The Guinayangan Republic

There is no written account of the origin of the name Dancalan. However, the most probable version was that during the Spanish period, the early settlers were the Aetas. Base on hearsay, while the Aetas were making kaingin, they found many big trees called “dancalan”. Since that time they named this place Dancalan which originated from the trees found by the natives.

At the early years of the 18th century, there were many Cabesa de Barangay who came from the different parts of the islands and settled in this place. The early cabesas were Regino Barrameda, Perfecto Rufo, Venancio Ariola, Benito de la Torre, Vicente Moran and Valentin Araña. These cabesas were the first barrio lieutenants and owners of big lands during that time.

When the Americans came as early as 1905, this place was ruled by the Cabesang Matanda and Cabesang Bata. The former was the barrio lieutenant and the latter was the auxillary barrio lieutenant. According to some reliable sources, Venancio Ariola and Benito de La Torre, Damian Fuerte and Nicolas Arellanom Marciano Pedregal and Bienvenuto Arellano were the barrio lieutenants and auxillary barrio lieutenants respectively.

During the Japanese Occupation, Dancalan played an important role in the underground movement. In spite of a strong garrison of the Japanese soldiers in the town, the guerillas have organized their headquarters in the different parts of the barrio.

Dancalan was long noted for its big buri and coconut plantations. During those time, people of Lucban and Mauban comes to this place to buy buri fibers locally known as “buntal” which is woven into fine buntal hats.
The biggest haciendas (plantation) of the early years of Guinayangan were located in Dancalan. It was formerly owned by Don Claro M.Recto and Don Juan del Gallego.
The people of Dancalan were industrious. They engaged in farming of rice and coconut products, some also raise hogs and chickens. Making it one of the biggest and most productive barangay of Guinayangan.

Dancalan Central And Caimawan

During the incumbency of the Municipal President (Mayor) Faustino Araña, the barrio of Dancalan was subdivided into two, namely Dancalan Central and Dancalan Caimawan. This was done due to its increasing population and immense size. The first barrio lieutenant of Dancalan Central was Antonio Oblifias who headed the barrio for many number of years. He was succeeded by Jovan Diolola. Dancalan Caimawan retained the officials of the original barrio.

The sitios of Dancalan Central are Talungin, Quinay and Quipot. Their population does not warrant each of them to be independent barrios. The sitios were noted for copra making and farming. There were several rice mills where the other barrios as Villa Hiwasayan, Ligpit Bantayan and Sintones have their palay ground.







Compiled by:
Miss Anita Sastrillo

Excerpt from the manuscript: 
Collection And Compilation Of Historical Data And Cultural Life Of The
Municipality Of Guinayangan Including Its Barrios And Sitios, 
Province of Quezon, Philippines
Philippine (Republic) Bureau Of Public Schools
Division Of Quezon