(English Translation)

Baler, Tayabas, P. I.
January 12, 1915

Hon. Manuel L. Quezon

Resident Commissioner
Washington, D. C., USA

Sir:
We the undersigned, young men of this Municipality of Baler, Province of
Tayabas, hereby have the honor to relate the following petition in regard to the memory
about our town of Baler.
1. We notified that our town will be changed into Township which is under the
Municipal Government at present;
2. We therefore, young men are in the belief that our town should not be
Township because she is legally qualified as a Municipal Government.
3. During the previous years under the American administration, it has been in
our experience that this municipality was doing her good works as Municipal
Government.
4. We, undersigned below respectfully request the Excellency Governor
General, the Hon. Provincial Governor of Tayabas, the Hon. Delegates of the
First District of the Province of Tayabas and the Resident Commissioner, Hon.
Manuel L. Quezon, that this town should not be under the non-Christian
Province of Nueva Viscaya and be still remained in the Province of Tayabas.
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our names this 11 th day of January,
1915.
Very respectfully,

Anacleto Mijares Meliton Querijero Tomas Angara

Vicente Calugtong Gaudencio Villanueva Eduardo Trinidad
Basilio Padua Silvestre dela Torre Antero Amatorio
Manuel Gonzales Catalino Toleros Miguel Valenzuela
Nicomedes Guerrero Lucio Bitong Cipriano Villanueva
Eustaquio Pimentel Tomas dela Torre Isidro Gonzales
Silvestre Glemao Santiago Palmero
 LIST OF BALERIANS WHO PETITIONED ON THE RUMORED
TRANSFER OF BALER AS A TOWNSHIP TO THE PROVINCE
OF NUEVA VISCAYA (January 12, 1915)
(Arranged Alphabetically)
1. Amatorio, Antero 37. Gallegos, Mariano
2. Amatorio, Ciriaco 38. Glemao, Silvestre
3. Amatorio, Lucas 39. Gomez, Gemiliano
4. Angara, Angel 40. Gonzales, Isidro
5. Angara, Candido 41. Gonzales, Magno
6. Angara, Tomas 42. Gonzales, Manuel
7. Aragon, Ladislao 43. Gonzales, Pablo
8. Barcenas, Florentino 44. Gonzales, Romualdo
9. Belen, Soterano 45. Guerrero, Nicomedes
10. Bernardino, Calixto 46. Guzman, Amado
11. Bijasa, Leoncio 47. Guzman, Santiago
12. Bitong, Adriano 48. Hugo, Pedro
13. Bitong, Andres 49. Hugo, Santiago
14. Bitong, Cipriano 50. Julio, Angel
15. Bitong, Emeterio 51. Julio, Primo
16. Bitong, Felix 52. Leander, Clemente
17. Bitong, Lucio 53. Lopez, Pedro
18. Bitong, Pablo 54. Macatiag, Hipolito
19. Bitong Teodorico 55. Macatiag, Leoncio
20. Calugtong, Vicente
21. Del Prado, Fernando 56. Mijares, Anacleto
22. Dela Torre, Basilio 57. Nortez, Maximo
23. Dela Torre, Juan 58. Padua, Basilio
24. Dela Torre, Osmundo 59. Palispis, Roman
25. Dela Torre, Silvestre 60. Palmero, Santiago
26. Dela Torre, Tomas 61. Palmero, Tomas
27. Donato, Abundio 62. Pimentel, Benigno
28. Donato, Cayetano 63. Pimentel, Eustaquio
29. Duaso, Maximo 64. Porquerino, Pablo
30. Duaso, Silvestre
31. Espana, Julio 65. Querijero, Andres
32. Ferreras, Alejandro 66. Querijero, Clemente
33. Friginal, Eleuterio 67. Querijero, Eulalio
34. Friginal, Isidro 68. Querijero, Jesus
35. Gallegos, Aquilino 69. Querijero, Meliton
36. Gallegos, Gregorio 70. Querijero, Zoilo
Continuation: Balerians ……
71. Ranillo, Juan
72. Ranillo, Martin
73. Ritual, Jose
74. Rubio, Feliciano
75. Sindac, Gaudencio
76. Sindac, Juan
77. Toleros, Catalino
78. Trinidad, Eduardo
79. Trinidad, Julian
80. Trinidad, Luis
81. Trinidad, Santiago
82. Valenzuela, Cipriano
83. Valenzuela, Jose
84. Valenzuela, Miguel
85. Valenzuela, Pedro
86. Villanueva, Cipriano
87. Villanueva, Gaudencio
88. Villanueva, Salvador
89. Villareal, Ramon
90. Villoria, Igmidio
91. Zalamera, Francisco

ANG LAPIANG MAKABAYAN

 BALER, TAYABAS

Kaming mga taga Baler, Tayabas na ang mga pangalan ay nakatala sa ibaba nito,
ay nagkaisang magka-api-api ngayong ika-16 ng Octubre, 1919, upang aming ipahayag
na kami ay nakikidamdamin at nakiki-api sa matagumpay na layunin ng “Partido o
Lapiang Makabayan” dito sa Kapuluang Filipinas.
Kami na buong pagsisikap ay nagpilit na maghalal na ng mga pamunuan, at ito’y
ang mga sumusunod:
G. Abundio Donato Pangulo
G. Silvestre dela Torre Pangalawang Pangulo
G. Rogaciano Angara Kalihim
G. Emilio Carrasco Ingat-Yaman

Pinagkasunduan din ng Partido na ang Colegio Municipal dito sa Baler ay

hiwatiguin sa walong distrito at ang mga vocales na nahalal ay ang mga sumusunod:
G. Antero Friginal Buhangin – Gabgab
G. Ladislao Aragon Suklayin
G. S. Querijero Sabali
G. B. Friginal Pingit
G. T. Gonzales San Luis
G. B. Pimentel Calabuanan
G. P. Pobre San Jose
G. A. Aragon Bacong

MGA KAANIB: (Pangalan isinaayos ng alpabetico)

1. Alcantara, Santiago 11. Angara, Benito
2. Almariego, Gregorio 12. Angara, Candido
3. Amat, Emiterio 13. Angara, Jose
4. Amat, Florentino 14. Angara, Lino
5. Amat, Pedro 15. Angara, Tomas
6. Amatorio, Ciriaco 16. Aragon, Juan
7. Amatorio, Gaspar 17. Bijasa, Luis
8. Amazona, Baltazar 18. Bijasa, Saturnino
9. Amazona, Narciso 19. Bitong, Emeterio
10. Angara, Angel 20. Bitong, Lucio

MGA KAANIB: Lapiang Makabayan

21. Bitong, Pablo
22. Buenconsejo, Tomas
23. Calderon, Bernabe 48. Lumasac, Brigido
24. Carrasco, Leoncio 49. Lumasac, Felipe
25. Carrasco, Mariano 50. Macatiag, Paciano
26. Dela Torre, Juan 51. Magdarilla, Fermin
27. Dela Torre, Tomas 52. Mijares, Juan de Dios
28. Dukha, Atanacio 53. Mijares, Pablo
29. Espana, Cecilio 54. Mijares, Roman
30. Ferreras, Urbano 55. Molina, Dionicio
31. Friginal, Antonio 56. Molina, Teodorico
32. Friginal, Benito 57. Montes, Pedro
33. Friginal. Isidro 58. Morada, Juan
34. Friginal, Leon 59. Morillo, Primitivo
35. Friginal, Raymundo 60. Palmero, Meliton
36. Friginal, Salustiano 61. Pena, Pedro
37. Gallegos, Gregorio 62. Pimentel, Benigno
38. Gonzales, Crespo 63. Pimentel, Isaac
39. Gonzales, Emilio 64. Poblete, Abundio
40. Gonzales, Epifanio 65. Poblete, Regino
41. Gonzales, Ponciano 66. Poblete, Simon
42. Gonzales, Teodoro 67. Poblete, Tomas
43. Guerrero, Hilario 68. Provido, Teodorico
44. Guinacaran, Justo 69. Querijero, Inocentes
45. Hermenegildo, Servando 70. Querijero, Pablo
46. Lopez, Casimiro
47. Lopez, Toribio

71. Rivera, Simon 85. Tato, Felipe

72. Ronquillo, Andres 86. Toleros, Catalino
73. Rubio, Feliciano 87. Toleros, Deogracias
74. Rubio, Lucio 88. Trinidad, Gaudencio
75. Ruzol, Felix 89. Trinidad, Melquiades
76. Ruzol, Pedro 90. Trinidad, Santiago
77. Sadul, Moises 91. Valenzuela, Elias
78. Santos, Gaspar delos 92. Valenzuela, Estanislao
79. Santos, Miguel delos 93. Valenzuela, Jose
80. Santos, Pedro delos 94. Valenzuela, Julian
81. Sindac, Felix 95. Valenzuela, Lucio
82. Sindac, Fermin 96. Valenzuela, Mariano
83. Sindac, Silvestre 97. Valenzuela, Miguel
84. Sindac, Tiburcio 98. Villareal, Eustaquio
KAPISANANG PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
BALER, TAYABAS
 SIPI NG KATITIKAN NG JUNTA DIRECTIVA NG KAPISANAN NG PARENT-TEACHER
ASSOCIATION DITO SA BALER, TAYABAS NOONG AGOSTO 1, 1927 SA ILALIM NG
PALACIO NI GINOONG TEODORO RANILLO
MGA KAHARAP:
G. Teodoro Ranillo Pangulo
G. Diego Gomez Pangalawang Pangulo
G. Pedro A. Sindac Kalihim
G. P. Amazona Pangalawang Ingat-Yaman
G. Arsenio Friginal Kagawad
G. Jose Gonzales Kagawad
G. Anselmo Glemao Kagawad
G. Clemente Mejico Kagawad
G. Protacio Alcantara Kagawad
G. Primitivo Morillo Kagawad
G.Simon Poblete Kagawad
G. Lucio Amatorio Kagawad
G. Juan Morada Kagawad
G. Dalmacio Gutierrez Kagawad
G. Eulalio Querijero Kagawad

PASIYA
Ang Pangulo ay nagsalaysay ng tungkol sa pinagtibay na kapasiyahan nang siya’y
nakadalo sa pulong na kaharap ang mga Guro. Ipinalagay niya na yaon ay isang uri ng
tunay na pag-ibig sa bayan; kaya’t nagpasok siya ng palagay na dapat ipahayon sa
kaalaman ng lalong nakatataas na pamunuan, Superintendente ng mga Paaralan,
Gobernador Provincial nitong Tayabas, Representante ng Hilagang Purok nito at sa
Presidente ng Senado, at
Sa mungkahi ni Kg. Simon Poblete na pinangalawahan ni Kg. Diego Gomez ay
pinagtibay ang mga sumusunod:
Sapagkat ang mga Guro ay nakipagkasundo na sa kapisasanan na sila ay lalagda
sa isang kasunduang hiling sa kanila ng kapisanan, upang ang paaralan ay huwag lamang
mapapinid at kahit wala pang salaping ipon upang maibayad sa kanila, ay kusang loob
silang magtuturo at magaantay ng panahong magkakaroon ng salaping laan upang
maging sahod nila;
Sapagkat ang nasabing kapasiyahan ay dapat ipaalam sa lahat ng kinauukulang
Paaralang Pamahalaan na natala na sa itaas, ang Pangulo ng Kapisanang ito na si G.
Teodoro Ranillo ay mahirang na magdadala ng salin ng pasiyang ito, kalakip ang salin ng
kapasiyahang ito sa mga Guro sa bayang ito upang patunayan sa kanila ng nasabing
kapisanan sa ikapapanuto ng paaralan dito sa Baler, Tayabas, at dahil dito’y
PASYAHAN NA, ang kapisanang ito ay magpadala ng isang kinatawan upang
makipanayam sa mga kinauukulan, tungkol sa salin ng kasulatang nilagdaan ng mga
Guro ng Paaralan dito sa Baler, Tayabas, siyasatin at ipaalam ang sitwasyon nito sa
kanila;
PASYAHAN DIN, na ang Kalihim ay magawang magpadala ng sipi ng pasiyang ito
sa pamamagitan ng kinatawang nahirang upang ibigay sa bawat isang kinauukulan.
PINATUTUNAYAN KO, na ang salin ng katitikang nasulat sa itaas, ay tama at
sakto.

(Lgd.) PEDRO A. SINDAC

Guro-Kalihim
Parent-Teacher Association
 Baler, Tayabas, P. I.
August 1, 1927
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Knowing full well that the funds for salaries of municipal teachers of Baler,
Tayabas have already been endorsed after July 31, 1927, be it known to all concerned
that we the undersigned, tied with the spirit of service, do hereby express solemnly and
without mental reservation the following:
1. That we voluntarily render our service as teachers in Baler Elementary School
without pay for a period of time until funds for salaries of municipal teachers
shall have been raised by proper authorities, that is to say, that when
sufficient funds are available, we would be given salaries corresponding
services beginning August 1, 1927;
2. That we render our services with the same interest as heretofore;
3. That we give the above statements in order to avoid troubles that may arise
in the future.
Very respectfully,

1. MANUEL PENARANDA 14. VINCENT O. SINDAC

2. EMILIO GONZALES 15. GIL FARRO
3. ANGEL SUSADA 16. COLUMBIA BROSSEAU
4. PEDRO A. SINDAC 17. ROMAN PALISPIS
5. ANDRES P. HERMENEGILDO 18. NICOLAS ANGARA
6. VICENTE ASIS 19. LUTGARDA NORTEZ
7. MACARIO GUBANTES 20. ADELA MEJICO
8. ASTERIO NIEVA 21. JUSTINA MATEO
9. ISIDORO C. QUERIJERO 22. CORAZON GLEMAO
10. MENELEO RIVERA 23. PAULINO CALDERON
11. TIBURCIO CARRASCO 24. LUIS GONZALES
12. CORAZON GALLEGOS 25. ANGEL MOLINA
13. MARIA PALADIO

CERTIFIED CORRECT:
(Sgd.) PEDRO A. SINDAC
Teacher-Secretary
Parents Teachers Association
 KASAYSAYAN NG MUSEO DE BALER
Sinulat ni Jason Francisco V. de Asis

Taong 1976, nagbigay ng tagubilin ang Schools Division Superintendent Micaela

Andres ng DECS, Division of Aurora na nag-aatas kay Gng. Ilovita Valenzuela Mesina,
Social Studies Supervisor, na magtayo ng school museum sa Baler Central School na
paglalagakan ng mga sinaunang kagamitan, larawan at iba pang mga bagay na may
kaugnayan tungkol sa kasaysayan at kultura ng Bayan ng Baler.Ang school museum ay
pinangalanang Sentro ng Kalinangan at ang ribbon cutting bilang tanda ng pagbubukas
nito ay pinangunahan ni Atty. Bellaflor J. Angara at ng Regional Director ng DECS Region
IV. Nang lumaon, inalis ang museo dahil ito ay ginamit na tanggapan ng sumunod na
Schools Division Superintendent Domingo Hulipas.
Hindi nagtagal, ang museo ay muling binuksan na kung saan ang mga artipaks at
iba pang mga kagamitan ay inilipat sa Gabaldon Hall sa paaralan din ng Baler Central.
Noong 1986 ay nagdaos ng pagtatanghal o eksibit ang school museum na itinaon sa
ginanap na programa ng Distinguished Order of Quezon na dinaluhan ni Aurora
Governor Isaias Noveras at University of the Philippines President Edgardo J. Angara.
Bunga nito ay nagkaroon ng Memorndum of Agreement (MOA) na ang parke ng Baler na
may marker ni Quezon ay pagandahin at ipasa sa pangangalaga ng National Centennial
Commission.
Noong Pebrero 12, 1997, isang Kapasiyahan Blg. 009-1997 ang ipinasa ng
Sangguniang Bayan at napagkasunduan na itaguyod at paunlarin ang turismo sa Bayan
ng Baler sa pangunguna ng Punong Bayan Arturo J. Angara. Sa pamamagitan naman ng
Kapasiyahan Blg. 083-1997 na may petsang Oktubre 1, 1997 ay humiling ng suporta ang
Sangguniang Bayan sa National Centennial Commission upang makapagtayo ng Aurora
Museum sa Quezon Park. Dahil dito, nagsumigasig ang Lokal na Pamahalaan na
makipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang ahensya kasama si Gng. Ilovita V. Mesina bilang
tagapangasiwa ng Sentro ng Kalinangan na nasa Baler Central School.
Ang magkakapatid na Angara na sina Senador Edgardo J. Angara,
Congresswoman Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo at Mayor Arturo J. Angara ay nagsumigasig
na gumawa ng kaparaanan upang mailipat ang DECS Aurora Museum sa Quezon Park.
Kaya’t sa isang Kapasiyahan Blg. 113-1997, noong Nobyembre 19, 1997, bilang kabahagi
ng proyekto ay umupa o kumasundo ng isang pribadong arkitekto upang magsagawa ng
Quezon Museum Plans and Specification na ang ginamit na pondo ay mula sa
Pamahalaang Bayan ng Baler sa administrasyon ng Punong Bayan Arturo J. Angara.
Samantala, ang museo ay pinangalanang Museo de Baler ng magkakapatid na Angara,
Ricky Q. Avancena at ng Baler Historical Committee na kung saan dito, anila, ay
mahihimaymay ang ugat ng kasaysayan ng mga Kastila at taga-Baler.
 Ang Museo de Baler ay sinimulang itayo sa Quezon Park noong Hunyo 9, 1998.
Ang Phase 1 ng konstruksiyon nito na may halagang P881,200.00 ay mula sa CIA ni
Congresswoman Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo; ang Phase 2 ay noong Abril 17, 2000 na may
halagang P750,000.00 ay nanggaling naman sa CDF ni Senador Edgardo J. Angara; ang
Phase 3 ay noong Agosto 27, 2000 sa halagang P881,000.00 at ang Phase 4 ay noong
Pebrero 15, 2001 na may halagang P1,000,000.00. Ang pondo ng Phase 3 at 4 ay ay
parehong nagmula kay Congresswoman Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo. Natapos ang
konstruksiyon bago mag-Hunyo 30, 2003.
Binuksan ang Museo de Baler sa madla noong Hunyo 30, 2003 bilang opisyal na
araw ng Pagkakaibigan ng Pilipinas at Espanya. Ang mga nagbigay-dangal sa kauna-
unahang pagdiriwang ng Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day ay pinangunahan ng Pangulo
ng Pilipinas, Kgg. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, kasama ang mga senador na sina Edgardo J.
Angara, Loren Legarda, Tito Sotto at John Osmena, DFA Sec. Blas Ople, Congresswoman
Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, Mrs. Nini Quezon Avancena at mga panauhing Kastila na
kinabibilangan nina Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz at Minister Jose Rodriguez Ponga. Ang
pagtanggap sa mga panauhin kabilang ang mga opisyal ng walong bayan ng Lalawigan
ng Aurora ay sa pangunguna nina Governor Chit Ong at Baler Mayor Emilio F. Etcubanez.
Ang kauna-unahang itinalagang tagapangasiwa (OIC) ng Museo de Baler ay si
Gng. Rosalina N. Julio, Municipal Librarian ng Pambayang Aklatan ng Baler. Ang staff ay
sina Jason Francisco V. de Asis, Museum Technician; Beatriz J. Querijero, Utility Worker;
Donato Sacramento, Vincent Lopez, Noel Amat, Garry Lombres at Robert Tena, mga
watchman na siyang nangangalaga ng kalinisan at kaayusan ng Museo de Baler habang
sinusulat ang kasaysayan nito.

July 2003, Baler, Aurora

O. G. No. 2043
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 648

AN ACT CREATING THE SUB-PROVINCE OF AURORA, WHICH SHALL COMPRISE

THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BALER, CASIGURAN, DIPACULAO AND MARIA AURORA,
PROVINCE OF QUEZON.
So it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. The municipalities of Baler, Casiguran, Dipaculao and Maria Aurora,
and all the territories comprised therein, are constituted into a sub-province of Quezon
to be known as the Sub-Province of Aurora, with the seat of government in the
Municipality of Baler.
SEC. 2. The provisions of sections twenty-one hundred thirty-seven, twenty-one
hundred thirty-eight, twenty-one hundred thirty-nine, twenty-one hundred forty,
twenty-one hundred forty-one, twenty-one hundred forty-two, and twenty-one
hundred forty-three of the Administrative Code, as amended, shall apply to the Sub-
Province of Aurora.
Sec. 3. The lieutenant-governor of the Sub-Province of Aurora shall receive a
compensation of three thousand pesos per annum.
Sec. 4. The first lieutenant-governor of the Sub-Province of Aurora shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines, and shall hold office until his successor
shall have been elected in the next general elections for provincial and municipal
officials and shall have qualified to said office.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved, June 14, 1951.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
BATASANG PAMBANSA P. B. No. 48
First Regular Session)

BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 7

AN ACT SEPARATING THE SUB-PROVINCE OF AURORA FROM THE PROVINCE OF
QUEZON AND ESTABLISHING IT AS AN INDEPENDENT PROVINCE.
So it enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled:
SECTION 1. The province of Aurora is hereby declared separated from the
province of Quezon and constituted into a separate and independent province, to be
known as the Province of Aurora.
SEC. 2. The incumbent officials of the Sub-Province of Aurora shall continue to
perform their duties as such officials in the province shall have been appointed by the
President (Prime Minister). Such officials thus appointed shall hold office until their
successors have been elected and qualified.
SEC. 3. The funds and obligations and the property of all kinds owned by and/or
to be assigned to the Sub-Province of Aurora, become the property of and/or be
assigned to the latter.
SEC. 4. The new province shall have the seal of government in the municipality of
Baler, and shall begin to exist on the date fixed in a proclamation to this effect by the
President (Prime Minister) after a plebiscite and upon the appointment and qualification
of its officers.
The Commission on Elections shall supervise the conduct of the plebiscite to be
held pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1577 not later than six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 5. Except as herein provided, all provisions of law now or hereafter
applicable to regular provinces shall be applicable to the new province of Aurora and
shall be within the jurisdiction of the 9th Judicial District.
SEC. 6. The expenses in holding the plebiscite provided in Section 4 hereof shall
be supported by the appropriation provided for the Commission on Elections.
SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect upon the approval.
Approved, November 21, 1978.
(SGD.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9187

AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 30 OF THE YEAR AS PHILIPPINE-SPANISH FRIENDSHIP DAY,

APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the Philippines in Congress

assembled:
SEC. 1. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the Senate to strengthen the relationship
between the Philippines and countries which has its shared victory, values and
traditions.

June 30 is the day when President Emilio Aguinaldo commended the besieged Spanish
soldiers in the church of Baler for their loyalty and gallantry. To mark this momentous
occasions, there is need to declare said day a national holiday to remember the act of
benevolence which has paved the way in bridging better relations between Philippines
and Spain.

SEC. 2. Philippine-Spanish Day. The thirtieth of June of each year is hereby declared as
Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day to commemorate the cultural and historical ties,
friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Spain. It is hereby declared as a
national special working holiday and a special non-working holiday in Aurora Province.

SEC. 3. Implementation. The National Historical Institute (NHI) shall be responsible for
the implementation of this Act. For this purpose, it shall formulate and issue the
implementing rules and regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Inter-agency Committee. An Inter-agency Committee tasked to organize

activities in commemoration of Fil-Hispano Day is hereby created, composed of the
Foreign Affairs as Chairman, the Executive Director of the National Historical Institute
and the Mayor of Baler as Co-Vice Chairmen, and an Undersecretary of the Department
of Education, Undersecretary of Tourism and one (1) representative each from the
National Commission for Culture and Arts and the University of the Philippines History
Department as members. The Philippine Ambassador and Spanish Ambassador to the
Philippines shall also be ex-officio members of the committee.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. An annual budget for the celebration of the Fil-Hispano Day in
the amount of Fifteen million pesos (Php 15,000,000.00) shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law, thirty percent (30%) of
which shall be devoted exclusively for research and development. Thereafter, the
expenses for its continued implementation shall be included in the subsequent General
Appropriation Act.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. If any section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional
or invalid, the other sections or provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and
effective.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. This law shall take effect within fifteen (15) days from publication in
the Official Gazette or two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved:

Sgd. JOSE DE VENECIA, JR. Sgd. FRANKLIN M. DRILON

Speaker of the House of Representatives President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 4751, was finally passed by
the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 17, 2002 and December 18,
2002, respectively.

Sgd. ROBERTO P. NAZARENO Sgd. OSCAR G. YABES

Secretary General of the House Secretary of the Senate
of Representatives

Approved: February 5, 2003

Sgd. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines
 THE ROOTS OF FILIPINO-SPANISH FRIENSHIP

THE REVOLUTION IN BALER

The event which led to the first official manifestation of friendship between the
Philippines and Spain actually began in the midst of the Philippine Revolution. In the
town of Baler in the district of EL Principe (now Aurora Province) the longest siege
between the Philippines and Spanish troops took place.

Earlier around August 1897, the revolutionary movement had reached El

Principe as Teodoro Luna Novicio, Antero Amatorio and Norberto Valenzuela
established a local Katipunan chapter there. They received the permission of General
Emilio Aguinaldo to begin hostilities in the district.

On October 4, 1897, Filipino revolutionaries attacked the residence of the

governor of El Principe in Baler. The Spaniards suffered, seven were killed while eleven
Katipuneros died. To protect themselves, the remaining Spanish troops took refuge
inside the Baler Church which was the only stone structure in the town.

Following the attacks of the revolutionaries in Manila sent 100 cazadores under
Captain Jesus Roldan Maizonda who arrived in Baler on October 18, 1897. The Spanish
forces engaged the Katipuneros until relieved on January 28, 1898.

THE SIEGE OF BALER

The Treaty of Biak-na-Bato caused the reduction of the Spanish garrison from
400 to only 50 men. The new garrison under Captain Enrique de las Morenas arrived in
February 1898. Fearing an attack by the Filipinos, Captain de las Morenas ordered his
men to move into the Baler Church on June 27, 1898. For the next month the Spaniards
would be isolated from the rest of the world and surrounded by Filipino freedom
fighters.

On July 1, 1898 the Filipinos left a letter at the doorstep of the church
demanding the surrender of the garrison saying that Manila was surrounded by 20,000
Tagalog troops. After being rebuffed several times, Villacorta ordered a cannon fired at
the church. However, the thick walls of the church prevented any damage.

HARDSHIPS INSIDE THE CHURCH

Meanwhile, the supplies of the Spanish soldiers started to run out. Beri-beri,
scurvy and dysentery became the common sickness in the garrison. The absence of salt
caused discomfort among the defenders of the accidentally wandered into the
churchyard. The garrison which was by that time was led by 2 nd Lieutenant Saturnino
Martin Cerezo who supplemented his men’s diet with squash leaves.
 Disease also stalked the garrison. Beriberi would claim 13 lives including the
original commander of the garrison Captain de las Morenas. Two others died from
dysentery.

The Filipinos outside the church made attempts to demoralize the defenders.
The church was pelted with stones and in some occasions they had women calling on
the defenders to leave the church. There were also times they had a man and a woman
copulate within view of the Spaniards. Lt. Martin Cerezo who took over command of
the garrison ordered his men to stay away from the windows and play games inside the
church.

THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SIEGE

By January 1899, Spanish authorities in Manila sent an officer named Captain

Miguel Olmedo to inform the garrison that war between Spain and the United States
ended and it was all right to surrender. Martin Cerezo suspected Olmedo as an impostor
and sent him away. The Americans who had taken over Manila also sent the gunboat
Yorktown on the request of Manila Archbishop Bernardino Nozaledo to rescue the
garrison but its crew ended up being captured by the Filipinos.

By April 1899, the food supply reached a critical level. What were left were a
few bags of coffee and some rusty cans of sardines. Despite this condition the defenders
prevented an attempt of the enemy to burn down the church.

By the end of May, a Spanish officer named Lt. Colonel Cristobal Aguilar
Castaneda appeared in front of the church. Lt. Martin Cerezo first believed the papers to
be clever forgeries. However, he became convinced that upon seeing that it contained
information about his friend which he only knew.

THE SURRENDER OF THE LOS ULTIMOS

On June 2, 1899, Martin Cerezo ordered his bugler to signal surrender to the
Filipinos. But before surrendering, he ordered the execution of two of his men, Vicente
Gonzales Toca and Antonio Menache Sanchez for their attempt to desert the garrison.
When the bugle sounded, the Filipinos emerged from their trenches shouting ‘’Amigos
Amigos’’. Colonel Simon Tecson and Major Nemesio Bartolome represented the
Filipinos while Lt. Martin Cerezo represented the Spaniards. One of the conditions of the
surrender was that the Spaniards will not be treated as prisoners of war. Of the original
50 men, 35 men survived the siege.

When the news of surrender reached Aguinaldo’s headquarters in Tarlac, he

was impressed by the garrison’s gallant stand at Baler. On June 30, 1899, Aguinaldo
issued a decree ordering that the surrenderees were not to be considered prisoners but
as friends and that safely conduct the guaranteed for them until they return to their
country. Upon their return to Spain, Lt. Martin Cerezo and his men were treated as
heroes. They were immortalized as Los Ultimos de Filipinas – the last from the
Philippines. Monuments to their honor were erected.
THE CREATION OF THE FILIPINO-SPANISH FRIENSHIP DAY

In view of the three centuries of Spanish legacy, the Philippine Congress passed
Republic Act No. 9187 of February 5, 2003, creating the Philippine-Spanish Friendship
Day. The law which was authored by Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Congresswoman
Bellaflor Angara-Castillo recognized the long historical and cultural links between the
Philippines and Spain and Spain’s economic and cultural partnership with the
Philippines.

With Aguinaldo’s decree of June 30, 1899 as a reference, the law also
recognized the first official act of friendship between the Philippines and Spain. It was an
act of magnanimity for its former enemy and recognition of the bravery of the men and
gallantry of both Filipino and Spanish soldiers in the siege of Baler. When Aguinaldo
issued his historic decree, time for both countries stand on equal footing as free nations,
no longer as colonizers and the colonized.

With the passage of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day Law, the Philippines
embraced its rich Hispanic legacy and envisioned a long and lasting relationship with
Spain.

National Historical Institute

June 30, 2005
EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MUNICIPAL MAYORS, ABC
PRESIDENTS AND KB PRESIDENTS, AURORA SUB-PROVINCE HELD AT THE NEW CAPITOL
BUILDING, BALER, AURORA SUB-PROVINCE ON FEBRUARY 27, 1976.

PRESENT:

Hon. Luis S. Etcubanez Lieutenant Governor

Hon. Ceferino A. Tanagan Municipal Mayor, Casiguran
Hon. Emilio D. Almazan Municipal Mayor, Dilasag
Hon. Prudencio O. Medrano Municipal Mayor, Dinalungan
Hon. Norberto D. Galvez Municipal Mayor, Dingalan
Hon. Florentino Velasco Municipal Mayor, Dipaculao
Hon. Antonio O. Teh Acting Mayor, Maria Aurora
Hon. Cesario A. Pimentel Municipal Mayor, San Luis
Mr. Pedro T. Valenzuela ABC President, Baler
Mr. Rogelio Morfe ABC President, Casiguran
Mr. Noe G. Batad ABC President, Dilasag
Mr. Ernesto R. Peralta ABC President, Dingalan
Mr. Gerardo M. Guerrero ABC President, Dipaculao
Mr. Francisco M. Bitong ABC President, Maria Aurora
Mr. Felipe Ico ABC President, San Luis
Mr. Arnulfo G. Querijero KB President, Baler
Miss Herminigilda Biares KB President, Dilasag
Mr. Noel Santiago KB President, Maria Aurora
Mr. Rafael Nabor KB President, San Luis

ABSENT:

Municipal Mayor of Baler, ABC President of Dinalungan

Kabataan Presidents of Casiguran, Dinalungan,
Dingalan and Dipaculao

SPECIAL UNNUMBERED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Aurora Sub-Province has an area of 300,200 hectares more or less, a

population of 91,247 based on 1975 census, and an average annual income of
P918,001.80, by virtue of which income, it had been reclassified from Fifth Class to Third
Class province, under Department of Finance Order No. 42-73, dated 3 December 1973;

WHEREAS, the foregoing figures and statistics are mute testimonies that Aurora
Sub-Province can viably exist as a regular and independent province;

WHEREAS, practically all provincial and national offices needed by a regular

province are already established and existing within Aurora Sub-Province, and even the
Supreme court saw fit that there be the Aurora Chapter in the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines, separate and distinct from that of Quezon;
WHEREAS, the existence of the offices mentioned in the immediately preceding
paragraph notwithstanding, there are still official businesses and transactions that can
only be done in Lucena City, thereby, compelling government officials and ordinary
citizens of Aurora Sub-Province alike, to travel a distance of more than 400 kilometers, a
travel which is both money and time consuming;

WHEREAS, the segregation of Aurora Sub-Province from Quezon, will immensely

contribute to a much, much better administrative set-up , culminating in the process ,
acceleration of the social, economic, agricultural and industrial developments of the two
areas; considering the incontrovertible fact that Quezon is our longest province, its
southernmost part touching Bicol Region and its northernmost part (where Aurora Sub-
province is situated) reaching up to Nueva Viscaya and Isabela;

WHEREAS, the conversion of Aurora Sub-province into a regular province will

be another tangible proof that, despite the existence of Martial Law in our country, the
desire of our national leadership to broaden the base of citizens participating in the act
of governance has remained unaffected and unimpaired.

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion seconded;

BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to respectfully petition, as this Body

hereby respectfully petitions, His Excellency, Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the
Philippines, by way of this Resolution, to issue a Decree creating the Province of Aurora
out of the Sub-province of Aurora;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copies of this Resolution be furnished Honorable Jose

A. Rono, Secretary, Ministry of Local Governments and Community Development, 14 th
Floor, New City Hall, Quezon City and Director Fernando A. Nazareno, MLGCD, Region
IV, Cubao, Quezon City, for their information and support.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
 THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF BALER
PROVINCE OF TAYABAS, P. I.
Office of the President

Febrero 13, 1915

Hon. Gobernador Provincial

Lucena, Tayabas

Hon. Senor:

La fecha 8 de los corrientos es la recibido en esto la carta del Honorable

Secretario Ejecutivo, cuya carta que a la letra copio tango de transmitirla para es
concimiento:

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

EXECUTIVE BUREAU
MANILA

In Reply Address
The Executive Secretary
Manila, P. I.
January 29, 1915

Sir:
Referring to a communication, addressed to His Excellency, the Governor-
General, dated January 12, 1915, signed by you and other residents of the Municipality
of Baler, protesting against the rumored transfer of that municipality to the Province of
Nueva Viscaya, I have to advise you that this office has no knowledge of any such plan
being considered, nor has the Honorable, the Secretary of the Interior. I am authorized
to say that no change in the present government of Baler will be made without first
consulting the views of the inhabitants.
Very respectfully,

Sgd. IGNACIO VILLAMOR

Executive Secretary
Mr. O. dela Torre
Baler, Tayabas
Muy respetuosamente,
 (Fdo.) O. DELA TORRE
Presidente Municipal

BALER HISTORY QUIZ BEE COMMITTEE

1992 Chairman: Benny Q. Sindac

Vice Chair: Arnel C. Querijero
Members: Rosalina N. Julio
Curie S. Bernardino
Miriam Q. Valenzuela

1993-2001 Members: AP Teachers

2002-2003 Coordinator: Curie S. Bernardino

Members: Sonia D. Gutierrez
Rosalina N. Julio
Support Service: Resie R. Dukha
Janice Ojo
Syrelle Poblete
Reynold Rosales
Daisy Tubera
Rizalis Crisanto
Jesselyn Aragon

2004-2005 Chairperson: SB Marietta G. Porquerino

Vice Chair: Benny Q. Sindac
Rosalina N. Julio
Members: Curie S. Bernardino
Rosalie Escobar
Froilan Dale C. Lega
Riza P. del Rosario
Resie R. Dukha
Mary Jane G. Amat
Helen Grace Aquino

2006-2007 Chairperson: Rosanna P. Querijero

Co-Chair: Efren L. Gonzales
Members: Rafael Buencamino
Normita M. Ocampo
Arlene G. Lana
Anthony Buenconsejo
Mariano Quinones
Victor dela Torre
 Agnes Santos
Tessie Atun
Emily Villanueva
Melinda Crisanto
Proctors: Yolanda Cornelio
Jeffrey Resueno
Marita Dumandal
Amorita Mendoza
Norma Gorospe

2008-2009 Chairman: Rosanna P. Querijero

Co-Chair: Efren L. Gonzales
Members: SB Nenita DS. Gonzales
SB Zenaida S. Querijero
Riza del Rosario
Arlene G. Lana
Gloria Calugtong
Lucy Bitong
Rosalina N. Julio
Gregoria T. Rivera
Jenny G. Sacramento
Consultants: Benny Q. Sindac
Ilovita V. Mesina
Dr. Epitacio S. Palispis
Mayor Arturo J. Angara

2010-2011 Honorary Chairman: Hon. Arturo J. Angara

Co-Chairmen: Rosanna Palispis-Querijero
Efren L. Gonzales
Members: Angeles Marigmen
SB Nenita DS. Gonzales
Gregoria Talento- Rivera
Atty. Naty Querijero
Rosalina N. Julio
Mercy F. delos Santos
Mariano A. Quinones
Gloria G. Calugtong
Rolly Franquia
Poly Querijero
Presentacion Angara
Ramona Egargue
Lina Ferreras
Eddie Q. Mendoza
Aurora Dumandal
2012 No Quiz Bee

2013 Chairperson: Rosanna P. Querijero

Co-Chair: Virginia G. Sacramento
Members: Elsie B. Espina
Rosalina N. Julio
Mariano A. Quinones
Gerald Molina
Charito Lomboy
Jonathan Querijero
Myrna B. Adeva
Alberto Nortez

2014 Chairman: Rosanna P. Querijero

EPS-Social Studies, DepEd
Vice Chair: Virginia G. Sacramento, Principal, MCC
Members: Elsie B. Espina, Principal, Diego Ortiz ES
Charito Lomboy, Principal, Calabuanan NHS
Rosalina N. Julio, Librarian, MCC
Mercy F. Delos Santos, Ret. Sup, DepEd
Tita G. Calugtong, Ret. Gov’,t Employee
Gregoria T. Rivera, Teacher
Aga Bulak, Kalinangang Aurora
Bella V. Ruzol, Kagalaw
Mariano Quinones, History Professor, MCC
Atty. Naty P. Querijero, Advocate of History

2015 Chairman: Rosanna P. Querijero

1st Vice Chair: Eduardo P. Ducha
2nd Vice Chair: Consolacion R. Mercado
Members: Rosalina N. Julio
Mercedes F. delos Santos
Rolly Franquia
Ronnie L Ritual
Erwin V. Margallo
Elsie B. Espina
Melody S. Orena
Wilma L. Turgo

2016-2017 Chairperson: Rosanna P. Querijero

Vice Chair: Consolacion R. Mercado
Members: Elsie B. Espina, Principal, Setan ES
 Ronnie L. Ritual, Principal, Calabuanan ES
Amador G. Ramos, Stn. Manager 101.7 FM
Wilma L. Turgo, Principal, Baler Central Sch.
Edith L. Villegas, TIC, Diego Ortiz ES
Melody S. Orena, Principal, ML Sindac ES
Proctors: Catherine Poblete
Jonathan Querijero
Flora Ventura
Mary Anne Manalac
Marlyn B. Canayon
Registration: Alegria S. Cansino, Mun. Library Staff

Quiz Bee Judges: Mariano A. Quinones

Rosalina N. Julio
Naty P. Querijero

2018 Chairperson: Rosanna P. Querijero, Tagamasid Pansangay

Co-Chairs: Eduardo P. Ducha, Tagamasid Pansangay
Consolacion R. Mercado, Tagamasid Pampurok
Members: Novelinda M. Trapago, Principal, Suklayin ES
Edith L. Villegas, Principal, Diego Ortiz ES
Edelwinda S. Montero, Principal, ANSHS
Ronnie L. Ritual, Principal, Calabuanan ES
Elsie B. Espina, Principal, Setan ES
Wilma L. Turgo, Principal, Baler CS
Melody S. Orena,Principal, Mariano L. Sindac ES

Quiz Bee Judges: Mariano A. Quinones

Rosalina N. Julio
Jonathan DL. Querijero

2019 Chairman: Rosanna P. Querijero

Tagamasid Pansangay-Araling Panlipunan
Vice Chair: Eduardo P. Ducha
Tagamasid Pansangay- Agham
Members: Virginia G. Sacramento, Punongguro, MCC
Rosalina N. Julio, Tagapangasiwa ng Aklatan, MCC
Magdalena P. Guerrero, Officer Baler Park League
Atennie F. Padilla, Consultant, AECO
Ronnie L. Ritual, Punongguro, Reserva ES
Francisco R. de Asis, Punongguro, Baler Institute
Novelinda M. Trapago, Punongguro, Calabuanan ES
Elsie B. Espina, Punongguro, Suklayin ES
Wilma L. Turgo, Punongguro, Baler CS
 Jonathan Querijero, Kalinangang Aurora-DZJO FM

ANG PALIGSAHANG PANGKASAYSAYAN NG BALER

(BALER HISTORY QUIZ BEE)

Isang masidhing adhikain na maipalaganap sa mga mamamayan lalo na sa mga

kabataan at sa susunod pang salinlahi ang tungkol sa napakahalaga at natatanging
ambag ng Bayan ng Baler sa kasaysayan ng Bansang Pilipinas at ng buong mundo,
kaya’t…

Taong 1991-1992, huling taon ng panunungkulan ng PB Luis V. Querijero ay nabuo ang

isang lupon, ang Lupong Pangkasaysayan, bunsod ng magandang hangarin ng isang guro
ng agham pampolitikal, lokal na awtor at mananaliksik na si G. Buenaventura “Benny”
Quematon Sindac. Kaalakbay ang kanyang mga kasama sa komitiba ay bumalangkas ng
mga gawain at isa rito ay ang layuning maipalaganap ang kayamanang taglay ng ating
lokal na kasaysayan. Dito sumibol ang pangkasaysayang paligsahan o pingkian ng
kaalaman sa kasaysayan sa Bayan ng Baler.

Kalaunan, sa pagpapalit-palit ng mga nanunungkulang punong bayan, ang

pangangasiwa sa Lupon ng Pangkasaysayang Paligsahan ay nagkaroon ng pagbabago.

1993-2001 (PB Arturo J. Angara) – pawang mga guro lamang ng Araling

Panlipunan ang namahala sa paligsahan.

2002-2003 (PB Emilio F. Etcubanez) – ang humawak ng lupon ay mga piling

kawani ng Pamahalaang Bayan.

2004-2005 (PB Arturo J. Angara) – pinanguluhan ang Lupong Pangkasaysayan ng

Sangguniang Bayan, Lupon ng Edukasyon SB Marietta G. Porquerino kasama ang mga
piling kawani ng Pamahalaang Bayan.

2006-2007 (PB Arturo J. Angara) – Pinamunuan ang lupon ni Gng. Rose Palispis-
Querijero, Tagamasid Pansangay ng DepEd at mga guro ng Araling Panlipunan.

2008-2009 (PB Arturo J. Angara) – ang lupon ay kinabibilangan ng mga piling

Sangguniang Bayan, kawani ng Pamahalaang Bayan at mga guro, na ang tagapangulo ay
ang nabanggit na Tagamasid Pansangay ng DepEd.

2010-2011 (PB Arturo J. Angara) – nagkaroon ng tunay na pagbabago. Ang mga

bumubuo ng lupon sa pangunguna ni Ma’am Rose Querijero ay mga piling guro,
mananaliksik at manunulat at mga taong may malasakit sa lokal na kasaysayan na
nagpupunyagi upang maisakatuparan at maipagpatuloy ang gawaing ito.
 2012 – nagkaroon ng patlang dahil walang naganap na paligsahang
pangkasaysayan.

2013-2018 (PB Nelianto C. Bihasa) – Ipinagpatuloy ang pagsasagawa ng

paligsahan sa kasaysayan na ang mga kasama naman ni Ma’am Rose sa lupon bukod sa
lokal na awtor at manunulat ay mga guro at punongguro ng mga paaralan.

2019 – (PB Rhett Ronan T. Angara) – nanatiling Tagapangulo ng Lupon ng

Paligsahang Pangkasaysayan, si Ma’am Rose P. Querijero kaalakbay ng kanyang mga
piling kasamahan ay isinagawa ang pagdaraos ng pingkian/tunggalian ng kaalaman sa
kasaysayan ng Baler. Ito’y naging mabunga at matagumpay sa pamamagitan ng taos
pusong pagsuporta ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Baler sa pangunguna ng butihing Punong
Bayan Rhett Ronan T. Angara.

Ang Pagbabaliktanaw sa Paligsahang Pangkasaysayan ng Baler

. Ni GNG.ROSALINA GUERRERO NATIVIDAD-JULIO

Tagapangasiwa ng Aklatan-MCC
Agosto 12, 2019
 BALER: Home of Great Leaders and Heroes

Somewhere in the east coast of Luzon, between the lofty ranges of the Caraballo
and the vast Pacific Ocean lies an isolated little town that has become historical in its
being the hometown of the Philippine Commonwealth’s first President and First Lady of
the land-Baler. The late President Manuel Luis Quezon first saw the light of the day in
this far- flung community on the 19 th of August 1878, while Mrs. Aurora Aragon Quezon
was born in the same town on February 19, ten years later.

There are several versions as to how Baler got its name. The most preferable,
however, seem to be the version that it got its name from the mountain birds called
“balod” which in the old days utilized it as their homing place. The word “balod” is well
noted and defined in “Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala”, the first dictionary published in
1754, authored by Fathers Juan de la Noceda and Pedro San Lucar, and likewise, in
“Noceda San Lucar Vocabulario” published in 1860 where the theory of the origin of
Baler has been confirmed and accepted by the Philippine Institute of National Language.

The town of Baler was first reached in July 1609 by Franciscan missionaries, Fray
Blas Palomino, OFM and six others. It was through the PATRONATO REAL, an edict of the
King of Spain which authorized missionaries to join expeditions for the great glory of
God that the context of it led the founding of this community. Although, Fray Blas
Palomino opened the mission in Baler, his group did not stay long because they were
recalled back to Manila by his superiors.

On October 1611, the community of Baler was created as parish with Saint Luis
Obispo de Tolosa as its patron saint. Fray Juan Francisco de San Antonio, OFM, was its
first parish priest who initiated the construction of a church made of nipa and bamboo.

Baler was but a tiny and almost an inaccessible village. There was no way of
going to Manila and the outlying districts but through mountain trails or via the sea.
Lying at the mouth of San Jose River (today’s Aguang) on Baler Bay, it sticks out deep
into the Pacific Ocean. Notwithstanding its rugged physical features, Baler became the
foremost town in the District of El Principe, then a part of the province of Nueva Ecija.
The vast fields of Baler were suited for all kinds of crops and its virgin forests yielded a
beautiful supply of timber, bamboos, rattan and other forest products. Its fishing
grounds abounded with delectable catches of sardines, tuna and other kinds of fishes. It
was a very peaceful community and its inhabitants were bound by common tie of
brotherly love as fruit of missionary activities.
 A most tragic fate befell the town of Baler on December 27, 1735. At two o’clock
in the morning of this day, the church mayordomo saw from the convent the
spectacular sight of a “tromba marina”, a phenomenal tidal wave. He immediately
informed Fr. Jose de San Rafael of this fact, who after taking the sacred chalice from the
Holy Altar ran to the other side of the mountain with a few townspeople. In a few
moments, the first town of Baler which was two kilometers away from the shore was
wiped out and only the few inhabitants who were able to take refuge behind the
mountain survived. Among those who did not perish with the disaster were the families
of Lumasac, Bitong, Bijasa and Angara.

With the help of the Catholic clergy, the remaining inhabitants founded the
second town of Baler. A new church was rebuilt. The walls made of rocks and stones
were plastered with lime and honey. Missionary activities continued but these activities
were disrupted by piracy attack of the Moors from the Sulu Archipelago. In the summer
of 1798, Moor raiders plundered the towns of Infanta, Polillo, Casiguran and Palanan,
captured the parish priests and the town leaders. In Baler, they kidnapped Fray Benito
Zamudio, OFM, parish priest of Baler whom they held for ransom.

The frequent visit and attack of the Moors made Baler not a safe place to live
during those days. They did not only get the young boys and girls but also robbed the
people of their valuables. There was a reign of terror in the town for almost fifty years
from 1798 to 1847. In 1840, Fray Jose Urbina de Esparragoza , OFM, arrived in Baler. The
fear of the people from the Moors prompted him to construct a watchtower or a
fortress (Castillo) at Sabang and Point Baja (Ermita)to serve as look-out for the people
and to make known the arrival of the marauding pirates. Of the more or less sixty- five
Spanish priests assigned in Baler, it was Fray Jose Urbina de Esparragoza who made
much contribution to the making of the town of Baler. Among his notable
accomplishments aside from the watchtowers was the construction of an irrigation
canal in 1846, extending from Suklayin Creek to Bacong in Kaledian, approximately three
miles long which was calculated to meet the irrigation needs of five to six thousand
people. Barely twenty of the inhabitants, however, took advantage of this public
improvement.

Baler was the scene of another disaster in September 1849. The church steeple
engineered by Fray Jose Urbina de Esparragoza, on the occasion of its inauguration, this
newly erected stone belfry of the church, the tower itself caved in and many people
were buried in the debris of stones, tiers, gravel and lime. It was sort of a miracle,
however, that no one of the victims died. Since then, the townspeople never thought of
building a stone tower for the church of Baler. Fray Jose Urbina de Esparragoza stayed
as parish priest of Baler for thirteen years.

In spite of remoteness, the Philippine Revolution reached Baler. A local

Katipunan chapter was organized by Teodorico Luna Novicio, Norberto Valenzuela and
Antero Amatorio. Amatorio was a former gobernadorcillo of Baler. With few types of
ammunition, they went to Biak na Bato in Bulacan to meet with General Emilio
Aguinaldo and proposed to launch an operation against the Spanish forces in Baler. With
the approval of Gen. Aguinaldo, upon return from Biak na Bato, Novicio gathered his
men in Baler and resolved to fight for freedom against the Spaniards after tearing their
cedulas and entered into a blood compact on September 3, 1897 that took place in
Dikaloyungan, Barrio Zabali.

On October 4, 1897, the Katipuneros attacked the town plaza of Baler, killing
seven Spaniards. However, eleven Katipuneros were also killed that their heroism and
patriotism will always be remembered. They were Francisco Angara, Isidro Angara,
Eufracio Bitong, Aurelio Catipon, Julian Espana, Severo Gallegos, Felix Gonzales, Miguel
Huertazuela, Luis Lumasac, Santos Lumasac and Severo Palispis.

At this instance, the church of Baler became the seat of one of the most
outstanding display of Spanish courage and patriotism in the latter part of the Philippine
Revolution. On June 27, 1898, a Spanish garrison of fifty-four (54) men including forty-
nine (49) soldiers, their Captain Enrique delas Morenas, the chief of the detachment
Juan Alonzo Zayas, Second Lieutenant Saturnino Martin y Cerezo, the medical doctor
Rogelio Vigil de Quinones and the Franciscan parish priest of Baler Candido Gomez
Carreno made their last stand in this improvised citadel. Fray Gomez Carreno was the
last Spanish priest of Baler who died of beri-beri inside the church.

On April 12, 1899, Lieutenant James Clarkson Gillmore Jr. with his men aboard
the ship USS Yorktown landed at Baler for a rescue mission at the beleaguered garrison
in the church. The USS Yorktown was mistaken as a Spanish ship by the Balerian rebels
so they were ambushed by Major Nemesio Bartolome and his men in Ubbot, Baler.

The battle of the famous siege of Baler lasted for three hundred thirty- seven
(337) days. On June 2, 1899, the Spanish garrison at Baler Church surrendered to Filipino
forces. At the end of the struggle, only one officer, the medical doctor and thirty- one
(31) soldiers came out alive out of the original fifty- four (54) Spaniards. The officer
Lieutenant Martin Cerezo survived to tell the story in his book entitled ‘’El Sitio de
Baler’’.

Several months later, the situation changed drastically in favor of the Americans
as they began the colonization of the whole country. In 1902, a civil government was
established. Baler was transferred from the jurisdiction of El Principe, a district created
by Spanish Governor Manuel Crespo y Cebrian in the province of Nueva Ecija and was
made part of Tayabas (now Quezon). In 1910, the first popular elections were held
which saw the election of Benito Angara as Municipal President of Baler.

Meantime, from provincial fiscal of Mindoro, Baler’s native son Manuel Luis
Quezon stepped toward political prominence and assumed the governorship of Tayabas
province in 1906. On December 14, 1918, Manuel Quezon and Aurora Aragon were
married civilly at the American Consulate General in Hongkong. In 1935, Quezon was
elected as the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth. It was until 1939 that
Baler boasts of a modern church laid with concrete foundations. It has been constructed
through the painstaking efforts and support of Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon.

On December 14, 1941, the Japanese forces attacked the town of Baler. The
Japanese made the Baler Elementary School (now Central School) as their garrison.
Honorable Juan C. Angara was the town mayor at that time. Guerillas were organized
with the support of the Americans. After the submarine USS Narwhal found a secret
landing place in Dibut, a sitio of Baler, another submarine, the USS Nautilus surfaced at
Dibut Bay off-landing supplies and other war materials for the guerillas on October 20,
1944. The Japanese forces evacuated Baler after they had not successfully resisted the
successive attacks of the organized guerillas under Major Robert B. Lapham of the 205 th
Squadron. Baler was then liberated from the Japanese occupation on January 28, 1945.

The Carmelite priests arrived in Baler to minister the town’s parish under Father
Leo MCrudden on February 1948, through the invitation of Dona Aurora Aragon
Quezon. Months later, on June 23, 1948, the Mount Carmel High School was
inaugurated. This educational institution was founded by Father Gabriel Gates who sold
his Cessna plane to finance the school’s construction.

On July 6, 1948, Fr. Leo MCrudden with his companions perished at sea in search
of the two fishermen who had not returned from the night’s fishing trip at Baler Bay.
The casualties with Fr. MCrudden were Lope Grasparil, Pio Imperial, Igmidio Sindac,
Rudolfo Valenzuela, Pastor Grasparil and Anastacio dela torre. The Saga of Baler Bay was
retold by Bro. Vincent Scheerer.

Baler is so famous that it is no longer an isolated town, physically and

historically. The construction of the Baler-Bongabon Road in 1925, headed by Engineers
Platon Guevarra and Jose Mier, and the building of a bridge in Cabatangan, Villa Aurora
in 1940 made Baler accessible by highway linking the town to Central Luzon. Dona
Aurora Aragon Quezon met her death on that road on April 28, 1949 when she and her
escorts were ambushed at Sitio Salabusob , Brgy. Labi, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. She was
on her way to Baler to inaugurate the Baler Emergency Hospital (now Aurora Memorial
Hospital) and to witness the unveiling of Quezon marker at Quezon Park. Her death
remained a mystery.

Meanwhile, Manuel Luis Quezon, the President of the Commonwealth of the

Philippines and the first Filipino official who housed in Malacanang Palace, died of
tuberculosis on August 1, 1944 at Saranac Lake, New York, USA.

After typhoons Violeta and Yoyong wiped out Villa Aurora in November 2004,
the route Baler-Canili-Pantabangan road become an easy access of road travel for the
townspeople.
 Today, Baler is not only known as the birthplace of the Quezon couple. It is also
known of its notable and tragic events, one of it is the historic Siege of Baler. In view of
the three centuries Spanish legacy, Republic Act No. 9187 was initiated and authored by
Senator Edgardo J. Angara and was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo in 2003. It proclaimed June 30 each year as Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day. It
was the day in 1899 that President Emilio Aguinaldo signed a decree declaring as
friends, not prisoners of war, the Spanish soldiers who surrendered to the Filipino
soldiers after the siege, of almost a year at the Baler Church.

The law also declares June 30 a national special working holiday throughout the
Philippines and a special non-working holiday in Aurora Province. We commemorate
this historic event again and again not only to recall but also to learn from the past, to
derive inspiration for the present, and to serve as a beacon for the future.

Rosalina Guerrero Natividad-Julio

Baler, Aurora
2016