The Guinayangan Republic

When Juan de Salcedo, grandson of the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, established the first province in this part of Luzon known as “Kalilayan” in 1591, it included the pueblos (towns) of Guinayangan, Gumaca Atimonan and also the pueblos along the Bondoc Peninsula: Pitogo, Macalelon, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso and Unisan as capital.

In the year 1749, Moro attacks on the coastal town intensified. It resulted the transferred of the Kalilayan capital to Tayabas, a pueblo situated at the foot of Mt. Banahaw which later on became the province name.
The pueblo of Guinayangan is located at Puerto (port) de Cabibihan along Ragay Gulf. It is rich in natural resourcs which the inhabitants depended on for their existence. Fishing, farming, hunting and weaving where the primary occupations of the settlers who were original descendants of Datu Puti.

The history of Guinayangan was found in a document contained in the “Expediente a Consulta En Que Cuenta de lis Moros Han Destinado El Pueblo Guinayangan”, from the National Archives, Bureau of Records, and by the word of mouth of the descendants of the original settlers. It is stated in the document that in the year 1769, 32 Moro pirates on board 2 big boats attacked the pueblo and the fight lasted for 3 days. The town would have been taken if not for the coming of reinforcements from the towns of Gumaca and Atimonan. The Alcalde Mayor (Governor) of Tayabas ordered the town people to evacuate to Gumaca for the meantime but Bishop Antonio de Luna preferred that the people should retreat to a nearby place. It was then that “Nuevo Guinayangan” was established at the southern tip of Puerto de Cabibihan in sitio Apad in Vinas Town. So it was concluded that Guinayangan was established during th 1700’s.

The settlers of Nuevo Guinayangan stayed at Apad until 1782. According to records, there were 761
inhabitants who were taxpaying and they were under the leadership of a certain “Cabeza Benito Solano”. It was believed that these settlers did not go back to Viejo Guinayangan, if there were some, there were very few because they went hiding for fear of future Moro attacks.Those who remained at the abandoned Viejo Guinayangan found leadership from the 3 Visayan natives named Francisco Tupas,Simeon Molines, and Juan Matta who migrated in the year 1820. They found out the place was so rich in marine products, especially “tropang” which they were looking for and the area consisted of virgin forest which were wide and rich in natural resources. Tupas and Matta extended across Ragay Gulf and established settlements there which are now known as Laurel and Kinatakutan. Molines stayed in Viejo

Guinayangan, cleared the forests and planted crops and trees. Waves of Visayan settlers arrived namely, Cerilla, Reformado, Arana and Butardo clans, and they recognized the first 3 ancestors as their leaders.
In the year 1826, another Moro attack took place but it did not succeed due to the fact that the settlers have known to fight back and defend themselves against the marauders. There even tricked the pirates by hiding inside a narrow river. The Moros could not get into it and just fled away. They later named the river “Kinatakutan” (Feared).Through the years, no more invasions happened again. The settlers have lived peacefully, improved themselves through wholesome livelihood activities and increased in number so that more barangays and sitios were founded.

In 1832, through the leadership of Capitan Simeon Molines, a delegation of settlers went to request the
Alcalde Mayor of Tayabas province to clarify the boundaries of Guinayangan.
It was later on stated that it is bounded on the north by Calauag, with Sumolong River separating the 2 towns: Ragay Gulf on the east, and on the west by Cadig mountain.Guinayangan was also declared as Parish of St. Aloysius Gonzaga whose feast is celebrated every 21st of June with Fort Bonifacio Estevez as the first Parish priest.

The name “Guinayangan” was taken from the word “gayang”, a poison that comes from a plant that abounds the place. The natives then put the poison at the tips of their arrows, and at the edges of their daggers and lances before going to battles. One day, while the warriors were putting gayang in their weapons, a group of Spanish friars asked them in Spanish the name of the place. Not understanding what they were saying, the natives replied “ginayangan” thinking the foreigners were asking what they were holding. The friars repeatedly said “Guinayangan”. It is spelled the Spanish way so it became “Guinayangan”

excerpt from "Guinayangan Noon At Ngayonn" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines
translated into English by Mrs. Andrea M. Alcantara