Jalajala, Rizal

Jalajala is a 4th class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 28,738 people in 4,759 households.

Etymology

What is now the barangay of Punta was the seat of the early settlement later known as "Halaan". During the summer months of April and May, the shores of Punta along Laguna de Bay were covered with a variety of shells locally known as halaán.

As is typical with many place names in the country, it resulted from the linguistic barrier between early Spanish visitors and natives. The Spaniards would ask "¿Como se llama este sitio?" ("What is the name of this place?"), to which the natives replied "halaán pò," thinking that the foreginers were asking the name of the shells. The Spaniards accepted the response as the name of the place, and began calling it halaán, which was later morphed into Jalajala.

Geography

It is on the largest lake in the Philippines Laguna de Bay. Jalajala is a peninsula located 75 km southeast of Manila. The Municipality of Jalajala is one of the lakeshore towns along Laguna de Bay. It lies on the eastern part of the Province of Rizal and has a land area of 4,930.000 hectares representing 3.77% of the total land area of the province . Jalajala’s political boundary on the north is the Panguil River, wherein it shares the boundary with the town of Pakil in Laguna. On its southern, eastern, and western boundaries lies the Laguna de Bay.

Barangays

Jala-jala is politically subdivided into 11 barangays (3 urban, 8 rural). Bayugo, Palay-Palay, and Sipsipin were elevated as barrios in 1956.^[1]

• Bagumbong
• Bayugo
• Second District (Pob.)
• Third District (Pob.)
• Lubo
• Pagkalinawan
• Palaypalay
• Punta
• Sipsipin
• First (Special) District (Pob.)
• Paalaman

History

The genesis of the name “Jalajala” was started from interesting legend. In the olden days, Jalajala was still unknown and uninhabited. Punta, present barrio of this town, was the seat of government of early civilization. During summer, months of April and May, the shore along Punta is covered with variety of shells. It is also the source of wonder, how a fresh water lake has plenty of it from salty water. This took an event in the history Jalajala when a Spanish couple with Filipino boatmen anchored at the shore of Punta. There were many natives bathing then. Upon arrival, the Spaniards asked natives in their own language, “COMO SE LLAMA ESTE SITIO?”. The natives not knowing the real query mistook the fact that the stranger were asking of the name of the white shells along the shore, they answered “HALAAN PO”. The Spaniards, thinking it was the right answer to their question, began calling the place “Halaan”. As years passed by, the name “HALAAN” was later changed to “Jalajala”.

Another folk is about the Jalajala “hogs” or Jalajala pigs also known as “berk jala”. It can be traced from the insignia of the municipality. It has plenty number in the wilderness of Jalajala. It is believed that the name of the town was derived from that breed of boar. The said animal is also a favorite subject for hunting. One day as the Spaniard passes by, the Tagalog speaking natives shouted “hala-hala” as hunting jingle/ chant from then, the Spaniards used to call the place “Jalajala”.

Originally, the superb town of Jalajala was in the heart of ancient kingdom of Bai and Mai (Be’it or Ma’it) the Gatmaitan of the noble Maitans of 1277 A.D. This peninsula was called a little piece of paradise. It occupies a majestic landscape from the view of Mt. Sembrano as well as from Talim Island. The lakeshore offers a resting place for the traders from Laguna de Bay, thus, this town became a source of interesting item for scientific and educational values.

For centuries, Jalajala became a part of Villa de Pila which in the year 1610 conceded to the Franciscan Orders the right to pasture cattle for the support of the hospital at Los Baños. The vegetative area was found suitable in raising livestock. Henceforth encourage the natives to engage in the industry to increase the supply of milk and meat necessity. Jalajala remained under the same administration for several years.

On September 7, 1676, the Superior Govierno- the governing body of the island, issued an order separating Jalajala from Villa de Pila, both in civil and ecclesiastical administration. Settlers of developing colony began to like the place by clearing the wilderness, cultivating crops and popularizing various livestock. A bamboo church for San Francisco Bailon was constructed in the leadership of Fr. Lucas Saro. The first mass celebration was held on October 1, 1678. Then finally, installed stoned church in the year 1733. The inhabitants on the other hand became desiderious in making an independent colony from the nearby colonies. They fortunately succeeded in separating from Pililla in 1786. This also happened due to the influence of a rich and powerful Spaniard whose name is Don Julio Dollar. Jalajala by then turned to be pueblo. Promentarily, this humble land had its first map drawn by Eng’r Feliciano Marquez on September 28, 1767. It has been placed in a powerful lens indicated its title as “Islas de Jalajala”. The original of which is now seen in the Archive General de Indios in Seville, Spain. Jalajala was incorporated again to the town of Pililla and became its barrio in 1816.

In 1820, Paul de la Gironière a French physician reached the magnificent bay of Manila. He is from Nantes who had a strong desire to grasp abroad. He landed in the Philippines boarding in a vessel leading East Indies. He witnessed the insurrection of novels in Intramuros and the infamous massacre of foreigners by the Tagalogs in Binondo, bought for a token sum from the Spanish government this peninsula of Jalajala. He settled here and built a stoned house where he lived with his wife, the widow of Marquez de las Salinas of Binondo in order to help her forget her lost fortune nof 128, 000 sterling in Mexico confiscated by rebel leader Iturbide. He was commissioned to subdue pirates and bandits to the wild regime. He found the victims of Spanish extortion and ruled a prosperous and orderly community. Assisted by industrious and loving neighbor, a heartily seconded by “Aleli”, once a dreaded chieftain, by a Malay- Japanese priest whom the Archbishop had told him nobody could ever live with, he converted a forest and material swamp into thriving town surrounded by timber land, pasture land, rich folds of rice, indigo, sugarcane, tobacco and coffee. A stock from where the famous Jalajala hogs originated was also established. It was crossed- breed and named Jironiere. De la Gironière appears to have been one of the pioneers in scientific agriculture in the country. The Real Socieded Economica de Amigos del Pais de Filipinas on 27 June 1837 gave him a prize of one thousand pesos (P 1000), for being the first man to present coffee plantation of more than 60,000 shrubs on its second year of harvest. With the money received he built a church and school as well as large warehouses and factory.

He experienced two momentous events in this fruitful town. First is the capture of the wild buffalo, possessing six feet long horn now placed in the Museum of Nantes. Second is the porosity of cayman with twenty- seven feet long monster size ready to seized body along the wide river of Naglabas with his friend Russel, both under bulky shed of Jalajala forest.

De la Gironière also had a dull moment staying here; during the death of his far away brother in Puerto Rico, death of his offspring and his wife’s massacre. These extra- ordinary tragic events led him back to France after he sold his property. He left Jalajala still with good possession. One important account in his stay are the foreign dignitaries signifying the good and great condition of the town. Among them were Rear Admiral M. Laplace, Burmigan, Joachim Balthazar. He even met Capt. Gabriel Lafond de Lucy, Bermont d’ Urville, Consul Adolphe Barrot, Hamilton Lindsay, Dr. Enu, Don Jose Fuentes. Last but the well known George Robert Russel, an English merchant who witnessed the silent story of town Jalajala.

Cavada stated that the creation of Jalajala as pueblo started in 1823, it is indeed just because of the aforementioned premises in the Philippines. De la Gironière in memory of his stay wrote a book entitled “Twenty Years in the Philippines” Vingt Annus Aux Philippines.

On February 23, 1853, a new sojourn was opened in Jalajala, It was incorporated in the newly created “Distrito delos Montes de San Mateo”, and later donunated by Distrito Politico- Militar de Morong. After sometime, Jalajala went to the possession of Peter Vedi who, according to missionaries abandoned in 1891, uncultivated from several years.

Jalajala when it comes to leadership were headed by few position named as follows; Capitan Municipal, Presidente Municipal, Alcalde Municipal and Municipal Mayor.

By virtue of Act 1626 approved on March 27, 1907 from the municipality of Pililla, Jalajala became a true alas independent municipality and that election was held in first Tuesday of November 1907.

According to the town's web site, this is Jalajala's brief history:

Early 19th century - Paul de la Gironière, a French phyician, established a farmland or "hacienda" in a place known by locals as Jalajala, an uncultured piece of land from the town of Pila, Laguna.

1823 – the year Jalajala was made into a “pueblo” or town.

1825 – the year Jalajala was separated from the town Pila to become independent, with its ecclesiastical affairs given to the accular clergy.

1853 – Jalajala was incorporated in the newly created Distrito delos Montes de San Mateo and later, into the Distrito-Politico-Militar de Morong.

Peter Vedi – owned the land of Jalajala but abandoned it in 1891 then Jalajala was uncultivated for several years.

January 27, 1897 – Filipino revolutionists entered Jalajala to capture Spanish hacienderos.

August 1, 1898 – the people of Jalajala joined the revolutionary government of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Act 946 – After the war, by virtue of this act, Jalajala and Quisao were consolidated with the seat of the municipal government.

Act 1626 – By this act approved on March 27, 1907, Jalajala became an independent municipality from the Municipality of Pililla.

Simeon Perez – the first to be elected as Presidente Municipal in 1907 when Jalajala elected its first town officials held in the first Tuesday of November.

1920 – the land of Jalajala went into publication due to non-payment of land taxes by its previous owner.

Francisco, Marcelo and Bernardo de Borja (from Pateros) – won the bid to own Jalajala, thus becoming the first Filipino owners of Jalajala.

1925 – due to conflict and maltreatment of the land owners, more than half of the tenants transferred in a land in Pililla known then as “Longos”. They named the place barrio Malaya to signify their freedom. But due to an epidemic brought about by non-potable water, many settlers went back to Jalajala.

December 1941 - Japanese fighter and bomber planes invaded the town of Jalajala.

1942 - Japanese Imperial forces was occupied and entering the towns in Jalajala.

In 1942 to 1945, local Rizaleño resistance fighters under the Col. Marking's guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC guerrillas around in Jalajala was fought the invading commands from the plains and attacking Japanese troops and Makapili rebels for the couple of few months and four years during the counter-insurgencies under the Japanese Occupation, while the Rizaleño guerrillas was controlled to retreating by the Japanese soldiers and before the liberators of local Filipino ground forces under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units recaptured in Jalajala and aiding the local Rizaleño resistance and defeated Japanese troops and Makapili rebels in 1945 and the following the Invasion of Jalajala.

1945 - Filipino troops of the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was liberated and entered in Jalajala and helping the local recognized guerrillas of the Col. Marking's guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC guerrillas to defeated and attacking Japanese Imperial forces and the Makapili collaborating rebels and ended in World War II.

Liberation and the Invasion of Jalajala

Second Philippine Republic 
 

After the invading commands over the few months and five years by the retreating of all stronghold of the local Rizaleño resistance fighters under the Colonel Marking's Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas around in the town of Jalajala by attacking Japanese forces and the Makapili collaborating rebels during the Post-Counter-Insurgencies under by Japanese Occupation on 1945 and before the local Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units recaptured the towns during the liberation.

Started the Allied Invasion of Jalajala on January to August 1945, local military forces of Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 4th Infantry Regiment was recaptured and invaded the municipal town of Jalajala and aided the helpful of all local Rizaleño guerrilla resistance fighters under the Colonel Marking's Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas in the defeated and attacking the fought against the Imperial Japanese armed forces and the Makapili collaborating rebels.

Meanwhile, around the captured, bombed and destroyed the plains, rice fields, rivers and forests at the municipal town of Jalajala was entering the battles and invading commands from the couple of eight months and one years beginning the liberation of all the stronghold of local Filipino soldiers, military officers, tank commanders, military truck and jeeps, military IFV's, artillery and mortars and many other military equipments under the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was sending the local military operations around and arrival the towns in Jalajala and they captured, bombed and destroyed the roman catholic churches, municipal town halls, plazas, villages and many others are they burned and attacked and defeated by the Imperial Japanese troops, military officers, tank commanders, military truck and jeeps, military IFV's, artillery and mortars and many other military equipments under the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces and they captured in Jalajala by the local Filipino ground troops.

The American fighter and bomber planes under the United States Army Air Forces entered the town in Jalajala was supported and helping the aided by the local Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary and the local Rizaleño resistance fighters under the Colonel Marking's Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas around the municipal towns was liberated and defeating Japanese soldiers under the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces.

The inside of all Japanese troops and officers under the military station of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces at the military garrison bases and started by the invading sieges and military raids of the military general headquarters and military garrisons and bases of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in Jalajala and they fought the invaded and entering of all stronghold Filipino troops and officers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units. After the invading sieges by the Japanese military GHQ's and garrisons in Jalajala, the entered and capturing the Japanese military GHQ's and garrisons in Jalajala by the successfully victorious of all Filipino troops and military officers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units recaptured and taken the camps with the flag pole raised and up the Philippine war flag for the Philippine Commonwealth military and they surrendered and retreating Japanese Imperial forces.

The aftermath of the Allied Invasion of Jalajala on August 1945, the local military and guerrilla resistance casualties during the fighting and the battle and invading commands and they succeeding battles and invasions including 4,600 Filipino troops under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units was killed in action and 11,300 wounded in action, while the local Rizaleño guerrilla resistance fighters under the Colonel Marking's Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas suffered over 960 killed in action and over 2,160 wounded in action. On the part of the Japanese troops under the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces over 27,000 killed in action, 38,000 wounded in action and over 19,000 captured in action. The Makapili collaborating rebels over 120 killed in action, 230 wounded in action and over 740 captured in action. On 10,000 Rizaleño non-combatant civilians killed by the Japanese military hands. The local Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units and the local Rizaleño guerrilla resistance fighters under the Colonel Marking's Guerrillas and the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas saluted by all decisive successfully victories after the invasion and they captured in the municipal town of Jalajala and finally the surrendered and retreated Japanese Imperial forces and the Makapili collaborating rebels by the Filipino military forces in the town after the war.

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information