MUNICIPALITY OF JALAJALA, RIZAL, Historical Data of
[Cover page]
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF
JALAJALA
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OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF JALAJALA
1. Present official name of the town: Jalajala.
2. Former name of the town and its meaningor derivation: Jalajala.
The genesis of the name Jalajala starts from a very interesting legend. In the olden days when Jalajala was still unknown and uninhabited, Punta, at present a barrio, was the seat of her early civilization. During the summer months of April and May, the shore along Punta was a sight studded with varieties of white shells locally known as "halaan." It is a source of wonder why Punta, being a freshwater lake, about with shells from salty water. One day, during summer, a Spanish couple from Los Baños came riding in a row boat with Filipino bankeros anchored in Punta. There were several natives taking a bath. Upon landing, the Spaniard asked those nearby in his native language — "Como se llama este sitio?" — pointing at the shore. The natives, ignorant of the real query, thought that the strangers were asking for the name of the white shells along the shore. They said, "Halaan po." The Spaniard, thinking that it was the right answer to his interrogatino, began calling the place Halaan, until finally, up to the present time, it became known as Jalajala.
3. Date of establishment: 1876.
4. Name and social status of the founders:
Don Julio Dollar. He was a rich and powerful Spaniard. Still others claim that in 1820, Paul dela Garneiro, a young French surgeon who came to the islands in 1819, married a 19-year old Spanish widow, the Marquese de las Salinas. After resigning as Surgeon-Major of the 1st Light Regiment of the Spanish Militia, he bought the Jalajala Estate, consisting of 5,000 hectares. He started a village, built a church and a beautiful residence. He won the prize of ₱12,000 from the Spanish government for being the first to raise 6,000 coffee plants in the islands. He was honored as Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. When his wife died, he left the islands after a stay of 20 years. According to Cavada, the town was established in 1823.
5. Names of persons who held leading official positions in the community, with the dates of their tenures, if possible:
| I. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente Absoluto |
Don Gabino Belleza Pablo Cruz | 1876-1877 |
| II. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente About |
Don Blas Bellin Benigno Castañeda | 1877-1879 |
| III. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente Absoluto |
Don Isidro Villeoz Ubaldo Villarojax | 1879-1880 |
| IV. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente Absoluto |
Don Ponciano Perez Jose Miranda | 1880-1882 |
| V. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente Absoluto |
Don Juan Villaran Pedro Matienzo | 1882-1883 |
| VI. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente Absoluto |
Don Placido Belleza Ignacio Villaran | 1883-1884 |
| VII. |
Capitan Municipal Teniente Absoluto |
Don Rosendo Belleza Emiliano Netario | 1884-1888 |
(SHORT-LIVED PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC)
| 1. |
Presidente Municipal Vice-President Consejales Municipal |
Rosendo Belleza Juan Villaran Ponciano Perez Isidro Villeoz | 1889 |
(ANNEXED TO PILILLA AS A BARRIO - 1902)
| Councilor: |
Cipriano Pillas Ciriaco Villaran Simeon Perez |
1902-1903 1903-1905 1905-1908 |
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RESTORED AS AN INDEPENDENT MUNICIPALITY
| I. |
President Vice-President Councilors |
Simeon Perez Cipriano Pillas Guillermo Belleza Meliton Villaran Juan Estrella Baldomero Guinto | 1908-1912 |
| II. |
President Vice-President Councilors Justice of the Peace Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Ciriaco Villaran Luis Peregrina Ciriaco Bellido Esteban Matienzo Gabriel Libato Crispo Olivero Simeon Perez Esteban Sta. Maria Joaquin Dizon | 1912-1916 |
| III. |
President Vice-President Justice of the Peace Councilors Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Miguel dela Vega Severino Perez Teodoro Villaran Gregorio Perez Bernardo Gellido Sebastian Bellin Segundo Villarojas Pio Villaran Tomas Pillas Santiago Castro Teodoro Pablo | 1916-1920 |
| IV. |
President Vice-President Justice of the Peace Councilors |
Miguel dela Vega Miguel Perez Ricardo Matawaran Tomas Perez Anselmo Bellin Pablo Belleza Pio Villaran Bernardo Gellido Tomas Pillas | 1920-1924 |
| V. |
President Vice-President Justice of the Peace Councilors Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Tomas Rodriguez Toribio Olivero Felix Sta. Ana Luis Peregrina Basilio Bernabe Paulino Nimeno Luis Bernabe Segundo Pillas Juan Guinto Alejandro Bellin Patricio Curimao | 1924-1928 |
| VI. |
President Vice-President Justice of the Peace Councilors Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Domingo Masikip Alejandro Perez Potenciano Cecilio Eugenio Castañeda Jose Estrellado Agapito de Guzman Gregorio Perez Tomas Pillas Salbino Miranda Celestino Santiago Zosimo Mariano | 1928-1932 |
| VII. |
President Vice-President Justice of the Peace |
Domingo Masikip Demetro Belleza Procopio Buenaventura | 1932-1936 |
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|
Councilors Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Pio Villaran Tomas Pillas Bernardo Gellido Gregorio Perez Paulino Nimeno Irineo Matienzo German Capistrano Pedro Pillas | ||
| VIII. |
President Vice-President Justice of the Peace Councilors Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Gregorio de Borja Gerardo Miranda Mamerto Tongkingco Eugenio Castañeda Pedro Nitario Bernardo Gellido Briccio Matienzo Segundo Pillas Eulogio Olivero Celestino Santiago Pedro Pillas | 1936-1940 |
| IX. |
President Vice-President |
Gregorio de Borja Hillarion Belleza | 1940-1941 |
(JAPANESE OCCUPATION)
|
Municipal Mayor Municipal Treasurer Municipal Treasurer Municipal Treasurer |
Hilarion Belleza Daniel Paz Ignacio Aprecio Eduardo Francisco |
1941-1942 1942-1943 1943-1944 1944-1945 |
(LIBERATION)
|
Appointed Municipal Mayor Resumed Term as Municipal Mayor Continued the Term Councilors Justice of the Peace Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Maximo Bellin Gregorio de Borja Carlos dela Vega Carlos dela Vega Briccio Matienzo Venancio Mariano Tomas Balajadia Maximo San Diego Pastor Nimeno Pedro Pillas | 1946-1947 | |
| X. |
Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Justice of the Peace Councilors Municipal Treasurer Chief of Police |
Carlos dela Vega Eulogio Olivero Eulogio Cervantes Floro Libato Juan delos Santos Irineo Matienzo Ignacio Patag Celestino Santiago Pedro Minebe | 1947-1951 |
| XI. |
Municipal Mayor Vice-Mayor Justice of the Peace Municipal Treasurer Councilors Charity Physician Sanitary Inspector Chief of Police Police No. 1 Police No. 2 Police No. 3 |
Juan delos Santos Venancio Mariano Eulogio Cervantes Celestino Santiago Floro Libato Felipe Terrado Julian Panguito Alfredo Perez Dr. Cesar L. Asuncion Zosimo Mariano Dominador Datiles Proceso Bernabe Juanito Medina Eligio Estrellado | 1952-1954 |
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6. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.:
(a) Punta was the old town site.
(b) Moved to the present site due to the influence of the rich and powerful Spaniard in 1876, Don Julio Dollar.
(c) Located presently on the slopes of hills and mountains in the east and Laguna de Bay in the west. It is a peninsula.
(d) Buildings long ago were small and made of light materials like cogon, bamboo, and sawali. There was one building which was a virtual landmark in the vicinity. That was the mansion of the estate owner, which was made of concrete. The ruins of the said building still stands today on the shores of Laguna de Bay in this town.
(b) Moved to the present site due to the influence of the rich and powerful Spaniard in 1876, Don Julio Dollar.
(c) Located presently on the slopes of hills and mountains in the east and Laguna de Bay in the west. It is a peninsula.
(d) Buildings long ago were small and made of light materials like cogon, bamboo, and sawali. There was one building which was a virtual landmark in the vicinity. That was the mansion of the estate owner, which was made of concrete. The ruins of the said building still stands today on the shores of Laguna de Bay in this town.
7. Important facts, incidents, or events that took place.
(1) During the Spanish Regime:
(a) The town was created by Don Julio Dollar a rich haciendero in 1876.
(b) There was a harmonious and cooperative spirit existing between the haciendero and the tenants, thus, production was high.
(c) Many guardia civiles were killed by the "tulisanes."
(d) Don Pedro, the successor of Don Julio, committed suicide by shooting himself.
' (e) The insurrectos burned the big house of the haciendero Don Zosimo, predecessor of Don Pedro. The ruins still stand up to the present time.
(f) Epidemics often occurred and many people died.
(g) There was only one religion since then up to the present time, the Catholic religion.
(2) During the American Occupation up to World War II:
(b) There was a harmonious and cooperative spirit existing between the haciendero and the tenants, thus, production was high.
(c) Many guardia civiles were killed by the "tulisanes."
(d) Don Pedro, the successor of Don Julio, committed suicide by shooting himself.
' (e) The insurrectos burned the big house of the haciendero Don Zosimo, predecessor of Don Pedro. The ruins still stand up to the present time.
(f) Epidemics often occurred and many people died.
(g) There was only one religion since then up to the present time, the Catholic religion.
(a) Education was greatly improved under the American regime.
(b) Schools opened with bright primary pupils as teachers at the beginning in 1903.
(c) Land troubles occurred between the haciendero and the tenants in 1927. These tenants called themselves the confederates. These tenants or confederates moved to a new site between the boundary of Pililla and Jalajala. They formed the new barrio of "Malaya." The confederates, natives of Jalajala, were the nucleus of the present barrio of Malaya. On the other hand, Jalajala suffered a great decrease in population.
(3) During and after World War II:
(b) Schools opened with bright primary pupils as teachers at the beginning in 1903.
(c) Land troubles occurred between the haciendero and the tenants in 1927. These tenants called themselves the confederates. These tenants or confederates moved to a new site between the boundary of Pililla and Jalajala. They formed the new barrio of "Malaya." The confederates, natives of Jalajala, were the nucleus of the present barrio of Malaya. On the other hand, Jalajala suffered a great decrease in population.
(a) People lacked food and clothing. They ate banans, corn, cassava, camote, and forest products such as mayakban and nami. People wore rugged clothes and sacks.
(b) The inhabitants supplied food, clothes, and medicines to the guerrillas in the mountains.
(c) The Japanese commandeered food from the civilian populace.
(d) In August of 1943, five Japanese soldiers were ambushed and killed in Llano by the guerrillas, and three at Sipsipin.
(e) On August 1, 1943, the town was zonified by the Japanese soldiers. The male citizens suffered so much inhuman brutalities at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Gregorio Seña was killed by the Japanese soldiers in Bagumbong. Fifteen male citizens, including Messrs. Maximo Bellin, Briccio Matienzo, Senen de Borja, Isidro Bellido, and the rest suffered a lot at the hands of the Japanese when they were interned at the Sta. Cruz, Laguna garrison.
(f) The town became the evacuation center of the people from Teresa, Morong, Baras, Tanay, and Pililla during the battle for liberation of these municipalities.
(g) The town was liberated on January 23, 1945.
(b) The inhabitants supplied food, clothes, and medicines to the guerrillas in the mountains.
(c) The Japanese commandeered food from the civilian populace.
(d) In August of 1943, five Japanese soldiers were ambushed and killed in Llano by the guerrillas, and three at Sipsipin.
(e) On August 1, 1943, the town was zonified by the Japanese soldiers. The male citizens suffered so much inhuman brutalities at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Gregorio Seña was killed by the Japanese soldiers in Bagumbong. Fifteen male citizens, including Messrs. Maximo Bellin, Briccio Matienzo, Senen de Borja, Isidro Bellido, and the rest suffered a lot at the hands of the Japanese when they were interned at the Sta. Cruz, Laguna garrison.
(f) The town became the evacuation center of the people from Teresa, Morong, Baras, Tanay, and Pililla during the battle for liberation of these municipalities.
(g) The town was liberated on January 23, 1945.
Transcribed from:
Historical Data of the Municipality of Jalajala, Province of Rizal, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.