MUNICIPALITY OF JOSE PANGANIBAN, CAMARINES NORTE, Historical Data of

About these Historical Data

[The transcription of this page was done using AI technology. There may be some errors in the transcription.]

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1. Present official name of the town – Jose Panganiban

House Bill No. 2343, presented by the late Representative Miguel Lukban of Camarines Norte had transcribed therein the following statement of Dr. Jose Rizal, after the death of Jose Ma. Panganiban.

“Lo que debe llorar Panganiban no es la soledad de su tumba es el pensar que ha muerto sin cumplir la alta mision a que sus facultades excepcionales le destinaban; el pensar que ha muerto sin haber podido dar antes su sangre y sus pensamientos todos a la noble causa que habia principiado a abrazar.”

And by virtue of Act No. 4155 of the last Philippine Legislature (1934) authored by Representative Gabriel T. Hernandez, the name of Jose Panganiban’s native town, Mambulao, has been changed to Jose Panganiban.

The poblacion of Jose Panganiban was formerly known as “Mambulao” or “old town.” Even during the Spanish regime in the Philippines Mambulao (Mambulawan) was known in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, and several cities in Europe and America. In the later part of the 19th century, Jose Panganiban y Enverga, indefatigable propagandist, writer, orator, contemporary of Dr. Jose Rizal, was the first one from Mambulao to succumb to martyrdom among the Precursors of the Revolution. He died in Barcelona, Spain, on August 19, 1890.

2. Former name or names and their meaning –

Mambulao is a first class municipality in the northern part of Camarines Norte. It is situated along the seashore of a small bay of the same name and is about forty–eight kilometers from Daet, the capital of the province. Almost two centuries ago, in the years 1762–1764, this town was thickly populated of about sixty–thousand inhabitants. Most of them were Tagalogs, Bicols and Visayans from the province of Bulacan, Tayabas, Laguna, Albay, Catanduanes and Negros. While the Spaniards, English, Germans and Chinese were the emigrants who came to this town on account of the gold mines. These people continued to live in Mambulao for years and because of the population, the people called this town, “Munting Maynila,” meaning small Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Gold was found in every place of the town, under the ground about two feet deep. It was the origin of the name of this town, Mambulao from the Bicol language “Mambulawan” meaning plenty of gold when gold was in abundance. One wealthy woman of the place, commonly called Doña Ponay (Apolinaria de los Reyes), once sent gold in the form of a hen, a dozen eggs and a “candelado” to the Queen of Spain. These presents are now in the National Museum in Madrid, Spain. As a reciprocation of the gold, the queen sent several cannons to the town and a castle was built near the

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“Ancla de Oro” mines to protect the town from the Moro pirates. Even at the present time tunnels, castle, wells, and mines of gold are found in every place near the town, besides San Mauricio, Sta. Gertrudes, Ancla de Oro (Gold Anchor) and Tumbaga Mines. Thousands of people have been working at San Mauricio mines during the years 1908 to 1910, under the management of an American capitalist. The Mambulao Placer Company had been operating dredge along the seashore of the town during the years 1914 to 1916. The dredge along the seashore of the town was constructed for one hundred thousand pesos by the Americans and Spanish Companies. The Philippine Mining Company, a Japanese branch of the Kuhara Mining Company in Japan, has also been in operation in the iron ore mines at Kalumbayan, an island during the years 1910 to 1920. Seven big “marus” from Japan loaded about fifty thousand tons of iron ores during the operation of the mines.

3. Date of Establishment – 1855

4. Names of persons and social status of the Founders:

1. Apolinaria de los Reyes (Doña Ponay) – a wealthy woman.
2. Opeda Family
3. Baño Family – Ancestors of the Agua Family.
4. Father Teodoro Maderal

5. Names of persons who hold leading official position in the town:

6. Data on historical sites –

In accordance with the information of Don Fernando, Don Jorge Jordas, old town officials during the Spanish regime, the town of Mambulao was to be erected at Hubangin what is now Parang or Mambulao Subdivision of Ramon Adea.

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The people of the town found the old image of Sta. Del Rosario (now the patron saint of the town) atop the branch of a mangrove tree, right in the center of the site where the present church is erected. Then the townspeople built a small hut or “balongbalong” to house the image. When the small hut or “balongbalong” was finished, the townspeople took the image from the mangrove tree and placed it in its new place for worship. Then the people began to observe solemn praying in honor of the Saint. The following, being Sunday, the people again went to the “balongbalong” for the customary praying, but were surprised to find the image gone. Then they searched for her, she was in her same place where she was before, on the branch of the mangrove tree. Again the people brought the image to the balongbalong for they thought that someone joked with it, but again the image disappeared, and the people found her in the same old place, atop the branch of the mangrove tree. Then the people took the image to the balongbalong again, and watched the image very closely. When the image disappeared from the balongbalong for the third time, they decided to build the church where it is now. Thus the Holy Image of Sta. Del Rosario was contented and ever since did not disappear from the church. The houses of the town were transferred near the church to enable the people to keep a close vigil over the Patron of the Town.

7. Important facts, incidents or events –

1. During the Spanish regime, Father Teodoro Maderal, a parish priest of Jose Panganiban in 1874 was assassinated.
2. During the American occupation to World War II, the two story concrete municipal building was bombarded by the Americans.
3. During and after World War II:
   1. Burning of business centers of the town including the Municipal Building, church and schools.
   2. December 31, 1941 – Madrigal boat was bombed by a Japanese plane. The boat was loaded with dynamite.
   3. Guillermo Parole, a well known native of the town died when the Japanese were hunting for the guerrillas.
   4. Leonardo San Pedro died February 17, 1942 – Superintendent of Mambulao Lumber.
   5. Nakata, a well known Japanese businessman died by killing himself with a shot gun.

8. Accomplishment toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.

1. The San Mauricio Mining Company was reconstructed and is now in operation.
2. The town is still under construction. Houses are being built to replace the burned ones during the war. However, these houses newly built are not as good as those of prewar days.
3. The church is also under reconstruction, undertaken by the civic minded people of the town, under the guidance of the parish priest.

9. Traditions, customs and practices in the domestic and social life of the people.

1. Birth – When a child is born, the neighborhood visits and offer any help they can to the family. This is a great event because a new life has to come again.
2. Baptism – When a child is baptized, the people in the neighborhood offer their help to the family concerned. They help the

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3. Courtship – When a gentleman wishes to marry a lady whom he loves, he presents himself with his parents and relatives to the parents of the lady. The man has a duty to perform, that is, he must serve the parents of the girl in any way he can. Now if the parents of the girl like the way the young man works and moves, they accept his proposal for marriage. If they don’t appreciate his movement and work, the man is no longer entertained.
4. Marriage – Marriage was usually arranged by the parents even during the infancy of the boy and the girl. There were two prerequisites to marriage: first, the lover’s servitude to the girl’s family, and second, the dowry, which consisted of a sum of money, gold, property, or anything of value given by the lover to the girl’s parents. The length of the lover’s servitude and the amount of the dowry were fixed in the marriage contract, drawn up between the two families; such a contract was oral or written.
5. Death and Burial – The people took great care in burying their dead. The dead was placed in a coffin made of hardwood. The deadman’s clothes were also placed in the same grave. The funeral was held with much weeping and sorrow. The bereaved family, relatives and friends showed their mourning by wearing black clothes.
6. Festivals – During the town fiesta, every house was required to be brightly lighted up, especially the front of the house. The people ate and drank heartily during the town fiesta. The people entertained themselves by watching the comedia.
7. Punishments – When a person committed a crime and was found guilty, he was imprisoned. The prisoner’s feet were placed through the two bored holes of a wooden block. The prisoner could not stand but had to lie down when not at work.

10. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, and superstitions:

The people of the town believed in life after death. To them, a man is composed of an ethereal body and eternal soul. The souls of people who had been very good and just while living, and whose relatives had offered sacrifices to the gods and anitos went to heaven. Heaven was called “Kamurawayan.” The souls of the evil and craven went to hell where they lived in perpetual torture. Hell was called “Gagamban.”

The people had superstitious beliefs too. They believed that when a married woman eats twin bananas, she will give birth to twins. When a comet is seen, pestilence, famine, or war will come. When a hen cackles at midnight, an unmarried woman is giving birth to a bastard child. When a pregnant woman cuts her hair, she will give birth to a hairless baby. When a cat rubs its face with its paw, a visitor is coming to the house.

The people believed in magic power of the sorcerers (witches). Among their sorcerers were the following: The asuang who assumed the form of a dog, cat, bird, pig, or other animals and devoured the liver of unborn babies.

11. Popular songs, games and amusements:

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1. Songs – Kundiman
2. Games – Piko, Tubigan, Pantintero, and Sungka.
3. Amusements – Pantomina, Lanceros, and Kuratsa. (Accompanied by guitar)

12. Proverbs and sayings:

1. Heaven cannot be obtained by sleeping.
2. Few words are enough to those who think well.
3. One who tells the truth is the son of God.
4. If you walk slowly you will seldom be hurt.
5. The sleeping shrimp is carried by the current.
6. Not all that glitters are gold.
7. Time is gold.
8. Good practice makes perfect.
9. Tell me your companions and I know who you are.
10. Smooth the water runs when the brook is deep.
11. An empty carriage is noisy.
12. An empty sack cannot stand upright.
13. An open mouth shows an empty head.
14. Don’t give confidence to the fool trying to be wiser.
15. A man whose head is empty is a well dressed monkey.
16. A man in debt is caught in a net.
17. Love is the emblem of eternity.
18. The tree is sure to fall when it is inclined.
19. Those who praise themselves oftentimes being dishonored.

13. Methods of measuring time, special calendars –

The people of this town had no clocks or watches but they knew how to tell time by using nature’s varying moods. They for instance reckoned with time as follows:

1. When the rooster crows it is 4:00 A.M. or dawn has come.
2. Noon when it is about dinner time or 11:00 A.M. when the rooster crows.
3. When the rooster crows after dinner or 2:00 P.M.
4. When the chickens begin to roost, it is about 6:00 P.M.
5. When the rooster crows again it is about 10:00 P.M. or bed time.
6. When the rooster crows near mid-night it is 12:00 P.M.

14. Names of Filipino Authors born or residing in the community and their works.

1. “Ang Piso” by Mr. Teodoro Evia
2. “Mahiwagang Pagkamatay ng Durang Kolobico Sa Bayan ng Mambulao” by Teodoro Evia.
3. “Mahal na Mahal” by Teodoro Evia
4. “Alipin ng Pag-ibig” (Manuscript) by T. Evia
5. “Trisahiyo” by Mr. Quirico Evereza
6. “Ang Lihim Ko” (poem) by T. Evia
7. “Mayo” (poem) by Teodoro Evia
8. “Ang Kapalaran” (poem) by Mr. Teodoro Evia.

Note: All these works are printed.

Prepared by the COMMITTEE OF RESEARCHERS with the Principal as Chairman with the Help of all Social Studies teachers