After learning that Sr. Yap-Quiña offered his land at Hda. Guinpanaan for the relocation of homes, Sr. Leon Montinola changed his mind about uprooting the houses from his land or charging them rental fee if they remained. He said that people who asked his permission could build their houses on his land and even cultivate some plants without paying rent until they die. He even bashed the town officials as 'childish' for having the idea of moving the people to the other side of Magnanud River.
And in March 1907, Sr. Leon Montinola announced his candidacy to run as alcálde. The townspeople were worried because they could not think of any other strong candidate to run against him other than Sr. Ricardo Gonzaga, whom they visited twice to convince to run. He turned them down, telling them he was busy with his hacienda operations.
Relentless on their efforts to not letting the town fall into the hands of Sr. Leon Montinola, they sent a letter dated June 28, 1907, to Sr. Gonzaga that contained, other than flattery and some flowery words, their expressed confidence in him to lead the town and the danger it would face if Sr. Leon Montinola would win. The letter was hand-delivered by Sr. Ysabelo Infante. He probably rode a horse going to Sr. Gonzaga's Hacienda Ilaya.
Sr. Gonzaga took his time to decide and with a letter to the alcálde dated July 30, 1907, Sr. Ricardo Gonzaga accepted the candidacy to run in the next elections. He won and the townspeople rejoiced.
But going back to Sr. Leon Montinola's offer for the people to build homes on his land, was it considered vote-buying considering he was running for mayor? Paging, Comelec! 😜
And do you also wonder whether those houses that Sr. Leon Montinola threatened to be uprooted from his hacienda were actually relocated since he changed his mind and they all stayed?
Or were there houses that actually relocated to Hacienda Guinpanaan where Sr. Yap-Quiña offered "veinte hectareas"? If there were, were these families given titles to the land or were merely given the right to use it?😕
See? As I have said, there are more hidden stories beneath those written words.😒
(A typical Filipino home in the village during the early 20th century: roof made of nipa leaves, floor made of bamboo slats and awning windows; underneath the house is an enclosed area to keep livestock like chicken and pigs); and surroundings planted with bananas and other fruit-bearing trees).
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