MUNICIPALITY OF CLAVERIA (CAGAYAN), History and Cultural Life of Part 1

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Cagayan
Claveria District
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A REPORT
ON THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF CLAVERIA AND ITS BARRIOS

SUBMITTED BY:

(SGD.) MANUEL NEBAB
District Supervisor

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Cagayan
Claveria District
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F O R E W O R D

This compilation embodies authentic pieces of information according to the mores, customs, and traditions of the people inhabiting Claveria and its enumerous barrios in the past. To the present and future generations, it will serve as a rich resource of information and it will show them that the generation that blazed the trail of civilization in this community many years ago were civilized, ambitious, hardworking, and peaceful.

Credit is given to all Head Teachers of the barrio schools and Central Teachers who exerted effort in furnishing the necessary data.

(SGD.) MANUEL NEBAB
District Supervisor

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DIVISION OF CAGAYAN
DISTRICT OF CLAVERIA

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF CLAVERIA

Claveria was named after General Narciso Claveria, the Governor of Cagayan, when it became a town. It was established as a town in 1865. Its establishment as a town was due to the untiring efforts of the late Feliciano Valdez, Joaquin Nebab, Jacinto Semana, Gaspar Rombaca, and Dionicio de Peralta. These men came from Vintar and Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, driven away from their homes by Spanish inhumane political, social, and economic policies. The following is a list of town officials who served from 1865 to the present:

1865-1867 1867-1869 1869-1871 1871-1873 1873-1875 1875-1877 1877-1879 1879*1881 1881-1883 1883-1885 1885-1887 1887-1889 1889-1891 1891-1893 1893-1894 1894-1898 1898-1901 1901-1905 1905-1909 1909-1913 1913-1916

Dn Feliciano Baldez Dn Joaquin Nebab Dn Dionicio de Peralta Dn Andres Gapusan Dn Maximo Nebab Dn Dionicio de Peralta 1½ months Dn Joaquin Nebab 1 year 4 months Dn Juan Josue Dn Joaquin Nebab Dn Bernabe de Guzman Dn Santiago Reyes 9 months Dn Mariano Nebab Dn Segundo Gapasan 3 months Dn Mariano Aducayen 1 month Dn Mariano Dacuycuy 1 yr. 2 months Dn Gervacio Nebab 1 yr. 7 months Dn Esteban Leaño Dn Mariano Failma Dn Bartolome Nebab Dn Saturnino Dacuycuy Dn Guillermo Esmeria Dn Jose Fonacier Dn Rafael Aducayen Dn Rafael Caluya Dn Miguel Ravelo Dn Felipe Pacis Dn Maximo Fres Dn Inocencio Llapitan Dn Toribio Irurita Dn Liberato Aglugub Dn Dionicio Cabiliza Dn Apolinario Mallavo Dn Lorenzo Viernes

Governadorcillo " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " President Vice-President Councilor " " "

Dn Tomas Domingo Dn Isabelo Leaño Dn Eustaquio Semana Dn Liberato Loprez Dn Nicolas Nebab

Councilor " " Mun. Treasurer Secretary

1916-1920

Dn Pedro Leaño Dn Mariano Agudera Dn Leon Llapitan Dn Doroteo Perlas Dn Catalino Aguinaldo Dn Pedro Ancheta Dn Gregorio Pascua Dn Celedonio Agbayani Dn Luis Agregado Dn Faustino Aguinaldo Dn Anastacio Danga

President Vice-President Councilor " " " " " " Secretary Treasurer

1920-1924

Dn Domingo Leaño Dn Santiago Aguillo Dn Marcelino Daleja Dn Catalino Vela Dn Gregorio Medrano Dn Santiago Agra Dn Telesforo Salmon Dn Faustino Aguinaldo Dn Anastacio Danga

President Vice-President Councilor " " " " Secretary Treasurer

1924-1925

Dn Servando de Peralta Dn Doroteo Perlas Dn Marcelino Daleja Dn Catalino Vela Dn Gregorio Medrano Dn Santiago Agra Dn Telesforo Salmon Dn Faustino Aguinaldo Dn Anastacio Danga

President Vice-President Councilor " " " " Secretary Treasurer

1925-1928

Dn Doroteo Perlas Dn Marcelino Daleja Dn Julio Bisco Dn Domingo Quijote Dn Claro Lubuguen Dn Hermogenes Viernes Dn Juan Leaño Dn Mariano Ancheta Dn Fabian Asido Dn Prospero de Peralta Dn Honorato Ancheta Dn Anacleto Agamata

President Vice-President Councilor " " " " " " " Secretary Treasurer

1928-1930

Dn Isabelo Leaño Dn Gregorio Medrano Dn Tomas de Peralta Dn Andres Paleracio

President Vice-President Councilor "

Dn Eusequio Tumaneng Dn Ciriaco Badua Dn Justo Aguda Dn Severo Rico Dn Hermogenes Viernes Dn Anacleto Agamata

" " " Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer

1930-1934

Sr. Mariano Andin Sr. Martin Avilga Sr. Gregorio Velasco Sr. Pedro B. Felipe Sr. Ignacio Pascua Sr. Florentino Malapira Sr. Francisco Agbayani Sr. Antonio Caronan Sr. Severo Rico Sr. Hermogenes Viernes Sr. Anacleto Agamata

Mun. President Vice-President Councilor " " " " " Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer

1934-1937

Sr. Valeriano Soliven Sr. Emilio Suniga Sr. Faustino Aguinaldo Sr. Vicente Agatep Sr. Santiago Lopez Sr. Jesus Sambo Sr. Claudio Tagala Sr. Severo Rico Sr. Anacleto Agamata Sr. Oscar Littaoa

Mun. President Vice-President Councilor " " " " Secretary Treasurer Chief of Police

1937-1940

Sr. Proceso Paoig Sr. Antonio Agudera Sra. Eugenia Agatep Sr. Eustaquio Llapitan Sra. Luisa Eduarte Sr. Zosimo Fuentes Sr. Jesus Sambo Sr. Faustino Aguinaldo Sr. Anacleto Agamata Sr. Oscar Littaoa

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor " " " " " Treasurer Chief of Police

1940-1942

Sr. Martin Avila Sr. Marcos Luciano Sr. Vicente Agatep Sr. Pascual Sapp Sr. Victoriano Eduarte Sr. Mariano Rodriguez Sr. Zosimo Fuentes

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor " " " "

1942-1944

Sr. Faustino Aguinaldo Sr. Marcos Luciano Sr. Vicente Agatep Sr. Elias Gapusen Sr. Antonio Batacan Sr. Antonio Dario

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor " " "

Sr. Marciano Acena Sr. Placido Dancil Sr. Anacleto Agamata

" " Treasurer

1944-1+47

Sr. Valeriano Soliven Sr. Antonio Matacan Sr. Eustaquio Llapitan Sr. Placido Dancil Sr. Juan Leaño Sra. Luisa Edarte Sr. Mariano Acena Sr. Severo Rico Sr. Anacleto Agamata Sr. Vicente Agatep

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor " " " " Secretary Treasurer Chief of Police

1947-1951

Sr. Martin Avila Sr. Juan Leaño Sr. Pascual Sapp Sr. Elias Capusan Sr. Victoriano Eduarte Sr. Mariano Rodriguez Sra. Josefa Fres Sr. Benito Ancheta Sr. Antonio Agudera Sr. Pedro Lagazo Sr. Lauriano Lingan

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor " " " " " Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer

1951-1953

Sr. Bonifacio de Guzman Sr. Claro Agbayani Sr. Bernabe Paleracio Mrs. Petrona E. Aguinaldo Mrs. Juana Nebab Mr. Vicente de Rivera Mr. Vicente Sales Mr. Mariano Rodriguez

Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor " " " " "

Ruins of the old church built during the early part of the Spanish regime still stand at Nagsimbaanan, the first site of Claveria. A part of the church built during the latter part of Spanish rule still exists behind the new church. These relics will forever remind the younger generations of the enforced labor during the Spanish regime.

During the Katipunan and World War I

Katipunan 1898 — The Katipuneros passed through the town. They enlisted volunteers to join them.

World War I — American soldiers put up tents in the town.
World War II —

December 17, 1941 - Japanese soldiers arrived in town.

June 1943 - A Japanese plane was forced down by an American bomber.

Jan. 22, 1945 - The Japanese forces left Claveria.

Jan. 24, 1945 - USAFFE soldiers arrived.

Jan. 25, 1945 - Another Japanese plane was shot down. The pilot was beheaded by the civilians.

Jan. 28, 1945 - A Japanese motorboat loaded with ammunition was bombed at the northwestern coast of the town. All the crew and soldiers that boarded the vessel were beheaded by the civilians. The ammunition was taken by the civilians and hidden for future military operations.

Feb. 4, 1945 - Sixteen Japanese soldiers arrived from Ilocos. All of them were beheaded by the bolo men.

Feb. 9, 1944 - USAFFE soldiers had an encounter with the Japanese soldiers numbering about a hundred. Five Japanese soldiers died and and USAFFE soldier died, too. Fourteen civilians were bayoneted by retreating Japanese soldiers.

A few of the Claverianos enjoyed the blessing of Spanish education. The Cartilla (A, B, C) was the basic of the beginner's readers. The Abrid came next; then the Catechism. The pupils were required to memorize the principal prayers, commandments, and litanies after learning to read them. When a pupil could read and memorize the "Por la señal de la Santa Cruz," the parents were already very proud of their child. This was the fundamental requirement, a proof of the child's ability.

The ability to read the Catechism was enough to qualify a person to go to Manila to further his studies. Only the children of the rich were allowed to study in the colleges in Manila.

Balbino Albano was the first teacher in Claveria during the Spanish rule. Before classes commenced, the children were lined in front of the church. The first child held a crucifix. They marched into the church to pray, after which they marched out to their classes.

Corporal punishments were inflicted very severely. When a girl could not memorize her lessons, she was required to put her palms up to be beaten by the teacher with a stick. This was called the Palmeta System. The boys were dealt with more

Enforced labor also affected the pupils. Every pupil was required to bring to school a basket about the size of a ganta. After classes, they marched to the beating of a drum to gather pebbles for the construction of the church. If the pupils escaped, they were chastised severely.

1. On All Saints Day, every family within the jurisdiction of the Cabeza de Barangay deemed it an obligation to give palay, chickens, and four eggs to the parish priest.

2. During Corpus Christi, on every intersection of the town, a [unreadable] was erected and decorated. Durign the procession, the priest stopped to say the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

3. During Holy Thursday and Good Friday, a hut is put up again on every street corner. During the procession, people chant the passion of Christ.

4. On Easter Sunday, an effigy of Judas is hanged and burned in the plaza. This is to remind the people of what Judas did to Christ.

5. On Christmas Day or any church holiday, the town officials, beginning from the gobernadorcillo and his wife to the lowest official, went in pairs to church. The head of the town led the procession. All the officials held canes of shiny black wood tipped with silver. After the Mass, the officials, with their wives, went to the convent to talk and drink with the parish priest, who entertained them with costly drinks. Sometimes, he gave them nuts, raisins, and apples.

1879-1872 May 1882 June 1882 May 1884 August 1893 October 1898 April 1915 1925

Fr. Ramon Pujador Fr. Francisco Huertas Atanacio Josue (Filipino) Fr. Pedro Perez Fr. Eusebio Chillaron Fr. Nicolas Sebastian Fr. Eusebio Avila Fr. Andres Catral

October 1929 September 1931 December 1933 June 1936 Jan. 1946 June 1952

Salvador Saquing Manuel Apostol Fr. Miguel Anspach Fr. Guillermo Slombs Fr. Jose Boethin Fr. Rafael Rulluda Coadjutor Fr. Herman Hermes Coadjutor Fr. Juan Pacano Coadjutor Fr. Odyle Etspealer Fr. Egon Strotman Fr. Ernest Keilen Fr. Galvan Fr. Ernest Keilen

Wars cause havoc, disaster, misery, and suffering. Human lives and public property perish with its frightful scourges. The First World War brought untold sufferings to the inhabitants of nations where the war raged furiously. Millions of lives and properties were lost. There were many places, though, that were exempted from these hardships and bitterness. Claveria was one of those lucky places that were not affected by such an event because not even the weakest encounter was staged in the poblacion. Either the Katipuneros or the American soldiers only put up their tents for some days to rest, after which they advanced again to other places, leaving the town at peace. [Note to the reader: The use of "first world war" is apparently erroneous. Taken from context, what the writer probably meant was the Filipino-American War.]

The Second World War was a remarkable one. Claveria was no longer an exception where lives and properties were lost. The Japanese Army invaded the town without any resistance in the early part of 1942. The occupied the school building and destroyed many books, desks, records, and athletics equipment. The inhabitants were so peace-loving that the Japanese stayed only in town for a week and then moved to another town, taking with them clothes, jewelry, and blankets.

In April 1943, the Japanese Army came back. They raided the house of Mayor Faustino Aguinaldo, and killed Agustin Leaño, a policeman. They organized their government and opened schools. During their stay, two houses of the Viernes family were burned.

In September 1944, Jose Medrano and his brother Victorino found a big box filled with medicine at the [torn] shore of Claveria. Their failure to inform the Japanese authority immediately caused their being hacked to [torn] by the Japanese soldiers. In December of the same year, [torn] house of the Chief of Police, Vicente Agatep, was set [torn] by members of the Ilocos guerrillas.

In February 1945, a unit of the Cagayan guerrillas had an encounter with the Japanese Army. Fourteen civilians and a Filipino soldier died. The encounter lasted for two days, and then the town was completely liberated.

The military government took charge of Claveria. There were Claverianos who were suspected to have been Japanese collaborators. They were investigated by Sanchez Mira, but they did not come back anymore. Only God knows what their fate was.

1. The side of the bed where the head of the mother is must be a little higher than the other side so that the blood will not rush to her head.

2. During the first nine days after delivery, a stove moderately burning is placed directly under the mother's womb, and pieces of old rags are burned continuously until the navel of the newly-born baby has healed. The aim of such a practice is to prevent evil spirits from pestering the mother and child and to keep the room and the mother warm.

1. It must be held on a day which is supposed to be lucky.

2. Some godparents make the babies cry during the ceremony because they believe that a child who cries when baptized will always be alert when he grows up.

3. The godparents, no matter how poor, always give gifts to their godchildren.

1. The young man who courts a young lady courts the lady.

1. The "parawad" is a practice which requires the prospective bridegroom to give a certain amount of money to the bride's mother to repay the services of the mother.

2. Requiring the newlyweds on their wedding day to act in unison as a means to have them live an equal length of time.

3. At the wedding feast, the first table is reserved for the sponsors, headed by both groom and bride, the latter two being required to start eating at the same time and to finish simultaneously. A such feast, a dish of cooked (but without salt or anything) dried beans is also served to the newlyweds as a driving factor in the production of many offspring.

4. The wedding ceremony culminates with a [torn]

by the bride and groom. As they are dancing, those who attended the party shower them with money.

1. On the death of any member of the family, no sweeping is allowed inside the house until the dead is buried.

2. If anything has to be slaughtered on such occasion, not a part of it [Note: presumably, that which was slaughtered] because, in so doing, it may hasten some more members of the family to the underworld.

3. The coffin must be constructed to fit, otherwise, there may be another member dead if the coffin happens to be bigger.

4. Few clothes of the dead are given so that the dead will not be carrying a heavy load to the underworld.

5. If the departing member happens to leave a widow or a widower, such remaining spouse is required not to go out and to cover his or her hand with a black cloth to prevent sickness.

6. If the members of the family eat anything, they offer a part of it to the dead.

1. The crowd shower earth on the coffin as soon as it is lowered into the grave.

2. Upon returning to the house, those who attended the burial undergo a washing ceremony (lukewarm water spiced with vinegar, ginger, wine, and orange tree leaves), a means to prevent the spirit of the dead from haunting you or causing you to be dizzy.

1. A child, on its first visit to a house, must be given a gift either in the form of cash or in kind, otherwise it will spell reverses for him or her in any undertaking in the future.

2. Politeness and courtesy are virtues always looked upon and expected from any visitor to a house, the absence of which reflects on his or her bad breeding, and generally a person lacking these may be evicted by the host or hostess due to rudeness to him or her.

3. Refreshments for the young and generally wine for the old are usually served by the host on the occasion of the visit.

1. Town Fiesta 2. New Year's

3. Christmas Day 4. Three Kings

These days are celebrated with pomp and gaiety. Every home abounds with comestibles on Christmas, New Year's, and Three Kings.

Corporal punishment is still prevalent within the famliy circle as a means to check the wrongdoings of any member of the family. Socially, however, the modern way of meting out justice is followed. Most associations, especially that of the farmers, resort to the "fine system" as a means to check astray members. The more recent now is the "social ostracizing" of any undesirable member of society.

Foreword: The Legend of Lacaylacay is a legend which our forefathers left for the succeeding generations to tell and to popularize. It has touched the hearts of many daring sailors sailing across the rough China Sea.

Scarcely three kilometers away from Claveria, along the northeastern coast, are two human-shaped rocks that stand in juxtaposition to a lone hill. These are called Lacaylacay and Baketbaket. Lacaylacay in the local language means old man, while Baketbaket means old woman. Three kilometers east of these figures is another figure called "Ubingubing," which means child in the local language.

It is believed that Lacaylacay has command of the sea and wind. He can make the sea either smooth or rough. He candeprive the rocks of the growth of seaweeds and he can also make fishes disappear. For these reasons, he and his family are revered by fishermen, sailors, and even farmers.

A long time ago, Lacaylacay, Baketbaket, and Ubingubing composed a happy family. They lived near the sea. The man earned their living by fishing. He arose every morning to catch some fish. He caught much every now and then. His wife offered a part of his catch to the spirits. As days passed them, the man's catch increased. Their neighbors envied the ameliorating financial condition of the family. The fisherman's wife became more arrogant.

One day, during the siesta hour, an old beggar dressed in rags approached the old woman who at this time was pounding rice He

Transcribed from:

A Report on the History and Cultural Life of Claveria and Its Barrios, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.