History of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Name and Establishment

CUYAPO comes from the Pangasinan word “kuyapo” “kiapo” or “quiapo” in Tagalog; “lul-luan” in Ilocano; (Pistia Stratiocis Linn) a water plant that looks like a flower. According to the Kulantong or Cronologia written by the late Cirilo R. Sumangil, a native of Cuyapo who for over forty years was the Parish Priest of the Philippine Independent Church of Cuyapo, said aquatic plant was so abundant particularly in a place which is now owned by the Monteros situated along Rizal Street near the Municipal Cemetery. It was at this place that lured cow tenders from Paniqui Tarlac to pasture their herds or flocks.

Early Beginnings

Pangasinenses from Paniqui Tarlac who used to pasture their cattle foresters from Sta. Maria Narvacan Ilocos Sur; Paoay and Batac in Ilocos Norte; and Pangasinenses from Calasiao and San Carlos Pangasinan settled in great number in the town. It is said that the exodus particularly from Ilocos Sur was due to the forced labor enforced by the Spaniards in the construction of the Catholic Church in Sta. Maria Ilocos Sur.

Cuyapo was declared a Barrio of Rosales on September 25, 1849 with Senior Santiago Vergara as its first Teniente del Barrio. Rosales was then a part of Nueva Ecija. It was in 1901 during the American Civil Commission that Rosales together with Balungao Umingan San Quintin were segregated from Nueva Ecija and became parts of Pangasinan.

Others who served as Teniente del Barrio were:

• Balbino Oson
• Juan Pangalilingan
• Andres Garcia
• Domingo Orlando
• Vicente Dagdag
• Alejo Sinigue
• Anastacio Simos
• Liberato Siminig
• Domingo Valencia

On October 29, 1859, Cuyapo was separated from Rosales and made a full-fledged town with Don Juan Pangalilingan as the first Gobernadorcillo. It was during his term that the first Catholic Church and convent was constructed. The old road to Guimba passing through what is now Barangay Maycaban was constructed. On October 29, 1959, Cuyapo celebrated the centennial of its creation as a town.

The Revolutionary Period

On July 1, 1898, Gen. Mariano Llanera then Military Governor of Nueva Ecija appointed Don Marcelo Garcia, last Capitan Municipal during the Spanish Regime, as Presidente Municipal with Don Mariano Flores, last Teniente Mayor, as Vise Presidente Municipal. Later under the supervisional government election of municipal officials was held. This revolutionary period of government existed until the American forces came in November 1898. It was during this period when the people showed their patriotism and loyalty to the cause of the revolution. On June 1, 1898, two to three hundred Cuyapenos under Teniente Isabelo del Valle of Paniqui Tarlac answered the call of duty and ambushed a heavily armed contingent of Spanish Cazadores who came from Rosales enroute to Tarlac in Bessang (now part of Barangay Maycaban). The Cuyapenos then had only fifteen (15) Remington rifles and the rest armed with bolos.

The American Military Rule

The Americans arrived in Cuyapo in November 1899 and appointed Don Mariano B. Flores then President of the Revolutionary Government as Municipal President. An accepted historical event during this period was the capture of Apolinario Mabini the Sublime Paralytic in the house of Zacarias B. Flores, brother of the Municipal President on December 10, 1899.

(To honor Apolinario Mabini on his 100th birthday, fitting ceremonies upon approval of the Philippine Historical Commission (PHC) were held headed by Mayor Democrito Jose on July 23, 1964. A marker was unveiled on the spot where the house in which Mabini was captured. Prof. Teodoro A. Agoncillo, a noted historian and Head of the Department of History of the University of the Philippines was the guest speaker. Expenses for the construction of the marker were taken from the proceeds of the 1964 Cuyapo Town Fiesta).

The Capture of Apolinario Mabini

Apolinario Mabini, the Sublime Paralytic, was captured by the American soldiers on December 10, 1899 at about ten o’clock in the morning in the house of Don Zacarias B. Flores where he was then hiding allegedly upon indication of a twelve-year old boy by the name of Damial Pascual (son of the spouses Simon Pascual and Feliciana Domingo who are immediate neighbors of the Flores Family).

(Note: During the celebration of the centennial of the birth of Mabini, Mr. Damian Pascual already 77 years old told that such imputation is false and baseless and tends to discredit him so that his townmates may hate him as a traitor. This was Mr. Damian Pascual’s version of the story)

It was December 10, 1899 when an unnamed tall and robust American cavalryman who knew beforehand where Mabini was hiding approached the store of Damian’s mother who was then in the market making purchases. He asked Damian who was then tending the store by means of signs if he had eggs for sale. Realizing that the American needed eggs for food, Damian went to get eggs from a nest and gave this to the Cavalryman who took a bottle of wine on display at the “estante”, poured the wine in a glass mixed with the contents of one egg and later drank the potion. After this, the American again by signs inquired if he knew Mabini to which the boy Damian answered in the negative by shaking his head. After finishing the third egg the American drew a bill of five dollars from his wallet and gave it to the boy who said he did not have enough to change it but the American made him understand that it was not necessary for him to give the change adding that the bill was worth ten pesos. The American spread all his fingers to make his point clear. Later the American who appeared to be on an urgent business held him by the hand and said “come on pequeno” and took Damian to the house of Don Zacarias B. Flores. Finding no one the American led him to the door of the only room of the house and slowly pushed the door and saw Apolinario Mabini seated in a ‘sillon’ (reclined armchair) resting. Upon seeing the man he greeted him with a “good morning Mabini” making signs that he should stand; but Mabini calmly responded: “I cannot stand”. Then noting the physical condition of the man the American was convinced that he had found his quarry then said “you are under arrest.” He proceeded to the window facing the street and called to his fellow soldiers who were then on their way to water their horses in the neighboring Salundipit Creek by saying in a loud voice: “Mabini is here.” Scarcely had he uttered these words the house was surrounded immediately by cavalry troops. Other soldiers later arrived coming from the barracks. While the sergeant was near the window speaking with his fellow soldiers, Mabini chided the boy Damian thus: “Bakit mo ako itinuro?” (Why did you show where I am?) to which the boy replied: “Hindi po ang Amerikano po ang nagdala sa akin dito at hindi ko alam ang dahilan.” (No sir, the American took me here and I did not know the reason) After a while various soldiers helped the paralytic stand from his chair. He was carried by four soldiers to the convent which then served as a soldiers’ barracks. Hours later he was taken to Rosales, Pangasinan and from there to Bayambang, Pangasinan from where he was taken to Manila by train. On the day of the capture no other person was in the house except Mabini and his brother Prudencio Mabini who on seeing his brother captured by the Americans jumped through the window to the kitchen and went to the municipal building to inform the Municipal President Don Mariano B. Flores about the capture. It was said that the commanding officer of the local military outpost has asked explanations from the Municipal President about the presence of Mabini in the locality without him (commanding officer) being informed about it. The latter replied that he absolutely knew nothing about the matter. Should anyone told him about it he would have reported it to the authorities.

Early Education System

The first primary school during the Spanish Period was established in 1893. Don Clodualdo Bringas, former Registrar of Deeds of Nueva Ecija was the first Insular Teacher.

During the early part of the American Regime the need for a primary school was felt. In 1901 during the incumbency of Don Mariano B. Flores the first primary school was established made of cogon and buri leaves situated at Bell St. (Now Quezon Avenue). In 1902 Mr. C.A. Belknap began instruction in English of a class composed among others of Tomas Tuazon, Ciriaco B. Pascual, Crispin Pascual, Damian Dagdag, Nicolas Sumalbag some of whom served as teachers of the school.

Sometime in the early 1920s a secondary school – the Cuyapo Institute was founded with Dr. Eufronio Verzola as principal stockholder. This school existed till the outbreak of the last world war (World War II) and is the Alma Mater of many outstanding Cuyapenos. In 1946 the Cuyapo High School with Atty. Jose Dacquel, Dr. Democrito Jose, Dr. Jose Baguisi and others as stockholders was founded. In 1953 this school was sold to the Bishop of Lingayen through Rev. Henry Zeguard MSC Missionary and then Parish Priest of San Roque Parish Church. With Atty. Emilio Lozano and Rev. Cirilo Sumangil and others as principal stockholders the Cuyapo Academy was founded in 1955. Both the St. Pius X Institute (formerly Cuyapo High School) and Cuyapo Academy offer secondary education.

Religion

In 1907 the first Philippine Independent Church parish was established. A chapel was constructed on the corner of Barth (now P. Joaquin) and McArthur (now Mabini) streets.

The ideals and doctrines of Dr. Jose Rizal served as the tenets of a religious group called “La Religion Rizalina” which had a large number of followers in Cuyapo during the early American regime. Some of those prominent followers were: Atty. Aromin, Marcelo Corpuz, Nicolas Sumalbag, Ciriaco B. Pascual, Antonio Lauyan, Aniceto Aromin to name a few.