Chabeng

Remember my entry from last year "So long lives this"? I was doing some surfing on the web when I found this link.  Ms. Isabel Martinez, the author below, was my beloved Mama Chabeng.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF TINGLOY

Dec 26, '10 1:11 AM for everyone

Written by:

MISS ISABEL A. MARTINEZ

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER

This is first published on TINGLOY TOWN FIESTA SOUVENIR PROGRAM of 16-18 August 1979.

Just off the southwest coast of the Batangas mainland, about two nautical miles away, lies the radish-shaped Island of Maricaban.  People by no less than 13,000 inhabitants, the Maricaban Island has a territorial expansion of about 14 square miles of rugged hills and sloping mountains with the occasional splatterings of lowland plains and a liberal springklings of valleys.  The coastal perimeter of the Island with green trees and clinging vines and sudden drops of stony mountains slopes is a real treat to the eyes.  Spread all over the Island are barrios of Sto. Tomas, Talahib, San Pedro, Gamao, Pisa, Corona, San Isidro, Papaya, San Juan, Macawayan, Maricaban, San Jose and Tingloy, the latest to become later the seat of government of the Municipality of Tingloy.

The name "Tingloy" was according to legend, derived from a plant of almost the same name.  Strangely enough, nowhere in the whole Island could one find now in abundance the plant called "tinghoy".

The first people to inhabit the Island almost a century age today came from Taal and Bauan presumably to escape the brutalities perpetrated by the Spanish "conquistadores".  They came in family groups and finding the place a real haven, settled down in definite areas later to prove themselves to be the nuclei of the various barrios now comprising the created political subdivision.  It is said that the former barrio of Tingloy was founded by Jose Martinez, a Taaleño.

At several times the Island underwent a series of political alliance.  At first it was a part of the Municipality of San Luis.  Later on in 1917, it was placed under the administration of Bauan only to be severed therefrom and cradled by the then newly created municipality of Mabini in 1918.  This last mentioned alliance was effected due, perhaps, to geographical position.  This arrangement, however, did not last long, for not long afterwards - in 1921 - it swayed back to Bauan until the birth of its municipal independence.

Inspite of the seemingly insurmountable odds caused by geological aspect of the Island, the standard of living of the Islanders have been maintained on the average level.  This fact have been largely do to the inhabitants unquestionable ability to make use of any and all available resources inherent to mother earth or otherwise.  To prove this point, the principal occupation before were "bayong" and mat weaving, farming, and livestock raising.  Years later and until now the people has taken to more lucrative enterprises like fishing, shipping, and business.  Because of the flourishing shipping industry and adventuresome traits of the Islanders often boarding defiance of imminent danger, they lived throughout the Japanese occupation in abundance and plenty.

During the Spanish regime people were educated at home learning to read the "Cartillas" and the "Caton" "Christiana".  When the Americans came, schools were established.  Mr. Ireneo Martinez together with Mr. Flaviano Gamben, now both deceased, initiated a movement for a model schoolhouse for the former barrio of Tingloy.  This movement was crowned with the success when a model schoolhouse was constructed in the present poblacion of the Municipality of Tingloy sometime in 1921.  With the establishment of the schoolhouse, more school children were able to enroll.  This naturally resulted in amass education not only for the inhabitants of Tingloy proper but also for the entire inhabitants of the Maricaban Island.

For so many years the people tried their level best to advance and progress along the different phases of living until, finally becoming politically minded, they thought it best to stand on their own.  They begun to manifest this lefty desire since May of the year 1948 in a petition addressed to the President of the Philippines through the Provincial Board of Batangas.  Unfortunately, it took them seven years to realize this one great obsession, happily realized they did.  During the second Regular Session of the third Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 1344 (House Bill No. 11), creating the Municipality of Tingloy was, approved.  House Bill No. 11 was fathered by the Hon. Numeriano U. Babao, Congressman for the Second District of Batangas.  His Excellency President Ramon Magsaysay, on June 17, 1955, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, appointed the first Municipal Officials headed by Atty. Ramon De Claro as Mayor thus ushering in a new era of political independence to the happiness and joy that ever flow to the hearts of the people.  At long last, the Municipality of Tingloy begun to align itself the hundreds of political entities all created and all existing to the best interest of their constituents.