living.

Making Copra
Home Industries
Farming
Fishing
Poultry and Swine Raising

b. List of desirable practices in:

Farming
Pumping water from streams for rice fields
Diversification of crops
Using local fertilizers

Fishing
Lighting fish traps
Net fishing with the use of sailboats and light.
Putting up series of hooks with baits along a long line.

How can these practices be popularized?

By actual demonstration in places where such practices are not yet in operation.
By sending out personnel who are experts in the line.

c. What are the undesirable practices? How can they be corrected?

None

d. What fertilizers are available in the community?

Guano
Animal manure

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e. What vacant lots can be developed into community gardens?

The Church Patio
The Santayana School Site.

f. Raw materials abundant in the locality.

g. What new industries can be developed in the community?

Wooden Shoe Making
Weaving rice sacks
Lumbering
Making sala set out of rattans
Sawali making out of bamboo.

h. How can the average income of the family be raised?

Making Home Gardens
Putting up backyard poultry
Raising swine
Investing capital on hen industries
Avoiding luxuries

i. What professions are needed in the community?

Agriculturists
Merchants
Mechanics

V. Citizenship-Civic

a. Have you succeeded on organizing your Purok Organization?

The whole municipality of Unisan was divided into 49 puroks. This year all the puroks engaged on:

Adult Education
Food Production Work
Collecting delinquent taxes
Improving the sanitary conditions of the homes and surroundings.
Beautifying the community.

b. How can attendance in our community assemblies be improved?

By pointing out during the assembly the accomplishments done in the community.

c. What means have you found in arousing civic spirit?

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Community Programs
Giving responsibility to men of prestige in the community.
Publication of school paper.

d. What civic organizations are here in the community?

None

e. Who are the following:

f. Why should people pay their taxes promptly?

To enable the local government render greater service to the community.

VI. Leisure Time Activities.

a.

Playing ball games
Going to picnics
Holding dances
Conducting classes on current events

The following activities should be discouraged:

Going to the cockpit.
Playing mahjong
Playing cards
Drinking wine

b. What are the recreational facilities in the community?

Tennis Court
Basketball Court
Tamesis Park
Skating Ring
Softball Diamond
Race Tracks

c. How can we arouse further the interest of the people in athletic activities?

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By putting at stake good prizes.
By providing enough athletic supplies.

d. What are some of the old games of the municipality?

Wrestling
Boxing
Playing kites
Playing yoyo
Tangga
Tibig
Playing sipa

Running races can and should be revived.

e. What social problems have been created by improper ways of using leisure time?

Quarreling after drinking too much wine.
Incurring debt and entirely abandoning daily occupation because of engaging in vices.

Such social problems can be eliminated by imposing heavy penalty on people who will be found guilty of such crimes.

VII. Traditional and Cultural:

a. Myths, folk tales and legends in this community are not original.
b. Proverbs and sayings are not original.
c. Songs are not on records.
d. What dances do the people dance?

La Estudiantina
Alegria
Garambal

e. They stage no drama except the Moro-Moro.

VIII. Health beliefs and practices;

a. What superstitions do the people believe in?

When a person dies, no cleaning will be made on the house where the corpse was kept before the burial until after the ninth day from the date of death.

It is believed that when a person has "balis" anybody who may come in contact with him specially when he is tired will suffer stomach ache. The pain will not subside until the person who has "balis" will spread saliva over the stomach of the patient.

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When there is a woman on the family way in the house the visitors should not stop at the stairs or by the door or else when the woman delivers she will suffer hardship.

Do not cut long fingernails on Friday to avoid skin eruption on its tip.

How can such false beliefs be dispelled?

Such false beliefs can be dispelled by scientifically explaining to them that the causes of such ailments are no miracles at all.

b. What medicinal herbs do the people still use?

c. Are accident frequent in that community?

Accident seldom occurs in this place.

d. What are the common diseases in the locality?

None

e. How many homes have safe drinking water?

There is safe drinking water all over this community. Almost 40% of the houses in this community do not have toilets.

f. Is there undernourishment in the community?

None

IX. Home and Family;

a. Is there overcrowding in the home?

None

b. Which homes are tastefully decorated?

The homes of the well-to-do and those own by families of moderate income are tastefully decorated.

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c. What cooking and kitchen facilities are common in the homes?

In most houses the cooking and kitchen facilities are of the crude type. These can be improved by pointing out the house owners the comforts and convenience they will enjoy if efforts will be exerted to rehabilitate their cooking and kitchen facilities in accordance with the standards of modern homes.

d. How can the problems of mosquitoes and flies be solved?

Make the sanitation of the place perfect in every respect.

e. Which homes have been constructed for health and comforts?

The homes of the well-to-do families and the newly built houses.

f. Are home surroundings sanitary and properly drained?

Our latest survey showed that 74% of the houses have ideal surroundings.

g. What food production activities each home engages in?

Home gardens
Poultry and swine raising
Raising ducks and goats

h. What are parents doing to teach religion to their children?

Teaching religion to their children by example.
Providing them with religious books.

i. Is the average home provided with the essential household furniture?

We noted that the average homes are provided with the essential household furniture for urgent comforts in life.

j. What household furniture would you consider essential to make the average house more liveable and comfortable?

Sala Set
Dining Table
Aparador
Beds

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Flower pot stands
Radio or Piano

References:

Division Memorandum
No. 36, s. 1951

Division Memorandum
No. 44, s. 1951

Division Memorandum
No. 28, s. 1951