Those Elusive Executive Orders of Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison





When I was researching about local history at the National Library of the Philippines and the Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center in Makati, I was particularly ferreting for those bundles of Executive Orders issued by then Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison. That search led me to the National Historical Institute and the National Archives of the Philippines to no avail. It is a known fact that Balete was reverted back into a mere arabal of the newly created Municipality of New Washington in 1904 and was supposedly reestablished as a full municipality in 1920. Textual analyses will prove this assumption even without the support of documents factually stating the organization of my town. Nonetheless, I am intrigued of having a copy of such executive order to serve as reference point in coming up with executive proclamation marking the foundation of Balete as a municipality during the American period.

Now, all of a sudden, by just tinkering on my laptop and by just "goggling" about it on the web, I am presented with such materials, almost too great for me to apprehend:
  1. Annual Reports/United States. War Dept, Volume 3, 1920. Page 40 mentioned Balete, Capiz as one of those municipalities organized effective January 1, 1920. The Executive Order was signed by Gov. Gen. Harrison on December 31, 1919. By that time, the Philippines has 881 municipalities and 279 municipal districts. Sadly, this publication is not available in the Philippines.
  2. Annual Report of the United States Philippine Commission (1900-1916), Volume 6, 1906. Page 204 thereon states that the Jimeno (Altavas)-Balete-Banga road was not yet done and that the best means of transportation from Capiz to Calivo was by water through Lagatik
  3. Report of the Governor General of the Philippine Islands. 1931. Finally, it is reported in this documents that the Banga-Balete-Jimeno road is now complete. It is being regarded as a second class road approximately 60.9 kms and is now open to vehicular traffic.
  4. Curas de Almas, Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Regalado Trota Jose. The UST Publishing House released it in 2008 as part of the 400 year anniversary of its foundation. It accounts the rich local history of the parishes in the archipelago during the Spanish period. Herein, it affirms that Fr. Diego Albao was parish priest of Balete from 1857-1860.
Indeed, our town is so rich with stories of the here and then, But somehow, we lack storytellers to leave the next generation with traces to follow. Why then not start your own blog to documents those events coming out every now and then?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Something About Tumbo (Cara y Cruz): A Hypothesis

Image
They say that mahjong is just a diversion, a recreation of some sort of the bored and the retired. But they say that cara y cruz is a different case. However you look at it--in both sides of the coin (pun intended), it is gambling and therefore those who indulged in it (read, the poor ones) are playing in conflict with law. And so, since yesteryears, people accepted those facts. Mahjong is recreational while cara y cruz or tumbo is gambling and illegal at that. An Alfonso showing its head and tail or if your prefer its "hari" & "corona" But I was amused at the scene of a group of individuals by an "island" at corner T.M. Kalaw and Taft Avenue I happened to pass by while doing research at the National Archives of the Philippines sometime in August 2010. I just alighted from the Light Rail Transit (LRT) at UN Station and was finding my way to cross T.M. Kalaw when I noticed a bunch of lot playing cara y cruz on the elevated concrete "isla
Read more

SOOTHING AS NIGHT WINDS ARE: An Interpretation of the poem by that title by Salvador B. Espinas

Image
Love is gentle, love is quiet Like any distant star; In loving by which we approximate the nature of love, we do not coerce those we love—as much as possible we give room for freedom to grow and respect each other’s independence, i.e., each other’s time of searching. In loving, the lover is like the distant star, manifesting his presence and yet quietly, not trying to obstruct or block the path of the beloved. He stands besides quietly assuring her of his gentle presence and constant attention. Love is beauty, love is music Soothing as night winds are. Lovers are enchanted by the wonders of creation. One who is in loved would often quips that everything seems beautiful and that “ life has music, rhythm and rhyme” –which actually is. Somehow, love enables man and woman to see reality as God sees it. As even in times of trouble, loves comes like night winds, soothing our weary mind and aching heart.
Read more

The Ballad of the Mamumugon

Image
I was once asked--no, was forced actually, to sing one of our songs in an international gathering (in the sense that with the group were a couple of Hispanic nationals, a Tanzanian and several Filipinos from all over the country-Bisaya, Bicolanos, Karay-as, Warays, Ilocanos, Tagalogs). The agreement was that each "race" was to sing a song that best describes his culture. Alas, I was the only Aklanon in the group and was compelled to raise the banner of Aklan high among those "kings and nobles". So when my slot came about, I stood up grabbed the microphone and touched their hearts (even if it irritated their ears) with the Ballad of the Mamumugon: Mamugon ako, mamugon Sa baeay it manggaranon Alas Dos ako pakan-on ay, ay Orasyon ako pauli-on. Pag-abot ko man sa baeay Dayon pangayu it humay Ginturo ako ni Tatay ay, ay Sa eusong una rong paeay. Alinon mo rong paeay Eawas ko karon ginabudlay Kon buhi kunta s
Read more