Historical Ibaan: The Establishment Of Saint James The Greater Paris...

Historical Ibaan: The Establishment Of Saint James The Greater Paris...: "Part I Source: Yaman Ni Poong Santiago Apostol by Parish Pastoral Council and Historical Commission Ibaan used to be part of Batangas C..."

The Establishment Of Saint James The Greater Parish In Ibaan

Part I
Source: Yaman Ni Poong Santiago Apostol by Parish Pastoral Council and Historical Commission

The right wing tower of Saint James The Greater Parish Church.
(Photo courtesy of Renaldo Bago)

In 1784, Ibaan's first community was established in what is now called Brgy. Matala which is 4 kilometers away from the current Poblacion. As per records of Batangas City, Ibaan used to be part of the latter. Then in 1800, Batangas Province's gobernadorcillo appointed a tiniente to govern the community in Matala.

During that time, a chapel and a convent are is located at the community. However, as per stories told by the folklore, the combined strength of acid and fire from the sky brought both of them into ashes as they were burned with fierce fire, 1800.

In 1804, Gobernadorcillo Don Francisco Mercado, Batangas City's Alkalde Rafael Jose Ramirez and Rev. Fr. Manuel Rodriguez agreed and decided to establish a town where the first community was established -Matala was identified as the town's first Poblacion. And with the abundance of Iba trees in the area, the town was called "Ibaan".

Having the town of Ibaan established, a new church and convent, together with a public cemetery, were built as led by P. Barcelona of Orden ni San Geronimo, May 1817. Don Eustacio Macatangay provided the finishing touches on the church which was blessed by P. Barcelona.

Ibaan used to be part of Batangas City before
separating from the latter in 1832 with the
establishment of Saint James The Greater Parish.
(Map photo from wikipedia.com)

Ten years later, 1827, leaders of the growing community tried hard to transfer the Poblacion in Matala to present Poblacion. Considerations for the move was based on the current Poblacion's geographical location as because of its proximity to other nearby towns and municipalities.

During the same year, a temporary chapel made of cogon, talahib and surrounded by bamboo leaves wall was finished and went full operational. Unfortunately, it was burned in 1832. The event however pushed the people to rebuild the chapel.

Parokya Ni Santiago Apostol By The Order of St. Agustin

The establishment of St. James The Greater Parish sealed Ibaan's fate as independent town, breaking away from Batangas City. It's first Parish Priest Fr. Manuel Grijaldo, OSA took the first initiative to build a bigger church which was then supported by other Spanish priests. This paved the way for Ibaenos to be fully Christianized with a population of 6,138 in 1838.

The right side of old Ibaan Parish Church during
"Pakikinabang Pangkalahatan" or communion..
(Photo courtesy of Ka Mael Patena)

After consulting with the Order of St. Agustin, Architect Luciano Oliver drew the first lines for the current church. Fr. Manuel Diez Gonzales, OSA, in 1853, laid down the founding stones of the church which include its altar and patio. Fr. Bruno Laredo, OSA completed its roof and fences in. Then in 1865, the two towers were erected, having the church totally painted, under Fr. Vicente Maril, OSA.

In May 29, 1890, another force majure, an earth quake, brought the church down to rabbles. Fr. Francisco Alvarez, OSA then have the church reconstructed again for five (5) years from 1891 to 1896.

With the establishmet of Archdiocese of Lipa in 1910, with the inclusion of St. James The Greater Parish, Ibaan was graced by number of priests. Monsenor Joseph Petrelli, the Archdiocese's first Monsenor, then invited the Congretation of Oblates of St. Joseph (OSJ), consisting of Italian missionaries, to send priests to Philippines. Such request provided continuity to Ibaan's St. James The Greater Parish.

Ibaan Parish Priests from the Order of St. Agustin
1832 Fr. Manuel Grihalbo, OSA
(D. Esteban Flores, OSA also as Parish Prist as interino or in temporary basis.)

1837 - 1843 Fr. Marcos Anton, OSA
1843 - 1845 Fr. Andres Diez, OSA
1848             Fr. Martn Madlangbayan, OSA
1848 - 1849 Fr.Pedro Cuesta, OSA
1849 - 1851 Fr. Martin Madlangbayan, OSA
1851 - 1853 Fr. Manuel Diez Gonzales, OSA
1853 - 1854 P. Martin Madlangbayan, OSA
1862 - 1865 Fr. Leoncio Mercado, OSA
1865             Fr. Alvarez Calleja, OSA
August 1865 P. Bruno Laredo, OSA
1870 - 1871 Fr. Braulio Mercado, OSA
1871             Fr. Guillermo Cuevas, OSA
1872 - 1873 Fr. Francisco Rosales, OSA
July 1878      Fr. Vicente Maril, OSA
1884             Fr. Mariano Ilagan, OSA
1884 - 1885 Fr. Anastacio Q. Cruz, OSA
1885            Fr. Moises Santos, OSA
1885 - 1886 Fr. Anastacio Cruz, OSA
1886 - 1891 Fr. Tomas Agudo, OSA
1891 - 1895 Fr. Francisco Alavarez, OSA

(Note: The following priests' order/congregation was not identified.)
1897 - 1898 Fr. Fr. Jose Alonzo
1898 - 1899 Fr. Adriano Arena
1899 - 1900 Fr. Luciano Reyes
1900 - 1901 Fr. Cecilio Punzalan
1901 - 1902 Fr. Fr. Miguel Catala
1902 - 1910 Fr. Pablo Dizon
1911             Fr. Ciriaco de Castro and Fr. Juan Fagen
1911 - 1913 Fr. Nicolas Ruyter
1913 - 1915 Fr. Juan Zegera
1915             Fr. Raymundo Esquinet


___________________________
Yaman Ni Poong Santiago Apostol
Historical Commission
Parish Pastoral Council
Saint James The Greater Parish
Copyright 2004

Editors
Leoncia B. Magtibay
Esperanza Villaueva
Petra Magtaas

Researchers/Writers
Belen M. Patena
Milagros A. Tejares
Diomedes B. Magtiba
Noniluna R. Panganiban
Gertrudes Bagsit
Angelita Briones
Milagros Carngal
Leodegaria R. Guerra
Marciana Magtibay
Catalina V. Perez
Rhoneil R. Panganiban
Teresita Roallos

(Note: This blog article was written in respect and in appreciation of Ibaan Pastoral Council's efforts to put into one great book Saint James The Greater Parish' history. PPC was then headed by Sir Ading Tejada as its President. The book is originally written in Tagalog which we tried to translate in English for the world to understand more of Ibaan faith.  This blog article was also written to give Ibaan parishioners a working knowledge on how our Catholic faith was established that remains strong up to the present time. If there are any information that deviated from its source, I stand to be corrected. There is no intention of infringing the intellectual proprietary rights of the authors.)

Ang Pinagmulan Ng Pangalan Ng Mga Barangay Ng Ibaan

By Taga Ibaan Ako

Ilang henerasyon na rin ang lumipas. Marami na rin ang mga kwento ang narinig sa bawat silid ng ating tahanan upang mahimbing na maidlip ang mga Batang Ibaan. At sa paglipas ng panahon, ang dating kabataan ng nakaraan, ngayo'y meron na ring kabataan na inaaruga at binabantayan sa silid ng tahanan. Naikwento rin kaya nila ang mga bagay na naghatid sa mahimbing na pagkakaidlip? Kasama kaya sa mga kwentong ito ang pinagmulan ng pangalan ng bawat barangay ng ating mahal na bayang Ibaan?

Sa pagkakataong ito, subukan nating pag-usapan ang mga pangalan nila ayon na rin sa ating pananaliksik. Base na rin dito, maari nating ikonsidera ang presensya ng mga bagay na hinalawan ng kanilang pangalan sa bawat barangay.

Bago
Nagmula sa isang maliit na punong-kahoy na ang dahon ay isinasama sa sinigang na isda o sa iba't ibang gulayin. Ito ay matatagpuang tumutubo sa barangay na nagtataglay ng pangalan nito.

Balanga
Buhat sa malaking banga na pinaglalagyan ng tubig na inumin ng mga magsasaka; o malaking uri ng tipaklong na tinawag na Balang na natagpuan sa dakong iyon noong unang panahon.

Bungahan
Napahiwalay sa Brgy. Coliat noong 1956 sa pagmamalasakit ni G. Aurelio Villanuev. Ang barangay na ito'y pinangalang\ang Bungahn dahil ito'y dako ng maraming punong "Bunga" at ibang punog-kahoy na nabubunga.

Calamias
Isang punong kahoy na may bungang parihaba na may sukat na 1 - 4 na pulgada ang haba, maasim at ginagamit na panuka sa mga lutuin o kaya'y minamatamis. Ang karamihan ng punong kahoy na ito ang pinagmulan ng barangay Calamias.

Catandala
Buhat sa "Katang", isang uri ng maliit na alimasag at "Dala" ng isang malaing lambat na panghuli ng isda. Ang barangay na ito ay nasa tabi ng malaking ilog.

Coliat
Buhat sa isang malaking punong kahoy na tumataas na tuwid at ginagawang haligi at sahig ng mga bahay.

Dayapan
Buhat sa isang uri ng Citrus na bilugan ang bunga at may masarap ng amoy ng Dayap.

Lapu-lapu
Bukang-bibig ng mga taga nayon ang kagitingan at katapangan ng hari o pinuno ng Mactan na syang pumatay kay Magellan at nagtaboy sa mga dayuhang Kastila. Kaya't tinawag nila ang kanilang nayon na Lapu-lapu.

Lucsuhin
Upang makarating sa barangay na ito, noong una, kailangan magpalukso-lukso sa mga bato sa pagtawid sa mga sapa upang huwag mabasa.

Mabalor
Maraming malalaki at matataas na punong kahoy sa barangay na ito ang tirahan ng malaking puting ibon na tinatawag naa "balud" o "balur". Kaya't tinawag na lugar ng balur -Mabalor.

Malainin
Sa kasipagan ng mga taong naninirahan sa barangay na ito, sa pag-aalmusal nila ay kinakain na nila ang kanin kahit na hindi pa lubusang luto o in-in, huwag lamang mahuli sa mga gawaing bukid.

Matala
Isang uri ng halaman, na ang dahon ay tinutuyo at isinasama sa tabako upang magkaroon ng mabangong amoy. Ang tinatawag na "talatalaan" ay masaganang tumutubo sa pampang ng ilog sa barangay na ito. Kaya't tinatawag na lugar ng marming Talatalaan - Matala.

Munting Tubig
Isang barangay na dinadaanan ng isang maliit na sa magkabilang gilid. Mula dito, tinawag na Munting Tubig ang nasabing barangay.

Palindan
Buhat sa salitang Palanyag o magtitinda ng iba't ibang kagamitan tulad ng gunting, suklay, salamin at iba pa. Ayon sa mga matatanda ay isang magtitinda ang hinarang at pinagnakawan sa daong ito.

Pangao
Sa barangay na ito itinatali, iginagapos o ipina-pangao ang mga tao ng mga tulisan buhat Silangang pakanluran o bahan sa kanluran pa-silangan.

Panghayaan
Buhat sa maliit na "hay" o mga bungkos ng maliliit na tangkay ng palay na ginagapos. Dumating ang pagkakataon ng ang mga magsasaka ay nagka-gulo at nagpanghaya ng kahandaan sa anumang mangyayari.

Quilo
Buhat sa matandang daan na dakong hilaga patungo sa barangay na ito na pakilo-kilo or paliko-liko.

Sabang
Isang dako na pinagtagpuan ng dalawang ilog, ang barangay na ito ang naging sentro ng kalakalan ng bayan ng Ibaan at ng kabisera ng lalawigan ng Batangas.

Salaban
Ang dakong ito ang pinagsasalaban ng mga pinatay na baboy damo na pinapatay bago dalhin sa sari-sariling bahay.

San Agustin
Inminungkahi ni Don Julian Pastor alang-alang sa orden na nakasako noong unang panahon sa parokya ng Ibaan.

Santo Nino
Tuwing tag-araw, ipinapatente sa dakong ito ang Sanot Nino at pinagdadayo ng mga tao sa karatig nayon at karatig bayan.

Sandalan
Ang dakong ito ang pahingahan ng mga taon kumukuha ng tubig sa Palindan. At ang mga bumbong ng kawayang puno ng tubig ang kanilang sinasandal sa mga sang ng kahoy kaya't tinatawag na Sandalan.

Talaibon
Maraming malalaking puno ng kahoy sa pampang ng ilog sa dakong ito na pinamahayan ng isang uri ng ibon na mapula ang balahibo at may hugis tala sa dibdib. Kaya't buhat sa Tala at Ibon, tinawag na Talaibon.

Tulay Na Patpat
Isang tulay na yari sa kawayan ang ginawa ng mga taga-baryong ito sa pinakamakitid na dako ng ilog ng Ibaan upang madaanan ng mga kariton at mga kabayong may dalang bigas at asukal.

Maaring kulang o eksaherado ang mga impormasyon na nandito ukol sa bagay na pinatutungkulan ng artikulong ito. Sa puntong iyon, bukas po tayo para sa inyon suhestyon o karagdagang impormasyon upang higit nating mabuo ang kasaysayan o pinanggalingan ng pangalan ng mga barangay ng ating bayan.

Old Ibaan Town Proper From Kampanaryo

Interior of St. James The Greater Parish back in 1962. The photo is taken from the choir loft.

The left side of the town plaza.

At the top middle is the house of  Mr. Francisco Bago popularly known as Lolo Ikong. In the middle part
is the house of Ms. Maria Montalbo. Left side of the photo shows the old Ibaan Rural Bank.

At the middle is the store of Mamay Hugo and Nanay Elena Montalbo. Next to the store is the house of
Vicente Perez. Next to which is the house of Mrs. Morales, an elementary school teacher. Then the store of
Mr. and Mrs. Panapanaan. Currently, the old telecom building and Ibaan Municipal Police Station.
Then the bridge leading to Coliat-Palindan. Also seen is the Caltes Gasoline Station which is owned by the
Mercados. At the far right is their gilingan or rice mill.

View of the eastern portion of the town. Seen on the photo are the houses of Dr. Marino, Dettie Reyes and Dr. Reyes.

The statue of St. James The Greater at the left, Ibaan's patron saint. Adjacent to the Municipal Hall
is the house of Ms. Montalbo. Ibaan Rural Bank is located in front St. James The Greater.

The northern view of the town leading to Brgy. Talaibon. The distant long building is the Ibaan Central School.

On the top left is the house of Mr. Francisco Bago. Below of which is the Ms. Montalbo's residence. Then at the
right side is the old Ibaan Municipal Hall.

The Ibaan Town Plaza with "Kiosko" at the left portion. 

The century old St. James The Greater Parish on layered bricks structure. Iba tree
is planted at middle.

The old Ibaan Rural Bank building.

The old Ibaan Municipal Hall building.

The right wing tower of St. James The Greater Parish commonly called "Kampanaryo" with
bells hanging.

This is the south side view of the church. Below is a potion of basketball court where "Pagbati"
was originally held. Kiosko, now termed "shade" is also at left side of the plaza. At the back are the
house of Quinios, Montalbos and Mercados.

 Photos courtesy of Sir Reynaldo Bago who, an Ibaan native,  is now a resident of Zamboanga City.