MUNICIPALITY OF MONTALBAN, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 1

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF MONTALBAN

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF BURGOS

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF SAN JOSE

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF SAN RAFAEL

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF SAN ISIDRO

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The official name of the town is Montalban. Montalban was founded in 1871 by Father Eustaquio of Pasig. It was formerly a barrio of San Mateo. Its name before was "Balite," which was derived from a kind of tree bearing the same name. Later on, the name was changed to Montalban, a derivation from the Spanish word "Monte," meaning mountain. Its land area is 27,200 hectares. Before World War II, the population was more than 7,000 people. The present population is 6,851. The town is composed of the barrios of Burgos, San Isidro, San Jose, and San Rafael, besides the town proper or the poblacion.

During the Spanish time, the leading officials from 1871 to the Philippine Revolution were the following:

10. Capitan Basilio Ferrer
11. Capitan Teodoro Manuel
12. Capitan Gonzalo Bautista
13. Capitan Ciriaco Domingo
14. Capitan Gonzalo Bautista
15. Ciriaco Domingo
16. Capitan Victorino Bautista

In 1909, Montalban was separated from San Mateo. The demarcation line was made. This separation was worked out by Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr., when he was

Municipal President of the town. The first president of Montalban during the American time was Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. From 1909 to 1954, the following were the leading officials of the newly-separated town of Montalban.

President Vice-President Justice of the Peace Mun. Treasurer Secretary Chief of Police

Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. Gregorio Bautista Eusebio Manuel Zacarias Concepcion Roberto Angeles Pablo Cabal

Perfecto Sandoval
Teodoro Manuel
Melecio Infante
Victorio Reyes

President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. Laureano Cruz Roberto Angeles Zacarias Concepcion Santiago Inquimboy Elas Adriano

Perfecto Sandoval
Teodoro Manuel
Melecio Infante
Victorio Reyes

President Vice-President Secretary

Eusebio Manuel Roman Reyes Roberto Angeles

Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Simeon Sexon Santiago Inquimboy Roberto Bautista

Juan San Juan
Lucas Angeles
Catalino Ayuson
Narciso San Juan
Melecio Ferrer
Francisco Liamzon

President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Gregorio Bautista Dalmacio Año Roberto Bautista Simeon Sexon Santiago Inquimboy Roberto Bautista

Emilio Bautista
Eusebio Manuel
Pablo Cabal
Narciso San Juan
Francisco Infante
Epifanio Cruz

President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Gregorio Bautista Felix Salen Roberto Angeles Simeon Sexon Santiago Inquimboy Roberto Bautista

Emilio Bautista Pablo Cabal Arsenio Nicolas

Narciso San Juan Lucas Angeles Blas Adriano

President Vice-President Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Jose Rodriguez Guillermo Cruz Roberto Angeles Simeon Sexon Santiago Inquimboy Felipe Escozar

Epifanio Cruz Pablo Cabal Dionisio Cayetano

Francisco Infante Jacinto Bautista Catalino Año

Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Roman Reyes Rosendo Cruz Roberto Angeles Justo Cruz Santiago Inquimboy Doroteo Cruz

Dionisio Manuel Damaso Guevara Deogracias Adriano

Catalino Año Dionisio Cayetano Odon Cueto

Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Jacinto Bautista Rosendo Cruz Matias Reyes Justo Cruz Santiago Inquimboy Doroteo Cruz

Narciso San Juan Pablo Cabal Arsenio Nicolas

Gregorio Salvador Miss Roqueza Ocampo Angel Salvador

Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Francisco Rodriguez Federico San Juan Pablo Cruz Justo Cruz Maximino San Diego Doroteo Cruz

Moises San Juan Narciso San Juan Fernando Roxas

Gregorio Salvador Arsenio Nicolas Eusebio Manuel

Mayor Francisco Rodriguez served until 1942 — the Japanese occupation. Vice-Mayor Federico San Juan acted as Mayor but died in 1944. After his death, the town was managed under the leadership of Mr. Felix Salen, assisted by Mr. Rosendo Cruz until February 11, 1945, when all the people evacuated to different places. From February 12 to April 11, the town was not inhabited. It was totally burned. No buildings or houses could be seen. It was on April 12, 1945 when the town was liberated. The mayors who acted were appointed by the President of the Commonwealth Government who was then Sergio Osmeña. Those appointed were the following:

Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Gavino Cruz Teodoro Rodriguez Blas Adriano Daniel Paz Marianito Cruz Arsenio San Pascual

Rosendo Cruz Dionisio Manuel Arsenio Nicolas

Tomas Cruz Jose Torres Severino Garcia

In October 1945, Francisco Rodriguez resumed office. In 1946, after the Presidential Election, Mr. Catalino Bautista was appointed Mayor in place of Francisco Rodriguez. He served for 8 months and took his leave of absence. Macario Bautista then acted as Mayor until the election of 1947 took place and another mayor was elected. The elected mayors later were:

Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Benigno Liamzon Guillermo Cruz Pablo Cruz Magno Sioson David Libongco Doroteo Cruz

Matias Cruz Ismael Cayetano Eusebio Santos

Arsenio Nicolas Delfin Valdez Gregorio Santos

Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Mun. Treasurer	Benigno Liamzon Augusto Tolentino Jose Ramos Pedro Tolentino Victoriano R. Rustia
Justice of the Peace Chief of Police	David Libongco Doroteo Cruz

Julian Ramos Matias Cruz

Damaso Halili Gavino Cayetano

Eutiquio Cruz

Eufronio Santos

The following municipal treasurers have been assigned in this municipality since liberation in 1946:

1. Mr. Daniel E. Paz - Mun. Treas. from May 1, 1945
2. Mr. Ceferino Sta. Ana - Mun. Treas. from Jan. 1946 - March 1, 1947
3. Mr. Cipriano Santiago - From April 1, 1947 to Aug. 1947
4. Mr. Casimiro S. Santos - From Sept. 1947 to Dec. 1947
5. Mrs. F. G. Bellin - January 1948 to March 15, 1948
6. Mr. Magno P. Sioson - From April 1948 to March 16, 1949
7. Mr. Pedro Tolentino - From March 17, 1949 to Nov. 24, 1952
8. Mr. Pedro Carlos - Acting Treasurer - From Nov. 25, 1952 to Dec. 15, 1952
9. Mr. Victoriano R. Rustia - From December 16, 1952 to date

The first chapel in the community called "Pasong Visita" was erected in 1871 on the land of Pantaleon Cruz. At present, the ruins can still be seen. This was when Montalban was known as Barrio Balite. The curate at that time was Fr. Eustaquio of Pasig.

Later, the place was transferred to the place where our cemetery is located now. The land was donated by Candido Domingo and Alejandro Cruz. It was said that their first earnings were donated to the church. The church was with large pillars and the roof was of cogon. The chuch was constructed in the place accidentally burned. Another church was constructed in the place where the present church now stands. Fr. Ruperto was then the curate. During the revolution of 1898, it was made into a fort. It was surrounded with strong walls. This church was destroyed during the revolution. The church which was burned during World War II was constructed the early

part of the American occupation. It was burned at the time when most of the houses of the town were burned. After World War II, the town was without a church or a priest. When one was assigned, a church was erected. Little by little, the construction was made as we see it today.

a. During the Spanish time, the children were taught the Caton and the Cartilla. Corporal punishment was inflicted on the children who could not learn easily. The first school after the revolution during the American time was the grade school in "Pasong Visita." This school was then transferred to the present site of the market. In June 1922, the first Grade IV class was opened through voluntary donations. It was constructed during the presidency of Mr. Gregorio Bautista. The following year, the succeeding grade was opened. Then principal teacher then was Mr. Cayetano Mendoza of Marikina. The government erected a school building on its present site on November 26, 1926, still under the incumbency of President G. Bautista. This school building has been improved since then, but was burned on February 6, 1945. It was during that time when fierce fighting between the American liberation forces and guerrillas against the Japanese took place. After liberation, classes were held in rented buildings. In 1949, with the aid of the United States-Philippines War Damage Commission, the present school buildings were erected.

b. In 1896, just after the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal at Bagumbayan, Licero Geronimo, generally known by town folks as General Sergio, Simplicio Inocentes, Gregorio Cruz, Martin Cruz, a certain Lazaro, and others went to Cabanatuan to join the Katipunan. In the journey, they did not come back with the group. The Katipuneros came back, reorganized again and established their headquarters at Puray.

During the latter part of 1896, Cipriano Reyes, a non-combatant, was kidnapped and later killed due to the hatred of the towns-

people on suspicion that he was helping the Spaniards. Feliciano Baltazar was killed by the Katipuneros on his way to their headquarters. In the early part of 1897, Victoriano Bautista, the last capitan of Montalban, together with Hilario Cruz, were banished to Guam by the Spaniards on suspicion of being Katipuneros. During those days, Masons frequented the home of Hilario Cruz, and that gave the Spaniards grounds for suspicion.

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