MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 7

When Kapitan Manalo took over, Dr. Morendo, a Spaniard, reported the loss of his watch. To recover the watch, water cure was practiced. All suspects were hung, head down, and dipped in water until the suspect's abdomen was filled with water. This inhumane punishment was stopped when it was later discovered that the missing watch was only misplaced.

Vicente Manalo served as Kapitan from 1896-1898.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Revolution had been kindled by Andres Bonifacio. As there were already some insurgents in Atimonan, the loyalists to Spain under the leadership of ex-Kapitan Municipal Bernardino Enriquez organized a regiment to check the activities of the insurgents (locally called insurrectos). Due to the unpatriotic move of Enriquez and company, Atimonan was renamed "Little Spain."

Time came when the daily conversation of the populace was the strength of the insurgents who might attack the town at any moment. To avert somehow the critical situation, the Territorial Military Commandant, Alfredo Castro, with Lt. Melecio Daquiwa and their soldiers who were all armed with rifles, patrolled the town day and night by turns. But on June 13, 1896, the Spanish ship Bohol appeared suddenly at Lamon Bay and immediately, small boats with military officers of Regiment No. 72 were lowered from the ship. The officers had a letter with them summoning Commandant Alfredo Castro, Lt. Daquiwa, and all Filipino soldiers with Remington rifles to confer with the Spanish Col. Iboleon. After reading the summon, those concerned immediately boarded the small boats and proceeded to the ship. As they stepped on the ship's deck, they were met by the revolutionists from Mauban and confiscated their arms.

A showdown between Commandant Castro and the revolutionists of Mauban ensued the confiscation of arms. When the doubts and misunderstandings about the revolutionary movement were cleared, Commandant Castro and some of his men were allowed to return to Atimonan, while Lt. Daquiwa and some Atimonan-Mauban soldiers were ordered to remain in the ship.

A cordial reception was offered to the Mauban revolutionists when Commandant Castro returned to the ship Bohol.

Meanwhile, the Spanish soldiers in the ship Bohol massacred Lt. Daquiwa and the Filipino soldiers, raised the ship's anchor then proceeded to Manila. In retaliation for the cowardly acts of the Spanish soldiers in the ship, the revolutionists from Mauban called the leadership of Mauban to a conference in the Municipal Building; and for the first time, the blue, white and red flag with a sun and three stars waved above the skies of Atimonan.

The main topic of the conference was the freedom of the Philippines as advocated by the K.K.K. With the points defined and elucidated, the following were selected to serve as the local officials under the Philippine Government: VICENTE MANALO, President; FRANCISCO MANALO, Justice Delegate; MAXIMINO ALMEYDA, Revenue Delegate; PEDRO VILLADOLID, Police Delegate; and ALFREDO CASTRO, Secretary.

In 1898, the month of May, Mr. Escolastico Viola, personal envoy of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, visited Atimonan and collected the amount of five thousand pesos (₱5,000.00), representing the financial help of Atimonan to the cause of the Philippine Revolution against Spain. That actuation was a manifestation of the loyalty of Atimonan to her country and this gave credence to the gossip that it was a big lie to rename Atimonan as "Munting España."

In September of 1898, Mr. Braulio de Villa, a representative of the Provincial Government of Tayabas (now Quezon), came and managed the appointment of the local officials of Atimonan who would continued serving in the Philippine Government. The following were chosen: JOSE MONTES, President; MAXIMINO ALMEYDA, Vice-President; ALFREDO CASTRO, Revenue Delegate; MARIANO MANADAC, Justice Delegat; PEDRO VILLADOLID, Police Delegate; and CIPRIANO PINEDA, Secretary.

In April 1899, General Ignacio Pawa of the Philippine Government arrived from Camarines (there was only one Camarines that time) with one hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000.00) corresponding to the financial help of the Bicolanos to the Philippine Revolution. The amount was to be presented to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. To facilitate its transportation, President Jose Montes made the necessary arrangements for the men to accompany Gen. Pawa and for the horses to be used.

In January 1900, the town officials of Atimonan received an order requiring the town folks to evacuate, as the American forces were expected to attack the town. This period was called "PAGTATAGUAN." As an immediate result of the evacuation, robberies became prevalent in the town and banditry was a common affair in the barrios.

On February 2, 1900, the American forces under the command of Commandant Thomas Hartigan entered Atimonan and sojourned in the church convent.

A few days later, the American forces encountered the Filipino soldiers in the Lagyo Mountain (about 2⅓ kilometers from the town proper of the National Road going to Lucena). In this battle, Lt. Cildera, a Filipino, was killed while many Americans also met their death and some were wounded.

On March 11 of the same year, the Americans under Commander Thomas L. Hartigan attacked the Philippine camp under Col. Eustacio Maloles in Pulong Anahawan, south of barrio Malusak, Atimonan. In this battle, 17 Filipinos were killed and 30 were wounded. No mention was made as to the American casualties.

Don Gregorio Orda, known as Kapitan Juez Instructor of "Battalion Banahaw," was hit by a bullet in one of his feet, which caused him to fall, and thus he was obliged to creep but he was soon captured. The battle started when Modesto Castillo, a Filipino soldier, fired at the American guard, Mr. Dignan.

After the Battle of Pulong Anahawan, Commandant Thomas L. Hartigan assumed the position of Military Executive in Atimonan. A decree was issued requiring the people to return to the town. Those who heeded the order were given by the Americans some galletas (a kind of bread) and salted meat (tusino) as reward. The news about the generosity of the Americans spread like fire. Soon, all of those who had evacuated returned to the town. Commandant Hartigan then appointed Francisco Desembrana as temporary Commission President; whilte Jose Montes continued to act as the local President under the government of Gen. Aguinaldo. His duties were duly exercised secretly.

President Desembrana required all male citizens between 18 to 60 years of age to pay a personal tax of twenty centavos each. This was in conformity with the order of the Americans. The Commission President in 1900 served within that year only.

In 1901-1902, Luciano Manalo served as President.

The collection of land tax started in 1902 and the personal tax was increased from twenty centavos to one peso.

In that same year, some bandits ransacked Laguimanok (a barrio of Atimonan, now the Municipality of Padre Burgos), the cause of which remained unknown to President Mapaye. For his negligence, Provincial Governor Gardiner decided to remove him from office. Marcelo Manalo, Vice-President, was immediately appointed to take the place of the suspended President.

The term of Marcelo Manalo as President resummed from 1902-1903. It was during this period when Pope Reus, alias Kabuig of the barrio Manggalayan, claimed to be the successor of the Pope of Rome. Kabuig's clothing was very fragrant and he was surrounded by attractive ladies who were called virage. Only a handful of the Atimonan folks did not confess to this "pope." Time came when he was considered a nuisance to the peace and order of the town. So, the government decidd to investigate his unlawful activities. Kabuig was too alert that it took a year for the government officials to arrest him. Without due process

of law, he was immediately hanged at the Rizal Campus on December 8, 1903. Honesto Amado read the decision and Mr. Billy, an American, was the one who pulled the rope that was tied around Kabuig's neck.

The construction of the Central School of Atimonan was made possible through the administration of Alfredo Castro in 1904-1905. The amount of ₱4,000.00 derived from the sale of one thousand piculs of copra was used for the said construction. The use of the amount for the Central School was requested by President Alfredo Castro from Mr. Gardiner, Provincial Governor of Tayabas (now Quezon).

It was also through the initiative of this President when the construction of the zigzag road was started. Several persons died in the construction of this road due to the lack of food, and more died due to sickness. The construction engineer, Mr. Vogelgesang, died due to a huge landslide as the workers were digging the mountains.

In the World Fair at St. Louis, U.S.A., 1905, Atimonan was fortunate to have a delegate in the person of President Alfredo Castro. His Vice-President, Francisco Desembrana, took over the reins of government.

The followers of "pope" Reus, alias Kabuig, who were now branded as Colorums, regrouped and concentrated in a camp in the mountains of Tanauan, a barrio of Atimonan, after the death of their leader. Their principal aim was to re-establish Philippine independence, which was cut short by the coming of the Americans.

When Manuel L. Quezonn, the Provincial Governor of Tayabas (now Quezon) learned of the embroiling revolution, he boarded a Coast Guard boat secretly with some P.C. [troops] at Lucena and proceeded to barrio Tanauan, Atimonan.

The P.C. attacked the camp of the Colorums and, after a seesaw battle, the Colorums dispersed and ran for their lives. The P.C. burned the huts in the camp and returned to the Coast Guard [boat] together with their prisoners. The Coast Guard [boat] sailed for the town of Atimonan.

The Provincial Governor called the local officials and he gave them a sharp tongue-lashing. And for the negligence in the performance of their duties, Quezon suspended on the spot President Desembrana and Eladio Lopez, who was then the Councilor for the barrio of Tanauan. The services of the entire police force were also

terminated. Pedro A. Enriquez was appointed Acting President of Atimonan by Quezon.

In 1906-1907, Pedro A. Enriquez continued to serve as Acting President of Atimonan as per appointment bestowned upon him by the Governor of the Province, the late Manuel L. Quezon.

In 1908, Pedro A. Enriquez succeeded himself as President and his term ended in 1912. The start of the construction of the Rizal Monument at the Rizal Campus on June 19, 1912 coincided with his administration. The construction of the aforesaid monument was made possible through the direct contribution of the towsfolks. The success of the collection was due to the incessant and unfaltering efforts of Leon Guinto, Sr. (RIP), Chief Weather Observer of Atimonan; Vice-President Juan Martinez; ex-Kapitan Bernardino Enriquez; Municipal Councilor Anselmo Ortiz; and many others.

You will recall that Don Gregorio Orda, Sr. was captured by the Americans in the Battle of Pulong Anahawan because he was wounded on March 11, 1900.

He was the President of the town from 1913 to 1916. He was responsible for the construction of the first concrete public market in the town in 1915. This market was turned to ashes due to the conflagration on March 6, 1964. This public market is waiting for sufficient funds from that National Government so that it can be reconstructed.

It was also through his initiative that a municipal cemetery was made available for those who were not Roman Catholics and for those who could not afford the fees of the Church's cemetery.

For the fourth time, Pedro A. Enriquez, a Nacionalista, was elected President of Atimonan. This elucidated that he was a first-class politician of his time. He was a silent campaigner. He never delivered any political speeches.

After the election of 1916, the political leaders of the local Democratic Party denounced publicly the very Rev. Moises Berbon, the Roman Catholic priest, for having supported the Nacionalista Party candidates openly and, in protest of the questionable actuation of the Catholic priest, the Philippine Independent Church, locally known as the Aglipayan Church, sprang under the leadership of the fol-

lowing: Alejandro Pio Pilar, Rafael Castro, Eladio Lopez, Anselmo Ortiz, Pio Amores, Benito Sales, Domingo Marquez, Francisco Laurio, Martin Dolorico, Ireneo Pasamba, Marcelo Verdan, Vicente Aguilar Deseo, Victor de Gracia, Cipriano Villareal, Luis Manalo, Pedro Diaz, Silvestre Orda, Gregorio Orda, Domingo Orda, Roman Quinto, Pacifico Sabio, Eleuterio Campomanes, Diego Ortiz, Rufo Belino, Sixto Almagro, Felix Saniel, Eleuterio Marasigan, Marcelo Manalo, Juan Luna, Juan Parafina, Castor Parafina, Francisco Desembrana, Pedro Aguilar, Regino Marquez, Luis Marquez, Regino Aguilar, Adriano Anda, Andres Mapaye, Andres Amandy, Alberto Marquez, Baldomero Garate, Bartolome Espino, Cirilo Flor, Cipriano Pasamba, Canuto Anda, Baldomero Delvo, Diosdado Orda, Emiliano Saniel, Francisco M. Pasamba, Francisco L. Lavador, Francisco S. Fajardo, Francisco S. Ortiz, Francisco Veran, Feleciano Nieva, Feleciano M. Velasco, Felipe Macayan, Godofredo Lasquety, Gatulio M. de Gracia, Higino Manalo, Hilario Saniel, Isidro de Gracia, Juan Deseo, Jose Mapaye, Lucas Saniel, Luciano Martinez, Modesto Verdaguer, Mamerto Laude, Mariano Amandy, Nemesio Calcetas, Pablo Merano, Pablo Inoy, Pedro Lasheras, Paulino Villareal, Paulino Parco, Quirino Diaz, Quirico Cervantes, Rafael Nerier, Simeon Macayan, Sixto Pardito, Severo Borlaza, Teofilo Gregorio, Zacarias Campomanes, Zacarias Amandy, and others.

In the local election of 1919, Victor Vargas, a Nacionalista, was elected overwhelmingly against the Democratic Party candidate. This man passed away on account of serious illness and lost his chance of making an image of his administration. Mateo Manila, the Vice-President, succeeded him until 1921.

The President-elect for 1922-1928 (two successive terms) was Eladio Lopez, a pharmacist by profession, of the Democratic Party. The Municipal Council of this administration recommended to the Provincial Board the construction of the Talaba-Summit Road and that this road be made a part of the Tayabas (now Quezon) Provincial Road. The recommendation was well-taken and the aforementioned road still exists.

In 1925, the monument of Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas as pseudonym), the Father of Filipino Poetry, was erected at Balagtas Campus, adjacent to the public market. It was Mr. Jose Olega who present the motion at the meeting of Panitikan Atimonan that said monument be constructed. It was also Mr. Jose Olega who contracted a Manila sculptor to do the job. As the Panitikan Atimonan, a civic organization, had no available funds during that time, the dip-

lomas and receipts for the collection of funds from the public were secured on credit from a printing press in Manila.

Atty. Victor D. Villamiel was unanimously elected president in 1928. His services terminated in 1931. During his first year of administration, the Tayabas (now Quezon) Trade School was constructed in the barrio of Tagbakin, about a kilometer away from the town site. This school was forced to close when no funds were appropriated for its maintenance. At present, the school is being utilized in housing the elementary school pupils of the barrio.

The construction of the Ati-Monang Park in the compound of the Municipal Building was also one of the achievements of this administration. This beautiful spot was totally destroyed when Atimonan was bombed during World War II.

One of the members of the Panitik Atimonan, Filomeno Laurio, a notary public, was elected president under the Nacionalista banner in 1931, and served until 1934. As a rabid advocate of civic movement, his administration worked harmoniously for the improvement and further beautification of the Balagtas Campus, where the monument of the Filipino poet laureate stands.

In Atimonan, the Sakdalista Movement was at its height in 1934. This is justified by the fact that in the 1934 local elections, the candidates of the Sakdalista Party from the President to the lowest Councilor were all elected unanimously. So, Atimonan had a Sakdalista Municipal Council from 1934 to 1937.

This council moved the observance of the town fiesta from August 1^st to February 4, the day when Atimoman was founded. A marble plaque with a significant inscription was placed at the base of the monument of Ati-Monang.

On August 20, 1937, the fifth and sixth floors of the Roman Catholic church tower crumpled due to a strong earthquake and frequent [shaking] of the earth. The dilapidated tower was reconstructed through the

effort of Rev. Father Bonifacio Orejola, then parish priest of Atimonan. The citizens of Atimonan cooperated wholeheartedly with the parish priest, yet the original height of the tower was not restored.

Dr. Ramon N. Soler, who was elected President in 1938, continued to serve until 1943, as he was obliged to do so by the commanding officer of the Japanese Army.

During the noche buena of 1941, a commotion was observed in the town proper of Atimonan, as the volunteer guards sighted several Japanese battleships in Lamon Bay. The people were warned to evacuate immediately to places of safety.

The Japanese soldiers landed at three points in Atimonan, namely, in the town proper, in Cotralco (barrio Talaba, about 5 kilometers from the town), and in Plaridel (about 13 kilometers from the town). Those who landed in the town proper were greeted by bullets of the P.C. and the trainees who made good use of the seawall as protection against the enemies. The resistance did not last long as the invading forces were supported by airplanes. The P.C. and the trainees realized that it was futile and suicidal to continue the fight. So, they decided to run to the mountains to hide. Atimonan was, therefore, easily occupied by the Japanese.

Despite the short duration of the exchange of bullets, not a few were killed on both sides. These unfortunate soldies were buried at the seawall, at the Castle of San Francisco and its vicinity.

Most of the Japanese soldiers proceeded to Lucena, and those who were left behind forced open the houses that were bolted and they ransacked them. Robbery became rampant.

Meanwhile, a dogfight [happened] in the sitio of Tayuman between and American and three Japanese planes in barrio Angeles. After a few minutes, a Japanese plane was downed. A marker was placed on the spot where the plane dropped, in memory of the Japanese pilot who succumbed to death.

When Dr. Soler came out of hiding, the commanding officer of the enemy obliged him to resume his duties as the mayor of the town.

After a few days of the Japanese Occupation, a judo exhibition was

rendered at the Rizal Campus. The people were required to witness the exhibition.

A great majority of the houses in town were occupied by the Japanese soldiers or by the Makapili followers (Makapili was an organization whose members were pro-Japanese) from the Municipalities of Lopez and Calauag. The real owners of the houses were not even allowed to visit their homes without passes from the garrison of the Imperial Japanese Forces.

Schools were opened for Niponggo classes. The people, especially the municipal officials, were encouraged to study Niponggo.

Later, classes for schoolchildren were allowed to function. English and Niponggo were taught. But the pictures in the textbooks, such as the American flag and those with direct bearing to the American way of life, were covered by pasting black paper over them.

Men and women in the town were required to wake up early for the Radio Taiso at the church plaza, with music under the leadership of a Japanese, with the help of the Municipal Mayor.

To preserve the peace and order and to somehow neutralize the fear against the guerrillas, the so-called "ronda" was imposed among male citizens of age from 10 o'clock P.M. to 5 o'clock in the morning.

The Imperial Forces gave rice rations as a means of inducing the barrio folks to come to the town. Through the efforts of the Municipal Mayor, the Municipal Building was made the center of the said rationing.

As a policy of attraction, a very impressive parade and program was rendered in consonance with the Philippine Independence bestowed by the Japanese government on October 14, 1943. In the afternoon of that day, games were played at the Balagtas Campus and, in the evening, a drama was shown followed by a popular dance.

After the celebration of the Philippine Independence sponsored by the Japanese, Cipriano O. Reyes was appointed Muncipal Mayor from 1943 to 1945, [with] Vice [Mayor] Dr. Ramon N. Soler.

The first project imposed by the Japanese during this time was

Historical Data of the Municipality of Atimonan, Province of Quezon, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.