Long before the coming of the
Spanish colonizers to the Philippines, the people of Benguet walked and lived
on the land, mountain and valleys of the southern Cordillera mountain range
down to the sea coasts of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union to as far as the
ancient trading enters of Ituy in the northern plain of Luzon.
There were no
political subdivisions or subjugations. Movements and settlements were in
search of rich hunting grounds, fertile valleys and abundant resources of the
earth, rivers and seas, and places of barter and trade. Thus, the book “A
People’s History of Benguet” states:
"A reconstruction
of Benguet history, therefore encompasses present-day Benguet and includes the
western coastal province of Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Sur from southern
Lingayen Gulf to the outlet of Amburayan River in the northern town of Tagudin,
remembrances of times long past are tied to the river system of the Agno, Angalacan-Bued,
Aringay-Galiano, Naguilian and Amburayan, all in Northern Luzon. The mossy
forest heights of the southern Cordillera mountain range constitute a natural
east and southeast boundary. “
The earliest
known settlement as recounted in genealogical histories were the following twin
settlements: Chuyo and Tonglo in Baguio- Tuba; Darew and Palaypay in
Kapangan-Tublay; Imbose and Amlimay in Kabayan-Buguias and Namiligan and
Palatang in Mankayan- Bakun. The gold and copper settlement working sites were
at Pancutcutan, Acupan, Apaiao, Penas and Locjo, all over Benguet.
Centers of barter and trade between the highlanders and lowlanders of the centers
of barter and trade between the highlanders and lowlanders of the northern
Luzon were at Ituy now known as Aritao in Nueva Vizcaya, Tagudin and Vjgan in
the Ilocos and Lingayen in Pangasinan.
Benguet
products such as gold, copper, iron, honey, bees wax were traded in exchange
for lowland products such as salt, livestock, cotton or blankets, and wares
from foreign shores such as beads, plates and jars. Slaves from the highlands
and lowlands were also items of trade.
How Benguet got its name
The name
Benguet was first pronounced in La Trinidad, a thriving settlement at the
crossroads to the lowland trading sites during the period of Spanish
expeditions. La Trinidad then was a settlement around a lake alive with
wildlife, wallowing carabaos dotted with patches of taro, rice, gabi and
camote.
In one expedition,
a curious Spanish conquistador who saw this settlement noted that the people
wore cloth coverings wrapped around their head several times. When he inquired
about it, the native explained that the heavy head covering which the people
wore as protection from the searing cold and winds is termed “benget”.
With the
western accent of the colonizers “benget” was mispronounced as “benguet”. In
time, it eventually become a general reference to the territories of the
Iggorotes peopled by the Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Kalangoya, and other minor tribes.
The search for gold and
tobacco
It was in
search of copper and gold then being traded and said to be from the interior
highland regions that Spanish explorers first ventured into the mountain
vastness of Benguet in 1572 led by the Spanish conquistador, General Juan de
Salcedo.
From then on,
for half a century, expeditions were dispatched in an attempt to subjugate the
lands, gold and people of Benguet. Spanish missionaries likewise came into the
mountains either with the expeditions or by themselves. In 1664, the fierce and
relentless resistance of the Benguet people made the Spanish rulers decides to
withdraw attempts at subjugation.as well as the pursuit of Benguet gold.
Intermittent incursions into the Benguet Mountains and the unceasing resistance
of the people by shrewdness and the spear were recorded in military and
religious journals. One such invasion was the battle at Tonglo in 1759. Tonglo,
a settlement between present day Baguio City and Tuba, was subjected to five
hours of heavy artillery fire then destroyed after a fierce struggle. Although
Tonglo was destroyed, the Spaniards withdrew.
The people of
Benguet called Igorrotes by the Spanish colonizers remained free and
independent until the decree on tobacco monopoly. A lucrative production
and trade of tobacco was then undertaken by the Igorrotes outside Spanish
government control, which was not subject to tax. Also, reports of raids of the
mountain people on the lowlands and the flight of fugitives to the mountain
areas caught once again the attention of the Spanish colo nizers.
Punitive
expeditions into the Benguet lands were then organized in 1829 to 1833 led by
Commandante Guillermo Galvey, which resulted in the burning of villages and
settlements.
In 1852 in an
effort to map out the mountain territories and contain the illegal trade of
tobacco, the “Pais de Igorrotes y Partidas del Norte Pangasinan” was
established. This was later divided into four military districts of Benguet,
Yamcayan, Abra and Ifugao. Later in 1846, the Distrito de Benguet as a
Commandancia. Politico Militar was instituted under the military jurisdiction
of the lowland prov inces. In 1854, the Distrito de Benguet became a regular
Commandancia. Politico Militar. La Trinidad was named the capital of the
Distrito de Benguet The Rancherias comprising Benguet were Baguio, Sablan,
Galiano, Ambu- clao, Dacian, Bocot, Adaoay, Cabayan, Loo, Tublay, Capangan,
Balacbac, Quibungan, Palina, Ampusongan, Ytogon and Atoc. Spanish authority and
presence in the Pais de Igorrotes commandancias, however, were intermittent
and limited to the capital rancherias. Subsequently established in 1847, 1852,
and 1890, were the Commandancias Politico Militar of Lepanto-Bontoc, Tiangan
and Amburayan. Included in the territories of these commandancias were portions
of the present- day municipalities of Bakun, Mankayan and Buguias.
Political
history: Early
beginnings
During the Philippine revolution of 1898 against Spain led by General Emilio
Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio, the Benguet people rallied forth under the
leadership of Juan Oraa Carino, Mateo Carantes, Magastino Laruan and Piraso.
Benguet was established as a Province in 1899 under the First Philip pine
Republic with Juan Oraa “Ahino” Carino appointed as Governor and Presi dent of
the Board. The seat of the provincial government was in Tuel, Tublay. One of
the bastions of the First Philippine Republic was in Benguet where the
President of the Philippine Congress, Mr. Vicente Patemo, Sr. took refuge and
protection.
During the American Period, first Civil Government was established in Benguet
on November 23, 1900 under Act 49 with H.P. Whitmarsh, a journalist by profes-
sion, appointed as Civil Governor.
The rancherias
under the Distrito de Benguet were termed town ships. Baguio was named the
capital of Benguet. On September 1, 1909, Benguets capital town, Baguio was
established as a chartered city and its stead, the township of Tuba, was
created. Baguio remained the capital of Benguet until 1916. After 1916, La
Trinidad became the capital of Benguet.
On August 13,
1908 under Act 1876, Mountain Province was created consolidating the then
Province of Benguet, the Commandancia of Quiangan, the sub-province of Kalinga
and Apayao, the province of Lepanto-Bontoc and the sub-province of Amburayan.
Benguet became a sub-province of Mountain Province headed by a deputy
governor.
On Feb. 4, 1920
under Act 2877, the sub-province of Lepanto and Amburayan were abolished. The
territories of Lepanto and Amburayan were divided and placed under the
provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union and the sub-provinces of Benguet and Bontoc.
With Act 2877 and executive orders issued by the Governor General, the nineteen
original townships of Benguet were consolidated into 13 namely: Atok, Bakun,
Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, La Trinidad, Kabayan, Kibungan, Kapangan, Mankayan,
Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay.
The 13
townships were now termed municipalities. This number as well as the boundaries
defined under the act and executive orders have remained so. From 1920 to
1966, Benguet remained a sub-province of Mountain Province with other
sub-provinces of Bontoc, Ifugao and
Kalinga-Apayao.
On June 18,
1966 by virtue of Republic Act 4695 Mountain Province was divided into four
provinces namely Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao.
Once-again, Benguet became a distinct and
regular province
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