The Featured Document series presents records from the National Archives of the Philippines’ Spanish Documents Section, Section 1. This collection of about 450 fonds totaling about 9 million pages is comprised of maps, plans, designs, sketches and more. Other items from this Section have been featured in past exhibits and publications produced by the NAP.
The sixth document of the series selected is the Petition for the Creation of the Visita of Sampaloc to a Civil Town with the same name. The document belongs to the Record Series “Patronatos” which is one of approximately 450 Record Series in the Inventory of the Spanish Documents Section, Section I.
The file starts with the petition of the Mayor and the Chiefs of the Visita of Sampaloc, located in the matrix town of Lucban, province of Tayabas addressed to the Most Excellent Lord Superior Civil Governor of these Islands on 21 April 1884.
The petition includes the aggregation of the adjoining barrios of Banot, Bilucao, and San Bueno, jurisdiction of the town of Mauban. According to the Superior Government, the claim is to be accompanied by the reports of the Parish Priests, the Gobernadorcillos and the Chiefs of the towns who take charge of the barrios and visitas intended to be separated, a detailed list of the number of tribute payers of the respective sitios, expressing those who shall be separated and who shall remain in their matrices, the inventory of public buildings which have already been finished and those needed to be erected, and a sketch or plan of the land of the new town to be erected.
The petition was studied but rejected for a number of reasons. The reports emitted on the matter were not in favor. Upon verification, the inhabitants of the three barrios manifested that never did they desire or solicit separation from their matrix Mauban. The Parish Priest Fr. Perfecto Mendez wrote that these barrios had contributed especially to Mauban their bountiful harvests and other agricultural products. The people were contented since these places were tranquil and safe, and their spiritual needs were very well taken care of. Neither was the Parish Priest of Lucban in favor of the conversion of the visita to a town.
Furthermore, the visita did not satisfy all the conditions of the law in regard to the new creation. The visita did not have a sufficient number of tribute payers with its nine barangays and even if the barrios were merged. The Church, the convent and the Tribunal House were small. There was a lack of school buildings for both sexes. Other public buildings were not built and were not planned at all.
VISTA CLARA Y SPECIFICA DE LA POBLACION DE LA SAMPALOC
PROVINCIA DE TAYABAS
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