EARLY HISTORY

Original and Earliest Inhabitants

The earliest known tribe to inhabit the area that would be the Municipality of Lebak
was the Manobo lumads. Reckoning of their tribal events was based on the phases of their
agricultural activity. For instance cutting and slashing period was January to February; burning
and clearing, March to April; planting season was about May. After harvest, one year was
over and the annual cycle was completed. Such system served as their rough estimate of
time. Their history was recorded in memory and handed down by words of mouth.

For years, or maybe generations, they had been roaming around in a carefree
existence in the fertile lands of forested wilderness. They occupied the areas from Sen. Ninoy
Aquino, Datu Wasay, Hinalaan, Limulan, Kati, Bululawan, Capilan, Basak, Villamonte,
Salangsang, Keytodac, Marawil, Manawag, Dafolan and all the intervening places. The
domain was ruled separately by two powerful Sultans who were cousins. The western side
was under Sultan Dewig Tuna, son of Sultan Tuna Liwas Bungo. The eastern portion was
under Datu Dangayan Pagayonan.

In 1908, Ama ni Idong Guiabar, a Muslim, was appointed by the military governor to
govern Kalamansig and Lebak areas. At that time, his position was called “Presidente”. His
system was so democratic and liberal wherein his constituents loved and respected him.

Idong’s adopted son, Mantikayan Guiabar married Dewig’s daughter, Iket. Through
the benevolence of Sultan Dewig Tuna, Datu Idong widened his private territory in kati and
kebitic.

The Manobos did not like to stay with the Christians and Muslims in one community.
They preferred to live together as homogenous group. Their nomadic instinct drove them to

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the mountains and hinterlands. As an ethnic group they have preserved their own culture,
customs, and traditions.

An interesting group was the Kalagans. They stayed along the rivers and along the
coast in Tran and Turugan. Short, dark-skinned and sturdy, they were brave warriors. When
the Muslims arrived they offered fierce resistance. In a series of battles they were always
defeated until finally their tribe vanished.

Coming from Awang and Tamontaka of nearby province, the Tirurays reached the
place after the Muslims. Some stayed in Tibpuan while others settled in Salangsang. Being
hardworking, the Manobos and Tirurays provided the manpower in the farmlands of the
Muslims and Christians.

Government Assistance

At the start of the American regime people were encouraged to come to Mindanao for
the development of this sparsely populated island of the Philippines. As an incentive,
transportation was free with one-month rice provision.

One of the earliest laws passed by the U.S. Congress pertaining to the Philippines
was the Homestead Act which granted 24 hectares of land to each applicant. Related to this
was the Homestead Program which was sponsored by then Speaker Manuel Roxas. The
Torrens Act of the U.S. Congress protected ownership of cultivated lands. Such privileges
encouraged the organization of Home Seekers who served as the core group of settlers who
came to Lebak.

Era of Pioneers

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 James Greensted, Luther Tilit, Mr. Fred Martin, Staples and Tan Sy Tee were
American Mestizo, and foreign names. Some of them were ahead of Christians. They laid
claims to lands of thousand hectares and engaged in coconut plantation, logging, sawmill and
store business. There were the Salaman Plantation, American Land Commercial Company,
Taguisa Plantation, Tran Plantation and the Port Lebak Lumber Company in Sta. Clara. The
arriving families found employment in those companies giving them foothold to starting a new
life.

The appearance of the plantation owners was as mysterious as their unceremonious

exit. When they left, they either bestowed their lands to adopted children, employees, and
friends or just abandoned them outright.

As early as 1910, adventurous people started owning lands from Lebak. Very popular
in the coastal communities was Jose Gestosani. After some years with the U.S. Navy he was
dropped in Tibpuan in 1916 with the mission to educate inhabitants to the tune of American
system. Known as their “Maestro” (they pronounced Maeslo), he was loved and respected by
both young Muslims and Christians who were his pupils.

A distant neighbor in Kumalawit was Pedro Jalipa. He claimed the area from
Kumalawit to Barurao. He was the father of one of the earliest teachers, Expectation Jalipa,
who was later married to ex U.S. Navyman Felipe Peralta in 1928.

By about 1922-1924, Muslims from Decalongan, Ampatuan arrived under the

leadership of Datu Matabalao

In 1924 coming from Luzon and a soldier by profession was Marcelino A. Concha.
Married to Cleotilde Vilo of Cotabato City, he managed and eventually owned 721 hectares
Taguisa Plantation (now Concha Farm). Some came for employment or to look for a partner
in life.

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To the Land of Promise

The fresh and invigorating winds of Mindanao reached the crowded lands of Visayas
and Luzon. Ilongos, Antiquenos, Capizenos, Ilocanos and Tagalogs breathed in smell of
good news tempting them to pack up and came in groups as members of Home Seekers to
find a new life in the frontier.
Between 1925 to 1930 waves of immigrants from the Visayas started arriving. A
young Agriculturist, Aurelio Faune Freires Sr. was designated as recruiting officer for the
Home seekers group. He convinced his friends and relatives to migrate.

Year 1927 was the establishment of American Land Commercial Company popularly
known as Barurao Plantation or American Land. Managed by Luther Tilit, with Assistant
Manager Gorgonio Riego De Dios, this 1,024 hectares establishment engaged in coconut
plantation, logging, sawmill, trade and store businesses served as initial source of income for
new arrivals who worked as farm hands or skilled laborers prior to acquisition of their own
land. The last manager, Mr. Fred Martin married a mestiza, Estrella Zeller, mother of Jesus
Ortiz. When the Americans left Mr. Ortiz eventually became the administrator.

From Iloilo another group of Home Seekers arrived in 1927. Among them were Juan
Celeste, Gonzales, Tecson and Marquez families, together with Caraso brothers, Amado and
Esperidion who got their father Martin from Iloilo the following year. For the meantime, they
all worked at Taguisa Plantation.

A longer list came with Juan Juanitez in 1928. These Antiquenos included: Maximo
Talagtag, Emilio Pagsuguiron, Pablo Floro, Raymundo Ogatis, Ceferino Ogatis, Catalino
Ogatis, Moises Ogatis, Elias Baladjay, Jose Hierro, Vicente Relles, Juan Marquez, Jose
Espanola and Vicente Espartero.

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 As newcomers they explored vast areas of thickets and wilderness which would later
be their acquired land. After clearing areas in the eastern and northern portions of their
temporary settlement, communities emerged. These are now the Barangays Taguisa,
Purikay, Pansud and Nuling.

On December 26, 1929 from Ilocos Region, the Ilocanos found their way in Barurao
River riding on a “danley”, a towed raft, after coming down from inter island vessel and who
eventually worked worked in Barurao Plantation.

From the Bicol Region, Pascual Mendoza worked as cook of the American Land Staff.
With his savings from salary P20 per month he got 24 hectares by Homestead application in
Barurao. Working with him as company mechanic was Deogenes Llarenas, whom he
considered as truthful companion.

Relationship among the settlers bespoke of brotherhood, neighborliness, and

friendship. Datu Sangkulan Wakay in Barurao gave away portions of his claimed land to
brother Christians. Peace and Order was reigning in the place. In spite of some
deprivations, people were living a contented existence and taking daily life in stride. Travel to
Cotabato City was by vinta, raft or motorized launch which took from twelve hours to several
days. Every travel was considered a pleasure trip for they could dock anytime or sleep on the
beach anywhere along the way.

Problems came with the destructive animals such as wild boars, monkeys, deer, rats,
wild cats, lizard and pythons all causing failure in harvest and depletion of livestock. Their
worst enemy were the life threatening diseases such as malaria, dysentery, amebiasis,
cholera and respiratory ailments. Under this situation they had to fight intense desire to go
back home.

The Pioneers Settled Down

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 Having arrived in the land of their dream, the pioneers settled down with mixed
feelings of hope and uncertainty. They could take as many lands as they could occupy but life
was full of hardships. There were no doctors nor medicines available. Only one or two
stores for prime commodities existed. For important needs they had to travel to Cotabato.

Services offered by the government were just a handful. In 1929, the

telecommunication tower was erected in the neighboring town of Kalamansig with Deosdado
Dizon as the first operator. The first Civil Service eligible was Alfredo Labrador Sr. who
arrived in 1930. He served as public clerk and Deputy Municipal Treasurer. Ricardo
Cabaluna was appointed Judge in the coastal towns in 1932. To handle mail matters.
Mariano Escano became the Kalamansig Postmaster in 1938.

Migration to the place still continued. Datu (now Sultan) Guiwan Mastura arrived in
Kati in 1935. He became a highly respected Muslim Chieftain and influential political leader.

Before the outbreak of war, Jose Drueco arrived in Barurao. His motor launch
provided water transportation to and from Cotabato City. Later his jeeps were plying the route
from Barurao to kalamansig.

WORLD WAR II

All were going right with the settlers until suddenly Word War II broke out. The
bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 8,1941 was immediately followed by air raids on U.S.
military installation in the Philippines. After the fall of Bataan the Japanese occupied the entire
archepelago including Mindanao.

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 Filipinos loyal to the Commonwealth restructured the civil government and the military
organization. Following the appointment of Marcelino A. Concha by General William Fertig as
Military Governor of the Empire Province of Cotabato, a local provisional government was
organized with its seat in Barurao. Acting chairman was Conrado Juaneza with Aurelio
Ffreires Sr., Timoteo Belarmino, Fortunnato Mendoza, and Salvador Andrada as members.
Micky mouse money printed on ordinary paper and bearing the signature of General Fertig
was in circulation. Although without bank value, it served as a sort of legal tender acceptable
in business transactions.

The resistance movement against the Japanese Imperial Army was led by Captain
Feliciano Magsakay, Commanding Officer of the disbanded Philippine Constabulary in
Kalamansig. It was composed of organized guerillas with its Headquarters in Barurao. In the
first week of February 1942, they had an encounter with Japanese soldiers. Six Japanese
and two Filipino were riding a jeep to get civil officials in Barurao. When they reached the
entrance gate, guerillas opened fire. All the enemies including the Filipinos were killed except
one Japanese who was able to escape to report the massacre.While in Kalamansig where
they put up their garrison, the Japanese perpetrated few killings and abuses. Discouraged by
the death of their comrades they pulled out leaving a token outpose in Sta. Clara which did
not last long.Liberation and Post Liberation Period.

While the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, the Pacific War officially ended.
The Americans took over the supervision of the Philippine Government. In 1945 Marcelino A.
Concha was still the Military Governor of the Empire Province of Cotabato. He used to hold
his office in Taguisa. In that same year Aurelio Freires,Sr. was appointed Municipal District
Mayor of Salaman.

The post war period brought economic, social, political problems affecting mostly
those from the Visayas and Luzon. The seditionist group, Hukbalahap, was harassing the
countryside and almost toppled the government. Military rule was still casting its shadow in
society. By that time Mindanao as the Land of Promise became popular. Focusing their

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vision in the South, the ambitious, enterprising and adventurous families made up an exodus.
The new arrivals engaged in business but the majority concentrated on the acquisition of land
for agriculture through homestead application, sales contract, land grabbing and squatting on
both government and private properties. They penetrated the hinterlands for their precious
piece of land.

The leaders of Lebak continued to build up society after the war. Salaman Institute
was founded in 1948 as the first high school institution. For agriculture productivity they put
up the Salaman Communal Irrigation System covering 800 hectares of rice land.

It did not take long before Lebak was populated by people from all walks of life of
different tribal origins. Lebak turned around from a complacent life to a fast moving society.
Society was now a mixture of different people. Consequently, it also became a breeding
place for competition, suspicion, envy and resentment that seemingly led to inevitable identity
crises. Rolled into one, political, social and economic problems were born.

On this unveiling scenario that seed of progress was sown in a land crisscrossed by
thorny tails of trouble.

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HOW LEBAK GAINED ITS EXISTENCE

At the start, by virtue of Executive Order No. 82 dated August 18, 1947, the Municipal
District of Salaman was under the Municipality of Dinaig; the Municipal District of Lebak
was under the Municipality of Kiamba. Aurelio F. Freires,Sr. was appointed Municipal
District Mayor of Salaman.

Unexpectedly, an Executive Order came out down classing Salaman and Lebak into
barrios, both still under Dinaig and Kiamba respectively. Reason: The two districts
had very low revenue. Such development probed a challenge to Mayor Freires,Sr. He
became obsessed to convert the two municipal districts (newly reduced to barrios) into
a municipality.

Utilizing his financial resources as well as his personal services he launched an all out
campaign to increase tax collection. Having achieved his aim, he subsequently made
use of the influential sphere of Ex-Governor Marcelino A. Concha and the potent pen of
Silvestre Ramirez Sr., to form a distinct political territory.

As a result Executive Order No. 195 dated December 31, 1948 combined the two
former Municipal Districts of Salaman and Lebak into an independent municipality under
the name of Lebak with the seat of government in the sitio of Kalamansig. In January
1950 Freires Sr., was appointed Mayor of the new municipality.

Mayor Freires, Sr. Together with former Governor Concha and Silvestre Ramirez Sr.
had the ultimate vision to transfer the seat of government from Kalamansig to Salaman.

Through his vigorous representations with influential leaders and upon the favorable
recommendation of Governor Duma Sinsuat, Executive Order No. 432 dated April 12,
1951 was handed down providing for the transfer of the seat of government of the
municipality of Lebak from Kalamansig to Salaman.

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