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Bato, Catanduanes
Bato, officially the Municipality of Bato, is a municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 21,748 people.
before the coming of the Spaniards the town proper or the poblacion of Bato was still thick forest and was inhabited by several pagan and primitive families. There were only a few houses and they were far apart. These primitive people lived on the games of the forest and on the products of the small kaIngins they had. There ways of life were crude. They used bows and arrows and spears to catch the wild animals of the forest and pointed or sharp sticks of wood or bamboo to till the soil. They were hostile and warlike. They did not like to live in groups for they wanted to be free from the associations of people in order to free themselves from enemies. They lived independently without depending on others for their daily needs. When the Spaniards came to the Philippines the island of Catanduanes was one of their objects of conquest. Bato proper at that time was populated by a few hundreds of people. When the natives heard of the sad and hateful coming of the Americans they thought of fighting. All the strong men prepared long spears, arrows fit their bows, and sharpened their bolos and got ready for the fight. The Spaniards on the other hand had shotguns and long sabers and powder. They had better arms than the natives. Shen the Spaniards went to conquer the place, they fired their shotguns In the place now Sipi. They burned some powder and there were loud explosions. The natives were very frightened. They feared they might all be killed. They decided not to fight but fled to the thick forest for safety. There was no fight. The Spaniards entered the town proper and found no enemy. The houses were left abandoned by the natives.
Little is known about the existence of Bato in the early part of the 13th century. It is believed however, that on the basis of language peculiarities spoken by the natives, the early settlers were Muslim traders from Surigao. Traders who were previously immigrants from Borneo and Malaya. They settled near the shore of Batalay for protection against external threats, and for communal needs, people lived together in groups with elected leaders. Some of these groups retreated from the shores and settled near the Bato River.
When the Spaniards came to colonize the .Philippines, one of their ships sailed to the Bicol Region. While the ship was in the Pacific Ocean, a great storm arose and the ship was dashed to pieces. Some of the passengers of the boat were drowned and a few survived, They were dashed to the shores of the present barrio of Batalay, One of those who survived was a Catholic Bishop by the name of Monsigneur Herrera, By that time, this barrio was a flourishing town under a datu who was Padilla whose name was Padilla. When same fishermen went to the shore one day, they saw the Spaniards, including the Bishop, almost dying and still tied to pieces of board from the wrecked Spanish ship. The fishermen were surprised to see the white men for they had not seen white men Before. They brought the Spaniards to the Chief. They were received by Padilia but they became his subjects. They related to the people the whole story about how they came to the shores of Batalay,
Everything went on smoothly. The bishop and his companions worked with the people of Padilla to live. During that time, there was a custom that when mothers were to deliver, they were taken to a small barrio north of the town found along the river now called Musbos", The abdomen of these women were cut open to get the child. This was how the name ’’musbos” was given which means cutting open. Since the people were ignorant about surgery, few mothers survived, only these who could suffer the pain of the Operation did not die. The bishop and the Spaniards heard about this. They told the people that mothers should not be operated that way but instead the mothers should just wait for the time the child will be born. The bishop offered a help to the expectant mothers. He said that he knew how to help a delivering mother. The people then asked his help. He was successful at his few first patients The people were convinced. They then, were happy because there was no more danger of death for the expectant mothers. Then came the turn of the chief's daughter. The bishop then was called, Unfortunately it was a difficult delivery. The mother and child died. The chief became very mad and sad at the mishap. He became angry with the bishop. He ordered the bishop to pay him for the sad fate of his daughter and her child. He was made to pound rice the whole day for several days. He was made to do Herd work for the chief. He was given little food and little water to drink. The bishop did not resist the hand work and he became thin and weak. He was then ordered to dig a hole in the ground with crude tools. When the hole was about six feet deep, the chief ordered his people to bury the bishop alive in the hole which he has dug. The Spaniards were alarmed at the sad fate of the bishop. They became afraid. They might be the next victims of sad fate. They fled and went away. The people then relieved in tranquility without the Spaniards. Not long after that sad even, a calamity came to the people of Batalay. The sea rose high and dashed its strong waves to the land. All of Batalay was in deep water. The water was infested with schools of swordfish which made war upon the drowning people. This kind of fish is called in the vernacular "doqal”. The fish attacked all the people they found. Some people were able to escape. They caught some of the fish and feasted on them. The fish had poison and all the people who ate of the fish died, Where the flourishing town once stood became a swamp. The few people who survived went northward and'made settlements along the banks of the Bato river. It was where the present Poblacion of Bato now stands.
When all the corners of the island of Catanduanes were reached by the Spanish soldiers and there were no more traces that the people of the place would wage arms against them they began to establish the government in the place. They placed under a "cabesa de barangay” or barrio lieuteneant. The whole island was placed under the "teniente governador" or lieutenant governor. The island was placed under the province of Albay who was headed by a governadorcillo” or a governor. The cabeza de barangay was subjected to the capitan, the capitan to the teniente governador- and the teniente governador to the governadorcillo of Albay. Each organized his own government and has jurisdiction over his followers and subjects. Their organization was under the close supervision of the Spanish soldiers. Some Spanish soldiers held the high positions and the government aet uo was military. The voice of the soldier reigned
People lived under the rule of Spain. The people adopted their mode of living; dressing, learned the Catholic religion and had the benefits of education. The former old church, made of stones, lime and bricks, school building which is near the present church of Bato was once a school house, in the late nineteenth century. The people were contented and happy despite the cruelties of the Spaniards, However, the peace at were at times interrupted by the coming of the Moros who were bandits and who carried away women and children. In order that the town be safe from the enemy, the people planted bamboos around the town which grew thick and strong. No animal or man could pass through the bamboo for they grew close together. There were only three entrances to the town proper, one near the present cemetery of Bato, another near the place where the present school site of Bato is and the third / near the back of the present municipal building of Bato facing the river To guard against the incoming Moros, a watchtower was erected in the seashore of Banyaga. It was a tower for the watchers who served in shifts. A boat was also furnished the watchers. The boat was run by oars. This boat was used to fight the incoming Moro bandirs. They called the watchtower ’’baluwarte” and the boat “pallowa”.'Another tower was built at the top of Banawang Hill, When the guards at the tower in Banawang Hill understood. They too put up signs which are understood by the people of the town. The town then is warned of the enemy. If one wished to become a ”capitan”, or a “mayor” of the town, he must have served in the chasing of the Moros with great bravery and courage for one year. Another tower was built in Cabanglayan. It also was a means of informing of the town of the coming of the Moros. At nights, lights served as signals. In the year 1880, there were only two big stores in town, one was owned by Juan Aznar and his store once stood in the present market place. The other was owned by Miguel Esama and Carlos Llanes, both Spaniards, Their store once stood in the present corner where Andres Tapit now his store
There was no great destruction of lives during this war because this town was not a battlefront. During that time the head of the town was a Filipino "Gobernadorcillo". He was called ’’Capitan" for a long time but he only ruled by name. The "Guardia Civil" was the Military Power. They were greatly feared by the people. They could enter any house without permission from its owner. When they felt like having a fiesta, they could go about the town and barrios and took all the chickens and pigs they wanted. However, those were the years when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many soldiers from this place were recruited to serve the Spanish government. When General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the first Philippine Republic, the Spanish soldiers were centralized in Manila. Later on, Filipino soldiers called the "insurgents” came and organized a military government. There was also the "Capitan" but the real powers came from the military officers. The insurgents also took anything they liked from the people. Finally, the Americans came. The Filipinos fled to the forest without knowing the aims of the foreigners. There were some who died in their hiding places because of some contagious diseases. Some died of hunger.
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Bato, Catanduanes
Bato, officially the Municipality of Bato, is a municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 21,748 people.
before the coming of the Spaniards the town proper or the poblacion of Bato was still thick forest and was inhabited by several pagan and primitive families. There were only a few houses and they were far apart. These primitive people lived on the games of the forest and on the products of the small kaIngins they had. There ways of life were crude. They used bows and arrows and spears to catch the wild animals of the forest and pointed or sharp sticks of wood or bamboo to till the soil. They were hostile and warlike. They did not like to live in groups for they wanted to be free from the associations of people in order to free themselves from enemies. They lived independently without depending on others for their daily needs. When the Spaniards came to the Philippines the island of Catanduanes was one of their objects of conquest. Bato proper at that time was populated by a few hundreds of people. When the natives heard of the sad and hateful coming of the Americans they thought of fighting. All the strong men prepared long spears, arrows fit their bows, and sharpened their bolos and got ready for the fight. The Spaniards on the other hand had shotguns and long sabers and powder. They had better arms than the natives. Shen the Spaniards went to conquer the place, they fired their shotguns In the place now Sipi. They burned some powder and there were loud explosions. The natives were very frightened. They feared they might all be killed. They decided not to fight but fled to the thick forest for safety. There was no fight. The Spaniards entered the town proper and found no enemy. The houses were left abandoned by the natives.
Little is known about the existence of Bato in the early part of the 13th century. It is believed however, that on the basis of language peculiarities spoken by the natives, the early settlers were Muslim traders from Surigao. Traders who were previously immigrants from Borneo and Malaya. They settled near the shore of Batalay for protection against external threats, and for communal needs, people lived together in groups with elected leaders. Some of these groups retreated from the shores and settled near the Bato River.
When the Spaniards came to colonize the .Philippines, one of their ships sailed to the Bicol Region. While the ship was in the Pacific Ocean, a great storm arose and the ship was dashed to pieces. Some of the passengers of the boat were drowned and a few survived, They were dashed to the shores of the present barrio of Batalay, One of those who survived was a Catholic Bishop by the name of Monsigneur Herrera, By that time, this barrio was a flourishing town under a datu who was Padilla whose name was Padilla. When same fishermen went to the shore one day, they saw the Spaniards, including the Bishop, almost dying and still tied to pieces of board from the wrecked Spanish ship. The fishermen were surprised to see the white men for they had not seen white men Before. They brought the Spaniards to the Chief. They were received by Padilia but they became his subjects. They related to the people the whole story about how they came to the shores of Batalay,
Everything went on smoothly. The bishop and his companions worked with the people of Padilla to live. During that time, there was a custom that when mothers were to deliver, they were taken to a small barrio north of the town found along the river now called Musbos", The abdomen of these women were cut open to get the child. This was how the name ’’musbos” was given which means cutting open. Since the people were ignorant about surgery, few mothers survived, only these who could suffer the pain of the Operation did not die. The bishop and the Spaniards heard about this. They told the people that mothers should not be operated that way but instead the mothers should just wait for the time the child will be born. The bishop offered a help to the expectant mothers. He said that he knew how to help a delivering mother. The people then asked his help. He was successful at his few first patients The people were convinced. They then, were happy because there was no more danger of death for the expectant mothers. Then came the turn of the chief's daughter. The bishop then was called, Unfortunately it was a difficult delivery. The mother and child died. The chief became very mad and sad at the mishap. He became angry with the bishop. He ordered the bishop to pay him for the sad fate of his daughter and her child. He was made to pound rice the whole day for several days. He was made to do Herd work for the chief. He was given little food and little water to drink. The bishop did not resist the hand work and he became thin and weak. He was then ordered to dig a hole in the ground with crude tools. When the hole was about six feet deep, the chief ordered his people to bury the bishop alive in the hole which he has dug. The Spaniards were alarmed at the sad fate of the bishop. They became afraid. They might be the next victims of sad fate. They fled and went away. The people then relieved in tranquility without the Spaniards. Not long after that sad even, a calamity came to the people of Batalay. The sea rose high and dashed its strong waves to the land. All of Batalay was in deep water. The water was infested with schools of swordfish which made war upon the drowning people. This kind of fish is called in the vernacular "doqal”. The fish attacked all the people they found. Some people were able to escape. They caught some of the fish and feasted on them. The fish had poison and all the people who ate of the fish died, Where the flourishing town once stood became a swamp. The few people who survived went northward and'made settlements along the banks of the Bato river. It was where the present Poblacion of Bato now stands.
When all the corners of the island of Catanduanes were reached by the Spanish soldiers and there were no more traces that the people of the place would wage arms against them they began to establish the government in the place. They placed under a "cabesa de barangay” or barrio lieuteneant. The whole island was placed under the "teniente governador" or lieutenant governor. The island was placed under the province of Albay who was headed by a governadorcillo” or a governor. The cabeza de barangay was subjected to the capitan, the capitan to the teniente governador- and the teniente governador to the governadorcillo of Albay. Each organized his own government and has jurisdiction over his followers and subjects. Their organization was under the close supervision of the Spanish soldiers. Some Spanish soldiers held the high positions and the government aet uo was military. The voice of the soldier reigned
People lived under the rule of Spain. The people adopted their mode of living; dressing, learned the Catholic religion and had the benefits of education. The former old church, made of stones, lime and bricks, school building which is near the present church of Bato was once a school house, in the late nineteenth century. The people were contented and happy despite the cruelties of the Spaniards, However, the peace at were at times interrupted by the coming of the Moros who were bandits and who carried away women and children. In order that the town be safe from the enemy, the people planted bamboos around the town which grew thick and strong. No animal or man could pass through the bamboo for they grew close together. There were only three entrances to the town proper, one near the present cemetery of Bato, another near the place where the present school site of Bato is and the third / near the back of the present municipal building of Bato facing the river To guard against the incoming Moros, a watchtower was erected in the seashore of Banyaga. It was a tower for the watchers who served in shifts. A boat was also furnished the watchers. The boat was run by oars. This boat was used to fight the incoming Moro bandirs. They called the watchtower ’’baluwarte” and the boat “pallowa”.'Another tower was built at the top of Banawang Hill, When the guards at the tower in Banawang Hill understood. They too put up signs which are understood by the people of the town. The town then is warned of the enemy. If one wished to become a ”capitan”, or a “mayor” of the town, he must have served in the chasing of the Moros with great bravery and courage for one year. Another tower was built in Cabanglayan. It also was a means of informing of the town of the coming of the Moros. At nights, lights served as signals. In the year 1880, there were only two big stores in town, one was owned by Juan Aznar and his store once stood in the present market place. The other was owned by Miguel Esama and Carlos Llanes, both Spaniards, Their store once stood in the present corner where Andres Tapit now his store
There was no great destruction of lives during this war because this town was not a battlefront. During that time the head of the town was a Filipino "Gobernadorcillo". He was called ’’Capitan" for a long time but he only ruled by name. The "Guardia Civil" was the Military Power. They were greatly feared by the people. They could enter any house without permission from its owner. When they felt like having a fiesta, they could go about the town and barrios and took all the chickens and pigs they wanted. However, those were the years when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many soldiers from this place were recruited to serve the Spanish government. When General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the first Philippine Republic, the Spanish soldiers were centralized in Manila. Later on, Filipino soldiers called the "insurgents” came and organized a military government. There was also the "Capitan" but the real powers came from the military officers. The insurgents also took anything they liked from the people. Finally, the Americans came. The Filipinos fled to the forest without knowing the aims of the foreigners. There were some who died in their hiding places because of some contagious diseases. Some died of hunger.
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