MUNICIPALITY OAS, ALBAY, Historical Data of Part 4

PART IV

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV

About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology. There may be errors.

[p. 61]

THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH

No one knows what was here when the earth began. Then men have wondered about it and tried to imagine what the earth was and how it looked like from the begin­ning of time. There were interesting things which at­tracted their attention, the fact that the sun and the moon appeared and disappeared with regularity which puzzled them very much. They attempted to explain everything they did not understand by means of legends.

For a long time, the Ancients believed the earth to be flat but with the sky flattened over it like a solid dome. They believed that the sun revolved a­round it. Later, the Hindus in India made a fantastic tale about the earth. They said that it rested on the backs of four elephants and that these beasts in turn stood on the back of a huge turtle which floated on a great ocean, but the Greeks believed that the earth rested on the shoulders of a man named Atlas. He was punished by Jupiter, the father of Gods and men, by making him stand knee–deep, in the middle of an ocean, holding the earth on his shoulders. Because Jupiter was the king of the Gods, he had the power to send rain, snow, lightning, thunder and other forces of nature to earth.

[p. 62]

HOW THE LAND CAME TO BE

The earth existed as a solid dome. No bodies of water or signs of depressions which formed something was seen. Several years after, the different Gods of nature reigned over the world. Later, Ceres, the goddess of the earth, began to use her power as the earth was found to be very bare.

Ceres had a daughter upon whom all her powers were vested while she went back to her kingdom, the sea. Before Ceres left the place, she warned her not to let any of her friends touch the beautiful box where she used to sit on as she ascended from the heaven. It was natural for Proserpina, the daughter of Ceres, to play with the other goddesses. One day, while Ceres was away, Proserpina’s friends visited her. Ignorant of such prohibition, they touched the forbidden box. After a few minutes, they were surprised to see the goddess of earth before them saying, “Now lest be thou changed to land for not fulfilling what I said.” Being the goddess of the earth, Ceres smote her golden rod changing Proserpina’s friends to land. After several years, she began to use her mighty power that many goddesses came to exist again. These goddesses then became to be the first inhabitants of the land.

[p. 63]

HOW THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINS WERE FORMED

After the earth was formed there were no signs of how these depressions on the surfaces would occur. Later, fine bits of soil seemed to form due to explosion of the earth’s surface on account of the heat produced below the surface. This hot lava grew numerous that welled up through the weak spots in the earth’s surface. As days passed, these piles of lava spread out in sheets and later piled up to form the mountains. These mountains, through the millions of years of exposure to rain and other weather conditions, were reduced to the size of small rolling hills, covered with soil and grass and trees and other kinds of plant life. As the explosions on the earth’s surface became greater, numerous hot ashes were piled thus forming the great mountains and valleys on the surface.

HOW THE OCEAN CAME TO BE

Just after the earth was formed, there were tremendous earthquakes and terrible explosion which took place every few days on the bare earth surface. With each violent eruption on the earth’s surface, hot steam was set free. As these eruptions and explosions took place continuously all over the earth, the entire atmosphere became filled with enormous clouds. These giant clouds were so heavy with steam that they darkened the sky and shut out the sunlight for several years.

When these clouds started to cool, they dumped billions and billions of gallons of rain down on the earth. Great floods occurred for several thousand years, perhaps millions of years. The valleys and depressions on the earth’s surface filled up with this rain water thus forming the great body of water. This big body of water was called the ocean.

THE ORIGIN OF LAKES AND RIVERS

How the rivers and lakes were formed had a similar origin as the formation of the oceans.

Day after day, terrible explosions on the earth’s surface occurred. The hot steam evaporated as the eruption on the surface of the earth continued to erupt steam on its surface. As this steam was accumulated on the surface, the atmosphere began to be filled with rain clouds. These clouds were so great that there was a complete darkness in the atmosphere for several days. Several days after successive rainy days came, for almost a thousand years or more and gallons of rain fell to earth. Those mountains and hills were continually affected. Later, depressions on this land surfaces were washed by the heavy rains. These rains filled up the depressions on the surface of the earth to form the rivers and lakes. The holes and craters of these depressions, like the mountains, hills, and valleys became small and big bodies of water named the rivers and lakes.

[p. 64]

REPORT ON HISTORICAL DATA DESTRUCTION OF LIVES,
PROPERTIES AND INSTITUTIONS, DURING WARS, SPE–
CIALLY IN 1896–1900 and 1941–1945.

Going back to the pages of history of the Philippine Archipelago we can conclude that the Spanish Regime was almost the same as that of the Japanese Occupation. The town of Oas, Province of Albay, Philippines was ravaged by both wars. The physical destruction cuts deep into the social and economic conditions of the people. Ruins still stand as a reminder of the damage done.

I – War in 1896–1900
(a) Destruction of Lives

The Spanish Regime was characterized as years of terror, slavery, tyranny and barbarism. The Spaniards did not have their permanent quarters in the town of Oas. They only visited the town. The soldiers walked while the Captain or General rode a horse coming from their permanent quarters in Ligao. Civilians met on their way were ordered to salute them. Failure to do so would mean a blow with a long whip called “latigo” or “colata.”

There was a curfew hour observed as ordered by the Governor General in the town. It was from 8:00 o’clock P.M. to 5:00 o’clock A.M. The people were also allowed to go out between these hours if they carried with them a lamp to light them on their way. Any violation of this order was a severe punishment. It might be an arrest by the Guardia Civil or imprisonment for one whole night or a corporal punishment.

There was a man from Polangui, Albay who was appointed as “cabo” in the town of Oas. He was the chief in all the work assigned to the people especially to the men. The work consisted of road building and repairing and other constructions. If anybody committed a slight mistake, he was at once struck by a piece of wood called “colata.” This man could do any form of punishment because there was no court to decide whether a person was guilty or not. So, the people became timid or shy and coward.

The citizens of the whole town from the age of 18 up were ordered to buy cedula called “Realover” or “Sexta Clase”. If a male failed to buy, he was forced to sort abaca or to sort palay mixed with rice husks. The cedula cost five pesos (P5.00)

When the Spanish Regime was almost ending serious offenses had been committed against the people. There was a man assigned as “Verdugo” of the town. Any slight offense committed by a person was at once punished by using a “garrote”. This was the most inhuman way of killing a person. Another punishment that was used was by pouring water into the mouth of the person through the use of a pipe. When his stomach became full and big like a drum, he was told to lie down and a “cuadrillero” would step on his stomach until the water came out of his nose, ears and mouth.

[p. 65]

b. Destruction of Properties

To give better protection to the properties of the town folks, the Governor General appointed two Guardia Civil to look over their properties. The two Guardia Civil were very cruel, fierce and barbarous. These two Guardia Civil were sometimes called as “encargado” or manager. The manager thought of looking over the property. If a farmer had no improvements, on the land, he was at once driven away. If there were improvements, the encargado would be asking for presents such as chickens, pigs, fruits and vegetables. These were some of the abuses committed by the two Guardia Civil assigned in this town.

c. Destruction of Institutions

From 1896 to 1900, there were no institutions destroyed in the town of Oas, Albay.

II – War in 1941 – 1945

The world was thrown into chaos when the totalitarian form of government wanted to conquer the whole world. Through the able leadership of Adolf Hitler, the neighboring countries in Europe were conquered by his army. It expanded in the East by indoctrinating the Japanese people, making them believe that the East is for the Eastern people and the west for the Western people.

The Japanese people were found throughout the East. Many of them were found in the Philippines. Some were engaged in business, others were carpenters and farmers. When the Japanese people thought that they were gaining grounds in their respective assignments, they began to communicate with the Emperor of Japan of their readiness to fight. They fought with the neighboring countries in the East, while Germany fought in Europe. The Imperial forces gained grounds and conquered the East. They finally reached the Philippines on December 8, 1941.

The Japanese Imperial Forces landed in the Bicol Region in Legaspi, on December 12, 1941 without any resistance. Some Filipinos became unfaithful to the United States for they believed that the United States Armed Forces would not come back to the Philippines. Others remained faithful to the United States. In spite of the policy of attraction offered by the Japanese Government, few Filipinos were willing to serve in any branch of the Japanese Government. Most of the Filipinos volunteered to enlist in the guerrilla outfit.

a. Destruction of Lives

Some of the Japanese forces were stationed in Legaspi and others in Ligao. In Ligao they occupied the Primary School building and used it as their garrison. This garrison was only five kilometers away from the town of Oas. The soldiers could reach Oas in two or three minutes.

[p. 66]

People passing by this garrison were ordered to bow down before the Japanese sentinel. Failure to do so meant a severe punishment.

Every now and then, the Japanese soldiers were sent to Oas for patrol. At the beginning, they seemed to be friendly, so that the people of Oas began to concentrate to the poblacion. Then the soldiers did so many abuses which no Filipino could bear, especially rape, so that the people ran to the mountains to hide.

In July, 1944 the Japanese soldiers went to San Juan, Oas, Albay looking for Mayor Virgilio Rempillo. Since the mayor could not be found, the barrio folks were whipped and given blows. They even planned to burn the whole barrio. When the mayor heard their sad news, he surrendered himself in order to save the people. He was taken to Ligao garrison and was beheaded at the back of the Albay High School, Legaspi City.

In October, 1944 at about 4:00 o’clock A. M. the Japanese soldiers encircled the market and caught Antonio Ribaya, Marcial Rosana and Querico _________________. They were suspected as members of the guerrilla. They were tied by a rope and brought to Ligao for investigation. After a week, they were beheaded just at the back of the Ligao garrison.

In the midnight of December 5, 1944 the Japanese soldiers came to the town of Oas just to get the male persons of the town. They suspected the men in Oas to be hiding the three guns of the Japanese soldiers. The men were tied by a rope and were brought to the garrison in Ligao. Around four hundred innocent men were investigated. They remained standing without food to eat nor even water to drink to quench their thirst. As a result many of the men became sick and died of hunger and fear.

b. Destruction of Property

When the Japanese soldiers needed something for consumption they often went to the town of Oas and got domesticated animals like chickens, ducks and pigs without the people’s consent. Sometimes they would go up the houses and get everything they could find like silverwares, chinaware, clothing, rice, sugar and etc. They would also enter the gardens and gather vegetables and fruits.

One time they burned the house of Mr. & Mrs. Rufino Ravalo, Mr. & Mrs. Victorio Arambulo, the two Rojo’s houses and Rotueno’s houses. These houses were located in Ilaor, Oas just a few meters away from the church of the town. Imagine the great loss of these properties to these families.

[p. 67]

C. Destruction of Institutions

Thanks to God that no institutions had been destroyed by the Japanese soldiers in this town.

When the Japanese soldiers knew that the American Forces were coming to liberate the Filipinos, they became very harsh and strict. The people feared them so much that even the market days were abolished. Everybody wanted to stay away from the town.

These were some of the abuses committed by the Spaniards and Japanese soldiers in the town of Oas, Albay during their respective stay in the Philippines.

[p. 68]

IMPORTANT FACTS? INCIDENTS? AND EVENTS
THAT TOOK PLACE DURING
AND AFTER WORLD WAR II

Q During World War II we had our beloved Mayor Virgilio Rempillo. He was young, energetic, and hard working mayor. He was loved by the people because of his honesty, modesty and generosity.

It was market day when the people were INFORMED of the landing of the Japanese at Legaspi. Hearing the news, the people evacuated the town for fear of the Japanese. Some of the people stayed in the nearby barrios while others fled to distant mountains.

After a month or more of the Japanese administration or occupation, the Japanese began establishing a military form of government. They ordered the people to come downtown. The Japanese appointed the different officers of the town. Later on when peace and order was little bit established in the town, Civil form of government was established. Mayor was appointed in the town by the Japanese. Atty. Reginaldo Torres was the first mayor appointed. As the Civil form of government was already going on smoothly, the Guerrilla Organization also was at its height.

During that time the people had a hard time contemplating the two groups that are the Japanese and the Guerrillas. The Japanese began their harsh treatment to the people so the people were afraid and careful. Just the same the Guerrillas were watching the people who were favoring the Japanese. That was the terrible thing that was happening to the civilians – the Japanese may kill them or the Guerrillas may kill them too. The civilians who were known by the Japanese to be helping the Guerrillas were wanted by the Japanese and the civilians who were also known by the Guerrillas giving and siding the Japanese were wanted by the Guerrillas. Such was the life situation of the people. From that time the Guerrillas were after Mayor for they said that he was collaborating with the Japanese so Mayor Torres left the town and went to Legaspi. Conditions became worse in the town when nobody wanted to act as Mayor. The Japanese officials were becoming jealous of such an act of the Filipinos and so they intended to do something bad to the town. Through the Divine Providence a humble but courageous man accepted the position at the risk of himself and his family just to save the town and his people from the harsh treatment of the Japanese. This man was no other than Mr. Pedro Eva. He accepted the position as a mayor so peace and order were regained. Many people concentrated to the town so the living conditions was a little bit improved. Such conditions went on for a lapse of time. Classes were opened in the town so many children were sent by their parents to school. The opening of the classes in the town added to the peaceful living conditions of the people. The people began planting their fields and yards with some food crops. Then market days were improved and many things were sold in the market for the nearby towns to take their products here. A Junior High School was opened

[p. 69]

in the town through the hard work of Mayor Pedro Eva. The nearby towns were even envious for such a High School that we had. As time went on the clash between the Japanese and the Guerrillas was inevitable. The harsh treatment of the Japanese to the Filipinos was continuous and so the Guerrillas were harsh to the Japanese. Raids here and there were done by the Japanese. In one of the raids in San Juan our beloved Mayor Rempillo was caught and was brought to Ligao and that was the end of his life.

Some important events and incidents happened here during the Japanese occupations:

1. The encounter of the Japanese and Guerrillas in Nov. 11, 1942 in Cadaihon zone – causing the burning of some of the houses in this zone.
2. The derailing of the train near Panonowan – leading the Japanese to go up the houses in the Poblacion and getting the things they wanted.
3. Zoning of the people and taking them to Ligao Garrison for investigation letting the people to suffer hunger for the whole day, but through the bravery and courage of Mayor Eva who went to Ligao and explained and defended the people.
4. Zoning of the people in the market one market day through the defence of Mayor Eva the people again were saved.
5. The shooting of one Japanese in the market.
6. The capturing of guns of the P.C. by some Guerrillas.
7. The surrounding of the market by the Japanese causing the capture of some men and never return anymore. These were the most important things that happened which are not mentioned here.

When worse things were almost happening between the Japanese and Americans especially when the landing of the American forces was nearing by, the Japanese treatment was getting worse. The civilians and officers of the town had known the bad intentions of the Japanese and began to evacuate the town unknown by the Japanese. The Japanese could no longer find the people and officials of the town for they have gone far from the town. The news of the landing of the Americans in Ormoc, Leyte made the people feel happier with the hope of liberating them from the hands of the cruel and inhuman Japanese. More so when the American planes occasionally bombed some of the Japanese garrisons. The Japanese began to evacuate their garrisons and concentrated themselves to some strategic points. When the Guerrillas knew the conditions of the Japanese especially when they evacuated their garrison in Ligao, our Guerrillas in the mountain came downtown and made the School building as their camp. The people who were still in their evacuation places began to come downtown. They stayed in their homes and resumed the peaceful living of each family. Little trouble in some distant barrios happened because of the stray Japanese who were running away from the Americans. The Guerrillas of our town were helping the Americans looking for the stray Japanese. When normal condition was restored, the Americans established the PCAU Government and Mr. Pedro Eva was appointed Mayor.

[p.70]

Through the enviousness of some persons they reported or complained to the Organizer of the PCAU and so Mr. Amando Ramin who was the Vice-mayor of late mayor Virgilio Rempillo became the Mayor. He sat for a short time as mayor because Mr. Pedro Eva fought for his appointment so he was again appointed until he was replaced by the appointment of Mr. Temistocles Raguero. Then the election of the National Officials of the Republic of the Philippines came when late President Manuel Roxas was elected.

[p. 71]

HISTORICAL DATA

BELIEFS? SUPERSTITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS:

1. Natural phenomena-
   1. The comet – People believe that when a comet appears, it is a sign of war or epidemic.
   2. Moon and Star– When the moon is followed very closely by a star, women who will give birth will have a hard delivery.
   3. Thunder– At the beginning of every new year, people watch for the thunder. They say, if the thunder is heard in the east (place of dawn) mostly children will die during the year. If it is heard at the middle, mostly middle aged people will die; if heard in the west (where the sun sets), mostly old people will die.
   4. The weather– On the first twelve days of the new year or the month of January, some people observe the weather. If the first day of the year is sunny, that means January will have pleasant days. If it is cloudy or rainy, that means the first month will have cloudy or rainy days. Suppose the second day is a sunny day, it means February will have sunny days; Etc. up to December. Each day stands for each of the twelve months of the year.
   5. Shooting star; When a shooting star appears, it means there will be continuous sunny days.
   6. Eclipse of either the sun or the moon – Mothers and their families looking at eclipse will give birth to children with black shade on their faces.
   7. Fire – When one cooks for example and fire in groups of dots are seen on the side or at the bottom of the pot, kettle, or frying pan, it means a visitor is coming or will come.
2. First man and woman – The first man and woman were molded out of clay by an unknown hand.
3. Births of twins or more – People say that if mothers always eat bananas attached together, they will give birth to twins.
4. Sickness – It is believed that there are certain people who know witchcraft. Suppose such people look and look at a child they liked very much, that child gets sick with signs of fever, stomach troubles or hysteria. Then a quack doctor (albolario) who knows how to treat this, is called. He then looks for “alom” leaves that are indented leaves. (They have five points) The albolario gets coconut oil and marks a cross on one of the leaves with the oil. He then says a prayer. He places the leaf on the abdomen of the child. The leaf withers. Then he detaches the leaf from the abdomen and looks through it. If there are perforations on the leaf, the child is really unscientifically sick.

   To cure the ailment, the albolario uses a pure white pullet which he divides lengthwise after cleaning and sticks to the flesh small native peppers and a piece of bamboo. The hen is placed over living charcoal to burn. He then mixes lemon juice and lime and applies the mixture to the child’s abdomen. By and by the child gets well.

5. Witchcraft – These are people who are called witches, these people are said to be spending nights under the room of a house under the

[p. 72]

6. Divination–

   People before the ray of Christianity reached our place, knew nothing of Divinity. They worshipped idols. They idolized the sun, the moon, certain trees, and even animals.

RAIN AND STORMS:

When millipedes crawl up the wall of the house, people interpret it as a sign of rain. Same is true with the earthworms. It is said that if the earthworms come out and crawl on the surface of the ground, there will be continuous rain. If a hen, duck or goose fly high, there will be typhoon.

It is another superstitious belief that if playing with tops is in vogue with the boys it is a sign of storm.

[p. 73]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF OAS
Part III

Information of books and documents treating the Philippines, their names and owners:

-Introduction-

As far as research is concerned on something tangible, historical and real ones pertaining to the history and cultural life of the town of Oas, the following are at least found as a record or records in the National Library and Museum, Manila Philippines. It is included in the History of the Philippines and such things are revealed on the succeeding topics:

1. Christianization of the town,
2. How it was made as a pueblo,
3. how the town got its name,
4. Its buildings constructed that time,
5. its location and geographical features, and
6. Industries.

HISTORY

Christianization– It was in the year 1585, approximately sixty-four years after the discovery of the Philippines, Fr. Baltazar de los Reyes y Miranda, a zealous missionary converted to Christianity twelve leading natives that were found living at the place in one single day, which became the foundation stone or the nucleus of the town known as Oas. Two years the community lived at peace under the guidance of Fr. Baltazar. His work was continued to a finish by Fr. Geronimo de Aguilar with zeal and enthusiasm, that in less than a year’s time the so called community of twelve rapidly increases its members, to six-hundred. In this memories, Fr. de Aguilar says that during the period from Sept. 13, 1587, to Oct. 8, 1588, “I have baptized four hundred fifty one natives, all of whom were of age and below. In 1589 the small community had virtually turned out to be the regular size-pueblo. As it is today.

Beliefs and traditions– During the older time, people in this town hold enumerable beliefs which gave history and cultural life of the town. Traditions of how the town was named Oas, came however from constant traditions which steadily attributed to the fact due to the existence of numerous lagoons or pools of water abounding in the place which the early Spanish colonizers mentioned Oas or Oasis. The natives applied the name which gave way to the present name– Oas then afterwards recorded it in the Official Census during the Spanish government.

Building– It was also during the time of Fr. de Aguilar that the church was constructed which was named after Saint Michael Arcangel, then the Patron Saint of the town. This was built in fifteen eighty-six of light materials but in 1695 Fr. Francisco de Peñaranda replace it which was made of stone, the church side was a parochial house. Unfortunately 1816 fire burned the buildings. That time Fr. Francisco Aragones was the priest. Held construction by letting the poor farmers built it again. Then in 1816

[p. 74]

[p. 75]

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV