Tacloban developed from a small fishing village, a barrio of
Basey, Samar.
The word Tacloban evolved from "Taklub", a basket-like contraption for
catching fish. It became a major trading town in the late 18th century.
The city is well-known for its role in World War II,
being a major base for the US forces and the first town liberated by
Douglas MacArthur's
forces from the Japanese Imperial Forces. For a time, it served as the capital of the Philippines while
Manila
was under Japanese control.
The city is also known for being the hometown of the flamboyant former Philippine First Lady
Imelda Marcos,
whose Romualdez family still commands a large political following in the area.
For several decades, Tacloban was a barrio of Basey,
Samar. At the time, the place was known as Kankabatok -
meaning belonging to Kabatok, because its most prominent inhabitant was named Kabatok. The change of name came
about in this manner: Kankabatok was a favorite haunt for fishermen. They would use a bamboo tray called "taklub"
to catch crabs or shrimps. When asked where they were going the fishermen would answer, "to tarakluban", which
meant the place where they used "taklub" to catch crabs. Later, the name was shortened to Tacloban.
It is not definitely known when Tacloban became a municipality because
records supporting this fact were destroyed during a typhoon. It is
commonly believed that Tacloban was officially proclaimed a
municipality in 1770. Others however maintain that it was in 1669
during which time there was a rain of ashes. It was the Augustinian
mission followed by the Franciscans who sparked the people's interest
in religious activities. Within a year's time the first church was
built with two lofty belfries under the untiring effort of Fray Aniceto
Corral.
Carigara was the capital of Leyte at the time. With Don Hipolito Gonzales' incumbency as alcalde mayor of the
province, a popular clamor for the transfer of the seat of the province came up. Thus, on October 5, 1774 after the
construction of the Casa Real and the prison, the transfer of the seat of the provincial government was officially
approved. In the year 1824 however, Don Pedro Antonio became alcalde mayor and restored Carigara as the p
rovincial capital on march 31, 1824. This enhanced bitter disputes. It was finally Don Ceferino Fernandez, alcalde
mayor in 1827 who succeeded in pacifying the controversy.
The final approval for making Tacloban the capital of the
province of Leyte cam on February 16, 1830. The decisive reasons for choosing it as capital were:
- 1) it had the ideal location of the port area,
- 2) the place was well-sheltered and adequate.
During the Philippine-American war on January 17, 1899, General Vicente
Lukban (for whom a street is named in the San Fernando district) came
to Tacloban to talk about the problems of the people. The provincial
government was evacuated to Palo while General Mojica and his men
prepared to fight the Americans. On January 31, 1900 General Kohe
arrived with an American team to negotiate a cease-fire and surrender
of the province. He was firmly refused. On the following day armies
stormed the trenches and by 2:00 PM, the province was in American
hands. General Mojica and his men fled to the interior towns and it
took a long time for the Americans to cajole every town until every
revolucianario had surrendered. Mojica and Lukban eventually yielded to
American sovereignty. Captain Leon Rojas, Sr. surrendered last. He led
his men in a colorful pageant of surrender by riding on a white horse
to the spot where the Americans formally received them. When peace
finally, Rojas was designated chief of Police of Tacloban. A company of
American soldiers was placed under his command.
In February 1901, the first American military governor of Leyte, Col.
Murray, assumed office. He had only one aim in mind: gain the
friendship of the people by getting their confidence. In a gesture of
sincerity, he opened Tacloban to world trade. Civic-spirited citizens
cooperated and organized a committee for peace. Don Gabriel Galza, the
founder, became its first president. Their first undertaking was to
petition Governor Murray for the release of prisoners who were in
Tanauan. The governor received the petition favorably and thus peace
and order in the whole province was completely restored.
With American
military rule over, Taclobanons who were trained in the art of
self-government took over the reins of the administration. Catalino
Tarcela became the first provincial governor. There were others who
were responsible for the progress and development of Tacloban. Among
them were Lodovico Salazar, known to all as Capitan Lodo, the first
public teacher of the town (a street is named after him). Lodovico
Basilio, known as Capitan Bigong, and Capitan Martin Hidalgo. Of the
womenfolk, Doņa Eulalia Rubillos, wife of Governor Vicente Diaz is
remembered for having served the first Filipino flag that fluttered in
the Leyte sky when the revolutionary government was established.
On May 24, 1942, Tacloban awakened to see Japanese imperial forces in
its midst. The town offered no active resistance to their oppressive
occupation. For little more than two years, it suffered from hunger,
terror and brutalities of the invaders. Despite the ugliness of war,
the people never forgot to pay homage to their Patron saint, Sr. Santo
Niņo, by celebrating the town fiesta. One such big commemoration was on
the fiesta of 1843, on June 30 where an industrial and agricultural
fair was held in the old Leyte park. Here, hate and sorrows of war were
forgotten so that it became one of the most remembered carnivals the
town ever held. The mayor at that time was Vicente Quintero.
Leyte was the first in the itinerary of MacArthur's return route to the
Philippines. Thus, on October 20, 1944, while the waters of Leyte Gulf
were calm and clear, six battleships hit the beaches at Cataisan Point
and nearby areas. Before twilight, the Tacloban airstrip which was the
objective of the day was recaptured by the first division. The entire
Cataisan Peninsula was soon under the command of Major General Verne D.
Mudge at 3:00 PM of October 21. This day, Tacloban was liberated from
the enemy. In a rousing welcome, Filipino civilians line the streets
greeting the liberators. Chewing gun, cigarettes, chocolates and wide
American smiles flowed freely - all symbolic of friendship and freedom.
On October 22, 1944, Tacloban City was safely back in American hands. On October 23, 1944, General MacArthur
announced the establishment of the Philippine Civil Government on the steps of the provincial capitol. He installed
Sergio Osmeņa Sr. as the president in the presence of Lt. General Walter Krueger, Lt. Gen. Richard Sutherland and
Col. Ruperto Kangleon with a guard of honor consisting of First Lt. John Gregory and 30 dirty and tired but
efficient-looking soldiers. After the liberation, Tacloban's first
appointed mayor was Paulo Jaor. The inauguration of the Republic of the
Philippines saw Epifanio Aguirre as mayor of Tacloban.
On June 20, 1952 by virtue of Republic Act no 760, Tacloban City was born. Dr. Ildefonso Cinco, last mayor of the
Municipality of Tacloban became the first city mayor.
Tacloban City has grown from a small fishing barrio of Basey to a bustling, growing center of commerce and industry,
into probably the first most important city in Eastern Visayas.
Language:
