MUNICIPALITY OF MAJAYJAY (LAGUNA), Historical Data of Part II

Cornelio Loreto Antonio Escobar Cornelio Alvarez Arcadio Espedido Eustaquio Brioso Pedro Ordoñez Ladislao Ornosa Felix Dollosa Antonio Zorilla Florencio Norada

Secretary Mun. Treasurer Councilor " " " " " " "

Antonio Escobar Florencio Norada Getulio Vitaza Pio Gozo Pedro Ordoñez Ladislao Zornosa Teodorico Arnigo Timoteo Montemor Manuel Esmaquel Eustaquio Brioso Tomas Tronera Bernabe Cobrana

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Councilor " " " " " " "

Antonio Escobar Eustaquio Brioso Cornelio Loreto Pio Gozo Isidro Noroña Andres Tuviera Domingo Pontiveros Martin Rosel Inocensio Continuado Juan Villaraza Juan B. Rosales Doroteo Merestela

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Councilor " " " " " " "

Faustino de Vera Pedro Ordoñez Antonio Escobar Hilario Garcia Pedro Pontiveros Lorenzo L. Pabalan Francisco Brioso Enrique Urcia Timoteo Montemor

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Councilor " " " "

Simon Ureta Ambrosio Urgel Calixto Esquillo

Councilor " "

Eustaquio Brioso Juan B. Rosales Antonio Escobar Juan Montañano (Marcelino Tenorio) Enrique Urcia Ambrosio Urgel Simon Ureta Teodorico Arnigo Regino Vito Jose Bergola Pio Gozo (Alejandro Rosalda)

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Councilor " " " " " "

Florencio Norada Manuel Esmaquel Marcelino Tenorio Simon Rosel

Municipal President Vice-President Mun. Treasurer Secretary

Ladislao Zornosa Francisco Brioso Antonio Escobar Desiderio Espinosa

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Simeon D. Ordoñez Manuel Esmaquel Victor Arcedera Gonzalo Tobias

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Ladislao Zornosa Anastacio Continuado Antonio Escobar Perfecto Dacanay

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Pedro Bravante Martin Noroña Antonio Escobar A. Ramos (Gonzalo Tobias)

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Pio Gozo Gregorio Mondelo Simeon Rosel Gonzalo Tobias

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Julian Limquico Enrique Zornosa Antonio Escobar Gonzalo Tobias

Municipal President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Simeon Ordoñez Martin Rodillas Victor Arcedera Alfredo Albovias

Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Simeon Ordoñez Marcelo Estella Roman Vito Alfredo Albovias

Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Felix Solisa Felipe Mia Roman Vito Alfredo Alvobias

Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Martin Rodillas Jose Vitasa Guillermo Brioso

Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Mun. Secretary

Jose Vitasa Pedro Clarito Guillermo Brioso

Municipal Mayor Mun. Mayor Mun. Treasurer

Crispino Estella Crispin Trovela

Municipal Mayor Municipal Mayor

Felipe Mia Gaudencio Coligado

Municipal Mayor Mun. Treasurer

Pablo Ordoñez Donato Clasicas Pedro Clarito Gaudencio Coligado

Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer

Felipe Mia Roman Vito Pedro Bravante Bernardo Surbano	Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer
(Inocencio Estebal - appointed Vice-Mayor on the death of Felipe Mia.)
Isaias Rodillas Alipio Rovira Perpetuo Urgel Gaudencio Eriga Romualdo Gruezo Juan Rodillas	Councilor " " " " "

Roman Vito Julio Villarante Pedro Bravante Bernardo Surbano Demetrio Ceria Felipe Bravante Policarpio Miranda Valeriano Merestela Jose Conejos Jose Cerez Romualdo Gruezo Arcadio Armenta

Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer Councilor " " " " " "

Don Baldomero Origuel Don Martin Arive Don Jose Bergola Don Pedro Origuel Don Andres Tuviera Don Getulio Vitasa	1887-1894 1895-1896 1897 1898 1901-1910 1911-1915
(Don Andres Tuviere) (Don Pio Gozo) (Don Antonio Escobar)	Auxiliary Justices of the Peace
Don Guillermo Geronimo Don Jose Baduria Don Pablo Cordero Getulio Vitasa	1916 1917 1918 1918-1935
(Antonio Escobar - Auxiliary Justice of the Peace)
Don Santos Mistica Don Bernardo Jucal	1935-1947 1947 to date

Sinforoso Urgel Hilario Gomora Pio Gozo Antonio Carazco Anastacio Continuado Roberto Revilla Raymundo Bermudez Sixto de la Cueva Matias Malabanan Martin Morales Vicente Zoleta	1904 1905-1909 1910 1911-1922 1923 1924-1925 1926 1927-1930 1930-1934 1935-1941 1941-1942
Salvador Monteseña ) Crispino Estella )	1943-1944
Martin Morales	1945 to date

Fray Jose de Fuertollano	1730
Fray Cristobal de Torres ) Fray Francisco Vensano ) Fray Francisco Rossado )	1747
Fray Lorenzo de Santa Maria Fray Alonso de la Purificacion Fray Jose Ezquierdo Fray Francisco de San Bernardo Fray Francisco Garcia Fray Cristobal de Esquibias Fray Santiago de la Cabeza Fray Pedro Muñoz	1749 1750 1751 1756 1762 1763 1764-1765 1766

Fray Juan Morera Fray Antonio de la Concepcion Fray Pedro Muñoz Fray Pascual Bonete y Jose Fray Jose Ezquierdo Fray Juan de Erenas Fray Buenaventura Zalameda Fray Manuel de Jesus Fray Francisco Villegas Fray Juan de Erenas Fray Jose Cortes Fray Francisco Villegas Fray Jayme Assensi Fray Julian de Madrid Fray Jose Cantos Fray Francisco de la Gansa Fray Jose Cantos Fray Julian de Madrid Fray Tomas Romero Fray Andres Villalobos Fray Antonio Moreno Fray Bartolome Pechardo Fray Antonio Matews Fray Jose Demora Fray Antonio Roman Fray Victorino del Moral Fray Maximo Rico Fray Mariano Rodriguez Fray Francisco Ramirez Fray Francisco de Cabaña Fray Pedro Moya Fray Juan Fernandez Fray Pedro Moya Fray Ignacio Antonio Fray Juan Portillo Fray Francisco Calvo Fray Francisco Gonzales Fray Gregorio Gomez Platero Fray Pedro Garcia Gallano Fray Jose Maria del Val Fray Jesus Roman Fray Ignacio Antonio Fray Alberto Ellaga Fray Patricio Calderon Fray Alberto Ellaga Fray Gregorio Alma Fray Aniceto Cordero Fray Vicente Ella Fray Constancio Coronel Fray Anastacio Caparas Fray Jose Cuevas Fray Juan Coronel Fray Cornelio Magmanlac Fray Gualberto la Torre

1767 1768 1769-1770 1771 1772-1774 1775-1776 1776 1777-1778 1779 1780-1781 1782 1783 1784-1756 1787 1788 1789 1790-1792 1793 1794 1794-1816 1817-1822 1823-1832 1833-1834 1835-1838 1839-1848 1849-1853 1854-1864 1865 1866 1867 1867-1871 1872 1873-1878 1879 1879-1881 1882 1883 1884-1892 1893 1894-1896 1897 1898-1911 1911-1912 1912-1914 1915-1935 1936 1936-1938 1939 1940-1942 1943 1943-1944 1945-1946 1946-1950 1951 to date

a. The first church ("tuklong") made of bamboo was constructed by the Spaniards in 1571 on the west bank of the May-it River. The new Christian converts attended Mass in this "tuklong" until 1578, when this church was burned.

b. In 1578, a new church, also of bamboo, was constructed for the enshrinement of the patron saint, "San Gregorio Papa Magno." This church lasted till 1599 when authority was received from the authorities in Spain for the erection of a semi-permanent church to the north of the old site.

c. The new church was constructed in 1606, but was burned in 1619.

d. To replace the last church that was burned, the Spaniards forced the townspeople to work without pay on a new semi-permanent church. This forced labor caused many inhabitants to the nearby towns of Tayabas Province (now Quezon). The church was burned in 1660.

e. A new church of adobe was constructed a little farther from the old site. This old church broke down in 1711.

f. The sixth and last church constructed by the Spaniards, which still stands today, was begun in 1711. Work was supervised by Fr. Jose de Puertollano who was the Franciscan parish priest at the time. It took 19 years to finish this big church and, when completed in 1730, to cost the townspeople TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND MEXICAN DOLLARS ($26,000.00). Because of this huge contribution, the Spanish government issued a decree exempting all the natives from paying tributes or taxes for 4 consecutive years.

The bricks used in this church were made in Majayjay, and women as well as children helped carry them to the site of construction. The mortar used was mixed with water in which leaves of the plant called "puso-puso" were soaked.

This church is considered one of the biggest and strongest in the entire Philippines; it having withstood many typhoons and earthquakes since its erection. The adjoining convent is spacious and

its windows facing north have a commanding view of the Laguna de Bay; the towns of Pagsanjan and Santa Cruz are quite visible from there, and even the distant town of Biñan on exceptionally clear weather.

g. At the intersection of Blumentritt Street and A. del Rosario Street, the Spaniards constructed a "Tribunal," which in 1760 was donated by the government to become an "ermita" for the "Nuestra Señora de la Porteria." The image of the Blessed Virgin displayed in the "ermita" today was painted in Madrid, Spain and brought over by the missionaries in 1759.

h. The Origuel Street was named after DON PEDRO ORIGUEL y OSORIO, who died a hero's death at the battle in Santa Cruz, Laguna on April 10, 1899. Don Pedro held a captain's rank during the revolution, when he was commissioned by General Juan Cailles to command a division of the local revolutionists to fight the Americans, who had landed on the shores of Laguna de Bay. He was standing beside the trenches giving commands to his men when the first salvo of fire from American arms hit and killed him.

i. The adobe stone walls of the church patio which still stands today were constructed in 1810.

j. In 1849, Fray Victorino del Moral ordered the construction of a stone bridge across the northern end of the Olla River. This was accomplished through forced labor, and the natives who came late for work were flogged. These men were hit especially on their buttocks with heavy sticks by the Spanish guards. From this incident was derived the name "Tulay ng Pigui" (meaning bridge of buttocks).

k. The bridges spanning the Olla River (south) and Atilo River were constructed in 1866 and were completed in 1868 when Don Baldomero Origuel was Governadorcillo.

l In the year 1904, when D. Antonio Escobar was municipal president, the municipal council formed the first Rizal Day Committee, which initiated the construction of the first Jose Rizal monument which now stands on Plaza Rizal beside the Roman Catholic Church. The money spent on this project was contributed by the townspeople. The mason who supervised the

job was Doroteo Roqueza

j. Antonio Escobar established the first wine distillery in Majayjay — the "La Aurora" Distillery, A-1-585 — in 1907.

(a) During the Spanish Occupation:

(6) The year 1678 saw the laying of the first stone boundaries ("mojon") in Majayjay.
(7) The year 1755 was the year of the drought.
(8) There was a small pox epidemic in 1761.
(9) In 1782, the local Spanish officials implemented the tobacco monopoly in the municipality. In this same year, a strong typhoon occurred which caused many rivers to change their courses.
(10) During his term of office as Capitan Municipal (1808-1809), Don Enrico Castañeda ordered the cutting down of all coconut trees growing within the poblacion. He also jailed many "cabezas" for tax delinquency.
(11) In 1814, the Mayon Volcano erupted and the air around the locality was filled with volcanic ashes.
(12) Since 1825, the title "Capitan Municipal" was changed to "Gobernadorcillo."
(13) The provincial road to Magdalena was begun in 1834 during the term of Jose Manzana.
(14) Many natives of Majayjay were killed and many others jailed when the Spanish civil guards arrested in the mountains of Tayabas one Manong Pule, who had become an idol of the people. Manong Pule then had thousands of followers in Tayabas (Quezon) and Laguna.
(15) In 1871, of persons of legal age, both males and females, were required to pay the "cedula personal." In the same year, there occurred another epidemic of smallpox which lasted for 5 months, during which 4 or 5 persons who succumbed to the disease were buried daily.
(16) On the night of Friday, October 25, 1873, a strong typhoon passed over the locality which caused the destruction of 700 houses.
(17) The year 1881, during the term of Baldomero Origuel, saw the introduction of titles of ownership of lands, which certificates were signed by the owners and his witnesses, certified by the gobernadorcillo and jues mayor.
(18) Pestilence visited the town in August 1882. The death toll average from 5 to 10 daily.
(19) During the revolution, General Emilio Aguinaldo appointed Guillermo Vito as the municipal president of the local government.

(1) The Americans arrived at Majayjay in 1900 led by Captain Norman, the Provost Marshal assigned to the municipality up to April of

the following year. By virtue of the first municipal code, the military commander appointed the following to run the local government:

Don Ramon Roxas Don Julian Dollosa Don Antonio Escobar Don Francisco P. Ordoño Don Eustaquio Brioso Don Jose Bergola Don Pedro Ordoñez Don Valentin Arive Don Dalmacio Mia Don Teodorico Arnigo Don Jose Colon Don Arcadio Espedido Don Juan B. Rosales

Mun. President Vice-President Mun. Treasurer Secretary Councilor " " " " " " " "

These persons held office until August 1902, when Law No. 82 of the new Municipal Code required the election of all municipal officials.

Pursuant to Article 18, (o) of Law No. 82 of the New Municipal Code, all public officials must distinguish themselves by the following manner:

(2) The assessment of all properties for taxation purposes was started in 1903 pursuant to Article 49 (a), Law No. 82 of the same code. The following composed the Board of Assessors:

Sinforoso Urgel Antonio Escobar Cornelio Loreto Jose Dimayuga

President Treasurer Secretary Delegate

(3) The census was begun on March 2, 1903 with the following persons serving as enumerators:

Sinforoso Urgel Andres Tuviera Pio Gozo

Census, Special Agent Enumerator, Poblacion Enumerator for Barrios Oobi, Malinao, Bala-

Transcribed from:

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