MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 1

The most popular and accepted version of the origin of the name of this municipality is from the story of the first settlers, the Mangava family. The older sister of the family was called Simeona and her brother and sister called her "ATE MONANG," the prefix ATE is called among the Tagalogs to this day as a sign and show of respect. When the Spaniards first visited the place, they asked for the name of the settlement and the people, thinking that the foreigners were requesting for their leader, told them of ATE MONANG whom they respected as the authority of the place. The Spaniards named the place ANTIMONAN which, in latter years, changed it to ATIMONAN.

The town was established by the Spaniardson February 4, 1608.

The town was founded by the Mangava family, with Francisco Mangava as the acknowledged leader. He was the first CAPITAN appointed by the Spaniards.

There was a time when the municipality of Atimonan comprised the adjoining municipality of Padre Burgos (formerly Laguimanok). Its present size — bounded to the north by Lamon Bay, to the east by the municipality of

Like almost all coastal towns in this part of Southern Luzon, it suffered piratical attacks and depredations from the Moros of the south, and in the latter years of its history, from the Dutch and the Japanese invaders.

Among the historical landmarks is the newly-reconstructed Iskong Bantay Watchtower, the Roman Catholic church constructed in the early part of the 17^th century which was burned by the Dutch in 1640, and reconstructed only to witness again its destruction by earthquakes, storms, and the horrors of war. The present ruins, however, are being reconstructed. The Casa Mata, a guardhouse sitting on the crest of a hill at the southwestern rim of the town proper and overlooking the sea, was once the proud bastion of the town against intruders, and what remains in this famous port are now the few pieces of stones and bricks scattered among light growths of underbrush and coconut trees.

Francisco Mangava (First Capitan Mateo Tigatig Juan Tierra Vicente Cabugyao Pedro Posadya Nicolas Tolentino Juan Principe Nicolas Tolentino (2) Andres Sibat Felipe Garcia Francisco Mangava (2) Andres Sibat (2)

1608 1609-1610 1611-1612 1613 1614 1615 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1621

During the Spanish occupation, the following facts, incidents, and events took place:

1. The town proper of Atimonan was established on Feb. 4, 1608 under the leadership of Kapitan Francisco Mangaba.

2. The Roman Catholic church was constructed when Francisco Catindig was the Kapitan. To accomplish his aim, he issued the following orders:

(a) Every male citizen (adult), when coming to town from the barrio, should carry one bamboo and some pieces of rattan.

(b) Every adult female has to haul sand from the beach, one ganta of sand a day.

(c) School children were required to carry stones and to get the timber from the banks of the Maling River.

(d) Any male person who refused the order was whipped as punishment. The females' palms were slightly hit for not following the order.

3. The church was completed during the time of Kapitan Lucas de los Santos in 1698. It took fifteen years to finish the present Roman Catholic church.

4. In 1701, the plaza of the Roman Catholic church was converted into a cemetery. It was during the administration of Kapitan Pedro Catapang.

5. When Mr. Sebastian Saclob became the Kapitan, the cemetery was transferred behind the church. This was in 1719.

10. A public school building was constructed at Independencia Street during the administration of Kapitan Praxido Urgino, and it dates back to 1872-1873.

The municipal building, popularly known during the Spanish Regime as "Casa Tribuna," was constructed in 1874-1875. Mr. Praxido Urgino was responsible for its construction.

11. The putting up of telegraph lines was accomplished by Kapitan Jose Villamiel in 1880-1881. The house of Judge Andres Sales was made as the post office.

12. The planting of coconut trees started during the third term of Mr. Praxido Urgino. This was in 1890. The price of copra during that time was one peso and fifty centavos per picul. Copra was made by drying the divided nuts under the sun and without removing the coconut husks.

13. Kapitan Severino Estrada, who served the government in 1884-1885, was considered to be the bravest Kapitan. He was the one who abolished the patrol system of the civilians in the church convent and the municipal building. He did not fear the friars.

14. The lighting of streets was started by Kapitan Bernardino Enriquez. To finance this project, every married couple was required to pay the sum of fifty centavos each year. An additional amount of twelve and one-half centavos was also collected from the purchase of crowbars and hoes for government use.