PART 13 THE LLAMAS FAMILY OF DAGUPAN CITY,PANGASINAN AND THE FERCOLLA CLAN
PART 13 SOMETHING INTERESTING AND FUN ABOUT THE LLAMAS FAMILY OF THE PHILIPPINES
BY: DEO ANTONIO D. LLAMAS
THE LLAMAS FAMILY OF DAGUPAN CITY, PANGASINAN AND THE FERCOLLA CLAN
The Llamas family of Dagupan City, Pangasinan and the Fercolla Clan (Fernandez-Coquia- Llamas) and a glimpse of its history . This an excerpt from the history of Dagupan
PART VI. DAGUPAN MAYORS
TORIBIO JOVELLANOS-- Municipal President: 1900 (My Great Grand Father)
Don Toribio Jovellanos was appointed municipal president of Dagupan in 1900 by the American Military government. He was the first Dagupan town executive under American rule.
President Emilio Aguinaldo was still fighting at the time, and in Pangasinan, many Katipuneros, among them Don Daniel Maramba were still waging guerilla warfare against the Americans.
The main task of Don Toribio, therefore, as far as the Americans were concerned, was to pacify Dagupenos and lead them to accept American rule. It seems he was very successful in accomplishing this mission. Since his appointment as town executive, the Americans were not bothered by guerillas in Dagupan. The following year, when the Americans established civil government in Pangasinan, they made Dagupan the temporary capital of the province.
Don Toribio was a career weather observer in the weather bureau since the Spanish era. After his brief stint as municipal executive, he devoted his full time to his duties as an official of the weather bureau. He had a brother in Manila, Cesar Jovellanos, who was also weather Observer in Manila.
Don Toribio was married to the former Carmen Villamil, a teacher in the Dagupan provincial school. She was a classmate and friend of Leonor Rivera. When Leonor Rivera stayed in Dagupan in 1890 to 1891, she often visited Dona Carmen. Leonor used to play on the piano of Dona Carmen.
Their son, Jose P. Jovellanos likewise became municipal president of Dagupan.
FABIAN VILLAMIL - Municipal president: 1901
Don Fabian Villamil was the second Municipal president under the American regime. He was in power for only one year in 1901.
Don Fabian belonged to the wealthy Villamil family of Pantal. He was the second of the Villamils to become executive of Dagupan. During the Spanish time, a relative of his Don Reginaldo Villamil, served as Capitan of Dagupan. Capitan, in these days, was equivalent to mayor today.
Don Fabian was ranking officer of the Katipunan, and he fought in the battle of Dagupan on 1898 that resulted into the surrender of the Spanish forces under the command of General Federico Caballos. He was closely associated with former Pangasinan Governor Juan Alvear. The two of them founded the Espiritista Cristiana movement in Pangasinan. To this day, there are Espiritistas in Dagupan.
Don Fabian was married to Dona Juana Arzadon, granddaughter of Don Francisco Arzadon, a capitan during the Spanish regime Dona Juana, was the sister of Eliseo Arzadon, another colorful Katipunero of Dagupan.
Don Fabian and Dona Juana did not have any children.
DON JUAN VILLAMIL, Municipal President 1902-1905
Don Juan Villamil was the first elective municipal president during the American regime. He served for two terns from 1902 to 1905.
The first election was viva voce at the town plaza. It was conducted by an American government official. Villamil's opponent was Quiterio Favilla, son of then Governor Macario Favilla of Pangasinan.
The election started the este contra oeste political alignments in Dagupan. Favilla lived on the eastern side of the Toboy river; Villamil was on the western side.
Juan Crisostomo Villamil, now 68 years old and who has been named after Don Juan claims that the first elective municipal president was a kinsman of Don Pablo Villamil, the cabeza de barangay.
Presidente Villamil was editor-publisher of a newspaper in Dagupan for almost two decades at the start of the present century. Juan Saingan of Pantal, now 84 years old, claims to have worked in the printing press of Don Juan Saingan, could not anymore recall the name of the publication of Don Juan. (There was a publication in Pangasinan during this period called E1 Heraldo Pangasinan).
Saingan said Don Juan used to write and direct play. This talented Dagupan executive gained immortality when his Pangasinan translation of Jose Rizal's MI ULTIMO ADIOS was inscribed in bronze. This in now on display at the Rizal monument at the Luneta.
Don Juan was married to Sofia Laurel, daughter of Don Silvestre Laurel and sister of Don Mariano Laurel. The couple has four children: Esperanza, Francisco, Rosario and Cleofas.
Esperanza was carried to an American surveyor, Roy Blockman, the first man to own a car in Dagupan.
Francisco became a businessman, who ran a printing press before the war. He is now in the United States. He is the father of Alejandro Villamil and Johnny Villamil.
Rosario was married to Alejandro S. Venteres. Venteres translated the song composed by Riza1 in honor of Leonor Rivera, and entitled Leonor into Pangasinan. He also translated into Pangasinan Rizal's Noli Me Tangere.
Cleofas was married to Rufo Flor Mata of Lingayen. Dona Cleofas was the mother of Dona Loreta Flor-Mata, who was married to Jose Bernal Fernandez, the publisher of the Tunong Magazine during the decades of the 20's and 3Os,
When Don Juan ran for re-election in 1903, he was opposed by his brother-in-law, Don Mariano Laurel.
Don Mariano Laurel, who was residing in the house on the bank of the Toboy River where the Excella Academy used to stand, belonged to the este alignment.
The second election was conducted by secret ballot in the town plaza of Dagupan, which saw the brothers-in-law as opponents. This was the first election in Dagupan with the use of a ballot.
Villamil emerged victorious. During his term as Presidente municipal, our public school system was started on a temporary building in a house fronting the public plaza. Villamil later built the original Dagupan Central School along the bank of Toboy River on what is now Magsaysay Park.
DON GREGORIO BELTRAN Municipal President 1905-1906
Don Gregorio Beltran was catapulted to the municipal presidency at the height of the influence of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) in Dagupan.
The success of the Katipunan revolution, which ended Spanish rule in Dagupan with the surrender of General Federico Caballos, the commanding general of the Spanish forces in Pangasinan, to General Francisco Macabulos of the Katipunan, in Dagupan on July 23, 1898 shook Roman Catholicism in the Country.
In Dagupan, Padre Adriano Garces defected from the Catholic fold and joined the Aglipayan movement. Almost all of the prominent families in Dagupan went with him.
The Aglipayan Movement, headed by Bishop Gregorio Aglipay, was a nationalist movement in the church, the culmination of the Filipinism campaign of the martyr- priest Padre Jose Burgos.
The nationalist cause struck a very responsive chord in the heart of Don Pedro de Venecia. Don Pedro donated his lot, which adjoins the market site on Galvan Street on which the Aglipayan church now stands. A son of Don Pedro - the Rev. Santiago de Venecia, became an Aglipayan priest, while a daughter of his, Casimera, married Padre Gregorio Gaerlan, also of the Aglipayan church.
Those were the years when the enthusiasm for the Aglipayan church was at its peak in Dagupan. Don Gregorio Beltran was one of the leading stalwarts of Aglipayanism in Dagupan.
Before the presidency, he was employed in the municipal government, he was the son of Juan Beltran of Torres Bugallon Avenue west, and was married to an Ilocana, Catalina Mangued. The couple did not bear any child. After his term as municipal president, Don Gregorio entered the Aglipayan seminary in Urdaneta and later was ordained a priest. He was assigned in Anda town.
MODESTO HORTALEZA COQUIA Municipal President 1907-1909
DON MODESTO HORTALEZA COQUIA was the fifth to hold the position of municipal president of Dagupan. He was in power for two years from 1907 to 1909.
He studied at the Vigan Seminary; he had previously wanted to become a priest. Later he had a change of heart. He entered the government service and rose to the position of municipal treasurer.
His career in the government service was crowned by his election to the position of municipal president in 1907. During his days, life in the poblacion area of Dagupan was very inconvenient. Of course there was no electricity then. What is worse is that there was nowhere in the poblacion to fetch water to drink. Drinking water for the poblacion residents had to come from Pugaro, Pogo, Lasip or Malued and was brought to town by boat.
Against this background, you can imagine the significance of Don Modesto's efforts when he constructed the first two artesian wells in the poblacion area of Dagupan. One of the two wells continues to serve the city. It was tapped as a source of water supply for the water tank behind the city hall.
The population of Dagupan at that time was small; the two artesian wells must have been quite sufficient to meet the needs of the people in those days. He also brought electric service to town.
Don Modesto was the first Dagupan Executive to connect Bonuan to the poblacion with a bridge that could serve vehicular traffic. It was a temporary bridge, but it served the purpose. Humble though it was, that , too, was progress to the people of Bonuan.
From our interview with Juan Coquia, Don Modesto's son, the fifth Dagupan town executive was married to the former Genoveva Fernandez. They had six children: Calixto, Juan, Julieta, Esperanza, Francisca and Macaria.
Juan Coquia, one of our sources of information on Don Modesto was 84 years old. He lived on Arellano Street in Bani District.
One of Don Modesto's numerous grandchildren serve in Dagupan's municipal board as ex-officio city councilor: Dr. Ignacio Coquia de Guzman, Former city health officer of Dagupan and now the regional health director for Region I of the department of health.
MARIANO K. LAUREL Municipal President: 1909-1911
DON MARIANO K. LAUREL was one of three children of Silvestre Laurel and Maria Callanta.
Dona Maria was a wealthy Dagupena. Don Silvestre made good in business in Dagupan. He operated sailboats, called by the Laurel clan SAKAYAN which plied between Manila and Dagupan.
The grandaunt of Judge Callanta, in an interview, told us that Don Mariano was the first to change the letter C in the Callanta Family name of his mother to K to signify his Tagalog origins. By this statement, Judge Callanta confirms that Don Silvestre, father of Don Mariano, was a migrant to Dagupan from the Tagalog region. The other children of Don Silvestre and Dona Maria were Sofia Laurel and Ramon Laurel.
Sofia became the wife of former Dagupan municipal president Juan Villamil. Ramon died early, but was survived by one child, Maria Laurel. Ramon was known to have a golden voice. It is said that his vocal chords snapped while he was reaching a very high note and became ill which resulted into his premature death.
Don Mariano, as Dagupan executive, was the first to construct a concrete bridge. He constructed the original Quintos Bridge along Jose Torres Bugallon Avenue.
He was married to the former Celerina Nevado, with whom he had six children: Victorina, Procopio, Juana, Cornelio, Gregorio, and Angel. As a Family man, he sent his children to the best schools in the country and abroad. He sent Procopio to Germany to study aviation; Cornelio to Japan to study medicine, and Gregorio to the Philippine Military Academy to study military science. Angel the youngest, was drowned while swimming in the river in his early youth.
Victoria the eldest child, was married to Prudencio Catubig.
After finishing his medical course Cornelio died in Japan. He left behind a sweetheart in Dagupan who was so broken-hearted. The sweetheart, the late Miss Maria C. Magsano, proved her faithfulness to Cornelio by refusing to fall in love again to devote her energies to social work. One of Miss Magsano's loved novels, SAMBAN AGNABENEGAN, was written as a tribute to Cornelio's memory.
Juana Laurel was married to Perfecto Manila, a realty and insurance salesman.
DON ANTONIO LLAMAS FERNANDEZ Municipal President ( 1911- 1915 )
Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez was municipal president from 1911-1915. Before he entered politics, he was the municipal Judge of Binalonan town. While he was a Judge there, His wife, Capistrana Bernal, taught in the public schools.
Two volumes in a minutes of the serios of the municipal board of Dagupan during his administration are in existence today. They are in the possession of his son, Don Angel B. Fernandez. The volumes are book bound, in the official government forms of the period, most of them written in penmanship of the board secretary, the late Judge Prodencio Catubig.
"When the war broke out, the official records of the municipal government were in disarray. I saw the minutes of the board sessions during the administration of my father. I got them , to save them from destruction, "Don Angel disclosed to us.
Going over the two volumes, which were mostly in Spanish, with some smattering of English, we were amazed to discover the following:
The river in Pantal, which we commonly know as Pantal River, is actually called Toboy River;
The sessions of the municipal board, during his days, were held in the afternoon of Wednesday;
The municipal board was composed of 16 elective officials: the municipal president, the municipal vice president, and 14 municipal councilors.
The two volumes could also serve as a source for researchers who may wish to research about Pangasinan province during that period. Provincial board resolutions were usually on the agenda of the Dagupan municipal board. One such resolution declared the Anolid Bridge presumably in honor of Gov. Aquilino Calvo.
We came across two very important resolutions among the two volumes:
Resolution No. 23, adopted during the January 29, 1913 regular session. This resolution resolved that the municipal government of Dagupan secure a loan from the "Insular government" in the amount of P50,000.
The amount of P50,000 was to be used to purchase two lots: a) The public market site, and b) the lot on the opposite side of municipal St.( now know as Jose Torres Bugallon avenue) up to Toboy river. The extra money after paying the two lots, will be used to construct the market, and if there are still left, to construct a wharf along the riverside.
Resolution No. 81, adopted during the session of May 13, 1914. By means of this resolution, the municipal board accepted the turn over of the public market, which was constructed during the supervision of the district engineer. The market cost P22,597.75. This was the original market with tile roofing which was destroyed during the 1952 conflagration.
Credit for the acquisition of the two lots, and the construction of the original market will have to be shared by Don Antonio Fernandez with the members of his board, to wit: Municipal vice president: Felix Calimlim; municipal councilors: Eustacio del Rosario, Eulalio C. Reyes, Juanita Sales, Quiterio Favilla, Geraldo Ayson, Jose Valencerina, Macario Legaspi, Cirilo Catubig, Vicente Tiongson and Alejo Flores.
Some artesian wells in the barrio were also constructed during the administration of Don Antonio.
Don Antonio and Dona Capistrana had six children: Aurelio, Jose, Amado, Paz, Miguel and Angel. Aurelio became a businessman; Jose put up a printing press and published the newsmagazines Tunong. Amado studied medicine and put up a hospital but died during the outbreak of the war. Paz was married to Eng. Isidoro de Venecia; Miguel was a schoolteacher; and Angel became a mayor of Dagupan and Later congressman of the second district of Pangasinan. Vice Mayor Armando C. Fernandez is a grandson of Don Antonio.
CIRIACO PALAGANAS - Municipal President ( 1915-1916 )
DON CIRIACO PALAGANAS was municipal president in 1915. He was in office for only one year. He was married to Paula Venteres.
The First World War was raging in Europe when he was elected municipal president. When the United States joined the war, There arose a need for Filipino volunteers to fight Europe under the American flag.
In response to an appeal for Filipino volunteers, President Manuel L. Quezon pledged to send some 25,000 Filipino volunteers.
Municipal President Ciriaco Palaganas came out to volunteer his services. He left behind his elective post and underwent some training. He was commissioned as an officer.
As soon as the training of the Filipino volunteers was completed, The war suddenly ended. Palaganas could no longer return to his position as municipal president, Don Guillermo de Venecia, had already taken over.
President Quezon then employed Don Ciriaco in the Manila Railroad Company. His last assignment was as Station Master in Sariaya, Quezon.
Don Ciriaco was the son of Andres Palaganas. It was in the Palaganas house, on what is now Rivera street, where the family of Leonor Rivera moved after staying for sometime in the house of Don Alejandro Venteres on Jose Bugallon Avenue near the Quintos bridge.
One daughter, Mercedes Venteres Palaganas, who is now residing in Lipa City, where she was married, survives Don Ciriaco.
DON GUILLERMO DE VENECIA Municipal vice president 1911 Municipal President 1916-1918 2nd Term As Mun. Pres. 1925-1926
DON GUILLERMO DE VENECIA built himself a lasting memorial of his administration as municipal president. This was in the form of the municipal building, inaugurated in 1926, which today still serves as our city hall.
Son of Don Pablo De Venecia, the anak-banwa of Bolosan, he was the vice president of Don Ciriaco Palaganas in 1915. When Don Ciriaco was commissioned as an officer of the Filipino Volunteers to fight in Europe during the First World War, Don Guillermo took over as municipal president. He became municipal president for the second time in 1925. This was the time he built the municipal building.
The full membership of the municipal board, which assisted him build the presidencia included: Felix Calimlim, Numeriano Tanopo, Jose Penoy, Teofilo P. Guadiz, Lamberto Siquion-Reyna, Gualberto de Venecia, Pascual Lozano, Toribio Guardiana, Roman Villamil, Jose Jovellanos, Procesco Bautista, Martin Mejia, Felipe Bravo, Santiago Pastoral, with Federico Estrada as municipal board secretary.
Don Guillermo was married to Maria Rabago, daughter of Don Anacleto Rabago, the wealthy landowner who used to ownpractically the whole of Barrio Pogo Chico. The couple had seven children: Jose, Sr., Policronio, Zosimo, Alberto, Felipe, Paz and Guillermina.
Jose de Venecia Sr. became a judge of the court of first Instance, and father of Congressman Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Policronio studied medicine in Germany; he was elected among the first city councilors of Dagupan and later became a Philippine minister in Germany. Zosimo served in the US Army; Alberto, an engineer, died in Bataan during the war. Felipe is now a retired Regional Director of the department of Commerce and Industry. Guilermina was married to Engr. Roman Tuazon, Jr. of Lingayen. Former City Councilor Antonio C. de Venecia is another grandson of Don Guillermo.
DON JOSE V. JOVELLANOS Municipal President : 1919- 1922
DON JOSE VILLAMIL JOVELLANOS, Municipal president from 1919 to 1922, was the first son of a mayor to become mayor of Dagupan under the American rule.
He was the son of Don Toribio Jovellanos. Besides becoming municipal president ,he was also municipal councilor. He was a member of the municipal board when the presidencia building was built in 1962He built the Rizal monument in the town plaza. He was a newspaperman who wrote for the tunong magazine. Dr. Ricardo B. Villamil claims Don Jose devoted his time promoting baseball to keep the youth of his day away from the streets.
Married to the former Leonor Magno Venezuela of Pozurrubio the couple had nine children: Rosario, Tita, Jose, Jr, Cesar, Raymundo, Toribio II, Lucia, Carmelita and Emiliano.
DON FELIX CALIMLIM Municipal Vice President: 1911-1915 Municipal President : 1926-1928 Municipal Vice President : 1925-1926
DON FELIX CALIMLIM was president from 1926-1928. He was vice president at least twice before he ascended the municipal presidency.
During his first term as vice president, he helped Don Antonio Ll. Fernandez acquire the market site and build the original public market.
On his second term as vice president, he helped Don Guillermo de Venecia build the municipal building in 1926. When he came into power as municipal president, the municipal coffer was empty; the funds were exhausted in building the presidencia.
He devoted his time to improving barrio roads. He was married to Dolores Manzon of San Carlos. The couple had four children: Antonio, Engracia, Maria and Arsenio.
Antonio Manzon Calimlim became a teacher and retired as a school supervisor; Engracia is now a teacher at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, married to Damaso Morales, now a retired supervisor of the bureau of Private School. Maria Manzon Calimlim likewise became a teacher, she was married to Capt. Juan dela Cruz of the Philippine navy.
Felix Calimlim was an Uncle of Former Mayor Jose Paras Calimlim.
JOSE PARAS CALIMLIM Municipal Councilor : 1925-1931 (Topnother ) Municipal President : 1928-1931 2nd Term M. President : 1934-1937
DON JOSE PARAS CALIMLIM was the idol of the masses. He was a poor man, and he became even poorer when he entered politics.
As a public officials, his norm of conduct was circumscribed by his motto: "ANGANO NAUPOT SO TAMOROK YA MANASIN, AG AK MANTAKEW NA PILAK NA BALEY"
Before he was first elected municipal president he was a municipal councilor when the presidencia was built. He was first- elected municipal president.
Among his accomplishmentas as municipal president, were the following: 1) the construction of the West Central Elementary school, 2) he built the road that connects Tebeng and Mangin to the national road in Tambac, and 3) the first to build a bridge in Pogo.
He holds the distinction of being the first lawyer to be elected municipal president of Dagupan. He finished law at the Philippine Law school. He was the son of Felix Llamas Calimlim (not the municipal president) and Margareta Fernandez Paras. He was married to the Former Fortunata Acosta of Lingayen. After serving as municipal president he was later appointed as a circuit judge for the towns of Urbiztondo, Mangatarem and Aguilar. His last assignment was municipal judge of Dagupan. He died on August 11, 1945. He was survived by six children: Jose, Jr., Rosa, Manuel, Felix, Juanito and Eugenio. Jose Acosta Calimlim Jr., his eldest son, has been thrice elected city councilor of Dagupan.
JOSE FERNANDEZ LLAMAS Municipal President : 1931-1934 (My Grand Father)
JOSE FERNANDEZ LLAMAS belongs to a long line of the Llamas clan who were elected to the position of municipal president, municipal mayor and city mayor.
It started with Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez, to Amado Llamas Ayson, down to Liberato Llamas Reyna and even almost Felipe Llamas Cuison. Cuison was twice city mayor in 1967 but lost.
As town executive Don Jose left as a memorial of his administration, the water tank behind the city hall building. He also constructed the original Kiosk in the plaza which has been demolished in later years to give way to improvements.
He served in the government service in several other capacities: 1) as municipal councilor, 2)Pangasinan provincial board secretary during the term Gov. Servillano dela Cruz; 3) Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Representative during the time of Speaker Eugenio Perez; 4 ) Justice of the Peace of Sta. Barbara and Rosales.
As municipal president he was elected chairman of the Municipal Presidents League of Pangasinan. He won as municipal president on the platform that he would work for the Dagupan into a city,. He was the son of Juan Llamas and Eulalia Fernnadez, a sister of Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez. He was married to the forcer Maria Villamil Jovellanos daughter of DonToribio Jovellanos and Dona Carmen Villamil. He was a newspaperman-lawyer who wrote with the pen name Silin Tabal, for Tunong. He died August 16, 1960 and was survived by nine children: Alfonso, Hernando, Baltazar, Juanito, Angeles, Luis, Fanny, Jesusa and Leonides (My father).
Angeles inherited the piano of Dona Carmen Villamil, her grandmother. This was the piano on which Leonor Rivera used to play. She later donated the same piano to the Bulacan museum. She was married to Felipe Lazaro of Bustos, Bulacan.
Alfonso became a COMELEC register and a municipal judge and later became Regional Trial Court Judge, while Hernando is now city treasurer of San Carlos City (Pangasinan). Leonides is now municipal judge of Magsaysay Occidental Mindoro. Luis became a priest; Fanny is a Librarian head of the periodical section at the University of Santo Tomas, Baltazar is a ranking legal officer of the Bureau of Lands.
Don AMADO LLAMAS AYSON Municipal Councilor: 1934-1941 Municipal Mayor : 1943-1945 City Councilor : 1948-1951
DON AMADO LLAMAS AYSON in the estimate of many, is the greatest mayor Dagupan so far has ever had.
His greatness lies primarily in his heroic services as town mayor during the Japanese occupation by virtue of which position he was able to save the lives of many important Pangasinenses who were previously marked for liquidation.
As town executive, he was also able to fulfill the dream of Dagupenos. He made their beloved town the capital of Pangasinan. During the war years and some six months after the liberation. Dagupan was the capital of Pangasinan from 1942 to 1945.
Don Amado was municipal councilor for two terms from 1934 to 1941 when the war broke out. When Dagupan was formally organized as a city, he was among those elected members of the first municipal board.
He started his public career as a schoolteacher and rose to the rank of principal. He was principal in Mangatarem, Binmaley, and Dagupan. In 1925, he helped found the Dagupan Institute. He has been continually connected with the school since then. Born September 13, 1892. he was the son of Florentino Ayson and Silvestra Llamas. He married twice and has been twice a widower, but he never had a child.
RUPERTO ZABALA TANDOC Municipal Mayor: 1945 City Councilor : 1948-1951
DEAN RUPERTO ZABALA TANDOC was municipal mayor of Dagupan for eight months in 1945. He was appointed to office by President Sergio Osmena.
He was one among the eight winners in the November 10, 1947 polls. On the eve of the inauguration of Dagupan as a city for the single reason that he was a Nacionalista, he was not seated on January 1, 1948, when Dagupan was formally inaugurated as a city.
Together with Don Teofilo E. Guadiz, Jr., Policronio de Venecia and Flaviniano Mejia, he filed a quo warranto proceeding before the Supreme Court for him to be seated as city councilor. The case was decided in favor of the petitioners. They were subsequently seated as city councilor.
As mayor, he started the improvement and widening of the Bacayao Sur feeder road; the feeder road connecting Tapuac and Malued. He laid out the Bonuan golf course, and he was the one of the founders of the Luzon Colleges. As city councilor, he was one of the sponsors of the resolution, which authorized the construction of the Perez market during the administration of Angel B. Fernandez. Born on May 22, 1904, he is the son of Anecito F.Tandoc and Lucia Zabala of Malued. He holds two college degrees 1) Bachelor of Science in Commerce, from the Jose Rizal College and 2) Bachelor of Laws from the Philippine Law School.
He was formerly Dean, College of Commerce of the Dagupan Colleges (now University of Pangasinan) from 1947 to 1957, the Regional Manager of the Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO) and later branch manager of the Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration. Married to the former Maxima Villacorta, the couple has three children Cesar, Minda, and Perla.. Cesar studied commerce and law; Minda is now a physician, while Perla is a high school teacher.
ALIPIO FERNANDEZ SR. Mun. Councilor: 1932-1941; 1945(Four Terms) Mayor : 1946-1947 City Fiscal
DON ALIPIO FERNANDEZ ,SR. holds the singular distinction to be the last mayor of the municipality of Dagupan and the first city mayor when Dagupan became a city on June 2O, 1947.
He was appointed municipal mayor in January 1946 and remained in office until December 31, 1947; His term as municipal mayor ended on June 1, 1947. The following day, he became the First city mayor of Dagupan. But he never realized, at the time, that he was a city mayor. He thought all along, that he was still ruling- over the old municipality of Dagupan.
This was because of a decision among the leaders of the community, to inaugurate the new City on January 1, 1948. The Supreme Court however, on a quo warranto proceeding filed by four elected city councilors, who were not seated during the inauguration of the city on January 1, 1948, ruled that Dagupan became a city as of June 30, 1947. This was the day Republic Act 170 the charter of Dagupan City was approved into Law.
Don Alipio was a lawyer by profession. Before becoming mayor, he was four times elected municipal councilor from 1932 to 1941.
He served as technical assistant to Mayor Amado L1. Ayson during the Japanese occupation. In l945, he was returned to the municipal board as a councilor.
As mayor of Dagupan, he strengthened the career service of the municipal, and later, the city government, by employing only those who were qualified and possessed the necessary civil service eligibility. He also built the fire department headquarters and courthouse. When Dagupan became a city, he was appointed as a city fiscal, he stayed on this position for three years. He resigned from justice law and he taught in the Law schools of our local college.
In later years, he returned to the government service as a researcher in Court of appeals. From the position be was promoted to Legal Officer in the same court. Thereafter, he retired.
Son of Alejandro Fernandez and Miguela Fernandez (they were relatives), Don Alipio is the father of Majority Floor Leader Alipio Fernandez, Jr. of the 1972-1975 municipal board of the city.
He was married to the former Fredesvinda Fernandez ( Likewise his relative ) with whom he had 11 children: Lourdes, Corazon, Carmelo, Antonio, Alipio,Jr., Fredesvinda, Asterio, Angela, Alejandro and Marian.
Don Angel B. Fernandez was the sixth and youngest child of Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez and Capistrana Bernal. His father, Don Antonio was municipal president of Dagupan for four years from 1912 to 1915. A law graduate of the University of the Philippines, he was a newspaperman during his younger days. He wrote a column for the Silew Magazine entitled "Nipaakar Ed Katunungan". Before his entry into politics, he was municipal judge of Binmaley. He is the first Dagupan mayor so far to be elected congressman of the second district of the province. As mayor, he built the o1d school in Bonuan Boquig, the Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School moved, the Dagupan City High School from the Klar and the extension buildings on Jose Torres Bugallon avenue west to Tapuac on the Quonset huts of he secured from the Americans during the liberation.
He paved the expansion on the city towards Pogo by building the Perez Boulevard. He built the Perez market. He would widen the city streets, to meet the growing needs of the city and graveled the major roadlines to make them passable under any weather condition. He also built the bailey bridge across the Tanao river. Married to the former Corazon Manaois Cabal, a pharmacist, he has three children: Oscar Gil and Armando. His son Oscar is a ranking assistant Solicitor in the Solicitor Generals Office. Gil his second son has earned a reputation as a top rate surgeon now connected with the Veteran Memorial Hospital. Armando his youngest son, was elected as city vice mayor in 1971 for four years term, 1972-1975. Before he entered politics, Armando was Philippine Consul in Rome. He made specials studies in community development and grassroots cooperative and operated pilot projects in the Kilusang Kaunlaran Kapitbahay, which were all very successful.
TEOFILO P. GUADIZ Municipal Councilor: 1925-1941 ( Six Terms) City Councilor : 1948-1953 (Two Terms) Mayor : January 1,1954 to Sep. 12, 1957 : June 16, 1958 to Dec31,1959 Director : PNR
DON TEOFILO P., GUADIZ was twice city mayor of Dagupan. His first stint was from January 1, 1954 to September 12, 1957 when he resigned to run as congressman on the second district.
He opposed Don Angel B. Fernandez in the congressional poll of 1957 and lost. Then he was appointed as city mayor and continued in office up to December 31, 1959. Then on June 16, 1959 he was re-appointed as city mayor and continued in office up to December 31, 1959.
A lawyer, his law practice was most fruitful. He trained a number of Dagupeno Lawyers who eventually became fiscal including; Assistant City fiscal Peregrino Cornel, Assistant Fiscal Miguel Caquioa, and City Assessor Brigido Ugaban likewise came from his Law office.
He was one of the founders of the Orient Colleges and taught law in the said school.
As city mayor, he constructed the concrete Magsaysay bridge along Perez boulevard. He extended Rizal street from Rivera street up to the Iglesia ni Kristo compound in Pogo Chico. He also extended Galvan street from Gomez junction to Perez boulevard, and cemented portions of the main roadlines of the city. He built the two-story Dagupan City High School building in 1958. This same building, was destroyed by fire in 1968.
He cleared the eyesore bagoong market beside the Philippine National Bank and the area of the park. This is now the Magsaysay Park. He also constructed artesian wells for several barrios and secured some army type prefabricated school housed for the city schools.
During his incumbency as city mayor, Dagupan was adjudged the second city in the Philippines. The original market, built by Don Antonio LI. Fernandez in 1914 and in 1952, was rebuilt by Mayor Guadiz in 1954. This is the original market building behind the supermarket built by Reyna. Don Teofilo likewise built the market stalls along Galvan and the toilet in the public market. He is now director of the Philippine National Railways.
Two of his children became city councilors of Dagupan. The first was Teofilo L. Guadiz, Jr. who was councilor for two terms (1960-1963 and 1968 to 1971) After his second term as city councilor, Teofilo Jr., was appointed Court of first instance judge in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. The second son of Don Teofilo to become city councilor is Conrado L, Guadiz (1972-1975). He is also lawyer and a businessman. The other Guadiz children include: Fe, Elisa, Sergio, Nora, and Carlos.
His parents were Herminigildo Guadiz of Laoac, Pangasinan and Julia y Arzadon. He was born November 3, 1897 in Dagupan and was married to the former Maria Corazon Legaspi y Calimlim.
GAUDENCIO S. SIAPNO City Councilor 1955-1959 (Topnotcher) 2nd Term Councilor: 1963-1971 City Mayor 1957-1953 (11 Months)
DON GUADENCIO SIBAYAN SIAPNO a commerce graduate of the Luzon Colleges was son of the wealthy landowner from Malued. He was a relative of one Time Isidoro Siapno of the second district of Pangasinan.
On his first entry into politics, he came out topnotcher among the city councilor elected for the 1955-1959 term. On the basis of this No. 1 position as city councilor, he was appointed city mayor of Dagupan for a period of almost one year from 1957 to 1958,when then Mayor Teofilo P. Guadiz resigned to run for congressman in 1957. He served a second term as City councilor from 1963 to 1967.
As mayor, he devoted his time to the improvement of barrio roads and of schools houses.
He was the only son of Agustin Siapno and Amilliana Sibayan. He had five children: Norma (AB graduate) Leticia ( AB- Foreign Service and MA-Education); Gaudencio, Jr. (BSC- Accounting) Adolfo ( A Businessman) and Vicky ( Optometrist ) , His wife was Josefa Gutierrez.
LIBERATO LLAMAS REYNA City Councilor: 1943-1951 (Topnotcher) 2nd Term as Councilor: 1953-1955 3rd Term as Councilor: 1956-1959 City Mayor: 1960-1963 2nd Term As Mayor 1964-1967
Liberato L1amas Reyna was the sixth child of Lope Reyna and Rufina Llamas. He is a lawyer. He was born December 20, 1916.
He was thrice elected as city councilor before he became city mayor. He was first elective city mayor of Dagupan. He served as city mayor for two terms.
The Dagupan City Supermarket building is a monument to his administration. He constructed it on a self-liquidating basis, financed by a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The city public auditorium as it appears today (except the two coffee shops) and the KKK monument were built by civic clubs during his administration. Some portions of our major roads were concreted during his administration. He concreted Tanap bridge and built the water tank at the Perez market and started the construction of the city hall in Tapuac.
President Diosdado Macapagal proclaimed some 72 hectares of public land in Bonuan as a City Park and playground during his administration.
He also built artesian wells in the barrios. He was married to the former Celestina Calimlim, a pharmacist. The couple have six children: Teresita, a physician; Angel (BSC) businessman; Jesus, a physician; Liberato, Jr., a lawyer; Ramon 9BSC) businessman; Cernan, (animal husbandry) manager of reycal Livestock Farm. Ex-mayor Reyna is presently teaching law and is in the livestock production business. He is one of the founders of the Luzon Colleges.
CIPRIANO M. MANAOIS City Mayor: 1968-1971 2nd Term As Mayor: 1972-1975
CIPRIANO M. MANAOIS is the first certified public accountant to be elected city mayor of Dagupan.
He was the second child of Teodoro Manaois and Leonicia Melendez of Bonuan. His father was a fisherman who later became a Bangus fry concessionaire. He was born of July 4, 1922.
His brothers and sisters were: Luis, Antonina, Cirilo, Perfecta and Paula.
A self-supporting student, he worked for his education since he was in grade school. He started as janitor-messenger, and later as a printer in the printing press of his uncle, Angel Melendez. He finished his commerce degree, major in accounting, from the University of the East and took the board of examination in 1962 and passed it. He also graduated law from the University of Negros Occidental. He passed the following civil service examination: 1) Second grade; 2) Agent-Examiner (BIR); 3) Supervisor; 4) First grade Regular and 5) CPA. He was a Supervising Revenue Examiner before he was elected city mayor in 1967.
A civic leader, he become Governor of Lions International, District 301-c and represented the Philippine Lions in several international conferences in the United States, Japan, Thailand and elsewhere.
He was director of the provincial Governors and City Mayors League of the Philippines and served as Vice Chairman on Constitutional Amendments of the City Mayors League of the Philippine.
As a businessman, he founded C. M. Manaois Motors Corporation, a firm that manufactures palay, threshers, services corn and rice mills, and builds all types of bodies of jeeps and trucks.
When he first assumed office as mayor, the city government had accumulated unpaid obligations of P1.3 millions. During his first term, he updated that account and increased the city income to P2.6 millions and raised the classification of the city to first class.
He put up sufficient prefabricated school buildings throughout the city so that when the Dagupan City High School building in Tapuac was burned in 1968, there were enough pre-fab school buildings at the West Central Elementary School to accommodate the high school students.
He went on an aggressive program to put up new artesian wells in the barrios, and repaired the worn out ones constructed by his predecessors. Portions of the city majors roadlines were concrete under his administration, and construction of the Calmay and Dawel bridges was started.
The two beautiful coffee shops, which heightened the beauty of the public plaza, were constructed under his administration, including the construction of the flower garden in front of the post office, and the lawn at the Magsaysay monument.
As a temporary solution to the congestion inside the public market and the take-over by sidewalk vendors of the streets surrounding the market, he put an open market at the Magsaysay Park.
Manaois was twice selected by the President Assistant on Community Development as "Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines" He is married to the former Fe Campos Cruz, a physician, from Sta. Barbara. Mre. Manaois is a resident physician of the Pangasinan General Hospital; and associate of the Philippine College of Surgeons, and one time president of the Pangasinan chapter of the Philippine Medical Women's Society.
The Manaois have eight children: Betha Fe, (UST-medical student); Teodoro III, AB graduate and now law student at San Beda: Marilyn, (BSC student UE); Besilda and Mamerto (at Brent school, Baguio); Medarlo and Victor Ferdinand,
BY: DEO ANTONIO D. LLAMAS
THE LLAMAS FAMILY OF DAGUPAN CITY, PANGASINAN AND THE FERCOLLA CLAN
The Llamas family of Dagupan City, Pangasinan and the Fercolla Clan (Fernandez-Coquia- Llamas) and a glimpse of its history . This an excerpt from the history of Dagupan
PART VI. DAGUPAN MAYORS
TORIBIO JOVELLANOS-- Municipal President: 1900 (My Great Grand Father)
Don Toribio Jovellanos was appointed municipal president of Dagupan in 1900 by the American Military government. He was the first Dagupan town executive under American rule.
President Emilio Aguinaldo was still fighting at the time, and in Pangasinan, many Katipuneros, among them Don Daniel Maramba were still waging guerilla warfare against the Americans.
The main task of Don Toribio, therefore, as far as the Americans were concerned, was to pacify Dagupenos and lead them to accept American rule. It seems he was very successful in accomplishing this mission. Since his appointment as town executive, the Americans were not bothered by guerillas in Dagupan. The following year, when the Americans established civil government in Pangasinan, they made Dagupan the temporary capital of the province.
Don Toribio was a career weather observer in the weather bureau since the Spanish era. After his brief stint as municipal executive, he devoted his full time to his duties as an official of the weather bureau. He had a brother in Manila, Cesar Jovellanos, who was also weather Observer in Manila.
Don Toribio was married to the former Carmen Villamil, a teacher in the Dagupan provincial school. She was a classmate and friend of Leonor Rivera. When Leonor Rivera stayed in Dagupan in 1890 to 1891, she often visited Dona Carmen. Leonor used to play on the piano of Dona Carmen.
Their son, Jose P. Jovellanos likewise became municipal president of Dagupan.
FABIAN VILLAMIL - Municipal president: 1901
Don Fabian Villamil was the second Municipal president under the American regime. He was in power for only one year in 1901.
Don Fabian belonged to the wealthy Villamil family of Pantal. He was the second of the Villamils to become executive of Dagupan. During the Spanish time, a relative of his Don Reginaldo Villamil, served as Capitan of Dagupan. Capitan, in these days, was equivalent to mayor today.
Don Fabian was ranking officer of the Katipunan, and he fought in the battle of Dagupan on 1898 that resulted into the surrender of the Spanish forces under the command of General Federico Caballos. He was closely associated with former Pangasinan Governor Juan Alvear. The two of them founded the Espiritista Cristiana movement in Pangasinan. To this day, there are Espiritistas in Dagupan.
Don Fabian was married to Dona Juana Arzadon, granddaughter of Don Francisco Arzadon, a capitan during the Spanish regime Dona Juana, was the sister of Eliseo Arzadon, another colorful Katipunero of Dagupan.
Don Fabian and Dona Juana did not have any children.
DON JUAN VILLAMIL, Municipal President 1902-1905
Don Juan Villamil was the first elective municipal president during the American regime. He served for two terns from 1902 to 1905.
The first election was viva voce at the town plaza. It was conducted by an American government official. Villamil's opponent was Quiterio Favilla, son of then Governor Macario Favilla of Pangasinan.
The election started the este contra oeste political alignments in Dagupan. Favilla lived on the eastern side of the Toboy river; Villamil was on the western side.
Juan Crisostomo Villamil, now 68 years old and who has been named after Don Juan claims that the first elective municipal president was a kinsman of Don Pablo Villamil, the cabeza de barangay.
Presidente Villamil was editor-publisher of a newspaper in Dagupan for almost two decades at the start of the present century. Juan Saingan of Pantal, now 84 years old, claims to have worked in the printing press of Don Juan Saingan, could not anymore recall the name of the publication of Don Juan. (There was a publication in Pangasinan during this period called E1 Heraldo Pangasinan).
Saingan said Don Juan used to write and direct play. This talented Dagupan executive gained immortality when his Pangasinan translation of Jose Rizal's MI ULTIMO ADIOS was inscribed in bronze. This in now on display at the Rizal monument at the Luneta.
Don Juan was married to Sofia Laurel, daughter of Don Silvestre Laurel and sister of Don Mariano Laurel. The couple has four children: Esperanza, Francisco, Rosario and Cleofas.
Esperanza was carried to an American surveyor, Roy Blockman, the first man to own a car in Dagupan.
Francisco became a businessman, who ran a printing press before the war. He is now in the United States. He is the father of Alejandro Villamil and Johnny Villamil.
Rosario was married to Alejandro S. Venteres. Venteres translated the song composed by Riza1 in honor of Leonor Rivera, and entitled Leonor into Pangasinan. He also translated into Pangasinan Rizal's Noli Me Tangere.
Cleofas was married to Rufo Flor Mata of Lingayen. Dona Cleofas was the mother of Dona Loreta Flor-Mata, who was married to Jose Bernal Fernandez, the publisher of the Tunong Magazine during the decades of the 20's and 3Os,
When Don Juan ran for re-election in 1903, he was opposed by his brother-in-law, Don Mariano Laurel.
Don Mariano Laurel, who was residing in the house on the bank of the Toboy River where the Excella Academy used to stand, belonged to the este alignment.
The second election was conducted by secret ballot in the town plaza of Dagupan, which saw the brothers-in-law as opponents. This was the first election in Dagupan with the use of a ballot.
Villamil emerged victorious. During his term as Presidente municipal, our public school system was started on a temporary building in a house fronting the public plaza. Villamil later built the original Dagupan Central School along the bank of Toboy River on what is now Magsaysay Park.
DON GREGORIO BELTRAN Municipal President 1905-1906
Don Gregorio Beltran was catapulted to the municipal presidency at the height of the influence of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) in Dagupan.
The success of the Katipunan revolution, which ended Spanish rule in Dagupan with the surrender of General Federico Caballos, the commanding general of the Spanish forces in Pangasinan, to General Francisco Macabulos of the Katipunan, in Dagupan on July 23, 1898 shook Roman Catholicism in the Country.
In Dagupan, Padre Adriano Garces defected from the Catholic fold and joined the Aglipayan movement. Almost all of the prominent families in Dagupan went with him.
The Aglipayan Movement, headed by Bishop Gregorio Aglipay, was a nationalist movement in the church, the culmination of the Filipinism campaign of the martyr- priest Padre Jose Burgos.
The nationalist cause struck a very responsive chord in the heart of Don Pedro de Venecia. Don Pedro donated his lot, which adjoins the market site on Galvan Street on which the Aglipayan church now stands. A son of Don Pedro - the Rev. Santiago de Venecia, became an Aglipayan priest, while a daughter of his, Casimera, married Padre Gregorio Gaerlan, also of the Aglipayan church.
Those were the years when the enthusiasm for the Aglipayan church was at its peak in Dagupan. Don Gregorio Beltran was one of the leading stalwarts of Aglipayanism in Dagupan.
Before the presidency, he was employed in the municipal government, he was the son of Juan Beltran of Torres Bugallon Avenue west, and was married to an Ilocana, Catalina Mangued. The couple did not bear any child. After his term as municipal president, Don Gregorio entered the Aglipayan seminary in Urdaneta and later was ordained a priest. He was assigned in Anda town.
MODESTO HORTALEZA COQUIA Municipal President 1907-1909
DON MODESTO HORTALEZA COQUIA was the fifth to hold the position of municipal president of Dagupan. He was in power for two years from 1907 to 1909.
He studied at the Vigan Seminary; he had previously wanted to become a priest. Later he had a change of heart. He entered the government service and rose to the position of municipal treasurer.
His career in the government service was crowned by his election to the position of municipal president in 1907. During his days, life in the poblacion area of Dagupan was very inconvenient. Of course there was no electricity then. What is worse is that there was nowhere in the poblacion to fetch water to drink. Drinking water for the poblacion residents had to come from Pugaro, Pogo, Lasip or Malued and was brought to town by boat.
Against this background, you can imagine the significance of Don Modesto's efforts when he constructed the first two artesian wells in the poblacion area of Dagupan. One of the two wells continues to serve the city. It was tapped as a source of water supply for the water tank behind the city hall.
The population of Dagupan at that time was small; the two artesian wells must have been quite sufficient to meet the needs of the people in those days. He also brought electric service to town.
Don Modesto was the first Dagupan Executive to connect Bonuan to the poblacion with a bridge that could serve vehicular traffic. It was a temporary bridge, but it served the purpose. Humble though it was, that , too, was progress to the people of Bonuan.
From our interview with Juan Coquia, Don Modesto's son, the fifth Dagupan town executive was married to the former Genoveva Fernandez. They had six children: Calixto, Juan, Julieta, Esperanza, Francisca and Macaria.
Juan Coquia, one of our sources of information on Don Modesto was 84 years old. He lived on Arellano Street in Bani District.
One of Don Modesto's numerous grandchildren serve in Dagupan's municipal board as ex-officio city councilor: Dr. Ignacio Coquia de Guzman, Former city health officer of Dagupan and now the regional health director for Region I of the department of health.
MARIANO K. LAUREL Municipal President: 1909-1911
DON MARIANO K. LAUREL was one of three children of Silvestre Laurel and Maria Callanta.
Dona Maria was a wealthy Dagupena. Don Silvestre made good in business in Dagupan. He operated sailboats, called by the Laurel clan SAKAYAN which plied between Manila and Dagupan.
The grandaunt of Judge Callanta, in an interview, told us that Don Mariano was the first to change the letter C in the Callanta Family name of his mother to K to signify his Tagalog origins. By this statement, Judge Callanta confirms that Don Silvestre, father of Don Mariano, was a migrant to Dagupan from the Tagalog region. The other children of Don Silvestre and Dona Maria were Sofia Laurel and Ramon Laurel.
Sofia became the wife of former Dagupan municipal president Juan Villamil. Ramon died early, but was survived by one child, Maria Laurel. Ramon was known to have a golden voice. It is said that his vocal chords snapped while he was reaching a very high note and became ill which resulted into his premature death.
Don Mariano, as Dagupan executive, was the first to construct a concrete bridge. He constructed the original Quintos Bridge along Jose Torres Bugallon Avenue.
He was married to the former Celerina Nevado, with whom he had six children: Victorina, Procopio, Juana, Cornelio, Gregorio, and Angel. As a Family man, he sent his children to the best schools in the country and abroad. He sent Procopio to Germany to study aviation; Cornelio to Japan to study medicine, and Gregorio to the Philippine Military Academy to study military science. Angel the youngest, was drowned while swimming in the river in his early youth.
Victoria the eldest child, was married to Prudencio Catubig.
After finishing his medical course Cornelio died in Japan. He left behind a sweetheart in Dagupan who was so broken-hearted. The sweetheart, the late Miss Maria C. Magsano, proved her faithfulness to Cornelio by refusing to fall in love again to devote her energies to social work. One of Miss Magsano's loved novels, SAMBAN AGNABENEGAN, was written as a tribute to Cornelio's memory.
Juana Laurel was married to Perfecto Manila, a realty and insurance salesman.
DON ANTONIO LLAMAS FERNANDEZ Municipal President ( 1911- 1915 )
Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez was municipal president from 1911-1915. Before he entered politics, he was the municipal Judge of Binalonan town. While he was a Judge there, His wife, Capistrana Bernal, taught in the public schools.
Two volumes in a minutes of the serios of the municipal board of Dagupan during his administration are in existence today. They are in the possession of his son, Don Angel B. Fernandez. The volumes are book bound, in the official government forms of the period, most of them written in penmanship of the board secretary, the late Judge Prodencio Catubig.
"When the war broke out, the official records of the municipal government were in disarray. I saw the minutes of the board sessions during the administration of my father. I got them , to save them from destruction, "Don Angel disclosed to us.
Going over the two volumes, which were mostly in Spanish, with some smattering of English, we were amazed to discover the following:
The river in Pantal, which we commonly know as Pantal River, is actually called Toboy River;
The sessions of the municipal board, during his days, were held in the afternoon of Wednesday;
The municipal board was composed of 16 elective officials: the municipal president, the municipal vice president, and 14 municipal councilors.
The two volumes could also serve as a source for researchers who may wish to research about Pangasinan province during that period. Provincial board resolutions were usually on the agenda of the Dagupan municipal board. One such resolution declared the Anolid Bridge presumably in honor of Gov. Aquilino Calvo.
We came across two very important resolutions among the two volumes:
Resolution No. 23, adopted during the January 29, 1913 regular session. This resolution resolved that the municipal government of Dagupan secure a loan from the "Insular government" in the amount of P50,000.
The amount of P50,000 was to be used to purchase two lots: a) The public market site, and b) the lot on the opposite side of municipal St.( now know as Jose Torres Bugallon avenue) up to Toboy river. The extra money after paying the two lots, will be used to construct the market, and if there are still left, to construct a wharf along the riverside.
Resolution No. 81, adopted during the session of May 13, 1914. By means of this resolution, the municipal board accepted the turn over of the public market, which was constructed during the supervision of the district engineer. The market cost P22,597.75. This was the original market with tile roofing which was destroyed during the 1952 conflagration.
Credit for the acquisition of the two lots, and the construction of the original market will have to be shared by Don Antonio Fernandez with the members of his board, to wit: Municipal vice president: Felix Calimlim; municipal councilors: Eustacio del Rosario, Eulalio C. Reyes, Juanita Sales, Quiterio Favilla, Geraldo Ayson, Jose Valencerina, Macario Legaspi, Cirilo Catubig, Vicente Tiongson and Alejo Flores.
Some artesian wells in the barrio were also constructed during the administration of Don Antonio.
Don Antonio and Dona Capistrana had six children: Aurelio, Jose, Amado, Paz, Miguel and Angel. Aurelio became a businessman; Jose put up a printing press and published the newsmagazines Tunong. Amado studied medicine and put up a hospital but died during the outbreak of the war. Paz was married to Eng. Isidoro de Venecia; Miguel was a schoolteacher; and Angel became a mayor of Dagupan and Later congressman of the second district of Pangasinan. Vice Mayor Armando C. Fernandez is a grandson of Don Antonio.
CIRIACO PALAGANAS - Municipal President ( 1915-1916 )
DON CIRIACO PALAGANAS was municipal president in 1915. He was in office for only one year. He was married to Paula Venteres.
The First World War was raging in Europe when he was elected municipal president. When the United States joined the war, There arose a need for Filipino volunteers to fight Europe under the American flag.
In response to an appeal for Filipino volunteers, President Manuel L. Quezon pledged to send some 25,000 Filipino volunteers.
Municipal President Ciriaco Palaganas came out to volunteer his services. He left behind his elective post and underwent some training. He was commissioned as an officer.
As soon as the training of the Filipino volunteers was completed, The war suddenly ended. Palaganas could no longer return to his position as municipal president, Don Guillermo de Venecia, had already taken over.
President Quezon then employed Don Ciriaco in the Manila Railroad Company. His last assignment was as Station Master in Sariaya, Quezon.
Don Ciriaco was the son of Andres Palaganas. It was in the Palaganas house, on what is now Rivera street, where the family of Leonor Rivera moved after staying for sometime in the house of Don Alejandro Venteres on Jose Bugallon Avenue near the Quintos bridge.
One daughter, Mercedes Venteres Palaganas, who is now residing in Lipa City, where she was married, survives Don Ciriaco.
DON GUILLERMO DE VENECIA Municipal vice president 1911 Municipal President 1916-1918 2nd Term As Mun. Pres. 1925-1926
DON GUILLERMO DE VENECIA built himself a lasting memorial of his administration as municipal president. This was in the form of the municipal building, inaugurated in 1926, which today still serves as our city hall.
Son of Don Pablo De Venecia, the anak-banwa of Bolosan, he was the vice president of Don Ciriaco Palaganas in 1915. When Don Ciriaco was commissioned as an officer of the Filipino Volunteers to fight in Europe during the First World War, Don Guillermo took over as municipal president. He became municipal president for the second time in 1925. This was the time he built the municipal building.
The full membership of the municipal board, which assisted him build the presidencia included: Felix Calimlim, Numeriano Tanopo, Jose Penoy, Teofilo P. Guadiz, Lamberto Siquion-Reyna, Gualberto de Venecia, Pascual Lozano, Toribio Guardiana, Roman Villamil, Jose Jovellanos, Procesco Bautista, Martin Mejia, Felipe Bravo, Santiago Pastoral, with Federico Estrada as municipal board secretary.
Don Guillermo was married to Maria Rabago, daughter of Don Anacleto Rabago, the wealthy landowner who used to ownpractically the whole of Barrio Pogo Chico. The couple had seven children: Jose, Sr., Policronio, Zosimo, Alberto, Felipe, Paz and Guillermina.
Jose de Venecia Sr. became a judge of the court of first Instance, and father of Congressman Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Policronio studied medicine in Germany; he was elected among the first city councilors of Dagupan and later became a Philippine minister in Germany. Zosimo served in the US Army; Alberto, an engineer, died in Bataan during the war. Felipe is now a retired Regional Director of the department of Commerce and Industry. Guilermina was married to Engr. Roman Tuazon, Jr. of Lingayen. Former City Councilor Antonio C. de Venecia is another grandson of Don Guillermo.
DON JOSE V. JOVELLANOS Municipal President : 1919- 1922
DON JOSE VILLAMIL JOVELLANOS, Municipal president from 1919 to 1922, was the first son of a mayor to become mayor of Dagupan under the American rule.
He was the son of Don Toribio Jovellanos. Besides becoming municipal president ,he was also municipal councilor. He was a member of the municipal board when the presidencia building was built in 1962He built the Rizal monument in the town plaza. He was a newspaperman who wrote for the tunong magazine. Dr. Ricardo B. Villamil claims Don Jose devoted his time promoting baseball to keep the youth of his day away from the streets.
Married to the former Leonor Magno Venezuela of Pozurrubio the couple had nine children: Rosario, Tita, Jose, Jr, Cesar, Raymundo, Toribio II, Lucia, Carmelita and Emiliano.
DON FELIX CALIMLIM Municipal Vice President: 1911-1915 Municipal President : 1926-1928 Municipal Vice President : 1925-1926
DON FELIX CALIMLIM was president from 1926-1928. He was vice president at least twice before he ascended the municipal presidency.
During his first term as vice president, he helped Don Antonio Ll. Fernandez acquire the market site and build the original public market.
On his second term as vice president, he helped Don Guillermo de Venecia build the municipal building in 1926. When he came into power as municipal president, the municipal coffer was empty; the funds were exhausted in building the presidencia.
He devoted his time to improving barrio roads. He was married to Dolores Manzon of San Carlos. The couple had four children: Antonio, Engracia, Maria and Arsenio.
Antonio Manzon Calimlim became a teacher and retired as a school supervisor; Engracia is now a teacher at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, married to Damaso Morales, now a retired supervisor of the bureau of Private School. Maria Manzon Calimlim likewise became a teacher, she was married to Capt. Juan dela Cruz of the Philippine navy.
Felix Calimlim was an Uncle of Former Mayor Jose Paras Calimlim.
JOSE PARAS CALIMLIM Municipal Councilor : 1925-1931 (Topnother ) Municipal President : 1928-1931 2nd Term M. President : 1934-1937
DON JOSE PARAS CALIMLIM was the idol of the masses. He was a poor man, and he became even poorer when he entered politics.
As a public officials, his norm of conduct was circumscribed by his motto: "ANGANO NAUPOT SO TAMOROK YA MANASIN, AG AK MANTAKEW NA PILAK NA BALEY"
Before he was first elected municipal president he was a municipal councilor when the presidencia was built. He was first- elected municipal president.
Among his accomplishmentas as municipal president, were the following: 1) the construction of the West Central Elementary school, 2) he built the road that connects Tebeng and Mangin to the national road in Tambac, and 3) the first to build a bridge in Pogo.
He holds the distinction of being the first lawyer to be elected municipal president of Dagupan. He finished law at the Philippine Law school. He was the son of Felix Llamas Calimlim (not the municipal president) and Margareta Fernandez Paras. He was married to the Former Fortunata Acosta of Lingayen. After serving as municipal president he was later appointed as a circuit judge for the towns of Urbiztondo, Mangatarem and Aguilar. His last assignment was municipal judge of Dagupan. He died on August 11, 1945. He was survived by six children: Jose, Jr., Rosa, Manuel, Felix, Juanito and Eugenio. Jose Acosta Calimlim Jr., his eldest son, has been thrice elected city councilor of Dagupan.
JOSE FERNANDEZ LLAMAS Municipal President : 1931-1934 (My Grand Father)
JOSE FERNANDEZ LLAMAS belongs to a long line of the Llamas clan who were elected to the position of municipal president, municipal mayor and city mayor.
It started with Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez, to Amado Llamas Ayson, down to Liberato Llamas Reyna and even almost Felipe Llamas Cuison. Cuison was twice city mayor in 1967 but lost.
As town executive Don Jose left as a memorial of his administration, the water tank behind the city hall building. He also constructed the original Kiosk in the plaza which has been demolished in later years to give way to improvements.
He served in the government service in several other capacities: 1) as municipal councilor, 2)Pangasinan provincial board secretary during the term Gov. Servillano dela Cruz; 3) Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Representative during the time of Speaker Eugenio Perez; 4 ) Justice of the Peace of Sta. Barbara and Rosales.
As municipal president he was elected chairman of the Municipal Presidents League of Pangasinan. He won as municipal president on the platform that he would work for the Dagupan into a city,. He was the son of Juan Llamas and Eulalia Fernnadez, a sister of Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez. He was married to the forcer Maria Villamil Jovellanos daughter of DonToribio Jovellanos and Dona Carmen Villamil. He was a newspaperman-lawyer who wrote with the pen name Silin Tabal, for Tunong. He died August 16, 1960 and was survived by nine children: Alfonso, Hernando, Baltazar, Juanito, Angeles, Luis, Fanny, Jesusa and Leonides (My father).
Angeles inherited the piano of Dona Carmen Villamil, her grandmother. This was the piano on which Leonor Rivera used to play. She later donated the same piano to the Bulacan museum. She was married to Felipe Lazaro of Bustos, Bulacan.
Alfonso became a COMELEC register and a municipal judge and later became Regional Trial Court Judge, while Hernando is now city treasurer of San Carlos City (Pangasinan). Leonides is now municipal judge of Magsaysay Occidental Mindoro. Luis became a priest; Fanny is a Librarian head of the periodical section at the University of Santo Tomas, Baltazar is a ranking legal officer of the Bureau of Lands.
Don AMADO LLAMAS AYSON Municipal Councilor: 1934-1941 Municipal Mayor : 1943-1945 City Councilor : 1948-1951
DON AMADO LLAMAS AYSON in the estimate of many, is the greatest mayor Dagupan so far has ever had.
His greatness lies primarily in his heroic services as town mayor during the Japanese occupation by virtue of which position he was able to save the lives of many important Pangasinenses who were previously marked for liquidation.
As town executive, he was also able to fulfill the dream of Dagupenos. He made their beloved town the capital of Pangasinan. During the war years and some six months after the liberation. Dagupan was the capital of Pangasinan from 1942 to 1945.
Don Amado was municipal councilor for two terms from 1934 to 1941 when the war broke out. When Dagupan was formally organized as a city, he was among those elected members of the first municipal board.
He started his public career as a schoolteacher and rose to the rank of principal. He was principal in Mangatarem, Binmaley, and Dagupan. In 1925, he helped found the Dagupan Institute. He has been continually connected with the school since then. Born September 13, 1892. he was the son of Florentino Ayson and Silvestra Llamas. He married twice and has been twice a widower, but he never had a child.
RUPERTO ZABALA TANDOC Municipal Mayor: 1945 City Councilor : 1948-1951
DEAN RUPERTO ZABALA TANDOC was municipal mayor of Dagupan for eight months in 1945. He was appointed to office by President Sergio Osmena.
He was one among the eight winners in the November 10, 1947 polls. On the eve of the inauguration of Dagupan as a city for the single reason that he was a Nacionalista, he was not seated on January 1, 1948, when Dagupan was formally inaugurated as a city.
Together with Don Teofilo E. Guadiz, Jr., Policronio de Venecia and Flaviniano Mejia, he filed a quo warranto proceeding before the Supreme Court for him to be seated as city councilor. The case was decided in favor of the petitioners. They were subsequently seated as city councilor.
As mayor, he started the improvement and widening of the Bacayao Sur feeder road; the feeder road connecting Tapuac and Malued. He laid out the Bonuan golf course, and he was the one of the founders of the Luzon Colleges. As city councilor, he was one of the sponsors of the resolution, which authorized the construction of the Perez market during the administration of Angel B. Fernandez. Born on May 22, 1904, he is the son of Anecito F.Tandoc and Lucia Zabala of Malued. He holds two college degrees 1) Bachelor of Science in Commerce, from the Jose Rizal College and 2) Bachelor of Laws from the Philippine Law School.
He was formerly Dean, College of Commerce of the Dagupan Colleges (now University of Pangasinan) from 1947 to 1957, the Regional Manager of the Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO) and later branch manager of the Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration. Married to the former Maxima Villacorta, the couple has three children Cesar, Minda, and Perla.. Cesar studied commerce and law; Minda is now a physician, while Perla is a high school teacher.
ALIPIO FERNANDEZ SR. Mun. Councilor: 1932-1941; 1945(Four Terms) Mayor : 1946-1947 City Fiscal
DON ALIPIO FERNANDEZ ,SR. holds the singular distinction to be the last mayor of the municipality of Dagupan and the first city mayor when Dagupan became a city on June 2O, 1947.
He was appointed municipal mayor in January 1946 and remained in office until December 31, 1947; His term as municipal mayor ended on June 1, 1947. The following day, he became the First city mayor of Dagupan. But he never realized, at the time, that he was a city mayor. He thought all along, that he was still ruling- over the old municipality of Dagupan.
This was because of a decision among the leaders of the community, to inaugurate the new City on January 1, 1948. The Supreme Court however, on a quo warranto proceeding filed by four elected city councilors, who were not seated during the inauguration of the city on January 1, 1948, ruled that Dagupan became a city as of June 30, 1947. This was the day Republic Act 170 the charter of Dagupan City was approved into Law.
Don Alipio was a lawyer by profession. Before becoming mayor, he was four times elected municipal councilor from 1932 to 1941.
He served as technical assistant to Mayor Amado L1. Ayson during the Japanese occupation. In l945, he was returned to the municipal board as a councilor.
As mayor of Dagupan, he strengthened the career service of the municipal, and later, the city government, by employing only those who were qualified and possessed the necessary civil service eligibility. He also built the fire department headquarters and courthouse. When Dagupan became a city, he was appointed as a city fiscal, he stayed on this position for three years. He resigned from justice law and he taught in the Law schools of our local college.
In later years, he returned to the government service as a researcher in Court of appeals. From the position be was promoted to Legal Officer in the same court. Thereafter, he retired.
Son of Alejandro Fernandez and Miguela Fernandez (they were relatives), Don Alipio is the father of Majority Floor Leader Alipio Fernandez, Jr. of the 1972-1975 municipal board of the city.
He was married to the former Fredesvinda Fernandez ( Likewise his relative ) with whom he had 11 children: Lourdes, Corazon, Carmelo, Antonio, Alipio,Jr., Fredesvinda, Asterio, Angela, Alejandro and Marian.
Don Angel B. Fernandez was the sixth and youngest child of Don Antonio Llamas Fernandez and Capistrana Bernal. His father, Don Antonio was municipal president of Dagupan for four years from 1912 to 1915. A law graduate of the University of the Philippines, he was a newspaperman during his younger days. He wrote a column for the Silew Magazine entitled "Nipaakar Ed Katunungan". Before his entry into politics, he was municipal judge of Binmaley. He is the first Dagupan mayor so far to be elected congressman of the second district of the province. As mayor, he built the o1d school in Bonuan Boquig, the Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School moved, the Dagupan City High School from the Klar and the extension buildings on Jose Torres Bugallon avenue west to Tapuac on the Quonset huts of he secured from the Americans during the liberation.
He paved the expansion on the city towards Pogo by building the Perez Boulevard. He built the Perez market. He would widen the city streets, to meet the growing needs of the city and graveled the major roadlines to make them passable under any weather condition. He also built the bailey bridge across the Tanao river. Married to the former Corazon Manaois Cabal, a pharmacist, he has three children: Oscar Gil and Armando. His son Oscar is a ranking assistant Solicitor in the Solicitor Generals Office. Gil his second son has earned a reputation as a top rate surgeon now connected with the Veteran Memorial Hospital. Armando his youngest son, was elected as city vice mayor in 1971 for four years term, 1972-1975. Before he entered politics, Armando was Philippine Consul in Rome. He made specials studies in community development and grassroots cooperative and operated pilot projects in the Kilusang Kaunlaran Kapitbahay, which were all very successful.
TEOFILO P. GUADIZ Municipal Councilor: 1925-1941 ( Six Terms) City Councilor : 1948-1953 (Two Terms) Mayor : January 1,1954 to Sep. 12, 1957 : June 16, 1958 to Dec31,1959 Director : PNR
DON TEOFILO P., GUADIZ was twice city mayor of Dagupan. His first stint was from January 1, 1954 to September 12, 1957 when he resigned to run as congressman on the second district.
He opposed Don Angel B. Fernandez in the congressional poll of 1957 and lost. Then he was appointed as city mayor and continued in office up to December 31, 1959. Then on June 16, 1959 he was re-appointed as city mayor and continued in office up to December 31, 1959.
A lawyer, his law practice was most fruitful. He trained a number of Dagupeno Lawyers who eventually became fiscal including; Assistant City fiscal Peregrino Cornel, Assistant Fiscal Miguel Caquioa, and City Assessor Brigido Ugaban likewise came from his Law office.
He was one of the founders of the Orient Colleges and taught law in the said school.
As city mayor, he constructed the concrete Magsaysay bridge along Perez boulevard. He extended Rizal street from Rivera street up to the Iglesia ni Kristo compound in Pogo Chico. He also extended Galvan street from Gomez junction to Perez boulevard, and cemented portions of the main roadlines of the city. He built the two-story Dagupan City High School building in 1958. This same building, was destroyed by fire in 1968.
He cleared the eyesore bagoong market beside the Philippine National Bank and the area of the park. This is now the Magsaysay Park. He also constructed artesian wells for several barrios and secured some army type prefabricated school housed for the city schools.
During his incumbency as city mayor, Dagupan was adjudged the second city in the Philippines. The original market, built by Don Antonio LI. Fernandez in 1914 and in 1952, was rebuilt by Mayor Guadiz in 1954. This is the original market building behind the supermarket built by Reyna. Don Teofilo likewise built the market stalls along Galvan and the toilet in the public market. He is now director of the Philippine National Railways.
Two of his children became city councilors of Dagupan. The first was Teofilo L. Guadiz, Jr. who was councilor for two terms (1960-1963 and 1968 to 1971) After his second term as city councilor, Teofilo Jr., was appointed Court of first instance judge in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. The second son of Don Teofilo to become city councilor is Conrado L, Guadiz (1972-1975). He is also lawyer and a businessman. The other Guadiz children include: Fe, Elisa, Sergio, Nora, and Carlos.
His parents were Herminigildo Guadiz of Laoac, Pangasinan and Julia y Arzadon. He was born November 3, 1897 in Dagupan and was married to the former Maria Corazon Legaspi y Calimlim.
GAUDENCIO S. SIAPNO City Councilor 1955-1959 (Topnotcher) 2nd Term Councilor: 1963-1971 City Mayor 1957-1953 (11 Months)
DON GUADENCIO SIBAYAN SIAPNO a commerce graduate of the Luzon Colleges was son of the wealthy landowner from Malued. He was a relative of one Time Isidoro Siapno of the second district of Pangasinan.
On his first entry into politics, he came out topnotcher among the city councilor elected for the 1955-1959 term. On the basis of this No. 1 position as city councilor, he was appointed city mayor of Dagupan for a period of almost one year from 1957 to 1958,when then Mayor Teofilo P. Guadiz resigned to run for congressman in 1957. He served a second term as City councilor from 1963 to 1967.
As mayor, he devoted his time to the improvement of barrio roads and of schools houses.
He was the only son of Agustin Siapno and Amilliana Sibayan. He had five children: Norma (AB graduate) Leticia ( AB- Foreign Service and MA-Education); Gaudencio, Jr. (BSC- Accounting) Adolfo ( A Businessman) and Vicky ( Optometrist ) , His wife was Josefa Gutierrez.
LIBERATO LLAMAS REYNA City Councilor: 1943-1951 (Topnotcher) 2nd Term as Councilor: 1953-1955 3rd Term as Councilor: 1956-1959 City Mayor: 1960-1963 2nd Term As Mayor 1964-1967
Liberato L1amas Reyna was the sixth child of Lope Reyna and Rufina Llamas. He is a lawyer. He was born December 20, 1916.
He was thrice elected as city councilor before he became city mayor. He was first elective city mayor of Dagupan. He served as city mayor for two terms.
The Dagupan City Supermarket building is a monument to his administration. He constructed it on a self-liquidating basis, financed by a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The city public auditorium as it appears today (except the two coffee shops) and the KKK monument were built by civic clubs during his administration. Some portions of our major roads were concreted during his administration. He concreted Tanap bridge and built the water tank at the Perez market and started the construction of the city hall in Tapuac.
President Diosdado Macapagal proclaimed some 72 hectares of public land in Bonuan as a City Park and playground during his administration.
He also built artesian wells in the barrios. He was married to the former Celestina Calimlim, a pharmacist. The couple have six children: Teresita, a physician; Angel (BSC) businessman; Jesus, a physician; Liberato, Jr., a lawyer; Ramon 9BSC) businessman; Cernan, (animal husbandry) manager of reycal Livestock Farm. Ex-mayor Reyna is presently teaching law and is in the livestock production business. He is one of the founders of the Luzon Colleges.
CIPRIANO M. MANAOIS City Mayor: 1968-1971 2nd Term As Mayor: 1972-1975
CIPRIANO M. MANAOIS is the first certified public accountant to be elected city mayor of Dagupan.
He was the second child of Teodoro Manaois and Leonicia Melendez of Bonuan. His father was a fisherman who later became a Bangus fry concessionaire. He was born of July 4, 1922.
His brothers and sisters were: Luis, Antonina, Cirilo, Perfecta and Paula.
A self-supporting student, he worked for his education since he was in grade school. He started as janitor-messenger, and later as a printer in the printing press of his uncle, Angel Melendez. He finished his commerce degree, major in accounting, from the University of the East and took the board of examination in 1962 and passed it. He also graduated law from the University of Negros Occidental. He passed the following civil service examination: 1) Second grade; 2) Agent-Examiner (BIR); 3) Supervisor; 4) First grade Regular and 5) CPA. He was a Supervising Revenue Examiner before he was elected city mayor in 1967.
A civic leader, he become Governor of Lions International, District 301-c and represented the Philippine Lions in several international conferences in the United States, Japan, Thailand and elsewhere.
He was director of the provincial Governors and City Mayors League of the Philippines and served as Vice Chairman on Constitutional Amendments of the City Mayors League of the Philippine.
As a businessman, he founded C. M. Manaois Motors Corporation, a firm that manufactures palay, threshers, services corn and rice mills, and builds all types of bodies of jeeps and trucks.
When he first assumed office as mayor, the city government had accumulated unpaid obligations of P1.3 millions. During his first term, he updated that account and increased the city income to P2.6 millions and raised the classification of the city to first class.
He put up sufficient prefabricated school buildings throughout the city so that when the Dagupan City High School building in Tapuac was burned in 1968, there were enough pre-fab school buildings at the West Central Elementary School to accommodate the high school students.
He went on an aggressive program to put up new artesian wells in the barrios, and repaired the worn out ones constructed by his predecessors. Portions of the city majors roadlines were concrete under his administration, and construction of the Calmay and Dawel bridges was started.
The two beautiful coffee shops, which heightened the beauty of the public plaza, were constructed under his administration, including the construction of the flower garden in front of the post office, and the lawn at the Magsaysay monument.
As a temporary solution to the congestion inside the public market and the take-over by sidewalk vendors of the streets surrounding the market, he put an open market at the Magsaysay Park.
Manaois was twice selected by the President Assistant on Community Development as "Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines" He is married to the former Fe Campos Cruz, a physician, from Sta. Barbara. Mre. Manaois is a resident physician of the Pangasinan General Hospital; and associate of the Philippine College of Surgeons, and one time president of the Pangasinan chapter of the Philippine Medical Women's Society.
The Manaois have eight children: Betha Fe, (UST-medical student); Teodoro III, AB graduate and now law student at San Beda: Marilyn, (BSC student UE); Besilda and Mamerto (at Brent school, Baguio); Medarlo and Victor Ferdinand,
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