MUNICIPALITY OF LIBOG (SANTO DOMINGO), ALBAY, Historical Data of Part 1

PART I

Part I | Part II

About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.

[Cover page]

HISTORICAL DATA OF LIBOG
AND BARRIOS

[p. 2]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN
Part One: History

Present official name of the town.

The present official name of the town is “Libog.” It is along the Albay Gulf and at the very foot of Mayon Volcano.

20. Former name or names and their meaning or derivation.

There are two versions about its former name. The first says that its former name was “Libot” meaning detour. It was given such name because one has to detour by way of the present site of the barrio of Santo Niño going northwest, then turn east upon reaching the calzada in order to reach Calle Real or the center of the town. It is further said that the present site of Barrio San Roque was the former Calle Real. The present site of the poblacion was formerly called “Madanlog” meaning swamps and marshes. Repeated catastrophe, namely, volcanic eruptions of Mayon and earthquakes explains why there is no trace of such swamps and marshes to substantiate the assertion that the present site was really swampy.

Such catastrophes are recorded chronologically by local historians who kept records of important incidents in the town.

These repeated eruptions account for the transfer from the former to the present site of the town.

The second version is merely a legend that explains why the town of Libog happened to be so–called.

[p. 3]

The legend relates that when the Americans came to the Philippines, a squad of soldiers happened to reach this place. They met two boys herding carabaos whom they asked about the name of the place. The boys did not understand what the Americans meant. They thought they were asking what they were doing that moment. So they answered, “Libog” meaning that they were letting their carabaos wallow in the mud. The Americans thought that that was the name of the place; henceforth, they pronounced and called it “Libog” or “Libog.”

21. Date of establishment.

The town was established in the year 1749 during the incumbency of Capitan Diego Castillano.

22. Names and social status of the founders.

Very little is known of the founding of the town of Libog. Local historians and chroniclers have a very scanty knowledge on this matter. This might have been attributed to the faulty system of recording events in those days, if not due to the absence of those records as a result of the centuries that have passed with the various calamities undergone by the town. From some meticulous recorders of the town’s history, however, we are able to get the following data of the town’s founders:

The early beginnings of the town of Libog as a pueblo must have begun with the term of Don Diego Castillano as first gobernadorcillo (mayor). The real limits of the municipality, however, were fixed later, with the agreement between the Capitan of Libog and the Capitan of the neighboring town of Bacacay. Then upon completion of the first church and the assignment of Padre Antonio de San Bern as Parish Curate, the growth of Libog as a municipality received greater impetus. This was due to the efforts of the church and the government working side by side.

[p. 4]

23. Names of persons who held leading official positions in the town of Libog, Albay, with the dates of their tenure.

The following are the Gobernadorcillos, Capitan Municipal, Presidents, and Mayors during the Spanish and American regime:

[p. 5]

[p. 6]

Cura Parrocos and Parish Priests during the Spanish and American regime in Libog, Albay.

[p. 7]

Maestro Municipal and Teachers during the Spanish and American regime in Libog, Albay:

1. L. Roy Wellington
2. Eduardo Martinez
3. Pedro Martinez
4. Diego Barcebal

Justices of the Peace during the Spanish and American regimes:

1. Agustin Buesa
2. Anselmo Mercado
3. Rufino Martinez
4. Pascual Sierra

Chiefs of Police during the Spanish and American regimes:

1. Juan Garcia
2. Feliciano Mastubog
3. Geronimo Balane
4. Alejo Balbin

Municipal Treasurers:

1. Aureo Salazar
2. Valentino Llanto
3. Juan Loreña

Secretaries:

1. Eduardo Martinez
2. Pedro Martinez
3. Rufino Martinez

Councilors:

1. Diego Balane
2. Eduardo Martinez
3. Rufino Martinez
4. Felipe Valera
5. Felipe Banzuela
6. Potenciano Romero

[p. 8]

HISTORICAL SITES, STRUCTURES, BUILDINGS, OLD RUINS,
ETC. OF LIBOG TOWN PROPER

1. The “Balwarte”

This historical structure was constructed during the Spanish regime in the year 1677. It was built along the shore of the San Vicente Street of the town proper. This structure was a watch tower about fifty meters high and eighty–eight meters in diameter. It was a five–story tower with a big iron bell hanged in the last story. This structure was constructed as a watch tower to detect the coming of the Moros who come to capture Christian inhabitants to serve them as slaves. It was said that when the sentinel in the tower rang the bell the people knew what it meant and they immediately evacuated their homes. In like manner, the ringing of this bell made the invading Moros turn their sails away from the Libog shores. The watch tower was destroyed during the eruption of Mayon in the middle of the 16th century. Today only the ground foundation of the tower has remained and stood the time.

2. The First Church

The first church was constructed in the year 1636 under the management of an active friar. It was a beautiful building constructed at the end of Santo Domingo Street with the sea as the background. It was about 28 meters high. It had 12 rooms each measuring 10 meters long and 10 meters wide with a spacious hall that measured 25 meters long and 15 meters wide. This building was said to have been constructed through forced labor. Its completion made it the first Catholic church in Libog. The hall was made the church proper and the rooms served as the convent for the friars where religious meetings and festivals were held during the 17th and 18th centuries. However, in the early part of the 18th century when the church was completely constructed this building was abandoned by the friars. It then became a haunted place and later became the first cemetery of the town. Today it still stands with its stone walls covered with vines and towering trees. It has lost its beauty but its memories remain within the haunted rooms.

3. The Tower Oven

This structure was constructed at the tip of San Vicente Street with its back towering the seashore. It was constructed in the latter part of 1700. It was made by the male inhabitants of the town who were said to be delinquent in paying their taxes. This tower oven was a place where the concrete materials were baked and prepared for the construction of the houses of the “Cabezas” and “Capitanes”. When the church was made the pasting materials for its walls and other parts were said to have been prepared in this oven.

[p. 9]

During the Japanese Occupation this tower oven was used by the Japanese soldiers as a guard house in watching for guerrillas who came to town in sailboats.

Today this tower oven is covered by tall trees and grasses. At night flickering lights of fireflies may be seen around this once useful tower oven.

4. The Church of Libog

Like other Catholic churches in the Philippines, the church of Libog was constructed under the management of the friars. In the early part of the 18th century the first group laborers from the barrios and sitios that comprise the municipality of Libog came to town to put up the foundation of the huge church. From reliable sources the construction of this church was realized through forced labor. It was said that a laborer who failed to work on a designated day was given the lashing of twelve whips. The punishment was done in front of the construction yard and shown to the public in order to forestall future wrongdoers.

The people of Libog are proud of this church because it has one of the rarest constructions in the islands. Unlike other Catholic churches, the Libog church has two symmetrical towers (simborios) with bells hanged in each and was constructed with first class lumber and solid and squared stones for its walls. Even with these heavy materials within and outside the church compound, this church stands without pillars in the middle of the building thus making it unique from other churches.

During the Jap Occupation this church and convent served as a resting place for the guerrillas who come down town because it was free from Japanese molestations. Today it stands roofless with its massive walls only. It was destroyed by the last strong typhoon “Trix.”

5. The School Building

During the early part of the 13th century when the population of the town was increasing, the local government with the aid of the church dignitaries, constructed the now school building No. 1 of the Libog Elementary School. This edifice was constructed without the dream that some day it will become an educational institution for the youths because it was purposely made as “Municipio Tribunal” of Libog. It is a two–story building with four rooms in the first story each measuring 9 by 7 meters. The second story is composed of six rooms, four of which measures 9 by 7 meters and the other two is 3 meters square each.

During the Spanish regime this building was the center of the local government. Dances, official parties and meetings were

[p. 10]

held in this edifice. During town fiestas, it became the scene of the famous rigodon and pantomina of old.

In the early part of the 19th century, when the Americans were beginning to establish and organize schools throughout the islands this building was loaned to the school authorities and made the first permanent school building in town.

At the outbreak of World War II when all schools in the provinces were closed, the Japanese Army occupied it for their garrison. In this garrison prisoners were investigated, tortured, killed, and others imprisoned. When they evacuated this building the guerrillas under the command of Faustino M. Flor took over and made it their headquarters and advance post.

In December, 1947, typhoon “Jean” unroofed this building. However, it was reconstructed. On October 21, 1952, typhoon “Trix” battered it badly and destroyed it completely. Today it stands roofless like our church with its stone walls dropping one by one every day.

[p. 11]

Important Facts, Incidents or Events
During the Spanish Occupation

The primary concern of the Spanish occupation in the locality was the propagation of the Christian faith. As a means to strengthen that faith, the late parish priest, Reverend Father Martin Martinez solicited financial and physical help from the inhabitants. The women brought baskets full of sand and stone as their donation while the men worked without pay in the construction of the church. The church as it is now, is a living symbol of untold hardships of those who extended the help that we of today would be proud of having a church geometrically beautiful. Because the church and the school existed together not as one of a different and separate entity as it is today, the friars or the parish priests had the central or final say in the shaping of the educational system. Thus, in the school, the children were taught religion with reading, writing, and arithmetic. The pupils were subjected to corporal punishment as a means of corrective measure. Only those who could endure the inhumane treatment from the teachers were able to finish the course. For not able to memorize a prayer, a pupil was made to squat in the air for about thirty minutes. Inattention on the part of the pupils would have to mean twelve lashings of the whip or kneeling for about two hours. The old ruin near the convent was once the school building, an indication that the school and the church existed for each other.

Important Facts, Incidents or Events During
the American Occupation to World War II

Although the Spanish regime in Libog was not satisfactory, the people grew up with such administration and would not have it exchanged for one that was yet to be tried. The people were made to believe that an American invasion would make things much worse. So the late Aureo Salazar took up arms with some of his fellowmen in an effort to subdue the American Cavalry that was to pass Libog. The Libog insurgents deployed at Kilometer 9. The exchange of shots lasted about twenty minutes. The Americans, dressed in Navy blue, captured one Timoteo Balmes. He was made a guide. The traps that were made for the invaders were of no use because Timoteo Balmes guided them to safer places. The inhabitants evacuated to the mountains and lived there for about three weeks. Those persons who went down town were given biscuits and canned foods by the Americans.

At the time of the American entry, Kapitan (Mayor) Procopio Banda was the last mayor in Libog under the Spanish regime,

[p. 12]

The Americans appointed Mr. Agustin Buesa as the town president. With him the Americans established the first American school in the house of the late Mr. Ramon Agana. Mr. Wellington, an American, was assigned school principal. The children were afraid to enroll so the policemen were ordered to catch children of school age for enrolment. The pupils were given pieces of paper and pencils. When Mr. Wellington left Libog, Mr. Pedro Jimeno Martinez was assigned principal. Pupils who finished the third or fourth grades were assigned teachers. Mr. Juan Balane succeeded Mr. Martinez as principal.

Mr. Diego Barcebal was the first elected town president in 1907. Mr. Pedro Jimeno Martinez was elected Representative to the National Assembly. The first census taking took place in 1908 with Potenciano Gregorio, Lorenzo Gregorio Sr. and others as census enumerators. In 1914 Lorenzo Martinez became the first lawyer in Libog while another beloved son of this town, Mr. Juvenal Gregorio Sr. graduated at the top of his class (valedictorian) from the Philippine Normal School. He was an Academic Supervisor–designate when he was run over by the street car in Manila.

In 1915 a strong typhoon hit Albay and washed away the Legaspi warehouses and cemetery. A number of persons fished out cans of gasoline and petroleum and corpses along the shores of Libog.

In 1916 there was an acute shortage of rice in Libog. The people had to hang the mortar when pounding rice as a means of not attracting the attention of other people from borrowing rice. The people had, however, plenty of money for the heap commanded good price. For years the Libog Band under the direction of the late Potenciano Gregorio, composer of “Sarong Bangui,” was known far and wide in the province.

In 1924 the Spanish tribunal now known as school building No. 1 was reconstructed by the Bureau of Education. In 1926–27, a group of civic–spirited citizens with Mr. Diego Balin as president, solicited contributions for the erection of the local monument, “The Cry of Balintawak.”

Mayon Volcano erupted in 1928. Many of the people evacuated to Salvacion. A constabulary detachment was then assigned in Libog to look after the preservation of peace and order.

In 1932 the present municipal building was constructed with the late Mr. Acisclo Banda as municipal president.

[p. 13]

In 1932 the Libog Sporting Club was organized with the aim of fostering athletics in the community. Libog was one of the volleyball champions in the province of Albay, and Jose Balane of San Roque was considered the best volleyball player. Sofronio Baloloy was the best billiard player; Mr. Roselio Gregorio Sr., the best tennis player; Messrs. Nicolas Llaneta, Ernesto Imperial, and Aureo Gregorio the best sprinters; and Mr. Juvencio Gregorio, the best ping–pong player in the province. Mr. Llaneta was among those who represented the Philippines in the Olympic Meet held in Japan to compete in in the short distance races.

In 1933 school building No. 2 was constructed. On August 17, 1936 Mayor Juan Balilo was murdered in his home at San Roque by one Paulino Belingbing. In 1939 Mrs. Consuelo Salazar Surtida was elected first lady mayor of Libog with an overwhelming majority. Mr. Resurrecion Gregorio was her vice–mayor and served as mayor when she relinquished the position to him. So when the Japs invaded Libog, Mr. Gregorio was then the mayor in December, 1941.

Important Facts, Incidents or Events that
Took Place After World War II

On December 12, 1941, the people were surprised to find the Japs already in Libog. The people evacuated to the mountains. In the ensuing months and years food and clothing became very scarce. The people made soap, salt, and oil. The Guerrilla organization under the command of Mr. Faustino M. Flor defied the Japs and this had a bearing on the Japs’ frequent raids in Libog.

On January 13, 1943, the Japs established the school in Libog with Mr. Roselio Gregorio as the principal. The following were his teachers: Messrs. Melacio Escalante, Alfonso Fajardo, Juvencio Gregorio, Mrs. Concepcion B. Imperial, Mrs. Adela Barrada, Mrs. Remedios B. Bibal, Miss Naomi Barrios, Mr. Emigdio Esplana, and Mr. Leovigildo Reposa, who was later transferred and appointed principal of the Tabaco Elementary School.

On December 23, 1943, an Alstoe car operated and managed by the Japs smashed the talisay tree on the curve near the school building No. 1. More than fifty persons met instantaneous death.

On April 1, 1945, Easter Sunday, the Americans liberated Legaspi, Libog, Bacacay, Malilipot, Tabaco, Malinao, and Tiwi. In 1947 Congressman Bulogio Lawenko allotted a portion of his

[p. 14]

pork barrel for the construction of the Libog market and for the remodel of the municipal building which was destroyed by typhoon “Jean.” In 1950 Congressman Lorenzo P. Ziga set aside a portion of his pork barrel funds for the construction of a market–tienda which is still unfinished to–date. In 1951 the Basud Toll Bridge at kilometer 9 was completed. On October 21, 1952, the strongest typhoon ever recorded in the history of Libog had its fury on all houses, crops, and property, and claimed the lives of fourteen people in this municipality. Typhoon “Trix” destroyed what we believe the moral posters of our forefathers who, in their fortitude, patience, and love built their legacy to the municipality of Libog, the church and convent. With this edifice prostrate can we reconstruct it for posterity?

[p. 15]

26. (a) Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially in 1896–1900 and 1941–1945.

1. Lives. There was no death caused by the Filipino–American war.

During the period of Japanese occupation from December, 1941 to April, 1945, the following persons were arrested and killed by the Filipino guerrillas:

1. Atty. & Judge Jesus Salazar
2. Ruperto Rodriguez
3. Domingo Bandojo
4. Jose Rouan (Actg. Mayor of the town)
5. Juan Banda

The persons named above were suspected as spies.

2. Properties. During the Filipino–American war a concrete two–story building of Spanish type was burned by the Filipino soldiers so that it could not be used by the invading American forces. In 1915 this building was rebuilt by the government and later it was given to the Bureau of Education as a school building.

There was no destruction during the first World War but during the second World War this town suffered great losses. The Japanese soldiers confiscated from the natives some of their food, animals, building materials, furniture, and many other things they liked.

(b) Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.

The losses of the Filipino people were paid by the U.S. War Damage Commission except those who failed to submit their losses and apply for payment. The municipal building and the two school houses in the poblacion were repaired under the supervision and funds of the War Damage Commission. The Basud bridge which was also destroyed during the war was rebuilt. It is one of the longest bridges in the province.

Part I | Part II