Whenever asked where he lived, he would answer with a lousy gesture, “layo” or “doon layo”, actually meaning “malayo”, far, pointing Sabang Matanda. He could not correctly express the name of the place by reason of his thick Visayan accent and unfamiliarity with Tagalog dialect. From that time on to the present, Sabang Matanda has been called Manlayo, now forming a subdivision of the town Guinayangan.
Division Of Quezon

According to the remaining inhabitants, no authentic record about its history or its beginnings has been handed to them. It was said that the place was named by the aborigines or the Aetas who first inhabited this region. Ever since the establishment of the barangay, it was already called Cabibihan.  The presence of many clams, locally called “cabebe” or “bebe” which abounds plenty in the bank of the river and its beds. During rainy season especially when there was flood, there were plenty of clams or “bebe” on the river beds, thus this became a good source of income and food among the people.

The early settlers of Cabibihan were the Flaviers, Rufulis, De Los Santos, Cerillas, Guerreros, Salvadors, Maravillas, and Avilas. These families became the leaders in nearly all fields of activities such in economies, culture and beliefs.

From the year 1920 to 1935, Cabibihan was a very progressive community. The big Tayabas Saw Mill which finally became the famous Cabibihan Saw Mill was owned and operated by an American capitalist, Lucy Carvender. Later on , the sawmill was bought and owned by a Chinese businessman named Sy Cumbing. Unfortunately during its boom, the saw mill burned in 1935 for unknown reason. Thus the decline of its progress was so rapid that many of its inhabitants left and settled to nearby barangays.

During the existence of the saw mill in this locality, the populace experienced better means of livelihood as there was much labor for the masses. The daily output of the mill was approximately 30k board feet, this account for the national prestige of Cabibihan. But after the burning of the mill, the economic, social and civic life of the people greatly changed. The people begun to leave the place. Resulting the closing of the public primary school.

Prominent among the Barrio Lieutenants (Barangay Captain) who have done much for the progress of the place are Isabelo Rofuli, Alipo Silverio, Serafin Maravilla, Patricio Guerrero, Cecilio De Los Santos, Jorge Avila, Emilio Victor,Carlos Salvador, Nicomedes Cerilla, Mauro Guerrero, and Pruvo Salvador.

The only important facts which was in the memory of people was the establishment of one of the biggest sawmills In the Philippines. The Cabibihan Sawmill had the national prestige. The were no historical sites and structures save the ruins of the nice Cabibihan Tennis Court constructed by the Cabibihan Tennis Club. The ruins of the railroad line constructed by the sawmill for this transportation of logs and lumbers and its tracks.
Likewise, the Japanese Occupation and the Liberation Period have not left any historical incident in the localities. Destruction and loss of properties were due to looting and stealing. But they have been rehabilitated by the Philippine War Damage Commission and little financial assistance of the government.

Compiled by: 
Mr. Sergio Nebres




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

The present official name of this barangay is Triumpo, a Spanish word meaning Truimph or Victory. This barangay being victorious in their fight for separation from the mother barangay of Aloneros.
Is was established in the year 1906 with the old name San Miguel, named after its Patron Saint, San Miguel. 

The original settlers were the families of Agustin Cerilla, Prudencio Lerum, cipriano Lerum, Angel San Antonio, Santiago Agam, Mauro Agam, Modesto Fernandez, Catalino Pera, Cosme Pera, Julian Serdeña, Perfecto Cerilla, Macario Cerilla, Felix Serbuna, and Felix Cerilla.

The following became the Barrio Lieutenants (Barangay Captain) of the said place: Agustin Cerilla, Prudencio Lerum, Angel San Antonio, Felix Surbona, Luis Surbona, Mariano Surbona, Santiago Agam, Esteban Agam, Mauro Agam, Estanislao Serdeña, and Felix de los Santos.

There was no depopulated sitio which became extinct. Foremerely Calauag claimed for the barrio. There was a legal fight between Guinayangan and Calauag resulting to the victory of Guinayangan. This victory also account for the naming of the barrio Triumpo.

There were no historical sites, structures, buildings or old ruins in the place. There were no events of national importance during the Spanish regime. During the Ameri can regime, the World War II took place. But the war never gave any heavy damage to the place because of isolation and it is very far from communication and transportation. The Japanese Imperial Army did not pay any attention to the place.





 Compiled by: 
Miss Lydia Ogaña
 

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

Danlagan Central is popularly known simply as Danlagan, as it was before. The name Danlagan is derived from the word “DALAG”, the Tagalog for mudfish and the suffix “an”which denotes having more the others, hence Danlagan means more mudfish than other places.

During the early years, Danlagan Central is a subdivision of the entire original Danlagan. Before, this barrio was not subdivided into sitios, however the town administration was prevailed upon the inhabitants to create sitios. For the purpose of affording each sitio an opportunity to manage its affairs in the honest belief that the welfare of the inhabitants can be better served. The sitios thus created are Danlagan Central, Danlagan Reserva, and Danlagan Cabayao. Each sitio has its head with  an auxillaru barrio lieutenant of the “Teniente del Barrio” of the entire place. The Teniente del Barrio is also the acting Ex-oficio “Teniente Auxiliar” for the Danlagan Central.

Danlagan Central

The barrio of Danlagan was established by the Cerilla family in the year 1873. The original settlers therefore in this place are the Cerillas and the Molines.

The following names are the people who became the head leader or Teniente del Barrio. They are Vicente Molines, Remegio Cerilla, Teofilo Erandio, Fernando Cerilla, Domingo Cerilla, Juan Victor, Tomas Cerilla, Filomeno Escobido, Felagio Cangas, Andres Sevillena, Cosme Surbona, Pedro Amolar, Juan Geneblazo, Guillermo Guerrero, Isidro Escobido, Juan Geneblazo and Guillermo Guerrero.

Fate has not favored this place to become a scene of some historical importance nationally. However, it is not literally blank with any event, fact or incident that bears lasting impression, in the lives of the locals who have the luck of all of this.

There was a time during the Spanish Regime when the Moro bandits roaming far and wide in the Archipelago. In pursuit of their evil mission of plundering and looting property, murdering people, raping innocent women, spreading terror, creating constant fear of uneasiness among the people.  In one of the raids staged by these Moros in the neighboring barrio of Apad,  Danlagan became a sanctuary for those who took flight to save their necks form the blood thirsty blade of the “kampilan”.The male members of the inhabitants sensing the danger and impelled to action by the instinct of self-preservation. In the face of common peril united together, gathered whatever weapon they can avail of and formed a sort of “militia”. The purpose was the defense and protection of the place and its inhabitants. The work was not at all in vain. The Moros came and the barrio had become a scene of sanguinary conflict between the plunderers and the defending local folks. The Moros were forced to retreat by the river and boarded the bancas and to gain speed they threw the looted big church bell into the river of Tikay. The bell was looted from Apad.

On the whole during the American regime up to the Japanese occupation, this barrio was a peaceful place. Save from a few isolated incidents of murder anchored by both the Japanese Imperial Army and the Guerillas.

Immediately after the liberation and upon the return of normalcy, the inhabitants resumed their agricultural activities and in no time they regained their lost economic stability.

In 1951, in one of the meeting held by the visiting town officials of Guinayangan, headed by the Mayor Natividad B.Matta, the barrio folks especially the parents, through their spokesman. They called the attention of these visiting officials to the need of establishing a school.

The Municipal Council took interest in the request and in due time, in the cooperation with the parents themselves who took pain in constructing a schoolhouse.

For the convenience of travel, Mr. Isidro Escobido wrote a petition to the management of Manila Rail Road Co., requesting that all regular trips make a stop at this place. Thus the people can be sure to get a ride at any scheduled trip except the express train.

In the revolution of 1896-1900, there was not much destruction of lives, properties and institutions because the place was still a wilderness and not so populated. However during the World War II, there were destructions, greatly by the Japanese Imperial Forces. Some are with the fake Guerillas which are not attached to the known Guerilla organizations such as the Matta’s Unit or the Vera’s Party.

The destructions were greatly relieved by the arrival of the American Forces. Through the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit.  Medicines, foods, and clothing were distributed and the civil government was organized, transportations and communications were restored. This gigantic works were finally supplemented by the War Damage Commission.

Danlagan Reserva

The present name of this barangay is Danlagan Reserva. The word Danlagan was taken from the name of the original barrio of Danlagan where it originated and was so called Reserva. Thus a portion of the land is reserved by the government. The word Reserva is a Spanish word for reserve. This is now an independent Barangay with the corresponding Barangay Officials.
Before it became a full pledged Barangay, it was known only as a sitio of Danlagan Central.  It was in the year 1929 when four families came to reside in the place as a employess of the Manila Rail Road Company. They were in charge of the station and the Water Reservoir for the use of the train engine. The families were those of Pedro Manalo, Fidel Candag,Crispin Verdera, and Leocadio Austria. Other immigrants then settled in that place. Its independence as a barrio took place after World War II, during the term of Mayor Natividad B. Matta. Quirino Jovida was appointed the Barrio Lieutenant (Barangay Captain during that time).

Before the war, the place was so popular among travelers and employees of the Manila Rail Road Company because of the immense water reservoir constructed in that place. Trains have to stop her for the water. There was a plan also during the incumbency of President Quezon to make the place a national park due to its nice scenery and its towering first group trees. A complete elementary school building was constructed after the war because of the great number of school pupils. Its nearness also to the Provincial Nursery makes the place important during that time.

During the Spanish Regime, no historical events of national importance took place as the was then a wilderness.

It was during the latter part of the American Regime when a railroad line has been constructed from Manila to the Bicol provinces that the place came to be populated and known.

In the year 1923, when the main terminal of the railroad is in Aloneros, just a few kilometers away, Danlagan Reserva became so popular from the people living in Aloneros. The barrio have the abundant of supply of water of its reservoir. Aloneros resident have to go to Danlagan because they have no good river or spring for drinking and washing.

During the Japanese Occupation, The greatest mistake of the Japanese sponsored government was that the officials with the encouragement of the invading forces approved the deforestation of the Reserva or the reserved forests. The Japanese is in dire needs of lumbers for building war infrastructure and to the advancement of invading armies. It was also in 1944 when the Railroad Station at Danlagan was destroyed.

During the liberation, the place was reconstructed and rehabilitated, a priority of the government being along in the railroad line. The Philippine Civil Affairs Unit and the Philippine War Damage Commission have played much in restoration. Something that cannot rehabilitate immediately is the destruction of the Forest Reserved, which was considered pride of that place. Gone were the towering tress clogged with various vines, orchids and other unique vegetation, which makes the place much cooler and was earned the name “The Little Baguio of Guinayangan”.

Danlagan Cabayao

This place is called Danlagan Cabayao. The first word being the name of its mother barangay and the word Cabayao is from the name given by the Aetas to a river crossing the entire place, the Cabayao River.
The settlement was established in September 1949. The earliest settlers were the families of Honorio Sevillena and Feliciano Araña.

Prominent “Barrio Lieutenants” since its organization were Andres Sevillena, Juan Geneblazo, Marciano Maquida.

There was no historical events, sites, structures, building or ruins as the place were wilderness for a long time. And it was also a former sitio of Danlagan Central.

It was 1949 when this Barangay or Barrio was organized. Before the war, little was known of that place. The fact that it is an agricultural barrio with fertile soil conductive to farming, its agricultural products is extensively exported to Aloneros and nearby town of Calauag.


 

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:
Miss Libertad P. Malia for Danlagan Reserva
Miss Desia Rowy for Danlagan Central
Miss Adela Argosino for Danlagan Batis
Mrs. Angelina M.Regala for Danlagan Cabayao

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

Salakan is an adjacent barangay of Sta.Cruz. A big river that was once for transportation traversed its mainland. It was pioneered by the families of Mariano Andaluz, Venancio Salumbides, Apolinario Salumbides, Pablo Rebuelta and Anastacio Cerilla. This place had no name then, being part of Barrio Hinabaan. But in the year 1925, a Japanese lumberman started logging business from its lucrative forests along the river bank. A sawmill was built. Three big dams were built across the river which was then used for floating the logs. It was from these dams that the place got its name. Salak, a Tagalog word for a small dam.

The work of putting dams across the river for floating the logs stands for the word Salakan. This word which was used in the sawmill work was then used to call the entire barrio. Salakan was made an independent barrio or barangay because of the sudden increase of population. Workers moved to the barrio to work in the saw mill. Juliano Amparo, a prominent logger was chosen its first “Tiniente del Barrio”. Under his able leadership, the barrio prospered. After several years of service, he resigned and his eldest son, Pablo was chosen to take his place. He was fallowed later by Teodoro Cerilla and then by Guillermo Guerrero who now is the incumbent barrio head.

In the year 1926, the sawmill started its operation, It was owned by Mr.Yamamoto, and managed by Mr. Y. Ikeda. The capacity of the mill in its  daily production was 30k board feet of lumber. In that same year the construction of the provincial road along the barrio was being started. The Municipal President, Faustino Araña got hard time convincing the landowners to give the right to pass. The people realizing the importance of the highway gave up part of their respective land for the road. It was built in 1934, but the formal opening of the said road was on May 1, 1939 with the Eastern Tayabas Bus Company granted the only franchised over it. The opening of the road was a great blessing to the whole barrio. For it enhanced a better means of transportation and communication.

The Japanese owned sawmill continued operation until the year 1934, after which a Filipino-Chinese Corporation bought it. For two years the lumbering business was very prosperous under the management of one, Jose Piñas. Later the enterprise was not profitable because the supply of logs cannot meet the needs of the mill. It was closed with heavy loss. Only the visible ruins of the big sawmill shed and destroyed dams remained to remind the people of the prosperity this barrio had once enjoyed.

During the dark days of the Second World War, may people left the barrio as they are too near the highway. Most of them evacuated to Barangay Sta.Cruz which is farther from the road. Others joined the underground movement. After three and a half years of suffering, the country was finally liberated. People went back to their homes to rehabilitate. With the help of the War Damage Commission the people slowly rebuilt their homes. Bridges were rebuilt too and the provincial road reconstructed and attained its prewar standard.

Although the supply of logs have been very scarce because the forests are too far from better transportation , a Chinese capitalist opened another sawmill. This time in Sitio Gaboc  (adjacent sitio of Salakan) in the year 1949. This mill was owned by Ngo Yo And Company with a daily production of 6k board feet. It was not a successful venture, so in the year 1950, the Corona Sawmill of Co Cho Siok bought it. Again the mill never profited and so the owner closed it for good.

The lumbering industry didn't succeed because of the shortness of supply. The people then have to rely upon farming and copra making for livelihood.









Four kilometers north of  Brgy.Poblacion is the sitio of Gaboc. Once a full pledge independent barrio or barangay before the war, this sitio lies now with the jurisdiction of nearby Brgy.Salacan. 
The settlement was opened and cleared beginning the year 1890 by the early pioneer, Pedro Molines and his son Juan. The Aetas were employed in the clearing of this rich region.

They found its slopes and soil beneath the thick under growth so soft and fine, a real dust, so they kept saying “gabok” all the while they were cultivating it. They gave the name Gabok to the place, which literally means dust. The given name was never changed since then.

Ever since, the whole sitio was owned by the Molines family from generation to generation. Parts of which were sold to other people and prominent of the buyers were Brigido Gamo, Clodualdo Valencia, Jose Arellano, Elena Talavera and Canuto David. Some part of the land belongs to Ladislao Molines, the descendants of the old family.

During pre-war, when the whole area of Salacan was dependent with the mother barrio of Hinabaan, Gaboc was also lies on its jurisdiction. Barrio (Brgy.)Hinabaan administrated all of the political and social affairs of this large area of Guinayangan.  Most of the people were tenants, living peacefully with the generous landowners. During the early days, the oldest man of the place was called “matanda sa nayon”. Often times he was considered the leader. He had the love and respect of the people. He was known as Balbao.

Life flowed smoothly in this small place. Since it occupies a narrow strip of land, with mountains creeping to the coasts, the population increased slowly. During the time of American regime, it became an independent barrio or barangay and was separated from Hinabaan. The first teniente del barrio was Edurdo Servando. The lands near it, as far as what is now Salakan was under its jurisdiction. However, its status did not stay long, for the year 1925, the barrio of Salakan was established. Reducing the status of Gabok and its importance, many of its people move to Salakan due to its sawmill. Gaboc back again to its former status of a sitio, now under the administration of more progressive Brgy.Salacan.



Compiled by: 
Ms. Alodia Fernandez

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

Together with Maulawin, another sitio was cleared. It was Sisi. The Seguerras and the Esguerras pioneered the place because there was no place in Kalimpak for farming as it is planted to coconuts. This sitio got its name from the shell animals that abound the Maulawin and Sisi rivers, which is called in Tagalog “sisi” The people got the habit of eating those that when the supply from the rivers got scarce, the women got the habit of combing the seashore for them. The people usually eat those with grated coconuts. From those common shells and the habit of eating those sea animals, the new sitio got it name. Since then the place had been called Sisi.

The first barrio lieutenant was Pedro Esguerra. After his death, he was succeeded by Michael Esguerra and followed by Daniel Morado.

The place became prominent when the provincial road was opened to the public during the incumbency of Faustino Araña as Municipal President of Guinayangan. This is because the road traversed the barrio. The Eastern Tayabas Bus Co. got the franchise to operate and the barrio folks got easier time to move and transport their products.







Compiled by:
Miss Luz E. Salumbides

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

The name Kalimpak was derived from the two Tagalog words “kalimbahan” and “pakpak”. The early settlers noticed some birds coming in and out of the barrio to the marshes for seashells. These birds have light-pink wings, “kalinbahing-pakpak” in Tagalog. Since the place has no name yet and because the people always gave the response when asked where they lived as,  “Sa aplayang may mga ibong kalimbahin ang pakpak” meaning, they lived in the marshes where there are birds with the light-pink wings. So frequently they say it , that the place was later called Kalimpak, the first syllables of the words “kalimbahin” and “pakpak”.


The early settlers began clearing the place in 1902. Gregorio Mercurio and his family made their dwelling there. They were followed latter by the Araña, Esguerra and Seguerra families. Kalimpak that time was a sitio of Hinabaan. It was through the initiative of Gregorio Mercurio, known as Cabesang Goyo that the place gained its independence from Hinabaan.

In the year 1905, a Spanish national named Don Francisco Garcia came to Guinayangan. He married the descendant of the Mattas, Paula Matta , daughter of a rich landholder of the “Municipio de Guinayangan”. After their marriage he decided to develop Kalimpak. With hired men he was able cleared the biggest part of the place. He planted coconuts and established barrio “visita” for the laborer’s religious activities. He was able to buy most of the parts planted such that he was able to have in the place a progressive “hacienda” planted to coconuts. He was able to have a wide tract of land in the barrio of Iba and Kinatakutan. In his old age, he decided to return to Spain, leaving his wife Doña Paula Matta de Garcia and his two sons Rodrigo and Faustino Garcia Matta to manage the vast hacienda.

The prosperous barrio began to wane and by ill fate, Don Rodrigo and Don Faustino have sold their properties to Don Emelio Rodriguez and to Don Amadeo Matute. The latter was able to purchase the hacienda In Kalimpak.

During that time, the place was not well populated because of its nearness to the poblacion. People usually live in the center of the town and go to Kalimpak only during the working hours. The place slowly became populated and progressive because it is traversed by the provincial road.

One of the great barrio lieutenants of this barangay is Elpidio Ladines, the overseer of the Garcia’s hacienda. The place being planted, the people moved inland, in what is now called Maulawin, source of Maulawin River.  Agaton Araña was the pioneer in this undeveloped place. It is so important because of the water supply of the of Guinayangan. Its scenic beauty makes the place a rendezvous for picnickers. Annually people go there during summer to get a look to the water reservoir.






 The plateau on the western side of Kalimpak and Sisi was during this time unexplored and undeveloped. The people moved to the place to make kaingin for palay and other farm products. The population increased rapidly that the people decided to build a “visita”, Catholic Chapel. They have chosen San Vicente Ferrer as the Patron Saint of the place. During Fridays people from the poblacion and adjoining barrios makes pilgrimage to the “visita”. The devotees especially the sick and disabled visited the place to pray. It did not last long as the sitio is to mountainous and the visits made diminished, finally terminated. The place was depopulated. Today, the ruins of the old “visits” could be traced.

During the Japanese Occupation, the place was again populated because the people of the poblacion evacuated to then sitio Kalimpak. It offered a good hiding place from the cruel Japanese. The people developed the place again and planted farm products such as vegetables, camotes, gabi, and palay. They bartered their products, with clothes, fish, soaps and sugar.

During the liberation period, the people returned to the poblacion but others preferred to stay in the place permanently. The Philippine Civil Affairs Unit of the United States Army has helped the people a lot. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the people’s economy was furthered improved by the Philippine War Damage Commission.


Compiled by:
Mrs.Encarnacion R. Mapaye
Mrs. Primitiva A. Reformado
Ms. Luz E. Salumbides
Mr. Ruben 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

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