MUNICIPALITY RAPU-RAPU, ALBAY, Historical Data of Part 1

PART 1

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About these Historical Data

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[Cover page]

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BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Albay
DISTRICT OF MANITO
Rapu-Rapu Elementary School
RAPU-RAPU

THE
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF
RAPU-RAPU
PROVINCE OF
ALBAY
-o-
o

COMPILED AND WRITTEN
BY THE TEACHERS
OF RAPU-RAPU
PROVINCE OF ALBAY
PHILIPPINES
-o-o-
-o-
o

APRIL 17, 1953

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SCHOOL, OFFICIALS AND TEACHERS IN CHARGE OF THE
COLLECTION AND COMPILATION OF HISTORICAL
DATA REGARDING THE BARRIOS AND THE
MUNICIPALITY OF RAPU-RAPU
PROVINCE OF ALBAY.

(SGD) JUAN R. BELGICA
Principal
Rapu-Rapu Elementary School
Chairman, Leoni School Committee

(SGD) SEVERINO MANTASO
District Supervisor
In Charge
District of Manito for
Data of Manito and
RAPU-RAPU.

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F O R E W O R D

In compliance with Memorandum No. 34, s-1952, of
the Bureau of Public Schools, dated April 22, 1952, and the
Executive Order No. 486, dated December 7, 1951, of the Presi-
dent of the Philippines and its appendix, the local school
committee of Rapu-Rapu, Province of Albay, took charge of the
making of said report for the whole municipality of Rapu-Rapu,
as required in the Appendix of said Executive Order.

The local school committee in charge of the collection
and compilation of Historical Data regarding the barrios and the
Municipality of Rapu-Rapu, Albay, sought the help of the barrio
school teachers concerned, the old people, and the municipal
government officials, who were all interested in giving us the
required data.

The old men and women of each barrio and the centro
have given us a wide knowledge of life history and culture of the
community and other information as required.

The data gathered have been compiled and arranged
in order to constitute a convenient but simple source of read-
ing materials for the use of those interested in reading it.

Our compilation may not be in order, and mistakes
might had not been averted, but our only consolation is that.
WE HAVE DONE OUR PART.

(SGD) JUAN R. BELGICA
Principal
Chairman-Local Committee

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TO THE
RAPU-RAPU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
WHOSE TUTORSHIP
HAS MADE
THIS
WORK
A
REALITY

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

To all barrio teachers, central school teachers, the old men and women of Rapu-Rapu, and to friends, for their sincere encouragement in the compilation and correction of historical data of Rapu-Rapu; to Mr. Pedro Montemayor and Mr. Jose Buyawan, for some maps; to Mr. Juan E. Bojaños, the Municipal Treasurer of Rapu-Rapu for statistics, to Mr. Roman Zuñiga, ex-mayor of Rapu-Rapu for some data, to Mr. Matias Ferolino, Municipal Secretary of Rapu-Rapu for legends, and to Mayor Mariano Aguilar of Rapu-Rapu for his valuable suggestions in the preparation of the text, the chairman, local school committee deeply express his indebtedness.

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BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Albay
DISTRICT OF MANITO
Rapu-Rapu Elementary School
RAPU-RAPU

RAPU-RAPU : ISLES OF RICHNESS AND PEACE
(AN INTRODUCTION)

BY
JUAN R. BELGICA
Principal

Few of our intellectuals have taken the pain to write something about their respective towns because, perhaps they are not much concerned in realizing that their towns or any other towns, have their own glories and epic histories. It may be because writing tales, aside from being taxing the intellectual pursuit, it is a painstaking job. The real truth is that the town of Rapu-Rapu, in the Province of Albay, has never been given any publicity, though it is second to none in mineral richness in the whole Province of Albay.

The Municipality of Rapu-Rapu is composed of two rich mining islands–Rapu-Rapu proper and Batan Island. The latest census revealed that Rapu-Rapu has 16,000 inhabitants. The two islands proudly stand along the Albay Gulf and are always ready to act as breakers of tidal waves that may hit Legaspi City and the coastal shores of Luzon along the Albay Gulf. Rapu-Rapu, therefore, is Albay’s silent OUTPOST:

The two islands have rugged faces. Its coastal plains are small, being all mountains, forest of coconuts and abaca, with deep bays and irregular coastlines. Rapu-Rapu has plenty of calm weather and strong winds. On the map, both islands look like north and south water–breakers, with the back facing the Pacific Ocean and the front–the treacherous Albay Gulf.

Rapu-Rapu is the authentic name of the town. According to the old people, the name Rapu-Rapu is a derivative of the fabulous and delicious fish–LAPU-LAPU, and at the same time many claimed that the name Rapu-Rapu is also another derivative of the name of a tree–RAPU-RAPU, which according to many, such a big tree grew along the shore of Rapu-Rapu, many, many, years ago. Such a tree no longer exists in the Municipality. But whether the name was taken from the tree or the Lapu–Lapu fish, that remains a mystery, but I am much inclined to believe that the delicious fish–Lapu–Lapu had given a name to the town, as that kind of fish could be found in abundance in the nearby seas almost everywhere.

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The island is rich in minerals. Presently, the Hixbar Gold Mining Company has been in operation. Old prospectors claimed that ancient tunnels were found so that they claimed to the belief that the exploitation dates back during the Spanish occupation. So with Batan Island, the coal fields are in abundance.

If realized, the Hixbar Gold Mining Company in Rapu-Rapu will be able to supply with pyrite, the raw material needed in the manufacture of sulphuric acid in the proposed chemical fertilizer plant at the Maria Cristina Falls Hydro–Electric Project in Lanao. Statistics at Hixbar revealed that ores contain 5% copper and above, and ore containing 5% copper and below and pyrite. It has been said that Hixbar mine will give an output, as the estimated ore reserves worth ₱3,000,000 in pyrite and the estimated ore reserves in copper may command a gross value of ₱4,500,000. It has been said that about four claims of the 42 Hixbar claims are under exploitation, while the rest are still untouched which may hide unknown wealth.

Hixbar Gold Mining Company, Inc. in Rapu-Rapu, it is said, is now in a position to produce high–grade copper ore and in pyrite in great quantities. Surface and underground facilities are now being undertaken. Two major loadings in big ocean ships have been registered.

Rapu-Rapu is a potential supplier of first–class lumber of the province. Untold wealth is still within the folds of its forest. Rich forest products as rattan, almaciga are still plentiful. The famous woodland beauty—“the orchids” could be found in abundance in the forest. The woodland orchids have gained fame for Rapu-Rapu in the past and to the present. The butterfly orchids, giant orchids, ground orchids, and camila orchids are plentiful. Rapu-Rapu is a woodland paradise.

Batan Island has several coal mines under exploitation. At the barrio of Batan alone, the Villanueva Coal Mining Company is in full operation. Coal is shipped to Cebu by some inter–island steamers. The Limpo Mining Company and Manao Mining Company will soon operate in due time. Lignan Coal Mining Company, the pre–war progressive coal mining company (one of the best coal deposits in the Philippines) has not been in operation since the liberation. Capitalists are needed to start the exploitation again of those coal mines at Liguan. Some prospectors and mining engineers revealed that rich deposits of iron and manganese have been located in both islands.

A number of household industries are firmly established in Rapu-Rapu. In basketry and mat making, most of the raw materials

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found in the locality require no artificial dyes to enhance the beauty of their natural color. Mats and baskets are sold in the markets of Tabaco and Legaspi City. Caragomoy grow in abundance in all places. Caragomoy leaves are made into hats, baskets and beautiful mats. Bamboos too, are in abundance and useful articles are made out of it. Bamboos bolster the fishing industry of the municipality. Midribs of coconuts are made into types of trays and beautiful baskets. The coir is made into strong door–mats and brushes. “Matt heads” are carved out of coconut shells. Polished coconut shells are made into a number of articles as spoons, cups, finger bowls, nut dishes, savings banks, powder boxes, and other useful objects. Souvenir articles such as guitars with coconut bodies are being made. Since rattan is plentiful, various articles are made out of it as baskets, canes, and furniture. Furniture making is the most promising industry of the locality due to the abundance of first–class narra and dao trees in both islands. Aside from the household industries, mining, lumbering, agriculture are the most important industries. Fish are plentiful in the nearby seas.

Local Municipal Officials are headed by Mayor Mariano Aguilar, the promising politico of the Municipality. He has been elected as mayor of Rapu-Rapu thrice. Other Municipal Officials are Vice Mayor Feliciano Gallardo, Municipal Treasurer Juan E. Bojaños, Bicol Writer Matias Ferolino, the Municipal Secretary, Judge Villareal, Postmaster Vega, Chief of Police Gregorio Bojaños, Councilors—Dabiots, Buen, Moico, Diamante, Aguilar and Bobis, District Supervisor Severino Reantaso, Mr. Juan R. Belgica, Principal of the Rapu-Rapu Elementary School, Rev. Fr. Jose Florin, the Parish Priest of the town, and many others.

Presently, there are seventy–one teachers in the Public Schools of Rapu-Rapu. Likewise, a private high school, the Rapu-Rapu Institute has been in existence in the town for almost two years. Mr. Reynaldo Vargas is the Principal, but the school is owned by Mr. Crispin Vergara, an Ex–Supervising Teacher of Baconay, Albay.

It is noteworthy to mention that Rapu-Rapu is a peaceful municipality. It has never been disturbed.

It is hoped that more capitalists will invest in the exploitation of the untold rich mineral deposits of Rapu-Rapu... the Isles of Richness and Albay’s Silent Outpost!

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THE END

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THE GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISION OF RAPU-RAPU

By: Pedro Mondamayor–Gr. VI–Sec.

–O–O–O–

The town of Rapu-Rapu originally comprises four islands, Rapu-Rapu, Batan, Guinanayan, and Cagbulacao, besides several islets, two of which are known as Bogia located on the western tip of Batan island, and the other, is the Pagol islet on the bay of Rapu-Rapu. At present the island of Cagbulacao and the islet of Bogia belong to the town of Bacacay. These islands are rugged, but low, making the trips from one sitio or barrio to another barrio difficult.

Generally, the interior of the islands is covered with forests growing on the sides of the low mountains. No wide plains are known. The coastal plain in Batan is narrow for agriculture and is abandoned. The narrow level land just beside the Poblacion of the town proper of Rapu-Rapu offers relief to the farmers of the town by permitting them to raise palay twice a year. Due to shortage of water during the hot months, the farmers are in most cases forced by abandoning their ricefields and resort to other home industries.

LOCATION

Standing on the pier of Legaspi Port, two big islands could be seen. They are Batan on the left and Rapu-Rapu on the right. Those islands served as sea walls to the mainland of Albay Province. Geographically and politically, Rapu-Rapu is bounded on the North by San Miguel Island of Tabaco and Legaspi Gulf, on the East by Catanduanes and vast Pacific Ocean, on the South by part of the Pacific Ocean, and on the West by Albay Gulf.

Commercially, the island municipality of Rapu-Rapu has earned its distinction of being actually the source of timbers, coal and copper ores. From its water, come the delicious fish, and abundant sea–shells which are edible.

FOUNDATION OF THE TOWN

Rapu-Rapu was once a barrio of Bacon, and was under a Cabeza de Barangay. Its entire jurisdiction covered all the four islands of Rapu-Rapu, Batan, Guinanayan and Cagbulacao.

Not until the year 1900, when the inhabitants thought of separating from Bacon. In 1901, Governor Betts of the Province of Albay, visited the then barrio of Rapu-Rapu. During the conference

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called for by the people of Rapu-Rapu, the American Governor of Albay voiced his approval to have Rapu-Rapu as a self–identified town under the jurisdiction of Albay Province.

The Governor Betts suggested that the town officials be designated which resulted in the election by VIVA VOCE of Daniel Belen, the first Municipal President of Rapu-Rapu, and which until now is a promising municipality in the province of Albay. Rapu-Rapu is only waiting for that time when her natural resources will be developed properly.

POLITICAL HISTORY

Almost three decades of political existence, among the newly created municipalities in the Philippines, Rapu-Rapu has grown a distinct place in the Province of Albay. As a barrio of the town of Bacon, Province of Sorsogon, this place was considered obscure and only known to the mother province as a supplier of rattan, canton abaca fibers, and sandbars. But when the town was separated from Bacon and made a part of Albay Province, her population began to show up by patronizing the fine and richly cultural ideas of the then Albay Provincial authorities. Children had been sent to schools. Mines have been opened and the wealth of Rapu-Rapu was explored.

At times, the people wanted much to select their own political leaders, to run the local government. National politics have been implanted in the minds of the inhabitants. Later, the use of the ballots became popular and it was used in the election of the local elected municipal officials. Only the first municipal president of Rapu-Rapu was appointed by the provincial government. In recent dates, the municipal president is now called the municipal mayor.

It may be stated that the loss of the island of Cagbulacao was a loss to the political and administrative ability of the local officials during that time. While the physical and geographical map of the municipality of Rapu-Rapu shows that Cagbulacao island belongs to Rapu-Rapu, actually, it belonged to the municipality of Bacacay. Taxes from that island could have been entered in the local treasury of Rapu-Rapu. That was a mistake of the local town officials of Rapu-Rapu during that time.

The future trend in policies of local politics may be made possible by enriching Rapu-Rapu by reclaiming Cagbulacao island again. This can be done.

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During the time when the town had been the subject of Moro piracy, the people of Rapu-Rapu resisted the Moro invasion. This could be traced in the presence of some stone towers. Said towers were used to spot the appearance of Moro vintas approaching the peaceful town of Rapu-Rapu.

During the Philippine Revolution, the people of Rapu-Rapu took an active part to repulse the forces of Spain. Her old men, many of them are still active and living to tell the tales of the activities of its men in the revolution and in the Filipino–American War, are the products of this peaceful town.

During the Japanese occupation, although the town officials seemed to turn Pro–Japanese, yet almost everybody of Rapu-Rapu’s people fought against the Japs in joining the guerrilla activities. Many of her sons have been cruelly sacrificed by those Japs.

THE PRESENT VIEWS OF RAPU-RAPU

It is with pride that the people of Rapu-Rapu can boast of a beautiful island covered with rich natural resources. The mainland is covered with rich virgin forest, and on the sides of which can be seen coconuts, abaca plantations, banana plantations and root crops. The Hixbar Mines added to the wonderful views of the town. In Batan Island, its rich coal deposits have added to the richness of the town.

The Municipality of Rapu-Rapu expects that in the future, its income will increase so that the municipality will become a second or third class municipality.

Rapu-Rapu is in the making. It is probable that in the near future when the mines are all exploited, the Island Municipality of Rapu-Rapu will become a model municipality in the province of Albay.

Rapu-Rapu presently has all her barrios with barrio schools. There are seventy–one teachers in the whole municipality, and its yearly enrollment is always increasing.

It may be worthy to mention that Rapu-Rapu is a very peaceful town and it has never been disturbed. One can live in peace in this municipality beyond the sea.

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