TiwiMUNICIPALITY OF TIWI, ALBAY, Historical Data of
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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN OF TIWI
Tiwi is a town in the northeastern end of Albay province. It has a population of 14,350 according to the census of 1948. Its present official name, TIWI, was first used by the late Zacarias Tuason, then a principal teacher of the Tiwi Elementary School.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME
The town was originally named TIGBI from a plant of that name which abound during the early times. Through the corruption of the name, it was later spelled “TIWI.” The name “TIUI” was mentioned in a book, FROM MANILA TO ALBAY by Don J. Alvarez Guerra. There are several beliefs on the origin of the name of this town. Some believed that the name “TIWI” originated from the impressions of a Spanish traveler who found the winding path leading to Tiwi. (Tui in the Bicol dialect means not straight.) Others believed that the name originated from the name of the fish called locally “Tigui” which abounds a plenty in the sea of the town.
THE PEOPLE
The first known inhabitants of this town were Aetas of mixed Malayan blood according to R. Montano, a French Anthropologist. They were found near the Tiwi Hot Springs at barrio Naga. In later years sea-faring families from Lagunoy, Camarines Sur migrated to Tiwi and settled in the coast near the nipa swamps in the place what is now called barrio Misibis or Baybay. Immigrants also from Buhi found home and settled in the barrios of Joroan and Pulo. These two groups of settlers had intermarried and became the ancestors of the majority of the people of Tiwi. The Aetas were driven to the mountains.
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE TOWN
Tiwi was a part of the town of Malinao. In the year 1776 through the efforts of Domingo Arcilla, Francisco Santiago, Francisco Bautista, Pedro Felix and Cristobal Moran, Tiwi was separated from the town of Malinao. It was formally organized as a town in the year 1776 with Domingo Arcilla as its first gobernadorcillo. From the time of its organization until the promulgation of the Maura Law seventy-three gobernadorcillos were elected.
Prominent among those gobernadorcillos were Mariano Clutario who had held the office for several terms and Higino Templado. The year 1879 was marked as the beginning of the progressive era of the town under the administration of Higino Templado. During his term roads and bridges were constructed. The present block system of the population was planned and laid out by this gobernadorcillo. Before his death he was able to finish the fine and beautiful building, the Tribunal. It was constructed in the very place where the present municipal building stands. Those who were able to see the building before it was burned were unanimous in their admiration of such a fine building.
It was related by Cornelio Bomboy, an octogenarian who is
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With the promulgation of the Maura Law, Jose Biona was elected the first Capitan Municipal. He was known of his wealth and aristocracy. During the Philippine revolution, the government of the town was uninterrupted under the laws of the Revolutionary Government.
THE COMING OF THE AMERICANS
With the coming of the Americans, the local government and the people evacuated the town and escaped to the mountains. However, due to the policy of attraction of the Americans the people returned to the poblacion and a new government was formed under the American government. The first elective municipal president of the town was the late Juan Climent.
During the American regime great progress were made. Schools were opened, a new municipal building was erected in 1919 during the term of Maximino Cruel; sanitations promoted; a public market was constructed in 1928; concreted bridges were made and a system of water supply was installed. For these improvements the people of Tiwi owe it so much to the late municipal president Mateo Clidoro.
THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION
The first Japanese soldiers that reached Tiwi was accompanied by M. Aiba, a Japanese civilian resident and merchant of Tabaco, on December 12, 1941. A week later, Lino Clutario was appointed provisional chief of police by a committee of Three Governors. Later Nemon Corten, the incumbent Vice-Mayor at the outbreak of World War II was appointed mayor of the town because the incumbent mayor Jesus Cantes escaped to the mountains. During the term of Mayor Corten the town was generally peaceful. Great fear and Japanese soldiers roamed around the town without any serious incidents save the ambushing of the Japanese soldiers. A few of the guerilla and innocent civilians, however were arrested and killed by the Japanese.
THE RETURN OF THE COMMONWEALTH
The first American soldiers reached Tiwi during the battle of Liberation on April 1, 1945. Soon the government was reorganized with Mayor Jesus Cantes reinstalled as mayor. On April 9, 1945 the public schools of the town were re-opened.
TIWI UNDER THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
The first mayor of the town under the republic was Anacleto Ros. He was appointed by the late President Manuel Roxas. With the holding of the first local elections under the republic, Mayor Eleodoro Cortezano was elected. During his term a public
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN SITE
The pueblo or poblacion of the town was first located near the seashore at the mouth of Toytoy swamps. The tribunal and the local church and convent buildings were located thereat. However, in 1845, after having been raided by Moro pirates, the church and the tribunal were burned. The location was therefore abandoned and the present site of the poblacion was chosen instead. What remains of that historic piracy are the ruins of the church and convent now standing in Toytoy.
INTERESTING SITES OF THE TOWN
In the barrio of Naga are the hot springs. In sitio Bacolod of the same barrio is a lake of boiling water and in Naga now popularly known as Balo hot springs near the river are also found. A swimming pool and bathrooms have been constructed and a hotel affords visitors certain conveniences. Thousands of people visit this springs. It is widely known for its medicinal effects especially for rheumatic treatments.
Another warm spring is found in barrio Matalibong near the sea. It is likewise widely known for its mineral waters. It is very well known among the people that the water from this spring contains medicinal elements.
INDUSTRIES
Tiwi is famous for its pottery and painted ceramic products. This industry is confined in the barrios of Putsan, Bolo and Baybay. The people in these barrios depend upon this industry for their livelihood. Finished products are carried in sailboats called “paraw” as far as Zamboanga and Jolo. Mats made of coromoy are made in the barrios of Nagas and Tagumbayan. There is also hammock making in Corocoro and hat making in Calejo.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
The history of Tiwi cannot be complete without making mention of the religious aspect of the people. The people of Tiwi are very religious. Tiwi is likewise very popular on account of its patron saints, Our Lady of Salvation and Saint Lawrence. Our Lady of Salvation is famous for her miracles and protector of the afflicted. Thousands and thousands of people (devotees) throughout the Bicol Region come to Tiwi especially during the month of August to pay homage to its patron saints.
EARLY CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE
According to L. Montano, the early people of Tiwi had very distinct custom and practices. He found that the people had a unique custom of naming a child. When a child is born and gave
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(The marriage custom is a complicated one and is very costly. It begins with the “mamalaye”. The house of the bride to be is enclosed with a fence made of bamboo (bagingking). A small gate is left open which is tied with a rattan. At the gate is a balo which is tied too with rattan. This should be used to untie or cut the rattan which ties the gate. Thus, if only the members of the bridegroom troupe can enter the house of the bride. A bridegroom has many obligations to do before he can be married to the bride to wit:
- Giving of the dowry to the parents of the would-be bride.
- Tinuid – for the wedding ceremony
- Pagratas – for cutting of the rattan
- Ininra – for duration of pregnancy
- Pagdodo – for the breast feeding of the bride when she was a baby
- Himrod – if the bride is not older than the groom
- Sino-at – any relative or any one attending should have a gift for the bride)
(Burials are also complicated. The coffin or cabaong is made of bacol (a palm tree) trunk in which the corpse is laid and glued with balapati. Then the corpse is to be buried and brought to the burial place. Dry leaves are placed on the tomb and burned, and while the tomb is covered with soil and flowers the following prayers are said: “Do not be troubled. Go on your way.” This is repeated until the tomb is covered. Then the mourners go home. Before they can go upstairs in the house where the deceased came from they were showered with ashes.)
(SGD) Jose Peña
For the Committee