Historical Background of Tuy, Batangas


The Philippine Archipelago became one of the colonies of Spain after its discovery in 1521. In 158l, Batangas being part of the archipelago was reached by its power. Balayan, a rich and developed community was named first (1st ) capital of the province.

Because of its large land area, several villages began to flourish until the northern part of Balayan. A fast growing community emerged and became the center of development. The place was named Tuy, given by Don Salvador Elio, in honor of his hometown “Tuy” in Galicia, Spain. In the pages of the old history book of the province it is clearly written:

“Señor Salvador Elio - 1866 Gobernador de la Provincia (Batangas) es de Tuy, Espana, asunombre y memoria fuel llama to Tuy”

During the Spanish period, Tuy was still a part of Balayan, the former capital of Batangas Province. Tuy became an independent town only on August 12, 1866 comprising thirteen (13) villages or barrios namely: Akle, Bayudbud, Dao, Guinhawa, Lumbangan, Luntal, Malibu, Mataywanac, Obispo, Palincaro, Sabang and Talon.
Historical-Background-of-Tuy-2
Its first gobernadorcillo was Don Pedro Aricayos followed by the following names in sequence, all of them bearing the title Kapitan. During the Spanish Regime: the following are the successive gobernadorcillos: Kapitang Alde, Kapitang Bernal, Kapitan Agustin Apacible, Kapitan Baltazar Afable, Kapitan Cirilo Garcia, Kapitan Santiago Apacible, Kapitan Santiago Rillo.

In the newly established town, life is in abundance. People’s source of livelihood came from farming, Tuy being an agricultural land. Sugar cane, palay (rice) corn and other vegetables were their products. Sugar cane milled through a crude system called Molino which were to be found along river banks.

A certain Celodonio Bulaclac donated land for the plaza, church and other government buildings.

Kapitan Santiago Rillo was the head of the town when the revolution broke out. He became a colonel of the revolutionaries and military governor of Batangas. When the revolutionaries entered Tuy, there was a bloody fight. The casadores (spanish soldiers) were defeated but before they left for Balayan, the town was set on fire. Public and private properties were destroyed and because of the chaos, many residents fled to different towns like Maragondon in the neighboring Cavite Province, Nasugbu, a town of Batangas Province, as far as Manila and other nearby towns.

Spain ceded the Philippines to America and the small town of Tuy was not spared during the American regime. The Americans brought paid local soldiers from Macabebe, Pampanga. And because Tuy became the haven of unlawful element (tulisan), the Americans imposed military law called “Juez de Kutsillo” to suppress lawlessness. But the law was not carried as intended. Houses and properties were ransacked. The hired Macabebe soldiers imposed brutal punishment among the citizens, both criminals and suspects, and even women were maltreated.

The presidente during this time was Jacinto Macalaguim who was not spared from punishment by abusive Macabebe soldiers. He was asked forcely to name suspected keeper of firearms left by the Casadores. The presidente kept silent but was punished to jump in an open deep well. The brutality of the Macabebe soldiers were stopped upon the request of Don Ignacio Leynes addressed to the head of the American forces.

During the revolution and until the resumption of peace and order, Tuy was temporarily under the governance of Balayan. It was in 1911 that the municipal government of Tuy was returned and Kapitan Baltazar Afable became the head of the Town.

During the American regime, the head of the Town is called “Presidente”. It began in 1901 up to 1941. From 1901-1914, the following became the Presidente of Tuy, Batangas:
1. Presidente Jacinto Macalaguim
2. Presidente BalatazarAfable
3. Presidente Gregorio Paradero
4. PresidentePio Sanchez
1901
1911
1913
1914
From 1915-1930, the title of the head of the town was still called Presidente. The following Presidentes still served until 1930.
1. Presidente NarcisoAfable
2. Presidente Sixto Rodriguez
3. Presidente Rafael Carandang
4. Presidente Vicente Almanzor
5. Presidente Eduardo Causapin
6. Presidente Galicano Afable
1915-1917
1918-1920
1921-1923
1924-1925
1925
1926-1930
From 1931 to the present the Local Chief Executive is titled Mayor. The following are the next set of local chief executives of the municipality titled as Mayor
1. Mayor Vicente Calingasan
2. Mayor Apolinario Apacible
3. Mayor Felix M. Almanzor
4. Mayor Tirso Cruz
5. Mayor Pedro C. Macalalad
6. Mayor Leonardo C. Calingasan
7. OIC Anacoreta A. Afable
8. Mayor Antonio A. Afable Sr.
9. Mayor Raquel Rowena A. Rodriguez
10. Mayor Edgardo G. Calingasan
1931-1939
1940-1941
1946-1947
1948-1951
1952-1963
1964-1986-1987-1996
1986
1996-1998
1998-2001
2001-2010
The current Local Chief Executive is Hon. Jose Jecerell C. Cerrado who assumed office in 2010. He is a development-oriented local official and ably supported by the Sangguniang Bayan in the delivery of basic services to the Tuynians. Pictures show past and present local government officials of Tuy.