MUNICIPALITY OF GUINOBATAN, ALBAY, Historical Data of Part 1

PART I

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About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.

[Cover page]

[p. 2, Foreword]

F O R E W O R D

One of the greatest losses of the Philippines during the last World War was the destruction of its important records, documents, and other historical data.

To help in the restoration or reconstruction of these important and rich records of Philippine culture, customs, traditions, religion, and other social heritages, the committee on the compilation of these historical data made extensive researches and investigations.

The committee hopes that this compilation will not only help in the further enrichment of our historical records but will also serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for the future generation and for all people of this world especially researchers and historians.

The committee has availed itself of the wide knowledge of every wise old man or woman in the barrios, sitios and the poblacion for all important records and information on the life history and culture of the community and to whom grateful acknowledgement is hereby made.

(SGD) MOISES Y. DELING
Supervising Principal

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MEMBERS OF THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE

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CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF CAPITANES AND ALCALDES MAYORES OF GUINOBATAN
FROM 1731 TO-DATE

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BEGINNING OF THE TWO YEAR TERM:–

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BEGINNING OF MUNICIPAL PRESIDENTS UNDER THE FILIPINO ADMINISTRATION:–

BEGINNING OF THE AMERICAN REGIME:–

TO BE CONTINUED.....

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HOW GUINOBATAN GOT ITS NAME

During the first years of the Spanish regime the town of Guinobatan does not have a name yet. It was just composed of barangays and the natives were living peacefully by tilling the soil and by raising a few livestock.

The Spaniards then were finding permanent settlements throughout the Philippine Islands, the object of which was to colonize the Philippines and to preach the truths of the christian faith to the natives. One of the settlements that the Spaniards have founded is now the town of Legazpi. From there they moved onward to the interior of the region and founded another settlement, now called Camalig. Here they built a building which served as a chapel for the natives to pray and learn the creed of the Catholic faith.

The Spaniards upon learning that the region next to Camalig was fertile and for the convenience of the converted natives of that fertile region who were already going to and fro to Camalig to hear mass deemed it wise to establish a settlement in that place. After a few years this region became prosperous and the inhabitants grew to a great number.

Meanwhile the Moros were constantly raiding set-

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tlements throughout the islands. Their object was to rob and plunder and to crush Christianity. So this place now called Guinobatan was not spared from the pillage of the Moros.

When they raided this place they were opposed bravely by the natives and they were scattered. One Moro who was separated from the other stepped on one of the litter of a sow. The sow became furious and attacked him. Shaking with fear he scampered to safety by climbing to a tree. It happened that the tree was the "langgatung tree" - the leaves of which causes painful irritation when in contact with the skin. When the Moro felt the pain he began shouting and fled from the tree. He told the others that they must leave the place because even the trees and animals were aiding the natives in driving them away. So inasmuch as the natives were fighting bravely back, the Moros left the place and never came back.

After that event whenever a native asks another where the latter came from the answer was from Guinobat which comes from the word "gubat" which means to conquer or Guinobatan --- meaning the place that the Moros tried to conquer.

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Then on, that place was called Guinobatan

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HOW GUINOBATAN GOTS ITS NAME

Guinobatan was once upon a time a thick forest surrounded by mountains. The natives lived at the foot of the mountains. They were happy, contented loving people. They lived by their own ways, customs and traditions. They excluded themselves from the other tribes that might disturb their peaceful living.

The Spaniards came to conquer them. The natives were determined to resist them and drive them away. They did not like to submit to their authority. The first Spaniards who came to this place were assaulted by the natives. They were subdued by the Spaniards and forced to surrender.

From that time on, the place was named Guinobatan which was derived from the words “GUBAT” meaning forest and “GINABAT” assaulted.

Guinobatan therefore means assaulted in the forest.

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How Guinobatan Got Its Name

Many, many years ago this town was only a vast forest. The forest was only inhabited by wild animals and not people. This was in the days of the barangays and datus. Almost six kilometers from this forest was a big town (now Camalig, so called, because of a number of buildings for stores, called in the dialect as “Camaligs.” This neighboring town was becoming thickly populated because of the flourishing business, that some of the inhabitants sought for a place to build their houses. They came to the forest nearby, cut down the trees, and built their houses. From then on the forest gradually became a town. The town came to be called Guinobatan which means in the dialect “Gubat” or “once a forest.”

End

Submitted by:
(Mrs.) Floria R. Tuason

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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GUINOBATAN

According to the Franciscan Fathers, the name Guinobatan derived from the bicol word “gubat” which means, to conquer, and whose past participle is “guinobatan” which in turn means conquered and that the town was conquered by the Moros.

It was told that in the early part of 1672, this town was formerly a barrio of Camalig, until the year 1688, when Father Alonso de Zafra was the minister. In 1731 five Cabezas de Barangay, Don Ambrosio Balagan, Don Francisco Bagamasbad, Don Diego Catinig, Don Juan Inbao and Don Raymundo Dimalbat, presented their petition to the Franciscan Fathers and to the Governor General for the separation from Camalig and established an independent Civil Organization under its own gobernadorcillo. This was granted. Since then, Guinobatan was severed from Camalig and thus have its own government.

When the Americans arrived after the Spanish sovereignty in the Philippines on February 25, 1900, Eugenio Pardinas was presidente municipal. After three years of ruling he was replaced by Cirilo Jaucian Jr. who got his office thru appointment. E. Arboleda replaced Cirilo Jaucian on September 1 up to November 30, 1904.

On January 1, 1936, the name of the town executive was changed to Alcalde Municipal. Engineer Julian Ofracio was the first to receive the title and followed by Carlos Pardo.

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THE HISTORY OF GUINOBATAN

The NAME GUINOBATAN comes from the verb “Gubat” meaning “CONQUERED.” In year 1672, this Municipality, in accordance with the records available, was a Barrio of Camalig. In 1688, it was separated from Camalig and was made an independent Municipality assigned to the administration of the late Rev. Father Alonso de Zafra. Formerly this Municipality was situated along the Bicol River. In the year 1814, due to the volcanic eruption of Mt. Albay, now called Mayon Volcano, said Municipality had been totally destroyed by lava and big boulders of stones and rocks so that the town had been transferred in a Sitio called Mauraro. Later it had been transferred in the Westcoast of Panganiran but no date was available. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it was returned to its former site to suffer a thousand times destruction due to volcanic eruption. As an effect, it had been again destroyed in 1853, but not as destructive as that of 1814.

This Municipality is situated 13º 10’ 40” latitude at the foot of Mt. Mayon, formerly called Mt. Albay, along the river surrounded by other mountains; bounded on the SE. by Camalig; about a league South, by Quipia; about five leagues North, is Ligao. The climate is regular and well ventilated inspite of its surrounding mountains. The most fre-

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frequent ailment of the natives was dysentery and fever. Its water supply directly came from Mt. Mayon and the river. It had two good roads leading to Ligao and Camalig with culverts made of stone and with special mention, a grand Bridge of stone named ISABEL II crossing Bansao River. The construction of this bridge started in the year 1848 at the expense of the Municipalities of Oas, Ligao, Guinobatan and Camalig; terminated in 1855; blessed and inaugurated in August 7 of the same year. This bridge has a total length of 1,500 feet and 54 feet wide. Mails from the Capital were received every Tuesday and delivered out of the Municipality every Wednesday.

The Church was of strong materials including the parochial with St. Asuncion as its Patron Saint. Aside to this, it has a Chapel made of stone partly ruined with St. Vincent as its Patron Saint where primary instructions for both Charity and with pay were held by the Curate. This Municipality had two Sitios, namely; Bubulusan and Muladbulad, the latter now called Muladbucad, with a distance of over a half league from the poblacion, under the administration of Curate Rev. Father Bernardino Melendreras of 50 years of age, Preacher and ex-Definer and with two assistant Preists.

In the mountains is a forest of Alintatao, Tindalo, Narra, Molave, Sibuciao and others. Very small area was under cultivation. Nevertheless, the areas with proper irrigation

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irrigation were devoted to palay for local consumption and bigger areas were planted to abaca which was and is the main crop of the locality. The inhabitants dedicated to agriculture and in the production of abaca which the female population made into thread called “GUINARAS” which were either sold at the local market every Thursday or sent to the Capital, called Albay.

The total population of this Municipality was 15,566 and with a total of 4,067 taxable inhabitants.

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HISTORICAL DATA OF GUINOBATAN

The chronicle of the Franciscan Fathers claim that the name Guinobatan originated from the bicol word Gubat which means to conquer, and whose past participle is Guinobatan, which in turn means conquered — giving the idea that the town was conquered by the Moros.

Such is not the accepted meaning of the word either by the common people or the living old persons, because there exists a legend conserved and handed down from generation to generation to the variety of which the people give credence. It is told that when the Moros came for the first time and entered the town to pillage, one of them roamed around and went to the other side of the river and there unfortunately for him took a rest under a “Lagnatong” tree. The leaves of this tree when in coming contact with the skin of the human body caused indescribable itching, pain and irritation. The Moro by chance touched the Lagnatong leaves and suffered the ensuing uncomfortable effects and ran like a madman. While running he saw a sow with litters, the former showing much evil disposition and fight. When he stopped for breath he happened to stand right on the top of an “Antic” hill (home of black ants). The ants bothered him so much so that as a consequence the Moro fled shouting to his companions to go away for in this town even the trees, pigs and insects are brave. (If the Moros fled, they could not have conquered the town, and the proper world-name for this town should be Guinobatan.)

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