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GENERAL INFORMATION / HISTORY PAST GLIMPSES OF TIGAON: A RETROSPECTIVE “In ancient times when land bridges connected our country to the rest of Asia, a great mountain-volcano called Isarog discharged its fury and spewed out debris of pyro-magma toward the Pacific Sea. The waters receded giving way to an emerging land mass where centuries after, vegetation and wildlife grew. Negritoes and Indons settled at this place now known as the Municipalities of Tigaon and Sagñay.” The early settlers formed their own government. The word of the datu was the law. They venerated their god anito and sought relief from the albularyo. They warded off evil spirits by whipping the minasbad in the air and wrapped their dead inside the rangkapan. In marriage, they agreed on a dote to be given during an in-laws meeting called porong. They had crude ways of farming and fashioned fishing traps called bobo and ansag. They traded with the Chinese, exchanging spices for potteries, pieces of cloth and jewelry. They were accomplished in the Bikolnon alphabet and formed a culture uniquely their own. THE SPANISH REGIME --------------------------------------------------- THE SPANISH REGIME The Bicol Peninsula was first sighted by the Spaniards in August 1543 aboard the San Juan de Letran. In 1574, Captain Juan de Salcedo conquered the Bicol Region. In 1701, Tigaon was considered a sitio of Sagñay. In 1794, Tigaon was given her own parish under Fray Jose de Buensalida who carried the mission of St. Clare of Assisi . The name TIGAON came from the word TIGAW, a shrub which grew along river banks. Mayon Volcano's eruption in 1834 started a wave of migration to Tigaon. From Ligao came the Baduria brothers and sister Nieves, a forebear of Bicolano hero Felix Plazo. Laurencio Cea of Malinao, Albay settled in Tigaon and married Juana Baduria. From this union emerged the great political clan of the CEAs.
The Sword and the Cross became the bedrock of Spanish colonization in the Philippines . The parish priest symbolized the King of Spain and wielded intense power. -Fray Jose de Buensalida February 1794-1798 Turmoil and continuous revolts against the atrocities of Spanish rule led to the Philippine Revolution of 1898. For $20,000,000.00, Spain ceded the Philippines to the Americans.
--------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN OCCUPATION The capture of KKK troops at Panagan River under Commandante Arsenio Natividad, Col. Felix Plazo and Faustino Perfecto paved the way for the installation of American forces in Tigaon. This era brought to fore Tigaon's golden years. Trade and industry flourished. The Tinawagan Grade (TG) abaca fiber was recognized as the best in the world due largely to the efforts of Don Pasual Leelin and Don Lazaro Laraurri. Sources of abaca fiber came from haciendas of the Moll, Natividad, Estela, Jacob, Cea, Baduria, Garchitorena and Interino families. Tigaon boasted of its beautiful women who were proclaimed Miss Bicolandia: Gregoria Estela, Andrea Baduria, Rosario Natividad, and Ligia Cea. Severo Cea became a Philippine Assembly (1901) and Constitutional Convention (1934) delegate. Jose Fuentebella became the Governor of Camarines Sur in 1916. Andres Garchitorena won the gubernatorial race in 1919. Gerardo Cea was elected Board Member in 1935. In 1938, Paz Cea de Conde was elected first Provincial Board Member and assumed the governorship of Camarines Sur upon the sudden death of Governor-elect Manuel Gallego, thereby being the first and only woman governor of Camarines Sur Province . The Leonor Moll-Jose Fuentebella political rivalry for the congressional seat was headline news during this year. Assemblyman Jose Fuentebella was unable to complete his term due to the outbreak of World War II. The Municipal Mayors during these years: Pedro Cea (1901-1902); Modesto Baduria (1903-1905); Gregorio Natividad (1905-1907); Manuel Cea (1907-1909); Nemesio Cea (1909-1911); Nicolas Interino (1911-1913); Severo Cea (1913-1917); Vitaliano Palmaria (1917-1920); Severo Cea (1920-1923); Gerardo Cea (1923-1926); Lino Cabaero (1926-1929); Felix Madera (1929-1937), and Laurencio Cea (1937-1941). The union of the Church and State was dissolved. Catholic rites, however, were still observed. Donations continuously poured in for the Church's renovation. - Fray Teodoro Matiniano July 1900-April 1901
--------------------------------------------------- JAPANESE OCCUPATION In 1941, the second world war broke. The Japanese entered Tigaon during the term of Mayor Lino Cabaero. The guerilla movement evolved as an offshoot of Japanese cruelty. Clashes were frequent and the church became a sanctuary of most guerillas. Padre Tomas Bernales was parish priest during the period 1941-1942. Padre Florencio Gonzales took over in 1942. The infamous Death March propelled Doña Leonor Moll to rescue her son, Dr. Heriberto Moll and forty other Bicolanos from the clutches of death. Lt. Salvador Natividad died fighting the Japanese at Mabalodbalod. Captain Edmundo Cea and Majors Salvador and Tomas Garchitorena were at the forefront of battle. Don Pascual Leelin freely disposed his sacks of rice to fellow-Tigaoeños before enemies could confiscate them. In 1945, American forces came back to reclaim the Philippines , thus paving the way for the surrender of the beleaguered Japanese Imperial Army.
--------------------------------------------------- PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC With the advent of independence, Tigaoeños found freedom of expression through the arts. A monopoly of painters, poets, sculptors, and actors emerged from this town. Luisita Venida was Tigaon's first child actress while Jesus ‘Og' Ramos became the Tarzan of local cinema. Body-builder Pepito Ramos was acclaimed “Mr. Philippines ”. In the late fifties, Batas Pambansa 129 made Tigaon the seat of the Court of First Instance in Partido District. Politics thrived. Don Mariano Garchitorena became Governor of Camarines Sur in 1945. Sebastian Caruso Moll was elected Congressman under the Quirino administration. The same administration chose Don Mariano Garchitorena Secretary of Agriculture. Edmundo Cea, the first Asian to be invited as guest speaker to the United Nations, gained fame as a Congressman, then Senator during the sixties, as a delegate to the 1970 Constitutional Convention and as a member of the defunct Batasang Pambansa. Jose Fuentebella was Ambassador to Indonesia during the Garcia administration. Parish Priest Padre Florencio Gonzales was succeeded by Padre Pedro Oliva (1948-1967). Municipal mayors of Tigaon during these years: Heriberto R. Moll (1945-1957); Jose Bosito (1958-1964) and again Heriberto R. Moll (1964-1967).
--------------------------------------------------- THE INSURGENCY MOVEMENT The NPA Movement in the Bicol Region started in Tigaon which at best typified a feudal society. Brothers Romulo (Kumander Tangkad) and Ruben (Kumander Benjie) Jallores actively guided the growth of this movement. Agrarian unrest became the legitimate cause for the fuelling of socialist ideology. Tenants forcibly planted rice and corn within abaca lands. Eventually, abaca production declined. n 1972, Martial Law was declared. Agrarian Reform was implemented. The Marcos dictatorship hunted down insurgents and tortured them. Senator Edmundo Cea took the cudgels for Ninoy Aquino's widow, Corazon. The church played an important role in the series of events that was to lead to the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos in the EDSA Revolution of 1986. Tigaon Parish became the rallying point of Cory Aquino's cause in Camarines Sur's third district. Felix Fuentebella was appointed Governor by then President Marcos in 1976, the same year Nelson Baduria Tria was ordained and became the first Tigaoeño priest. Parish priests in Tigaon were Padre Jose Rey (1967-1984) and Padre Felix Barela (1984-1985). In 1986, Gallardo Bombase, Jr. was ordained. He became the first Filipino parish priest of the University of Santo Tomas . Municipal Mayors during this time: Gualberto Cea Manlagñit (1968-1971); Lucio Palaypayon, Jr. (1972); Federico Moll (acting capacity, 1973-1976); and Claudio Francisco (appointed 1976/ elected 1980-1986).
--------------------------------------------------- THE CORY REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT Delfin Recto was appointed Mayor of Tigaon. Julian Cea Napal became Vice-Governor of Camarines Sur. Francis Garchitorena occupied the position of SandiganBayan Justice. Gradually, order was restored. The Senate and Congress were brought back. The crusade of the NPA Movement gained recognition from the ruling administration. Continuing peace talks were held to resolve the differences between government and the CPP/NPA. The democratic form of government once more dominates the political scene. Municipal Mayors were: Roman de Leon, Jr. (OIC, 1987, Transitional Gov't); and Eleanor R. Lelis (1988-1992). Arnulfo Fuentebella, elected in 1992, holds the congressional seat for Camarines Sur's third district. Parish priests were Padre Alfonso Grageda (1985-1991) and Padre Eutiquio Infante (1991-1997).
--------------------------------------------------- PRESENT PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT Once more, Tigaon is on the move. Municipal Mayor Mariano B. Llaguno (1992-1998) was succeeded by incumbent Mayor Elmo L. Bombase. Padre Danilo Tuason is at present Parish Priest of Tigaon. The Sword and Cross have never been apart in the Tigaoeño way of life. The simultaneous construction of the Parish rectory under Padre Tuason and Tigaon's new municipal building under Mayor Bombase has significantly typified this historic relationship. Tigaon is still the land of the beautiful as cousins Farrah and Camille Moll reclaim Tigaon's prestige in the Miss Bicolandia and Miss Kaogma Pageants, respectively. Young politicians Emmanuel Llaguno and Celestina Manlagñit became Provincial Board members of Camarines Sur. Chess sportsman Onofre Espiritu, Jr. is first national master of Tigaon and Camarines Sur Province . Tigaon has had more than its share of talent, beauty, prowess and intellect. Her legacy to Bicol history is unparalleled. As the new millennium ushers in, Tigaon needs to be remembered as a simple town committed to playing a vital role in shaping the course and destiny of this nation.
--------------------------------------------------- Acknowledgements: Mayor Elmo L. Bombase References: Camarines by the Vicor River (A compilation) by Danilo Gerona Bikols of the Philippines by Ma. Lilia Realubit. Fr. Danilo Imperial
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