Burgos Ilocos Sur Philippines

Historical Background

The Rancherias of Yesterday, the Municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Sur today.

Historical reference dated back from the time when an investigation was made and conducted by Buzeta in 1818 to 1848. The investigation report told the need to Christianize the rancherias as infidels at the southeast of Sta. Maria. The local people in these areas mine gold at Mount Pinsal.

Historian Foronda told that the Municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Sur became known when Fr. Bernardo Lago founded Rancheria Nueva Coveta in 1831. This zealous Augustinian friar made Rancheria Nueva Coveta as his springboard to venture into the mountainous interior settlements of Abra whose inhabitants used to trade with the people of Sta. Maria.

On the latter part of 1800’s, Burgos, Ilocos Sur was already composed of two Spanish Rancherias which were established by the Spanish Friars. Since time immemorial, these two Rancherias were separated by one great body of water considered as their natural boundary. The lack of bridge spanning the river caused immobility of people and a stagnant economy.

These two settlements in a remote non-christian areas were:

1. Rancheria Nueva Coveta which was more popular and more favored since it was the original settlement occupied by the Spanish friars. It had Sixteen barrios, including Nueva Coveta, it’s center.
2. Rancheria Bato became a Spanish pueblo in 1878, It was composed of ethnolinguistic barangays whose customs, beliefs and traditions made them distinct figures in the locality. The barangays were:
1. Bato (centro)
2. Mambug
3. Lucaban
4. Masingit
5. Macaoayan

Inhabitants of Mambug and Masingit considered themselves descendants of the itnegs and Kankanaeys from the adjacent Province of Abra. Inhabitants of Macaoayan and Lucaban traced their roots from the Mountain Province and considered themselves as belonging to the Igorot tribe. Unity among these four barangays was very much valued by their elders that political groups used to affiliate with them to garner their political approval.

The Gobernadorcillos or Capitanes of these Rancherias were appointed by the Parish Priest of Sta. Maria. All other barangay officials were appointed by the Capitan or Gobernadorcillo. The Municipal Capitan was a title given to the head of the Rancherias or settlements as prescribed by the Maura Law promulgated by the Spanish Colonial Government in 1893. The law provided for the election of the pueblo officials through “viva voce”.

Rancherias Bato and Nueva Coveta were created purposely to Christianize its inhabitants, to collect tribute money and as a source of human workforce. Big and sturdy trees from these Spanish settlements were felled and were used for constructing churches and bridges in the other parts of the country. There were no statistical data as to how many souls were subjected to Christianity by the Spanish friars from both rancherias.

Nueva Coveta and Bato were formed in 1831 and 1878 respectively, but historical records about these rancherias are few. Apart from birth and baptismal records that were kept in Sta. Maria church which occasionally mention residents of Nueva Coveta and Bato, there were no significant documents describing life in these settlements during the remainder of the 19th century.

American Occupation

The effects of the Philippine Revolution in 1898 did not spread rapidly in Ilocos Sur. It was not until the latter part of 1898 that a Revolutionary Government was established in Candon. This was soon displaced by an American Military Rule followed by a Civil Government established by the Americans through Philippine Commission Act 205 approved on August 16, 1901. Likewise, the Municipal Code of 1901 also renamed the old Municipal Captain as Municipal President.

The establishment of a civil government in the Philippines brought several investigatory missions to examine the situations of the predominantly non-Christian settlements in the country. In 1904, M. Miller, an American official, recommended for the integration of non-Christian settlements with the Provincial and National Government systems.

As was expected, American invasion brought with it the goal to civilize inhabitants through public education and converting them to the Christian faith. American missionaries came in to convert non-Christian inhabitants to the Protestant religion. Methodists, Mission Christiana, Iglesia Filipina Independiente and other Protestant missionaries were able to convert inhabitants and were able to spread the doctrine of Protestantism.

Public schools were opened in 1905. One public school was opened in Rancheria Nueva Coveta and one at Rancheria Bato. English and Mathematics were taught in these schools which, in some manner, introduced the American ways of life to the inhabitants.

In October 8, 1903, Rancheria Coveta was annexed to the adjacent town of Santiago by virtue of the Philippine Commission Act No. 934. This was done to further aid in the financial solvency of the Ilocos Region.

In the year of 1908, the American Civil Government changed the name “rancheria” to township. Bato township became the center of local government and within the same year of 1908, Governor Juan Villamor of the Province of Ilocos Sur gave the name Burgos to the center of municipal government in reverence to the Ilocano martyr priest, Fr. Jose Apolonio G. Burgos, Bato Township then became the Municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Sur with the following as its elected Municipal Presidents:

* Don Magao Amarga 1908-1911
* Don Mannog 1911-1914
* Don Matbag 1914-1917
* Don Valentin 1917-1920

There was a popular clamor that the township of Coveta be integrated with the town of Burgos. Around 1920, it was presumed that Coveta Township was already granted its petition to join Bato Township and form a single municipality. A bitter struggle among leaders of both townships ensued as to which township would become the center of Burgos government. A big conference was held to settle the case.

That significant event caused the agreement that Bato Township would be the center of the town. Since the agreement was already sealed by each representative, election for the new Municipal President followed. Elected as Municipal President in 1920 was Don Diego Foronda II. Immediately, he established the Municipio at Coveta Township and made Coveta as the center of the town. Thus, in 1920, Coveta became Burgos, Ilocos Sur and Bato became a mere barrio of Coveta.

Again in 1932, during the incumbency of Municipal President Don Mariano Lestino, the bitter struggle resurfaced. By force of circumstances and blunder committed by the municipal president himself, the presidencia was transferred to Bato on March 1, 1932. Bato became the town center again and Coveta became a mere barrio of Bato, now the Municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Sur. Don Lestino made Bato Township as the center of his term as Municipal President.

Don Quintin was elected Municipal President in 1935, a position he held up to 1938. It was during his incumbency when the parochial Catholic church was built at Coveta Township. It was also during his term when Coveta was named barrio Luna in honor of the revered hero, General Antonio Luna.

The Japanese Invasion

World War II reared its ugly face in 1941. The Motherland enlisted her young men to rise up against the Banzai invaders. The Japanese landed in Ilocos Sur on December 10, 1941. Six days later, they invaded some of the coastal towns of Ilocos Sur including Santiago, which Coveta was once affiliated with destroying churches and Municipal Offices. This accounted for the lack of records in many of the towns of Ilocos Sur including Burgos. Public buildings were used as garrisons. Inhabitants of Burgos, Ilocos Sur evacuated to the mountainous parts of the town afraid for their lives and leaving behind their properties and belongings.

On the night of July 23, 1944, the Municipio, schools and houses were burned. Around August 1944, Japanese Kempetai invaded Burgos compelling Mayor Juan Sison to evacuate his family to Vigan. In October 1944 Mayor Sison met his death at the place where he evacuated and his body was dispatched near Poro, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. Accordingly, the Japanese Imperial Army installed one dummy Mayor at Burgos but he did not assume his office long because of guerilla resistance.

Life during the war was hard. Family members, relatives, acquaintances and properties perished during the war, leaving behind a deep scar of pain into the hearts of the survivors.

Commonwealth Government

The return of the Americans in October 22, 1944 found several places trying to put up a Military Government. Around the end of that year, Burgos set up a Military Government under Don Brigado Filart. He held his office in a shed three hundred meters southeast of the Municipio.

The establishment of a commonwealth government in August 1, 1945 saw the induction of Don Antonio Laaguen, the vice –mayor of the late Don Juan Sison, as the Municipal Mayor until the national elections of April 1946. The late Manuel Roxas was elected as the President of the Philippine Commonwealth.

By virtue of a special order from the Chief Executive, Don Brigido Filart was appointed Mayor of Burgos, Ilocos Sur by the Provincial Governor with Don Domingo Manog as Vice Mayor. That was in 1946. Around the end of that year, Mayor Brigido Filart gave-up the position for him to resume his studies in Manila. Don Domingo Manog took over and continued to be in such capacity until November 1947 elections where Don Leocadio was elected as Mayor.

The 1951 elections was so hotly contested by the 2 candidates, Don Fidel Escobar and Don Juan Reinante, that they agreed to split the term. Don Fidel Escobar served as Mayor from 1952 to 1953 and Don Juan Reinante from 1954 to 1955.

It is worth mentioning that the existence of the Burgos river which served as a natural boundary dividing the eastern barrios from the western barrios of Burgos played an important factor in the slow development of the town. Since then, inhabitants found it hard to cross the swift river waters. People would wait for the river water to subside so they could cross again. The wide river was a deterrent to mobility and a blunder to economic prosperity. Elected officials found it hard to provide a solution to the problem.

In 1963 Don Benjamin P. Escobar of Barrio Ambugat won as Municipal Mayor. It was during his term when Bato became the permanent and official seat of the Local Government. This was done through Executive Order No. 133, s. 1964 signed by then President Diosdado Macapagal.

In 1965 he worked for the construction of a new Municipal Building at Bato leaving behind the old Municipal Building at Luna as it was. Mayor Escobar renovated the Public Plaza constructing therein a stage called “Sapaw Ni Ragsak”. He also worked for the construction of a bailey bridge spanning the Burgos river which was completed in 1968. He was also one of the co-founders of the first secondary school, the Holy Name High School, in 1967 and was also awarded as one of the Most Outstanding Mayors of the Philippines in 1967.

Martial Law Years

President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Martial Law in September 21, 1972. In 1973, the 1972 Constitution was ratified. The charter allowed for the creation of barrios in cities and in town centers (Poblacions). Bato then became Poblacion, being situated within the town center.

In 1974, President Marcos signed Pres. Decree #557 changing the term “barrios” into “barangays” in consonance to his “Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa” program. Barrio Poblacion became barangay Poblacion and all other barrios of Burgos were renamed barangays.

The first elections in 1980 brought back into position the once Military Mayor of Burgos, Don Brigido Filart, Sr. He continued to the task of developing the municipality begun by his predecessors. He landscaped the town plaza, cemented the municipal and barangay roads, and constructed annexed buildings of the municipal hall. His term as elected mayor was extended until March 1987.

The Edsa Revolution

The phenomenal success of the Edsa Revolution, known worldwide as People’s Power, in February 25, 1986 ended the Marcos years of power. Democracy once again ruled the country. The first woman President of the Republic was installed through this bloodless revolution. President Corazon C. Aquino worked hard to unite all Filipinos and survived her term despite a Coup d’ etat and threats to her administration. The need to appoint OIC mayors became prevalent.

In April 1987, Atty. Rogelio F. Fabrigas was designated as the Officer-in-Charge of the Municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Sur. He stayed in such capacity until November 1987. From December 01 to 13, 1987 the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer based at Burgos, Ilocos Sur in the person of Mr. Angelino Rosqueta was designated as Caretaker of Burgos. And from December 15, 1987 to February 2, 1988, Mrs. Consuelo D. Brillantes, then the lady Barangay Captain of Poblacion Norte, Burgos, Ilocos Sur and at the same time ABC President was designated as the OIC of the town.

The National and Local elections of 1988 yielded the first Lawyer Chief Executive of Burgos, Ilocos Sur in the person of Atty. Rogelio F. Fabrigas. He continued the task of developing the municipality through infrastructure projects, promoting livelihood programs and construction of pavements in the Barangays. His term as Mayor ended in June 30, 1992.

The synchronized elections of May, 1992 yielded the first woman Chief Executive of Burgos, Ilocos Sur in the municipality’s political history. The elected Lady Mayor, Hon. Consuelo D. Brillantes, brought more developments and prestige to the municipality. In June 1994, the newly legislated public secondary school of Burgos opened its doors to all secondary school-age inhabitants. The old FACOMA building at Poblacion Norte was utilized as schoolrooms. It was also during her term when the Municipal Civic Centre and the new Health Center were constructed.

Typhoon Gloring brought extensive destruction in the municipality in September 1992. In its aftermath, the Bailey Bridge which used to connect other barangays to the town center was totally washed out by the swirling flood waters.

The construction of a Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder Bridge (RCDG) in lieu of the washed-out Bailey Bridge, which started in 1994, is an ongoing project of the present administration. Rebuilding this vital link to every Burgos inhabitant is necessary to eliminate blunders for unity, mobility, and economic prosperity of the municipality of Burgos to the New Millennium.

During the 2001 election, the then chairman of the Barangay Captains ran for election where he overwhelmingly won the seat as the chief executive of the municipality in the person of Honorable Nathaniel D. Escobar.

source: http://www.burgos-ilocossur.gov.ph/index.php?cat1=2