HISTORY OF KAWIT

Aptly described as the "Flag Town of the Republic," Kawit is the oldest municipality in Cavite Province, having been founded in 1587, 16 years after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi occupied Manila and proclaimed as the capital of the Philippines. Another source, however, says that Kawit was founded in 1600. Kawit is also the most literate town of Cavite Province.

Because of the independence proclaimed by General Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit eighty-six years ago, the Philippines ceased to be a Spanish colony and became free, independent, and sovereign nation. Like the United States the Philippines was born of revolution. The Philippine Republic inaugurated in Malolos on January 23, 1899 was the first such republic in Asia, antedating the Chinese Republic under Sun Yat-sen by 12 years. In the words of President Marcos, it was "the first republic established by a brown people."

The name Kawit is derived from the Tagalog word kawit (hook) which is suggestive of its location at the base of a hookshaped shoreline along Manila Bay extending to the tip of Cavite City. Kawit was the most thriving settlement prior to the coming of the Spaniards. In fact, it provided the first anchorage of the Spaniards in the province, whence colonization and proselytization of the Christian religion began, spreading to all corners of the province.

Legend, however, gives another version on how the town got its name. One day a Spanish visitor asked a native blacksmith about the name of the village. The latter was busy at the time pounding on the anvil a piece of hot metal that looked like a hook. He hesitated to speak, not understanding what the stranger was asking, but when pressed for an answer, and thinking that he wanted to know what he was doing, he merely said kawit (hook). The Spaniards left muttering the word kawit. In the course of the time the word kawit evolved into "cawite," and finally "cavite".

For a long time the place was called by the Spaniards "Cavite el Viejo" or Old Cavite to distinguish it from "Cavite la Punta" or "Cavite el Puerto," the commercial port and naval base (now Cavite City) whence came many Spanish marines on shore leave who made frequent visits to Cavite el Viejo, eventually turning it into a red light district. The bad reputation of the place, however, was completely wiped out when it was placed under the spiritual supervision of the Jesuits during the administration of Manila Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano (1618-1629).

Cavite el Viejo was then a big town, comprising the municipality of Kawit today, Cavite la Punta (now Cavite City), Noveleta (called Tierra Alta by the Spaniards), and Imus. One after the other these three barrios seceded and became independent municipalities. For instance, Cavite la Punta became Cavite, the provincial capital, and later Cavite City.

Shortly after the discovery of the Katipunan in Manila on August 19, 1896, Cavite el Viejo became the nerve center of the Revolution. Emilio Aguinaldo, the capitan municipal, led the capture of the tribunal or municipal building of Cavite el Viejo on August 31, between two and three o’clock in the afternoon. Earlier that same day the towns of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) and Noveleta had risen in arms and overthrown the local Spanish administration.

Right after the capture of the Kawit tribunal, Aguinaldo issued a manifest inviting his fellow capitane municipal in Cavite province to "join me in rising against Spain and break the chains of slavery that have bound us with her all these hundred years…" Furthermore, Aguinaldo, already thinking in terms of a national liberation struggle, issued another manifest on October 31, calling for the creation of a revolutionary government to carry on the revolution against Spain.

Aguinaldo had defeated the best of the Spanish generals (Ernesto de Aguirre in the Battle of Imus, September 3, 1896; Ramon Blanco in the Battle of Binakayan, November 9-11; and Antonio Zaballa in the Battle of Anabu, February 1897) in fair combat, giving him the reputation of Indio conqueror of the Spanish conquistadores. Con sequently, he became a living legend even before Andres Bonifacio came to Cavite in a vain attempt to wrest the leadership of the Revolution from Aguinaldo.

Realizing that the name Cavite el Viejo was a Spanish corruption of the fine Tagalog word kawit, the Philippine Commission on September 20, 1907 approved Act No. 1718 changing the town’s name to Kawit.

The history of Kawit is inextricably linked with the life of Aguinaldo. To paraphrase Thomas Caryle (1795-1881), the great Scottish historian and philosopher, the history of Kawit is the story-biography-of Aguinaldo, its most illustrious son.

***

Aside from Emilio Aguinaldo, Kawit has produced six other revolutionary, generals namely, 1) Candido Tria Tirona (1862-1896), 2) Crispulo Aguinaldo (1864-1897), 3) Baldomero Aguinaldo (1869-1915), 4) Tomas Mascardo (1871-1932), 5) Daniel Tria Tirona (1865-1939), and 6) Gregoria Montoya (1863-1896), posthumously promoted to general. The story of their lives makes up the most glorious chapter not only of the history of Kawit but also of the Philippines.

Such a glorious past cannot but serve as a worthy prologue to an equally distinguished contemporary history of Kawit. The past always serves as a challenge to the present characters or dramatis personae on the stage, among them the following Kawiteños: 1) Cesar E. A. Virata, prime minister of the Fourth Republic; 2) Supreme Court Associate Justice Ameurfina Aguinaldo Melencio Herrera, who spent a great part of her young life in Kawit although she was born in her father’s home province, Nueva Ecija; 3) Dr. Josefa Ilano, former chairman of the board of trustees, Siliman University; 4) Brig. Gen. Jaime Muyargas of the Philippine Air Force, and his brother, Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Muyargas of the Philippine Army; 5) former Ambassador Benjamin Tria Tirona (now deceased), member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cavite; 6) Maximiano S. Janiro, retired colonel, U.S. Army, member of the Philippine bar, and a graduate of the the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (class of 1926). Incidentally, Col. Janairo, who now resides in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.A, with his wife, the former Amelia Romualdez, daughter of the late Manila Mayor Miguel Romualdez, has two sons, Maximiano, Jr. and Antonio, both graduates of the famed West Point Military Academy, and a daughter, Lita.



Kawit’s 12 Barrios

(1) Binakayan

(2) Marulas

(3) Gahak

(4) Kaingen

(5) Poblacion

(6) Wakas

(7) Tabon

(8) Toclong

(9) Panamitan

(10) Magdalo

(11) Sta. Isabel

(12) San Sebastian



Several of these barrios/barangay have names suggestive of their origin. Binakayan, for instance, was drived from the Tagalog word bakay (to watch); Marulas from madulas (slippery); Gahak from gahak (torn to destroyed); Tabon from tabon (to cover or covered); Kaingen from kaingin (forest clering); and Panamitan from paminwitan (fishing grounds). Each barrio has a legend of its own explaining how it came into existence.

***

Despite the fact that Kawit is the oldest municipality in Cavite, the available records in the National Archives date only from 1774 to 1900. However, the first map showing the town of Cavite el Viejo is dated 1734. It is included in the book written by the Jesuit historian, Fr. Pedro Murillo y Velarde, S. J., Historica general de la Provincial de Filipinas de la Compania de Jesus. Manila, 1749. The map was engraved by Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay, a Filipino printer.



Town Heads of Kawit



The incomplete list of gobernadorcillos and tenientes primero of Cavite el Viejo follows:

GOBERNADORCILLOS: (1) Leoncio de Sta. Rita, June 26, 1827; (2) Leoncio Ramos, June 1829; (3) Ladislaw Lucero de Medina, c1833; (4) Leoncio Mateo, December 4, 1834; (5) Bonifacio Juan Ronquillo, December 1837; (6) Pedro Juan Capistrano, 1842-1844; (7) Anacleto de la Cruz, 1844-1846; (8) Jose lopez Luibao, gobernadorcillo, and Teodorico Samaniego, teniente primero; (10) Estanislao Tria Tirona, gobernadorcillo,and Remigio Matro Mateo, teniente primero;

(11) Ignacio Samaniego, December 1858; (12) Estanislao Tria Tirona, 1872; (13) Carlos Aguinaldo, gobernadorcillo, and Manuel Basa, teniente primero, 1875-1877; (14) Mariano Ayson, gobernadorcillo, and Rufino Rieta, teniente primero,1877-1879; (15) Agripino Rieta gobernadorcillo, and Agaton Diaz, teniente primero, 1789-1881; (16) Licerio Lagda gobernadorcillo, and Mariano Ayson, teniente primero, 1881-1883; (17) Justo Dano gobernadorcillo, and Valentin Mascardo, teniente primero, 1885-1887; (18) Crispulo Aguinaldo gobernadorcillo, and Tiburcio Diaz, teniente primero, 1888-1890, and 1890-1892; (20) Eusebio de Castro, 1892-1894; and (21) Crispulo Aguinaldo, 1894;

CAPITANES MUNICIPAL: (1) Emilio Aguinaldo, 1895-1896; and (2) Candido Tria Tirona,1896 (under the Revolutionary Government).

The designation gobernadorcillo was changed to capitan municipal under the Maura Law of May, 1893 which was implemented in the Philippines starting the year 1895. Thus Crispulo Aguinaldo was the last gobernadorcillo, and his younger brother, Emilio, was the first capitan municipal of Cavite el Viejo.

In the souvenir magazine "The 3rd Glorious Centerary of Kawit, Cavite, 1624-1964," the following were also mentioned as having been former capitanes municipal of Cavite el Viejo: Angel Janigorge, Julian Legaspi, and Benigno Santi. It is possible that they had been appointed capitan municipal in an acting capacity after the death of Candido Tria Tirona on November 10, 1896 until Aguinaldo’s return from Hong Kong and the proclamation of the Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.

A Spanish document in the National Archives also contains the following list of "Cabezas de Barangay of Cavite el Viejo, 1778-1779":

A. First Class (Native): (1) Juan Manuel; (2) Miguel de Sta. Rita; (3) Julian de los Reyes; (4) Tomas Perez; (5) Francisco Ronquillo; (6) Manuel de Jesus; (7) Alejandro Rodriguez; (8) Domingo Alonzo; (9) Joseph Lorenzo; (10) Juan Pablo Malysay; (11) Pedro Arquiza.

B. Second Class (Mestizo): (1) Antonio Quiamzon; (2) Lorenzo Patricio; (3) Fransisco Medina; and (4) Luis Bautista.

***

MUNICIPAL PRESIDENTS (American Regime): (1) Justo Kalagayan; (2) Canuto Encarnacion; (3) Manuel Victa; (4) Aurelio Santonil; (5) Gabino Toledo; (6) Mateo Red; (7) Potenciano Resurreccion (father of incumbent Mayor Ramon B. Resurreccion); (8) Fransisco Ramos; (9) Marcelino Vales; (10) Segundo Caimol; and (11) Agapito Quiamzon.

MUNICIPAL MAYORS (under the Commonwealth and Third and Fourth Republics): (1) Epifanio Victa; (2) German Bay; (3) Florentino A. Bautista, Jr., and (4) Ramon B. Resurreccion, 1979

Source: Saulo & de Ocampo. History of Cavite

HISTORY OF DASMARIÑAS

Like the town of Amadeo, the municipality of Dasmariñas has an ambivalent history. Originally it was part of Imus until the year 1868, when it was converted into an independent municipality and named Perez-Dasmariñas. Then after nearly 37 years of independent existence Dasmariñas was reverted of Imus, remaining a barrio of the latter until it regained its independence after 12 years in 1917.

Historically, Dasmariñas had played an important role as gateway to the Magdalo revolutionary capital of Imus. It was in the strategic Pasong Santol, in barrio Salitran Dasmariñas, where General Emilio Aguinaldo and later his elder brother General Crispulo Agunaldo fought off Spanish General Jose Lachamber’s troops in seesaw battle from March 7 to 24, 1897, when the Spaniards captured it "over the dead body" of the elder Aguinaldo. With the capture of this Dasmariñas salient, the fall of Imus to the Spaniards was a foregone conclusion.

The first settlers to arrive in this former barrio of Imus in 1862 included the families of Gil Tirona, Vicente Guevarra, Eleuterio Ceda and Eustaquio Palume. The influx of settlers must have been so heavy that in few years they petitioned higher authorities for the conversion of the barrio into a separate municipality. When the new town called Perez-Dasmariñas was inaugurated in 1868 it had already its own Catholic parish established the year before by Augustinian Recollect fathers.

The history of Dasmariñas is inextricably linked with the life of one of its outstanding sons, Placido Campos. Kapitang Idong, as he was popularly called, was the son of Valeriano Campos (Kapitan Vale), of Talaba, Bacoor, and Julia Nave, a native of Bayang Luma, Imus. He was the fifth in a family of nine children. Campos was the capitan municipal of Perez-Dasmariñas when the Revolution broke out in August 1896. With the help of his secretary, Francisco Barzage, Campos and his volunteers attacked the Catholics convent and the Spanish garrison, but the Spaniards were able to escape.

The revolutionist pursued the fleeing Spaniards, overtaking them n barrio Sampaloc. In the ensuing skirmish a Spanish sergeant and a priest were killed while the rest were captured.

About seven months later, specifically on February 25, 1897, the Spaniards came back with a vengeance. The massive counter-offensive launched by Spanish General Lachambre rolled back Kapitan Idong and his army of voluntarios. With the exemption of the Church all buildings fought valiantly but no avail. About half of the town’s population of 20,000 perished in battle.

During the Philippined-American War (1899-1901) Kapitan Idong again took up arms on the side of General Aguinaldo and his Revolutionary Government. It was a losing fight from the very beginning. The Americans, superior in men and material, defeated the ill-equipped Filipinos after two years of fighting. Kapitan Idong and his nephew, Guillermo Campos, were captured and imprisoned at the Provost Political Prison on Posting Street, Intramuros, Manila, where they were kept for six months. Kapitan Idong returned to his family in Dasmariñas after his release.

In October 1901 the Americans established the civil government. In the first election held in Perez Dasmariñas Placido Barzaga, was appointed treasurer. The census of 1903, however, showed a tremendous decrease in the population of the towns of Cavite after the revolution of Perez Dasmariñas, for instance, went down from 12,000 to 3,500. Consequently, in 1901 a law was passed reducing the existing 22 municipalities of Cavite to nine. The law took effect in 1905.

In 1917, the situation having long returned to normal, during the administration of Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, 1913-1921, Perez Dasmariñas was again made an independent municipality. The provincial governor of Cavite, Antero S. Soriano, convened the local leaders including Placido Campos, Francisco Barzaga, and Felipe Tirona, and agreed to delete the word ‘Perez" but retained "Dasmariñas" as the new name of the town. For the second time Placido Campos headed the re-christened town of Dasmariñas, this time in his capacity as the first municipal president under the American regime."

The complete name of barrio Burol is Pansol-Burol. Pansol is a Tagalog word meaning aqueduct, while Burol, also a native word, means mound. Burol is one of the oldest barrios of Dasmirañas as evidenced by the ruins of old sugar mills and stone buildings that may still be found in some parts of the barrio. Another barrio is Langkaan. Its name was derived from Langka, meaning jackfruit. Hence Langkaan means a place abounding in jackfruits. This barrio has many sitios.

The barrio Paliparan was a grassy land with no trees growing on its wide area, providing an excellent place for flying kites during summer. In fact, this was what the place used to be – a paliparan – meaning an airfield for flying kites. During the Spanish regime the Spaniards used to go to this place during weekends to fly kites of different designs and colors. On the other hand, the next barrio, Sabang, got its name from the diversion of the booklet separating it from barrio Malagasang, Imus. The flow of the stream was diverted to irrigate rice fields in the area, and this branching out of the booklet or intersection is called sabang in Tagalog. The barrio was established in 1916.

In the southeastern part of Dasmariñas is barrio Salawag, a Tagalog word meaning studs, to which nipa or cogon is attached for roofing. This place abounds in bamboo’s, which are split into studs for roofing. Another barrio of Dasmariñas called Salitran became famous in history because it was in a strategic pass in this place called Pasong Santol where Filipinos and Spaniards fought what may be considered the bloodiest battle during the Revolution. It was here where Filipino volunteers under General Crispulo Aguinaldo held Lachambre’s forces at bay until the defenders were wiped out almost t the last man. Crispulo Aguinaldo himself was the No. 1 casualty.



TOWN HEADS OF DASMARIÑAS

Except for lack of dates of the terms of the gobernadorcillos (also popularly referred to as captain) during the Spanish regime, the list of town heads of Dasmariñas is complete from its founding to the present. This speaks well of the sense of history of the municipal officials of Dasmariñas. The list follows in full:

GOBERNADORCILLOS FROM 1895: (1) Juan Ramirez (date of incumbency unknown); (2) Adriano Llano, (3) Eduardo Bautista, (4) Anastacio Paulme, (5) Valeriano Campos, (6) Eugenio Ambalada, (7) Ligario Malihan, (8) Leon Mangubat, (9) Lino Alcantara, (10) Fausto Bautista, and (11) Gregorio Bautista.

CAPITAN MUNICIPAL : Placido Campos, 1895-1896

MUNICIPAL PRESIDENT : Francisco Barzaga, 1900 (under the Military Government).

MUNICIPAL MAYORS : (1) Teodorico Sarosario, 1935-1940; (2) Felicisimo Carungcong, 1941-1945; (3) Maximo de la Torre, 1946 (appointed); (4) Gaudencio Geda, 1946, ditto; (5) Fermin de la Cruz, 1947, ditto; (6) Arturo Carungcong, 1948-1950; (7) Emiliano dela Cruz, 1951-1955; (8) Tomas Hembrador, 1956-1963; (9) Remigio Carungcong, 1964-1971; (10) Narciso M. Guevarra, 1972 to his death on December 17, 1982; (11) Recto M. Cantimbuhan, December 1982 (12) Elpidio Barsaga 1986 (13) Recto Cantimbuhan 1988 – 1995 (14) Elpidio Barzaga (1995 – present).

source: Saulo & de Ocampo: Cavite History

HISTORY OF CARMONA

Originally, a barrio called Latag (a Tagalog word meaning plain), Carmona was just a part of the big town of Silang. This is not surprising because in the early part of the Spanish regime Silang included what today are known as the municipalities of Indang ; San Francisco de Malabon ( now General Trias), and Maragundon. Moreover, Alfonso, Amadeo, and Mendez were mere sitios of Indang ; Sta. Cruz de Malabon(now Tanza) was a part of San Francisco de Malabon or Malabon Grande ; and Magallanes andTernate were barrios of Maragundon. Furthermore, Maragundon itself had been a part of the Corregimiento of Mariveles on the opposite side of Manila Bay.

Mainly because of the great distance to the mother town, the principales and incumbent cabeza de barangay of Latag petitioned for its seperation and conversion into a municipality on February 20 1857. The new town was called Carmona, after a town of the same name in the Spanish province of Siville.

Two years after securing the independence of Carmona, the principales requested the Governor of Cavite for the reversal of the Canon on communal lands after constructing their own public buildings and irrigation works. The petition of the principales was dated November 15,1759. But in 1872, the communal lands were sold at public auction, which was opposed two years later by Don Gaspar Espiritu in a communication to the Superior Civil Governor.

An event of great significant to the people of Carmona was the strong typhoon of October 25, 1874, which wrought considerable damage to the public works and private property. Seven years later, on July 6, 1881, the principales of Carmona requested the rectification of the town’s boundaries. .

Moreover, on January 22, 1864, the incumbent gobernadorcillo and principales of Carmona petitioned higher authorities for the abolition of the repartimiento of the communal lands triennially.

Source: Saulo & de Ocampo: Cavite History

KA MUTO OF INDANG

JOETHER A. FRANCISCO

Instructor - History
Cavite State University- DSAC

UNCORRECTED PROOF

INDANG THEN AND NOW

Topography

Yndang is an upland town located at the center of the upland region.

Early settlements in this region date back to the Old Stone Age. Many articles made by the townsfolk were discovered in the more ancient upland sites of Tagaytay and Indang consisting mainly of tools made of hard stone.

It was in 1655 when Indang was formally made a town separated from Mendez and Alfonso with the first Gobernadorcillo, Juan Dimabiling. A part of Silang for about 70 years, the municipality of Indang was organized in 1655 with a prominent native, Juan Dimabiling, as the first gobernadorcillo. The distance between the barrio of Indang and the poblacion of Silang caused the residents of the former great difficulty in transacting officials business and attending religious services. This led the people of Indang to petition higher authorities for the conversion of the barrio into a separate municipality. The petition was granted, and Indang became full-fledged town in 1655(Saulo & De Ocampo, 1985).

The Municipal Hall of Indang, Cavite

How Indang Got its Name

The name “ Indang” was derived from indang or inrang, a tree which abounded in that locality in the early days. ‘Inrang’, according to Medina ( 1996), as cited by Anciano (2007) was derived from a plant, ‘hernandia ovigera’ and Merill (1906) ‘artocarpus ovatus’ and ‘ artocarpus cuminiaga’, or widely known in other provinces as “ anobing” . Indang’s revolutionary name of Walang Tinag (Immovable) was part of the revolutionists’ objective to wipe out all vestiges of the country’s colonial past. The town of Indang played a crucial role in the Philippine Revolution. It was in barrio Limbon, Indang, where Andres Bonifacio, defeated in the Tejeros Convention, arrested and prevented from pursuing his counter-revolutionary plan to set up a separate government and army. He and his follower were brought back to Naik, tried by a military court, finally convicted of sedition and treason against the Revolutionary Government headed by General Emilio Aguinaldo.

Although a poor municipality in terms of annual income, Indang compares favorably with many towns in the Philippines in the number of outstanding revolutionary figures.

Distinguished Sons of Indang

1. Severino de las Alas, member of Aguinaldo’s revolutionary cabinet
2. Raymundo Jeciel, who was with Aguinaldo during his retreat to Northern Luzon and former governor of Cavite
3. General Ambrosio Mojica, politico-military governor of the First Philippine Republic in Samar and Leyte
4. Hugo Ilagan
   
5. and Jose Coronel, both delegates to the Revolutionary Congress in Tarlac, Tarlac.
   

Socio-Economic Features

In the 1880s, Indang was the center of trade in upland Cavite since other three towns like Amadeo, Bailen and Mendez as well as one lowland town ( Dasmarinas) did not have markets. During this time, tiangues were held every Monday in Silang, Thursday in Naic, Saturday in Indang, and Sunday in Maragondon. Fish vendors from the coastal towns sold their sea products and other wares on Saturdays in Indang (Medina, 1994). Indang was also known for coffee, black pepper, abaca, Sinamay Indang, cacao, kapok, kalamay Indang and sukang irok. Sinamay Indang was woven and served as a well-known commercial product for Manila markets during the 19th century.


Old folks produce and sell kalamay Indang
at the town plaza as their source of income.


Religion

Indang has churches and chapels run by three religious denominations: the Catholic St. Gregory Church, the Protestant Church, and the Iglesia ni Cristo. Moreover, it was learned from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines that it maintains the Indang Evangelical Church and the Kayquit Evangelical Church.

St. Gregory Parish Church fronting the Town Plaza.

Yoshiaki Muto As A Resident Of Indang, Cavite

Yoshiaki Muto was born on November 23, 1891 in Fukushima-ken, Japan. He first landed on Philippine soil accidentally when he and his brother (name unknown) got stranded in Manila aboard a ship sailing for the United States. His original plan was to go to the States to study, but instead of heading to America, the money he had for his studies was used in the purchase of goods for a small business.

Yoshiaki Muto of Indang, Cavite

When he decided to stay long in the Philippines, he put up a bazaar in Libertad, Pasay City where he met his first wife (name unknown) who died in giving birth to his first daughter named Bonifacia Muto. After sometime, he met Felicidad de Borja Obo, a native of Barrio Cuyab, San Pedro, Laguna, whom he had seven children. Figure 5 shows the photo of Felicidad Obo Muto.

Felicidad Obo-Muto

Ka Muto got married with Felicidad on May 25, 1925 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. His children were Col. Juanito de Borja, Fidela de Borja, Avelina Muto, Roberto Muto, Victor Muto, Rosita Muto, and Ligaya Muto. De Borja was taken from the surname of Felicidad’s mother. Figure 6 shows the children of Ka Muto during the wake of Bonifacia, his first daughter.

The Muto Children - Standing from left to right:

Col. Juanito de Borja, Victor Muto, and Roberto Muto. Seated
are Rosita Muto, Ligaya Muto, Avelina Muto and Fidela de Borja.

While their business was starting to grow, they decided to put up another business in Binan, Laguna where they had a photo studio called “ Japanese Studio”. After Binan, they moved to Alaminos, Laguna. Then by the late 30s, they transferred again to Indang, Cavite where his first two children were born- Victor and Rosita. They put up various business establishments like the “Japanese Studio”, a bazaar, and a small restaurant. They rented the house of Juana Diokno, the daughter-in-law of Don Severino de las Alas along Mabini Street corner San Miguel Street in Indang, Cavite before the invasion of the Japanese Imperial Army.

The former residence and business location of the Muto family

Yoshiaki Muto as a Family Man

As a father and a family man, Ka Muto was a good provider to his family. He was a disciplinarian and hardworking. He was a loving husband and father to his children. He was kind and generous to his neighbors.

Yoshiaki Muto as a Photographer and a Businessman

Ka Muto became famous in Indang as a photographer because his styles, techniques and chemicals used in photography are advanced during his time. His cliché whenever he takes pictures of his customers goes like this: “ Tingin sa barabas ( Look at my mustache). According to the respondents, he was such a hardworking person who would travel round Cavite on foot with his tripod and camera. Due to the fact that he had his own photo studio, he had been allegedly successful in mapping out the province of Cavite that led to a faster mobility of the Japanese Imperial Army because they are already familiar of the place with the help of Ka Muto. That he was a colonel in the Japanese Army was a common knowledge among the folks of Indang. In 1939, Ka Muto was captured by the officials of Indang for questioning of his being a Japanese, but was later released. Upon his release, he headed back to San Pedro, Laguna where he left his children. He and his wife decided to settle down in Tondo, Manila.


Yoshiaki Muto as a Clergyman

Ka Muto was baptized and became an active member of the Iglesia ni Cristo in September 1937. He initiated the purchase of a house and lot which served as the first chapel of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Indang, Cavite. The money he used to buy the house and lot came from the savings of Felicidad, his wife, with the amount of two hundred pesos. His life story was once issued in the 1958 Pasugo Magazine, showing his contributions to the Iglesia ni Cristo. He was once a deacon of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

His being a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo was a great help to all his churchmates during the Japanese occupation. As quoted by Meimban (1995) :

“The war was not without its pleasant times for the church, however. The problem of mobility of the ministers was resolved, partly, with the help of a pre-war converted Japanese national, Brother Yoshiaki Muto, Of Fukushima-ken, Japan. It is not easy to measure in words the critical role Played by Brother Muto. But the assistance he extended to the church, through his influence upon his countrymen can easily be described. He was responsible for the ministers’ passes that enabled them to pass through the Japanese sentries without being frisked or questioned by the guards. The passes, in Muto’s own calligraphy, bore the following words:“ Watashi-wa shenshi Kiokay no Cristo.” ( I am a teacher of the Church of Christ.)


Yoshiaki Muto as a Civilian Officer of the Japanese Imperial Army

Ka Muto served as an interpreter for General Masaharo Homma, as a judge in the Mesiec in Tondo, Manila wherein he was able to save many Filipinos’ lives from the atrocities brought about by his fellow Japanese. He was the person in the movie, “Camerino”, who released the Filipino prisoners of the Japanese Imperial Army in Cavite. He was the Japanese adviser to the Governor of Cavite during the time of Dominador Camerino.

In 1945, at the age of 54, Yoshiaki Muto went back to Japan. According to Victor Muto (2007) twelve years later, Ka Muto came back to the Philippines not because of his family but to be with the Iglesia ni Cristo. He even reiterated that he was not able to serve the church for twelve years.

Ka Muto at the age of 66

Ka Muto came back to the Philippines in 1957, but died five years later at the age of 71. He was given the honor to have his wake in the Iglesia ni Cristo chapel, a rare honor given to a church member.

Conclusions:

1. The history of Indang, specifically during the Japanese occupation, has yet to be studied further, for now, it has limited well-documented historical facts.
2. A need to conduct further studies on Yoshiaki Muto’s coming to Indang, Cavite is felt to answer the question: “ Did Muto come here by accident, by choice, or by order of the Japanese Imperial Army?”
3. A further study is needed in response to the urgent call for the unsung stories of Indang, Cavite during the Japanese Period.
   
4. Many leading characters who played important roles during the Japanese occupation are continuously making their exit from life, hence, a study should be conducted the soonest time.
   
5. There are many fallacies about Ka Muto in Indang, Cavite . He was always mistaken to be the Colonel, but it was his eldest son, Col. Juanito de Borja who was once an officer of the Philippine Constabulary.
   

Additional Photo:

The researcher and Mr. Victor Muto during the interview

References:

De Ocampo, Esteban A. and Alfredo Saulo. ( 1985). History of Cavite: The Mother Ground of the Philippine Revolution, Independence, Flag, and National Anthem. Trece Martirez City: Provincial Government of Cavite.

Medina, Isagani R. ( 1994). Cavite Before the Revolution ( 1571- 1896). UP Diliman: CSSP Publications.

Obar, Meimban A. ( 1995). The Iglesia ni Cristo: The History of the Church Founded by Christ. Quezon City: Iglesia ni Cristo ( unpublished material)

Panganiban, Natalia d. and Silverio Baltasar. ( 1999). Indang and her Revolutionary Heroes. Quezon City: Indang Municipal Historical Committee.

Muto, Victor. “ The Life of Ka Muto”, (October 2007).

Guevarra, Camilo Jr. “ The People of Indang and Ka Muto”. ( July 2007).

Erni, Pablo V. “ Japanese Occupation” ( August 2007).

Papa, Antonio G. “ Ka Muto as an Iglesia ni Cristo”. ( July 2007).

Taal, Luisa M. “ Life in Kayquit during the Japanese Occupation. ( August 2007).

Romen, Ceferino. “ Life in Kaytambog”. ( August 2007)

THE TRAVEL OF JOHN FOREMAN IN CAVITE BEFORE THE REVOLUTION OF 1896

John Foreman
The Philippine Islands
Second Edition 1899 P. 451-458

Paliwanag ng Nagsasaliksik

Si John Foreman ay isang Ingles na Fellow ng prestihiyosong Royal Geographic Society ng Inglatera. Nanirahan ng maraming taon sa Pilipinas at inobserbahan ang politika at kultura sa panahon ng pananakop ng Espanya sa ating bansa. Ang kaniyang pag-aaral sa lipunang Filipino sa panahon ng kaniyang pag-aaral ay nagbunga sa pagkakalimbag ng aklat na The Philippine Islands na lumabas ng ilang ulit sa iba’t ibang edisyon.

Sinipi ng nagsasaliksik ang isang bahagi ng aklat ni John Foreman ukol sa kaniyang ginawang pagdalaw sa lalawigan ng Cavite, sa panahon bago maganap ang Himagsikang Pilipino ng 1896. Ang paglalakbay ay nagmula sa lalawigan ng Batangas, patungo sa Maragondon at paikot sa mga bayan ng lalawigan. Sa salaysay na ito ay mahahayag ang matandang sistema ng mga kalsada sa lalawigan at ang mga kaugalian sa mga bayan na kaniyang nadalaw sa lalawigan. Hindi matiyak ng nagsasaliksik ang taon, subalit mababakas na ang paglalakbay ay ginawa sa mga huling araw ng Enero at mga unang araw Pebrero (inabutan siya ng Piyesta sa Silang, Cavite).

Mahalaga ang salaysay na ito ni Foreman, upang mabalikan natin ng tanaw ang lalawigan mula sa mata ng isang dayuha na naging bisita ng ating mga ninuno.

BALAYAN.-MARAGONDON.

A local steamer left me at Balayan on her way to Manila. I went out to see a sugar factory belonging to a half-caste. The cane-mill was driven by water-power, and a vacuum pan was used to make crystal grain sugar. The owner, however, was not highly satisfied with the financial results. Balayan is a well-built town, with several good houses of stone, wood and iron roofs. Up to the end of last century it had been three times burnt by Mussulmans. Some splendid ponies are to be seen here, and they are cheaper than in Lipa. I rode several, and had a beautiful little animal lent me to go to Tuy. There I changed for a miserable nag, and went over some low ranges of mountains to Nasugbu. It was a very pretty ride. Nasugbu is a wretched place, but the half-caste parish priest and his sisters made me welcome. They were all clever musicians, and after my ride with the padre, we had a concert.

The greater part of the cultivated land around Nasugbu and for several miles to the south, belongs to a rich Manila native, Pedro Rojas, whose name figured very prominently years later in the rebellion of 1896.

It being the wet season, the mountain path leading north from Nasugbu was not passable, so I started in a canoe for Maragondon. Off Punta del Fuego a storm came on, and we were obliged to take refuge in a creek, protected by rocks, against which the surging billows lashed with fury, whilst it poured with rain. I was wet through. Fortunately we found a fisherman's hut, where I changed my clothes, and in a couple of hours we put to sea again. It was still rough; my legs were bathed with sea-water. The monsoon was on the eve of changing, and a N.E. breeze was opposing us, so it was midnight before we reached the mouth of the Maragondon river. I had a letter to a half-caste resident, and there I settled for the night. The next day I rode out to visit a sugar estate. It was a venturesome journey; our ponies were up to their knees in mud, but the ride was pretty. Gorgeous clusters of bamboo were gracefully reclining over us on one side, forming a bower, and there was a precipice down to the river on the other slope. We were going uphill, to the mountain, when my pony lost his footing on the slippery rise; he slid back, and landed me in a pool of mud, out of which I scrambled, leaving him to manage for himself.

We rode over the estate, and returned by another route, which led us to the ravine where the mill-stream flowed. The water, bounding over the rocks in the gorge, was the only sound we heard besides the screeching of the birds on the tall trees. It was a lovely retreat; I should have liked to have lunched there, but we had nothing with us, as we (the young planter and I) were invited to the convent for 12 o'clock. We sent a man back by the ridge leading our ponies, whilst we stepped over to the other side through the water and followed the bank until we came to the unobstructed river. There we had a bamboo raft made for us, and on it we floated down stream, towards the town, continuing the short distance thence on foot.

We lunched with the native priest, who, that afternoon, had to go up to the mountain to confer his blessing on an European cattle-power mill newly erected. I accepted his invitation to accompany him. We rode out about 4 o'clock on very quiet strong ponies, with a servant in front of us to remove any obstacles. At 5 o'clock we were there, when a rough-looking native quietly approached the father, kissed his hand, and begged permission to come down with his companions. They were a brigand party-it was the best policy to say " Yes," so in a quarter of an hour six ruffians kept us company. They said they had seen us turn off the high road into the mountain path, and could have sent a bullet into us very easily, but they superstitiously respected the sacerdotal habit; they were hungry too, and wished to eat, so we supplied them with rice, fish, betel-nut, etc.

After the meal they showed us their weapons at our request. One man armed with an ancient pistol said he had the anting-anting,-that is to say, he was proof against harm. The priest said he was the same, and as he talked, he quietly loaded the pistol, putting the bullet first and the powder afterwards. The man did not perceive the trick. Then the priest stuck up a white handkerchief on a bough, and bid the brigand hit it. The bandit smiled disdainfully and fired-the smoke puffed out, and the bullet fell at his feet as he lowered the weapon.

"Ah!" cried the priest, "you're helpless with him who has the anting-anting," and the brigand turned away from the holy man, dumbfounded.

SANTA CRUZ DE MALABON.-NOVEL RICE-MILL

After passing the next day in and around Maragondon, I went on to Naig. The road is pretty in the wet season on account of the fine lawn-like fields of green rice on either side. Around Naig most of the land belonged to the Dominican Corporation, whose estate-house was an imposing building, well constructed, with a large high-walled enclosure in front, occupying all one side of the public square. The river runs to the north of the town, and is crossed by a massive singlearched bridge. It is never very safe travelling about here, and all the rest of the journey up to Cavite is dangerous, owing to the bands of outlaws constantly infesting this locality. The road from Naig to Santa Cruz de Malabon (Tanza it is called by the natives) was simply a mud trail, and my guide advised me to turn of on to the sea-shore. It was very heavy work for our ponies, who could not get a good footing. On our left was the sea, and in the far distance we could descry Corregidor Island and the peaks of the Mariveles Cordillera; to our right was mostly barren land overgrown with heather. There was nothing attractive in this run, and we stopped only once to quench our thirst with cocoa-nut milk. When one is within half-an-hour of Santa Cruz, some rocks jut out into the sea very awkwardly, obliging the rider to take a foot bath at high tide, but they are passed in five minutes.

Santa Cruz de Malabon is a neat little place. The square and the native shops are tidy, and there are a few fairly well-to-do natives living here. The chief produce is rice. The arable land, upon which the town depends, belonged to a religious corporation. There are several water-power rice-husking mills in the locality. I stayed at the house of an ex-petty-governor, who told me that a friend of his was excavating at the river-side, preparatory to the erection of a perpetual-motion rice-mill. His friend was anxious for me to see the model and have my opinion on it, so I went round to the shed where it was set up.

A water-wheel was to be placed with the shaft at land level. This wheel was to be put in motion by a stream of water flowing from a reservoir. The motion of the water-wheel would be communicated to two wheels, one at each end of the same shaft. Over these wheels a series of buckets were to revolve. These buckets were to bring up water from the river, and empty themselves into a canal leading to the reservoir, to replace the water which had fed the driving-wheel. Hence, provided the river did not dry up, the machine was expected to go on perpetually and transmit its motive power to a rice-husking mill. I explained to him, as far as I knew, the mechanical defects in the contrivance, but he had money to spend, and preferred to find out the errors of his theories by experience.

The country around is a vast plain, lying low, and just suited for rice-growing. It is generally refreshing to the traveller to see fields of green rice, but here its cultivation is so extensive that it becomes monotonous.

INDAN

My host's son procured ponies for me, and accompanied me to Indan. We passed the civil guard outpost of Quintana. (kasaluyang lugar ng Kapitolyo ng Cavite-anciano) There was a great sameness in the immense rice fields all around, until two miles journey further on when we entered a horsepath leading through a coffee plantation to the high road near Indan. We were in the heart of the Cavite coffee district. There was nothing to see in Indan town. The headmen in the Town Hall were discussing coffee prices, and thought I had come to buy that product, or offer advances against the coming crop.

SILAN. - THE MORO MORO" DANCE

We rode on to Silan. On leaving Indan, and about one-third of the way to Silan, there were so many rises and falls in the road that I suppose no one ever attempted the journey in a vehicle, but the route is very good for riding. The last two-thirds of the road are better still, and we went at a fast trot all the way to Silan. There was nothing but coffee plantations, or waste land, or fields out of tilth to be seen on the way. Two miles of the road this side of Silan were splendid. I was in the heart of that region which, in 1896, became the centre of the Tagilog rebellion.

Silan stands high up, and it was cold and damp. For the first time, in this Colony, I really felt chilly. There was some excitement about coffee prices. There had been a market rise in Manila, and several brokers had come to adjust bargains for the next deliveries. I was mistaken for one of these persons. Silan is a large town, with a few fairly good houses, a large church and convent, a very hospitable priest, and a civil guard station. The townspeople happened to be celebrating their annual fete. Here and there were groups of fighting-cock owners and sportsmen. On one side of the church there was a big fair. At night the principal streets were illuminated by every householder hanging out paper lanterns of varied colours. The windows were wide open-the neighbours were paying mutual visits —wayfarers from afar were welcome everywhere. In each dwelling a table was spread with confectionery, sweetmeats, drinks and buyo. I had alighted at the Town Hall, but was at once kindly invited by a headman to his house. As I passed along with my host we were repeatedly called upon by the townfolks to "honour their houses." Sometimes we thanked the inviter and passed on, but at three or four places we entered and accepted sweets, cigars, and betel-nut as a matter of compliment. Nowhere had I witnessed such a display of disinterested hospitality. In the square a temporary theatre had been erected, before which a good-humoured mob stood gazing with delight at the " Moro Moro" performance. All was gaiety-prince after prince was being slain-the piratical tyrant was eating the dust-the Christian cavaliers were winning their laurels.[1]

CARMONA-VINAN

The next day we rode on from Silan with the same ponies through Carmona to Vinan-an uneventful journey by beaten paths through fields, only enlivened by a magnificent bird's-eye view of the Laguna de Bay when we were near to Carmona. From Carmona, sugar estates begin again, and from the high road we turned off several times to see the cane-crushing at the several steam and cattle-power mills. We were glad to arrive at Virian on the lake shore to rest our ponies. We were now in a comparatively rich town, inhabited by a great many Chinese half-castes. There is quite a number of good stone and wooden houses, some with tiles and others with iron roofs. The river runs through the centre of the town, and near its left bank stands the old church which was ruined by the earthquake of 1880 The lands around were the property of a religious corporation, the planters being tenants who complained bitterly of the treatment they received from the landlords' agent. There are several steam cane-mills in the neighbourhood, and clayed sugar is the chief article of trade.

We returned to Carmona and I went to the civil guard station to ask for an armed escort over the mountains to Perez Dasmariinas. The officer at once furnished me with a couple of native guards to protect me on the journey. We started in the cool of the afternoon, through the mountain paths, up hill and down dale all the way. The dells were very muddy, but we got through without mishap. It was a very agreeable ride, sometimes between tall trees in the thick of the forest, then along a path leading through a grove of guava bushes about ten feet high.

DASMARIÑAS

Night came on, but there was moonlight sufficient for us to see the way. It was deliciously cool, and the cayinin[2] fires in the mountain made the scene poetic. In about three hours we came to an outpost of the civil guard. Here we changed escort, and took the opportunity of having our supper. The native guard in charge was kind enough to give my Santa Cruz companion and my servant Nicomedis some rice, and whilst the last two potatoes of my provisions were being boiled, we turned out a can of beef. There was no hurry; the ponies would have to rest somewhere, and they might as well do so here, so we took out their bits and slacked their saddle-girths whilst we supped. It was not a sumptuous meal, and I fear an epicurean would be quite melancholy in these parts. In half-an-hour after leaving this place, we were on the high road from Silan to Perez Dasmarifnas, and then a long dreary hour's ride brought us to the latter town. It was quite dark, and we were all tired. The guards who escorted us went to their quarters, and at 11 o'clock we turned in at the Town Hall, where everybody was asleep, but the Aguacil stirred about after a while and brought me a large mat and pillows to sleep on the floor. In the early morn there was a great commotion. I was awakened by loud voices and stamping of feet over the loose floor planks. The night before, a party of brigands had committed some atrocity close by, and the cuadrillero guards were being called out to assist the civil guard in giving them chase. They were buckling on their bohie-knives and clicking the hammers of their archaic muskets. Hearing the tramp of ponies' hoofs below, I went down in my sleeping suit to see that our mounts were not appropriated amidst the bustle.

Perez Dasmarinas is a large quiet town, with a good church and convent, and here and there a house in the square with the usual group of huts. Being up so early we started betimes for Imus, famous as a brigand centre. The road was pretty, with large trees along on both sides, amongst them being hundreds of mango trees, which bring a regular income to the owners. The only novelty which we encountered on the road was a bamboo and nipa bungalow moving towards us, with some hundred naked legs dangling beneath it. It was going to take up new quarters close by its old resting-place, and was being removed by bayanin (labour given gratis to a neighbour).

IMUS-CAVITE VIEJO (KAWIT)-NOVELETA-SANTA CRUZ-CAVITE

From Imus we went on to Cavite Viejo, a dirty fishing town, strewn with nets, canoes, sails, bamboos, etc., on the seaside. There were a few rows of rough-and-tumble shops, and in the middle of this uninteresting group is the large church and convent. The only amusement here was to listen to the townsfolk disputing amongst themselves in broken-Spanish, a mongrel jargon invented by the Cavite coast natives-a philological treat.

Passing through Novaleta and Rosario we were again in Santa Cruz de Malabon. The ponies were very fatigued, but when they recognized their home they required no urging to arrive at a hard trot at the finish of the sixty-mile journey.

From Santa Cruz I took a carromata to Cavite, where the Arsenal is established. Cavite is a fortified town, with streets of houses built of brick, stone, &c., as in Manila.[3] It has its theatre, cafes, hotels, jetty, sea-wall, etc., but is not considered healthy. Being then the chief Government Naval Station, there was a large European floating population. Here, and especially in San Roque, fifteen minutes' drive from Cavite, a very amusing broken-Spanish is spoken by the natives. There was a bi-daily steamboat service between the capital and Cavite, the run being about 61 miles, so I embarked on the morning boat at 7.30, and in one hour was again in Manila-the so-called " Pearl of the Orient," or the " Venice of the Far East."

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[1] The burthen of a native play in the provinces is almost invariably founded on the contests between the Mussulmans of the South, and the Christian natives under Spanish dominion. The Spaniards, in attaching the denomination of JVo'ros to the Moslems of Sulu, associated them in name with the Mussulman Moors who held sway over a large part of Hispania for over seven centuries (711-1192). A " Moro Mforo " performance is usually a drama-occasionally a melo-drama-in which the native actors, clad in all the glittering finery of Moslem nobility and Christian chivalry, assemble in battle array before the Moslem princesses, to settle their disputes under the combined inspirations of love and religious persuasion. The princesses, one after the other, pining under the dictates of the heart in defiance of their creed, leave their fate to be sealed by the outcome of deadly combat between the contending factions. Armed to the teeth, the cavaliers of the respective parties march to and fro, haranguing each other in monotonous tones. After a longwinded, wearisome challenge, they brandish their weapons and meet in a series of single combats which merge in a general melee as the princes are vanquished and the hand of the disputed enchantress is won. The dialogue is in the idiom of the district where the performance is given, and the whole play (lasting from four to six nights) is brief compared with Chinese melo-drama, which often extends to a month of nights. Judged from the standard of European histrionism, the plot is weak from the sameness and repetition of the theme. The declamation is unnatural, and void of vigour and emphasis. The same tone is maintained from beginning to end, whether it be in expression of expostulatory defiance, love, joy, or despair. But the masses are intensely amused, thus the full object is achieved. They seem to never tire of gazing at the situations created, and applauding vociferously the feigned defeat of their traditional arch-foes.

[2] Cayinin (Tagaog dialect), a land clearance made by firing the undergrowth

[3] Up to the beginning of the 17th century, the houses in Cavite were built of wood with nipa palm roofing. At that period a great fire occurred which consumed three-fourths of the buildings, including the Royal Granaries and much cargo which was awaiting shipment to Mexico. The town and Arsenal were afterwards re-constructed with more solid materials-stone, bricks, etc., and tile roofs being used.

EDREPORT - DIVISION OF CAVITE 1903

Mr. Hammon H,. Buck

Mr. H. H. Buck, division superintendent of Cavite, makes the following report upon the school work in his province for the period therein covered: The last year has been one of calamities for Cavite Province.

After the scourge of cholera came those of drought and grasshoppers. The ignorant, fatalistic barrio people seemed, in some districts, to abandon themselves to what they considered the will of God, and refused to take measures for their own salvation. The councilmen of one town argued that it was a mistake to kill the grasshoppers which were destroving their crops, alleging that for every one killed 10 more came into existence. This should not be taken as a reflection on the intelligence of the people of Cavite Province, as in the same town where it occurred there was no lack of men who tried to convince the council of their mistake, but when a poor countryman would see miles of grasshoppers in procession, the leaders filling, in a few hours, the pitfalls made to destroy them, and the remainder trooping over the bodies to attack the hopes of the year's work, it was difficult for him to believe that there was not something supernatural in such a calamity.

Ladronism, always a factor in Cavite Province, has been greatly augmented by the misery of the people. The constabulary has not proven itself capable of coping with the problem. Speaking generally, the officers that compose the force are not men that can win,.by their personal qualities, the respect of the people. I remark this because it was the policy of the army to accomplish, by tact and diplomacy, what force could not do. The Filipino is essentially an emotional being, and his likes and dislikes influence him more than his reason. The deduction is clear. Men are needed in the force who will, by tact and good management, win the affection of the people, and thus be able to wield a personal influence on the side of the government.

Furthermore, the constabulary officer is very often not in accord with the policy of the government, and frets under the restrictions imposed by law. Complaints of abuses are too often taken as a sign of disaffection on the part of the one who complains, instead of an honest effort to remedy an evil. The result of this is men who in military times rendered great aid to the government are now generally discredited by the constabulary and are, for their part, thoroughly disgusted with the turn affairs have taken.

On the other hand, the best friend of the Filipino must admit that the people of Cavite Province have not in general that respect for the rights of others that makes free government a possibility. The public conscience has not developed sufficiently to make a just administration of affairs possible without rigid inspection. Moreover, the uncertainty regarding the disposition of the friar lands has a tendency to prolong the disorder and prevent the extinction of the bands and their most noted leaders. A state of threatened disorder will effectually prevent either the return of the friars or investment by land companies-contingencies very distasteful to the average Cavitenflo. However, after all is said, there remains a great number of intelligent, patriotic Filipinos in Cavite Province ready to place themselves on the side of law and order. It is necessary only that the government institute a strong, just, and understanding policy by which these men may be encouraged and protected, and the affairs of Cavite Province will bear a different aspect.

FINANCES.

The school funds for the year 1903, as estimated from the revised land assessment, are $13,297.55, against $9,040.83 for the year of 1902. This increase is the result of the raising of the land valuation by the provincial board of tax revision, established under Act 582 of the Civil Commission. A fairly intimate knowledge, however, of the conditions existing in the province leads me to fear that the collection will fall far short of this estimate. It seems particularly unfortunate that there should be any increase in the taxes at this time, when the people are relatively far less able to pay them than last year. Moreover, from the very nature of the duties of this board, injustices are inevitable when any such general increase is brought about; and there seems to be no means provided whereby these mistakes may be rectified. Clearly, if the purpose of the tax revision was to equalize the burden, it has signally failed in its end; while if to increase the revenue, indications are that this year, at least, the result will fall much short of the expectations.

In the supervision of expenditures of school funds there has been a certain degree of looseness on the part of the division superintendent, which it has been found necessary to correct. Not that illegal expenditures have been allowed, but the superintendent has in his office no data by which he can tell the amount of money on hand at any stated period. To remedy this circulars have been sent to the various presidentes asking for a current account of expenses at the end of each month.

The relation between the different municipalities and the division superintendent in regard to the expenditures have been of the most pleasant sort. As a rule, before increasing the monthly expenses, even in the case of the salary of a teacher, the council is communicated with and given an opportunity to advance any objection which they may have. By these means the division superintendent has been able to get the benefit of their more local knowledge and generally to act with their support and approval. An effort is being made in some towns of the province to save sufficient funds to construct schoolhouses, but with the constant demand for schools in the barrios and for increases of salary on the part of the Filipino teachers, it is difficult to tell how much the present should be sacrificed to the future.

AMERICAN TEACHERS.

The number of American teachers in the province has decreased by reason of resignations and transfers from 28 to the present number of 21. Of these, two resigned-one on account of ill health which necessitated his return to the States, the other on account of marriage. The remaining five were lost through transfers.

Most of the teachers in the province seem to be satisfied with their work and their prospects; though the loss from resignations during the coming year will probably be larger than during the past twelve months, as many of the teachers will finish the term of their contract and return to the States to continue their studies or accept other positions.

There has been considerable difficulty at times in finding suitable stations for ladies, and the majority of the complaints have been on this score. Under the existing conditions, it is certainly not advisable to increase the number of female teachers. The relation between the American teachers and the patrons of the schools has invariably been pleasant. The presidente of Indang, who has always shown himself to be a good friend of the government, remarked, "The American teachers of Cavite Province are generally the most influential men in their towns."

I attribute the success of the teachers in this particular to the remarkable absence of race prejudice in all relations between them and the people. This removes the principal barriers to a perfect understanding, and the superiority of intelligence and education of the American teachers is made more apparent.

The duties of the American teachers are coming to be more and more those of a supervisor. In some places the Filipino teachers submit the work which they will do on the following day and suggestions are made by the American teacher touching the work and methods of presenting it. When the American teacher visits the barrio schools or the classes under the control of the Filipino teacher, he tries to ascertain if the work has been faithfully carried out. Where men have sufficient grasp to supervise successfully, great improvement is noted both in the Filipino teachers and in the results accomplished.

FILIPINO TEACHERS.

The decrease in the number of American teachers has been partly offset by an increase in the number of Filipino teachers and a great improvement in their ability and interest.

The past experience of the Filipino teacher furnishes no criterion by which he is able to properly conduct a school; all methods and ideas of teaching and even subject-matter taught are so completely changed that it is necessary to begin at the very bottom and instruct him in the rudiments of the profession. It easily follows that young teachers of unformed habits are, as a rule, the most successful. The only exceptions are some few men of unusual ability and perseverance.

It is the policy of the division superintendent to weed out as rapidly as possible the men who show that their usefulness is past and replace them with young and promising teachers. It is necessary in doing this to be careful not to get ahead of public opinion. When the people clearly understand that a certain teacher is a real detriment to the school, they easily transfer their allegiance to a new man of better ability.

The salaries of the Filipino teachers have been increased, generally in pace with their progress, though there are a few exceptions where, on account of lack of funds, it is not possible to properly reward good work. The proposed plan of appointing a number of Filipino teachers to be paid from the insular treasury will furnish the means to thus recognize especial merit.

NORMAL INSTITUTE

The normal institute of Cavite Province met in Cavite April 13 and closed May 15, making a session of five weeks.

In planning the work for this school the superintendent decided, inasmuch as it was a teachers' school, to admit none but teachers and aspirants. In very few instances was this rule violated. Believing that the main need of the Filipino teachers is a thorough education in the common branches, the greater part of the time was spent in the study of arithmetic, geography and English, and with the most advanced United States history. Method was taught by actual application, abstract principles being stated merely to clinch what had already been demonstrated.

The Filipino teachers were encouraged to organize, hold debates, and practice parliamentary rules, considerable enthusiasm being evinced in this direction. Socially, the time was enlivened by several entertainments and " bailes."

In the teachers' class during the present year the work taken up in the normal institute is continued by following a course of study more or less general throughout the province. In the normal of 1904 this work will be reviewed, examination given, and certificates awarded to those who pass creditably. Thus, by three or four years of conscientious application, a Filipino teacher may acquire a fair common school education and be able to take up other lines of study.

The advantages of this system are very apparent; definite direction is given to the work, and the teacher is made to understand that he belongs to an organization; means thus being furnished whereby the spirit of emulation may be aroused and made to serve a good purpose.

BARRIO SCHOOLS

When one considers that nearly all of the ladrones come from the rural districts, the work in the barrios seems of overshadowing importance. The poor, ignorant laborer or small farmer, unaccustomed to the formalities of law and ignorant of his rights and duties under the government, usually suffers abuses from the more powerful with a dumb, resentful silence, until, goaded beyond endurance, he commits some crime-the only means of redress which he knows-whereupon he is considered an outlaw and a fugitive from justice. For others the processes of law are a dim, terrible mystery, and, rather than be involved in its meshes in even a civil suit, with one of the " principales," they take to the hills, where there is at least a semblance of equality. Making a little education general, rather than highly educating a few, eems the more logical means of eradicating these conditions. However, giving the class of instruction received from the schools in Spanish times will do little toward uplifting the people and making theni familiar with our form of government; and before any great advancement can be made it is necessary to educate teachers to send into the barrios. Thus it is that the main effort has been spent in building up solid schools in the town before placing much emphasis.on the work in the rural districts.

There are at present 14 barrio schools in the province. In these I have included not only schools in barrios properly speaking, but those in the smaller towns where there is no American teacher stationed, but where the schools are under the supervision of a teacher of a neighboring town.

The amount of time spent in the barrio schools by the American teacher depends a great deal upon the number of schools under his charge and their distance from the "poblacion." In some, the American teacher gives instruction three times a week; others are inspected once a month or even less often.

The quality of instruction given by the Filipino barrio teachers depends upon his ability, his knowledge of English and method, and the success of the American teacher as a supervisor. It ranges from that of an old-fashioned Spanish teacher to that of an up-to-date class room. When practical the barrio teachers hold school four hours in the morning and attend teachers' class in the afternoon. The people in the barrios are, generally speaking, more anxious for instruction than those in the towns. In some communities they have, with their own effort, erected buildings; in others suitable houses are furnished by the barrios at no cost to the municipality. Where such a strong desire for education is evinced, improvements in the " poblacion " school are being postponed and the money spent in the barrios.

During the present year the growth will be mainly along the line of barrio schools; teachers of fair ability are available, and with a land tax merely equaling that of last year considerable enlargement will be possible.

HIGH SCHOOLS

The Cavite high school was opened June 19, 1902, with Mr. S. K. Mitchell as principal and Mr. Richard Leonard as assistant teacher. The need for a high school was not at that time particularly urgent, but it was thought a politic measure to commence the work and show what the primary schools were leading to, and thus cut off the stream of students from the Spanish colleges in Manila. In this we have been very successful.

The school commenced with an enrollment of about 25. This increased slowly till it reached a maximum of 80 in November with a daily attendance of 70. For the month of March the enrollment was 72 and the percentage of attemdance 92.5. The bulk of the pupils came from the neighboring towns, the more distant being scarcely represented. This seems to argue the necessity of establishing a secondary school in the southern part of the province.

Of the 72 enrolled last March 64 have returned, 2 have gone to the Liceo de Manila (one of them because he wished to take a commercial course), 2 bad to go to work, 1 is prevented by lack of means; the reason of the absence of the other 3 is unknown. This year the school opened under more advantageous circumstances. A commodious building in Cavite had been secured and more teachers added to the force. The enrollment at the end of the first month is 150, with a daily attendance of 140.

The towns of the southern part of the province continue without representation. A preparatory class for older pupils with little or no knowledge of English has been organized and proven popular. At present nearly 50 are enrolled. These are drawn mainly fromn the class that has not hitherto patronized American schools.

The spirit of the school is good. A debating society has been organized among the more advanced pupils and a baseball team is preparing to arrange games with other schools as soon as the weather permits. This year the enrollment of girls is over 30, against 9 of last year. Embroidery is taught and proves quite an attractive feature.

The teaching force of the high school now consists of 3 American teachers and 1 Filipino, with a music teacher extra. Another American teacher will soon be added and an industrial man is very much desired.

Cavite is an ideal place for an industrial school. The arsenal gives steady employment to hundreds of first-class mechanics; two dry docks are situated just outside of the town, and a large Government floating dock is expected to arrive during the year. It is believed that were an industrial teacher furnished by the department and the proper support given to the school a large number of pupils would be forthcoming.

METHODS, BOOKS, ETC.

Although even in the primary schools much time is spent on branches other than English, this, it must be conceded, is and will continue to be the one requiring the most serious thought and attention on the part of the teacher, and hence the most important. The other studies present no difficulties radically different from those encountered in the States, while the teaching of English to Filipino children is an art that has to be learned by each new teacher before he can reach even a low average of proficiency.

As a rule the teachers of this division have made great progress in method of teaching. The tendency to emphasize reading at the cost of conversation is gradually being eradicated, and with the advent of books adapted to the work greater improvement is to be expected. It is to be regretted, however, that all the effort hitherto spent in preparing special text-books has been in the line of reading books. No one, apparently, has thought of getting out an outline of lessons in conversation.

I notice that the best teachers in the province have discarded books to a certain extent and evolved for themselves a set of language lessons better fitted for the work than any text-book obtainable. From the fact that these systems are almost identical in their general plan we may deduce the possibility of there being an ideal order in which words and grammatical forms niay be introduced.

No one denies that certain words and forms are needed earlier in the life of a child than others, nor that there are certain words and forms the knowledge of which comes logically before that of others. It is the recognition of these facts, together with correct judgment of what should come first, and patience and ingenuity in drilling into the children the knowledge of these words and forms, that distinguishes between a good teacher of conversation and a poor one.

Much help would be given new teachers and those not fully acquainted with English construction, as the Filipino teachers, if a work containing lessons in conversation were published. Meanwhile, as there is no such work gotten up by the department, I would recommend the purchase and distribution of a book entitled "Progressive Lessons in English," by Mr. Sampson, English teacher, Canton, China. Although this book is not adapted to the Philippines, it contains many valuable hints for a teacher of conversation.

In summing up the work for the past year it must be noted that in spite of the decrease in the number of the American teachers the attendance at the end of the year was more than for any other month in the history of the schools of the province, that of March, 1903, being 2,487.

During the present year, with the organization of the barrio schools, the number of children receiving instruction in English will undoubtedly be greatly increased. The spirit manifested by the people toward the schools is most friendly, while the class of instruction given is rapidly proving its superiority to any other obtainable. During the present year, provided we are spared cholera and locusts, and if the ladrones continue reasonably quiet, we may expect, in spite of hard times, great advancement in all lines of education.