Santa Clara, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part I

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

A. (1) Aplaya – meaning along the seashore. Sta. Clara is a coastal barrio, so it is sometimes called Aplaya. B. Ilaya, Gitna, Ibaba, and Stadium are the sitios of Sta. Clara. Ilaya, Gitna, and Ibaba refer to the divisional parts of the barrio; each name indicating direction or the geographical location of the sitio. Ilaya means north, Gitna means middle, and Ibaba means south, so the southern, northern, and the central parts of Sta. Ana are called Ibaba, Ilaya, and Gitna, respectively. The sitio of Stadium, because of its proximity to the Quezon Memorial Stadium, was named Stadium.

1. Casimirio Lira 2. Sixto Mercado 3. Limbanio Mercado

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1901-1904 1905-1908 1909-1911

4. Sergio Arago 5. Simeon Serrano 6. Catalino Mendoza 7. Domingo Dilay 8. Leon Mercado 9. Mateo Macaraig 10. Francisco Dilay 11. Primo Arago

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1912-1913 1914-1917 1918-1919 1920-1923 1924-1927 1928-1931 1932-1940 1940-Present

There is no sitio within the barrio’s jurisdiction that is now depopulated or extinct. There is such a rapid increase in population that the inhabitants in the sitios of Ilaya and Ibaba have already reached their boundary.

A. Historical sites

B. Old ruins

2. In the northern part of the barrio, there can still be seen a portion of a concrete wall supposed a part of the brick house of Doña Clara, the wife of a high ranking Spanish official. This was used by Spanish officials as their quarters during the Spanish occupation of the Islands.

3. The ruins of a stone bridge can still be seen between Sta. Clara and Cuta, a neighboring barrio. This was built by Filipino laborers under the administration of the Spaniards.

C. Structures and buildings

1. The bridge between the poblacion and Sta. Clara was constructed in 1875 by the Spaniards. This was reconstructed by the American government in 1911. This was totally destroyed at the outbreak of World War II. It was reconstructed in 1947.

2. The pier was constructed by the Spaniards in 1896. This was reconstructed by the American government in 1917. It was totally destroyed by the American liberation forces in September, 1944. This was again reconstructed in 1949 by the national government.

A. Political B. Educational

1860. Children who could read the Cartilla or learned the Latin lessons were allowed to go to confession and to receive communion in the town church.

C. Religion D. Economics

1901 – The civil form of government was organized.
1915 – Improvement of the road which is known now as the Bonifacio Drive.
1935 – Construction of the pier, rest house and a comfort house.

In 1915, the barrio had a two-room building which was made of nipa and bamboo. This was burned accidentally. With the help of the people and with the aid of the government, a four-room building was built for the primary pupils.

Although there was a public school teaching English, there was also a private teacher, Mr. Andres Serrano, who taught under-aged pupils to read and write Tagalog and how to say their prayers. Even during the summer vacation, school children went to him to study Tagalog and to learn how to pray.

The Filipino Independent Church or Aglipayan Church gained followers in the northern and southern part of the barrio. The central part remained devoted to the Roman Catholic Church.

The barrio lieutenant or the pangulo was appointed by the mayor upon the recommendation of the municipal councilor assigned for the barrio. He exercised not only executive but also judicial powers as well.

As the Barrio of Sta. Clara is situated along the seacoast, fishing was the most common means of livelihood. Some were engaged in salt-making during the dry season while some were merchants. Stevedoring was common among young men. Most of the women were engaged in selling fish. Those who were not were occupied with embroidery, sew-

ing, or running small retail stores to earn their living.

People had their special gatherings like weddings, baptismal and birthday parties.

1. Before the outbreak of World War II, the Philippines reinforced the defensive position of the barrio against the anticipated coastal attacks. The coastal area was protected by a pair of barbed wires laid out ten meters apart along the shore. Trenches and dugouts were built for general safety and protection. The school building was utilized as army barracks; and together with its premises, the entire school site took the shape of a military establishment.

2. On December 15, 1941, twenty-seven Japanese planes ruthlessly attempted to destroy the pier but their bombs missed the target. The pier stood undamaged after the air attack.

3. On December 24, 1941, the barrio was set on fire. One person was reported to have been killed and all houses were burned except those of Lira and Cunag. The army and the civilian population evacuated after the pier was destroyed for military purposes.

4. The Japanese Forces that took the barrio in January, 1942, installed anti-aircraft guns at the school site and in the area occupied by the Liras’ house. The pier was temporarily rebuilt to facilitate the loading and unloading of Japanese supplies transported by boat.

5. In April, 1942, the vessel named “Cebu,” filled with Japanese soldiers, was bombed.

6. Before the coming of the American Liberation Forces in September 1944, the barrio was burned by the Japanese Forces. All Japanese P. T. boats were destroyed by American bombers.

7. When the American Liberation Forces came, they occupied some parts of the barrio, like the school com-

mand. Heavy artillery guns were placed in the different points of the barrio. A Red Cross camp was established at the entrance of the barrio to aid both American soldiers and civilians. Soon, all the people came back and began making temporary shelters with all available surplus materials that the American soldiers gave away to the homeless population. With this assistance, the barrio was gradually reconstructed. The pier was rebuilt, this time to serve the American forces.

At present, many new and big houses have been erected while the government is beginning to undertake the reconstruction of the harbor.

In 1945, the barrio had only a four-room school building made of light materials – nipa and bamboo – and without flooring. With the increased enrolment in 1946, the Parents Teachers’ Association under the auspices of Dr. Olegario Cantos, Mr. Primo Arago, Mr. Eustaquio Montalbo, Mr. Pedro Alialy, Mr. Andres Maderazo, Mr. Alejandro Catibog and Mr. Pablo Coz, were able to establish a temporary school building. Spending about ₱12,000 for the purpose [of] a seven-room building of wood and sawali with galvanized iron sheets as roofing was realized. Unfortunately, destructive typhoon Jean tore the roof down last December 26, 1946. This was replaced with relief fund secured by the then Mayor Roman L. Perez.

At present, the barrio has a school building with seven rooms in the main building, 2 annex rooms, an industrial shop and H.E. buildings, aside from the four borrowed classrooms in the NACOCO warehouse. It became a complete elementary school in 1947.

In 1950, the Principal, with the help of all the teachers, introduced the community-centered school. The community was divided into seven “puroks” with their leaders and officers. Among the improvements made were the construction of two reading centers and two recreational centers sponsored by “Purok D, E, G, and H,” respectively. The most notable achievement is the cleanliness of the community. With the introduction of the community-centered school, the people’s minds were weakened toward the improvement of the health conditions in the barrio.

Although there are several religions existing in the barrio, a large majority of the people are Roman Catholics. Barrio fiestas and masses in honor of the Patron Saint are held annually (every January 15^th) in the chapel built for the purpose. May-Flower celebrations are also observed in the barrio yearly in May. Formerly, the barrio chapel was made of bamboo and nipa. After its destruction during the war, a semi-permanent chapel made of wood and galvanized iron was erected under the initiative of Mrs. Francisca Dilay and Miss Gregoria Macaraig before the fiesta of January 15, 1949. The amount of ₱500 appropriated for the purpose was taken from the Rehabilitation Fund.

Since the barrio is situated along the seacoast, fishing is the most common means of livelihood. There are some who engage in salt-making. Stevedoring is common among young and adult males. The latter occupation has been found profitable in view of the thriving trade that makes merchant vessels from Mindoro and the Visayas and from neighboring seacoast barrios call at the barrio harbor. The flourishing commercial activity accounts for the increase of population.

Businessmen own most of the “pukotan,” fishing ponds and vessels in the barrio.

Housewives have their part in earning a living by selling fish, running tiendas, engaging in embroidery work, in sewing and in the making of nipa thatches.

Organizations also flourished, the most active of which are the “Samahan ng Cochero,” “Stream Cargadores” and “Association of Jeep Owners and Drivers.”

During elections, the inhabitants feel free to vote as they may choose, although it is not rare that the prosperous “pukot” owners are able to prevail upon a few to vote as they are told.

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