Thursday, July 29, 2010

Of Paye and Pulang Lupa

PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR IN MARINDUQUE
(Of Paye and Pulang Lupa)

(Photo of the American landing in Laylay, the soldiers seen here wading ashore)

The most comprehensive account of the U.S. Army’s pacification of Marinduque from the period April 1900 to April 1901 was published in the Journal of Military History 61 (April 1997), in an paper written by Andrew J. Birtle.

The said paper begins with the following gripping lines:

“The severity with which the inhabitants have been dealt would not look well if a complete history of it were written out”.

”So wrote Philippine Commissioner William Howard Taft concerning the U.S. Army's campaign on the island of Marinduque during the Philippine War of 1899-1902. The pacification of Marinduque was characterized by extensive devastation and marked one of the earliest employments of population concentration in the Philippine War, techniques that would eventually be used on a much larger scale in the two most famous campaigns of the war, those of Brigadier Generals J. Franklin Bell in Batangas and Jacob H. Smith in Samar..."

The Birtle article provides the first detailed account of the story that Taft, the future governor of the Philippines and President of the United States, had felt "was best left untold.”

Paye Day on July 31

Marinduque marks the Battle of Paye Day on July 31, one of two historical holidays commemorating the revolutionary struggle on the island in 1900 during the Philippine-American War. The Paye episode was described as a "skirmish" in American journals (Wells). Local accounts refer to it as a "battle". Paye is a sitio of Brgy. Balimbing in Boac's Ilaya-side.

(Boac Church. Company A was paralyzed and retired to this church)

Birtle describes the Paye episode in the following terms:

"In fact, the American hold over Marinduque was quite tenuous. Not only were the two companies of the 29th USVs poorly led, but with fewer than one hundred men at each location neither garrison could adequately protect itself and undertake offensive operations at the same time.

Moreover, Bates did not deem the garrison important enough to rate anything more than sporadic naval support. Without a ship to transport men and relay messages, the two outposts could not readily support one another. Coordination was further impeded by Manila's failure to appoint an overall commander for the island...

The precariousness of the American position became evident on 31 July, when Teofilo Roque's Guerrilla ambushed one of Lieutenant Wells' rare forays into the countryside.
Roque's force wounded two Americans and captured two others before the patrol escaped.

That night the victorious guerrillas set fire to a portion of Boac in an effort to drive the Americans out. In this they failed, though many of Boac's inhabitants fled, leaving the town virtually deserted. The episode also succeeded in paralyzing Company A, which retired to the church, venturing out only twice over the next two months.”


Birtle also described what followed six weeks later in the famous “Battle of Pulang Lupa". The Battle of Pulang Lupa is considered the first major victory of Filipinos over the Americans during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution.

Writes Birtle:

“On 11th September, Shields decided to take advantage of a visit by the gunboat U.S.S. Villalobos. Leaving Lieutenant Wilson and forty-one men to hold Santa Cruz, he loaded fifty-one enlisted men, a hospital corps-man, and his black servant onto the gunboat and sailed to Torrijos, disembarking that evening. The next day he had his first contact with insurgent forces since his company had been on the island, dispersing a band of twenty guerrillas and destroying their cuartel.

On the thirteenth (September), Shields led his detachment into the mountains with the intention of returning to Santa Cruz. Well informed about Shields's movements, Shields walked right into the ambush. A fire fight ensued for several hours before Shields ordered a retreat into a covered ravine. What began as a slow withdrawal quickly turned into a race down a rocky stream bed, as the Americans scrambled to escape the pincers that were moving to surround them (until) Shields fell seriously wounded.

After ordering that a message be passed to the senior NCO to lead the command out of the closing trap, Shields raised a white flag to surrender himself and the other wounded... the entire force lay down its arms. All told, the Insurgents killed four Americans and captured fifty, six of whom, including Shields, were wounded...

After months of hiding, Abad in a few short hours had destroyed nearly a third of the entire American garrison on Marinduque.

Confirmation of Shields's defeat sent shock waves through the American high command. The episode was one of the worst reversals suffered by U.S. forces in the Philippine War.”

Pulang Lupa

What is being described in the American annals as the defeat that “sent shock waves through the American high command” and “one of the worst reversals suffered by U.S. forces” was the Battle at Pulang Lupa that transpired six weeks after Paye.

Commemorating historic events contribute immensely in promoting historical appreciation and promote a deeper sense of identity particularly among the young.

One may raise the need to exercise caution in viewing such episodes in a broader perspective, but no matter, the Paye and Pulang Lupa accounts are important in recollecting the stories of local struggle during the second phase of the Philippine revolution.

The full Birtle article could be browsed on www.ulongbeach.com courtesy of Curt Shepard.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Bellarocca and Eco-tourism Development

Support for development of eco-tourism sites in the Marinduque mainland with potentials to generate livelihood has been provided by Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa to spur tourism growth here. The resort has adopted this approach as part of its social responsibility program.

This has encouraged Bellarocca visitors not just to enjoy the luxury and amenities offered by the famed resort but to also immerse themselves in the island-province's unique culture and other tourist attractions.

View of Bellarocca Island.


(This blogger with Marla, Jerex, Randy and Noel at Bellarocca)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Marinduque National High School new building



Former governor Jose Antonio N. Carrion obtained financial assistance from DepEd through former Sec. Jeslie Lapuz for the construction of a new school building at the Marinduque National High School where Carrion was once a student. Phases 1 & 2 of the school was finished in time for the opening of school year 2010-2011.


Carrion announced during a visit to the school in June that DepEd's financial assistance of P 10-million for the construction of phases 3 & 4 will be released shortly.

(Carrion hands over cheque to MNHS principal, Myrna Sajo, as PTCA president, Dennis Recalde, teacher and students look on).

Carrion also turned over a P 2.5-million cheque to MNHS principal, Myrna Sajo as part of the provincial government's counterpart funding for the new building. Carrion ended his term on June 30, 2010.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

The river in Mogpog



Mogpog river is one of the few tributaries that originates from the municipality's main watershed area. This watershed area is within the periphery of the same earth dam built for the mines that collapsed, polluting the Mogpog River instantaneously in 1993, never allowing it to recover until today. There, the colors of the water range from peach to brown to gruesome red and toxic green or violet ending up in Tablas Strait.

My friend, JR Baculado created a video of the place as it looks today, one that seems to express hope and prayer that growth and familiar flowers that bloom in abundance elsewhere on the island could still find their way into this degraded area one day in the not-too-distant future.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Morning in Boac

Early morning sky in Boac...

as wild flowers show their delight

to a butterfly's kiss...

Marinduque Representatives to the House of Congress


Philippine Legislature:

Marinduque had no representation from 1907-1922. GREGORIO NIEVA of Boac was appointed, however, as Secretary of the House in 1910.

1922-1925 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO
1925-1928 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO
1928-1931 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO
1931-1934 JOSE A. UY
1934-1935 JOSE A. UY

Commonwealth Government
1935-1938 CECILIO A. MANEJA (Maneja was defeated by Jose A. Uy in election contest decided in 1937)
1938-1941 JOSE A. UY
1941-1946 CECILIO A. MANEJA

Republic of the Philippines
1946-1949 TIMOTEO RICOHERMOSO
1949-1953 PANFILO M. MANGUERA
1953-1957 PANFILO M. MANGUERA
1957-1961 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ
1961-1965 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ
1965-1969 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ
1969-1972 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ

Martial Law Priod
1978-1986 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1987-1992 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1992-1995 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1995-1998 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1998-2001 EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR.
2001-2004 EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR.
2004-2007 EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR.
2007-2010 CARMENCITA O. REYES
2010-present LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Malindig from Bellarocca

View of the mystical Malindig Volcano from Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, Buenavista, Marinduque. Malindig means steep.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Governors of Marinduque



GOVERNORS OF MARINDUQUE
(This is work in progress. This blogger welcomes anyone who could provide some missing names, corrections, photos and relevant data).

1898-1901 MARTIN LARDIZABAL Politico-Military Governor
(Appointed Military Governor of Marinduque with Eduardo Nepomuceno as Delegado de Justicia, Tomas Roque as Delegado de Hacienda and Calixto Nieva as Delegado de Policia. Lardizabal was Commandant of the Marinduque Revolutionary Force during the Philippine-American War in Marinduque).

(Ricardo G. Paras, Sr., photo courtesy of Curt Shepard)
1901-1902 RICARDO G. PARAS, SR.* Provincial Governor of
Tayabas and Marinduque
1902-1904 RICARDO G. PARAS, SR.* Lieutenant Governor
1904-1907 RICARDO G. PARAS, SR.* Provincial Governor

(Paras was delegate to the Malolos Congress in 1898; appointed provincial governor by Pres. William H. Taft from 1901-1902, then as lieutenant governor from 1902-1904 and provincial governor from 1904-1907)


(Juan M. Nieva)
1907-1916 JUAN M. NIEVA* Lieutenant Governor
(Nieva was appointed lieutenant governor; became the municipal president of Sta. Cruz; campaigned hard for the extensive planting of coconuts throughout the province; all the towns of Marinduque were first connected during his term through the installation of telegraphic lines)

(Act No. 1649 May 17, 1907, declared that all of the territory comprised in the Island of Marinduque to be the sub-province of Marinduque, forming a part of the Province of Tayabas. Section 1 of said Act provided for a lieutenant governor for the said sub-province to be appointed by the Governor General with the advise and consent of the Philippine Commission.)



1916-1919 PEDRO MADRIGAL (elected) Lieutenant Governor

(Madrigal’s name was associated with the Philippine-American War in Marinduque; also former municipal president, he established the first drug store, “Botica de Boac”.

(Act No. 2354 Feb. 28, 1914 was passed making the office of Lieutenant-Governor elective in the sub-province of Marinduque, Tayabas)


1919-1920 VICENTE TRIVINO (elected) Lieutenant Governor

(Trivino was aide-de-camp of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and participated actively in revolutionary activities during the Philippine-American War; was first appointed provincial governor under the Marinduque Charter (1920). Act No. 2880 Feb. 21, 1920, which separated the sub-province of Marinduque from the province of Tayabas)

1920-1922 VICENTE TRIVINO (hold-over) Provincial Governor
1922-1925
1925-1929 DAMIAN REYES Provincial Governor
1929-1933
1933-1936 PEDRO DEL MUNDO Provincial Governor
1936-1939
1939-1942 JOSE L. BASA
1942-1945 JOSE L. BASA (hold-over)
1945-1946 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO, SR.*
1946-1947 CESAR NEPOMUCENO*
1947-1951 CESAR NEPOMUCENO
1951-1955

(Miguel M. Manguera)
1955-1963 MIGUEL M. MANGUERA
1963-1967 CELSO PRECLARO


1967-1988 ARISTEO M. LECAROZ
1988-1992 LUISITO M. REYES
1992-1995 LUISITO M. REYES

Jose Antonio N. Carrion, born June 19, 1948
1995-1998 JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION

Carmencita O. Reyes, born November 9, 1931
1998-2007 CARMENCITA O. REYES

Carrion served as Governor of Marinduque from 1995-1998 and 2007-2010.
2007-2010 JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION

Reyes served as Assemblywoman from 1978 to 1986 (Martial Law period), Representative of Marinduque from 1987 to 1998 and 2007 to 2010, as well as Governor from 1998 to 2007 and 2010 to January 7, 2019 (Died).
2010-TO JANUARY 7, 2019 CARMENCITA O. REYES





JANUARY 8, 2019 to JUNE 30, 2020 (SERVED THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF GOV. REYES):
ROMULO BACORRO, JR.

JUNE 30, 2020-PRESENT: PRESBITERO J VELASCO, JR.

Centennial Governor  Presbitero J Velasco, Jr.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Court denies Raza-Monte-Nepomuceno Petition filed against officials

Branch 94 of the Regional Trial Court's 4th Judicial Region in Marinduque has denied a petition filed by petitioners Eleuterio Raza, Jr., Leticia Monte and Allan Nepomuceno against Jose Antonio Carrion, Tomas Pizarro, Ildefonso delos Santos, Cesaria Zoleta, Yolando Querubin, Jose Alvarez, Nancy Arca-Iturralde and Mark Joseph de Leon. The petition for preliminary prohibitory injunction filed by the three board members of Marinduque's Sangguniang Panlalawigan was denied for lack of merit.

In its decision, the Court with Judge Antonina M. Calderon-Magturo as presiding judge stated thus:

"After a judicious evaluation of the merits of the application, this Court resolves to deny Petitioner's Application for Preliminary Injunction. From the evidence adduced during the hearing of June 28, 2010, Petitioners have not shown and proved any facts relative to the damages or irreparable injury to be suffered by them as a result of the unauthorized re-alignment of funds. Even the purchase order dated June 18, 2010 referred to will not justify the issuance as it was not shown that such would inflict serious damage or irreparable injury to Petitioners."

Copy of the three-page decision dated July 1, 2010, is reproduced below.



Gov. Bong Carrion's Goodbye



Gov. Jose Antonio "Bong" Nieva Carrion, 62, was elected governor of Marinduque in 1995 and served for a single term of 3 years (1998). He got elected again after 9 years in 2007 and ended his term this year 2010. One of his priority projects in education was an early childhood learning program for day-care kids in Marinduque's 227 day-care centers, one involving instructional software learning program that has been challenged by his political opponents after it has been implemented for three consecutive years from 2007.

Carrion is a great grandson of the late Lt. Gov. Juan Morente Nieva, who administered Marinduque from 1907-1916 when the island province was under the political jurisdiction as a sub-province of Tayabas (now Quezon).