CAVITE TOWNS RESEARCH AND HISTORICAL VLOGGING

Town Name: Municipality of Alfonso

Historical Sites:

1. Jose Rizal Monument – Libertad, Alfonso, Cavite

2. Alfonso Welcome Arch – Luksuhin – Mangas Rd, Alfonso, Cavite

-Serving as the main entrance to Alfonso, Cavite

Product/Food Reference:

1. Tablea - In Alfonso, tablea is made from cacao fruits that are harvested from the
abundant cacao trees in the mountain side. Tablea is the representative product in
Alfonso.
2. Coffee - Cavite was known as the coffee capital of the Philippines, they are the one who
produced coffee needs of Manila and other parts of the country.

Population: 59 306 (as of 2020 cencus)

Old Parish (Existing): San Juan Nepomuceno Parish Church – Mojica, Alfonso, Cavite

- Indeed, one hundred and sixty years of grace in preserving the faith has passed. It has
already been one hundred and sixty years since the sons of Saint Dominic cultivated the
Christian faith in the hidden town of Alfonso.
Patron Saint: Saint John Nepomucene

- The Day of Saint John Nepomucene is celebrated on May 16 of every year to

commemorate the day of his martyrdom in 1393. A heavy stone was tied to his neck and he was
dumped in a river when he refused to tell King Wenceslas what his queen confessed to St. John.

Economic Status:

Government Officials:

Mayor: Randy A. Salamat

Vice Mayor: Madona Mojica-Pel

Representative: Abraham M. Tolentino

Sangguniang Bayan Members: ABC President:

Agnes Vidallon-Panganiban Dante L. Pel

Joselito H. Resurreccion SK Federation President:

 Reynaldo R. Casabuena Kystel Faye R. Alcazar

Meynardo C. Manalo

Mariette J. Rom

Jorge Michael R. Penano

Carolina R. Rivera

Elpidio H. Credo

Language/Dialect: Tagalog

Culture, Beliefs, Tradition and Festivities:

 Sanghiyang / Sayaw sa Apoy

A pre-colonial ritual celebrated by firewalkers of Indang and

Alfonso. It is a fusion of the elements of folk religion, magic, and
Christian faith. It is done to give thanks to Bathala for the blessings
given to the people. It is the home of the cultic ritual called
“Sanghiyang” (Ancestral Offering) and the Firewalkers known as
“Barkos”. It is also where the Old Testament–based house blessing
called “Basang Gilagid” is still practiced.

 “Piritay”

Alfonso is the place where the legendary “alas-as” plant and

delicious “chicomami” grew first, and where the protective
environmental Fairy called “piritay”, who always wears read in all
her manifestations, is seen and known. Symbolic and very
significant is its food called “Palutang”, which is offered on every
important occasion of Thanksgiving. The most delicious
“Pastillas”, “Tabliya” and “Achara “are products of this town.
  Miracles of San Juan Nepomuceno

Whilst there had been several recorded prodigious miracles worked

by this saint in other places, the town of Alfonso was also blessed
by numerous graces, miracles, and stories – thanks to this soldier
of Christ. There are tales of his miraculous stroll around the town,
including an account of the mysterious bunch of amor seco seeds
or few-flowered spikes found attached to the hem of the robe of the
saint’s image and its changing position inside the retablo mayor.

 Sanghiyang Festival

Whilst there had been several recorded prodigious miracles worked

by this saint in other places, the town of Alfonso was also blessed
by numerous graces, miracles, and stories – thanks to this soldier
of Christ. There are tales of his miraculous stroll around the town,
including an account of the mysterious bunch of amor seco seeds
or few-flowered spikes found attached to the hem of the robe of the
saint’s image and its changing position inside the retablo mayor.

Historical Background:

Alfonso was totally forested until the 17th century when a few pocket settlements
sprouted. The town was originally part of Barrio Lumampong in the town of Indang. In the
course of time, the pocket settlements grew into sitios and later on into barrios. The town became
a separate district municipality from Indang on 16 March 1859 through the efforts of the
community leaders Bonifacio Aveo and Felix del Mundo. The new town was called Alas-as for a
period of seventeen years. The name refers to the name of a tree used for the construction of
houses and bears sweet fruit. It was, eventually, named after King Alfonso XII of Spain, son
of Isabella II. Alfonso was initially composed of the barrios of Taywanak, Pajo, Esperanza,
Marahan, Matagbak, Sinaliw and Kaytitinga. Don Narciso Mojica was the capitan municipal of
Alfonso at the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. A few days after the Cry of Balintawak, on
31 August 1896, General Mariano Trias ordered the liquidation of all Spaniards in the
municipality. In the bloody battle that followed, the leaders of the revolutionists were General
Hipolito Rint, Captain Eriberto Cetro (Kapitan Berto) and Predencio Rolle (Tandang Doro).