A
marker posted in the municipal building of Kalayaan
reads:
"On
this side grew a coconut tree with three branches interpreted
by our forebears as the future site of our municipal
building; three branches being San Juan, Longos and
San Antonio."
Today, the belief had been realized. But digging through
historical records, it seems that the place is still
made up of the three original visitas of Babaye (now
Longos), Abacao (now San Juan) and San Pablo (now San
Antonio).
Babaye got its name when the Spaniards came and found
women washing clothes in the brook. When the Spaniards
continued their aim to conquer the land and a little
north of Babaye, they saw a place where people dried
abaca and named the place Abacao. The Spaniards claimed
the mountains east of Babaye and named the village found
there in honor of San Pablo.
In 1577, Francisca priest arrived, Some settled in Laguna.
The two priests assigned in Laguna were Father P. San
Juan de Placencia and Father Diego Oropesa. They started
their mission to Christianize the Filipinos in this
part of the country. The three visitas were initially
ruled by the Spaniards from Lumban under the leadership
of Don Juan Tinawin, a Paeteñno. In 1590, the leadership
was given to Don Pable Caodpod who hailed from Babaye.
Then in 1600, by the order of Rev. Father Juan de Cliver,
the three visitas were ruled by native leaders, Don
Agustin Gatan as Presidente and Don Antonio Hubid as
the Vice-Presidente.
In 1669, after the long ardous work of Don Pedro Banay-banay
with the help of Father Juan Bautista the town of Longos
composed of Babaye, Abacao and half of San Pablo was
established. The other half of San Pablo remained under
the political jurisdiction of Paete. The first Parish
Priest was Rev. Fr. Lucas Sarro.
Came 1755, the residents of San Pablo presented a resolution
to the Governor General advocating its separation from
Paete and Longos, and the establishment of their own
town which was renamed San Antonio.
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