History of Sto.Tomas

INTRODUCTION

History has always been known as the study of past. It was derived from the Greek word Historia which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation.” History as a disciplined existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as mathematics and philosophy. This term was then adapted to classical Latin where it acquired a new definition. Historia became known as the account of the past of a person or of a group of people though written documents and historical evidences. (Readings in Philippine History book, pg. 2)

According to Gottschalk Louis Reichenthal, “History consists of description and narration of past actuality integrated through critical inquiry for the whole truth.” He wants us to be aware of mankind’s past through seeking be thirsty for historical knowledge. He believed that the past have contributed in strengthening us for the future.

History does not only pertains to a certain person but also to different kind of events, places, things, etc. that contributes to our society or our world in terms of economic, culture, government, and livelihood. The sources of Historical information are commonly classified as primary or secondary. ‘Primary sources are firsthand access of the events or experience under study; secondary sources are accounts at least one level removed from the vent or experience’ (Wiersma, 1996).

           

This historical research will tackles about the History Sto.Tomas City in Sto.Tomas, Batangas. In which the researchers are motivated and interested for the born of Sto.Tomas and to widen the knowledge and also understanding of all students, history teachers, and other people who are future researchers about this matter. Also this historical research answers the questions; when and where the town started or founded, who is the founder of the said town and other following leaders

About the town

Santo Tomas, a First Class Municipality and one of the oldest towns of Batangas, is located at the foot of the legendary and picturesque Mt. Makiling. It is 60 kilometers south of Manila and known as the birthplace of Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the American. The municipality is classified as an agro industrial town with the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) and the Light Industrial Science Park (LISP) situated at the urban area. This is also known as the progressive gateway to the province of Batangas and now it’s officially a City as signed by our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Secondary Source;

Government Records [From MADECOR Environmental Management Systems, Inc. 16 May1997] Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Department

Sto.Tomas, one of the oldest towns of Batangas, is located at the foot of the legendary and picturesque Mt. Makiling. It is sixty-eight kilometers south of Manila and is known as the birthplace of Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the American.

The town of Santo Tomas was actually founded in 1666 with Captain Manuel Melo as its first head.  Originally, it was composed of large Poblacion. When the Spanish friars arrived their first and foremost objective was to construct a church near the river to satisfy their propensity for water. Thus the present site of the Roman Catholic Church was chosen, just as a stone's throw from the San Juan River. As years went by, more and more houses were built around the church. This became the center of the Poblacion.

Other groups of houses were scattered all over the area.  They were given such odd names as “Kabaong”, because the stones along the road were coffin shaped; “Putol” because the trail was cut short by the Makiling mountain, “Aptayin”, because “apta”  fine shrimps were found in the brook,  “Biga”,  because biga trees abounded there, and “Camballao”, because twin rivers divided the place. These different unit groups comprised the barrios of the town.

The natives were by nature God-bearing, peaceful and obedient. The conquerors did not much difficulty in enforcing decrees and orders. One such irrevocable decree was to change the original names of the barrios to the names of Saints in the Catholic Calendar and to place each them under its patrotonio (Patron), the former “Pook” and “Aptayin” were joined together and called San Bartolome, “Kabaong” was change to San Vicente, “Biga” to Santa Anastacia, and “Camballao” to San Isidro Sur and San Isidro Norte. The whole town was given the name of Sto. Tomas de Aquino, a high Prince of the Dominican Order to where most of the first friars belonged. As time went by more and more barrios were added to the list each with an assumed name of the saint. This unchanged set-up makes Santo Tomas the most unique not only in Batangas but all over the Philippines.

At present, it has thirty barangays namely:  Santa Anastacia, San Rafael, Santiago, San Antonio, San Bartolome, San Miguel, San Roque, San Pedro, San Pablo, San Felix, San Jose, San Juan, San Agustin, Santa Ana, San Joaquin, San Fernando, Santa Clara, San Luis, Santa Cruz, San Isidro Sur, San Isidro Norte, San Francisco, Santa Maria, Santa Elena, Santa Teresita, Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Poblacion III and Poblacion IV.

No primary source found because even in the Municipality of Sto. Tomas they don’t have the records that can be classified as prime. The researchers can strongly say that this account isn’t primary yet from the government records because it’s from the book written by the Municipality officers of Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator department.

The information’s above are the same with what you can get from internet so, obviously no other account contradicts in this information. With this, Researchers can say that this is credible account about the born of the town, Sto.Tomas. This account implies the historical background of the town.

Secondary Source; Book

 Abaya, D and Karganilla,B. “Life of General Miguel Malvar” pg.17, 1913 from Museo ni Gen. Miguel Malvar (Malvar Museum) in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

 “The place, which celebrates its fiesta on March 7, was designated a municipality in 1666, incorporated in Laguna until 1768, and now counted as a town of Batangas famous  for its bulalo (stewed beef). In 1800, Santo Tomas was classified by a traveller as a scenic spot, occupied by around 500 families. There was thick foliage surrounding the town, and the “route is level and very pleasing to travellers because of the chirping of birds and the loud articulate chatter of numerous monkeys.” He further observed that the route became “impassable during the rainy season because of big gaping mud holes created by the bulky carabaos.” And also because the sun’s heat could not penetrate the thick vegetation, it takes a long time for the mud holes to dry up.”

In this account of 1913 book about life of General Miguel Malvar describes the Town of Sto. Tomas in which agrees the description or statements from the Municipality and in an Internet references. It states that “The place, which celebrates its fiesta on March 7” in which this is credible accordingly as the Town celebrated it. Also according to interviewee who lived in the town, she remembered and agreed with Malvar’s description of the town before “impassable during the rainy season because of big gaping mud holes created by the bulky carabaos.”

All in all, in this account of Abaya and Karganilla, Researchers can conclude that there’s no problem and contradictions with the different accounts.

Sto. Tomas Leaders

From the year 1666, the head of the town had different titles.  He was variously known as “Captain” from 1666 to 1782; “Alcalde” from 1783 to 1788; “Gobernadorcillo” from 1789 to 1821; “Presidente Local” from 1822 to 1899; “Presidente Municipal” from 1900 to 1930; and “Municipal Mayor” from 1931 to present.

Manuel Melo is the first head (Cabesa de Barangay or Barangay Captain) of the Sto. tomas by 1666, followed by, Andres Masuay (1667), Andres Magsumbong (1668), Pedro Tumambing (1669), Luis Lubao (1670), Gaspart Fluma (1671), Mariano Lontoc (1672), Gaspar Solima (1673 and 1882), Agustin Pascual (1674), Policarpio Mangubat (1675), Francisco Lontoc (1676), Agustin Caponpon (1677), Juan Umali (1678), Juan Sinag (1679),  Miguel de Mendoza (1680), Felipe de la Cruz (1681), Agustin Casanig (1683), Nicolas Tino  (1684), Andres Paraan (1685), Marcos Dela Cruz (1686 & 1717), Alonzo Diaz ( 1687), Marcos Manforan (1688), Alonzo Liwag (1689), Antonio Delos Santos (1690), Roque De Mercado (1691), Francisco Magtibay (1692), Gregorio Caaltan (1693), Nicolas Del Rosario (1694), Juan Armas (1695), Agustin Forcianada (1696), Melchor Arceno (1697), Andres Valencia (1698), Jose De Chavez (1699), Agustin De Masajo (1700 & 1702), Francisco Sakdalan (1701), Nicolas Dela Cruz (1703), Francisco Dimayuga (1704), Juan De Mendoza (1705), Agustin Gatchalian (1706), Martin Dela Cruz (1707), Ventura Pagsuyuin (1708), Tomas Perez (1709), Bartolome Calalad (1710), Nicolas Delo Santos (1711), Francisco Caponpon (1712), Antonio Liwag (1713), Jose De La Cueva (1714 & 1735), Pedro Unlayao (1715), Agustin Gasi (1716), Jose De Los Santos (1718), Manuel Maandal (1719 & 1727), Ventura Dela Cruz (1720 & 1740), Agustin Basques (1721), Tomas Dela Cruz (1722), Francisco Bonquillo (1723), Andres Dela Cruz (1724-1725), Andres Valencia (1726), Diego Salazar (1728), Juan Abila (1729), Pablo Sicsi (1730), Ignacio Dela Cruz (1731-1732), Lorenzo Alejo (1733-1734), Miguel De Lemus (1736 & 1741), Alejandro Capuno (1737), Faustino Dela Cruz (1738, 1747 & 1758), Francisco Caano (1739), Alejandro Trinidad (1742), Juan De Chavez (1743), Juan De Leon (1744), Francisco Bernardo (1745), Pedro Villar (1746), Jacinto Casapao (1748), Sebastian Villegas (1749), Agustin Dela Cruz (1750), Pedro Lopez De Legaspi (1751), Juan De San Pedro (1752), Juan Ramos (1753 , 1763 ,1765 & 1768), Manuel Lemus (1754). Juan De Masajo (1755), Benvenido Mounllave (1756), Jose Delos Angeles (1757), Jacinto Mariano (1759, 1791-1792, Pablo Timoteo (1760), Manuel De Lemus (1761), Juan Flores (1762), Juan Trinidad De Leyba (1764), Nicolas De Mendoza (1766), Mateo De Guzman (1767), Steban De Villanueva (1769), Feleciano Veneranda (1770), Andres Magbinyag ( 1771), Lorenzo De Villanueva (1772), Feleiano De Miranda (1773), Juan Salvador Balo (1774), Miguel De San Jose (1775), Nicolas Ramos (1776), Ricardo De Lemus (1777), Francisco Flores (1778 & 1782), Juan De Ramos (1779), Nicolas Delos Santos (1780), Bonifacio Del Valle (1781)

           

Alcalde’s 1783 to 1788

Antonio De San Buena (1783), Lucas Tolentino (1784 & 1796), Pedro Villegas (1785 & 1789), Luis Manalo (1786), Estanislao Villanueva (1787 & 1803), Tomas Ramos (1788)

Gobernadorcillo’s from 1789 to 1821

Lorenzo De Leyba (1790), Raymundo Salazar (1793 & 1802-1803), Nicolas Lorenzo (1794), Victorio Mabilangan (1795), Francisco Casanas (1797), Juan Fructo (1798 & 1805-1806 ,1819), Manuel Ramos (1799 & 1804), Jose Sanchez (1800-1801), Pedro Villanueva (1807 ,1830), Domingo Del Rosario (1808 ,1823), Mauricio  De Velasco (1809),  Pedro De Villanueva (1810-1811 , 1813, 1817, 1822, 1838, 1840), Pedro Mariano (1812), Juan Angeles (1814 , 1857-1858), Pedro Dela Cruz (1815), Alejo Tolentno (1816), Santiago Villegas (1818),  Manuel Antonio (1820), Agustin Sanchez (1821,1824 & 1825)

Presidente Local from 1822 to 1899

Francisco Tolentino (1822 ,1827, 1828 ,1845), Juan Dela Cruz ( 1823), Steban Ramos (1824, 1826, 1836), Macario De Los Santos (1829), Martin Del Rosario (1831, 1839), Licerio De Lemus (1832), Steban Mabilangan (1833), Juan Austria (1834), Juan De Austria (1835), Anselmo Francisco (1837), Patricio Zagala (1841 , 1843), Jose Del Rosario (1842 ,1844), Timoteo Villegas (1846), Hilario Sanchez (1847), Jose De Lemus (1848 ,1853), Leon De Chavez (1849 ,1891-1892), Antonio Cenon (1850 -1851), Bernardino Carpio (1852), Juan De Lemus (1854), Mariano DeTorres (1855-1856), Maximo Sanchez (1856-1857), Agaton Malatag (1858-1859), Angelo De Chavez (1859-1860, 1863-1865), Steban Guevarra (1860-1862), Paterno Meer (1862-1863 , 1867-1869), Pedro Sanchez (1865-1967), Ambrocio Maloles (1869-1871 ,1884-1885), Francisco Maluan (1871-1873), Jose Castillo (1873-1875), Tomas Guevarra (1875 -1876), Pedro Carpio (1877 -1978), Maximo Malvar (1879-1880, 1883-1894), Andres Perez (1881-1883), Cecilio Melendez (1886-1887), Mariano Melendez (1887-1888), Miguel  Malvar (1889-1890), Leon Villegas (1895-1897), Marcilliano Villegas (1898), Dalmacio Hernandez (1899)

Presidente Municipal from 1900 to 1930

Juan Paguia (1900), Juan Muzoz and Fernando Maloles (1901), Provost Martial (1902-1903), Marcos Maloles (1904-1905 ,1917-1919), Eustacio Maloles (1906-1907), Marcilliano Villegas ( 1907-1908 ,1911-1912), Arcardio Sanchez (1909-1910), Ruperto  Carpio (1913-1916), Roman Hernandez (1920-1922), Getulio Jaurigue (1923-1925), Miguel Paraz (1926), Cornelio Hernandez (1926-1930)

Municipal Mayor from 1931 to the present

Maximo M. Malvar 1931-1939, Maximo Maloles 1941-1945, Abelardo Meet 1946, Jose Oliva 1947, Nicetas Castillo 1948-1959, Jacinto Castillo 1960-1963, Cayo Manzo 1964-1967, Francisco Jaurigue 1968-1971, Miguel Malvar, Jr. 1972-1980, Leopoldo Laurel, Jr. 1980-1985, Pablo Malvar 1985-1988, Leopoldo Laurel,Jr. 1988 – 1998, Armando C. Sanchez 1998 – 2003, Edna P. Sanchez 2003 – 2008, Renato Federico 2008 – 2011, Osmondo Maligaya 2011 – 2012, Edna P. Sanchez 2012 – Present

            The information’s about leaders of the town are same with what you can found in the internet. But the only problem is with Cornelio Hernandez, according to an account of Municipal Tourism Department states that Hernandez’s term is from 1920-1930 but according to the account of Development and planning department its 1926-1930. And Miguel Paras was in the term 1926. So, there’s a controversy about the dates terms. The researchers strongly believed in the account written from MPDC-Sto.tomas because they have their basis to lean on.

There’s no account/ documents about the leaders, only their names recorded, as said by the Municipality officers.

                                                           

Other accounts; also from the Sto.Tomas Comprehensive LandUse and Development Plan. MPDC Account

Important Historical happenings in the Town

SPANISH PERIOD

1666 - Sto. Tomas was founded .The name was taken after St. Thomas Aquinas

1768 - Sto. Tomas was separated from Laguna and make part of Batangas.

1772 - A big fire brought out. The church and many homes were burned.

1787 - Administration of “Juez de Cudhillo”. During the period all bandits caught were beheaded.-

1849 - Bandits from Imus and Silang Cavite entered the town. The leaders of the bandits were Fortunato dela Cruz and Mariano Cupang.

1860-Captain Esteban Guevarra ordered the construction of first cemetery.

1895 - Beginning of the Filipino revolt against the Spaniards in the locality. This was during the return of Captain Leon Villegas.

1896-Spanish Officers Col. Bernardino and Captain Blanco were killed in the town.

1898 - Gen. Miguel Malvar built his camp in Tulo, Calamba, and Laguna with the help of his town mates. Apolonio Lanting, Jose Castillo, Ruperto Carpio and Roman Hernandez From here, they organized attacking parties and they won all battles against the Spaniards.

From 1898 to 1900 not much could be remembered except that when the Americans came in 1900, they were accompanied by Filipino soldiers from Macabebe, Pampanga. Atrocities were committed by these soldiers.      

According to Husenia R. (2018), based on her answers to our interview, she supports one part of this account that Sto. tomas was been a part of Laguna before around 1768 as stated to the account from the Sto. Tomas Municipality.

AMERICAN PERIOD

Jan.7, 1990 -Americans first entered the town.

1901 to 1902 - The Period of "Zona". All of the people from the Barrios were ordered to come to the hills and barrios to hunt down Gen Miguel Malvar and his men. Relatives of Malvar were punished by both Americans and Filipino soldiers.

1903 - An English night school was established by Americans Soldiers Mr. J. Walton Cheesborough and a certain Mr. Brownson. They taught the adults at night who then acted as teachers of the young during the day. Among them were Santiago Mańgo, Ellisea Torres, Baltazara Rocamora and others.

1904 - Another "Zona" was undertaken to capture the bandits Sakay, Uruga, Carreon. Villafuerte, and de Vega. These bandits were surrendered to Gen. Bell in Manila.

1905 - A big fire broke out. All buildings along Calle Real were burned.

1910 - Railroad line was opened connecting Sto. Tomas with Manila and San Pablo.

Jan.11, 1911- Taal volcano erupted. Hot ashes and lava were thrown into the town.

1912- Locust infestation. Crops were destroyed and hard times were felt by all.

1914 to 1918 - Prices of commodities rose high on account of World War I.

1917- A parochial school was established by the late Rev. Father Nicolas Gonzales the parish priest. This was the beginning of the St. Thomas Academy.

1918 to 1919 -Dengue fever epidemic. Many people died.

1924 -The parochial school founded by Fr.Gonzales offered secondary course. This was named St Tomas College. Later the management transferred to the Holy Ghost Sister and the name of the school was changed to St. Thomas Academy.

1926 - A heavy typhoon destroyed almost three-fourth of the building in the town. Crops were destroyed and fruit trees were blown down.

1932 - Leaf miners attacked the coconut trees

1941 - Beginning of the World War II.

JAPANESE PERIOD

Jan 4, 1942- Japanese Forces entered the town and established the military government.

Feb.11, 1945 - Massacre of the people in the Poblacion by the Japanese soldiers

March 28, 1945 - Sto. Tomas was liberated by the American Forces aided by Filipino Guerillas most of whom were from Sto.Tomas and Tanauan.

The town of Sto .Tomas was totally damaged during the liberation was because of the heavy fighting between the Japanese Forces stationed in the Poblacion and the Americans with the Filipino guerillas firing from the Mabanot Hill at the foot of Mt.Makiling.

After the liberation period efforts were made towards rehabilitation. Among the outstanding accomplishments were:

·        Roads were repaired.

·        Modern residential buildings were rehabilitated.

·        Public buildings like the Municipal Building and school houses were rehabilitated.

·        Artesian wells were built.

·        The church was reconstructed through the help of the people of the Municipality.

·        Water system was improved.

·        Rural electrification was attended to.

Since then, the town of Sto.Tomas is gradually heading for progress. It is known for its diversity of crops. Some residents are engaged in poultry, swine raising and cottage industries like sewing baby dresses and ready-made pants and shirts for export to other countries. It has one of the oldest high schools in the province, the St. Thomas Academy. It has four barangay high schools and complete public elementary schools in the barrios of the whole municipality which are accessible to transportation. People are peaceful, law abiding, are engaged in productive endeavors and actively participating in the different thrusts of the New Society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, historical research is a methodology for studying past events, phenomena or occurrences.  On a side note, it should be noted that with the advancement of technology today, the use of internet for the correspondence of both primary and secondary sources have increased greatly since more and more information are been stored electronically.  As such, the future of historical research will change as more correspondence and eyewitnesses accounts are recorded over the internet and become available as new data sources for historical researches (Lundy, 2008)

The researchers concluded that there are no other controversies about the born of Sto. Tomas except in the records terms (years) of the former leaders. The importance of this research is to know and have a depth understanding about the born of Sto. Tomas.

Ref: Readings in Philippine History Book and Sto.tomas Municipality Files