MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 2
PART II
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15. Water cure was applied to the accused when Kapitan Mariano Campomanes became the Kapitan in 1895. It was first practiced when the watch of Dr. Morando was lost. Water curing of the suspects was stopped when it was finally discovered that the missing watch was only left in the doctor's valise.
16. The revolt of the Philippines against Spain started when Mr. Vicente Manalo became the Kapitan in 1896-1898.
Mr. Escolastico Viola, a representative of General Emilio Aguinaldo, came to Atimonan in May 1898. He managed the collection of voluntary contributions to help finance the Filipino revolt. He was able to collect a little more than five thousand pesos.
17. In 1898-1899, Kapitan Jose Montes was chosen to run the local government. It was during his term when the Philippine government was established despite that fact that the Philippines was still under the Spanish yoke. The establishment of the Philippine government in this community took place in 1898 when Mr. Braulio de Villa, a representative of the provincial executive, came. This was in September. The following were appointed: Jose Montes, President; Maximo Almeyda, Vice-President; Alfredo Centro, Income Tax Delegate; Mariano Mañalac, Delegate of Justice; Pedro Villadolid, Police Delegate; and Cipriano Pineda, Secretary.
In April 1899, General Ignacio Pawa, a representative of the Philippine government from Camarines, came to Atimonan with ₱100,000.00 as war contribution of the Bicolanos. This huge amount was to be brought to General Emilio Aguinaldo, who was then in Malolos.
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The population of the town was advised to evacuate to the mountains in January 1900 as the Americans were coming. The town was depopulated, and stealing became frequent. Banditry became rampant in the barrios.
On February 2, 1900, American forces occupied the town of Atimonan. Commandant Thomas L. Hartigan was the commanding officer of the American soldiers that entered this town. The adjourned in the convent.
The Filipino soldiers measured the strength of the Americans in a fight on the mountains of Lagyo. Many Americans were killed, and more were wounded in this battle. Lt. Cildora of the Philippine Army met his doom in this battle.
On March 11 of the same year, the American forces met the Banahaw Battalion under the command of Colonel Eustacio Malolos in Pulong Anahawan. Commandant Hartigan was the commanding officer of the Americans. In this battle, about seventeen Filipinos were killed and about thirty were wounded. The captain of Batallion Banahaw, Don Gregorio Orda, Sr., was wounded slightly on his foot. His wound caused him to lay flat on the ground. He was captured. The fighting started when a Filipino soldier, Modesto Castillo, fired at an American advanced guard, Mr. Dignan.
Pulong Anahawan is a sitio in barrio Malusak, south of the town proper.
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1. The American regime in Atimonan was first recognized after the Battle of Pulong Anahawan. Commandant Hartigan acted as the Chief Military Administrator. He issued a propaganda so as to induce all persons hiding in the mountains to come to town. To those who responded cordially, he gave some bread and ham. When the persons in hiding learned of the kindness of the Americans, they came to town. Commandant Hartigan lost no time in establishing a local government. Mr. Francisco Desembrana was appointed Acting Commission President. Meanwhile, Mr. Jose Montes continued to be the President under the Philippine government of General Aguinaldo. The duties of Mr. Montes were carried out secretly.
As per order of the Americans, through the Acting President, all male citizens whose age ranged from 18 to 60 years were required to pay twenty centavos for cedula tax.
2. Mr. Luciano Mapaye and Mr. Marcelo Manalo were chosen as President and Vice-President, respectively, in 1901-1902. Taxation of real property started in 1902 and the cedula tax was increased to one peso.
In July 1902, the barrio of Laguimanoc (now Pedro Burgos) was ransacked by bandits. This incident caused the removal of Mr. Mapaye as per order of Governor Gardiner. So, Mr. Manalo assumed the presidency.
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3. From 1902-1903, Mr. Marcelo Manalo continued to be the president of the town. It was during his incumbency when there appeared a man who proclaimed himself as the successor to the Pope in Rome. This man was Papa Reus, alias Kabuwig. Kabuwig wore fragrant attire and he was always surrounded by beautiful ladies. Most of the people of Atimonan made confessions to this man.
The government was obliged to investigate Kabuwig. It proved difficult to arrest him. A year passed before he was arrested to face charges. The court found him guilty and the sentence was that he would be hanged. On December 6, 1902, he received the sentence. Mr. Noncato Amado read the sentence, and Mr. Billy pulled the rope that was tied around his neck. Many persons witnessed his last as a fiesta in honor of La Purisima Concepcion was being observed on that day.
It was also during Mr. Manalo's time when the beautiful zigzag road traversing the famous Quezon National Forest Park was discovered.
4. Mr. Alfredo Castro, who became the president from 1904 to 1905, was responsible for the construction of the Primary School Building (near the Roman Catholic church). The money spent, amounting to ₱4,000.00, was derived from the sale of one thousand piculs of copra. The release of this amount was through the request of President Castro from the Provincial Governor Gardiner.
The construction of the zigzag road was started during Mr. Castro's incumbency. While the road was being made, many died and more became sick on account of the
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lack of food. The building of this road was managed by Mr. Vogelgoseng [unsure, blurred]. He, too, died in the line of duty as he was covered by a landslide.
President Castro was one of the town heads chosen to see the International Fair at St. Louis.
5. Mr. Francisco Desembrana was elected to administer the local government from 1905 to 1906.
The followers of Kabuwig, who became known as "Kulorom," made a concentration in the mountains of Tanauan. Its aim was to reestablish the Philippine government. Manuel L. Quezon, who was then the Provincial Governor of Tayabas (now Quezon), learned of this movement. He immediately boarded a Coast Guard [craft] with some soldiers from Tanauan (a barrio of Atimonan).
Upon reaching the place, the PC fired at the camp of the "Kulorom." As the "Kulorom" fled, the camp was burned, and those were caught were told to board the Coast Guard [craft], which proceeded to Atimonan. Quezon emphatically told the town officials that they were not doing their duties accordingly. He removed Pres. Desembrana from his office and appointed Mr. Alfredo Castro, who at that time was still in America. The councilor of Tanauan and the police force of the town were also discharged. In the absence of Mr. Alfredo Castro, Mr. Pedro Enriquez was appointed acting president.
5. Mr. Pedro A. Enriquez served the town as president from 1906-1912.
On June 19, 1912, a monument of Dr. Jose Rizal was erected at the Rizal campus. The Chief Weather Observer, Mr. Leon G. Guinto, with Messrs. Juan Martinez (Vice-Pres.
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of Mr. Enriquez), Bernardino Enriquez, Councilor Anselmo Ortiz and many others were the ones who worked hard in the collection of the voluntary contributions for the construction of the monument.
Mr. Pedro A. Enriquez was re-elected President in 1916-1919. It can, therefore, be concluded that, of all the presidents of this municipality, he served the longest.
Political rivalry during the term of Mr. Enriquez was the hottest. The Catholic priest was charged of supporting the Nacionalista Party actively. As a result, the local Democrats established the Philippine Independent Church (I.F.I.). The following sons of Atimonan were responsible for the organization of the I.F.I.: Messers. Eladio Lopez, Gregorio Orda, Sr., Rafael Castro, Diego Ortiz, Domingo Orda, Victor Degracia, Benito Saloc, Francisco Desembrana, Vicente Aguilar Doseo, Teofilo Gregorio, Diosdado L. Ortiz, Zacarias Campomanes, and many others.
7. In 1915-1916, Mr. Gregorio Orda, Sr. was elected president. The town owes him the construction of a public market in 1915. He was also the brain of providing the town with a municipal cemetery.
8. Mr. Victorio Vargas, who was elected in 1919, served for only two years as he died before finishing his term. Mr. Mateo Manila, who was then his Vice-President, continued the work left by the late President Vargas.
9. The Talaba Summit Road became a provincial road through the initiative of the municipal council, headed by President Eladio Lopez in 1922-1928.
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The creation of a monument in honor of Balagtas, the Father of the Tagalog Language, took place in 1925, as sponsored by the Panitik Atimonan. Mr. Jesus C. Olega was the one who made this suggestion of erecting the monument, and he was also the one who took along with him the sculptor who designed and made the monument. The diplomas and receipts used in the solicitation of voluntary contributions were gotten by Mr. Olega on credit from one of the printing presses in Manila. He resorted to this idea as there was no fund for the erection of the monument.
Atimonan was fortunate to have a water system in 1928. The source of this water system was in barrio Malinao Ilaya. This was named Guinto Waterworks because the honorable Leon G. Guinto, who was then the Provincial Governor of Quezon Province, helped a great deal to put up this water system. In the same year (1928), the construction of the seawall along the Atimonan Beach was started. Gov. Guinto had something to do with this construction.
10. Atty. Victor Villamiel headed the Municipal Council of 1928-1931. The construction of the Provincial Trade High took place during his term. This building is partly destroyed and a little portion is being utilized as a school, housing Grades I-IV in the barrio of Tagbakin.
The attractive Ati-Monang Park in front of the municipal building was constructed by this council.
11. During the term of Mr. Filomeno Laurio (1931-1934), the Balagtas Campus was renovated.
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11. In 1934, most of the voters in Atimonan affiliated with the Sakdalista Party. This made Atty. Cesario Villareal an easy victor in the 1934 elections. His administration ended in 1937.
The first accomplishment of this council was the placing of a piece of marble with the inscription "Feb. 4, 1608 in commemoration of the founding of the Municipality of Atimonan." The town fiesta was also observed on Feb. 4.
On August 20, 1937, the tower of the Catholic church collapsed on account of the strong and repeated earthquakes. Reconstruction was immediately made because of the industry of the late Father Rev. Bonifacio Orejala, parish priest of the town during that time.
The monument of Andres Bonifacio was erected during during Atty. Villareal's term. This monument is at the mountain top, left if going to Lucena, just at the gate of the town. Mr. Jesus C. Olega initiated this project.
12. Dr. Ramon Soler was elected to head the 1933-1943 Municipal Council. But his term had to cease in December 1941 on account of the arrival of the Japanese forces in the Eve of Christmas. The people were advised by the volunteer guards to hide in safe places. The Japanese landed in front of the Centralco (Barrio Talaba), while some of their battleships were in line in Lamon Bay.
As the enemy was landing, their forces by means of some boats, the Filipino trainees and some PC released
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numerous bullets. The enemy retaliated, and with the help of some airplanes, the Filipinos had to give up, and they decided to seek cover. So, the Japanese soldiers occupied this town with slight resistance. Of course, many of them were killed. The dead were buried near the seawall, around the castle and in the Castle of San Francisco.
Most of the Japanese soldiers proceeded to Lucena, and those left in Atimonan robbed the homes and stores with padlocked doors. The Japanese and some Atimonanses continued robbing the homes till the next day.
Although there were more Filipino soldiers in Atimonan, an airplane with "stars" staged a dogfight with three Japanese planes in sitio Tayuman, barrio of Angeles. After a few minutes, one of the Japanese planes was shot down. A marker was placed on the spot where the Lt. aviator fell.
C - DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
1. It was already at the close of 1941 when Alcalde Ramon Soler was ordered by the Japanese Army to resume his work as mayor.
To induce the people to come to town, the Japanese decided to:
a - hold a market day once a week where the people from the barrios could sell their vegetables, chickens, pigs, and other products raised in the barrios.
b - Jiu-jitsu was sometimes exhibited by the soldiers at the Rizal campus.
As the people feared the Japanese, only a few came to town, most especially when they saw that their houses were occupied by the Japanese soldiers. The true owners of the
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houses were threatened by the Japanese soldiers not to enter their own homes without a pass.
Niponggo schools were opened and the civilians were required to study.
The people of the town were also obliged to participate in the early morning Radio Taiso [unsure, blurred] in the church plaza. Both males and females had to join the daily calisthenics, with the accompaniment of a band. The instructors in this phase of activity were the soldiers, with the cooperation of the mayor.
To ensure peace and order and to avoid the attack of the guerrillas, all male citizens of age were required to render patrol service in the strategic points of the town.
Rice rations were given to the people as a consolation. The Municipal Building was made as the center of rationing.
On October 14, 1943, the Municipality of Atimonan celebrated Philippine Independence pompously as granted by Japan. The celebration was colorful as the majority of Atimonan folks were members of the Ganap Party.
2. In 1943-1945, Mr. Cipriano Olega Reyes was named as the successor of Mayor Ramon Soler. The following events took place during the latter's term of office:
(a) Forced labor was required of all male persons who were of age. Foxhole building was the principal project. The work started in the morning till late in the afternoon. The wage was fifty centavos a day.
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