History of Katipunan
The story and the history of the Municipality of Katipunan take its roots from the cultural heritage of La Parroquia de Lubongan. It all started with the Spanish integration with the natives and evangelization in Dapitan as early as 1601. This went well so much so that as early as 1629, Dapitan became a permanent residence for the Jesuit Priests and in 1631 a permanent miss
ion station and a parish. As a mission station, Dapitan covers as far as Iligan, Lubongan, Layaun, Ylaya, Dipolog, Dicayo, Duhinob, Manukan, Sian, Sindangan, Mucas and Quipit. These places mentioned were the “VISITAS” of the Jesuits Mission and among which only LUBONGAN became a parish in the year 1796, this time under the Recolletos Fathers. This goes to tell us the significance of Lubongan geographically as well as politically even in the early years of the Spanish period. As a civilization and an evangelized settlement, Lubongan, now better known as KATIPUNAN, has a rich cultural heritage; not only of its old houses and structures but also of it’s great historical significance. Francesco Palliola, S.J. in Ponot, which was still part of Lubongan then on 29 January 1648 and the famous Siege of Lubongan on July 1754. The story of Fr. Francesco Palliola, S.J., its devotion as well as its reported miracles are very much alive since his martyrdom in 1648 up to this time. In fact, there is an ongoing inquiry of the Roman Catholic Church on this matter for Fr. Palliola to be formally proclaimed by the church as a “SERVANT OF GOD”, the first stage for his sainthood. The Siege of Lubongan on 1754 had also a great historical and cultural significance because if not for the resistance of the natives against the attacking Moros in that one week war, Zamboanga del Norte can never rise into a great Christian Settlement. For many years now, the People of God of Katipunan have grown in health wisdom and strength with the guidance of her Patron, St. Francis Xavier. May this be a constant reminder for us and a sense of pride that, Lubongan or Katipunan, we are a people blessed by God. Katipunan’s original territory embraced the areas of the now municipalities of Manukan, Ponot, and Roxas, making it the biggest municipality of Zamboanga del Norte until 1950. The town became a haven of the Subanen settlers, the earliest inhabitants of the municipality. The townsfolk, through the leadership of Mr. Eguia and Mr. Damaso Albarina, spearheaded the adoption of “Katipunan” from the name “Tipon”, which calls to mind the leader’s enthusiasm and optimism to unite the townsfolk towards a more dependable and stronger community, reminiscent of the Kataastaasan Kagalanggalangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan’s aim for people’s unity into one solid nation. The establishment and acceptance of the name “Katipunan” beckoned the birth of a determined town. Although the place is at the other extreme end of Luzon and was not directly involved in the revolution of the 19th century, it cherished, however a certain kind of nationalistic pride brought on by the memorabilia of Dr. Jose Rizal, one of the country’s heroes, which can be traced back to one barangay of the town Katipunan. It was named Barangay Dr. Jose Rizal, where the 42-hectare farmland of our national hero was situated. The said property was sold to Don Fernando Eguia, a native of Katipunan by Trinidad Rizal, the hero’s sister on condition that this barangay be called after the hero’s name, to look back upon a life spent on the place. United States politics soon began to influence the course of events in the town after Spain ended its dominion in the country. On February 2, 1914, fifteen years after the Americans gained power over the country, Frank Carpenter, the Governor General of Mindanao and Sulu at that time signed into law Executive Order 21 instituting Lubungan as a duly constituted Municipality upon the recommendation of Provincial Governor Luis Lim. The Local Governance of the town was pioneered by President Leoncio Adaza who became the first Municipal official in 1915 by appointment. Adaza was succeeded by Ubaldo Hamoy who served the town as the second municipal president. It was only in 1919 that first election was held with Don Fernando Eguia as the first elected municipal president. In 1936, the name Lubungan was changed to Katipunan by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 3832, through the recommendation of the Council of Katipunan under Resolution No. 8. From its beginnings as a town, the administration had changed hands form the time of President Leoncio Adaza to the epoch of Mayor Patchito T. Eguia then to the current administration of Mayor Crisostomo T. Eguia. Katipunan’s historical records show that there were 18 local chief executives so far who had administered the town for good. Katipunan, as it changed over time, was geographically reduced to its present territorial boundaries when some residents petitioned for autonomy. In 1951, upon the recommendation of the Provincial Board headed by Ex- Governor Serapio Datoc, President Elpidio Quirino issued an executive order creating the Municipality of Manukan comprising the barrios of Manukan, Manawan, Disakan, and Ponot. The split of the two towns was based on the Dohinob Daku River boundary. The granting of municipal status to Manukan inspired the people of Roxas to stand as an independent town free from the political control of Katipunan. Sometime in 1964, autonomy was granted to Roxas by virtue of the Executive Order No. 115 which was signed by President Diosdado Macapagal. The municipality of Manuel Roxas then became the composite of the barrios of Langatian, Denoman, Dohinob, Capase and Marupay. However, the said municipality was dissolved in 1966 upon the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Pelaez vs. Solicitor General. On June 17, 1967 Republic Act. No.5077 was passed by Congress re-creating the municipality of President Manuel Roxas, thus constituting the new town as a distinct and independent Municipality and shall acquire a corporate existence upon the election of the new set local officials. On the map, the town is named “Katipunan”, a changeover of its initial landscape, called “Lubungan”. The place is an agriculture-based community, one of the most peaceful places in the Zamboanga peninsula despite the occurrence of sporadic melee in the neighboring provinces. It was Mayor Patchito T. Eguia who blazed a trail for a “New Katipunan”. The diminution of Katipunan, though it means reduction of practically all sorts of resources for the benefit of the town, has steadily moved forward. The new breed of political leaders who managed the new Katipunan continued to uphold the very ideals and values by which the town was founded. They provided the framework for economic, social and cultural development to facelift the Katipunan yesterday towards a “better Katipunan”. At present, Katipunan has taken a gigantic stride as it plays its significant share towards national development and progress. With the present leadership of Mayor Crisostomo T. Eguia, Katipunan turned out to be one of the promising municipalities in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
