MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 3
PART III
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(b) Men and women were required to carry along with them a sharpened bamboo at one end whenever they went from one place to another, not excluding those who went to church. This order was proclaimed in the early part of 1943.
(c) One afternoon, when several soldiers were doing patrol work in the mountains, a Ganap spy approached these Japs and informed them that three Americans were in a certain home in barrio San Andres. As the three Americans were beginning to eat, they espied that some Jap soldiers were coming. Quick as a flash, they went down and started firing at the sight of the enemy. All of a sudden, four Japs were killed and the Japanese lieutenant was also hit in his thigh.
The oldest of the three Americans received a fatal blow in his breast. He placed his left hand just above his heart and continued firing at the enemy. His gallantry enabled his companions to escape. The dead American was buried near a sugar mill.
For their hospitality to the Americans, the man was murdered in cold blood. His wife and children were kept in the Japanese garrison.
(d) The reign of terror in Atimonan began in the middle of 1944. American planes were already seen in the skies of the town in groups. And on March 2, 1945, some American aviators dropped several incendiary bombs on Atimonan. This bombing was initiated by the local guerrillas.
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As a result of the bombing, the town was turned to ashes. Some houses on Iskong Bantay Street and those near the Balagtas Campus near the sea were left unharmed. More than one thousand persons were killed.
On April 13, 1945, the American forces retook the town from the enemies. Schools commenced to function at about the end of April of the same year. Money, food, clothing, and other sorts of the like were in abundance.
3. Mr. Victor M. Degracia was appointed the last Municipal Mayor of the town by Pres. Manuel Roxas in August 1945, under the Commonwealth form of government. The town owes Mr. Degracia speedy reconstruction of the Atimonan Emergency Hospital and the Atimonan Puericulture Center.
4. Ex-District Supervisor of the Atimonan Elementary School, Mr. Diosdado Amado, was elected Municipal Mayor for 1948-1951. This council accomplished much in the rehabilitation of the town. Reconstruction of public school buildings was made possible because of the aid from the War Damage Commission. The following are the worthy accomplishments of this council:
(a) Reconstruction and repair of the Atimonan Elementary School concrete building, Primary Building (opposite the Roman Catholic church), Home Economics Building, Trade School Building, and the Administration Building.
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(b) The services of the Atimonan Emergency Hospital became normal because of the interest of Mayor Amado.
(c) The construction of the Talabat Summit and Sambat-[unreadable] Roads were continued.
(d) The barrio schools of Siain, Buhangin, and Mangalayan were given sufficient aids for repair.
(e) A handsome sum for the repair of the Siain port was given.
(f) The first municipal library in the province of Quezon was established in Atimonan through the initiative of Mayor Amado.
(g) A temporary municipal building was constructed.
(h) The historical San Francisco Castle was rebuilt and beautified.
(i) An annex building was made to the public market.
(j) A beautiful bandstand was built at the center of the Balagtas Campus.
5. Despite the numerous and worthy accomplishments of the Liberal Party administration under the leadership of Mayor Amado, a Nacionalista, Mr. Lorenzo Reyes, was elected mayor in the election of 1951. The Nacionalista Party won in the local election because as the people say: "There is a need for a change."
A new municipal building has been constructed because of the efforts of this council and through the help of the central government.
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9. Destruction of Lives, Properties, and Institutions during Wars, Especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945. Measures and Accomplishments toward Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Following World War II:
The year 1896 marked the beginning of the Philippine Revolution. Under the rule of Municipal Captain Bernardino Enriquez, Colonel of the military territory, numberless individuals volunteered to serve the Spanish government. These soldiers, who composed exactly one regiment, were intended to fight against what was called "insurrectos." Atimonan, but that time, was called Little Spain, being faithful to the government. Because the rumor was that "insurrectos" were planning to invade the town, the commander of the military territory, Alfredo Castro, with his Lieutenant Melecio Daquiwa and all the volunteer soldiers, were all armed at all times in guarding the town. Not long after this, the ship Bohol without notice, anchored at Lamon Bay on the 18th day of June 1898. Under the lead of the officers of the 72nd Regiment of the Spanish Army, they right away landed in Atimonan, handing a letter to Commander Castro and Lieutenant Daquiwa from Colonel Iboleon, ordering them to see him at the ship, together all soldiers armed with Remingtons.
After receiving the letter, they right away followed the order. But immediately after climbing the ship, all of them were disarmed by the insurrectos from Mauban. After discussing all about the motive of the disarmament, and upon agreeing to a certain point, they all together went to Atimonan, leaving only Lt. Daquiwa and a few soldiers from Mauban. Meanwhile, they were already in town and since the guards left in the ship were all in merry undertakings, so the Spanish soldiers killed all of them and right away sailed for Manila.
After this incident, the Filipino soldiers from Mauban called for a meeting at the Municipal Government Building, and during this
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Francisco Mañalac - Justice of the Peace
Maximino Almeyda - Internal Revenue Chief
Pedro Villadolid - Chief of Police
Alfredo Castro - Secretary
In May 1898, Escolastico Viola, representative of General Aguinaldo, came to Atimonan to ask for funds for the maintenance of the army. He was able to collect ₱5,000.00. By this time, Atimonan showed that though she was called Little Spain during the reign of the Spaniards because of her faithfulness to the government, she now showed her faithfulness to the revolutionaries.
In January 1900, the town officials received an order to warn the people to hide due to the coming of the Americans.
Robberies became rampant in town, and outlaws in the barrios.
On the 2nd day of February of the same year, the American soldiers, under the leadership of Commander Thomas L. Hartigan, entered the town.
In the same month, a fight between the American Army and the Philippine Army took place on the mountain of Lagyo, Atimonan. This resulted into the death of Lt. Gildora of the Philippine Army and many American soldiers.
On the 11th day of March of the same year, another fight between the Banahaw Battalion, under the leadership of Colonel Eustacio Maloles, and the American Army, headed by Commander Hartigan, took place in Pulong Anahawan in the barrio of Malusak. During this fight, 17 Filipino sol-
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After this fight, Atimonan became a peaceful place to live in.
But, after 40 years of peace, Atimonan was suddenly shocked by the coming of the Japanese Army on the eve of Dec. 24th, 1941. All the people were forced to hide themselves in remote barrios. Members of the USAFFE stationed at the beach of Lamon did their best to combat the invaders, but due to the lack of strength, they were forced to withdraw, which gave way to the easy landing of the Japanese forces, although there were heavy casualties on the side of the Japanese.
Most of the Japanese soldiers proceeded to Lucena, while those left in town made their good time in robbing the properties of the people.
All schools and institutions, by the coming of the Japanese, were closed, including government agencies.
After several weeks, the commanding officers of the Japanese forces made an order commanding all the people to go to town to get their identification and passes.
All the town officials were ordered to resume their duties.
Numberless individuals suffered from the ill treatment received from the Japanese government.
On October 14, 1943, the townspeople celebrated Philippine Independence as granted by the Japanese government.
After the celebration, Dr. Ramon Soler, the present Mayor of Atimonan, was relieved of his duties by Mr. Cipriano Reyes.
One afternoon in barrio San Andres Budok, 7 Japanese soldiers, while on their tour of inspection, met a Filipino spy and reported that 3 Americans were seen in the house of a certain individual. They made an exchange fight that resulted to the death
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Believing that the town was the home of many Japanese, the guerrillas deemed it wise to bomb the town. All the houses, except a few, were turned to ashes; and about 1,500 men and women, including children, went with the smoke.
On the 13th day of April 1945, the American soldiers, with the help of the Hunters, entered the town.
(b) Measures and Accomplishments toward Rehabilitation and Reconstruction following World War II:
1. Sa pamamahala ni G. Victor M. Degracia, huling alkalde ng
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(1) Under the rule of Mayor Victor M. Degracia, the last mayor during the Commonwealth Government, and the first Mayor of Atimonan under the Republic of the Philippines, accomplished the following:
a. Reconstruction of streets and bridges and canals which were destroyed during the war;
b. Construction of the Atimonan Emergency Hospital, etc.
After the term of Victor M. Degracia, Mayor Diosdado L. Amado and his council followed.
Under the leadership of Mayor Amado, with the help of Councilors Tranquilino Z. Villasin, Santiago D. Lario, Nicolas D. Altamira [Altamirano?], Arsenio D. Marquez, Vicente V. Villarama, Juan T. Lacerna, Hilario V. Altea, Maximino Pagalilawan, Secretary Eladio Nerier, and Vice-Mayor Vicente Z. Manila, the following aid was given by the War Commission:
(1) For the reconstruction of the concrete building - ₱34,000.00;
(2) For the maintenance of the intermediate classes - ₱17,700.00;
(3) For the reconstruction of the Home Economics [Building] - ₱7,070.00;
(4) For the reconstruction of the Administration Building - ₱5,180.00;
(5) For the reconstruction of the Trade School Building - ₱11,300.00.
From the National Aid, the administration was able to get the amount of ₱14,000.00 for the reconstruction of the Siain Port in the barrio of Plaridel.
The Atimonan Emergency Hospital, which was constructed by the previous administration, in order to continue its services to the people, under the able guidance of the national officials, the ad-
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The administration was able to ask from the Provincial Government the following amounts:
(1) For the continuation of the Sambat-Yawe Road, ₱10.000.00;
(2) For the repair of the provincial road Talaba-Summit, ₱5,000.
(3) For the repair of other roads and bridges:
e. ₱647.00, f. ₱4,403.00, and g. ₱1,800.00
(4) For the purchase of asphalt for use in the different streets inside the town - ₱1,000.00.
(5) For the maintenance of roads (from Governor Santayana) - ₱1,000.00
From the pork barrel of Representative Moreto, the amount of ₱10,000.00 was sliced for the repair of barrio school buildings.
From the pork barrel of Senator Tañada, the amount of ₱25,000.00 was sliced for the construction of a new Municipal Government Building.
From the pork barrel of Representative Vera, the amount of ₱5,000 was sliced for the following purposes:
(a) ₱1,500.00 for the Siain Elementary School;
(b) ₱1,000.00 for the Buhangin Elementary School;
(c) ₱500.00 for the Manggalayan Labak Barrio School;
(d) ₱2,000.00 for the beautification of parks and monuments.
The administration was also able to get the amount of ₱15,000 for the construction of the Lagalag Bridge in the barrio of Buhangin.
For the repair of the port in Siain, which was damaged by the typhoon, the amount of ₱9,000.00 was secured by the administration.
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For the continuation of the Sambat-Yawe Road, another ₱5,000 was secured by the administration.
The first public library was put up in this town by the same administration, the first in Quezon Province.
Summing up the achievements and accomplishments toward the rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II in this town are the following municipal projects:
(a) Municipal Building
(b) Atimonan Emergency Hospital
(c) Asphalted streets - Juez Andres, Iskong Bantay, and Osmeña
(d) Repaired and improved bridges, culverts, canals, and streets
(e) Additional public market building
(f) A kiosk at the Balagtas Plaza
(g) Improved and beautified Iskong Bantay watch tower
(h) Improved school building and school grounds
The living conditions of the people are very much improved and modernized.
Compiled by:
A. F. Andrey
AES
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