A brief historical background of Bontoc

(4th of a series from
historical archives)

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Besides political administrative underpinning, the lasting legacy of the Spanish and American regimes in Bontoc is religion and education. Until now, the municipality hosts the seats of Roman Catholic and Episcopalian (Anglican) bishops. Records from the Bontoc Roman Catholic Church reveal that the first baptism held in Bontoc was administrated by a certain Father Jose Iglesia of the Augustinian Order on November 28, 1893.
    The Spanish missionaries however abandoned the Bontoc Mission sometime in 1898. After a lull for almost a decade, a group of Belgian missionaries led by Fathers Constancio Jurgens and Sepulchre arrived in Bontoc in time to celebrate a midnight mass on December 24, 1907 (Benito Miranda 19).
    Under the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA), the Philippines as a Missionary District was created on October 11, 1901 under Bishop Charles Henry Brent. However, it was only in February 1903 that a survey trip was made to the Cordillera. In August of the same year, Rev. Clapp was sent to Bontoc to open the mission of the Holy Comforter.
    Both churches established their educational system that exists today: the Saint Vincent’s School of the CICM and the All Saints Mission School of the Diocese of Northern Philippines, Philippine Episcopal Church.
    There is no account that points to the names and number of local chief executives of Bontoc since it was created as the seat of the district of the same name in 1887. As early as 1918 until the present there were/are 26 appointed and elected municipal chief executives in various capacities as District President, District Mayor, and Municipal Mayor who governed the municipality of Bontoc.
    An informal election for municipal presidents was introduced by Governor Early. At first, the candidates are made to stand and all the voters select their candidates by forming a line at their back or just behind them. The candidates having the most followers win. This system was improved later with the use of colored tags and colors. The candidates select their colors and each hang a large colored tag around his neck. The voter will select the color of his candidate from a box and the candidate having the most colored tags get elected. Later on, this system was again improved where the use of colors were still followed. The candidates pinned their colors on their coats or shirts and the voters, upon being called by the clerks get inside the box the color of their candidate, place it in an envelope and drop at the ballot box.
    This continued until the voting closes at the end of the day and the ballots are counted in the afternoon. The candidate with the highest number of ballot count is the one elected. This system of voting is practiced until the present but instead of colors, the names of candidates are listed down in paper posted in every chair of the voting precinct. The voter selects the candidate and fills the ballot given by the clerks after which it will be dropped in the ballot box. At the end of the closing time the ballots are counted and the candidate that has the highest count shall be the declared winner.