The Guinayangan Republic

Insular Treasurer of the Philippines
January 1, 1927-February 29, 1936

Born February 16,1881 to Gabino Lagdameo and Concepcion Mondragon. Sr. Salvador Lagdameo or Tio Badoy to his kinsfolk is a real self-made man. Graduating in 1896 as “Maestro Superior de Instruccion Primaria” from the defunct “Escuela Normal Superior de Maestros de Manila”, (equivalent to BSE). He was immediately appointed teacher of the Model School, the “Esquela Superior de Maestros”, from 1898 to 1904. He conducted a private school of his own and was the principal teacher of the public school in Lopez Quezon. Census Enumerator and Bookkeeper in a commercial firm.

He also held a CPA Certificate, and was appointed Municipal Secretary of Guinayangan in 1904. In 1906, he was appointed Municipal Secretary of Guinayangan in 1904. In 1906, he was Treasurer and Post Master, and Notary Republic of the adapted town where his father Gabino Lagdameo had migrated in the late 1800’s. From here, he was successively promoted to the positions of travelling Deputy Provincial Treasurer, and Bookkeeper in the Provincial Treasury of Tayabas then Chief Clerk of Sorsogon and Camarines .

In 1915, he was concurrently appointed Treasurer, Assessor, Councilor, Registrar of Deeds for the City of Baguio, then, Deputy Provincial Treasurer for the Sub-Province of Benguet in Mountain Province. From those positions he rose to the Bureau of Treasury as Bank and Insurance Examiner, later as a Cashier. On June 1919, he became the Assistant Insular Treasurer, then Insular Treasurer of the Philippines, appointed by the Board of Accountancy.

Here are gems of thoughts from a self-made man:
“To amount to something in this world, follow some ideals......ideals that would inspire you to willingness to work and much study”.

A public servant of proven integrity, Treasurer Lagdameo was a living example of one who does and dares who acts and succeeds.
Finding himself early in youth left in the race of life without knowing English, he studied hard and read much. “Study much and digest what you know” and quote. By so doing, he rose from a mere, teacher and bookkeeper to dignified position as Insular Treasurer of the Philippines.

Salvador Lagdameo was the head of the Bureau in January 1, 1927 until February 29, 1936. It 1929 they saw the new government arm, The Bureau of Banking, which assumes the supervision of the country’s banks from the Bureau of the Treasury. It was also during his time that the Bonding Law was passed as a provision of the Administrative Code in 1917.

-from the book "Guinayangan Noon At Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines