MUNICIPALITY OF BARAS, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 2

Vice Alkalde Councilors

Luis Alvarez Romualdo Mediavillo Simeon Dilidili Simeon Jota Geronimo Castañeda

By 1901, a meeting was held at the Pasig Catholic Church by all delegates of the towns in this province for the purpose of renaming it. At that meeting, which was attended by the Hon. W. H. Taft, Commissioner Ide, Wright, and Moses, the town of Baras did not send its delegate for financial reasons, which was caused by the maladministration of its then president. In the meeting, it was agreed that the province of Morong was to be named after our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

By March 1902, Pedro Planco took the helm of the municipal government in Baras, with a slight change in the municipal council force. The term of Mr. Pedro Planco as Alcalde Municipal was terminated with the enactment of Act 942 by the Philippine Commission, in accordance with its policy of economy and centralization. This act so provided for the consolidation of the municipalities of Morong, Binangonan, Cardona, and Baras into one municipal district with Morong as its capital. This consolidation took effect in the early months of 1903.

From 1903 to 1906, Baras was made a barrio of Morong. The representatives to the Municipal Council of Morong were Mr. Leopoldo B. Digma and Mr. Gaudencio Mediavillo. Under Morong, the progress of this town was neglected by the municipal officials of the central government. Funds were not provided for the improvement of public places and for school purposes. This caused resentment and the discontentment of the people, so Mr. leopoldo Digma brought the case to the Provincial Governor, Hon. ___________, asking for the immediate separation of Baras from Morong.

On May 1, 1905, two notorious bandits, Bakal and Cervantes, rose again to depredate the town. The first, however, was killed in Baras in the morning of this date, and the latter was killed in Tanay at a latter date.

Mr. Leopoldo Digma continued his work against the ill practices of the central government in Morong, so on January 16, 1906

Baras was annexed to Tanay as a barrio by Act No. 1442. A special election was held and the following were elected councilors:

1. Mr. Simeon Dilidili 2. Mr. Francisco Robles 3. Mr. Gaudencio Mediavillo 4. Mr. Leopoldo Digma

Councilor " " "

Their terms of office began on April 8, 1906 and terminated on January 4, 1908. The Municipal President of Tanay then was Mr. Pedro Tanjuatco.

The town was divided in District No. 8 & 9, purposely for efficiency in administration. The barrio lieutenants appointed during that time were — for District No. 8, Mr. Julian Velasco; Mr. Tomas Cruzado; Mr. Tomas Torres; for District No. 9, the following were the barrio lieutenants: Mr. Geronimo Castañeda; Mr. Feliciano Fullante; Mr. Maximo Pilapil; Mr. Mateo Bigasin; and Mr. Ciricaco Pilapil.

During the 1908 election, two councilors from Baras were elected and became members of the Municipal Council of Tanay. They were Mr. Mariano Cabandong and Mr. Tomas Cruzada. This was during the time of Mr. Domingo Capistrano, the president-elect of Tanay.

The barrio lieutenants then were: For District No. 8 - Mr. Ildefonso Tesoro; Mr. Mateo Bigasin; Mr. Julian Velasco; Mr. Anselmo Teston; Mr. Lucio Catuan; Mr. H. Gimenez; and Mr. Leocadio de Torres. For District No. 9, the following were the barrio lieutenants: Mr. Nicolas Dilidili; Mr. Antero Campo; and Mr. Feliciano Fullante.

On September 15, 1909, Mr. Leopoldo Digma was elected vice-president of the Municipality of Tanay. His term lasted to October 15, 1912. On one occasion, he was replaced by Mr. Simeon Dilidili for some time.

During the election of 1912, not one councilor came from Baras. All the councilors were from Tanay. This may be attributed

to some maneuvers of the political party in Tanay. The results of this election were a great blow upon the integrity of Baras as a barrio. Once more, the fire of the desire for independence was fanned by that very instant.

In the election of October 1916, Simeon Benaña was elected Municipal President of Tanay. One councilor was elected from Baras, Mr. Mariano Vallestero. The two districts in Baras were placed under the following barrio lieutenants: No. 7 - Mr. Monico Ongciongco, Mr. Felix Boloran, Mr. Romualdo Mediavillo; For No. 8 - Mr. Ciriaco Fererra, Mr. Arcadio Ligoy, and Mr. Feliciano Fullante.

On November 30^th, the same year the school building, which housed the primary classes of Baras and the property of the church, was formally and official transferred in the name of the Municipality of Tanay, as per request of the Council on May 15, 1917.

The teachers in this school were:

1. Miss Flaviana Ferrer
2. Mr. Alvino Matamis
3. Mr. Sotero Ferrera and others whose names could not be located.

As per Census of 1918, the people of Baras numbered 11,604.

Ever since Baras was annexed as a Barrio of Morong in 1903, and then transferred to Tanay in 1906, under the same category, the desire for independence had been remarkably manifested not only among the leaders but also among the masses.

The unsatisfactory dealings shown by the people of Morong and Tanay, especially the members of the municipal council, created such discontent that the leaders could not but ask for separation. The financial problems and the political situations, however, served as obstructions to the realization of the movement. With such exigencies, the desire for independence died out but flared up again in 1916 when the Municipality of Tanay did not appropriate a sufficient amount for public improvement, and then not even a councilor from Baras was elected for office.

Under the leadership of one Leopoldo B. Digma, Luis Alvarez, and other prominent persons, the claim for independence was once again carried on. Through these persons, a petition was made to the provincial governor asking for immediate separation from the Municipality of Tanay for reasons of stability of the town and its ability to rule its own people.

Representation was made with the then Provincial Governor, Hon. Mariano Melendres, from Tanay, but the petition was not granted. In the early months of 1920, Mr. Leopoldo B. Digma, Mr. Luis Alvarez, and Mr. Simeon Dilidili, with other prominent residents of the municipality, made representation once more with the then Provincial Governor, the Hon. Andres Gabriel. Getting no result from the governor, the petitioners went to the Hon. Teodoro Kalaw, then Secretary of Justice, for his help on this matter. During their sojourn for independence, these people sacrificed their own pockets for all the expenses that the petition entailed. At one time, Mr. Leopoldo Digma went to the extent of seeking the help of one of his friends, Mr. Exequiel Ampil, from Cainta, a friend of the late

President Quezon, on the matter.

The elected officials of the 1921 special election were as follows:

Mr. Mariano Vallestero Mr. Leopoldo Digma Mr. Monico Ongciangco Mr. Francisco Robles Mr. Eliseo Matignas Mr. Alejo San Juan

Municipal President Vice President (having obtained the second highest vote) Councilor do do do

Mr. Maximo Pilapil Mr. Faustino Golpeo Mr. Simeon Jota Mr. Melchor Olanio

Councilor do do do

Under the administration of Mr. Mariano Vallestero, the following was the marked accomplishment:

1. Creation of the Calle Trabajo on the eastern side of the town and the institution of general improvement on school buildings and public places.

In the election of the 1922, Mr. Adriano P. Fererra was elected Municipal President. The following formed the Municipal Council:

Mr. Adriano P. Ferrera Mr. Eliseo Matignas Mr. Jose Solano Mr. Alejo San Juan Mr. Antonio Robles Mr. Melanio Geronimo Mr. Raymundo Robles Mr. Victoriano Gimenez Mr. Beato Cabandong Mr. Feliciano Fullante Mr. Mr. Eulogio Sexon (Mun. Treasurer)

Municipal President Vice President Councilor do do do do do do do Secretary

On the day the new council assumed office, it was faced with multifarious problems, both social and financial. Among these problems that confronted them were: (1) The alleged charges of the Municipality of Tanay that Baras was indebted to it to the amount of ₱1,168.78. (2) Another was the crumbling and dilapidated condition of the municipal building and the increasing enrollment of the school children which needed additional school buildings for their accommodation. The crumbling old municipal building needed reconstruction on a bigger and better site.

Through the initiative and efforts of the President and his council, and the unselfish support of the townspeople, the problems were almost solved during the first term of their offices. A new site for the new municipal building was obtained through purchase and donation from the townspeople. An aid to the amount of ₱500.00 from the provincial fund was obtained for the construction of the new municipal hall.

The council was also able to enlarge and repair the old Spanish school building. An additional school ground was obtained from the church land adjacent to the school, through purchase. An artesian well was drilled in the barrio of San Jose, at Katwiran Street. Side by side with the procurement of grounds for the school, a site for the public market was secured.

However, only the ₱2,168.78 alleged municipal indebtedness with Tanay remained unsolved. This indebtedness to Tanay was based on the charge that this amount was (1) a part of the donation of the people of Tanay for the construction of the school building at Guha, (2) not a single centavo was in the coffer of Baras when it was annexed to Tanay as a barrio.

The municipal president contested these charges, and the matter was brought to the office of Governor General Harrison on January 2, 1924. The governor-general decided that Baras would have to pay such indebtedness as there was an existing law to that effect. Mr. Ferrera, not contented with the decision, appealed the case, and almost three months later, the decision of the governor-general was changed and decided in favor of Baras. Thus, the commitment of Mr. Ferrera that as long as he (Ferrera) and Simeon Bendaña of Tanay were living, he would never pay a single centavo of the alleged indebtedness of this municipality.

In the election of June 1925, Mr. Adriano Ferrera was re-elected with an overwhelming majority. The members of the Municipal Council then were as follows:

Mr. Adriano P. Ferrera Mr. Pedro Evangelista Mr. Victoriano Gimenez Mr. Arsenio Alvarez Mr. Antonio Robles Mr. Simeon Jota Mr. Romualdo Mediavillo Mr. Victor Pilapil Mr. Apolinario Castañeda Mr. Gregorio Cabandong Mr. Eulogio Sexon (Mun. Treas.)

President Vice President Councilor do do do do do do do Secretary

During the second term of his presidency, Mr. Adriano Ferrera saw to it that the school problem of additional rooms was solved. He approached the then-representative of the Second District of

of Rizal, the Hon. Luis Santiago, and sought his help for the appropriation of certain amounts for the construction of a school building in Baras. He succeeded, and a two-room school building was constructed. In addition to this, he made representations with the townspeople for the purchase of additional ground for the increasing size of the school children. At the end of the second term, he again was able to get a share of the pork barrel fund in the amount of ₱4,600.00 for the construction of 2 additional rooms.

In the election of June 1928, Mr. Ferrera ran again for his thir term and again won by a great majority. His municipal council then were as follows:

Mr. Adriano P. Ferrera Mr. Simeon Dilidili Mr. Maximo Llagas Mr. Simeon Amonelo Mr. Beato Cabandong Mr. Sebastian Robles Mr. E. Sexon (Mun. Treas.)

President Vice President Councilor do do do Secretary

In his third term, the different municipalities of Rizal and other municipalities in the Philippines were classified, and the number of councilors was then based on each town's classification. The town of Baras was considered fifth class as the income then was below the ₱4,000.00 limit. Being a fifth class municipality, the number of councilors was reduced to four. The amount of more than ₱4,600.00 which was allotted for the construction of the school building came, and the additional rooms were built. Thus, under the administration of Mr. Ferrera, great material improvement was accomplished in the town. The boundary disputes between Tanay and Baras as well as between Baras and Morong were settled, and the "bosque communal" was well-administered.

In the election of 1931, Mr. Leopoldo B. Digma came out after his successive defeats. The municipal council then was as follows:

Mr. Leopoldo B. Digma

President

Mr. Beato Cabandong Mr. Maximo Llagas Mr. Timoteo Rio Mr. Hilarion Constantino Mr. E. Catmunan

Vice President Councilor do do Mun. Secretary

Under the administration of Mr. Digma, improvements were made on the streets and other places of the town. Mention can be made about the purchase of the market lot for ₱130.00 from the people of Baras. The market lot is the present lot of the public market.

In the election of June 1934, Mr. Andres de Torres came out as the president of the town. The council was as follows:

Mr. Andres de Torres Mr. Andres Bigasin Mr. Norberto Robles Mr. Angeles Pilapil Mr. Hugo Fullante Mr. Benedicto Gimenez Mr. E. M. Catmunan

President Vice President Councilor do do do Mun. Secretary

Under the administration of Mr. Andres de Torres, great interest was placed on public improvement. Mr. de Torres rehabilitated the municipal building by repairing its windows and instituting the construction of an asbestos ceiling. He also sought a loan from the Industrial Bank to the amount of no less than ₱1,000.00, of which amount he caused the painting of the municipal building, remodelling, and other improvements thereto. He had the municipal artesian wells repaired.

In the election of December 14, 1937, the following persons came out victorious:

Mr. Norberto Robles Mr. Arsenio Alvarez Mr. Cesario Fernandez Mr. Marcos Matignas Mr. Alverico Digma Mr. Pedro San Jose Mr. E. M. Catmunan

President Vice President Councilor do do do Mun. Secretary

Under the administration of Mayor Robles, several improvements were instituted. Among the improvement measures taken up in his administration were the following:

1. Opening of the Grade VI class in Baras.
2. Acquisition of 1 hectare of land for the barrio school site at Pinugay.
3. Acquisition of ₱2,000.00 for an additional room of the Baras Elementary School.
4. Acquisition of ₱2,000.00 for a school room at Pinug-ay as a barrio school.
5. Acquisition of ₱7,000.00 for the construction of an irrigation dam.

Mayor Robles took the initiative in opening the Grade VI class of Baras Elementary School. At this point, additional appropriations for the salary of one teacher and other miscellaneous expenses of the school were taken into consideration. Before his term expired, the Grade VI class was established in the town.

Being a friend of Alfonso de Brunner, the haciendero of Pinug-ay, Mayor Robles solicited from this old man a hectare of land of the Hacienda of Pinugay, on which a school house for the children of his tenants, then numbering around 170 people, would be built. His efforts did not fail him. He was granted and, immediately with the aid of Assemblyman de la Paz and the senators from Rizal, he was able to obtain ₱2,000.00 for the construction of a barrio school at Pinugay. The school was constructed in 1940, before his term expired. Side by side with the school pork barrel fund, Mr. Robles was able to obtain another ₱2,000.00 for an additional room for the central school and ₱7,000.00 for the irrigation project which, according to him, was his pet. Besides these great achievements in public improvements, his inexhaustible energy did not give a single day pass without doing something good for the municipality. He tried every bit in his power to balance the finances of the municipal government, which he was able to do before his term expired. He also made material improvements in the town streets as well as on the health side of the people.

The irrigation project, which was built during his administration, is now being used to advantage by the farmers of Baras. All these things were accomplished by him, of course, through the help of the members of the Municipal Council and of the towns-

people. Mention must be made of the cooperation with the Provincial Governor and the assemblyman, as well as the senators, for the Province of Rizal.

In the election of 1940, December, the following persons were elected as municipal officials:

Mr. Victoriano G. Gimenez Mr. Cesario Fernandez Mr. Lucio Catuan Miss Leonida Mediavillo Mr. Andres de Torres Mr. Eleodoro Oracion Mr. Alejo D. Digma

Mayor Vice Mayor Councilor do do do Mun. Secretary

In the early part of Mayor Gimenez's administration, he paid great attention to the health of the people. He instituted orders for building toilets and he issued decrees through the Sanitary Inspectors about stray animals roaming around the town. Relative to his program on health and sanitation, he planned for the construction of a public dispensary as the room in the municipal building was too small to accommodate the townspeople seeking medical attendance. He used his influence in securing from Assemblyman de la Paz the amount of ₱2,000.00 for the construction of said dispensary. After having been assured of his share of the pork barrel fund in spite of the impending emergency at that time, he immediately worked on securing a site for the said dispensary. He did not fail, and he was able to secure a site in front of the school building of this municipality.

In November 1941, due to the impending peril of war, and conforming with the order of the Provincial Governor, E. Rodriguez, Jr., the C. E. A. (Civilian Emergency Administration) was established in the locality, the purpose of which was to help the civilian population in case war should come.

The war broke out on December 8, 1941, and Mayor Gimenez was faced with multifarious and difficult tasks ahead. On January 1, 1942, the bridge of the town was blown away by the American forces purposely to delay Japanese war operations.

Transcribed from:

Historical Data of the Municipality of Baras, Province of Rizal, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.