BRIEF
HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE
The origin of the town,
along with its name, traces back to the early settlers of the place, known as
the “cortadores” (Eng., woodcutters) to
the early Spanish colonizers who came to the place in the early Seventeenth
Century, who cut timbers from nearby mountains located upriver or around San
Miguel Bay area and made this as their form of living. Out of these timbers,
they hewed out canoes, or “bancas”,
which they stored under small sheds or huts. Later, when these sheds became abundant
in the area, especially along the Bicol River presently known as the poblacion,
as they were made the permanent dwelling
places by these canoe-makers, the place was called “Kinamaligan” which later on
had become “Camaligan”, from the word “kamalig”
or shed, or a place where so many “kamalig”
are found. The sheds served to shelter the canoe-makers and to protect their
boats from the natural elements. Hence, the name and origin of the town is
historically tied to the river and its early inhabitants.
The original settlement was
considered a barrio or visita of the
city of Nueva Caceres (Naga), which was then under its ecclesiastical and civil
jurisdiction. But in 5 June 1775, a petition to the Spanish religious
authorities was sent by the natives, and signed by the supposedly officials of
the place, to request for a resident curate (Cfr. Archivo Franciscano
Ibero-Oriental MSS. 1775. Sign. 97/39, Madrid ,
Spain Santos
The foundation of the town
of Camaligan is placed under two dates according to existing documents. The
ambiguity of these two foundation dates was stated by D. Adolfo Puya y Ruiz, in
his “Camarines Sur – Descripcion General
De Està Provincia En Luzon” (Manila: 1887) whch states that: “Before, it was called Kinamaligan. According
to some, it was founded in 1795 and according to others in 1829.” According
to this auther, Camaligan had five barrios ó
visitas in
its jurisdiction: viz. Marupit, Doncal, Sua, San Roque and Tarosanan.
On the first foundation date, 1795, Felix de
Huerta in his “Estado, Topográfico,
Estadistíco, Histórico—Religioso, de la Santa y Apostólica Provincia de San
Gregorio Magno, de Religiosos Menores Descalzos de la Regular y Mas Estrecha
Observancia De Nuestro Padre San Francisco, en las Islas Filipinas”. (Binondo:
1865) categorigally states that “This town was founded in the year 1795 separating it
from Naga, where it was formerly a visita, and first parish priest appointed
was Fray Rafael de Benavente…with six barrios annexed to the town, each of
which there was a small wooden chapel.”
On the second foundation
date, 1929, the author Fray Manuel Buzeta in his “Diccionario Geografico,
Estadistico, Historico de las Islas Filipinas”
(Madrid:1850), says that “this
town was formerly a barrio of the capital or head of the province, from which
it was separated after the year 1829, to form its own civil and ecclesiastical
jurisdiction.”
However, a manuscript document found at the Philippine
National Archives in the Ereccion de
Pueblos (EP), 1781-1883, Exp. 2.11.53-57) entitled “Expedte promovido los naturales del pueblo de Camaligan, prova. de
Cams. soe fabrica de la casa parroquial en que viva su cura por hallarse
arruinada la antiqua”, dated 25 November 1800, makes it possible to fix the
foundation of the town to the first date given as 1795 since this agrees with
the date given by this document as cited by Marilyn R. Canta in the Appendix 4
portion of her Masteral Thesis under the title of “The Churches of Camarines
Sur: Chronology” (Marilyn R. Canta: An
Architectural History of the Churches of Camarines Sur: 1990). Although the
document does not categorically state exactly when the town was founded,
nevertheless it gives the hint that there was already a parish house for
Camaligan that was built before the year 1800.
Prior to the establishment of the town and parish
of Camaligan whether in 1795 or in 1829, one internet source,
www.familysearch.org, reported that a certain Antonio de los Santos was born in Camaligan in
1713 and appears to be the first early recorded native of Camaligan, Camarines
Sur. This was followed by several entries of natives born in Camaligan from
1731-1798, spanning a period of 67 years.
In 1731 and 1735, the same
source from the Internet mentioned a certain Mr. and Mrs. Jacoba as being born
in Camaligan. They are the second and third persons to be identified per record
as Camaligan’s early known natives.
In
1736, there was born in Tarusanan, Camaligan, a certain Manuel Salvador who was
married to a certain Mariana Sacramento in 1767 at Tarusanan, Camaligan. These
couple is the fourth and fifth early recorded natives of Camaligan.
In
1748, Diego Laurencio Sacramento was recorded to have been born in Camaligan.
He was also said to have been married in Camaligan in 1773. He is the sixth
early recorded native of Camaligan.
In
1751, Manuel Salvador was said to be born in Camaligan and was married in 1776
in Camaligan to a certain Petrona de Jesus, who was also born in 1755 in
Camaligan. These couple is the seventh
and eight early known natives of Camaligan.
In 1752, Antonio de los Santos was born to Maria
Candelaria in Camaligan. He was married in 1777 to a certain unknown woman. He
is the ninth early recorded native of Camaligan.
In 1752, Juan Francisco was born in Camaligan and married Maria de los
Reyes in 1777 in Camaligan. These couple is the tenth and eleventh early
recorded natives of Camaligan.
In
1753, there was recorded a certain Juan Candelaria, whose mother was stated to
be Lorensa Sta. Ana, to have been born in Camaligan. He is the 11th early recorded
settler of Camaligan.
In
1754, Josef Salvador was recorded as being born in Camaligan and was married in
Camaligan in 1779 to a certain Catalina Hade (born in Camaligan in 1758). The
couple is the 12th and 13th early recoded natives of Camligan.
In
1755, Jualiana Sacramento was recorded as to have been born in Camaligan.
In 1757, Josefa Jacoba was born in Camaligan and was
married in Camaligan in 1773 to a certain Ygnacio de los Santos. These couple
is the 14th and 15th early recorded natives of Camligan.
In
1768, Manuel Andres Sacramento was born in Tarusanan, Camaligan, to the spouses
Manuel Salvador and Mariana Sacramento. He is the 16th early recorded settler
of Camaligan.
In
July 20, 1772, Lucas Maria Abias was born to Antonio Abias and Maria de los
Angeles in Camaligan. They are the 17th, 18th and 19th early known natives of
Camaligan.
In
1773, there was recorded Mariano del Sacramento to have been born in Camaligan.
He is the 20th early known native of Camaligan.
In
1783, Francisco Antonio Salvador was born to Mauel Salvador and Petrona de
Jesus in Camaligan. He was married in November 5, 1808 in Naga, Camarines Sur
to Maria Justa Fernandez who was also born in Camaligan in 1787. These couple
is the 21st and 22nd early recorded natives of Camaligan.
In
1784, there was recorded to have been born in Camaligan a certain Clara
Sacramento, who was married to a certain Francisco Gonzales in June 16, 1805 at
Nueva Caceres Church. These couple are said the 23rd and 24th early recorded
natives of Camaligan.
In 1786, Manuel Sacramento was born and was married to Maria Antonio in
Camaligan in October 29, 1811. These couple is the 25th and 26th early recorded
natives of Camaligan.
In
1788, there was born in Camaligan a certain Pedro de San Jose, whose parents
were Francisco de San Jose and Francisca de la Presentacion. He is the 27th
early recorded natives of Camaligan.
In
1795, Juan del Sacramento was recorded to be born in Camaligan. He is the 28th
early recorded native of Camaligan.
In
1797, Pablo de los Santos was born in Camaligan and was married in 1822 in
Camaligan to a certain Fermina Candelaria. These couple is the 29th and 30th
early recorded natives of Camaligan.
In
1798, Juan Antonio was recorded to have been born in Camaligan. He is the 31st
early recorded native of Camaligan.
And lastly, in 1798, Domingo Collantes was said to have been born in Camaligan.
He is the 32nd early known native of Camaligan.
These thirty-two people, recorded to have been born between 1713 up to
1798, are the early known, or recorded, natives of Camaligan.
However, as far as the civil
government is concerned, the official establishment of the municipality maybe
safely placed in the year 1902, through an act of the Philippine Legislature,
and naming Pedro Bustamante as the first municipal mayor. This event of the
creation of the municipality
of Camaligan
Since then, the municipality
of Camaligan had 33 municipal mayors up to the present.
The Bicol River is an important factor in
maintaining the ecological balance of plant and animal life in the Bicol River
Valley. The river serves as the natural
habitat for so many number of plants and animals, such as the barayong, kalpi, anrorogat and the bebe (fresh water clam), many of which
are native and peculiar to the place and cannot be found anywhere else in the
Philippines.
The
river serves as a natural source of
irrigation and fertilization to the land where agriculture is still considered
as a major industry. Out of the 468.1370 hectares total land area, 175 hectares
are devoted to rice production, all of which are irrigated and fertilized by
the river through the occasional flooding of the river.
The people of Camaligan
derive their socio-cultural identity, as a river people, from the existence of
the river. Their festivals, songs and dances find their source and inspiration
from the river. Hence, we could say that the river ecology has bred its own
distinct river economy.
DNMJR/30-09-2016
