HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MAYORGA
MAYORGA was originally a barrio of the Municipality of Dulag. It was created by Capitan Lorenzo de Paz, Gobernadorcillo of Dulag and was entered in the Record of Localities in 1865 as MALLORCA upon the suggestion of Franciscan Friar, Rev. Victoriano Sela, the Parish Priest of Dulag in honor of his birth place, Mallorca, Spain. The palm trees in the new barrio perhaps reminded the good priest of his native land which similarly had abundant palm trees. The natives however had difficulty in pronouncing Mallorca the Spanish way. Hence, to solve their diction problem, they referred to their new barrio as Mayorga. In time, all levels of society accepted โโ Mayorgaโโ. The site where Capitan Lorenzo built the barrio was known as Kaguingkingon. This is at present the site of Barangays Liberty and Sta. Mayorgaโs topography has remained unchanged. It is bounded on the North by the Gibuga River, on the East by the Bocog River and on the West by the Dinoronan River. Mayorga was almost depopulated during the cholera epidemic of 1878. Survivors fled their homes in haste and fear. In a few months, their prospering settlement was deserted. The refugees chose to resettle on a plain called Bingkay, which is now the site of Barangays Poblacion ,San Roque, Gen. Luna, Calipayan, A. Bonifacio and Cogon - Bingkay Sur. Two rich families of Bingkay, the Lumpas and Mundala families, owned the land on which the settlers found themselves. The area was expropriated in order to give land to the new settlers. The final and formal laying out of the village site was done in 1880 by Capitan Mariano โ Lagueโโ Aguillon who was the president of Dulag. Two natives of Bingkay, Victor Devaras and Victor de Paz assisted Capitan Mariano in establishing the village site. The settlers then went on their way to recover their losses through hard work. The first trail lingking the village to Dulag was built in 1881 thus enabling the natives to transport their produce to the mother municipality. In 1883, the first village chapel was constructed. Joaquin Kimi โ ing opened the first Spanish School in 1885. An interesting phase in the history of Mayorga is the fact that it was proclaimed a municipality three times. During the revolutionary period from 1898 to 1902, Mayorga was declared an independent municipality by decree of the Revolutionary Government. Capitan Anastacio Marcos, a former Justice of the Peace in Dulag, was made โHepe de Localโ. However, after the American - Spanish War, Mayorga was reverted to barrio status under the jurisdiction of Dulag by the Americans. The barrio was made the base of operations by the Americans against the insurgents particularly those led by the elusive General Mojica and his โPulahanes โ. A battle ensued between the Americans and the โPulahanesโ in Sabang, now Barangay Burgos and sitio Banahaway near La Paz that lasted for about seven hours. The bolos, machetes and bamboo arrows and spears coupled with terrain familiarity and the use of guerrilla tactics made the โPulahanesโ inflict heavy losses on the occupying forces though armed with guns. The battle was a major setback for the Americans who were considered the conquerors of our Spanish colonial rulers. In 1903, Ambrocio Sumayod was assigned to teach in the American sponsored barrio school. He was the first Filipino school teacher to teach English in grade school. On October 20, 1944, the American Liberation Forces razed the Municipality of Dulag to the ground in one of the heaviest bombing and shelling operation of the 2nd World War. The seat of the Local Government of Dulag was transferred to Mayorga. Again, Mayorga tasted the sweetness of townhood. But this was only temporary because right after the liberation of Leyte from the Japanese Imperial Forces, the seat of government was transferred back to Dulag. Mayorga was again just a barrio. In the latter part of 1952, Apolonio Lumen convinced Eusebio Anolao to invite then Speaker of the House of Representatives Daniel Z. Romaldez to have merienda in his house. The two took advantage of the occasion by soliciting the Speakerโs support for Mayorgaโs townhood to which the astute politician readily agreed. Two years later, on August 25, 1955, Congress approved REPUBLIC ACT 1220 proclaiming Mayorga a town! HISTORICAL LEGAL BASES
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1220
AN ACT CREATING THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAYORGA IN THE PROVINCE OF LEYTE
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
11 MAY 1955
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. The barrios of Mayorga, Andres Bonifacio, Talisay, San Roque, Burgos, Liberty, Union, Ormocay, Wilson, and the southern portion of barrio of Cogon Bingcay are separated from the Municipality of Dulag, Province of Leyte, and constituted into a new and regular municipality to be known as the Municipality of Mayorga in the same province. The first mayor, vice-mayor and councilors of the new municipality shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines and shall hold office until their successors shall have been elected in the general elections next following the approval of this Act and shall have duly qualified. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: May 11, 1955.
