Philippine History: Chapter 11 - Victoriahanons stage two plays to raise funds

Chapter 11. Victoriahanons stage two plays to raise funds for the casa-municipal

So, thanks to Señor Yap-Quiña, the young town had a parcel of land where a new município by the river could be constructed. Remember that this was 1906-1907 when a município was only the size of the present-day barangay hall or slightly bigger; they did not need a huge building at that time because the population and its income were too small and were comparable to those of a barrio. And that time, sadly, they didn't even have enough money to build a município.

After the donated land was turned over, that area next to the land became busier as this was to become the new town center because this would be the site of the new casa-municipal. On that exact spot on the banks of the Magnanud River where people got on and off their boats (for traveling to and from Daan Banwa and other areas) became a dulungká-an or a wharf. It was then called Embarcadero, the Spanish word for a quay or wharf, and is now part of the current city's Barangay 1. The wharf is no longer around but the area is still called Embarcadero as the name stuck. 

And next to the donated land, the officials created new small roads, naming them Calle Real (meaning royal street, usually as tribute to the Spanish monarchy during the Spanish period), Buen Retiro, Lucero, Yap-Quiña (he was already recognized with a street name as early as 1907), Catinal, Comercio, Aurora, Progreso, Burgos, and Union. 

To celebrate the completion of the roads, which were enough for a horse or a cart to pass (this was 1907) and to give some appreciation to the Victoriahanons who cleared the talahib and other shrubbery, and maybe some trees, to make dirt roads and importantly, who worked for free, Sr. Felix Arceo brought two jars of wine and cooked pork to eat with the workers. 

When the town officials later got together, they were able to determine that they needed an initial budget of 1,500 pesos for the new "casa-municipal de Magnanud". In March 1907, the construction for the município was halted because the money budgeted for the construction of the new município ran out.

So, they asked for a loan from the provincial treasurer, an American named Mr. Pedro A. Casanave, who rejected their application for a loan, saying that Victorias wouldn't be able to repay considering the town's income didn't even reach 5,000 pesos the preceding year.

At this point, the community spirit of Victoriahanons of old surfaced once more. Everyone worked to come up with ideas on how to raise money, and one idea was to present stage plays for two nights, May 22 and 23 that year (Wednesday and Thursday), that people could pay to watch.

The first play was titled Flor de una día, a play in three acts written in 1851 by Francisco Camprodón, a Spanish playwright. The stage performers and their characters were: Paz Gonzaga (Lola), Pilar Infante (Elena), Eduardo Servando (Diego), Vito Alba (Padre José), Eugenio Torres (Carlos), Fructuosa Figueroa (monja). 

The income from ticket sales was 200 pesos but after deducting the expenses for props and costumes, what was left was 80 pesos.

The play staged on the second night was titled De Magallanes a Polavieja, written by a local playwright Señor Manuel Fernandez Yanson, and the performers were: Paz Gonzaga (Pinay), Petronila Cuison (Sayong), Eugenio Torres (Perico), Vito Alba (Fray Quintin), Santiago Cuiveces (CapitanTiago), and Esteban Jalandoni (Capitan de guardia civil). Both plays were directed by a 43-year-old Felix Montinola.

If you noticed the name of the lead actress of both plays was Señorita Paz Gonzaga. The town officials thought that, since the plays were in Spanish, they needed someone fluent and one name came up, Señorita Paz Gonzaga. She just finished college that time and was the daughter of Señor Ricardo Gonzaga, an alcálde. Plus, she probably had a stage presence that could definitely sell a lot of tickets.

The second play earned 600 pesos, making the total funds raised from the dramas 680 pesos. Both plays were performed at the public school in Daan Banwa. The second night earned more because many people must have showed up to watch after having heard that the first play and the local talents were good, and that this was for a good cause.

Having funds available to finish the construction, the town council, on May 30, 1907, ordered Señor Pascual Hinojales, the lead carpenter, to continue his work on the new município. 

And on October 18, 1907, Sr. Pascual Hinojales informed the council that the casa-municipal just needed walls for it to be completed. Since they had no more funds, the alcálde, Sr. Policarpo Ascalon, offered to donate 4,000 nipa thatchings from his hacienda that would serve as the walls for the whole structure.

Having solved the remaining problem on the completion of the casa-municipál, the council then asked permission from the provincial governor, Sr. Manuel Lopez, a native of Silay, to relocate the municipio on October 31, 1907, a Thursday.

On that day, October 31, 1907, when documents had been moved to the município by the Magnanud River, town officials gathered after lunch at the small plaza covered with an improvised tólda using the sail of a boat. Led by the town head, Sr. Policarpo Ascalon, and his vice-mayor, Sr. Segundo de Leon, and council members, Eduardo Cuaycong, Cipriano Jimenes, Mariano Servando, Agaton Tongoy, Ysabelo Infante, Gervacio Miraflores, and Gervasio Ascalon, the inauguration was traditional and yet austere.

Although there were other notable names in attendance, it's safe to say that Sr. Leon Montinola was not invited.😀

Speeches in Spanish were then delivered by Señoritas Consolacion Infante, Pilar Infante, and Antonina Torres, the sister of the town treasurer, by the town clerk, Sr. Panfilo Doromal, and by the town secretary, Sr. Esteban Jalandoni.

P.S. As I close this blog, I am thanking, as a Victoriahanon, the performers and those involved in staging the plays for sharing their talent, effort, and time in May 1907, amidst the hot days and probably wind-less and humid nights. I would have loved to travel in time to watch it.🙏

(Photo taken of the 'main street' of Himamaylan in the 1900-1920s. This is how Daan Banwa would also look like by then: dirt roads, houses made of nipa and bamboo, barefoot children and fresh air! That big house must have been a rich family's home.)
Photo credit: University of Southern California Libraries, Maryknoll Mission Archives, John Tewell

Chapter 12. The Malihao River flood (1907) and Magnanud River flood (1922)

Complete history blog: "Ang Kasaysayan sang                                                    Victorias"