The Guinayangan Republic

The Barrio Manggagawa (Fabrica) was a former sitio included within the territorial jurisdiction of Mambinga. It has an approximate area of one and a half hectares of land situated just outside the town of Guinayangan. It has its boundary line from the poblacion, the so called Prenza River.

According to the old beliefs of the inhabitants, the former name was Barrio. It was named by the Aetas that once settled temporarily in the place. It was cleared little by little until all the cultivated parts were planted with different crops. Soon after months more settlers came and occupied the place. Once a former forest became the settlement of industrious people and their families. The Aetas abandoned the place and moved further into the mountains.

Upon the arrival of the Americans in the Philippines, the people learned various kinds of trade. Victoriano Lagdameo and his family established in this part shipbuilding industry. Several of his inter islands ships known as "barco" in Spanish word were built and constructed in the said settlement. Tha place became well populated, mostly laborers. Several years later the industry died and a large lumber mill of an American capitalist was built in the same place. It operated from 1904 to 1912 until the source of logs and timbers were exhausted.

The sawmill was to be transfered to other place but many laborers decided to stay in the place permanently by building presidios. As time goes on the people suggested that the place be named Manggagawa, meaning laborers as the word stand for the former dwellers of the place. From that time on the place was known to be Manggagawa.










Compiled by: 
Ms. Amparo Argosiño

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

Kapuluan is a barangay of Guinayangan about ten kilometers south of the poblacion. The name since its foundation was never changed. West of Ragay Gulf is capes and between them is a small lake where milkfish and pulahan are found in abundance. This invited people to settle around it. The first settlers and the fishermen of the adjoining barrios called the place Kapuluan.


Kapuluan Central or Nabanca Punta, Cabong Sur, Cabong Norte, Bantayan, Tulon, Hupiay, Ligpit and Matula are the sitios within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrio. It was founded in the year 1700, the year when Guinayangan was also founded. The pioneers were the families Adriano Porlay, Raymundo Porlay, Apolonia Servando, Catalino Cataquez, Carlos Victoria, Raymundo Tuba, Leodivico de los Reyes and Juan Carolina.

The tenientes (barangay captain) named below in the order of their appointment, Adriano Porlay, Raymundo Porlay, Apolonio Servando, Vicente Porlay, Teodoro Servando, Felix de los Santos, Pantaleon del Rosario, Ladislao Porlay, Juan Servando, Juan Ilagan, Luciano Claveria, Eufronio Dueñas, Miguel Jardin, Julio Ilagan, Esteban Porlay, and Ireneo Dueñas.

There are no sitios within its jurisdiction that are not populated but no historical site, structures, or building that could be found. During the Spanish Regime, this barrio was always visited by the Spanish Guardia Civil. The people they would ask for the cedula and if one had none, he would brought to the poblacion and would be given hard labor. For slight mistake, people were giving corporal punishment as whipping. Because of the Spanish atrocities, the people throughout the Philippines revolted in 1896. Not only in the Philippines but also in some other Spanish territories, the people revolted resulting the signing of Treaty of Paris. In this treaty, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States of America so that Spain sovereignty ended on August 13, 1898.



At first the people were afraid of the Americans because they though the new colonizer were like the former one. Finding that they were not like the Spaniards, the Filipinos became very friendly to them and vice versa. Forced labor was not practiced by the new comers and people found that for a little work the Americans would pay for their service. Schools were established throughout the archipelago.
The Japanese occupation hampered very much the economic and educational progress of the barrio. The people took refuge in some other places to escape from the Japanese atrocities. After the liberation the people returned to the place and rehabilitated their farm again.




Kapuluan Tulon is a big sitio which became an independent barangay.  Before, it’s a part of a large parcel of land of Cabong. The name of the said place originated from the word “tulon”, a Tagalog word for a peninsula. There being a small “tulon”, a peninsula extending in the Hiwasayan  River where several families have lived because of the fertility of its soil. These original settlers of the “tulon” later on called the place Kapuluan Tulon, maintaining the name of the original barrio Kapuluan and adding the word Tulon to distinguish it with the barrio of Kapuluan.The barrio was established during the Spanish Regime in the year 1887 as a part and parcel of the old barrio of Kapuluan. The original families of the place were Francisco Olivera, Angel Talavera and Leodivico de Los Reyes and their families.
The following were the “tenientes del barrio” of the place: Arcadio Florendo, Eulalio Ilagan, Ricardo Macatangay.
 
There were no sitios or barrios within the jurisdiction of this barrio which are now depopulated and extinct, as the locality was a part of the big barrio of Kapuluan.
 
There were no historical site, structure, buildings, or old ruins found in the place. During the Spanish Regime there was no available record of important events. During the American Regime, attempts have been made to construct a bridge across the deep and wide Hiwasayan River because it’s infested by man-eating crocodiles. One was built. The ruins of the bridge can still be traced in the banks of the river. This helped a lot to the people during those times. 
During the Occupation Period of Japanese Imperial Army, there was huge destruction to property as personal belongings, large cattle, and crops. The Japanese soldiers confiscated the people’s livestock and other foodstuffs. Other has been lost due to looting and stealing as there was no organized government. The people evacuated to the town leaving their animals and crops, homes and other property leaving them at the mercy of the Japanese Soldiers and their collaborators.
 
During the Liberation Period, some of the lost properties were restored through the financial helps paid by the Philippine War Damage Commission. Several families who have filed their claims were given the payment to the destroyed, stolen, confiscated and looted property. With the initial payments made the people began to rehabilitate and reconstruct their economy. Today the place is progressive as it is inhabited by industrious and peaceful farmers.



Compiled by: 
Mr. Flaviano Bala
Ms. 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

Originally, San Antonio was under the jurisdiction and control of Gapas. This new barrio lies on the northwestern part of the Municipality of Guinayangan, about 11 kilometers from the poblacion. In the year 1936 when the provincial road connecting Calauag and Guinayangan was under construction which incidentally traverses the barrio of San Antonio, sturdy pioneers settled the place. Finding the place fertile they lived there permanently and developed the land. They raised different vegetables and began planting rice, coconuts, and fruit trees.

In the year 1939, the original settlers consisting of about thirteen families petitioned the Municipal Council of Guinayangan to make their place as an independent barrio. This petition got the positive response from the Council and the barrio was formally separated from Gapas. To commemorate such occasion, a barrio fiesta had been arranged which accidentally fell on the St.Anthony of Padua (San Antonio de Padua) day and the people agreed to name the place San Antonio in honor of the Patron Saint.

The following barrio elders  were responsible for the independence of this place whose secrifices and initiatives hastened the realization of their objective-to be an independent barangay: They are Urbana Alano, Gaudencio Morales, Florentino Buñag, Antonio Villapando, Eusebio Boncayo, Agaton Patnubay, Juan Morales, Urbano Mariano, Diego Lorbes, Pablo Silverio, Nicolas Requiron, and Vicente Agad.
Immediately after its legal separation from Gapas, the locals organized themselves and elected their officials. The first “Teniente del Barrio” elected was Gaudencio Morales. He was a good leader and wise executive. Due to his good and just leadership, the place became progressive and prosperous. During his incumbency, the construction of Calauag-Guinayangan road was finished passing the barrio.

Guadencio Morales was succeded by one, Eusebio Boncayo as the Barrio Lieutenant. As head of the place, Boncayo was very unfortunate as it was during his term that the World War II broke out. He was harsh and there was always misunderstanding among his constituent.  During the occupation, he did not cooperate with the underground movement so the “Guerillas” suspected him to be in connivance with the Japanese. He was kidnapped and disappearance gave notion of his intimate connection with the Japanese. He has not returned ever since.

Tiburcio Alano succeeded Boncayo as head of the Barrio. He was considered as one of the best barrio lieutenant ever elected by the people. A proven leader, very understanding and always interested for the improvement of his barrio.

No historical facts, events and incidents of vital importance are available  during the Spanish and American regimes as San Antonio originally was a part of Gapas.

The rapid progress of this barangay was hampered by the outbreak of World War II. During the Japanese Occupation, the due processes of law were suspended. People were mercilessly executed when found to be collaborating with the underground movement. On the other side the “guerrillas” were also forced to do the same to further their fight for the liberation of the country. This state of condition greatly affected the barrio. There were acute shortages of foods and medicines. There were no doctors and nurses to help the people. The only alternative was to adhere to the antiquated treating of the “quack-doctors”. For all these, hunger and sickness lurched around, until there was a terrible malaria epidemic which caused an enormous loss of lives.

Immediately after the war, came the era of reconstruction and rehabilitation. The liberation forces of the Allied Nations particularly the American Soldiers have greatly helped the suffering people. Their supply of foods, clothing and medicines alleviated the condition. The War Damage Commission helped the rapid rehabilitation of agriculture, transportation, commerce and communication, until the place reached its normalcy.



   
Compiled by:
Ms. Belen Epino

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 barangay of Hinabaan, which is approximately nine kilometer north of downtown Guinayangan, acquired its name from the river traversing the place from the shoreline of Ragay Gulf. At the mouth of the Viñas River in the east, running in an almost endless course westward passing the heights of the sitio of Sta.Cruz, Yaganak, Bungahan and culminate somewhere in the Pitogo mountain.

The first inhabitants of Hinabaan were the Negritos who lived by hunting and fishing along the rivers and swamps that were abundant in wildlife. In later years, hunters from nearby barrios begun to migrate and settled there to hurt specially during the dry season. With the Negritos as guides, they trailed their games upstream following the course of the river but never succeeded in reaching its source.

The name Hinabaan was attributed by the hunters to the length of the river. From the word “mahaba”, meaning long, then “hinabaan”, which means extended or made it longer.

The exact date of establishment of Hinabaan could hardly be traced as the official records in the town were destroyed by the war. But according to reliable information and some resource persons, it was established during the Spanish Regime. Its territorial jurisdiction included the sitios of Katsanan (now belongs to Brgy. Salacan) and Sta.Cruz (now an independent barangay). In the earliest time, its jurisdiction even reached the whole area of Brgy.Salacan, Brgy.Sisi, Brgy. Calimpac and the sitio of Gaboc..

The early pioneers of Hinabaan were mostly Visayans, were Pedro Molines, Simeon Matta, Simeon Rocela, the Tupas and Puesta families. They were industrious people. They cultivated the land, planted them with coconuts and other crops. Sometimes bandits armed with bolos, spears and bow and arrows would plague them. They organized themselves into small army and repulsed the marauders. Their lands were handed to their children but most of the lands have been sold to other immigrants.

Although Hinabaan is one of the oldest barrio in Guinayangan, its progress was slow, particularly due to its small population and nearness to the poblacion. Most of the people used to live in the town and just visit their land. There were no important facts and events from the Spanish time to the Japanese occupation which are worth mentioning.

Then came the liberation period. The landing force of the victorious United States Army, followed by scouts, engineers and bulldozers, marched gallantly toward Guinayangan. Unaware of the guerillas hidden behind the bushes with eyes moist of tears, half smiling, wondering, then grinning with joy and who emerged from their hideouts and met victors. Chesterfield and Camel cigarettes were tossed to them which they smoked voraciously, and with the smoke drowned their senses to the last aroma of the cigarette and sighed, “Oh, this is America!”.

Rehabilitation began. People from the mountains went to town and helped the US Army disembarked their ammunitions and supplies at Guinayangan. The road was cleared and once more it was a scene of incoming and outgoing vehicles. Medicines were given to the people who were half-starved and anemic due to malaria. A detachment of Philippine-American Scouts were stationed at Hinabaan Bridge and the people now once more returned to their homes, thanking for what was left for them by war. The tilled their lands, built new homes and lived normally is peace. This reconstruction took place during the incumbency of Mayor Timoteo Ramos, The PCAU appointee.

The rehabilitation was further enhanced by the Philippine War Damage Commission that has paid the damage of war. The people then had the cash to start with.














Compiled by:
Miss Consuelo Reformado

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 barangay of Gapas is considered by many as one of the most prosperous barangay of the Municipality of Guinayangan. Its prosperity came from the facts that the barrio is traversed by provincial road and by the sufficient supply of water from the four tributaries, namely Gapas, Pututan, Dalin, and Mabiga Rivers. This highway gives the inhabitants a chance to transport their products easily, to move easier and to inform faster.

These various rivers help the people a great deal as source of water, source of foods, and an asset for irrigation. They are supposed to among the important veins of the big Aloneros River. These tributaries encouraged the brave pioneers to explore the wilderness of Gapas once where there was no road. Among the prominent early settlers were Isidro and Gabriel Paraon and Monico Zarcilla. These settlers waded from the Aloneros River passed through these tributaries and entered what is now called Gapas. They lived in the place until other immigrants followed them.

In 1900, the territorial jurisdiction of Gapas included Batis Maligaya, San Antonio, and Balinarin. During that time, the settlers depend upon the forest products as a source of livelihood. They exported plenty of first class logs and lumbers like molave, tindalo, narra and apitong. Upon the shortage of these products, the people settled down to farming.

Monica Zarcilla explored and settled the land around Dalin River, while Gabriel Paron lived by the Mabiga River, named so for wild plants that grew along the river called “biga” and Teodoro Paraon occupied the place of what is now called Gapas.

This barrio got its name from the Tagalog word “gapas”, meaning scythe, because the river crossing the land curves in the form of scythe. The aborigines of the place, the Aetas, called it Gapas and this name remains to date.

Continuous exodus of immigrants to the place increased its population, until finally it was organized into an independent barrio or barangay. The following were the prominent barrio lieutenants who have led the place to progress: They are Juan Villafuerte, Eleuterio Zarcilla, Agaton Patnubay, Juan Butardo, Teodoro Paraon, Nicolas Requiron, Eusebio Boncayo, Santiago Argamosa, Brigido Requiron, Vitaliano Clemente

During the time of Vitaliano Clemente, the educational and economic development was implemented for that place. A model school, shop, and home economics center was built upon the voluntary contribution of the barrio folks.

The rapid progress and the increased in population resulted to the organization of independent barangays, such as Danlagan Batis, San Antonio and Balinarin.




 Compiled by:
Mr. Pedro 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