OTON

-How it came to be-

A Historical Perspective

In the earl y 13t h c ent ury, Ot on was al r eady a fl ouri s hi ng M al ay S et t l em ent . It s port , now t he
s i t e of B at i ano B ri dge, was one of t he fi ve anci ent M al ay port s i n Irong- i rong wit h S angl ays
(C hi nes e m erch ant s ) and ot he r i nt er- is l and port li ke S ugbu, M adi ano and M al andog.

Ot on be cam e the s eat of M adi a- as C onfede rat i on (Kat i ri ngban et -M adi a -as ) i n P anay under Dat u
P ai burong unt i l 1226 A.D. the s eat of the confed er at i on was i n Kat agm an (now B rgy. S an
Ant oni o), a nos e s haped i sl et s ur rounded by B at i ano R i ver wher e Irong -i rong, l at er Il oil o, got
i t s nam e.

In 1556, the fam ous cos m ogr apher and m at hem at i ci an F ray M art i n de R ada, O.S .A. on one of t he
fi ve rel i gi ous in t he expedi t i on of Legas pi and known t o August i ni an hi s t ori ans as the Founde r
of Ot on, cam e from C ebu and prea ched the Chri s t i an doct ri ne al ong t he B at i ano R i ver.

Ot on i s hi s pani zed vers i on of t he phras e " Ogt ong Adl aw" . When a Spani s h expl orer as ked a
nat i ve about t he nam e of t he pl ac e, t he l at t er ans wer ed ogt ong adl aw (noont i m e) t hi nki ng that
t he S pani s h we re as ki ng about t he ti m e of t he day. In 1569, F r. M art i n de R ada m ade Ot on as a
s t rat egi c hi di ng pace for M i guel Lope z de Legas pi and hi s a rm ada from t he P ort ugues e
S quadron. The fort i fi c at i on was bui l t by C apt ai n Di ego de Art i eda C hi ri no. In t he s am e ye ar,
Adel ant ado Leg as pi di vi ded t he col ony i nt o encom i endas , and appoi nt ed Don Mi guel de Loar ca
as encom end ero of Ot on, Legas pi s t ayed i n Ot on befor e conque ri ng M ani l a and C avi t e.

F r. R ada, fi rs t P rovi nci al of the Is l ands , bui lt i n Ot on th e fi rs t ch u rch in th e cou n try i n honor
of Our Lady of t he Im m acul at e C oncep ci on i n 1570. It was l ocat ed at t he t i p of B at i ano R i ver,
now the si t e of t he pres ent C at hol i c Chur ch and C onvent .

Duri ng the Chapt er as s em bl y of t he P rovi nce of t he M os t Hol y Nam e of J es us i n the Phi l i ppi ne
Is l ands on M ay 3, 1572, F r. M a rt i n de R ada offi ci al l y s i gned t he a cc ept anc e of Ot on as Puebl o
and the Hous e of t he Orde r. It bec am e t hi rd i n t he count ry aft er M ani l a and C ebu. It was a bi g
puebl o whi ch i ncl uded t he pr es ent t owns of Al im odi an, Leon, S an M i guel and pa rt of C abat uan.

In the s am e ye ar, t he Puebl o of Ot on was m ade capi t al of the P rovi nce of Ot on (La Al cadi a de
Ot on) whi ch cove red the is l and of P anay, Tabl as , Si buyan, Gui m ar as , R om bl on, and wes t ern part
of Negros .

Ot on has al s o the di st i nct i on as t he pl a ce wh ere t he fi rs t C ounci l of t he C hurch in t he

P hil i ppi nes was fi rs t conven ed t o deci de and ans w er ques ti ons on m at t ers of s oci al j us ti c e.
 Historical Milestone

The M uni ci p al it y of Ot on was org ani zed in 1570 duri ng Legas pi 's adm i ni st r at i on. How Ot on got
i t s nam e r el at es ba ck duri ng t he S pani s h l andi ng i n P anay. When they cam e i nt o t he t own, t hey
as k ed i n Spani s h t he nam e of the pl a ce. The nat i ves not knowi ng t he Spani s h and thi nki ng t hat
t he vi s i t ors wer e as ki ng fo r t he t im e of t he day, ans w er ed " ugt ong adl aw" m eani ng noon. The
S pani s h t hought t hi s was t he nam e of the pl a ce but s i nce t hey coul d not pronounc e t he s yl l abl es
" ng" t hey cal l ed it OTON.

The boundari es of Ot on wer e det e rm i ned t hat t im e by t he nat i ves t hrough a qui t e, uni que but
i nt eres t i ng m et hod. On the des i gnat ed days , the counci l ors of t he t own wal ked t oward each ot her
from di ffe rent s t art i ng poi nt s agre ed upon, t he pl ac e whe re they form t he bounda ri es of Ot on.
F or ex am pl e, when the boundary of Ot on and S an M i guel we re es t abl is hed t he counci l ors from
e ach muni ci pal i t y s t art ed w al ki ng at t he s am e t i m e from thei r des i gnat ed s t art i ng poi nt s . It was
s ai d t hat S an M i guel counci l or m et s om e fri ends dri nki ng t uba and j oi ned t hem . He got drank
and sl ept whil e Ot on counci l or kept on wal ki ng. When the S an M i guel counci l or wok e up, he
r es um ed hi s j ourney and m et the Ot on counci l or on t he cre ek, a few m et ers from the t own of S an
M i guel and by then the boundari es of t he t wo t owns we re es t abl is hed.

Duri ng the Spani s h t i m e, t he nat i ves vowed t o t he S uperi or forc e of t he Spani s h conqui s t adors
but deep i n thei r hea rt was an overwh el mi ng des i r e for fr eedom . The fi rs t at t em pt t o count era ct
t he gro wi ng i nfl uence of C hri s ti ani t y ove r t he peopl e was i n 1603. Tap ar, aft er gai ni ng a s t rong
i nfl uenc e ove r t he peopl e of Ot on es t abl i s hed a new church em bodyi ng a m odi fi ed form of
C hri s ti an pri nci pl es .

The Spani a rds at t he begi nni ng of t hei r adm i ni st r at i on di d not pay much to t he educat i on of
t hei r peopl e; al t hough t hey wer e al r eady li t er at e i n t hei r own di al e ct . In t he l at e r part of t he
S pani s h regi m e, the s yst em of educ at i on was es t abl i s hed. They we re not abl e t o t each thos e who
want ed t o l earn si nc e m any of t he nat i ves pre fe rred st ayi ng at hom e t han t o at t end cl as s es . The
fi rs t s chool es t abl i s hed i n Ot on was cal l ed " Es cuel ah an C anon" wi t h m aes t ro Val ent i n R am os as
t he fi rs t t eache r. The t e ache rs i n t own wer e pai d t hrough cont ri buti ons , whi l e t hos e i n t he ba rri o
we re pai d i n ki ns . Ot he r bar ri os fol l owed by bui l di ng sm al l hut t o s erve as s chool for chi l dren.
The s ubj e ct s t aught wer e Ari t hm et i c, R eadi ng t he C art i l l a, Tocs o -an, C at on, R el i gi on and Gui a.
To fi nd out how m uch the pupil s l ea rned, the pri es t as ked them to r eci t e a ft er the m as s . The
nat i ves duri ng that peri od engag ed i n bot h i ndus t ri al and agri cul t ur al act i vi ti es , al t hough the
m et hods us e w ere crud e. Howev er, the product s produ ced w ere enough t o m ake them s el f-
s uffi ci ent . The earl y weavi ng indus t ry was i nt rodu ced by the Hi ndu-J apan es e of t he S hri -
Wi s hay a Em pi re. Duri ng t he ea rl y part of t he S pani s h regi m e t he peopl e wove hat s and m at s .
They bart e red t hem fo r fi s h and ot her com m odit i es .

As e arl y as the 16t h cent ury, t he nat i ves w ere al re ady fond of danc es and s oci al gat heri ngs . The
peopl e begi n t o l earn the art of danci ng t hat t he S pani ards i nt rodu ced.

Duri ng the earl y part of the Phi l i ppi ne R evol ut i on of 1896, m any peopl e of Ot on t ook up arm s
ag ai ns t the Spani s h Oppr es s ors . They we re l ed by Vi cent e Zuri t a and hi s ni ne br aves , nam el y:
Eul ogi o R onqui l l o, Eugeni o M ont al vo, Dorot eo C am a ra, Vi cent e Supeñ a, R am on M al l orc a,
Urb ano C l avel and Pul oy, the fam ous gunpowde r m ake r and m any ot he rs . They wer e abl e to
dri ve t he S pani ards t o M ol o near M aes t r a B it a's Hous e, we re s ever e fi ght i ng took pl a ce.

Duri ng the l at er pa rt of t he S pani s h regi m e, Ot on was t he C api t al of Il oi l o c al l ed t he P rovi nci a

de Ot on. Si nce t here was no ha rbor, t he capi t al was t rans fe rred t o Il oil o C it y, t he pres ent
c api t al . Som e l eadi ng ci t i zens of the m uni ci pal i t y wort h m ent i oni ng wer e: C abez a de B aran g ay-
P i o Ri ver a of St a. M oni ca, J oaqui n S al cedo of t he s am e ba rri o, Lor enzo Turi j a and S anti ago
C al l ant as of Lam buyao, P at ri ci o B aña res and Anong of S an Ni col as and C onst ant i no Tau ro of
S an Ant oni o.

In 1898, the Spani s h aut hori t y w as t rans f err ed t o t he F il i pi nos wit h S i m fros i o C adi z as t he fi rs t
pr es i dent . C ons t abul a ry s ol di ers we re st at i oned here t o fi ght t he res urr ect ors , from 1900-1901,
P abl o C art ag ena be cam e pres i dent . Du ri ng t he adm i ni st r at i on of Val ent i n C ar reon i n 1902, t he
gr eat es t epi dem i c occur red. The m uni ci pal bui l di ng w as t rans fo rm ed i nt o a hos pi t al whi l e deat h
t ook i ts t ol l day by day.

In 1913-1915, duri ng t he pres i d ency of Epi fani o Ti apon, t he C ent ral S chool was es t abl i s hed,
con cret e m arket and road t o Al i m odi an was cons t ru ct ed. Then cam e t he adm i ni s t rat i on of
R em i gi o Noverr a. Und er hi s t erm , B at i ano B ri dge w as cons t ruct ed. Ot her im port ant event s
duri ng t he t erm s of P res i dent Nove rra wer e t he t aki ng of C ens us in 1916, wi deni ng of t he
c em et ery and t he cons t ru ct i on of new to m bs i n F ebruary of t he s am e yea r. He was s ucc eeded by
Al i pi o J urao i n 1918, whos e adm i ni s t rat i on w as cha ract eri z ed by m any de at hs caus ed by
poi s oned w el ls t hroughout t he m uni ci pal i ty.

In J ul y, 1919, Governo r F orbes a rri ved in Ot on and i nves ti gat ed t he condi t i ons of t he S out hern
t owns . In June 6, 1922, Al i pi o J urao was el e ct ed pr es i dent wi t h J uan C al l ant as as Vi ce-
P res i dent . The fol l owi ng offi ci al s wer e s el e ct ed: S enat or Jos e Hont i veros , R epr es ent at i ve J os e
Evang el i st a, Governo r R upert o M ont i nol a, Ti bur ci o Lut ero and M odes t o Ledes m a wer e el e ct ed
m em bers of t he provi nci al board. On Ap ri l 21, 1922 Em i li o Agui nal do vi s it ed Ot on. In J anua ry
1925, J os e Ledes m a and S everi no H aro w ere el ect ed governo r and muni ci pal pr es i dent ,
r es pect i vel y.

In Augus t 1929, duri ng t he Londr es Admi ni s t rat i on, t he publ i c pl az a bec am e one of t he be aut i ful
pl az as i n t he provi nc e. In M a rch 28, 1933, J os e C arreon i nst al l ed the el ect ri c l i ght . In the
fol l owi ng yea r, R i cardo C arr eon was el ect ed pres i dent . Hi s adm i ni s t rat i ons wer e ch ara ct eri z ed
by t he cons t ru ct i on of t he as ph al t roads t hrough t he e ffo rt of R epres ent at i ve J os e Zul uet a. On
J ul y 10, of t he s am e yea r, t her e was an el e ct i on of del egat es t o the cons t it ut i onal convent i on.
At t y. Sofroni o Fl ores of Ot on and At ty. M ari ano Ezpel et a of Igb aras wer e el e ct ed.

The great es t com m ot i on of Ot on took pl ac e on De cem be r 8, 1941, duri ng t he cel ebr at i on of t he

t own fi es t a when P earl Ha rbor w as bom bed by t he J ap anes e. In De cem be r 10, s i xt y J apanes e
pl anes bom barded M ani l a B ay, C avi t e and P anay whi l e the J apanes e l eadi ng forc es l anded in
Apa rri . R i card o C arr eon as s um ed the pres i dency duri ng t he wa r.

The post - war act i vi ti es in t he muni ci pal i t y brought new hous ehol d i ndus t ri es li ke cl ot h
we avi ngs , m anufa ct ure rs of hat s , m at s , rop e m aki ng, s hi ngl es , bl acks m i t hi ng and net m aki ng.

Ot on i s m any t hi ngs to m any peopl e. To ot her Il onggos , t hos e res i di ng aw ay from it , Ot on ar e

be aches , t wel ve ki l om et ers from t he ci t y. It is al s o a s ource of t he f am ous handwoven habl on
and s ource of C api z s hel l s . It i s al s o a pl ac e f am ous for be aut i ful and ch arm i ng wom an. To the
hi s t ori ans , Ot on i s next t o C ebu as t he s e cond s et t l em ent di s cover ed by Leg as pi and hi s
m ar auders befor e t hey di s cov ered M ani l a for the Ki ng of S pai n and t he church. In t he l as t fi ft y
ye ars , t he town has it s gol den ag e. It s t art ed wi t h the ri s e of the t wo Zul uet as i n nat i onal
pol i ti cs . When M ayor La zaro Zul uet a be cam e m ayor of Ot on, he l aunch ed a prog ram wi t h a
s l ogan " Let 's m ake Ot on Lovabl e" . B eaut i fi c at i on cam pai gn st a rt ed. The re wer e rem oval s of ol d
bi l l boards , s t re et s are s wept and kept cl ean. Tr ees wer e pl ant ed i n t he P obl aci on and al ong t he
s e as hores for Ot on t o have abundant gr een ery. C ut t i ng of t re es i s prohi bi t ed and i t is a great
offens e, wi t h the s am e c at egory as cat t l e rus t l i ng, s m uggl i ng and wel l poi s oni ng; al l of whi ch
a re a ct s whi ch a re cont rary t o the ide al s of t he N ew S oci et y. Touri s m program s were gi ven
em phas i s wi t h t he as s i s t anc e from the M i ni s t ry of Touri s m .

Then i n F ebruary 1986, EDS A R EVOLUT ION t ook pl a ce, whi ch s i gni fi es t he end of the
M AR C OS REGIM E. Thi s now i s t he t urni ng poi nt of anot her era of adm i ni st r at i on. It was on
M ay of t he s am e year (1986) t hat Ot on has a chang e i n i t s admi ni s t rat i on i n whi ch t he Zul uet a
adm i ni s t rat i on was r epl ac ed by t he F LOR ES adm i ni s t rat i on as Offi c er in C harg e.

Al l l ocal adm i ni s t rat ors w ere bei ng appoi nt ed and for al m os t t wo (2) years unti l on M ay 8, 1988
t hat an el ect i on was decl a red and Hon. F el i x Fl ores was de cl ared el ect ed m ayor of Ot on.

Wi t hi n t he peri od of hi s adm i ni s t rat i on as M ayor of Ot on, the focus of at t ent i on was t he

dev el opm ent p roj ect s t o be im pl em ent ed whi ch was badl y needed by t he peopl e of t he
com m uni ty, t he i m pl em ent at i on of t he s al a ry s t anda rdi zat i on and the ot he r fri ng e bene fi t s of
em pl oye es and t he im provem ent of our i ncom e/ r evenu es .
C hanges in t he l egis l at i ve body had been com pli ed wi t h as provi ded fo r i n B at as P am bans a No.
337, l i ke t he i ncl us i on of t he s e ct oral groups , l abor, agri cul t ure and i ndus t ri al s e ct ors .

It w as i n the yea r 1988-1991 t hat we have cons t ruct ed our Eas t and Wes t Wi ng bui l di ng t o
a ccom m odat e the num ber of offi c es of t he l oc al as wel l as the nat i onal . The ot he r
i m provem ent s / ac com pl i s hm ent i s t he roofi ng of our M ul t i -purpos e Gym; c em ent i ng and
as ph al ti ng of Boni fa ci o, M abi ni and Lau rel S t reet s ; reh abi l it at i on of our publi c m arket ; and the
el e ct ri fi c at i on of our m uni ci pal s t reet s pref erabl y al ong the hi ghway. Thes e wer e al l re al i zed
t hrough our effo rt s t o im prove and i ncr eas e our t ax coll e ct i ons and i n t he s har e i n t he Int ern al
R evenu e All ot m ent (IR A ).

Then on M ay 8, 1992 anot he r el e ct i on took pl ac e and agai n Hon. F el i x L. F lor es rem ai ns the
M ayor for hi s s e cond t erm i n Offi ce. Then our B at as P am bans a No. 337 was rep eal ed by
R epubl i c Act No. 7160, ot her wi s e known as t he Local Governm ent Code of 1991.

Thi s code gi ves wi de l at i t ude of power to t he l oc al offi ci al s and l ocal aut onom y t o enabl e t hem
t o at t ai n t hei r ful l es t dev el opm ent as s el f- rel i ant com m uni ti es and m ake t hem mor e e ffe ct i ve
pa rt ners i n t he at t ai nm ent of our nat i onal goal . B ec aus e of t he l ocal aut onom y gi ven t o t he l ocal
gove rnm ent offi ci al s , s om e nat i onal agen ci es l i ke: t he Dept . of Heal t h; Dept . of S oci al Wel f ar e
a Devel opm ent S ervi c es (DS W D); Dept . of Ag ri cul t ure ( DA) and t he Dept . of B udget and
M an agem ent (DB M ) whos e fun ct i ons wer e al l devol ved to t he l oc al governm ent uni t .

To fi nan ce the s ai d devol ut i on, the fundi ng of t hes e agenci es i n t he nat i onal l evel w ere
t rans fer red to t he l oc al governm ent uni t for the fi rs t yea r of i t s im pl em ent at i on and l at el y
i ncorpo rat ed in t he int ern al rev enue al l ot m ent (IR A ).

In 1993 s om e of t he i nfr as t ruct ure proj ect s li ke t he cons t ruct i on of our Annex A & B of t he
M uni ci pal Hal l w ere t aken f rom our 20% sha re of t he IR A and t he C ount rywi de Devel opm ent
F und (C DF ) of C ongres s m an Os ca r Ga ri n i n the am ount of P 1,000,000.00. The on- goi ng proj e ct s
of our m uni ci p al it y i n t he be aut i fi cat i on of our pl a za; cons t ru ct i on of our M uni ci pal Li bra ry and
t he propos ed cons t ruct i on of t he buil di n g for our He al t h P ers onnel c an be al l r eal i zed t hrough
t he j oi ned e ffort s of t he l ocal offi ci al s , peopl e of Ot on and the i ncre as e i n our revenu e/ i ncom e.

Aft er t wel ve (12) years (1986-1998) under t he adm i ni s t rat i on of F el i x L. F lor es , Honor abl e
C ari na V. F l ores t ook pl ac e. Duri ng he r t hre e (3) t erm s (1998- 2007), s he fo cus ed on m ol di ng
Ot on t o becom e a " M uni ci pal i t y of C hara ct ers " . It was duri ng he r t erm s t hat t he M uni ci pal
Hym n was com pos ed and t he M uni ci pal C hara ct er Oat h was adopt ed. M ayor C ari na V. F lor es
was an advo cat e of good govern anc e. M uni ci pal em pl oyees and pers onn el of ot her agen ci es
pr es ent i n t he m uni ci pal it y w ere requi r ed t o undergo Val ues Ori ent at i on S emi na r. R eform s we re
m ade i n t erm s of del i very of bas i c s ervi ces . Through he r e ffort s , t he Mun. H eal t h Offi ce was
cons t ru ct ed and l at er on i t bec am e a S ent rong Si gl a C ert i fi ed Heal t h C ent e r. Addi ti onal
i m provem ent s w ere i nt rodu ced s uch as t he put t i ng-up of l abor at ory and hi ri ng of M edi cal
Te chnol ogy, cons t ru ct i on of s oci al hal l , i m provem ent of equi pm ent and t he cons t ru ct i on of
Lyi ng- i n Cl i ni c.

Al s o, t hrough he r effort t he Offi c e of th e S eni or Ci t i zen was funded and was cons t ruct ed i n
2001. The s ai d bui l di ng i s al s o bei ng ut il i z ed as t he MS WD Offi c e. It w as al s o duri ng her
adm i ni s t rat i on t hat t he m uni ci p al it y a cqui red a fi ret ru ck and t he B ureau of F i re es t abl i s hed thei r
offi ce in Ot on. Al s o, t he AB C Hal l was cons t ruct ed for the us e of Li ga and DILG pers onn el . So
m any prog ram s we re im proved and i m pl em ent ed duri ng t he t erm of M ayor C ari na V. Fl ores
whi ch real l y hel ps i n i m provi ng t he li f e of Ogt onganons . Anot he r s i gni fi cant proj e ct duri ng her
adm i ni s t rat i on i s the expans i on of the Publ i c M ark et . It was cons t ruct ed through l oan at DB P,
anot he r i ncom e gener at i ng proj ect t hat hel ps i ncr eas e t he i ncom e of t he LGU.

The t erm of M ayo r C ari na V. F lor es l as t ed unt i l J une 30, 2007. M ayor Vi cent e B. F l ores , J r. was
el e ct ed as t he new M ayor. He i s not new to t hi s endeavo r, i ndeed, hi s experi en ce and dedi c at i on
i n per form i ng hi s funct i on and bei ng a fom er SB M em ber (2 t erm s ) and form e r Vi c e M ayor, has
won the heart s of Ogt onganons and m ade i t in t he 2007 el ect i on. He purs ues t he program s and
proj e ct s of t he pas t adm i ni s t rat i on, and ev en s urpas s es previ ous accom pl i s hm ent s , whi ch m ade
Ot on t o be t he top pe rform e r i n t he del i very of s oci al s e rvi ces . Through hi s Very F ri endl y
i ni ti at i ves and adm i ni st r at i on, Ot on bagged t he "Exc el l enc e i n Soci al S ervi ces Awa rd for t he 1s t
t o 3rd C l as s m uni ci pal it y" i n t he fi rs t Exc el Aw ards (Ex cel l enc e i n Loc al Govern anc e Awards ) i n
t he ent i r e R egi on 6. Am ong hi s Ve ry F ri endl y effort s we re the acqui s i t i on of P at rol C ar t hrough
donat i on from C rown C om m uni ti es , Il oi l o. A ne w am bul anc e and an addi t i onal s ervi c e vehi cl e
we re al s o acqui r ed. The m uni ci pal bui l di ng has has im proved a l ot wit h t he cons t ruct i on of
Annex B -2nd fl oor and t he vari ous r enovat i ons m ade wit hi n t he bui l di ng.

Anot he r bi g ac com pli s hm ent i s t he es t abl i s hm ent of ONHS - C AMB ITU Ext ens i on. The
es t abl i s hm ent of anot h er s e condary s chool was once cons i de red a dre am , and now it s re al i zat i on
brought honor to t he adm i ni s t rat i on of M ayor Vi c ent e B . F lor es , J r. and s i nce he t ook pl ace,
l audabl e progr am s and proj e ct s wer e i m pl em ent ed. As he prom i s ed t o hi s cons t it uent s , he wi ll
purs ue progr am s and proj e ct s whi ch re al l y gi ve im pa ct t o t he effe ct i ve and e ffi ci ent del i very of
s ervi ces whi ch cont ri but e t o t he upl i ft m ent of qual i t y of l i fe of Ogt onganons .

Submitted by:

Wayne Steven Zamora, BSN 3D