History of Valenzuela (excerpts)

by Justice Guillermo Santos

        In 1623, Polo was the 9th town established by the friars in Bulacan.  Its first parish priest was a Franciscan, Fr. Juan de Tarancon, his signature having first appeared in the parochial records of Polo on Novermber 7, 1621. The first Capitan appointed was Juan Monsod in 1623.  The friars appointed the officials from the native elite to help them run the town.  A complete list of Capitanes and Gobernadorcillos is on hand except for the years 1833 to 1836.  The listing of parish priests is however incomplete pending investigation of the records of the Archbishop of Manila.

        The parochial church of San Diego de Alcala in Polo began to be built in 1627.  It was finished in 1632 by Fray Jose Valencia and Capitan Juan Tibay.

        There was a Sangley (Chinese )Revolt in Manila in 1639 which spread to the neighboring towns.  The church bells of Polo, brought by the missionaries, were stolen.  It was said to have an intonation second only to those in St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and were so big they had to be broken into small pieces to remove them from the belfry.

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