The Caraga Antigua 1521-1910
In Chapter X- The Revolt of Caraga, 1631. I came across in page 146 that Bacuag was mentioned as one of the places where the Spanish presence on the east coast (then named District of Caraga) were given mission stations for the subjugation of the Moros in southern and western Mindanao. The Spaniards made use of native soldiers recruited from the people (Caragans) of Surigao. But later the Caragans resisted Castillan dominations. Combes’ (“Historia de Mindanao y Jolo,” Col. 217) put it this way:
“About 300 caragans under Captain Lorenzo de Olazo had taken in that campaign,and upon their returning to their territory, they also decided to resist Spanish domination from then on. They Had been the most outstanding fighters in that campaign.”
In 1609 the Spanish presence had started with the construction of a stone-fortification at Tandag. Local Chief Mangabo, nicknamed “crododile of Tago” and his men were originally local soldiers of the parish priest under the command of the Fort Commander Captain Pedro Bautista, but later on led the rebellion against Spanish soldiers and Friars due to their cruelties and oppressive treatments to the natives that made them more hostile with the Spaniards. Mangabo with his followers killed the missionaries of Tago and next Tandag church underwent the same fate. Another group headed by Balintos sailed to Siargao. First they attacked Cabuntog and burned the place but Sapao escaped their wrath because one resident who happened to be relative of Mangabo vigorously objected to their attack for and in behalf of the residents.
Lorenzo de San Facundo, the local missionary of Cabuntog, was not hurt because he sailed to Bacuag (2) two days prior to the attack. Fray Pedro de San Antonio, “the parish priest of Abucay,” left for Cebu and fray Lorenzo took his place for the time being. (*At present there is an abucay about halfway between Placer and Bacuag, but it cannot have been the location of 1631 because it is not near the seashore. There is one Recoleto report mentioning a “bay of Abucay” in the general area, which would seem, after all, to point to the present Placer, a conclusion that fits all written reports). Abucay…in page 150 “The story does not indicate where this village was located. From the context analysis it becomes clear that it cannot have been far from Bacuag. This is not much of a help in itself, however, because it is certain that in the 17th and 18th centuries Bacuag was not located where it is now, but at the site the present Pahuntungan. To keep a long story short: It can safely be assumed that the Abucay of 1631 was located where now Placer is.” In other words, the early settlers of Bacuag were in Pahuntungan, (Pueblo de Pahuntungan) the old name of Bacuag.
“The following Spaniards were then in Bacuag: Fray Lorenzo plus the lay brother Francisco, the tax collector Gaspar de los Reyes and his son, Sergeant Antonio Garcia del Valle, Diego del Castillo and Diego de Mesa. The sergeant and de Mesa were preparing to depart for the fort of Tandag and took leave of the rest on the bank of the “river Cawayan flowing next to Bacuag.” Is this same river that separates present Panhutungan to Sitio Punta or Siwata of Bacuag Poblacion? The son of Mangabo named Zancalan had sailed from Tago to Parasao (Cantilan) and to Bacuag. After one day of traveling they went ashore somewhere near Punta Tugas (is this same place presently called Punta or Siwata?). Here they were informed that the two Spaniards who were traveling from Bacuag to the fort of Tandag were in the neighborhood. They caught them unaware and so they killed them. Fray Lorenzo de Facundo and his Brother Francisco's lives were spared after the group of Zancalan, the son of chief Mangabo captured them and over powered the Spaniards, killed them and burned the church of Bacuag. Later Fray Lorenzo and his brother were brought to Tago and were presented to his father Mangabo. Many things had happened including the change of heart of Mangabo towards his captives and that Fray Lorenzo realized God heard his prayers thus changed Mangabo's hatred into love.
The document above was part of the "seven pages of complete statistical data of the District of Caraga, compiled in 1750. This is one of the many documents stolen during the British Occupation of Manila in 1762, at present in the British Library in London (Ms.13973, Add) (With permission of the British Library, in London)." It could be gleaned on this document that Pueblos (Towns) such as Pueblo de Higaquet (presently Gigaquit), Pueblo de Pahuntungan (presently Bacuag) and Pueblo de Surigao were already established towns of the old Caraga as in the later years of the 15th century the Spanish Missionaries like the Agustinians, Dominicans and Franciscans were already in placed in the island of Mindanao particularly in the east District of Caraga to evangelize and Christianize the caragans to effect their designed Reduction and Coversion of pagans.
On April 12, 1873 the change of the missionary guard took place in the town of Gigaquit. Recoleto pastor Fray Juan Pablo Ruiz was replaced by Father Juan Sansa, the barrios of Placer, Bacuag and Taganito belonged to the parish of Gigaquit. Claver did not exist yet. Already in 1873 it was decided that eventually Placer and Taganaan would be separated from Gigaquit and Surigao respectively and made into a separate parish as soon as a priest would be available to staff it (p. 332 Caraga Antigua).
With the advent of the American colonial government, thru
Public Act 947, recognized the local government system but reorganized the same, "and many towns
were converted into barrios in 1904. The Province of Surigao retained
only the municipalities of Surigao, Placer, Dinagat and Dapa. This
could have terminated the corporate existence of many Pueblos – Sapao,
Numancia, Cabuntog, Tagana-an, Mainit. While
some municipalities gained or regained their status albeit some had
new names during the American period as in the case of General Luna
(1929), Bacuag, Gigaquit, Mainit, (1931) subsequently towns were
created after Philippine Independence of 1946."
The Hispanization and Christianization of Agusan, Surigao and East Davao
By Peter Schreurs
