MUNICIPALITY OF MAUBAN, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 6

their own.

On June 19, 1898, Sunday afternoon, the people sighted a big steamboat coming toward Mauban from behind the island of Cagbalete. All at once, the soldiers were deployed behind the concrete wall along the coast of Daungan Dumagat. The boat displayed a Spanish flag. It was a Spanish boat.

The Katipunan knew that the officers of the boat would surely come ashore to see the Spanish priests in the convent. So, they made a plan. Alipio Altamarino, Francisco Pensacola, and Felix Villanueva went to the convent and told the priests about the Katipunan of Mauban, which has assumed the full responsibilities of a new government.

The Filipinos made a big threat that, in case the Spaniards landed to see the priests, they should tell the visitors that the Filipinos were still loyal to the Spanish government. If they would not do so, it would mean their death. So, the priests had no other alternative but to obey the command.

A few minutes after the Katipuneros had left the convent, a Spanish officer from the boat came to get information from the convent. The next day, the officers of the Katipunan were told that their command was complied with and that more Spanish officers from the boat, among whom were Colonel Iboleon and a captain, were seen at Daungan Dumagat coming in a vessel towards the seashore.

Those officers from the boat went directly to the convent to see the priests, while the members of the revolutionary government were posted around the town and at different places.

Instantly, the report of a gun was heard from Daungan. The officers of the Katipunan rushed to the scene where they saw the body of Colonel Iboleon lying in front of the Compania Tabacalera. He was shot while trying to elude captivity with a captain. The captain, who was also wounded, was saved by Mateo Almozara from the angry mob.

This Spanish captain of the infantry and the two priests in the convent were summoned to the Tribunal by the Katipunan in order to make

a plan to capture the steamboat Bohol and all other Spaniards on the boat. The witty Alipio Altamarino and Francisco Pensacola suggested in this meeting that a letter of invitation bearing the signature of Colonel Iboleon be sent to the officers of the boat. This was done. All officials and personnel fo the boat were required by the colonel to land for a dinner and a party in their honor. The letter of invitation bore the copied signature of Iboleon by the Captain of the Infantry. The letter was sent to the boat and was immediately responded [to].

the Katipunan, Juan Orejola and Milquiades Manaog, were left on the boat.

In the battle between the Spaniards and the Katipunan in Tayabas, in which more than three hundred soldiers from Mauban participated, Juan Devera and Hermenegildo del Moro of this town were killed in action while Angel Bantayan, also of Mauban, was wounded.

After the defeat of the Spaniards in Tayabas, the soldiers of Mauban under Mateo Almozara, Felix Villanueva, Ildefonso dela Calzada, and Teodoro Destajo returned home. These military officers were conferred with the title of honor by General Miguel Malvar of Batangas, the last Filipino General to surrender to the American authorities.

In August 1898, Mr. Honorio Launza, a representative of Hon. Quirino Eleazar, the Provincial Governor of Tayabas Province, was sent here to supervise the election of the municipal officials.

In that election held, the following officials were elected:

Juan Camposano Salvador Ferro Serapion Villamayor Hugo Mendieta Francisco Pastrana

President Vice-President Representative of the Justice of the Peace Representative of the Chief of Police Representative of the Hacienda

These officials took their oaths of office before the provincial governor in Lucena.

"Don Juancho," as he was called, held office for only one month. He was succeeded by his vice, Mr. Salvador Ferro.

By this time, a certain General Pawa, with several military officials, came from Camarines with fifty boxes of money, each box containing one thousand pesos. After a few days, he left Mauban.

A few days later, General Lukban came from the Municipality of Lucban. He had more military officers than soldiers not long after his arrival, he left with his military officers for Camarines. Five days after his departure, there arrived one hundred firearms for General Lukban.

These firearms were taken by the people of Mauban to Atimonan. In turn, the people of Atimonan took them to General Lukban in Camarines.

In October 1898, Victor Alfonso, a Captain of the revolutionary govern-

ment came and reorganized the army that fought in the historical battle of Tayabas. He initiated also the celebration of Rizal Day in Mauban in the same year.

of February 1899.

As early as 1900, the American occupation of Mauban began. Many American soldiers came to the neighboring towns of Mauban, Lucban, and Atimonan. The people were more frightened than before.

Colonel Maloles, the commander of "Battalion Banahaw" of the Revolutionary Government, came with some of his military officers and soldiers. They stayed in the barrio of Macasin for several days in the house of Father Eulogio Pelejo, who provided them with food and clothing.

The American Army, under a captain and his two lieutenants and a doctor, were permanently stationed in this town.

This time, Domingo Arce, who was at one time exiled by the Spaniards, was appointed executive official by the Americans. When the people heard of his appointment, some of them came to town. Knowing that the Americans were friendly and fine folks, and that no offense was charged against the Filipinos, our grandparents were convinced of their sincerity in making the Philippines free from oppression.

In the course of time, the peaceful loving citizens returned to town.

At the beginning of the new administration, all male citizens from eighteen years up were required to pay a personal tax of twenty centavos every year.

In July 1900, two military officers and ten soldiers of General Cailles of Laguna came to find out from Captain M. Almozara if in case General Cailles' army came to launch a drive against the Americans, a sufficient supply of food could be purchased.

Captain Almozara gave his approval and assured them of his help. Immediately after the meeting, the two officers went to town on the hill behind the house of Julian Villabona and made the plan for the drive. While these two officers were going back, they met a group of American soldiers in Uwayin, Banot where they had an exchange of fire. General Cailles' men eluded, but a man, G. de Asis by name, who was a sergeant of the Revolutionary Government, was brought to town by the Americans for information.

When the general's men arrived at the house of Mr. M. Almozara, they met there another two soldiers of the same general from Laguna. These new arrivals delivered a letter to the two officers, advising them to return hom because their camp in Laguna was discovered by the Americans, and in the encounter that ensued, the Filipinos ram short of ammunition. With this obstruction on the part of General Cailles' Revolutionary Army, Mauban was saved from destruction of both lives and properties.

Not long after this, Captain Almozara was, little by little, convinced by the sincerity of the American people through Mr. Domingo Arce, the appointed executive official of this town.

Generally, the new government under the appointed chief executive had gained the admiration of the people, except Captain Teodoro Destajo, a contemporary of Captain Almozara.

In 1901, Domingo Arce continued his administration. Everyday, the American army went to the barrio in search of Captain Destajo and his men, who continued to defy the American sovereignty.

One day in March 1901, a certain Nicolas Encallado, who was also a revolutionary soldier, seized an army trumpet and a pistol from an American sol-

dier in the town plaza and took them to General Cailles in Laguna who, in turn, gave him some cash as reward for his bravery. Along this incident, an American soldier in the line of his duty was killed in the mountain near the town by a group of unknown men.

In January 1902, Colonel Gardiner, the first American Governor of Tayabas, came to Mauban with Mr. Gervacio Unson, the Provincial Secretary, and Mr. Juan Merchan, the interpreter. They organized the first civil government in Mauban which resulted to the election of the following officials:

Mr. Hugo Mendieta Mr. Salvador Ferro Mr. Leoncio Palacio Mr. Gregorio Altamarino Mr. Mariano Calucin Mr. Serapion Villamayor Mr. Fermin Jugueta Mr. Teodoro Calleja Mr. Diego Pastrana Mr. Pedro Ureta Mr. Remigio del Banco Mr. Ramon Pastrana

President Vice-President Municipal Councilor "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""

During this time, the American military authority had a hand in the civil affairs of the people. Although there were elected municipal officials, yet the military authority had the final say.

Captain Blue of the American Army was succeeded by Captain Whitman. He commanded all the people of the fifteen barrios of Mauban to come to town to effect the capture of Captain Destajo and his men. But when Destajo learned about the plan, he left Mauban and joined Colonel Caballes of the Revolutionary Government in Laguna.

By that time, the Hon. Ignacio Villamor, the Judge of the Courts of First Instance of the Tagalog Region, came to try civil cases of all towns along Lamon Bay in Mauban.

After a few days, the American Constabulary under Mr. E. B. Keesey came to Mauban also. Again, a report was heart that Captain Destajo and his men were in the barrio of Luya-luya. The constabulary proceeded to that place, but when they reached Sabang at Pinagbayanan, they encountered at

once the dissidents and killed two of them, Victor Sangkap and Alfredo Altamarino, the brother of Alipio Altamarino, one of our local heroes; while Urbano Jugueta, a member of the same group, was wounded. Their arms were seized by the authorities. Because of this encounter, Destajo had not been heard of for a long time.

Unfortunately, Mauban had experienced the most dangerous cholera and smallpox diseases which killed hundreds of people in town. The doctor of the American Army ordered the closing of the Catholic Cemetery as a preventive measure. Instead, all the deceased were buried and burned in the sitio of Pilaway.

The American Army and the lieutenant of the constabulary left Mauban. Mariano Castillo, a brave Tagalog colonel of the Revolutionary Government, succeeded the lieutenant of the American Constabulary.

Captain Destajo was under Colonel Castillo during the Revolutionary Government in Tayabas.

One day, Lieutenant Castillo and his men went to the barrio to look for the dissidents. When they reached the Tapukan Distillery, they met their objective and there was a brief exchange of fire. When Destajo learned that the commanding officer of the constabulary was Lieutenant Castillo, his former chief, his attitude towards the new administration was changed.

Castillo persuade Destajo to live peacefully under the new form of government. The latter was convinced by the former.

Since then, Destajo recognized the civil government under the American administration. Castillo appointed Destajo as a corporal of the constabulary, but many of his men were imprisoned in Lucena. Some of them were accused of brigandage.

Hugo Mendieta continued his term of office until 1903. During this year, the three barrios of Bilukaw, Banot, and San Bueno of this municipality were annexed to the Municipality of Sampaloc. This was done during the time of Banholtz as the Provincial Governor of Tayabas.

In 1904, the second election under the American regime was held. The following officials were elected:

Mr. Remigio del Banco Mr. Serapion Villamayor Mr. Norberto Pensacola Mr. Vicente de Vera Mr. Doroteo Ingles Mr. Vicente Camposano Mr. Julian Villabona Mr. Castor Llamas Mr. Lorenzo Desembrana Mr. Bonifacio Villanueva Mr. Victor Baldeo

President Vice-President Municipal Councilor "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""

During the early part of the incumbency of the municipal council, funds for the construction of a school and municipal buildings were raised by way of voluntary contributions. The townspeople contributed willingly the amount they could afford to give for these projects.

Lights were provided on the corners of the streets.

In 1905, the concrete bridges at Panganiban Street across the brook and the concrete canal from the public bath along the east side of the San Buenaventura Street to the Trapichi Brook were constructed.

Mr. Telesforo Llamas Mr. Lorenzo Desembrana Mr. Ramon Pastrana Mr. Tomas dela Costa Mr. Fernando Pensacola Mr. Emilio Pensacola

President Vice-President Municipal Councilor "" "" ""

In this election, only five councilors were elected because in 1905, five of the ten councilors were changed by lot as ruled by the Civil Commission. Five of the ten councilors were changed every year. So, in 1906, the other five councilors elected were:

Mr. Fernando Pastrana
Mr. Fernando Remoroza
Mr. Ildefonso dela Calzada
Mr. Elias Abcede
Mr. Miguel Jugueta

The municipal council continued to raise more funds for the school and municipal buildings. During the second year term of this municipal council, the two-storey building near the present concrete municipal building was begun and completed in the same year.

As usual, the election of 1908 was held. The following candidates had won the approval of the greatest majority:

Mr. Francisco Pensacola Mr. Mariano Clemente Mr. Paulino Pelejo Mr. Monico Santayana Mr. Remigio del Banco Mr. Bartolome Calong Mr. Sesinando Ingles Mr. Mauro Eleazar Mr. Aniceto Sarmiento Mr. Isabelo Verceluz Mr. Silverio Taiño

President Vice-President Municipal Councilor "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""

This time marked the beginning of the political parties in Mauban known as the Black and the White. The Black was composed of the populace or the common tao under the leadership of Mr. Francisco Pensacola, the elected President; and the Whites composed of well-to-do families was headed by Mr. Telesforo Llamas. The Chinese and the Spanish merchants supported the latter group, that was why the group had that name.

The Municipal Council organized a Fire Department because fire broke out very often in those days and many were rendered homeless.

With the election that was held in 1910, the following candidates were elected:

Mr. Eusebio Calleja Mr. Silverio Taiño Mr. Pablo Pensacola Mr. Bartolome Pensacola Mr. Teodorico Sardea Mr. Primitivo Villabona Mr. Eugenio Engracia Mr. Marcelo Ursolino Mr. Alejandro Maningas Mr. Mauro Eleazar Mr. Sesinando Ingles Mr. Isabelo Verceluz

President Vice-President Municipal Councilor "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""

Unfortunately, Mr.Eusebio Calleja, the elected Municipal President, died shortly after the election. For that reason, Mr. Silverio Taiño, the Vice-President, assumed his office.

During the second year of his term, the construction of the present concrete building at the corner of Gomez and San Buenaventura was begun and completed at theend of his incumbency. During his administration, the political parties of Mauban were dissolved and the people had their own ways of voting, giving more weight to family relationships.

The election for the municipal officials in 1913 was not as peacefully done as before. The following were the elected members of the municipal council:

Mr. Tranquilino Villaseñor Mr. Monico Santayana Mr. Francisco Pastrana Mr. Macario Peñalosa Mr. Manuel Palacio Mr. Santiago Ingles Mr. Quiterio Borgonia Mr. Juan Demandante Mr. Salvador Ferro Mr. Santiago Almoneda Mr. Hospicio Santayana Mr. Lorenzo Faraon

President Vice-President Municipal Councilor "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""

The election for the municipal president was not clean. So, when Mr. Lorenzo Desembrana got more votes than his opponent, a complaint against his election was filed with the Court of First Instance and the case was decided against the election of Mr. Lorenzo Desembrana. So, Mr. Tranquilino Villaseñor was appointed Municipal President by the Provincial Governor in place of Mr. Lorenzo Desembrana.

One project accomplished by the administration was the construction of the concrete market at the soutwest end of the San Buenaventura Street.

In 1916, Mr. Lauro Llamas and Mr. Santiago Ingles were elected Municipal President and Vice-President, respectively.

Transcribed from: Historical Data of the Municipality of Mauban, Province of Quezon, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.