The Guinayangan Republic

Balinarin is one of the 54 barangay of Municipality of Guinayangan. During its early years, this place was only a sitio of  barrio Gapas. The name was given by the Aetas who frequently roamed the place. The word “balinarin” is said to have been derived from the Tagalog word “balagbag”, which means crosswise. The mountain in that place traverse it, hence the name Balinarin.

During the Spanish time and in the early part of the American Colonialism, the place was inhabited by the Aetas, thus no important historical events could have been recounted. These primitive dwellers, however, had been very friendly to their Christians and civilized neighbors of the adjacent barangays and sitios of Gapas and Hinabaan respectively. They bartered their goods with the latter and rendered gratuitous services as a proof of goodwill.

The expansion of the municipality of Guinayangan increased its population accourdingly. People occupied the uncultivated areas. One of those places that invited the attention of the pioneers and the home seekers was Balinarin. During that time there was no good road leading to the municipality of Guinayangan. Transportations were by foot, horseback or by banca. Only trails connected the different barangays or barrios.

With its sister barrio of Gapas and Hinabaan as its boundaries, Balinarin was recognized by the Provincial Board of Tayabas (Quezon) in 1928 as a separate sitio. The first known families in that place were Florentino Butardo and Roman Zarcilla who were in-laws, the wife of the latter being the sister of the former. Butardo had five sons; Felix, Pedro, Manuel, Sixto and Julio who married girls from their neighboring sitios. They all settled in Balinarin.

In 1928, the population of Balinarin increased and the forest was cleared of vegetation. The people, however, imbued with the spirit of independence which is inherent to the Filipinos clamored for separation. Under the leadership of Florentino Butardo, the Balinarin people petitioned the Municipal Council of Guinayangan to declare Balinarin as separate political entities. The petition was indorsed to the Provincial Board with favorable result. The first barrio lieutenant appointed was Aniceto Salvador, a new comer in the place. The founders were dissatisfied with the appointment of Mr.Salvador, thus they refused to cooperate with him. The incumbent however was quick to understand the popular sentiment, so he resigned in 1930 and Roman Zarcilla took place. He held his post from 1930 to 1941 when he resigns because of old age. Juan Clemente was next appointed.

Again the people became discontented with his leadership, so after just one unsung service, he resigned. Pastor Butardo stepped into his shoes, also by appointment. He held his post for only a month when the World War II broke out resulting in the invasion of the Japanese into the whole Philippine Archipelago. Balinarin had to share this common destiny of fate. There was a reign of terror. The people, by the undefined law of necessity, had to devise, conceive and think all ways and means to save their lives from the tyranny of the invaders. Pastor Butardo, impelled by the instinct of self-preservation, without official resignation as it was impossible to do so, moved with his family to another municipality. Balinarin was left without a head. The Japanese government which derived its life from the people’s finances by nameless exactions and extortion by force greatly deteriorated the already impoverished people. Whenever the Japanese made a demand for food or services from the people of Balinarin, they sent order through the barrio lieutenant of Hinabaan. At that time, barrio Gapas wanted to annex Balinarin. Consequently the barrio leaders of Gapas wanted particularly Santiago Argamosa and Lauro Aprado tried to talk the matter over with the older folks of Balinarin. But the people of Balinarin did not agree to what they believed a humiliation on their part.

In 1934, they agreed to annex Balinarin to Hinabaan but the agreement did not materialized because most of the people of the barrio protested. At that time the mayor of Guinayangan was Victoriano Alejar which was native of Brgy. Aloneros. The barrio people recommended Petronilo Calusin who was a close friend of Mayor Alejar to be appointed to the position. After several months, Mr.Calusin left Balinarin and went to Mauban, Tayabas, thus leaving the barrio without a head. In 1944, Aniceto Salvador was again appointed barrio lieutenant. He held his post from 1944 to 1951 when he resigned. After that Perfecto Espinola was appointed to take his place.

The identity crisis of the barrio continued when the Vice Mayor Mangubat, with a duty to council the area, wants to annexed again to Hinabaan. The opinion of the people was divided into two. Some wanted that part of the sitio near Hinabaan be added to it, and the part near Gapas be added to Gapas. The people could not come to a final agreement thus Mr. Mangubat abandoned the proposition.

Before the war, Balinarin has twenty nine families. There was no school then. The children have to go to Gapas one and a half kilometers. When the World War II arrived, the road led to Guinayangan from Calauag passing by Balinarin had been neglected. Transportation was greatly hampered. After the liberation of the country in the early part of 1945, the road was reconstructed. With that the place flourished again. The community program of the Bureau of Public Schools may be one of those responsible for the economic and social improvement of the barrio. During that time, relief from the Philippine Red Cross in the form of food and clothing has been distributed to the barrio people. 











Compiled by: 
Mrs. Flores C. Cerilla

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