MUNICIPALITY OF TANAY, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 1
PART I
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[Cover page]
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF
TANAY
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HISTORY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF TANAY
Origin of the name of the Municipality of Tanay
Father San Agustin and Pedro Diaz, the Spanish missionaries who wrote intensively their accounts of mission in their book printed in 1696 entitled "Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas," wrote the name of the town Tanay as "Tan-ay." The pronunciation still is prevalent among the aged of Tanay, among the neighboring towns of this municipality like Pililla, Baras, and Morong, and also in other provinces like Laguna and Batangas.
Monte-Tanay, now called Inalsan, overlooks Laguna Bay, the neighboring towns around the lake, and the towns of Teresa and Antipolo. When the early inhabitants came to Monte-Tanay, they saw these places mentioned. Later, an expression developed among these early inhabitants — "Tayo na sa tanawan." From this expression was derived the name of the town — Tanay.
However, certain presumptions refute the veracity of this derivation. Others still believe that Tanay was derived from the word "tanan," attributing the idea to the separation of Gat Salyan Maginto from Sta. Maria Kabuuan of Laguna. Hence, the name of Tanay.
While neither of the two as true, the former is generally accepted. Due to the limited sources as regard to the origin of the word Tayan, it is only hoped that this venture of compiling data about this municipality be encouraged and continued to acquire a richer and more accurate information of the place.
Establishment of the municipality
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Gat Salyan's tribe originated from Pila, Laguna. From Daraetan, he and his tribe moved to Monte-Tanay, now called Inasalan. When General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi ordered Juan Maldonado on January 16, 1571 to organize the barangays along the lake under the "Rinconada de Moron," Monte-Tanay was under the jurisdiction of La Laguna. Shortly after the arrival of the Spaniards at this place, Fathers Juan de Placencia and Diego de Oropesa of the Franciscan Order made the first mission. In 1583, the town of Pilang-Morong (Pililla) was established. Since then, the Rancheria de Tanay has been placed under the jurisdiction of Pililla. It was not long, however, that Monte-Tanay became independent from Pililla and was organized into a parish of its own. Father Pedro de Talavera was assigned here to organize the parish. San Ildefonso was then chosen the patron saint. From thence, missions were conducted by the Franciscan Order in Pantay and later in Daraetan where, by this time, about four hundred Aetas and some of Gat Salyan's men were settled.
The settlers of Monte-Tanay grew tired of the place and so, in 1620, they moved to Pantay near Sungay. They made kaingins, cultivated the plains, and built houses in groups. All were peaceful when the Chinese marauders from Laguna came to Pantay and caused hostility among the peaceful settlers. Both Monte-Tanay and Pantay were set aflame by the Chinese. The natives were disbanded when they left Pantay. Finally, they were united and settled as before at the place where the present site of Tanay is now. That was in 1640. With Father Geronimo de Friaz and Father Diego de San Ildefonso, the people celebrated the first town fiesta in 1641. There were only seven or eight barangays then.
Despite Pantay being vacated, efforts to Christianize the Negritoes who returned to the place were exerted. Father Lucas Perez went to Pantay and successfully persuaded the natives about this mission. He named the place, that is Pantay, San Lucas y San Antonio. The missionaries went even as far as Daraetan to convert the roaming Negritoes and Aetas.
Since the missionaries emphasized religion as of paramount im-
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portance, the inhabitants of Tanay erected a stone church in 1678. It was provisional in nature as the roof and ceiling were of bamboo. The church was erected at the present site of the public market facing Ilaya. The present Misericordia Street was once the place where the interior of the church was. And near the church, where the municipal building and Glorietta are at present, once flowed the mighty Tan-ay River. The completion of the first stone church was an initial landmark in the progress of the town. Father Pedro Espallargas, who directed the construction in 1678, held the first Mass in this church on April 10, 1680.
B. The Rise of the Gobernadorcillo - Records of the Catholic Church of the Municipality of Tanay show that the first gobernadorcillo of this municipality was Don Josef Lorenzo in 1695 to 1696. The term of office of the gobernadorcillo then was a year only so that every year, there was a change of gobernadorcillos. Tradition of this town claims that Don Juan Casag, a versatile and energetic leader, was the appointed gobernadorcillo of this town from 1606 to 1695. (This term of office and Don Juan Casag were not recorded by the Catholic Church.) Besides the gobernadorcillo, the parish priest was also changed, not yearly but as the need arose.
During the term of the gobernadorcillo Don Juan Alcantara in 1747, Father Francisco Javier of Toledo, Spain was designated parish priest of this town. By this time, there were only inhabitants composing the eight barangays. Father Xavier was so famous a missionary that he was called the Apostle of the East.
C. The Pililla-Tan-ay Controversy - The people of Pililla became suspicious of the inhabitants of Tan-ay who had been tilling the land near Tumihaya and the lowland below. The people of Pililla claimed that those tracts of land tilled by Tan-ay settlers were theirs. That was in 1678. We should bear in mind that Monte-Tanay was once under the jurisdiction of Pililla and that the "Rinconada de Moron" was under La Laguna. On the contrary, the people of Tan-ay claimed the land because it was they were in possession of the disputed land. Consequently, it became a dispute between Pililla and Tan-ay. The controversy was brought to the parish priest of Tan-ay, Father Pedro Espallargas, who finally settled the dispute. A fine of ₱4.00 was imposed upon
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the violator of the agreement reached and confirmed. The said fine, in turn, would be given to the Church. However, the case was not totally settled, as in the latter years, the inhabitants of the disputing parties did not adhere to the decision made by Father Espallargas. In 1758, a similar controversy arose between Antipolo and Tanay regarding Buso-buso in Pantay. The Royal Audiencia handled the case. The Spaniards, at this time, began mining the iron ores in Sta. Ines.
A series of earthquakes occurred in this municipality. The inhabitants of Tanay felt a need of changing the dilapidated church which the earthquakes had badly damaged. Father Alonso de Fentanes, the parish priest of Tanay at this time, initiated the plan of putting up a new church. That was in 1773. The people worked in the different quarries in Tumihaya, Daong, Bukal, and Tibagan. Contributions from the neighboring towns, local officers, and Spaniards were solicited and received by the church of Tanay. The laborers received no wages but they were served their dinner daily. All kinds of work in the construction of the church was done by bare hand as there were no machinery yet in the place at that time. From the cutting of the stones in the different quarries, was by hand. With the help of the carabaos, the materials were hauled off to the construction site day after day.
Despite crude implements, a meter high of the structure of the well and foundation was accomplished in 1776. The tower and entrances to the church were finished in 1780 and the roof of bricks in 1782. In 1782, the parish priest of the town was Father Francisco Remigio. Tanay had a population of 1,800.
When Don Miguel Placido became the gobernadorcillo in 1789, he began and supervised the construction of the patio. It was accomplished in 1792.
Not only the church was attended to by the people but also the irrigation system. An irrigation dam was built which was later
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called "Salang Matanda." The work was begun in 1792. In one of the irrigation ditches made, a solid mass of big stone was cut through. This site is now called "Pinait." Although the dam need [unclear what this means] to be destroyed by flood, yet it remains up to the present time the source of water on dry seasons.
The succeeding years were followed by more improvements. Two school houses, one for boys and another for girls, were built in 1822. The Tanay-Baras Road was constructed in 1843 when Don Manuel de San Pedro was the gobernadorcillo. The first stone bridge across the Tanay River was erected in 1855 but was finally destroyed by the flood on Nov. 12, 1872. Through voluntary labor, it was reconstructed in 1877 when Don Francisco Custodio was the gobernadorcillo.
During the term of Don Miguel Solano as gobernadorcillo in 1849, orders of Governor-General Narciso Claveria were enforced, adopting the Spanish names and family names. From that year to the present, these names were maintained. Due to the changes of family names, aliases were affixed to different families.
Among the notable achievements during this period was the establishment of compulsory primary instruction to children of seven to twelve years of age in 1862. However, few parents realized the value of education yet, so there were few children attending school. A complete primary (grades) school was erected in 1893 in the poblacion, but was later demolished in 1931 to enlarge the area of the public market. Aside from this, a collection of riddles, sayings and legends of this locality was compiled by Father Martinez in 1885.
Abuses of Local Authorities - The superior authority in the town during the Spanish occupation was the parish priest. Next to him were the gobernadorcillo and cabezas de barangay. Most of these officials abused the people so much that time came when these inhabitants could no longer bear their grievances and sufferings under the tyrannical yoke of despotism and became conscious of every person's privileges and rights. Gobernadorcillo Don Joaquin de Jesus imposed high tributes for the maintenance of the pueblo, accepted bribes, and forced the people to till their lands or work in their houses without compensation. For slight offenses, he punished the people severely. The gobernadorcillo became aware of the ill-feelings of the people against him that he designated guards to protect him and his house and family day in and day out. This act of him aggravated the ill-feelings of his subordinates. The people plotted to overthrow him from his position. They
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contributed money for the expenses incurred in the litigation. The gobernadorcillo was then found guilty and later put to prison.
The woodcutters who were working in the mountains were paid by the municipality but this was kept unknown among the laborers by dishonest officials. The Alcalde Mayor del Barrio kept the money and did not pay the laborers. He collected the grains raised in the town for the galleon trade, but the poor farmers were not paid. When the people learned of the rackets made by these officials, they refused to work and stopped planting. As a result, the alcalde mayor was sentenced to prison and removed from his position.
In a town fiesta in 1876, the "guardia civil" caused disorder among the crowd who was witnessing the "comedia" being shown. They disrupted and did not respect the local authorities like the gobernadorcillo. The trouble was settled by the parish priest of Tanay. This occasion paved the recognition of the respective local authorities and Spanish officials in Tanay.
The Local Revolt - The secret propaganda movement of the Katipunan spread and gained momentum in Tanay under the leadership of Gregoria Mendez (Magampon) and Francisco Solano (Tala). Soon, the people were convinced and volunteered to [join] the movement.
The news of the existing secret movement reached the Spanish authorities, who later convicted Kabo Godyo of rebellion. He was exiled to a distant place and the propaganda movement was carried on by Magampon. In the morning of October 6, 1896, a band of Katipuneros raided the headquarters of the Spaniards in Morong. They were able to seize arms and capture Spaniards. The attack was repulsed by Commander Dujios and. Lt. Lafuente of the Spaniards.
The Katipunan established its headquarters in different places. The first of these was in Tayong Ilog. At this place, they established a foundry where a crude cannon was built by Gatulio and Marcos Cipraso. A
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severe encounter took place when their real was in Salang Matanda. Although before, there was an understanding between the gobernadorcillo and them when a raid of the casadores would attack them, they were surprised by the Spaniards because they were not informed about this raid by the casadores. That was a decisive fight and firing lasted for hours. The casadores retreated and, upon reaching the convent, they fired without direction in the poblacion. Because the populace was aware of what was to happen, they stayed in their own house, so there were only two casualties.
The local Spanish authorities then accused Captain Domingo Capistrano, the gobernadorcillo at this time, of conniving with the rebels. The accusation did not succeed since the Spaniards failed to secure evidence against him.
On January 29, 1897, the Katipuneros raided the convent where the casadores had their quarters. Their objective was to liquidate the Spaniards who fired without direction in the town proper. Father Gregorio Crisostomo, a Filipino priest from Bulacan assigned to Tanay as co-adjutor to the parish priest, helped and joined the Katipuneros. He directed the skirmish and attack made by them.
Support from Morong rushed to Tanay, and hardly before these casadores entered the place (where Bldg. No. of the TES is at present), the Katipuneros had attacked them. A heavy encounter took place and there were many casadores. Under the command of Gregorio Altamerano, the Katipuneros retreated home, but were vigilant of what was to come next.
After these incidents, the rebels established their "real" in _________ and then in Kalwanan. Their food supply was stocked there. They made dugouts for surprise attacks. Great was their joy when General Licerio Geronimo, Pio del Pilar, and
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Hermogenes Bautista, and Col. Ritual visited their headquarters. The Filipino forces were better instructed. Fearing that the people no longer upheld the cause of Spain, the casadores left Tanay and went to Morong, leaving the town in the hands of the Filipinos.
On June 18, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued from Cavite the "Implementacion del Gobierno Representante." Each municipality then organized its local officials under the Philippine Republic. An election was held in Tanay. The selected president was Crispulo Custodio. On August 5, 1898, President C. Custodio went to Bacoor, Cavite and took his oath of office before General Aguinaldo. He had the chance of signing the "Acta de Independencia." Since the proclamation of the Independence Act, the Province of Morong was under the second military zone in the command of Col. Lazaro Macapagal. He established his headquarters in Tanay on August 19, 1898. The Spanish forces surrendered to the Katipunan through the mediation of Captain Felix Tapia. He then organized the Primero Compania with Jose Melendres and Segundo Mendoza as lieutenants; Macario Talavera, sergeant; and Francisco Ramos as corporal. This company repulsed the repeated attacks of the First Artillery and the Utah Artillery of the American forces.
On January 20, 1900, the Americans came to Tanay by way of the lake. They were cordially welcomed by President C. Custodio and his party of local officials. Hence, Tanay was saved from the ruins of fire.
General Order No. 40 of the United States military governor of the Philippines took effect on March 29, 1900, organizing the municipal officials through elections. The president elected was Estanislao Melendres. Despite the new local council of Tanay, the former municipal council continued to function until
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July 1901. The municipal council organized under the American administration began functioning in July 1901. The cabezas de barangay were replaced by the councilors. The detachment commander of the American forces in this sector was Captain Worthington Kentzman, and with him were First Lieutenant George H. White and Second Lt. Robert Kaldwell, all of C. Company, Forty-second Volunteers.
Not long, Captain Kentzman, with his wife, started the English instruction in Reading and Writing in February 1901. An American teacher, Mr. Charles Hope, was sent here to this town to supervise the primary grades. Miss Sofia Maria and Mr. Lodovico of this town were appointed teachers. This was the first step in beginning the English instruction in Tanay. To facilitate efficient supervision, the Division Superintendent of Schools, Mr. B. C. Blaasdalo, organized the Municipal School Board of Tanay.
After the creation of Rizal Province on June 5, 1901, an election of municipal officials of Tanay took place, the first election held in the newly-created province. Ambrosio Timawin was elected first President in this election and Hermogenes Bautista Vice-President.
School instruction under the American regime - From 1901 to 1918, the Central School in Tanay as it was called then, had only maintained the primary grades. Complete elementary education as offered on June 15, 1918. To finance the intermediate grades, matriculation fees were raised. For Grade Five, the fee was ₱14.00; Grade Six - ₱15.00; Grade Seven ₱16.00. The fees were later changed to nominal fees when Tanay received insular aid.
The Census of 1918 showed that Tanay had a population of 5,100.
At the close of 1920, the construction of the school, Building No. I of the Tanay Elementary School, was started; and [after] its completion was inaugurated on January 22, 1922. The President of Tanay at this time was Patricio Jarin. It was, indeed, an opportune moment and a great honor that speaker Sergio Osmeña was the sponsor
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of the inauguration. The Home Economics Building was built from March to August 1928. The Tanay Elementary School Building No. II was erected on February 28, 1931. These notable achievements, despite odds and obstacles, marked the great strides in the educational progress of Tanay.
Subsequently, to foster Catholic education in the community of Tanay, Tanay Catholic School was opened and founded in 1916 by Reverend Father Cornelio de Brower, the parish priest of Tanay. Years later, a barrio school with a first class in Sampaloc was opened on July 1, 1913. Mr. Mariano San Juan of Cardona was the teacher assigned to handle the said class. The other mountain barrios of Tanay are: Cayubang, Leyban, Manuhan, San Andres, and Tinuban.
The Municipality of Tanay established the municipal cemetery in 1906, and it became permanent in 1908. Great and rare was the honor bestowed upon Tanay which General William Cameron Forbes when he visited this town in January 1910 to observe the economic condition of the place.
The demolished concrete bridge was built in 1911 and was named Teodora Alonzo y Rizal. The public forum or glorietta was [built] in the same year. The public market was built in August 1915 with a total expenditure of ₱700.
The people suffered much during the Japanese occupation. Many people who were suspected of being guerrillas or sympathizers of the underground movement were tortured or beaten to death. A major of this town was shot to death by the guerrillas for non-cooperation with the underground movement. The people of Tanay helped in the feeding of the guerrillas during the occupation. It has been said that this town is considered the best supporters of the Marking's guerrillas and the Hunters. Yet, in spite of the number of guerrillas and civilian supporters of the underground movement, few were recognized by the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines.
When the Makapilis were caught by the Armed Forces and the guerrillas, they were severely punished. They were herded like animals into the Tanay church. They were fed and clothed by the PCAU. They were also given medical care by the American Army. Tanay became the distributing center of the PCAI.
Tanay was liberated on March 18, 1945. The first liberation election was held in November 1946.
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|
N a m e
1. Josef Lorenzo
10. Andres Sangoay2. Francisco Casag 3. Agustin Villegas 4. Simon Villegas 5. Baltazar de los Santos 6. Nicolas Catoles 7. Juan Pigaling 8. Andres de la Cruz 9. Salvador (Alwala) Aliualas 11. Antonio de los Santos 12. Jose de la Cruz 13. Juan Fajardo 14. Diego Marti 15. Ventura Santiago 16. Esteban Pascual 17. Juan Pangan 18. Juan Pagcatipunan 19. Baltazar Muli 20. Antonio Capuli 21. Gabriel Bautista 22. Francisco de los Santos 23. Juan de los Santos 24. Agustin Sellos 25. Gaspar Zerozo 26. Francisco Geronimo 27. Alonzo Dimatanguihan 28. Miguel Santiago 29. Gabriel Pascual 30. Juan San Buenaventura |
Y e a r 1695-1696 1578-1583 1696-1697 1697-1698 1698-1699 1699-1700 1700-1701 1701-1702 1702-1703 1703-1704 1704-1705 1705-1706 1706-1707 1707-1708 1708-1709 1709-1710 1710-1711 1711-1712 1712-1713 1713-1714 1714-1715 1715-1716 1716-1718 1718-1719 1719-1720 1720-1721 1720-1722 1722-1723 1723-1724 1724-1725 |
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