MUNICIPALITY OF GUINOBATAN, ALBAY, Historical Data of Part 6
PART VI
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI
The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.
[p. 101]
sun and even the rain. They used the Japanized English to make the people understand the idea behind their coming. In short they told the people that the world was no other than the emperor of Japan and it was useless to resist the Japanese domination because America has already lost the war and that they could never come back to the Philippines. In the presence of the crowd were men,—tied like animals. They were captured by the Japanese “sakadas” in the mountains. They were just waiting for the mercy of their captors. There was no mercy during—that critical period. In fact many had already been brought to the Malacbalac Cemetery. These captives were allowed to dig their own graves and when dug—ed the Japanese officers the most dangerous of whom was Captain Samate used to murder in cold blood these unlucky captives. Said Captain used his double–grip Samurai sword. How awfully terrible it to witness such a system of human death. The Japanese established a detachment at the Malacbalac Emergency Dispensary. Other temporary buildings were constructed around the said building to house more soldiers. In order to attract more people to live in Malacbalac the Japanese Army tried to announce through the town mayors barrio Lieutenants that it was unsafe to live in the mountains because the sakadas might [missing verb] anyone by mistake. The people rushed to Malacbalac to save their lives. People from nearby barrios packed up their belongings and left their farms. Ma—
[p. 102]
Malacbalac therefore became a center of concentration. The people were allowed to go to their farms only during the daytime, but during the night they must return to the barrio. This made it very easy for the Japanese soldiers to get whatever the people had whether they like it or not. Nay, not even your dear sisters were an exception. Abuses were very rampant. An individual Japanese soldier was a police, a judge, a law—all in one, and was loose to do his worst. Democracy was dead during that reign of terror. The people of Malacbalac had witnessed the murder of many Filipinos by both the Japanese officers and by mere soldiers. So cruel was it that it awakened the move for the organization of the resistance movement. To counteract the extreme fear during that reign of terror Filipinos adopted two kinds of moves. One group embraced the policy of cruelty introduced by the Japanese. These men were those who became the spies for the Japanese. These were responsible for the discovery of many Filipino members of the resistance movement. The most dangerous of this group was a certain Isabelo Ruivivar a fellow from Ligao. The point of his forefingers brought about the execution of many of his countrymen. The other group were those who disagreed with the Japanese in their treatment of the Filipinos. To help make an end to such cruelties these people went to the mountains to organize the resistance movement.
[p. 103]
THE RESISTANCE MOVEMENT
In Malacbalac there were two groups of guerrilla units. Although both of these units worked for the freedom of the oppressed people yet there was a very wide gap of difference between the two as to the procedure in attaining their goal. While one group fought the enemy even with bolos and bows and arrows without taking into account the striking power of the enemy, the other group tried to attain their goal very cautiously. They studied first the striking power of the enemy prepared for the fight and fought when they were sure of victory. Such was the policy of the TATSA unit under the able leadership of Captain F. M. Cabal.
THE ERMA INCIDENT:
In the annals of Malacbalac’s history there is a red letter day. That day is October 10, 1944. This marked the first victory of the Filipinos over the Japanese.
On October 9, 1944, 16 Japanese soldiers boarded a truck to Malacbalac. It was said that their purpose was to commandeer the truck of a certain Mr. Misura which at that time was stationed at Malacbalac. Upon reaching Cuyacbo a place of around seven kilometers from Malacbalac, the truck was ambushed by a group of guerrilla boys. There was an exchange of fire, after which the result was two casualties on the part of the guerrilla with one casualty on the enemy and one wounded. The Japanese did not anymore follow the guerrilla in their way to the wilderness. Instead they proceeded to Malacbalac,
[p. 104]
Through correct planning and timing the enemy did never suspect that they were not in safe hands. The wounded was treated. All kinds of help were accorded the Japanese upon arrival at Malacbalac. With confidence established by the Malacbalac boys the Japanese did not hesitate to solicit their help. The Japanese officer told the guerrilla boys that they proposed not to take the road anymore in going back to their station that was Pasacao. He said he proposed to take parao for the trip. A sailboat happened to be anchored at Malacbalac. Its name was ERMA. All at once very much against the owner the ERMA was commandeered by the Japanese soldiers. Early in the morning of October 10, 1944 plans were made by the Japanese soldiers for the trip, while secretly the guerrilla boys were also making their plans. The Japanese officer solicited the help of the Malacbalac boys to accompany them to Pasacao. As planned by both parties the trip started in the afternoon of October 10, 1944 at 4 o’clock. Fourteen hardy boys went with the trip. Early in the morning the following day the ERMA sailboat came back to Malacbalac without the Japanese soldiers. Blood flowed on the floor of the ERMA. The boys possessed all the trophies captured from the Japanese including their guns and ammunition. The air was filled with the atmosphere of victory.
THE REVENGE
The loss of the fourteen Japanese soldiers came to the attention of the Japanese high command at Ligao. [blurred, unreadable]
[p. 105]
Truckloads of Japanese soldiers were sent to Malacbalac with the purpose it was said to exterminate all the people of the barrio. When the Japanese reached the barrio they rounded all the people in the barrio and concentrated them in the big houses. After this the greater bulk of the soldiers took the road back on foot towards the hills through Caratagan. Every person found on the way suffered all kinds of torture. Upon reaching the curve they took the road to Rotot, where they found the house of the late Andres Cofemia. Andres Cofemia died a very cruel death at the hands of the Japanese. He was suspected of feeding the guerrillas because when the Japanese reached his house there were many people in his house who upon seeing the enemy fled for fear. These people were attending a “catapusan” party offered by Andres Cofemia. The Japanese were indeed convinced that those were the people they were looking for. Cofemia was tied on both hands and feet, hanged on the branch of an orange tree and swung to the foot where there were plenty of thorns until he breathed his last. Not yet content with this cruelty, when the wife ran to help the dead body of her husband, the Japanese grabbed her and one at a time raped her to death. The husband and wife when dead were just left. Not even the relatives could render them the proper burial ceremonies. From Rotot the enemy took the road to Malidong. When they reached Malidong they burned the houses there. From Malidong they came back to Malacbalac at 6 o’clock,
[p. 106]
Early in the morning of October 16, 1945 sounds of airplanes were heard from the distance. The Japanese soldiers were bothered by these. They forgot the prisoners because they devoted their time preparing their belongings loading them to their trucks others soldiers got greens and decorated their trucks for camouflage. At 6 o’clock Legaspi was bombed by fifty superfortresses. The Japanese left Malacbalac, the prisoners saved.
INDUSTRIES
Agriculture became the chief means of livelihood of the people of Malacbalac. Everybody strived to plant anything that could be consumed. Money was not very important. In fact the barter system of trade was more in order than trade using money as the medium. The Japanese money had a very low buying power. Copra was not bought. This gave rise to the manufacture of oil from coconuts. The oil was used in the manufacture of soap, with the local lye from the ashes of the nispi and coconut petiole. In Malacbalac there was a soap factory owned and operated by Mr. Frescillano M. Osiel a product of Adamson University. Salt was hard to find due to the hardship in transportation. Under condition they made salt by boiling the sea water. This gave a great majority of the people to make a living out of the new indus—
[p. 107]
Clothes were very scarce. The people resorted to the use of sinamay brought in by the people from Daraga who purposely came to barter their clothes with fish or salt. Some people even used jute sack for clothes.
Sugar was hard to find. Only the most privileged people were known to have used sugar. Sugar was commandeered by the Japanese Army. This gave rise to the extensive manufacture of panocha.
MALACBALAC’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIBERATION OF ALBAY
During the liberation year the people of Malacbalac were proud to send to the front lines at Quituinan a company of tested boys under the able leadership of Captain Frescillano M. Osiel and his trusted officers to mention Lt. D. C. Cruera, Lt. R. de los Santos, Lt. C. Copes, and many others. These marched to the front lines to save democracy from Japan and without expecting for any personal gains.
EDUCATION
During the Japanese time there were no schools in Malacbalac the Japanese tried to put up a school but no one would enter because of the lack of confidence in them.
After the defeat of the Japanese and when the people were already sure that MacArthur has really come back, three classes were reorganized in Malacbalac. Every year thereafter there was a proportionate increase of classes to the increase in population. Two strong typhoons have totally wiped away the school buildings of Malacbalac.
[p. 108]
the Typhoon Trix that was on October 22, 1952 two of the teachers of Malacbalac Elementary School, the late Mr. and Mrs. Aureada including four of their children perished in the night while trying to save themselves. The typhoons have wrought destructions to buildings but they were not strong enough to shatter the morale of the people of Malacbalac. The people have again started to construct new school buildings to accommodate the ever–increasing pupils of the barrio.
[blurred, unreadable]
[p. 109]
REPORTS ON THE HISTORY OF AGPAY
Acknowledgment
In the absence of documentary evidences to support facts regarding the history of Agpay, we are prevailed to accept as truths, stories told by the oldest inhabitants of the place. In this case we gave our thanks to Mr. Filipo Orbillo one of the oldest inhabitants of Agpay for his cooperation in giving us the historical facts and events of Agpay. Mr. Filipo Orbillo is now 72 years old and had played important parts regarding the progress of this place. The materials that he gave us were also told to him by his predecessor one of the oldest inhabitants during this Spanish regime by the name of Mr. Pascual Cellon. To this people we give our gratitude for handing the history of the place (Agpay) from one generation to another. Without them, we the present generation will be totally ignorant of the past events of the place.
HISTORY OF AGPAY
How Agpay got its name– In this case two versions may be accepted. One as told by Mr. Filipo Orbillo, is that, according to Mr. Pascual Cellon this place now called Agpay had no name way back in the latest part of the Spanish time. During that time the Filipinos were greatly abused by the Spanish Rulers which led the Filipinos to revolt. The people of this place answered to the call, formed themselves into a group and agreed to fight the Spaniards. They had their Camps
[p. 110]
in Batbat and its neighboring places but have this place now called Agpay as their outpost. Guards were posted here with carabao horns to blow their signals in case of coming enemies. So when the guards blew their horns the soldiers stationed in the nearby places had to rush to this place to help. The signal means AGAPAN in native dialect meaning HELP. Thus the name Agpay came from the word AGAPAN
Another version given by the same informer, is that, long time ago this place (Agpay) was still a forest. One of the earliest inhabitants who came to live was Pedro Malili. He cut down trees and planted corn, camotes, coconuts, abaca and rice. One day while he was working an insane came with a sharp bolo. He was so terrified that he ran crying AGAPI – GAPAY meaning HELP – INSANE. Thus the word or the name Agpay came from the word AGAPI and GAPAY. Ag– from the word Agapi and Pay from the word Gapay.
This place has some historical events during the American and Japanese occupations. According to the Narrator, during the revolution in 1896 when the Filipinos fought against the American invaders, the inhabitants of this place organized themselves into a unit under Gen. Simeon Ola. The leader of unit was Antonino Alban. They partook in several fights but because of lack of arms and ammunitions the Filipinos surrendered to the invaders. The inhabitants of Agpay returned to
[p. 111]
their homes and led a peaceful life. They devoted their time to the cultivation of the land and progress began to shine on this place. Population increased so that in the year 1926 when the late President Justiniano de los Reyes became the Municipal President, Agpay was organized as a barrio. The first barrio Lieutenant was Mr. Simeon Palina– who later constructed a big house in Katbigian in order that a public school could be opened. But during his incumbency as barrio lieutenant his dream of public school was not realized. The children were educated in a catholic school taught by Miss Romana Palina one of the daughters of the barrio Lieutenant. It was not until September 1936 that the dream of a public school by the people of Agpay was realized. When the late Engineer Julian Ofrecio was elected Municipal President, a public school was opened in Katbigian a sitio of Agpay. Mr. Simeon Palina who had been clamoring for a public school gave his house free as a temporary school building. The opening of the school was facilitated by the untiring effort of Mr. Simeon Palina, the barrio Lieutenant during the opening Mr. Filipe Orbillo, and the late Dr. Filise Cevallos who donated a piece of land of one hectare in Agpay as a school site.
Now Agpay is proud of its achievements with regards to education. The P.T.A. headed by Mr. Leoncio Villacampa as its President constructed a school building of strong materials accessible to three rooms This classes are presently
[p. 112]
housed.
It has complete primary grades. The parents are so interested about the education of their children that they will try their best to meet all the requirements in order that a grade five class can be given them in the future.
Agpay is an agricultural land but hilly. The land is fertile and the climate is suited for agriculture. Plenty of abaca, coconuts, corn, camotes, gabi, rice, and other vegetables are grown. It has a population of more than 700 scattered all over the sitios. It is composed of the sitios of Ali, Cabanog, Pinalansan, Taneg, Catonag, Cabla, Guinodloghan, Togas, Conos, Katybigan and Panal. About 20% of the population are not able to read and write. Since majority of the people are educated, they are peaceful, law–abiding, hardworking, and very cooperative especially with regards to school activities.
Respectfully submitted,
GREGORIO ORTILE
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI