Santo Tomas, Batangas in the 19th Century as Described by a Spanish Historian

The chimney of an Spanish-era sugar mill in Sto. Tomas. Image credit:  University of Michigan Digital Collections.

Continuing with the series in this web site on 19^th century Batangas as described by the former government official and historian Manuel Sastron in his book “Batangas y Su Provincia¹” (Batangas and Its Province), we move north to the now-bustling town of Santo Tomas.

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The State of Batangas in 1901 as Reported to the 2nd US Philippine Commission

Image credit:  Sandra Plummer Collection at the Fort Worth Library's Digital Archive.

The Second Philippine Commission, otherwise known as the Taft Commission, was appointed by the United States President William McKinley in 1900. By 1902, the United States Congress would pass the so-called Philippine Organic Act which would grant executive and legislative powers to this commission in the Philippines¹.

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Bauan, Batangas: Historic and Folkloric Notes about Its Barrios

Image source:  Google Earth Street View.

We continue with our series featuring historic and folkloric stories from the barrios of Batangas, this time shifting our focus on the Municipality of Bauan. All information has been taken from documents required by the administration of President Elpidio Quirino in 1951 of all Department of Education districts around the country to rebuild local histories after World War II.

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Life and Economics in Lian, Batangas Early in the 20th Century

The Palico Bridge.  Image source:  Presidential Museum and Library on Flickr.

An Anthropological paper¹ written by one Pastor M. Layosa in 1927 offers a compelling descriptive picture of the life end economics in the western Batangas town of Lian early in the twentieth century. According to Layosa, the entire town of Lian was an “hacienda” or estate that was owned “by the Jesuit order of the Colegio de San Jose of Ermita, Manila. From 15 March 1925, the property was leased to the widow and children of Don Pedro P. Roxas.

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The US Army 28th Infantry Regiment in Batangas in 1900 and their Operations in Taal, Lemery, Calaca and Nasugbu

Image credit:  Sandra Plummer Collection at the Fort Worth Library's Digital Archive.

This article starts a new series in this web site on the activities of the United States Army’s 28^th Infantry Regiment as it saw action in Batangas against “insurrectos¹” as Filipino freedom fighters were called during the Philippine-American War. The regiment was part of the United States Volunteers or USV, the members of which were recruited and trained to augment the regular army and fought outside the United States between 1794 and 1902².

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The Case of the Makapili in Tanauan and the Heroic Dr. Brigido Carandang

Image source:  DawnHoneyMae.

From the archives of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, we get this story¹ of both the heroism and treachery of fellow Batangueños on opposite sides of the political divide back during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

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19th Century Tanauan, Batangas as Described by a Spanish Historian

School-children in Tanauan during the American colonial era.  Image credit:  University of Michigan Digital Collections.

We continue with the series of articles on late 19^th century Batangas as described the former government official and historian Manuel Sastron in his book “Batangas y su Provincia¹” (Batangas and Its Province). Our focus this time is the former pueblo and now city of Tanauan.

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