In some provinces centennial celebrations are marked with a year-long celebration, while others plan a month-long calendar of events to culminate on the anniversary date. Others are happy to conduct a weeklong anniversary commemoration.
The municipality of Buenavista, a very picturesque town in Marinduque is now gearing up for its centennial celebration this year. In the past this town's founding anniversary had been celebrated on November 9th.
This year however, in view of a 'newly researched information' purportedly discovered by one local official, the 'correct date' of the establishment of Buenavista into an independent municipality after being part of Gasan territory since time immemorial has now been changed to 'November 6, 1918'.
Consequently, plans were made to mark Buenavista's historic founding date this coming November 6th.
However, I did my own research and came across an incontrovertible document that tells it all. The truth!
Following is the full text of an Executive Order No. 40 issued by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison on the organization of Buenavista into an independent municipality. (A separate Index to Official Gazette 1913-1928 simply described #40 as "Increasing number of municipalities in Tayabas").
The EO is dated "Manila, November 6, 1918", yes. The final paragraph of the said Executive Order states clearly however as follows:
"The organization herein made shall take effect on January first, nineteen hundred and nineteen."
That is: January 1, 1919. New Year's date. A day that signifies New Life, New Hope, New Dreams!
(See copy below of the Executive Order which appeared in the Official Gazette on November 27, 1918, Vol. XVI, No. 48)
It's just about two months left before the New Year comes anyway. If the local authorities concerned are willing to consider it, they might want to call the current preparations a "Pre-Centennial Celebration" culminating on New Year's Day 2019, when the centennial commemoration should really take place?
If the truth must be told and heeded.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
MANILA,
November 6, 1918.
EXECUTIVE ORDER }
NO. 40 }
Whereas many of
the inhabitants of the barrio of Buenavista have petitioned that the same be
separated from the municipality of Gasan, Province of Tayabas, and organized
into an independent municipality;
Now, therefore,
pursuant to the provisions of section sixty-eight of the Revised Administration
Code, the thirty-three municipalities of the Province of Tayabas, as
established by section thirty-eight of the said Administrative Code, are hereby
increased to thirty-four by separating the barrio of Buenavista from the
present municipality of Gasan, and organizing the same into an independent
municipality, under the name of “Buenavista”.
The
municipality of Gasan shall consist of its present territory less the territory
comprised in the barrio of Buenavista. The municipality of Buenavista shall
consist of the territory comprised in the barrio of Buenavista.
The
organization herein made shall take effect on January first, nineteen hundred
and nineteen.
FRANCIS
BURTON HARRISON,
Governor-General.
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| Picturesque Buenavista, south of Marinduque |
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| Screencap. Index of Official Gazette (1913-1928) |
