MUNICIPALITY OF DAET, CAMARINES NORTE, Historical Data of

[p. 2]

1. Present official name of the town–Daet

2. Former name or names and their meanings and derivations

The town of Daet before coming into its present existence has its history way back in 1578 when King Charles II was still the monarch of Spain. [Note: In 1578, the King of Spain was Philip II.] In those days, when the whole place was a riot of thick vegetation that roads and bridges were not dreamt of. The first settlers who came to explore the place, fearless as they were, found it dangerous to build their shelter far from each other. Different sorts of wild animals and reptiles were in every nook and corner of this town, that was once a jungle. Daylight does not give them guarantee for safety and much more so at night.

They decided to build houses “dait-dait” or “kadait-dait” (in the vernacular) for safety so they survive danger. Hence, their decision to have their houses built dait-dait or kadait-dait and forever. When they gave the name of our town and so-called it once when the Spaniards came and found the place clearly with a thriving settlement of houses in the form of a camarin closely rooted to each other, a symbol of unity amidst danger, the conquerors lost no time in lifting its life to a new era.

3. Date of establishment –

Daet was already an old community even before the discovery of the Philippines by Magellan in 1521. An ancient town unearthed in the Bicol Region revealed references describing in the Panayan manuscripts known to oral history as corresponding to the first half of the sixteenth century. The early settlers were believed to be direct descendants of the group of men from the court at Brunei (Borneo) to evade the enmity of the ruling rajah.

4. Names and social status of the founders –

Long after the implantation of the Spanish sovereignty, Don Juan de Salcedo, talented, dashing grandson of Legaspi, found this community in the course of an expedition in search of gold which the Camarines mountains were heard to abound [curious usage of the word], marking the beginning of over a three-century Spanish regime patterned after the sword and cross.

In the meantime, an incident happened in the court of Spain over the romance of a woman which prompted the King to exile a Spanish noble to the Philippines. This noble was Don Manuel de Estrada, Marquis of Camarines, who devoted himself to help construct a new town over our old community. He supervised the construction of the church as it stands today, the old Spanish bridge, now called Bailey bridge, other stone bridges

[p. 3]

5. Names of persons who hold leading official positions in the Community, with the dates of their tenure.

No data could be found as to who were the first town officials of Daet. All that may be mentioned are names of some prominent Filipinos, descendants of the old privileged families in those days because they possess large parcels of land in the poblacion and the neighboring barrios. These people were influential. The influence of the priest was felt later when good way to be made of the civil guards were greatly feared by the people.

6. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.

No less than thirteen martyrs were contributed by this community before the altar of liberty. They were beheaded and their names were inscribed in a monument at the plaza. On Holy Week on Easter Sunday, April 1898. The Local “insurrectos,” however, made a remarkable feast in the last days of the Spanish regime when they succeeded in containing the Spanish local garrisons who were greatly weakened from annihilation by the timely arrival of their rescue ships. Daet today takes a distinct pride for owning the first monument ever erected in the Philippines in honor of Dr. José Rizal. It was unveiled in 1898 upon the Proclamation of the Independence of the Philippines, at the inspiration of Don Antonio Zene, Commanding Officer of the Philippines Revolutionary Forces in this sector.

7. Important facts, incidents and events that took place.

1. During the Spanish Occupation – not much could be said of the Spanish occupation in Daet as many of those who experienced those times are dead. There are however in this town, the church, the old cemetery and the streets bearing Spanish names like Salcedo Street, Jamera… Street, Roman Cortes Street, P. Burgos Street and other places like Cuarto, Balintawak, and San Antonio. It is recalled that Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish general assigned to conquer Luzon with his general staff made a while in Daet in a store at Naga city then named Nueva Caceres, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte were then one province, Ambos Camarines.

2. Except for recurring raids by Moro pirates who occasionally came in their fast frail vintas to pillage this community causing the fortification of barrio Mercedes (now an independent municipality since 1948) during the Spanish regime, this community

[p. 4]

3. During the American Occupation – The Philippine–American war was felt very little in this town. The American forces came unopposed, led by Major McNamee under the overall command of General Bates before when Commander Antonio Zene was previously arranged in Camarines Sur for the terms of surrender which were accepted by the American forces, hence the peaceful occupation of this town. The end of the community regime is yet to be written in bold letters of gold, a period which brought them the progress–days of this generation.

4. During World War II – Daet did not escape the horrors and destructions of war. The Japanese took over the capital somewhere on December 26, 1941, with little resistance in Laniton and Langa, Daet, six kilometers from Daet. Japanese atrocity, abuse, rape, murder, massacres, arbitrary arrest and confiscation of property, etc. marked the occupation. The people evacuated to the mountains. The Japanese made their headquarters in the poblacion. Public and private buildings and the church were used as stables of the horses of the cavalry and the buildings were used by soldiers for fuel. Terrible experiences may be mentioned during the term of Major Tanaka, a Japanese Officer. His time was cursed with blood of the Daet people. The massacres in Labo, the killings in the barrios were many. Several executions from Japanese bayonets and those who are suspected as supporters to their former Daet barracks and the places outside were brought to their former Daet barracks and the places outside were

Ambos Camarines was divided into two provinces, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. A provincial and municipal buildings were built in the town. The affairs of the state were separated from the church. Many religious sects came into existence. There was free compulsory education for all. The Filipino teachers were recalled and have been campaigning from house to house to entice the pupils and forcing them to enter school. Regular buildings were erected, all that can be said is that there were then no more before, built in different sections of a town, to help propagate and maintain peace. First established transportation facilities in Daet. He later sold his enterprise to an American, Albert Lewis Amm who later named his enterprise Alateo. The Alateo buses and ships that were later in Mercedes served the public in the vicinity and encouraged trade in Daet. Roads, bridges were built and improved. Water system and electric lighting were installed.

[p. 5]

Immediately after the war broke out, Governor Wenceslao Q. Vinzons, the [unreadable] Congressman for Camarines Norte organized the resistance movement. Daet is proud of one of her sons, Col. [unreadable], who at once answered the call. Under Vinzons Command, he carried on the guerrilla activities in the mountains of San Vicente, Mt. [unreadable], [unreadable] and Mt. [unreadable] in Camarines Sur. Under his able leadership, the guerrillas tried to [unreadable] but [unreadable] at the [unreadable]. These attempts however were marred by heavy losses on both sides in property and human lives. The Japanese shelled and dynamited the Provincial and Municipal buildings and the Philippine Constabulary Barracks in their retreat. The [unreadable] Church was [unreadable] because of the explosions.

When the 6th Army headed by Lt. [unreadable] occupied Daet, the Japanese were no longer here. The 6th Army recognized the heroic efforts of [unreadable] and his guerrillas. [unreadable] was made Guerrilla Governor of Daet.

After a time a USAFFE took the administration in Daet. Later the PCAU was employed to organize the Provincial and Municipal government. The CIC took over investigations of Japanese Collaborators and war criminals. Governor [unreadable] was able to secure the help of the UNRRA to distribute clothes and [unreadable] food to the people. The [unreadable] and [unreadable] helped much in the reconstruction and rehabilitation. Today, Daet invites strangers to stay with the peaceful atmosphere inherent in her people.