MUNICIPALITY OF LUISIANA (LAGUNA), Historical Data of Part I

District of Luisiana
LUISIANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

REPORT ON HISTORICAL DATA OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF
LUISIANA, LAGUNA AND ITS BARRIOS

FELIZARDO HERONCILLO
Principal

ROMAN G. GOSTES
District Supervisor

These curriculum materials, based on the actual condition of the community, coupled with its local social heritage, is of paramount importance to teachers and to learners just as well. Much has been said and written about subjects of this kind, but this sort of collection may strengthen further the know-what of this town. Previous research proved futile in the reconstruction of records, so much so that through this collection, we can glance back at the years of occupation. To this end, we can formulate a comparative study of how our community progressed in the last hundred years.

All data contained herein were gathered by various committees with personal interviews with people of different barrios of this town.

To make these contributions interesting, folkways and folklores with the past and present social life are integrated. This will enable teachers to use in almost all the grade subjects, including music. It will also provide for the use of fundamental reading habits and skills.

Grateful acknowledgement is then made of Roman F. Lorenzo, Division Superintendent, Roman G. Cortez, Supervising Principal, and Felizardo Geronzillo, Principal, for their able guidance and valuable suggestions; to the responsible people of the town and particular barrios who voluntarily and unselfishly conveyed to the teachers the most needed information to write this pamphlet; to Lucino Rosas, Municipal Secretary, for his materials on the history of the town; to the [unreadable] the "minute" [unsure, blurred] for a complete history of the town; and everyone who helped in making this collection a possibility.

THE AUTHORS

District of Luisiana
LUISIANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

REPORT ON THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN
POBLACION

LUISIANA, the official name of one of the municipalities of Laguna, was derived from the combined names of its founders, Luis and his wife Ana.

This town, at its beginning, was a barrio of Majayjay. The first name given to this barrio settlement was "Nasunog," meaning a burnt region. In 1825, the leaders of the barrio folks made the first attempts to establish a town in this place. The religious families who lived in the barrio of Nasunog encountered many difficulties in going to and from Majayjay to attend to their material and spiritual needs. Thus, they were prompted to separate from the town proper and maintain a town of their own. The first attempts were unsuccessful because of the bitter opposition presented by the parish priest of Majayjay. In spite of their failure, the leader of the movement continued to work for the separation of their barrio from Majayjay. After more than a decade, the establishment of "visits" was approved. That was on October 3, 1837. Later, on November 9, 1837, the site for the town proper, called Ibabang Nasunog, was selected as the location of the town. [unreadable] the visit of Nasunog was under the jurisdiction of Majayjay. [unreadable] elected their own "teniente absoluto", [unreadable] first one to secure this post in that year. [unreadable]

the decreee recognizing the town of Luisiana was signed by Governor General Claveria and issued. Thus, this town of Luisiana was born after two decades of struggle by the leaders of the town.

1839 - Jose Bernardo was the Teniente Absoluto. In the month of October, a strong typhoon blew over the town for two consecutive Fridays. Many houses were destroyed, including the chapel.

1840 - Alejo Concepcion, Teniente Absoluto. He finished the reconstruction of the Ermita, which was blessed in March by Father Antonio Roman, parish priest of Majayjay, with Silvino de Villaseñor of Lucban as the sponsor.

1841 - Juan Mariano, Teniente Absoluto. The troops of the Spanish infantry passed at this place going to Tayabas.

1842 - Ignacio de la Torre, Teniente Absoluto.

1843 - Melencio Alcantara, Teniente Absoluto.

1844 - Leoncio San Juan, Teniente Absoluto.

1845 - Venancio Buenaventura, Teniente Absoluto. The final approval for the separation of the visita from the town of Majayjay. The decree was signed and issued on December 11 of this year. However, the separation would be revoked if the inhabitants would not be able to put up a church and a convent made of stone.

1846 - Venancio Buenaventura, Governadorcillo. By virtue of a decree, the name Teniente Absoluto was changed to Governadorcillo. The house and lot belonging to Feliciano S. Andres was bought, and the construction of the Casa Tribunal or Municipal Building was begun.

1847 - Ignacio de la Torre, Governadorcillo.

1848 - Jose Bernardo, Governadorcillo. The local cha-

pel was able to acquire bells. The bigger one was bought through donations and contributions, while the smaller one was given by the parish priest of Majayjay, Antonio Roman.

work of the convent was changed and the posts were made of stone.

1867-1868 - Manuel Esperanza, Governadorcillo.

1869-1870 - Jose Peñalos, Governadorcillo.

1871 - Vicente Tolentino, Governadorcillo. The construction of a schoolhouse with a stone foundation was begun.

1872 - Andres Teope, Governadorcillo. The schoolhouse was finished. On May 12, there was a fire. Almost the northern half of the town was burned, including the municipal building, the church, and the convent.

1873-1874 - Felipe Estrellado, Governadorcillo. On October 4, Friday night, of the year 1873, there was a very strong typhoon. Many houses were destroyed, even those made of strong materials.

During the term of the incumbent, he was able to construct the headquarters of the Guardia Civil, which was built inside the town.

1875-1876 - Jose Peñalos, Governadorcillo.

1877-1878 - Regino Apunda [unsure, blurred], Governadorcillo.

1879-1880 - Andres Teope, Governadorcillo.

1881-1882 - Andres Velasquez, Governadorcillo.

1883-1887 - Pioquinto Fabricante, Governadorcillo. In 1883, the enforced labor law was reformed. Instead of 40 days compulsory labor, with penalties for absencias, this was changed into a voluntary personal presentation of at least fifteen days labor a year for every male citizen.

In 1884, the cedula law was increased to one peso and

fifty centavos. The schoolhouse made of stone and brick roof was finished. It was located where the former municipal building was.

1889-1890 - Pedro Ibañez, Governadorcillo. There was an outbreak of epidemics of malaria, smallpox, and beriberi. Almost all members in a house were affected, at at times, a person would be found wrapped in a mat, already dead and in state of decay. The priest, Father Manuel Garcia, refused to officiate rites for the dead, unless it was in accordance with his wishes, so that many people suffered financially.

1891-1892 - Jose Suala, Governadorcillo, Gregorio Concepcion, Justice of the Peac.e

The town became indebted with a great amount in taxes due

Transcribed from:

Historical Data of the Municipality of Luisiana, Province of Laguna, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.