95. THE GOVERNORS OF ISABELA

THE GOVERNORS OF ISABELA

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

1 July 2019

In order to facilitate the work of the missionaries in the evangelization of the Cagayan Valley and upon the recommendation of Governor-General (1850-1853) Antonio de Urbiztondo y Eguía, a royal decree was issued by Queen Isabella II of Spain on May 1, 1856 during the administration of Governor-General (1854-1856) Manuel Crespo y Cebrián which created the province of Isabela. The new alcaldia consisted of the towns of Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan, Gamu, Calanusian, Cauayan, Angadanan, Camarag, Carig including Catalangan and Palanan. The new province was named Isabela de Luzon in honor of Her Royal Highness Queen Isabella II of Spain. “De Luzon” was added to distinguish the new province from the other Isabela localities in Spanish East Indies. The old pueblo of Ilagan became the capital of the new province.

Primary sources, particularly Dominican archives, lack detailed names of alcaldia mayores serving the new province. The military campaign of February 1868, however, mentioned Don Gonzales Montero as the Spanish Isabela governor joining Bontoc and Lepanto Commandants in a huge military expedition spending 40 days subjugating settlements in the highlands of the Cordilleras which is now part of Ifugao province.

On August 25, 1898, during the Philippine Revolution, General Daniel Mata Tria Tirona (1864-1939) was assigned by President Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, in Cagayan and Isabela and was subsequently appointed as military governor of the two provinces. On September 1, 1898, Isabela’s last Spanish Governor, Don Jose Perez, left Ilagan at five o’clock in the morning with 11,368.58 pesos and retired his 35 guardia civils to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya upon learning that Tuguegarao in Cagayan was captured by the revolutionary forces led by General Tirona on August 31. Governor Perez was captured in Bayombong ending the Spanish domination in the valley.

On October 5, 1898, the first local election was held under the Aguinaldo government in Isabela by virtue of the Proclamation of June 18, 1898. It was noted by Dean Conant Worcester in his book entitled, Philippine Past and Present, that there were only a little over twenty electors in the town of Echague and a little more in the other towns of Isabela. Don Dimas Guzman y Masigan (died March 18, 1909) of Cabagan was elected jefe politico or governor.

On February 4, 1899, the Philippine-American War erupted and on March 23, 1901, after over two years, President Aguinaldo was captured by the American forces led by Col. Frederick Funston at the remote coastal town of Palanan, Isabela. Eventually, the Americans established a civil government run by both Americans and Filipinos.

The 2^nd Philippine Commission headed by Governor-General William Howard Taft with Dean Conant Worcester (Secretary of the Interior) and Henry Clay Ide (Secretary of Finance & Justice) conducted a public hearing on August 23, 1901 at Ilagan, Isabela. On the 2^nd and last day, August 24, American civil government was established in Isabela through Act No. 210 which extended the provisions of “The Provincial Government Act” (enacted on February 6, 1901) and its amendments to the Province of Isabela. U.S. 16^th Infantry Captain William H. Johnson was appointed governor of Isabela together with Francisco Dichoso as secretary, George W. Povey as treasurer and Atty. Bartolome Revilla (who would later become representative of Rizal province in the 1st Philippine Assembly) as fiscal.

On February 3, 1902, former secretary of the provincial board Francisco Dichoso y Reyes, was elected governor of Isabela and on February 21 of the same year, Acting Governor-General Luke Edward Wright confirmed the election of Dichoso through Executive Order No. 60 in accordance with Act No. 83 of the United States Philippine Commission.

However, on the second quarter of 1903, Colonel Manuel Tomines from Naguilian town continued in Isabela “Aguinaldo” and Macario Sakay’s fight for independence and set camp at Rancho Payac in Echague (now a barangay of Jones town) and had several encounters in Carig (now Santiago City) and Echague, thus, delaying the pacification campaign of the Americans in Isabela. The peace and order situation of the province and on issues on slavery prompted the central American government to designate another American caretaker.

On the same year, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt asked fellow Rough Riders (1^st United States Volunteer Cavalry), Captain George Curry (1861-1947), to accept an appointment as governor of Isabela province. Curry would later become governor and U.S. Representative of New Mexico State. Curry was governor of Isabela up to April 5, 1905.

On January 5, 1905, elections for governor were held throughout the country except for Cavite and Isabela because the conditions prevailing rendered it inimical to public interest to hold the elections. The American central government in Manila appointed Colonel Blas Villamor of Bangued, Abra as governor on April 6, 1905 replacing Governor Curry who was appointed governor of Samar. Also in 1905, out-going Governor Curry recommended to the Philippine Commission that Isabela Province be allowed to elect their provincial governor in the next general elections.

By February 5, 1907, Basilio Eliseo Claravall y Mamuri of Ilagan was elected governor. On January 9, 1907, Act No. 1582 was passed by the Philippine Commission. Otherwise known as the Election Law of 1907, it stated that in all the municipalities in the provinces entitled to elect governors, an election for provincial governor and third member of the provincial board shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1907. Isabela did not participate in the elections since Governor Claravall was recently elected in the same year.

In mid-August of 1909, municipal president of Naguilian (1908-1909), Romualdo Mina y Guzman, assumed the governorship and served up to December 31 of the same year. Governor Mina presided over 18 sessions of the provincial board starting August 16 up to December 29 as governor. Governor Claravall ran for Congress representing the lone district of Isabela upon the death of Assemblyman Dimas Guzman.

On November 2, 1909, former municipal president of San Pablo (1904-1907) and third member of the provincial board (1907-1909), Thomas Gollayan, was elected governor and assumed office on the first day of 1910. On June 4, 1912, Governor Gollayan was re-elected for another term and assumed office on October 16 of the same year.

On June 6, 1916, former municipal president (1910-1912) of Ilagan and third member of the provincial board (1912-1916) Pascual Paguirigan y Gangan, was elected governor. Governor Paguirigan assumed office on October 16 of the same year.

The Jones Law also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act and Act of Congress of August 29, 1916, changed the political structure of the country. On March 10, 1917, Act No. 2711 of the Philippine Legislature created Isabela as a regular province.

On June 3, 1919, Governor Paguirigan was re-elected and assumed office on October 16 of the same year.

On June 6, 1922, municipal president of San Pablo (1908-1909), Ventura Santos Guzman, won as governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. Governor Guzman did not seek re-election in 1925.

The election of June 2, 1925 resulted in the change of Isabela leadership. Former municipal president of Echague and two-time member of the provincial board, Primo Atip Gaffud, was elected governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year.

In the June 5, 1928, former municipal president of Angadanan, Atty. Florentino A. Nicolas, was elected governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year.

On June 2, 1931, municipal councilor of Ilagan Fortunato Miranda Bulan, was elected as governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. On June 5, 1934, Governor Bulan was re-elected for a second term and assumed office on October 16 of the same year.

The next local election was held on December 14, 1937. All Philippine women were allowed to vote and elect among them into offices for the first time. Member of the provincial board (1934-1937) Agustin Pintang y Agustin of Echague, was elected governor and assumed office on January 1, 1938.

On October 6, 1939, Atty. Lino J. Castillejo of Tumauini, administrative assistant in the Office of President Manuel L. Quezon, was appointed governor but did not seek the same position on the following local polls but instead ran as congressman of the lone district of Isabela.

On December 10, 1940, former municipal president (1928-1931) of Santiago and member of the provincial board (1938-1940) Gabriel Ramones Visaya (1899-1978), was elected governor and assumed office on January 1, 1941. His election was confirmed by President Manuel L. Quezon on December 28, 1940. Governor Visaya relinquished his position in favor of the appointed governor by the Japanese Imperial Army on May 2, 1942.

On May 3, 1942, municipal mayor of Santiago (1942) Agustin Villamor Bersamin (1888-1970), was appointed governor of Isabela. On February 1944, Governor Bersamin was replaced with the appointment of former Governor Castillejo. On August 12, 1945, Governor Castillejo was replaced by the appointment of the former fiscal of Isabela and delegate to the National Assembly of the 2^nd Republic, Atty. Gregorio P. Formoso. Governor Formoso served up to September 24 of the same year and was replaced by the reinstatement of former Governor Visaya by President Sergio Osmeña and served up to June 11, 1946.

On June 12, 1946, another appointment after the election of President Manuel A. Roxas was made. Former Congressman (1934-1935) and member of the provincial board Atty. Silvino Madderay Gumpal (1901-1977) of Jones was appointed governor of Isabela and served up to December 31, 1947. On November 11, 1947, Governor Gumpal was elected governor and assumed office on January 1, 1948 up to December 31, 1951.

On November 13, 1951, former councilor of Gamu Atty. Felix T. Caro, won as governor of the province and held office from January 1, 1952 to December 31, 1955. On November 9, 1955, Governor Caro was re-elected on his second term and served from January 1, 1956 to December 31, 1959.

The midterm senatorial and local elections of November 10, 1959, catapulted Hon. Melanio Tangco Singson (1914-1992) as governor of Isabela and served from January 1, 1960 up to December 31, 1963.  On November 12, 1963, Governor Singson was re-elected for a second term and assumed office on January 1, 1964. However, his term was cut short upon his resignation on September 15, 1965 to accept the position of Undersecretary of Justice (later Secretary). Dr. Leocadio Estevez Ignacio (1920-2013) of Mallig, the incumbent vice governor, assumed the governorship by virtue of law of succession. He served the unexpired term of his predecessor up to December 31, 1967.

On November 14, 1967, former two-termer congressman (1949-1953 & 1953-1957), Atty. Samuel F. Reyes of Cauayan won as governor and assumed office on January 1, 1968 up to December 31, 1971.

On November 8, 1971, two-termer Cauayan mayor Faustino Ng Dy (1925-1993) won as governor and assumed office on January 1, 1972. His term should have ended on December 31, 1975 but was extended due to Proclamation No. 1081 (Martial Law) up to January 31, 1980. On January 30, 1980, local elections for governors, vice governors, mayors and vice mayors in the nation's first elections for provincial and municipal officials since the declaration of martial law were held and incumbent Governor Dy was re-elected unopposed and assumed office on February 1, 1980.

One of the aftermaths of the People Revolution of 1986 was the appointment of local officials as officers-in-charge (OIC). On May 1986, former Governor Melanio T. Singson was appointed by Local Government Secretary Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. as OIC governor. On the first week of December 1987, Atty. Silvestre Hernando Bello, Jr. was appointed OIC governor by Local Government Secretary Luis T. Santos replacing Governor Singson to oversee the first local elections of the 5^th Republic. Governor Bello served up to February 5, 1988. Emerging triumphant in the January 18, 1988 local race was long-time serving Governor Faustino N. Dy who served from February 6, 1988 up to June 30, 1992.

In the May 11, 1992 national and local elections, Cauayan Mayor Benjamin de Guzman Dy (1952-2013) won as governor and served from July 1, 1992 up to June 30, 1995. On May 8, 1995, Governor Dy was re-elected to his second term and served from July 1, 1995 up to June 30, 1998. And on May 11, 1998, Governor Dy served his third and last term as provincial governor and served from July 1, 1998 up to June 30, 2001.

On May 14, 2001, three-termer 2^nd District of Isabela Representative Faustino Sanchez Dy, Jr. won as governor and served from July 1, 2001 up to June 30, 2004. The May 10, 2004 polls resulted in the election of the first lady governor, broadcaster Maria Gracia Cielo Magno Padaca who served from July 1, 2004 up to June 30, 2007. On the May 14, 2007 midterm elections, Governor Padaca won a second term and served from July 1, 2007 up to June 30, 2010.

On December 9, 2009, former Governor Benjamin G. Dy won over incumbent Governor Padaca in his election protest. In the official count of the 2007 gubernatorial race, Padaca, seeking her second term, got 237,128 votes against Dy’s 220,121, or a margin of 17,207. The Dys, however, accused the Padaca camp of electoral fraud. The Padaca camp, for its part, though filed a counter-protest, raising the same charges. But after a recount, the Comelec’s Second Division said in its 12,092-page ruling that Dy got 199,435 votes against Padaca’s 198,384, giving Dy a winning margin of 1,051 votes. Dy, however, failed to assume the post as Padaca appealed the decision before the Supreme Court.

On May 10, 2010 presidential and local elections, three-termer 3^rd District of Isabela Representative Faustino de Guzman Dy III was elected governor and served from July 1, 2010 up to June 30, 2013. On May 13, 2013, Governor Dy won a second term and served from July 1, 2013 up to June 30, 2016. And on May 9, 2016 national and local elections, Governor Dy won his third and last term and served from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2019.

In the May 13, 2019 midterm elections, five-time 1^st District of Isabela Representative and one-time vice governor Rodolfo Taguinod Albano III was elected the 29^th Provincial Governor of Isabela since the establishment of the civil government in 1901 after the Philippine-American War.