MUNICIPALITY (NOW CITY) OF SAN JUAN DEL MONTE, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 1

BRIEF HISTORY
OF
SAN JUAN DEL MONTE
RIZAL

BY

DR. SANTIAGO ARTIAGA
Civil Engineer
P. Adm. Dr. (Honoris Causa,
University of Michigan)

1020 B - Taft Ave., Manila
June 6, 1951

I have the honor to submit the enclosed history of San Juan del Monte, Rizal, in compliance with the content of your letter of April 1950.

Permit me to dedicate the history to the incumbent Hon. Municipal Officers of San Juan del Monte. I shall feel deeply honored if, despite the modest value of the work, the same be favored with acceptance.

The history is presented to you with a foreword by Dr. Jose P. Bantug, the internationally known scholar, antiquarian and historian. The foreword has given value to the work and for which the author is profoundly indebted.

The last paragraph of the history is quoted herein: "the writer wishes most vehemently to express his gratitude to the Municipal Officers of San Juan del Monte who supported and encouraged his work as well as for the confidence showered on him, and most especially for the spiritual joy experienced by him in wading and plunging into the attractive subject, the history of San Juan del Monte, his beloved birthplace."

Respectfully,
Santiago Artiaga

F O R E W O R D
by
DR. JOSE P. BANTUG
- - - -

DR. SANTIAGO ARTIAGA
SCIENTIST AND HISTORIAN

I have always an admiration for Dr. Santiago Ariaga. His brilliant career as a student and professional is one of which any man can be proud. Selected as one of the two pensionados to the United States of the Club International de Manila, he came back in 1904 as a full-pledged civil engineer, the first of a series of brilliant men who have chosen engineering as their life career. Irked by the postergation in the government service to which professional men were relegated in the early days of the American occupation, Artiaga, with the brilliant Magsaysay, later to become Manager of the Metropolitan Water District, started a fight that knew no quarters until the Filipino technical man won recognition from the authorities and, from then on, deserving men were appointed to responsible positions in the government. With Magsaysay also, Artiaga fought brilliantly and long for the enactment of a law which eliminated the intruders from the profession of engineering.

Artiaga long held the position of city engineer of the City of Manila, and at various times acted as City Mayor, where he displayed his rare ability in handling men and affairs that, at last, his alma mater, the University of Michigan, in recognition of his work and ability as an

administrator, conferred upon him, only last year, the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Administrator, honoris causa. He was also decorated by the Spanish government for the splendid service to the crew and officers of the Blas de Laso that visited our city some years before the last war. Dr. Artiaga is Dean Emeritus of the College of Engineering, University of Sto. Tomas. At the 1951 Commencement Exercises, Sto. Tomas awarded him a gold medal as the most outstanding living alumnus of the year.

the last war destroyed them forever. Dr. Artiaga is also an authority on the early days of the Philippine Revolution, having been a witness or actor in some of the important events. Dr. Artiaga should be encouraged to publish his memoirs as he does now with the Brief History of San Juan del Monte.

(Sgd.)

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MUNI-
CIPAL COUNCIL OF SAN JUAN, PROVINCE OF RIZAL, HELD
IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON JUNE 14, 1951

MR. ENGRACIO E. SANTOS MR. LUIS ARTIAGA ATTY. CONSTANCIO ARBORNOZ ATTY. EUGENIO A. MACLANG MR. IGNACIO E. JOSE MR. CATALINO TINIO MR. BERNARDO S. ANGELES MR. URBANO REYES MR JOSE V. SEIJO

Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor

ABSENT:

The Mayor introduced to the Council Dr. Santiago Artiaga who, previously, expressed his desire to present personally to the Honorable Body his manuscript on the history of San Juan del Monte.

After the introduction, Dr. Artiaga took the floor. He summarized the contents of his manuscript and later informed the Council that his work is hereby dedicated to the present Municipal Officials of the town.

At the close of Dr. Artiaga's resume on his work and after handing the manuscript to the Secretary, Councilor Arbornoz presented following resolution:

RESOLUTION OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ON THE HISTORY OF SAN JUAN DEL MONTE WRITTEN BY DR. SANTIAGO ARTIAGA WHICH HE HAS HEARTILY DEDICATED TO THE PRESENT MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION.

WHEREAS, on the 14^th day of June, 1951, Dr. Santiago Artiaga appeared before the Municipal Council's regular meeting and presented to that Body his manuscript on the history of San Juan del Monte;

WHEREAS, after making a brief resume of this volume, Dr. Artiaga made it of record that he is dedicated this piece of work, which he considers among his most important of his lifetime, to the Municipal Council;

WHEREAS, the Municipal Council, considering Dr. Artiaga's work as a distinct contribution of historical value not only to the citizens of San Juan del Monte but also to the whole nation;

WHEREAS, because of the sincerity of Dr. Artiaga's sentiments in dedicating this valuable work to the present Municipal Council of this town, the members feel unanimous grateful for such personal gesture of cordiality and they wish their feeling of appreciation to be made of record.

NOW THEREFORE, the Municipal Council in session assembled, have unanimously resolved, as they hereby resolve to express the profound feeling of their gratefulness and sincere appreciation to Dr. Santiago Artiaga for his efforts in writing the history of San Juan del Monte and which he has dedicated to the present administration.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Dr. Santiago Artiaga.

On motion, duly seconded, the above resolution was approved unanimousuly.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is true and correct

(Sgd)

JSR/apr

San Juan del Monte is an old town with a colorful history. According to old manuscripts in native characters found by the Spaniards at the time of their arrival in Manila and surrounding districts, and formerly kept in the archives of the Franciscan Fathers until the burning of Intramuros, Manila, during the battle of liberation in 1945, the origin of the inhabitants of the town, Santa Ana de Sapa, the mother town of San Juan, stemmed from the king named Lacantagean and his wife Bouan. The town of Santa Ana de Sapa included, at the beginning of the Spanish occupation, the cities and municipalities nowadays bearing the names of Pasay, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Quiapo. Sampaloc, San Miguel, San Juan del Monte, Taytay, Mandaloyon, and San Pedro Macati. Lacantagean and his wife had their place of residence in the barrio of Namayan, Santa Ana.

The first Christian name appearing in the genealogical trea of Lacantagean was one Martin, son of Calamayin. Calamayin was the son of Laboy; Laboy, the son of Palaba; Palaba, the heir apparent of Lacantagean and his wife, Bouan. Lacantagean had, besides five sons with Bouan, one illegitimate son named Pasay, with a girl slave from Borneo. This son gave his name to the old town of Pasay, wherein he fixed his residence as the owner of the territory received as legacy from his father.

There is an old reference to San Juan del Monte in the archives of the Dominican Fathers, Vol. 481 of Manuscripts, page 40, which read: "In the year 1602, Capt. Don Julian de Cuenca, owner of this estate, gave a piece of land to the Dominicans for the construction thereon of a residence or convent for retirement and solitude; in the same manner that the Franciscan Fathers had done in San Francisco del Monte. The donation was perfected and the convent built little by little. In the year 1638, the Chinese munity took place, during which the church and the convent were burnt; all papers and old records concerning the donation and foundation of the house as well as those referring to the benefactors or donors were converted into ashes. In the year 1641, the first donation was duly re-acknowledged by Captain Don Santiago Gastela and his wife, Dña. Ana Marquina, then the new owners of the estate."

San Juan del Monte was one of the towns under the comprehension of the Province of Tondo, which province was later renamed Province of Manila.

Almost until 1911, all the lands occupied by San Juan were private property of the friars. The town was known as having a mild climate, and most of its inhabitants were dedicated, prior to the American regime, to agriculture; a few to the exploitation of rock quarries; and some were laundrymen. It produced rice, sugarcane products, corn, and several varieties of native fruits.

San Juan town was known before the inauguration of Manila's Carriedo Water Supply in 1882 as the source of good drinking water from the San Juan River, and from a flowing rock spring located about outside the northeastern corner of the Sanctuario of the Dominican fathers.

The writer learned from his father that in the old days, Malacañan Palace was supplied with drinking water from the San Juan spring. The water was considered potable and with diuretic qualities. It was analyzed by the French chemist, Abad Mongez in 1787. The following is copied from his report: "Of four pounds of water I have obtained, after evaporation, only 12 and one-half grams of residue:

"Calcareous marine salt Selenium compounds Common salt Mineral alkali Extractive materials Total

2 grams 2 grams 1½ grams 4 grams 3 grams 12½ grams"

The aforesaid chemist concluded that the water in question was preferable to the water commonly used in Manila obtained from the Pasig River at San Pedro Macati.

Father Peguero of the Dominican order undertook an important construction to impound the spring water and laid pipes and a canal for the transportation of the water in bancas to Manila. (The present manager of the Metropolitan Water District, Engineer Manuel Mañosa, and the writer published in the early thirties a research work on the history of the Manila water supply which reproduced the drawings of the structures built by Father Peguero.) The whole of Peguero's work was solely financed by the Dominicans and was finished in 1690. (Anyone interested in the work of Father Peguero is advised to consult the "UNITAS," official publication of the faculty of the University of Santo Tomas, Vol. XI, No. 5. November 1932.)

For nearly two centuries, San Juan was part of Santa Ana; it was simply an outlying barrio dependent on the authorities of Santa Ana both in civil and religious affairs.

Let it be of record, as a matter
of curiosity in statistics, that in
1736, eight boys and ten girls born
in San Juan were baptized in Santa
Ana

Despite separation in 1863 from the parish church of Santa Ana, one boy and one girl born in San Juan were baptized not in San Felipe Neri but in Santa Ana in the aforesaid year. They were:

Juan Francisco, age -- 5 days; date of baptism -- June 18, 1863. Parents -- Inocencio Francisco and Florencia Ramos. Godfather -- Tomas Bernardo.

Maximo de los Santos, age -- 21 days; date of baptism -- November 20, 1863; Parents -- Agaton de los Santos and Eugenia Mendoza. Godfather -- Domingo Somana.

The following are names of children born in San Juan and baptized in San Felipe Neri from January to June 1864:

Juan Tagayon Catalino Gatchalian Apolonio Fernandez Apolonia Olaso Apolonio Bernardo Eleuterio Rivera Juan Mariano Roman de la Cruz Eriberto de la Cruz Ambrosia Soriano Agapita Ramos Ambrosio Fernandez Quirino de los Santos Maximo de los Santos Julia de la Cruz Atanacia de los Reyes Nicolasa Magteros Bonifacio Santos Isidro Mateo Potenciano de los Santos Valentin Ramos Juan de la Cruz Juan Tutaanes Basilio Valentin Bernabe de los Santos Feliciano Mendoza Feliciano Medina Agripina Cristobal Luisa Victoriana Guillermo de la Cruz

Baptized February 10 February 14 February 14 February 14 February 14 February 24 February 28 March 2 March 20 March 27 March 27 March 27 April 3 April 3 April 17 May 4 May 15 May 18 May 18 May 22 May 22 May 29 May 29 May 29 June 12 June 12 June 12 June 26 June 26 June 26

The total number of children baptized in 1864 was 67, consisting of 37 males and 30 females. The number seems disproportionate to the count of population available for 1890 and 1893, which will be given in later paragraphs.

During the Spanish regime, San Juan had the same type of government existing throughout the islands, which was the subject of reform in 1817. This was substituted by the more autonomous municipal government established by the Maura Law in 1893.

The town officers were: the gobernadorcillo, who was the town's chief officer; three lieutenants; the police force; the the "cabezas de barangay." The last officers were the ones charged with the collection of the "cedula personal" or individual residence tax. After the passage of the Maura Law, the gobernadorcillo was named "capitan municipal."

The gobernadorcillo and lieutenants were selected by yearly ballots, later bi-annually, the electors being composed of ex-gobernadorcillos and cabezas de barangay, past or actual, in accordance with the number needed to have have electors. Persons decoraded with the medal of Merito Civil were entitled to be electors. The election was held under the chairmanship of the civil governor of the province and, in his absence, of his representative or delegate. In the election, each elector submitted two names written on blank forms. The name appearing with the largest number of votes was, in the absence of protest, given the position by the civil governor. In the case of a tie, the civil governor had the discretionary power of election.

The names of electors in the election of October 5, 1847:

Eugenio de la Cruz, Francisco Ramos, Olegario Parada, Lucio Marcos, Miguel Atanacio, Vicente Pascual, Gregorio de la Cruz, Toribio de la Cruz, Julian Villanueva, and Manuel de la Cruz.

The following officers served their respective offices as a result of the election:

Gobernadorcillo 1st Lieut. 2nd Lieut. 3rd Lieut. Chief of Police

Olegario Parada Jose Ceferino Inocencio Francisco Mateo Ibañez Tomas Gonzales

The following shows how the electors cast their votes for gobernadorcillo in 1849:

Names of Electors	Votes Cast
Olegario Parada	Francisco Ramos Lucio Marcos
Francisco Ramos	Lucio Marcos Bernardo de la Cruz

Historical Data of the Municipality of San Juan del Monte (Now San Juan City), Province of Rizal, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.