MUNICIPALITY OF SANTO DOMINGO (ILOCOS SUR), History and Culture of Part II

Of visits in the barrios by friends or authorities as well as well as strangers, hospitability is always met. Best wares will be used and different recipes will be served. Visitors are an honor to them. On festivals, people clean their surroundings, houses are in festive mood, rice cakes as "bibingka" and "suman" and "tupig" are prepared together with modern cooked candies, and served to visitors. This is most so on Christmas, when barrio and town folks go from house to house for gifts of fruits and candies.

Discussing on punishments, parents or older brothers or sisters punish the child with a rod, but in more serious abuses against the family, disinheritance follows. School children in Spanish times were given the "palmeta" (a flat circular piece of hard wood in the shape of a handlens [unusual word] to be hammered on the palm of a mischievous child). On wrongdoers, they are either fined or imprisoned and made to wear the tiger-striped uniform with a big letter "P" at the back. These culprits are commanded to work at the plaza under guard. On stealers, they are sometimes paraded in public with the article stolen around their necks, and [they] were forced to shout [out] their crimes. Murderers are sent to the Provincial Jail and later, if not acquitted, go to Bilibid, now Muntinglupa. On illegal punishments, vengeance is meted out by the concerned in terms of boycotting or assassinatino. Poison by divination (parakayam) is, at times, resorted to. This is done by some people who usually travel to the highlands, to Pangasinan and Cagayan, versed with this evil art.

During the Japanese occupation, captives were either beheaded, given [the] water cure, shot or [en]closed in iron cages and exposed to the open air night and day. For lighter crimes, they were forced to work hard under the sun. [The] Punishment was some Filipino guerrillas was more dasdard [dastardly?] and heart-rending. {A} Supposed spy is bound and burned alive; others had their ears sliced, to be eaten by them; still others were stabbed slowly with onlookers forced to see the horrid martyrdom. Some were made to dig their own pits or graves and beheaded while working or murdered with bayonets or by spikes of bolo (light bamboo).

Mythologies are those of the serina [sirena], which are beautiful sea or river nymphs to delude the people to [their] deaths; the kaibaan, a supernatural beauty with long hair, stealing money or rice and jewelries; the bruja, and old supernatural woman prying for the livers of persons at night. Half of the body from the feet up is placed behind the door of a house. It is said that when found, and salt, garlic and vinegar are placed, she, upon her return, will cry in pain and die. Have the cry "Asin-suca-bawang-lasuna." [The preceding sentence appears incomplete.] The best legend popular to all Ilocano places is that of "Angalo, the Giant and his Wife." On legends, we have "Juan Sadut" (Lazy Juan), who became a monkey, "Don Juan," "Ines Kannoyan," "Isem."

Kannoyan, Angalo and Isem will be given in detail later in Part Two of this work about the town. On superstitions, origin of the world, the Ilocos Mountains, the China Sea, and Banawang River, are attributed to Angalo or Kabunian as the creator. Of the sea, it is said that the siren is after its victim when [the] sea billows an extraordinary roar; of the moon, it is considered [a] bad omen when we point at it as the man in the moon abhors [it]. Pointing at the rainbow is believed to have your

The popular songs in the barrios are the Kinnantaran style (responsive solos by a man and woman), the Saguday, Pamolinawen, Kuam la ni Pagaw, Nasudi ni Ayat, Kalapati, Sampaguita, Manang Biday, Singsing a Balakantis, No Siac Kagasatmo, Biag ken Bileg, Dalumpipi, No Duaduaem Pay, Dongdongeoncanto, Rugao ni Essem, Bannatiran, Binig a Senaay, Kundiman Kundangan and Dunguial. For games, they have the sipa and horse and bicycle races. On amusements, fandango, cariñosa, and valse (soft, slow, plaintive music), rigodon and A la jota.

Puzzles and riddles and proverbs will be given in the second part of this work on the town proper.

The methods of measuring time are by sun shadows on trees and sticks and by the North Star and Southern Cross at night. Special calendars are made by the ebbing of the water well on Christmas, the swallows flying to the south, by daily notches or etches upon bamboo, paper, or wood, the low flying swarms of dragonfies, the earthquake, when late foretells early rain, and dark clouds moving northward tell of storms. Soft winds, too, the stars as well as the moon with a ring, a red moon during the soltice of summer, the birds appearing, have some bearings on their ancient calendars. Present calendars are now used for the present are the Bristol Almanac and store calendars.

On books and manuscripts, authors [page torn] them as well as documents, none is found [page torn].

When the town's first parish priest, Father Tomas Milan, was sent to christianize the inhabitants of this wild spot, he renamed this Sto. Domingo in honor of St. Dominic Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order. He insisted that the town festival be set on August 4^th annually. A discussion ensued. The unity of church and state made Fr. Milan win the issue, the gobernadorcillos, alcaldes mayores, cabezas de barangay, and capitan municipales, then being but puppets to veneer the authorities of religious orders. However, in gratitude to the two primary figures of Sto. Domingo town, San Pablo District, Arquero St. (now Regidor St.), Barrio Sto. Tomas and Milan St. (now Juan Luna) were later named by the natives. Since the American administration to this day, it has May 12^th every year for its festive date, while the church has its own on the 4^th of August annually.

The gobernadorcillos, justices of the peace and priests and other officials with their tenures of incumbency are hereunder tabulated:

No.	Name	Year	No.	Name	Year
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.	Pablo Arquero Lucas Polanco Jose Alfonso Miguel Palomar Antonio Arce Pablo Arquero Francisco Quismundo Ignacio Gabriel Jose Molina Pablo Arquero Agustin de la Vega Jose Alfonso Agustin Soliven Jose Florentino Pablo Arquero Juan Sumabat Juan del Castillo Sebastian Arce Policarpio Tobias Nicolas Molina Agustin Soliven Agustin Soliven Jose Alfonso Sebastian Bumatay Jose Molina Nicolas Palomar Simeon de los Santos Antonio Palomar Nicolas Palomar Antonio Palomar	1742 1743 1744 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 1750 1751 1752 1753 1754 1755 1756 1757 1758 1759 1760 1761 1762 1763 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769 1770 1771	31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59.	Antonio de la Vega Jacinto del Castillo Vicente Arce Antonio Palomar Mariano de la Vega Felipe Sumabat Felipe Sumabat Pedro Alcantara Pedro Nicolas Jose Fruto Evaristo Salvador Manuel Feria Antonio Palomar Antonio Palomar Mariano Vega Mariano Vega Fructuoso Palomar Fructuoso Palomar Pedro Alcantara Jose Palomar Fructuoso Palomar Jacinto del Castillo Pablo Gonzales Arce Pablo Gonzales Arce Vicente Arce Jose Palomar Manuel Bumatay Fructuoso Palomar Victor Briones Gregorio Molina	1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800

60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120.

Santiago Salvio Ambrocio de la Vega Fructuoso Palomar Jacinto Soliven Nazario de la Vega Eulogio Herminigildo Pedro Paulino Torres Serapio de la Cruz Valentin de Jesus Jose Palomar Anastacio Florentino Pedro Jacinto Tesoro Pedro Tobias Rodecindo de la Vega Remigio Tesoro Sebastian Jose Palomar Valentin de Jesus Tesoro Desiderio Tobias Melecio Santiago Jacinto Bumatay Enrique Sebastian Hermenegildo Palomar Hilario Bumatay Nazario de la Vega Hermenegildo Palomar Nicolas Briones Patricio Bumatay Juan de Jesus Rufino Briones Emeterio Torres Balbino de la Vega Valentin Sebastian Cristobal Soliven Pedro Bumatay Balbino de la Vega Gabino Bumatay Tomas Jacinto Tesoro Felix Sumabat Manuel dela Vega Gabino Bumatay Manuel dela Vega Clemente Bumatay Camilo Tugade Isidro Sebastian Mariano de Jesus Felix Eugenio Temporal Juan Carpio Enrique Arce Luis Palomar Luis Palomar Arcadio Figueras Tranquilino Torre Victor Andres Villaflor de Jesus Apolonio Tobias Luis Palomar Rafael Soliven Balbino de la Vega Gregorio Tesoro Sebastian Rafael Soliven Bernabe Torre Victor Andres Villaflor

1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861

121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148.

Leon del Castillo Pedro Flotildes Rosario Pedro Flotildes Rosario Pedro Flotildes Rosario Pedro Flotildes Rosario Bonifacio Figueras Bonifacio Figueras Ponciano Tarroja Ponciano Tarroja Eustaquio Tesoro Vega Eustaquio Tesoro Vega Doroteo Tobias Doroteo Tobias Juan Figueras Juan Figueras Quinterio Palomar Quinterio Palomar Rafael Pizaro Rafael Pizaro Joaquin Villafuerte Joaquin Villafuerte Andres Tesoro Guillen Andres Tesoro Guillen Rufino Pinon Celestino Rufino Pinon Celestino Rufino Pinon Celestino Rufino Pinon Celestino Janoario Tobias Janoario Tobias Rufino Pino Rufino Pino CAPITANES MUNICIPAL Wenceslao Soliven Wenceslao Soliven Isabelo SOliven Isabelo SOliven Isabelo SOliven PRES. LOCAL (PHIL. REV.) Aniceto Avila Aniceto Avila PRESIDENTE MUNICIPAL Aniceto Avila Jacob Tesoro Jacob Tesoro Wenceslao Soliven Wenceslao Soliven Catalino Villaflor Catalino Villaflor Agrifino Tobias Agrifino Tobias Isidro Villafuerte Isidro Villafuerte Januario Tobias Januario Tobias Januario Tobias Januario Tobias Januario Tobias Felipe Tugade Felipe Tugade Felipe Tugade Adolfo Jaramillo Adolfo Jaramillo Adolfo Jaramillo

1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921

149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156.

Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Vicente Tacderas Jeso J. Tesoro (6 mos.) Teodorico Tabangcura Teodorico Tabangcura Teodorico Tabangcura Jose J. Tesoro MUN. MAYOR Jose J. Tesoro Jose J. Tesoro Jose J. Tesoro Cirilo Rabanal Cirilo Rabanal Cirilo Rabanal Amante Soliven (acting) 8/28/41 to 12/8/41

1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941

157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166.

JAP PUPPET MAYOR Jose J. Tesoro Jose J. Tesoro Jose J. Tesoro (7/7/44) Rufino D. Soliven (July to Aug. 28, 1944) GUERRILLA MIL. MAYORS Faustino Tobia (Nov. 1944 to Mar. 1945) Faustino Tamargo (Mar. to July 1945) Amante Soliven (July to Dec. 1945) COMMONWEALTH MAYORS Faustino Tamargo Juan Quines (Rep. Mayor) Filomeno B. Tadena Filomeno B. Tadena Filomeno B. Tadena Filomeno B. Tadena Filomeno B. Tadena Filomeno B. Tadena (?)

1942 1943 1944 1944 1944 1945 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954

The Justices of the Peace of the same town at the close of the Spanish regime were, chronologically, Doroteo Tobias, Eustaquio Tesoro, Wenceslao Soliven, the last of them became the first Justice of the Peace of the American occupation. Then came Januario Tobias, Juan Tesoro (Sagun), Manuel Villaflor, Pedro Villoria, Deogracias Tobias (Auxilliary), Gorgonio Rosal, Jose F. Singson (1941), Felipe Tolentino (1942-43) and Jose Singson to the present.

Of the Catholic priests stationed here were Fr. Tomas Milan, Rev. Jose Quintos, Rev. Miguel Padilla, Rev. Remigio de Jesus, Rev. Eustuaquio Gallardo, Rev. Nicomedes Bandayrel, Rev. Francisco Racca, Rev. Getolio Paredes, Rev. Jose Brillantes, Rev. Jose Reyes, Rev. Isidro Perez, Rev. Nicomedes Bandayrel, Rev. Hugo Baile, Mons. Crisanto Padernal, and Rev. Mariano Pacis.

The Aglipayan priests of the Philippine Independent Church, since the establishment of its chapel in 1915, were as follows: Rev. Esteban D. Diaz, a Bachelor of Divinity and Atty. at Law, Mons. Manuel Apostol, Rev. Eustaquio Valdez, Mons. Timoteo Castro, Rev. Melecio Franco, Rev. Simeon Rania, Rev. Erasmo Alcantara, Rev. Juan C. Ferido, Mons. Vicente K. Pacites, Rev. Simplicio Umadac Rosales, Rev. Francisco Eugenio, Rev. Felino Raña, Rev. Ramon Florentino, Rev. Simplicio Umadac Rosales, then Rev. Fidencio Dacanay and Rev. Fernando Maulit y Tabañag.

The available names of the town's Chiefs of Police during the American administration to the present are: Wenceslao Soliven, Padro Labuni, Sotero Parugganan, Casimiro Tagorda, Rufino Soliven, Catalino Tagayuna, Victorino Usigan, Magdaleno Jaramillo, Jesus Tagorda, Dionisio Reyna, Remigio Tabangin, and Maximo Tremor.

The Municipal Secretaries during the American administration to the present were: Geminiano Villanueva, Apolonio Labuni, Albino Battad, Jose Alcantara, Jose Tobias, Gregorio Templo, Vicente Tacderas, Felipe Tugade, Jose J. Tesoro, Maximina Talaro, Angel Fagela, Bibiano Figueras, Magdaleno Jaramillo, Ponciano Tacderas, Maximino Tremor, and Severino Battad.

The known postmasters begin with Pancracio Pimpin, Postmaster Guzman, Postmaster Alavanza, and Pedro Flotildes Talla.

The original personalities are those of the Villaflor, Tobias, Soliven, Tarroja, Tesoro, Tacderas, Avila, Villafuerte, Bumatay, Villanueva, Labuni, Sumabat, Guerrero, Purugganan, Battad, Figueras, Jaramillo, Pizzaro, Tabinga, Tadena, Torre, Tuzon, Tugade, Rabanal, Briones, Fagela, Tremor, and Ramirez Families.

The historical sites, buildings and ruins are that of the Moro watchtower situated at the end of Mabini St. going west and bordering the China Sea. Its ruins stand like a ruined pyramid silent in its known events of oppression and tears. Time was when, in 1845, Moro pirates (Tirong) were captured, baptized, and executed; then came the Roman Catholic church with its beautiful altar by the painter and sculptor Aracadio Guerrero. The church was initiated by Dominican friar Fr. Tomas Milan in 1742 and improved by Father Padilla, by Provisor Bumatay, and Mons. Padernal. It is a landmark of forced labor by the natives. It is a legacy from our ancestors who were blinded by fear. This church, has an enlarge site and ricelands around it which were donated by Provisor Estanislao Bumatay sometime in 1834, when Pedro Bumatay was gobernadorcillo. We have the wall enclosed yard west of the Tabinga home, now under the Villaflor family which was the site of the first Tribunal in the early Spanish times. We have the yard of Don Juan (Aniceto) Tesoro by Mabini St. in the western part of the town. There, the first Katipunan secret meeting was held in town. We have the second Tribunal (Presidencia) ruins and now a school property east of the present municipal building. In its enclosures, many gobernadorcillos, cabezas de barangay, and capitanes municipal swayed a puppet's power, some of whom with tribute, in short, plebians jailed and maltreated by the whips or fines and were given force [farcical?] trials by the joined Church and state Spanish rule. Many a Burgos or Sisa in feelings were claimed, tormented and jailed, some of whom died as ants akin to the victims of the Inquisition in Spain. This Tribunal was burned down by the Katipuneros during their guerrilla warfare. Added to the town's historic sites is Quimmarayan River, in an unmarked spot at Sapilang where the heroic Lt. Ignacio Villaflor of Katipunan-fame fell, his body pierced by fourteen bullets after his encounter with a battalion of American soldiers there in 1900. The young Lt. Villaflor was a former Manila student, but for love of country, he joined the Katipunan under Gen. Antonio Luna, after the nefarious death of whom he transferred to the Gen. Tiño Brigade. At the time of his death, he (Villaflor) was on a mission to President Aguinaldo from Gen. Tiño, then encamped at the foot of the Bullagao Mts.

We also have for historic memorial the Estanislao de los Reyes St. (Islao Reyes Lane) and the Tiño Trail (now Tinio St.), where the noble and loyal "Gray" (Garitan) had their exits or hideouts in the poblacion. These spots remind us of the Philippine-American War in Northern Luzon.

East of the Medieval Catholic church are the ruins of the first cemetery, where the town founders, early gobernadorcillos and pueblo cabezas lie buried. Next comes the convent, connected to the church, now Benito Soliven Academy, made historic by the moral and financial support of Provisor Estanislao Bumatay, who was a native of this town and prelate at Vigan where, according to the records in the rectory of the Vigan Catholic Cathedral, he baptized the famous prelate, Dr. Jose A. Burgos, on February 12, 1837. In this town, the Provisor was made famous for his traditional dictum "Summum Bonum" (public good), which by expressing it into action of common welfare, he was endeared to the people. Provisor Bumatay, ahead of Fr. Jose A. Burgos, held the same principle in favor of the native clergy as Fr. Pelaez. This

Four more historic buildings are the Tobias home south of the plaza, the Villaflor Building, the ruins of the Lahoz home, and that of Assemblyman Soliven. The Tobias home was the first convent of the Catholic Church and, later in 1915, to be temporarily used as chapel and convent of the Philippine Independent Church. It will be noted that the timber used in this church and the building, together with the Villaflor Building at the corner of Calle Real (National Road) and Mabini St. is made historic not only because it is one of the oldest buildings in town, but it is also famous as the birthplace of the historic Lt. Ignacio Villaflor (1881-1900).

The Lahoz home, now in ruins, has its site east of the Tobias Building. It is famous for being the town headquarters of the Katipunan and the home of the Lahoz Brothers (Rafael, Jose, and Gaudencio), who were in charge of the armory of the Tiño Brigade. When American soldiers came to town, they burned this building in 1899. The Soliven home, now in ruins, is at the corner of Mabini St. and Malvar St. (Calle Progreso before). It was here that the Assemblyman Benito Soliven (1898-1943), the greatest honor of Sto. Domingo so far, was born. Soliven was a lawyer, orator, author, legislator, linguist; holding a doctorate degree in Civil Laws (nemine discrepanti). He, too, was an honor graduate of the Consular Service Course and a Reserve Captain from the Baguio Military Academy. He was Judge Advocate General of the Military Tribunal in Corregidor during World War II. Suffering from hardships caused by the Death March and in the Capaz concentration camp, he succumbed to death in Manila on Jan. 10, 1943.

Another historic spot is the old shop building and the stone building northwest and northeast of the present clinic hospital. These were the first Spanish schools. Together with the site of the second tribunal east of the municipal building, they also served as the first American schools, headed by soldier American teachers like Mr. Mullen, Mr. Allen, and native precursors of teaching as Messrs. Sotero Purugganan, Isidro Villafuerte, Misses Antonia Reynante, Cristeta Tagorda, Honorata Tagorda, Manuel Jaramillo, Mr. Pelagio Pahed, Mr. Vivencio Tagorda, Mrs. Marcos Purisima, Mr. Graciano Pada, and others. The flagpole with the lone American flag was at the southwestern corner of the block where now the clinic hospital stands. The kiosko, too, at the plaza, was erected by the Sto. Domingo Lyceum under the leadership of Messrs. Pedro Villafuerte, Tomas Bumatay, Fulgencio Consolacion, and Liberato Tabinga in 1918. The tennis court by President Jose J. Tesoro from the municipal funds in 1931, the Rizal Monument under the auspices of the Civil League in 1927, The Aglipayan Church was established here in 1915 under the initiative of Don Agrifino Tobias. The Unknown Citizens Shaft under the Citizens' Federation of Mr. Bibiano E. Figueras, with Dr. B. J. Bello, Assemblyman Soliven, General Artemio Ricarte, and public school teachers in 1940. It was unveiled amidst public acclamation by the then Defense Secretary, the Hon. Teofilo Sison, the Bishop Aglipay Monument made famous by the pressure of Aglipay and Prelate, together with Maximus Ponfifex Jamias, and a Soliven Memorial, too, which cornerstone was

The important events that took place in this town during the Spanish sovereignty were the foundation of Sto. Domingo town in 1742, the Silang Revolt in 1762 which affected the town, the three years of famine in 1804 where "amorsecos" were used as edible food, the Ambaristo revolt in 1807 when a fight, a decisive fight was done at Bantaway River, the landing of pirates in 1836, the building of Calle Real from the former trail to Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, passing through the barrio of Sta. Cruz, in 1837, the capture of Moro pirates who were baptized and beheaded in 1844, the giving of surnames in 1850, when Palomar became Jaramillo, the de Jesus and Sebastian family names became Tesoro, etc., the destruction of the San Ildefonso church by lightning in 1855, the two-year terms of gobernadorcillos in 1863, the great flood and snow storm [hail storm?] for twenty-four hours in 1867, the Moro piracy in 1871 at Pinget Sound, the big comet in 1882, followed by the Asiatic cholera epidemic in 1882, the animal pest in 1887, the changing of the gobernadorcillo into capitan municipal in 1894, the Maura Laws applied in 1895, the Philippine Revolution in 1897, the burning of the tribunal (town hall) and Lahoz home by American soldiers in 1899, the appointment of Aniceto Avila as Revolutionary President with Wenceslao Soliven as Chief of Police, and the formation of the Sandatahan, joined by Deogracia Tobias, Teodoro Flotildes, Joaquin Tadena, Eustacio Lazo, Juan Guerrero, etc. in 1899.

Noteworthy facts or events during the Americn rule were the death of the heroic Lt. Ignacio Villamor [stated as Villaflor earlier] in Nov. 1900, the restoration of peace in 1901, with Jacob Tesoro as first president of the civil government, the cholera epidemic in 1901, the locust swarsm in 1908, the annexation of San Ildefonso to this municipality in 1904, the first Philippine Assembly in 1907, the great conflagration and the Halley's Comet in 1910, the first town fair in front of the present municipal building (once a deep pit for an aquarium) in 1911, the destruction of the present municipal building by a typhoon in 1913, World War I in 1914, and its effects to attract National Guards, the establishment of the Philippine Independent Church in 1915, and the building of the present market, the Senate election in 1916 by virtue of the Jones Law, the construction of the kiosko in 1918, the secession of San Ildefonso from this town in 1919, the erection of the first Rizal monument in Ilocos Sur by the Civil League in 1927, also the renovation of the municipal hall, the election of Representative Soliven in 1928, the beginning of the construction of the Sto. Domingo International Port at barrio Calay-ab in 1930 by Rep. Soliven (this port was later changed to San Ildefonso Port), the election of Vicente Tacderas as member of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Board in 1931, the building of the tennis court by President Tesoro by President Teodorico Tabangcura [this part is confusing] in the election protest of 1932, the plebiscite for the Commonwealth in 1934, the election of ex-Representative Soliven as delegate to the National Assembly over Secretary of the Interior Elpidio Quirino in 1935, as well as the changing of the title of Municipal President into Commonwealth Mayors, the lighting of the streets in the poblacion area in 1936 as well as the renovation of the Catholic church by Mons. Padernal, erection of the comedy theater in 1935, the

Events in town during and after World War II followed the incumbency of Jap puppet Mayor Jose J. Tesoro in 1942 and the rise of Hoko leaders and organization of the Kalibapi as off-shoot of the Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Japanese program, the formation of Filipino guerrilla units as that of the 121^st Inf., USFIP, N.L., the irreparable death of Assemblyman Benito Soliven in 1943, the reign of terror, of oppression and tributes on foodstuffs for guerrillas and Japs in 1944, the murder of Dr. Emilio Villanueva by guerrilla units and disappearance of Mayor Tolentino of Magsingal at Puerta Real, the assassination of Salvador Baterina of the Prov. Auditor's Office of Ilocos Sur on March 1, 1944, the unjust execution of Mayor Jose J. Tesoro and the veteran soldier Constante Alvarado on July 7, 1944, the sanction of the guerrilla headquarters at barrio Santo Tomas under Lt. Doña, of Rufino D. Soliven to succeed Mayor Tesoro and also that of his nefarious death by guerrillas at barrio Lussoc on Nov. 28, 1944. In the same year followed also the demolition of telephone wires along the highway led by Don Jose Villaflor, their mass arrests in the town and their execution in the Jap headquarters at Tamag, Vigan, Ilocos Sur. The year 1944 marked also the acme of Japanese and guerrilla ferocity, resultant to many deaths in their encounters and inquisitorial executions. The establishment of the guerrilla headquarters at Pusuak, Kimbambam, and Lussoc. The rise, too, of the W.A.S. and of Lt. Tabangin with his "SIIT" pseudonym. Then. Lt. Filomeno Tadena, Lt. Avelino Battad, Capt. Benjamin Sanidad, and Capt. Tomas Bumatay became of beatitude to the suffering people.

When the town was devoid of an honorary pro or anti Jap town head, Atty. Faustino Tobias was appointed guerrilla Military Mayor in Nov. 1944 to March 1945, with his office evacuated [located?] at Kalellayan, Nagbukel. There, the whole townspeople were evacuees. At these days, the Japanese had frequent offensives in town and resultant to mutilation [strange word to use] buildings and records, their night stay in town churches and the plunder of the same, including the deserted homes, all in 1944, culminating in March 1945, and the deaths of civilians marked their warpaths. When Mayor Tobias went to Santiago Cove in March 1945, he was succeeded by Faustino Tamargo up to July of the same year. The last Japanese stand was at Ambastian, a sitio at the western part of the town. It marked our liberation from Jap intrusions. This was in March 1945. In the formal restoration of peace, former Commonwealth Mayor (Acting) Amante Soliven took office in July 1945, but was later replaced when Faustino Tamargo was appointed until 1946. Tamargo was succeeded by Dr. Juan Quines, under the Provincial Governor's appointment in 1947. Mayor Quines was relieved by Mayor Filomeno B. Tadena by the national election of 1948. During the incumbency of Mayor Tadena up to the present, has brought plenty of blessings to the town. In 1949, streets were provided with electric lights, and the National Road was made concrete. The town was cleared of irresponsibles, from banditry, so peace and order was restored. The municipal fisheries were made to yield maximum income in 1952, the market annex and stalls were established and improved, the plaza was beautified, roads were repaired and new ones were constructed. The town hall was renovated and we became a first class town. In 1953, the Clinic Hospital and the new stage at the tennis auditorium were put to a finish.

Years following World War II, most go to the credit of Mayor Tadena, are periods of peace, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. Commerce and industry increased. Farming was improved by modern fertilizers, U.S. relief goods and foodstuffs were given to the indigents, schools were socialized with the community reading centers established. Society returned to normal morals, religion has its pious revival program, and the treasury has its incomes multiplied and the town shaped anew for its progressive march to the present. Politics became keener in the last 1953 elections, but due to the political skill of the mayor in diplomacy, the town is again interested in him to put up a third Town Fair scheduled for May 1954.

Following World War II, measures for rehabilitation and reconstruction are ample and varied. It has the relief goods, the veteran pensions and payment of war claims and supporting of all war widows and orphans. Good laws and action work are given to agriculture, commerce, education, etc., all tending to common welfare in line with President Magsaysay's program.

A recall of the destruction of lives, properties and institutions, especially in 1896 to 1900, covering the two epochal periods of the Philippine Revolution, first against Spain and then America, there were the heroes who died in action as Lt. Ignacio Villaflor and some unknown Katipunan soldiers. Added to lives lost were those civilians executed by the Filipino guerrillas at Magumbayan, at Kabaroan and other nook places. Of the buildings, the second town tribunal and the Lahoz Brothers' home were burned to the ground by the Americans. Few properties were lost by plunder and conflagration due to the able leadership of Katipuneros like Joaquin Tadena, Eustacio Lazo, Agapito Tesoro, Aniceto Avila, Wenceslao Soliven, Isidro Villafuerte and other "Sandatahan."

World War II in our town gave more havoc to the populace (1941-1945). Homes by the road on the southern part of the town were burned by the Japs when they found them deserted. Public buildings were plundered and most public records were mutilated or burned. The churches were used as Jap camps one night, and church ornaments and statues were desecrated. In spite of the "buy and sell" trade, commerce and industry were retarded. Agriculture suffered a setback, the most farm hands were either hiding, captured, sick or dead. Many citizens in the vigor of youth, men of strong morals and sound lives, liberal-minded, were untimely nipped out by the guerrillas or Japanese soldiers. Promising intelligent men as Dr. Jesus Torrano, Dr. Emilio Villanueva, Lt. Napoleon Javier, Lt. Salvador Tacderas, Pvt. Reynaldo Tesoro, Salvador Baterina, Lt. Cayetano Villafuerte, Lt. Isidro Villafuerte Jr., Avaro and Romeo Tobias, Naval Officer Feliciano Bugarin, Assemblyman Benito Soliven, Jose Villaflor, Manuel Tagad, Jose J. Tesoro, Rufino D. Soliven, and a host of the cream of the town citizenry were made victims of war besides those who died of starvation and war-brought ills. Religion and society lost their morale. All in all, the atmosphere of living was drab, unhappy, and unsafe. Almost all homes suffered from plunder or robbery.

Transcribed from:

Historical Data Regarding Barrios and Poblacion of Sto. Domingo District, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.