Calumpang Dam Totally Destroyed

The Calumpang River Dam which is the main structure of the Santa Cruz-Mabacan River Irrigation System was totally destroyed last September 25, 2006 at the height of Typhoon Milenyo’s fury. The 50 year old dam collapsed because of the unabated river sand quarrying downstream. According to this report, the government will spend 160 million pesos of taxpayer’s money to construct a new dam upstream. It will take the government two years to build a new dam. In the meantime, the rice farmers of Pila will have to install temporary shallow wells to irrigate their rice fields.

President Ramon Magsaysay personally officiated on February 24, 1956 the ground-breaking ceremonies of the P3,180,000 Santa Cruz-Mabacan river-irrigation project at Pila, Laguna.

1818 Pila Population

Below is the population of Pila in 1818 or seven years after the completion of the town transfer to sitio Sta. Clara:

1. Individuos Contribuientes de Natural y M. = 1117
2. Reservados = 157
3. Soltieros y Solteras de Naturales y Mestizos = 404
4. Escuelas y Parbulos = 347
5. Españoles = 0
6. Mestizos Españoles = 3
7. Morenos = 0
8. Negros convertidos = 0
9. Sangleyes Cristianos = 0

Total = 2028

1. Bautizalos = 63
2. Casados = 28
3. Difuntos = 45
4. Numero le tributes o familias contribuyentes = 558

Source: Aragon, Ydelfonso de. Estados de la poblacion de Filipinas correspondiente a el año de 1818: lo da ad publico a Excmo. Ayunamiento del M.N.Y.L. ciudad de Manila. Manila: Imprenta de D.M. M. Por D. Anastacio Gonzaga. 1820.

The Pila - Jala-jala Story

There are two secondary sources confirming Jala-jala, Rizal was part of Pila, Laguna namely:

Foreman, John. The Philippine Islands. London: S. Low, Marston & co., ltd. 1899.

Dery, Luis Camara. A History of the Inarticulate: Local History, Prostitution and Other Views from the Bottom. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. 2001.

We are still searching for the Pila – Jala-jala primary documents specifically the Pila lawsuits or Jala-jala claims during the 17^th and 18^th century.

On page 359 to 361 of the The Philippine Islands, Foreman wrote the following story:

LOS BAÑOS (the baths) owes its origin to the hot springs flowing from the volcanic Maquiling Mountain, which have been known to the natives from time immemorial when the place was called Maynit, which signifies “hot.”

At the close of the 16^th century these mineral waters attracted the attention of martyr Saint Pedro Bautista, who sent a brother in his Order to establish a hospital for the natives. The brother went there, but shortly returned to Manila and died. So the matter remained in abeyance for years. Subsequently a certain Fray Diego de Santa Maria, an expert in medicine and healing art, was sent there to test the waters. He found they contained properties highly beneficial in curing rheumatism and certain other maladies, so thenceforth many natives and Spaniards went there to seek bodily relief. But there was no convenient abode for the visitors; no arrangements for taking the baths, and the Government did nothing. A Franciscan friar was appointed chaplain to the sick visitors, but his very incommodious residence was inadequate for the lodging of patients, and, for want of funds, the priest abandoned the project of establishing a hospital, and returned to Manila. In 1604, the Governor General, Pedro Bravo de Acuña, gave his attention to this place, and consented to the establishment of a hospital, church, and convent. The hospital was constructed of bamboo and other light material, and dedicated to Our Lady of Holy Waters.

Fray Diego de Santa Maria was appointed to the vicarage and the charge of the hospital. The whole was supported by gifts from the many sick persons who went there, but the greatest difficulty was to procure food. Several natives made donations of lands, with the produce of which the hospital was to be maintained. These gifts, however, proved insufficient. The priests then solicited permission from the villagers of Pila (on the lake shore near Santa Cruz) to pasture cattle on the tongue of land on the opposite coast called Jalajala, which belonged to them. With their consent a cattle-ranche was established there; subsequently, a building was erected, and the place was in time known as the Estancia de Jalajala. Then the permission was asked for and obtained from the Pila natives to plant cocoanut palms, fruit-trees, and vegetables. Later on the Austin and Franciscan friars quarreled about the right of dominion over the place and district called Maynit, but eventually the former gave way and ceded their rights in perpetuity to the Franciscans.

In 1640 Los Baños (formerly a dependency of Bay, under the Austin friars) was constituted a “town.” The Franciscans continued to beg one concession after another, until at length, in 1671, stone buildings were commenced – a church, convent, hospital, bathing-pond, vapour-house, etc., being contructed. Natives and Europeans flocked in numbers to these baths, and it is said that people even came from India to be cured. The property lent and belonging to the establishment, the accumulated funds, and the live-stock had all increased so much in value that the Government appointed an administrator. Thenceforth the place declined; its popularity vanished; the administrator managed matters so particularly for his own benefit that food again become scarce, and the priest was paid only 10 pesos per month as salary. In Jalajala a large house was built; the land was put under regular cultivation; tenants were admitted; but when the property was declared a royal demesne the Pila inhabitants protested, and nominally regained possession of the lent property. But the administrator re-opened and contested the question in the law-courts, and, pending these proceedings, Jalajala was rented from the Government. During the long process of legal entanglements the property had several times been transferred to one and another until the last holder regarded it as his private estate.

At the beginning of last century Jalajala came into the possession of M. Paul de la Gironniere, from whom it passed to another Frenchman, at whose death a third Frenchman, M. Jules Daillard, became owner. On his decease it became the property of an English Bank, from whom it was purchased by the Franciscan friars, in 1897, for the sum of P.50,000, and re-sold by them to a Belgian firm in 1900.

Luis Camara Dery wrote a similar story on page 52 to 53 of his book:

The Franciscan administrators of the hospital did not just rely on external help. They endeavored to supplement their meager resources by cultivating the land, devoting it to agricultural crops and raising of livestock. Thus, the native families residing in sitio Danpalit learned additional skills which enabled them to meet the various colonial requirements. Sometime in 1670, the Franciscan administrator negotiated with the town of Pila, Laguna for some of its vacant lands to server as pasture lands for the excess herds of cattle that the hospital had in sitio Danpalit. The Pila townfolks gave sitio Jalajala, on of their vacant lands. The hospital was allowed to use it as its pastureland but ownership remained with the townfolks of Pila. On 1 September 1673, the Franciscan father provincial petitioned the governor-general to allow his order to build a church and convent at sitio Jalajala for a member of their Order who would be assigned as the religious minister of the said sitio. By this time, sitio Jalajala had become a major transit point for those coming to and from the hospital in sitio Los Baños. It had also become a residence of many bagamundos (“persons without fixed residences”) and converted inhabitants. The petition, according to the Franciscan father provincial, was thus influenced by the need to serve their religious requirements a newly-converted Christians. Moreover, the inhabitants of Pila volunteered to build said church and convent if they would be exempted from the polos y servicios personales by the colonial government for a period of one and one-half years. The governor-general approved all these petitions.

The church and convent at sitio Jalajala was inaugurated on 1 October 1678 and San Pascual Baylon was chosen as the sitio’s patron saint. Fray Lucas Sarro, definidor of the Franciscan Order, celebrated the first mass at sitio Jalajala. The sitio was also made a Visita of the town of Pila. Thus, the early beginnings of Jalajala was also influenced by the hot springs of sitio Los Baños.

Jose Burgos: A Laguna Town for 194 Days

During the Philippine-American war, Juan Cailles, the General and Politico-Military Governor of Laguna issued a decree creating the town of Jose Burgos, Laguna.

General Camp. No. 4, TIERRA LIBRE,

(Laguna), November 19, 1900

To the local presidentes of Lumban, Longos, Paete, Paquil, Siniloan, Famy, Mavitac and Santa Maria.

I take the pleasure in informing you that I have this day approved provisionally the proceeding in the matter of the organization of the new town of “Jose Burgos” from its matrix Nagcarlan and comprising the barrios of Cabubuhayan, Lagulo, Sibrolan, Maravilla, Bancabanca, Lagatan, Bucal, Mojon and Calumpan of the aforesaid town, and Dita, Mojon, Buhanginan and Bancoro of the town of Lilio; also approving the election of officials who shall form the “Junta Popular” of the said town as well as the organization of the Popular Committee of the same.

I furnish you this for your information and the proper action.

Transmit this communication from one town to another and the last one shall return it to this office with the acknowledgments of all.

JUAN CAILLES,

General and Politico-Military Governor.

(Source: Philippine Insurection Record, Exhibit 1120. Original in Spanish. Contemporary copy. P.I.R., 941.9)

Juan Cailles with 600 officers and men armed with 386 rifles and 4,000 rounds of ammunition surrendered to the Americans on June 24, 1901 ending the dreams of the people of Jose Burgos.

Of the three martyred priests, Father Jose Burgos is the most popular in Laguna. In Pila, Laguna, instead of the usual Philippine acronym Gomburza, the town chose to write it starting with the name of Jose Burgos, Burzagom, and even named a street this way.

The Music of Judge Ramiro R. Relova

Every Pileño will never forget the late Judge Ramiro R. Relova and his music. Please visit this link and enjoy viewing the short video clip of Judge playing the piano. The video was uploaded by his grandson, Michael.

Historic Payla!

Payla made history today! Not the Payla in Norzagaray, Bulacan but our very own Filipino Flyweight Boxer. Violito Payla defeated Somjit Jongjohor of Thailand to capture the 15th Asian Games Flyweight Gold Medal via 31-15 rout.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription Purchase Story

Below is the story prepared by Ramon N. Villegas regarding the source of the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. Antoon Postma gave us a signed copy of the story which can be downloaded here. The Laguna Copperplate Inscription came from Albert Dealino of Siniloan, Laguna. Albert Dealino and several individuals from Pila, Laguna (Barcenas, Estrada, Ambrocio etc) are second generation antique dealers. Their parents were porcelain brokers during the great Laguna pot rush in the 1960s which haunted the National Museum and brought happiness and sorrow to collectors. The stores of these traders can be seen along the highway from Labuin, Pila, Laguna to Duhat, Sta. Cruz, Laguna..

Re: Provenance of the Lumban Codex

After a conversation (5 July, 1990) with Fr. Antoon Postma, I attempted to independently verify the alleged providence of a metal plaque inscribed with an old Southeast Asian script, which came to the attention of the National Museum in the first half of 1990. It was purported to have come from Laguna. There were some suggestions however, that if the artifact were not a forgery; then it may have come from a non-Philippine site. The plaque’s seller, Venancio Magbuhos is known to handle pieces from other Southeast Asian countries.

Magbuhos confirmed to this writer, however, that the piece came from William (Bill) Elwell, a coin dealer in A. Mabini, who bought it from Albert (Abet) Dealino, another coin dealer, originally from Siniloan, Laguna but also residing in Metro Manila.

I had the opportunity to interview Dealino on the 10^th and 12^th of this month. He has been known to me for over twelve years, as a generally trustworthy dealer of antiques. He learned from his father Manuel, a dealer since the 1960’s, whose antiquarian training came from the late Don Felipe Hidalgo.

Dealino acquired the Codex for P350.00 in August 1989. The strange writing on metal intrigued and challenged the numistmatist in him. He tried to decipher the script, looking up his college history textbooks. Giving up, he exhibited it in the bourse of the Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian Society (PNAS, founded 1929). Scores of viewers saw it (including this writer, who miserably failed to realize its importance at that time). Dealino tagged it at P5,000.00, and nearly gave it to collector Vicenta Escobar’s counter-offer of P3,000.00. Fellow PNAS member Elwell bought it at Dealino’s asking price, and subsequently passed it on for double to Magbuhos, who offered it to the National Museum.

Dealino acquired the Codex from a source he had cultivated over many years: workers in a sand and gravel quarry in the delta of the Pagsanjan River, in Sitia Wawa of Lumban town. On the to Dealino’s hometown, Siniloan, the workers had been trained by Dealino to watch out for artifacts as sand or gravel was conducted to trucks via conveyor belt. The workers had, over time, recovered coins, gold ornaments, stones adzes, small clay and porcelain artifacts, jade ornaments and others. Dealino pays them token amounts for each find, but shells out beer money even when there are no finds.

The Lumban quarry is near a gravesite, already opened by pothunters years ago, on the west bank of the river, some kilometers inland from the shore of the lake. There, Sung and Ming porcelain, though “not as good as those found in Pakil” (on the Eastern shore of the Lake), were found. Presumably, alluvial deposit built up the present delta, but the site must have originally been the mouth of the river. Pothunters had also opened up minor sites in Pagsanjan town, upriver.

Dealino knows of no other metal finds of like size or technology in that area: no mirrors, containers, bowls, utensils or the like. However, gold ornaments found in the same manner over the years include a Palawan-type “Ling-ling-o” ornaments (A. Gutierrez); a ring with zoomorphic figures on the shanks (B. Yap); a garment clasp (R. Villegas) and other ornaments (W. Villareal).

From these interviews we may include:

a. The codex was a surface find in Sitio Wawa, Lumban, Laguna on or shortly before August 1989.

b. The site’s assemblage of artifacts and its geological character indicate alluvial deposition. It must be pointed out the out that August is the beginning of the rainy season proper.

c. The Lumban Codex may be reasonably associated with the ancient Lumban or Pagsanjan settlements.

Addendum: The manufacture of large objects of metal, such as this plaque, requires a degree of skill and knowledge of metallurgy different from the crafting of small ornaments of gold. The latter is quite malleable. The presence of almost pure native gold did not necessitate knowledge of refining and forming techniques. The working of base metals on the other hand would have required knowledge (and availability) of imported copper and tin, and annealing and forming techniques. The absence in that site of related artifacts of similar manufacture suggest, that we cannot, at the moment, attribute to the Lumban Codex to an industrial tradition in that locality.

(Signed) Ramon N. Villegas

Makati, 14, July 1990

Cc: Fr. Antoon Postma

Dr. Alfredo Evangelista

File

1903 Pila Population

The first Philippine census during the American period was conducted on March 2, 1903 in accordance with Section 6 of the Philippine Bill of 1902. Below is the 1903 census report for Pila, Laguna:

Pila Total Population = 6,040

Poblacion (Santa Clara) = 1,623
Banca banca = 89
Bucal = 38
Concepcion = 100
Daniw = 84
Labuin = 378
Linga = 1,021
Masico = 264
Nanhaya = 662
Masapang = 72
Mojon = 131
Pansol = 246
San Antonio = 93
San Benito = 131
San Felix = 48
San Francisco = 188
San Miguel = 120
San Roque = 615
San Vicente = 43
Tubuan = 94

It is interesting to note that that the census included barrio San Vicente which is not part of current Victoria or Pila.

The seven barrios above namely: Banca-banca, Nanhaya, Masapang, San Benito, San Felix, San Francisco, San Roque and Daniw are now part of Victoria, Laguna.

Based on the 2000 Census, the total population of Pila was pegged at 37,278 while Victoria was listed with 29,765 individuals. The population of Old Pila grew 10 times since 1903.

Source: Population of the Philippines: by islands, provinces, municipalities, and barrios / taken in the year 1903. United States. Bureau of the Census. [Washington. D.C.]: Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census: Gov’t Print. Office, 1904

Manila Champion defeats Pila Team in Volleyball Semis

Hope Christian School outclassed rookie laden San Antonio de Padua College Girls Volleyball Team, two sets to nil yesterday in the semifinal round of the 6th F.C. Toribio Cup at the University of the East Recto Gym. The 2006 Manila Volleyball Champion will meet Toribio Cup defending champion University of Santo Tomas on December 9, 2006 for the championship plum. UST defeated UE Warriors in the other semifinal match 2-1. The young SAPC team will battle 2005 UAAP champion University of the East for the bronze medal.

SAPC is assured of the highest Toribio cup ranking since joining the Manila-based volleyball league last year. With an average age of 14 years, SAPC is the youngest and has the most number of freshmen players among the semifinalists.