69. AGRARIAN AND POLITICAL UNREST IN MAGALANG IN THE 1930s

 

Magalang is one of the important agricultural towns in Pampanga. Since the Spanish period, Magalang has been one of the chief producers of sugar and rice. Due to its rich agricultural industry, the town attracted several land prospectors to plant cash crops and establish relevant industries such as rice and sugar milling and alcohol distilling. When the Americans came, its landlords became more prosperous and powerful as evidenced by their lifestyle and influence on the local affairs. Tenants were left behind and they were subjected to abuses by their landlords which led them to discontent. In the late 1930s, several ideologies such as communism and socialism plus the teachings of Sakdalism attracted tenants who they thought these were the solutions to uplift their well-being. Tenants in turn were radicalized and they aggressively demanded to increase their wages and even asked their landlords to distribute their lands to them. Their landlords refused to grant their demands and the tenants became more aggressive and this will led to widespread unrest. 

Aside from agrarian issues, politics is another reason why unrest prevailed in Magalang in those times. One of the examples is the political feud between Atty. Jose Morales and Don Antonio Y. Luciano. In 1931, both Morales and Luciano ran for the municipal president post and Morales later won. In 1932, the sugarcane field of Don Antonio mysteriously burned and the landlord sued Morales and others in the court. In 1934, the court dismissed the case filed against Morales and others. Morales claimed that the action brought against him by Luciano was politically motivated. Don Antonio also served as municipal president of Magalang in 1923-1925. 

In 1934, the local chapter of the Socialist Party was established. This party was founded by Don Pedro Abad Santos and fielded candidates in 1937 and 1940 elections such as Eusebio Aquino and Pastor David. In August 1937, the tenants staged a general strike and paralyzed the local sugar industry. In the same year, the tenants of Don Eustaquio F. Dizon staged a strike and they demanded the increase of their wages. The local officials and the Catholic church were alarmed by the situation. In 1938, Mayor Jose M. Navarro together with Fr. Sixto Manaloto organized Accion Catolica to counter the spread of communist, socialist and Sakdalista taught through catechism in the schools. In the same year, Labor Secretary Ramon Torres organized a conference in Magalang to conduct a dialogue between the tenants and the landlords. In June of the same year, fifteen soldiers were sent to barrio Santo Rosario to disperse the alleged meeting organized by the Socialists. 

In October 1939, the former tenants of General Servillano Aquino faced eviction after the latter relinquished his leased property to the original owner, Don Jose Gueco. The landlord filed an eviction case after the former tenants refused to vacate their lands and even threatened to burn the houses in the town which led to the deployment of the Constabulary patrol in Magalang. To help the Constabulary to restore order, thirty landlords of the town formed their vigilante squads to augment the force of the Constabulary to avoid further escalation and violence. 

In January 1940, the workers of Pasudeco declared a strike and the violence erupted. One of the workers who was believed to be a Socialist killed Enrique Sembrano and his assistant while hauling sugarcane in barrios Balitucan and Turu. In August of the same year, the lifeless body of Don Jose Dizon was found in his sugarcane field. The authorities accused the Socialists as the perpetrators of the crime but they strongly denied it. Another case of murder was reported in October on the same year. The lifeless body of Gaudencio Vivar, land manager of Don Antonio Y. Luciano was also found in the sugarcane fields. The Constabulary alleged that Vivar would provide a lead to solve the mysterious murder of Don Jose Dizon which they believed that the landlord is acquainted with the Lucianos.    

Source:

La Vanguardia, November 9, 1932. page 3. 

Letter to the Archbishop of Manila dated January 28, 1938, Magalang, Pampanga, 169 signatories, Archdiocese of Manila Archives. 

Louie Aldrin L. Bartolo, The Magalang Book, The Historical Life and Culture of the Kapampangan Town (1605-2015) (Manila, Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2016) 59-61. 

Labor Office Moves to End Farm Trouble, The Tribune, January 22, 1938. page 1. 

Troops Rushed to Stop Meeting of Socialist, The Tribune, June 7, 1938. page 3.

Frustrate Threat to Burn Town, The Sunday Tribune, October 8, 1939. page 2. 

Tenancy Dispute, The Tribune. October 10, 1939. page 9. 

Call Truce In Strike, The Tribune. January 7, 1940, page 29.  

2 Suspects Held For Killing, The Tribune, October 29, 1940. page 14. 

Nab Another Socialist for Murder, The Tribune, December 17, 1940. page 11. 

42. MAGALENO SOCIAL ELITE CLUBS

Members of Mountain Side Club Standing (L-R):
Francisco Gamboa, Enrique Baluyut, Dr. Claro Ayuyao, Onofre Lacson
Nicasio Lacson and Onofre Mercado. Sitting (L-R):
Maria Elvira Luciano, Avelina Laxamana, Remedios Santos, Gilda Dizon,
Paz Gueco, Rosario Luciano and Rafaela Sanchez

Members of local elites in Pampanga are known for their stunning beauty, like woman would flaunt their best jewelry, gowns, and ternos, and men were would elegantly dress in their formal attire, and dance the night away. According to John Larkin, town and provincial social clubs demonstrated how the native upper class flourished under the new regime. These organizations are exclusive to the elites, provided among other things an opportunity for young single adults to socialize with and meet others of the same age and class. He added that Kapampangan elite turned their attention to peer group organizations, politics and extra political acivities. They resolved many if their economic and political problems by banding together into various agricultural organizations and political parties. Some examples of social groups like Young Generation in Macabebe, Kundiman and K ning K in Angeles, El Circulo Pampangueño, Club Limbangan, Ing Barangay, Club Cervantino de San Fernando, Vinta Fernandina and El Circulo Fernandino in San Fernando, Thomasian in Sto Tomas, Masaya in Arayat, Batu Balani, Phi Beta and Maligaya in Guagua, Club Batala, Matula, Four Scathers, Circulo Escenico, Aficionados de Bacolor and Mekeni Club in Bacolor, Sporting Club in Candaba and Ing Masibucan in Concepcion, Tarlac. In Magalang, there are some various social elite clubs formed in the late 20s until early 30s. The examples of social elite clubs formed in Magalang are:

Standing (L-R):
Dr. Andres J. Luciano, Belen Gueco, Generosa Dizon, Filomena Baluyut
Arsenia Calma, Maria Feliciano, Florencia Feliciano and Rosa Luciano.

a. Mountain Side Club

Mountain Side Club was formed in 1928. This social elite club was the most prominent in Magalang in its heyday. The annual ball of this club was held in every last week of April or early week of May; and this was one of the kind in Magalang and in whole Pampanga. The venue of the ball was held either in the Magalang Auditorium or in the town plaza. It was reported by the Spanish daily, La Vanguardia that the 1933 ball, celebrated its fifth anniversary and the officers of the club are: Francisco Gamboa, president; Carina L. Luciano, vice president; Carolina P. Feliciano, treasurer and Ernesto Dizon, secretary. The guest of the April 16, 1933 ball, are the former members who are newly weds like Architect Fernando H. Ocampo and Lourdes M. Luciano; Jose Gueco and Patricia Lopez; Paul V. Limjengco and Humildad Wijangco; Dr. Conrado D. Ayuyao and Josefina Rodrigo (sister of former senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo); Raul Tecson and Virgilia Luciano; Florentino Sazon and Ocilia Lacson; Rafael Lazatin and Loreto P. Feliciano; and Emilio B. Lacson and Atanasia P. Lacson; plus with distinguished guests from Manila like 1929 Señorita Filipinas; Ms. Engracia Laconico, 1932 Señorita Filipinas; Ms. Emma Zamora and 1933 Señorita Filipinas; Ms. Pacita de los Reyes. Some prominent politicians are also distinguished guests in this annual ball like, Justice and Mrs. Jose Abad Santos, Senators Sotero Baluyut and Senator Benigno Aquino, Sr. and their wives, Pampanga governor Pablo Angeles David and Pasudeco President and Mrs. Jose de Leon.

Guests of Mountain Side Club: Sitting (L-R)
Doña Trinidad de Leon-Roxas, Dr. and Mrs. Jose del Rosario,
Senator Benigno Aquino, Sr. and Doña Aurora Aquino

In 1934 annual ball, it was more sophisticated with spectacular guests from the fields of politics and business. The ball was held in a constructed auditorium in town plaza decorated with poly-chrome lights. The lounge was painted with Japanese summer scenes with Japanese lanterns, gave more color to the lounge. The new officers of the club are, Dr. Claro D. Ayuyao, president, Gilda Dizon de Genuino, vice president, Rafaela Sanchez, treasurer and Nicasio L. Lacson, secretary. The distinguished guests of this annual ball are: Doña Trinidad de Leon-Roxas, wife of future president Manuel A. Roxas, Senator and Mrs. Benigno Aquino, Sr., Senator and Mrs. Sotero Baluyut, Justice Eduardo Gutierrez David, 1934 Miss Philippines, Clarita Tan Kiang, 1930 Miss Philippines, Monina Acuña and 1931 Miss Philippines Engracia Laonico, Pampanga Governor and Mrs. Pablo Angeles David, and many others came from distinguished families from different towns of Pampanga. In the same year also, the club was restructured into two groups, the Junior Mountain Side Club and Senior Mountain Side Club. The junior group held an spectacular Balintawak dance ball held at the residence of Catalina A. Gueco.

Ladies of Mountain Side Club, standing (L-R):
Filomena Baluyut, Paciencia Gomez, Rosario Luciano, Monina Acuña,
Belen Gueco, Clarita Tan Kiang, Engracia Laconico, Gilda Dizon and Fe Lagdameo

The 1935 annual ball of the club was held in Magalang Auditorium. The music ball was played by Orquesta Ylaya, and the distinguished guests of the ball are: future president Sergio Osmeña, Don Honorio Ventura, Jose Fausto and members from distinguished families came from Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Manila. The club awarded Gloria S. Dizon as the best mestisa costume while Lucy Pamintuan was awarded as the best European costume. The officers of the club are Amado Luciano, president, Rita Gueco , vice president, Dr. Salvador Gueco, secretary and Estrella Wijangco, treasurer. In 1936 annual ball, the ball was mostly organized by the Junior Mountain Side Club with the cooperation of Senior Mountain Side club. The organizers are Gertrudes Gueco, Josefina Luciano, Rosario Tumang, Consuelo Wijangco, Catalina Gueco, Purita Mercado, Virgilio Lacson, Wilson Gueco, Isidoro Chancoco, Martin Mercado, Ernesto Dayrit and Orencio Gueco. The theme of the ball was Dance in a Rose. The ladies wore pink ternos and the orchestra played special repertoire like Rose Marie, The Rose in Hair, Rose of the Rancho, So Red the Rose, Roses in the Rain, Moonlight and Roses, I Sent My Love With Rose, Rosa Mia, Roses of Picardy, You Gave Me A Rose and many others. Lucy Pamintuan and Filomena Baluyut won special prizes in this ball. The annual balls of Mountain Side Club was temporarily halted during the Japanese period. It was resumed after the war. During the 50s annual balls, the distinguished guests of Mountain Side Club are future president Diosdado P. Macapagal, future first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Rogelio dela Rosa and other big stars from business and movie industries. The Mountain Side Club marked its end in 1963, after an incident when the alleged Huks assassinated Mayor Benedicto T. Dayrit in the annual ball of the club in December 28, 1963. After that incident, the prestigious Mountain Side Club never recovered from the shocks of Huk terror. In recent years, some of the prominent Magaleños attempted to revive this prestigious club, but failed.

b. Ing E-Malulumpawi

This small elite club was founded by Justice Conrado R. Gwekoh. The Spanish daily La Vanguardia reported that this club organized a splendid grand ball in the municipal hall of Magalang for the newly bar passer, the future justice Augusto M. Luciano. This grand ball was held on November 4, 1933 and their guests are: Delfina Luciano, Belen Gueco, Rosa Luciano, Filomena Baluyut, Felisa Lauchengco, Arsenia Calma, Carolina Vega, Miguela Navarro, Rafaela Sanchez, Angela Manaloto, Luzvimind Gwekoh, Arcadia Manaloto, Potenciana Santos, Magdalena Ayuyao, Magdalena Navarro, Olimpia Santos, Nunilon Ayuyao, Justina Santiago, Remedios Santos, Isabel Trinidad, Jose F. Luciano, Florencio L. Tumang, Isabelo Sanchez, Silvestre Cosio, Jose D. Feliciano, Jose M. Navarro, Raymundo Sanchez, Eladio A. Santos, Aristedes Luciano, Dominador Tumang, Jesus Gueco, Juan Gamboa, Benjamin Gwekoh, Manuel Tumang, Dr. Miguel Dayrit, Dr. Claro Feliciano, Dr. Claro Ayuyao, Atty. Isidoro Ayuyao, Atty. Jose C. Morales, Atty. Artemio Vega, Atty. Gil B. Galang, Atty. Silvestre Punzalan, Silvestre Bautista, Marcos Valencia, Demetrio Lacsamana and others. The fate of this group is still unknown.

c. Ing Maldang Caladua

This small elite club was founded by the prominent elite members of Magalang. This club was probably founded in 1934. The managers of this club are Francisco Gamboa and  Fe Laureano Lacson. A noted spectacular grand ball was organized on New Year's Eve in 1935. The venue of this grand ball was held in the lounge of municipal hall. The front of the municipal hall was decorated with hundreds of poly-chrome lights with balloons, confetti, trumpets and hats. This ball invited various personalities in Pampanga and neighboring provinces to witness the lavish party that promised to "eclipse the whole town".  The organizers are the leading upper society members of Magalang like Dr. Salvador Gueco, Dr. Servillano Ayuyao, Dr. Claro Feliciano, Emilio B. Lacson, Raymundo Sanchez, Florencio Tumang and Crispulo Santos. The ladies committee are composed of Rosario Luciano, Domitila Mercado, Magdalena Ayuyao, Eugenia Lising, Luzvimind Gwekoh and Filomena Baluyut.

d. El Club S.O.S 

This small elite club was founded in barrio Tinabang (Sto Rosario) in Magalang. The only noted party organized by this club was held in barrio fiesta on May 28, 1935. The party was held in the Sto Rosario Elementary School premises decorated with lush foliage and lovely flowers. The party music was played by the Melody Boys orchestra. The organizers of this ball was mostly members of Mountain Side Club. The committee was composed of Domitila Mercado, Felicidad de Jesus, Adela Contreras, Felicidad Tumang, Purita Dizon, Soledad Datu, Rafaela Sanchez, Purita Tiglao, Dr. Claro Ayuyao, Nicasio Lacson, Rustico Navarro, Ernesto Dizon, Salvador Datu, Martin Mercado, Onofre Lacson and Francisco Jocson.

Photo Credits:

Members of Mountain Side club: De la esplendida fiesta del Mountain Side Club, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, May 4, 1935.

Second Photo: En la suntuosa fiesta del Mountain Side club, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, April 11, 1934.

Guests of Mountain Side club: Un notable acontecimiento social en Pampanga, Seccion de Rotograbado, La Vanguardia, Manila, April 14, 1934.

Beautiful Ladies in Mountain Side club: Un notable acontecimiento social en Pampanga, Seccion de Rotograbado, La Vanguardia, Manila, April 14, 1934.

Sources:

Playgrounds of the Kapampangan Elite by Ivan Anthony Henares, A Tale of Two Cities, Singsing, Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, page 116.

For Mountainside Club:

Mountain Side Club en su 5.0 año de vida, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, April 5, 1933 page 5.

Ochocientas personas concurren el baile by P.G. Bustos, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, April 11, 1934 page 5.

Otra fiesta del Mountain Side Club, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, June 4, 1934, page 5.

Muchos de Manila asisten al baile en Magalang, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, May 3, 1935, page 5.

"Dance in Rose", con un repertorio especial de piezas bailables sera la proxima fiesta del "Side Club", Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, May 21, 1936, page 5.

For Ing Maldang Caladua:

Animado baile de dado el pueblo de Magalang, Portavoz de las Provincias, La Vanguardia, Manila, November 6, 1934, page 2.

Baile en Magalang, La Vanguardia, Manila, December 14, 1934, page 7.

Rumbosa fiesta Navidad en Magalang, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, December 26, 1934, page 5.

Sensacional despedida de año de la Pampanga, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, December 28, 1934, page 5.

For Ing E-Malulumpawi:

Homenaje a un nuevo abogado de la Pampanga, Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, November 11, 1933 page 7.

For El Club S.O.S.:

El Club S.O.S., Pagina Social, La Vanguardia, Manila, May 27, 1935 page 5.