MUNICIPALITY OF BURGOS (PANGASINAN), Historical Data of Part I

Acknowledgement of the author's indebtedness is hereby sincerely expressed to those who, in one way or another, helped in the preparation of the short history of the town of BURGOS. Particular mention should be made of the help of Don Nicolas Guiang, Don Hilarion Cantor, Don Pablo Naraval, and Atty. Maximo Abella, who are believed to be the oldest folks of this town and who furnished the different committees pertinent and valuable information about the history of Burgos.

Sincere thanks and profound gratitude have been extended to Mr. Felix B. Velasco, District Supervisor of the Burgos District; and Mr. Guillermo A. Figuracion, Principal, of Burgos Elementary School, who gave undying encouragement and inspiration to the different committees and its members in the preparation of the brief history and data of the town of BURGOS.

Burgos, as it is so-called today, this being the present official name of the town, was known as San Isidro Potot during the Spanish time and was, then, within the geographical jurisdiction of the province of Zambales. How this place got its name is not definitely known. There seems to be no reason, no intersting incident, no glamor in connection with the naming of this town, judging from the fact that there are no tales or accounts left circulating in the lips of the old people today as to how it got its name. Inferentially from what some old folks say, it is safe to relate the following.

The early immigrants were God-fearing people. They were mostly farmer by occupation, depending primarily upon agriculture as their source of living. They came to this place lured by its vast agricultural possibilities that in due time, they could make it a granary place. They were charmed by the rolling hills and the nice valleys cutting the plain. They envisioned that this was an ideal place which would give them ease, peace, and comfort in their latter life. Farmers, they were, and on the farm did they depend for their sustenance and needs. When the early settlers migrated to this place, they brought with them their religious beliefs, their Ilocano idiosyncrasies and traits. They worshipped fervently, highly revered St. Isidro Labrador, and pinned their fates and hopes of bountiful harvest upon the blessings of this Saint.

After some years, the settlers had increased their tribe and numbers, and then came the necessity of organizing their settlement into a pueblo. Thus, in 1830, it was formally born as a pueblo, with Don Matias Guiang, who was then the most prosperous owner and farmer of the place and the most influential personality to the settlers, was named as the first CAPITAN of the village. San Isidro Potot was its incorporated name in honor of St. Isidro Labrador, whom the settlers had adopted, loved, and revered as their patron saint. The term "potot" appended to the name of San Isidro is an Ilocano adjective meaning "clipped," "cut off," or "disconnected." Not far from the poblacion, there is a brook or stream which, during the dry season, does not have continuous water because some parts of the reef are shal-

On May 10, 1901, eleven northern towns of Zambales seceded and joined the province of Pangasinan. San Isidro was one of them. A new atmosphere and a new birth was accorded in the lives of the secessionist towns. Not long thereafter, its name was changed to Burgos, in memory of one of the greatest Filipino martyrs, Pedro Burgos who, together with Padres Gomez and Zamora, were mercilessly executed at the field of Bagumbayan on February 17, 1872. Pedro Burgos, a very influential and able man, was an Ilocano, he being a native of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He was was highly praised in the realm of priesthood and was very much loved by his people, but more to the Ilocanos. Before his death, he was a great reformer. His execution was deeply resented and mourned, for the people believed in his innocence. To perpetuate his memory, the authorities changed the name of this town to Burgos in grateful remembrance of this overwhelming love and admiration of the people for the priesthood, as a profession. Even today, the same feeling and admiration still pervade their hearts. How long its present name will last, time alone can tell. The founders were all married and were natives of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

The names of persons who held leading official positions since the Spanish period and thereafter were the following:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22

Don Matias Guiang Don Pascual Bonrostro Don Diego Bustamante Don Fernando Bonilla Don Paulo Padua Don Matias Quisag Don Juan Discolose Don Juan Bonrostro Don Agustin Cuaresma Don Pascual de Guzman Don Paolo Doctor Don Pedro Guiang Don Vicente Bondal Don Miguel Cuaresma Don Ramon Austria Don Exequiel Ugto Don Agapito Tolentino Braga Don Domingo Valdez Don Tomas Guiang Don Jose de Leon Don Juan Bonilla Don Honorio Doctor

Gobernadorcillo " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

May 1830 Jan. 1831 Jan. 1832 Jan. 1833 Jan. 1834 Jan. 1835 Jan. 1836 Jan. 1837 Jan. 1838 Jan. 1839 Jan. 1840 Jan. 1841 Jan. 1842 Jan. 1843 Jan. 1844 Jan. 1845 Jan. 1846 Jan. 1847 Jan. 1848 Jan. 1849 Jan. 1850 Jan. 1851

23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

Don Raymundo Bonrostro Don Romualdo Braga Don Melchor Ruiz Don Paulino Bustamante Don Feliciano de Guzman Don Eldefonso Bona Don Cornelio Valdez Don Agapito Ugto Don Martin Gallardo Don Mariano Mendoza Don Ambrocio Quiang Don Santiago Ruis Don Santiago Ruis Don Justo Bonado Don Victorio Braga Don Mauricio Gallardo Don Silvestre Ruiz Don Cornelio Braga Don Flaviano Cudal Don Francisco Guiang Don Lorenzo Bonamdo Don Raymundo Borricano Don Simon Ruiz Don Simon Guiang Don Vimencio Gallardo Don Pablo Borricamo Don Laureano Madarang Don Luis Bonilla Don Tomas Braga

Gobernadorcillo " " " " " " " " " " " " CAPITAN " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

Jan. 1852 Jan. 1853 Jan. 1854 July 1855 July 1856 July 1857 July 1858 July 1859 July 1860 July 1861 July 1862 July 1863 July 1864 July 1865 July 1867 July 1869 July 1, 1871 July 1, 1873 Aug. 6, 1875 Aug. 7, 1877 July 1, 1879 July 1, 1881 July 25, 1883 July 1, 1885 July 1, 1887 July 1, 1889 July 1, 1891 July 1, 1893 Jan. 1895

52. 53. 54. 55.

Don Mauricio Gallardo Don Vicente Mendoza Don Tomas Braga Don Carlos Ruiz

President " " "

Mar. 1896-1900 Rev. No record. Oct. 17, 1900-1901 Military Gov't. Oct. 17, 1901-1902

56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73.

Don Paulino Mendoza Don Francisco Bustamante Don Jacinto Braga Don Nicolas Quiang Don Anacleto Ruiz Don Juan Bonado Don Matias Ruiz Don Agustin R. Braga Don Nazario Bonilla Don Matias Bustamante Don Melquiades Ruiz Don Lorenzo Bomado Don Miguel Braga Don Matias Bustamante Don Lorenzo Bomado Don Severino Reyes Don Andres Ramos Don Artemio Bonilla

Mun. President " " " " Elected President " " " " " Reelected President Mun. Mayor " " " " "

Jan. 5, 1904-Dec. 31, 1905 Jan. 1, 1906-Dec. 31, 1907 Jan. 6, 1908-Dec. 31, 1911 Jan. 29,1911-Oct. 15, 1912 Oct. 16, 1912-Oct. 15, 1916 Oct. 16, 1916-Oct. 15, 1919 Oct. 16, 1919-Oct. 10, 1922 Oct. 16, 1922-Oct. 15, 1925 Oct. 16, 1925-Oct. 15, 1928 Oct. 17, 1928-Oct. 16, 1931 Oct. 16, 1931-Oct. 15, 1934 Oct. 16, 1934-Jan. 1, 1943 1944-PICAU April 1, 1945 Appointed 1946-1947 Appointed Jan. 1, 1948-(suspended) Jan. 1, 1949-Dec. 31, 1952 Jan. 1, 1952-elected

In the early days, when watches were not yet known to man, a traveler went out at night and used the stars in telling time. The most common one was the use of the southern cross. This star cross appears at eight o'clock at night. As it appears, it is in the inclined position 30 degrees to the west. When this star stands erect, it is midnight. When it inclines 30 degrees to the east, it is four o'clock in the morning.

If the night was cloudy and the stars could not be seen, the crowing of the roosters was used in telling time. The first crowing of the rooster at night indicated midnight; and the second at close intervals was four o'clock in the morning. There were also some birds that used to announce the arrival of four o'clock in the morning. These birds were the oriol and the owl.

During rainy days, when the sun was absolutely not to be seen, a farmer got his time from plants. The patola flowers, when fully opened, told four o'clock in the afternoon. The katuray tree, acacia tree, andadado, and bainbain plants, when their leaves were closed, it was five o'clock in the afternoon. So, the farmer knew the correct time of retiring from his work.

Once, there lived four brothers named Pedro, Juan, Tomas, and Eddie. These brothers were troublesome and were driven away from home. When they returned home, they had their own vocations. Pedro, the oldest, was very unlucky. He learned a vocation which was very degrading to the family and society. He became an expert robber. Juan learned to be an expert shooter. Tomas became an expert shipbuilder and Eddie, the youngest, became a prophet. It so happened that in a kingdom, a princess was lost, and whoever found her would be her husband. Eddie, being a prophet, knew where the princess was. The princess was on top of a tree located in the middle of the sea. She was stolen by a big eagle. So, the four brothers presented themselves to the king to locate the lost princess. The king gave the approval and they went to look for the beautiful princess. Pedro, the expert robber, climbed the tree while the princess was asleep on the lap of the eagle.

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful woman who was very religious. She was so beautiful that many came to admire her and shower their love on her. She lived in isolation. Her world was just within the four walls of the house. She did nothing except to offer her devotion to God. She prayed with her mother every night.

Because love knows no impediment, there came five gallant and chivalrouse men to love the same woman. Despite the fact that they loved only one woman, they became friends and they decided to talk with her at any cost. But their problem was how they could go to her house when nobody was allowed to see her. However, they solved their problem. They agreed to go one night just to hear her prayers. They heard the woman mention five saints. The wisest among the five men suggested to disguise themselves as saints.

One week after, everything was ready. They had ordered their uniforms. One night, they went to the woman's house. when the girl was praying, she mentioned St. Peter. The man who disguised himself as St. Peter knocked on the door. The mother and the girl heard it. They opened the door and in came St. Peter. They were exceedingly happy so that the girl and the mother lost their senses and kissed the head of the saint. This happened to all the five friends.

However, one man came and claimed that he came from Heaven. He told them that there were five saints who escaped from Heaven and he was looking for them. The moment the five imposters heard this, they jumped out of the window and ran away. He married the woman and lived happily thereafter.

The chief executive of the town of San Isidro Potot, Zambales (now Burgos, Pangasinan) was known as "capitan," and his post was elective. The election of the municipal capitan was under the direct actuation or supervision of the provincial governor, the parish priest, and a secretary. The parish priest of Burgos (San Isidro) just befor the revolution was a native of Barcelona, Spain, and his name was Mariano Torrente.

The election procedure was, indeed, simple. The provincial governor and the priest sat on one of the tables, while the secretary on the other. The electors passed by the secretary and whispered to him their choice. The one getting the highest vote was elected teniente mayor, equivalent to now vice-mayor. There were no ballots such as we have at present.

The electors were the "cabezas de barangay," actual or past, and the ex-captains. The "cabezas de barangay" were nominated and appointed by the municipal captain and the priest. There was no fixed time for the office of the cabezas. The office was honorary; it commanded no salary. However, the "cabezas" carried the title "Don" which stayed with them until death. The "cabezas" of the town should file bonds, and the latter consisted of their real estate. They were the collectors of taxes from all persons within their barangays.

The "buis" or personal tax or cedula was ₱2.00 for both male

The 15 days forced labor a year from the males were used in the repair of roads, bridges, and other public services. The cabezas selected the males in their barangays who were to render the 15 days free labor. They selected also the males who were to do work in the tribunals. Three males were to work in the post office for 15 days. Some were also selected to serve the priest in the convent, and some in the office of the captain.

The "cabezas" were very powerful. They settled troubles or quarrels in their barangays, and could impose punishments. The money collected by them as taxes were kept by them until they were called to a session by the captain. During this session, the money was pooled and accounted. One among the cabezas de barangay was usually selected to bring the money to the provincial capital, which was Iba, accompanied by two cuadrilleros.

The cabezas had assistants called ayodantes. These were free from the 15 days forced labor and the ₱2.00 cedulas. Before the last day fixed by the provincial treasurer to account the money or to give the tax, a book of cedulas is prepared, and the captain collected the money from the cabezas. If any cabeza de barangay could not completely collect the cedulas, his lands would be sold at public auction; and from the proceeds would be taken enough to cover the deficiency.

The foregoing describes the first administrative body, composed of municipal captains, cabezas de barangay, and the ayudantes. The cabezas were the payers of taxes, and consequently the collectors, and the selectors of the men to give 15 days forced labor, and entered them in the public works, service in the tribunal, or in the convent.

The second body in municipal administration is the cuadrilla, and its members were the cuadrilleros. This body corresponded to the present municipal police force. There were 10 members, including a

Transcribed from:

Historical Data Regarding the Town of Burgos, Pangasinan, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.