NAP FEATURED DOCUMENT FOR SEPTEMBER 2021
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 made up of maps, plans, designs, sketches and more. Items from this Section have been featured in past exhibits and publications produced by the NAP.
The eighth feature of this series is from a file on the town of Tiaong’s 1802 petition contesting the claim of Lipa in Batangas regarding the sivision of lands.
The file contains such documents as the Superior Order mandating an ocular inspection to confirm the boundary limits of the town of Tiaong specifying the places which are plain and mountainous, which are cultivated, and the number of tribute payers. Subsequent documents report on the implementation of the said order. There is an account on Mayor Don José Dominguez Zamudio asking the Gobernadorcillo to appoint three (3) Principal Elders of the town, together with Barangay Chiefs to carry out the inspection. The present document recounts what the inspectors encountered.
The Document:
The first boundary stone was in Labasin which was adjacent to San Pablo and its river. Crossing the river, another boundary stone was found. They proceeded to Mount Malarayat. Along the ravines was a long hillock that narrowed towards a river called Malaonod. Proceeding was a piece of land where there was another river called Malocboc. The land in the area was watery with sparse trees. They then passed a lagoon where the land was dense, intransitable and flooded. They passed by another river called Using. By the countryside at the foot of the mountains of San Pablo, San Christoval and Bangjas, there was nothing cultivated, not even rice. The residents said it was because of water flowing from said mountains.
They arrived at Quipot, and sitio Bulà which were usually flooded. They then climbed up a hillock called Matiponso, and passing towards the West, they crossed a river called Buliràn. According to the residents, during the months of October and November,wheat which was accessible and useful was planted and not rice. As they proceeded, they passed by another river or estero called Calatuchi. The land here was cultivated with rice between the rivers Malitlit and Sapac which flowed at the skirt of Mount Malarayat facing Southwest. The land was cultivated by those from the town of Lipa. Facing towards the West was the Church of Lipa and towards the South the Church of Rosario could be seen. They arrived at another river called Pananangcapan where the land near it was uncultivated. From here, they crossed the River Nayon or Lipahan whose bank had a Castle with two cannons. They proceeded to sitio Masalacot where there existed a boundary stone fronting two lagoons called Mag AsauangDagat in San Pablo. At a distance was a spring that merged with the river Bulaquin. Near this place was a boundary stone, and in the direction to the right was the original boundary stone in Labasin.
From the file:
Expediente promovido por el Alcalde mayor y varios principales del pueblo de Tiaong, Provincia de Tayabas, contra el de Lipa en Batangas sobre divicion de tierras.
Manila, 30 de Setiembre de 1802
File/Petition/Position espoused/promoted by the Mayor and the principal (residents) of the town of Tiaong, Quezon province contesting that of/the position of Lipa in Batangas regarding the division of lands
Manila, September 3, 1802
Ereccion de Pueblos Tayabas 1755-1896 SDS-14117 p213
30 x 41 cm
