The Guinayangan Republic

It was in the year 1907 the Abrencillo family settled in this land covered with thick cogon and forest. This family cleared, cultivated and planted the place with rice, corn, sugarcane, and other crops. This little prosperity enjoyed by the immigrants attracted other settlers and the families of Enriquez, Silva, Ricamara, Perez, and Jovitas followed the Abrencillos. Other groups then followed until it has become a prosperous village.

The population increased and the people petitioned the Municipal Council of Guinayangan to make this place an independent Barrio. It was approved and it finally called “Maligaya”, Tagalog word for happy. It accounted for the fact that the people due to its prosperity enjoyed the living there with full of happiness. So thats why they called the place Maligaya. In 1919 due to its progress and increasing population, two parts demand for separation. These were Batis Maligaya and Bukal Maligaya.

The original families were the Abrencillos, Mendozas, Enriquez, Silas, Perez, Jovitas, Ricamaras and the Calmas. The founder of the place was Martin Abrencillo.
The following became the barrio lieutenants of the place: Martin Abrencillo, Jesus Abrencillo, Hilario Abrencillo, Daniel Mendoza, and Hilario Abrencillo.

There was no depopulated barrio nor historical sites or structures, building and old ruins. The destructions during the World War II was not so great. It has been slightly rehabilitated by the Philippine War Damage Commission.


Bukal Maligaya
This place is called Bukal Maligaya. Its name was derived from its original name Barrio Maligaya. The word Bukal was originated from the existence of a clear “bukal”, the Tagalog for spring, on that place. This is where the locals fetch fresh drinking water. There is a continuous flow of fresh water even during the summer time. The fact that the people had always lived in abundance of foods even during the Japanese Occupation, with undying spring or real “bukal”. It was for these reasons why the place was called Bukal Maligaya.

Bukal Maligaya was established in the year 1937 with the following families as the settlers: Martin Abrencillo, Sofronio Butardo, Jesus Abrencillo, and Hilario Abrencillo. The prominent “Teniente del Barrio” who have done much for its progress were Castro Perez and Guillermo Evita.

There was no sitio which has been depopulated or became extinct. There were no historical sites, structures, buildings, or old ruins. There were no remarkable events that took place, neither during the Spanish period nor the American Regime. Worthwhile remembering only was the slight destruction to property made during the Japanese Occupation. These destructions anyway have been easily rehabilitated and reconstructed by the help of the PCAU and the Philippine War Damage Commission and by the industry of the people.


 


 



Batis Maligaya
(*Danlagan Batis)
The former barrio of Maligaya became so progressive that in 1907 it separated into two entities namely Batis Maligaya and Bukal Maligaya. The development of the said barrio was due to the leadership and pioneering spirit of the early family that lived there, The Abrencillos. In one of the sitios is a big spring situated In the center of the place which become the favorite rendezvous of the residents. From the spring the people get their drinking water for irrigation, drinking spot of animals, and the very place where people wash their clothes. It is therefore their important natural resource and an asset because it never dries up even during summer. It is therefore from this spring or Batis in Tagalog word where they got its name Batis Maligaya.

The early settlers were the families of Enriquez, Silvas and Ricamaras. These families have not done more than what the Abrencillos have done for the improvement of the said place. The Barrio Lieutenants who served since the establishment of this place were Adriano Enriquez, Venancio Silva. Vicente Ricamara. There was no historical record available of the original barrio until after it has been subdivided.
The last world war did not affect the lives of the people as there were no destructions made to property and lives. This was attributed to the fact that the said place is far from the highway and is not accessible by good road or trails which keep the place unnoticed by the invading Japanese Imperial Army.

This independent Barangay was formerly a part and within the jurisdiction of Danlagan. This place was popularly known as Danlagan Batis, It was so called “Batis” because of the endless flow of water coming from the spring surrounding the barrio. “Batis”, therefore is a Tagalog word for spring and is being added to the word Danlagan.

Danlagan Batis was formerly and partly a sitio of Maligaya while its other part is within Danlagan. In 1924 an association was organized composed of laborers. This association was known as Laborers Association headed by Melecio Fernandez. It was organized to help them one another. With the strong cooperation of the members, and the belief that they could manage their own affairs, they petitioned proper authorities to subdivide Maligaya into to two entities. Thus Batis Maligaya the part comprising mostly the original Maligaya and Danlagan Batis boredering and a part of Danlagan was then called Danlagan Batis.

This Barrio (Barangay) was established in 1925. The original families were the Enriquez and the Escobios. The following names are the people who became the head leader or Teniente del Barrio. Adriano Enriquez, Pedro Escobio, Venancio Silva, Clemente Rejener, Moises Villasin, Crispin Verdera, Vicente Ricamara and Florentino Manalo.

The fact that this sitio was formerly a part of Maligaya and Danlagan accounts for the absence of depopulated or extinct sitios.
During the Spanish Regime, the place being a thick forest became the sanctuary and refuge of bandits and highwaymen.

During the American Regime, the place improved well and the agriculture advanced.
During the war especially under the occupation of the Japanese Imperial Army, there were great destruction to property. Looting and stealing are so rampant, and confiscation made by the Japanese soldiers have existed in the absence of a strong government.

The place was partly rehabilitated by the PCAU and the Philippine War Damage Commission. A private Chinese capitalist from Lucena by the name of Lu Kang constructed a private road from Danlagan to San Antonio crossing Danlagan Batis and Batis Maligaya for logging ang lumbering purposes. This road greatly helped the people. It has made the transportation of goods and people easy.






Compiled by:
Mr. Bonifacio Dimarocot
Ms. Leonida Nepomuceno
Ms. Josefina Valencia



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