the philippine eagle is one of the rarest eagles in the world.

The Philippine Eagle is a giant bird of prey that can only be seen in 4 islands in the Philippines- Luzon,
Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. It is considered to be one of the largest and most powerful among forest
raptors.

 7 ft wingspan
Has one of the broadest among forest raptors in the world
 Blue-grey Eyes
It can also see 8x times clearer than human beings.
 Powerful Talons
They can cut through their prey easily using their sharp and powerful talons.
 3 ft height
from the tip of its crown feathers to its tail

 quick facts about the philippine eagles in the wild

 Philippine Eagles are solitary and territorial creatures.
 They take 5-7 years to sexually mature.
 The Philippine Eagle pair needs about 4000-11000 hectares of forest land to thrive in the wild,
depending on the number of prey items in the area.
 It only lays a single egg every two years. They wait for their offspring to make it on their own
(usually within two years) before producing another offspring.
 They typically nest on large dipterocarp trees like the native species Lauan.
 They can live up to 40+ years in captivity but probably much less in the wild
 The egg is incubated alternately by both eagle parents for about 58 – 60 days, with the male
eagle doing most of the hunting during the first 40 days of the eaglet’s life while the female stays
with the young.
 the decline of the philippine eagle
 The Philippine Eagles in the wild are threatened daily by human activities.

 Deforestation

The forest is the only home for the Great Philippine Eagle. It is where they obtain food,
reproduce, and nourish their offspring. Unfortunately, illegal logging and irresponsible use of
resources have resulted to the disappearance of their forest habitat that brings deathly
consequences to the species.

 SHOOTING

At least one Philippine Eagle is killed every year because of shooting. As more of our forest is lost,
Philippine Eagles go farther and farther from their usual hunting grounds in search for preys to hunt. This
usually brings them towards human settlements and their livestock, which often results to conflict-with
the Philippine Eagle on the losing end.

WHY SAVE THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE?

The fate of our eagles, the forests and our children’s future are inextricably linked. Saving the Philippine
Eagle means protecting the next generation of Filipinos.

 FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

As the species on top of the food chain, the Philippine Eagle has a crucial role to play in keeping the
gentle balance of the ecosystem in check. It helps naturally regulate species population and provide an
umbrella of protection to all other life forms in its territory. An abundant Philippine Eagle population
means signifies a healthy forest.

 A HERITAGE

This rare and majestic bird species can be found nowhere else but in the Philippines. Losing the species
to extinction would also mean the world losing a precious biological heritage.

 LIVELIHOOD

Ensuring the safety of the Philippine Eagle population in the upland areas can result to additional source
of income for the marginalized communities sharing the forest with the eagles through our biodiversity-
friendly initiatives. These projects are funded to strengthen conservation efforts in areas where
Philippine Eagles occur

 cultural impact

Conservation efforts also bring positive cultural outcomes to many indigenous communities in the
upland areas. The Philippine Eagle is embedded in the oral histories and other cultural artifacts of several
indigenous groups in the country. This indicates that it performs a role in the human production
History of Taal Town
South of Manila, a sleeping giant rests on her throne breathing “the silence of the centuries.” Her
majesty is the town of Taal. When people think of Taal, what usually comes to mind is the famed Taal
Lake and the Taal Volcano. What is often overlooked is a town with a gold mine of historic treasures,
known as the Municipality of Taal. It is home to a rich history, including a collection of well-preserved
19th century bahay na batos (adobe stone houses) from the late 16th to the early 20th century.
Primarily characterized by grand architectural structures with Fil-Hispanic lines, Taal is also a basket
of culture with unique hand-woven textiles, metal craft, artifacts and a variety of food. This small
municipality in the province of Batangas is known as the Balisong (fan knife) and Barong Tagalog
(national Filipino apparel) capital of the Philippines.

The tiny Pansipit Bridge, crossing the narrow Pansipit River is the main artery that connects Taal
with its neighboring town, Lemery. Lemery and the adjacent town of Sta. Teresita used to be part of
the greater Taal land boundaries of the Spanish eras, but the two areas have long been re-classified
as separate municipalities. Lemery is a bustling commercial hub that contrasts greatly with Taal’s
peaceful residential character. Sta. Teresita has remained as a relaxing residential enclave dotted by
fishermen’s villages, adjacent to the Taal Lake. Entering the Taal poblacion (town proper) is like
going through a porthole into the Spanish era, with picturesque blocks of homes and small streets fit
for horse-drawn carriages. Recognized as a heritage landmark by the National Historical Institute
(NHI) of the Philippines, the quiet beauty of Taal town and its majestic Basilica would bring pride to
any Filipino.

Once a melting pot for trade and agriculture, with ships coming in from Manila, the Visayan islands
and abroad, Taal has experienced days of economic glory. She hailed as one of the most prosperous
and influential towns in the Philippines for over two hundred years. Through the centuries, Taal has
mercilessly struggled and has been ripped asunder by wars, famine and a series of catastrophic
calamities. However, the townspeople always rose like resilient phoenixes destined for greater
heights.

Taaleños shine as great examples of the Filipino’s proud spirit, with many of its townsfolk being
heroes and heroines etched in the records of Philippine history. The tag “Taaleño,” has always
conjured thoughts of respect, bravery, honesty, fairness, and industry.

There is a sense of mystery and character about the town that lingers. Reading chronicles and
visiting the scenes of Taal’s saga will bestow an invaluable experience filled with stories of valor,
failure and triumph. These efforts give one a deeper understanding and appreciation of the local
people’s sacrifices to attain freedom from their foreign colonizers. Forever imbedded in the Taaleño’s
DNA is the understanding that in his quest to fulfil his highest potential for posterity, he should not
forget lessons from his past.

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Pre-Spanish Colonialism
Although the colonizing Spaniards dominated the Taal region in the sixteenth century, the province
was a thriving place of converging cultures and people long before the Spaniard’s arrival. Some of
the earliest recorded settlers in the Philippines are found in this region. Archeological diggings from
1958 to 1970 in Taal and in other nearby provinces, yielded thousands of bulk artifacts ranging from
stoneware, pottery, tools and jewelry dating back to the Paleolithic period and into the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. This conveys that there was human habitation in these parts for roughly 40,000
years prior to the Spanish era, making Taal one of the original bastions of settlement in the
Philippines. Research also reveals that people may have probably practiced agriculture along the
Pansipit River as far back as the Neolithic period.
However, approximately during the first millennium of the Christian era, the small settlements in
Batangas deteriorated and disappeared. It is safe to assume that violent volcanic eruptions may
have ravaged these settlements. It wasn’t until around the thirteenth century that the Batangas area
began to re-populate.
Legend has it that ten Borneo Datus (Datus are leaders or nobility) led by Datu Puti, set sail for
Panay Islands, fleeing from the tyrannical rule of the Sultan of their homeland. When they arrived in
the Philippines, they found a safe place to anchor at the mouth of the Pansipit river.
By befriending the natives, the datus made their first settlements along the Pansipit River during the
thirteenth century. Datu Puti appointed Datu Dumangsil and Datu Balkasusa to unite and rule,
patterning their “barangays,” a form of government unit, to that of their homeland’s. This
establishment paved the way to prosperous settlements that eventually spread out through Southern
Luzon and Mindoro.
During the arrival of the datus, the Visayan Islands had already been settled and populated for about
1500 years by the Malays and Proto-Malays. The term Proto-Malay, which translates to Melayu asli,
aboriginal Malay, are believed to be seafarers. It is this group of people who are likely to have
survived in Taal during the Moro marauding through the Spanish era, up to the present.
There is much speculation about whether the thirteenth century history of Panay, also known as the
“Maragatas,” is true or not. Historically speaking, no definite conclusions have been reached yet.
However, there are still elders in the mountains of Panay (located in the Visayas) who chant in poetic
archaic Hiniraya, the legend of the ten datus, with repetitive reference to Datu Puti, Dumangsil and
Balkasusa sailing the seas to Taal. To this day, Filipinos refer to their division or village unit as
“barangay,” a term traced back to a similar-sounding name of the boat used by the datus, called
“balangay.”
Soon after the datus set up the two barangays, a succession of migration waves came to Luzon.
Included in these migration waves were the Chinese, called Sanglays, who kept trading practices
flourishing. Trading posts sprouted in strategic and safe locations to help avoid “Moro” invasions.
Moro is a term used to identify Muslim outlaws or pirates who came from the Southern Philippines.
Moro pirates chartered the seas and violently attacked merchant ships and coastal towns.
Although these threats were always at bay, trade and commerce continued to flourish, developing a
barter system between Philippine natives and the foreign merchants. Aside from spices, porcelain,
silk, and perfumes were brought from China, Siam (now called Thailand) and India. The area from
Taal extending to Tayabas (part of Quezon province), down to Marinduque and Mindanao, became
the primary settlements for trading posts. This area became known as “Kumintang.”
Terra Cotta and Chinese potteries were excavated by archaeologists from the Pansipit River banks,
indicating that the natives were trading with the Chinese during the Yuan Dynasty until the early
Ming Dynasty, from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century.
Those descendants that remained in Batangas and the Laguna de Bay region became known as the
Tagalogs, derived from “taga-ilog,” a term literally translated as the “people of the river.” Some say
that Taal got its name because of the Taa-lan trees in the banks of Pansipit River, formerly called the
Taa-lan River. This old practice was typical of how many places in the Philippines got their names,
usually derived from the native plants found in the area. Others think it was derived from Ta-ad, an
old Batangueño term for sugar cane points.
Taal is also an old Tagalog word that alternately means “real, true, or indigenous.” Before the
Spaniards arrived, it was possible that a native who wandered to other areas of the Philippines may
have been identified as “Taal.” Currently, the correct term which identifies someone with roots
originating from Taal is called “Taaleño.”
Taal is also considered the origin of the Tagalog language, which then was a mix of Central
Philippine languages, Kinaray-a (native dialect in the Visayan Islands), Old Malay, Sanskrit, Chinese,
Arabic and other Borneo languages.
Spanish Rule (1572-1898)
In 1571, the first Spaniards that arrived at Taal Lake, by way of the Pansipit River, were met by the
natives with bows, arrows and bolos (machetes). Although the Spaniards expressed their friendly
intentions, the natives did not trust Spanish generals, Martin de Gotti and Juan de Salcedo, nephew
of the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. In terms of warfare, the natives were no match for the
Spaniards, but they managed to hit Salcedo in the thigh with a poisoned arrow. Not confident
enough to follow-through with their first attempt to subdue the natives, the Spaniards sailed back to
Manila to report to Legaspi.
In 1572, a year after Manila was founded, Fr. Agustin de Albuquerque was the first Augustinian priest
that came. He gathered the natives in the area and brought them to Balangon, the original Town of
Taal. In 1575, the Moro Pirates destroyed Balangon and the town was transferred to Lumang Taal
(Old Taal), the precariously-situated area adjacent to the Taal Lake (presently San Nicolas). In 1575,
Fray Diego de Espinar (the credited founding Augustinian missionary of Taal) started building the
original church dedicated to St. Martin de Tours. Thereafter, the town prospered and became
eminent. A succession of priests came after Fray Diego Espinar. Fray Juan Bautista Montoya was
the priest when the Virgin of Caysasay was fished from the Pansipit River by Juan Maningkad in
1603.
In 1754, the town was destroyed by the biggest eruption of Taal Volcano. After the volcanic
destruction, the town of Taal moved to its current location atop a hill, where the massive and
magnificent St. Martin de Tours Basilica now sits. (Because of the constant and highly destructive
eruptions of the Taal volcano, the whole seat of the town of Taal was relocated several times, until
the construction of the landmark Basilica in its present location in 1755. The current Basilica is
reputed to be the largest Catholic cathedral in the Far East.)
In 1578, the installment of the encomienda system began. This was a legal system that was
employed mainly by the Spanish crown. One could be an encomiendero if he was a military man.
The encomienderos would gain labor, gold and other products in exchange for the protection of
warring tribes, and for giving Spanish and Catholic lessons. Many natives were forced to do hard
labor and were subject to extreme punishment and death if they resisted. They were treated as
slaves. The priests and the encomienderos were always at odds because the priests did not
condone the abuse and cruelty from the encomienderos.
The encomienda system was granted to the local nobles, the Principalia, through a law enacted by
King Philip II on June 11, 1594. The Principalia was an educated class, a hereditary right, exempted
from tax. Their origins are traced back to the pre-colonial royal and noble class of the datus. The
Spanish monarchy co-opted the traditional princes and their nobles, thereby ruling the Filipinos
indirectly. Only Principalia members were allowed to vote, to be elected to public office, and to be
addressed by the title, Don or Doña.
In 1581, the Batangas province was established with Taal as its capital. Batangas originally covered
Southeast Laguna, parts of Camarines, Mindoro and Marinduque.
From 1597 to 1732, the town of Balayan was alternately designated as the new capital of Batangas.
Taal subsequently resumed its position as the capital in 1732, due to its booming success in trade
and commerce. During this time, Nicolas Alvarez was Kapitan and Felipe Ozaeta was the parish
priest. In 1811, there was a nationwide separation between the responsibilities of church and state,
so Spanish priests no longer governed a town.
The period of Taal’s great opulence suddenly ended in 1749 when the Taal volcano violently erupted
and reduced the town to wreckage for a span of six months. In 1754, the Taaleños again relocated to
a safer site on an incline, overlooking Balayan Bay, where the town proper currently sits today. The
Basilica of St. Martin of Tours (St. Martin de Tours) was also destroyed, but it was rebuilt at the
present site in 1755.
Aside from the volatile volcano, the town was vulnerable to Moro attacks. Forts and watch-towers
were built for its defense. Some forts still stand in ruins today in Cuta, Nagpulok and in the town of
Lemery, which was originally part Taal.
Again in 1849, devastation struck the town. It was ravaged by an earthquake that diminished Taal’s
domain. Other calamities which also plagued the people included small pox, cholera, locust
invasions, floods and great fires. The ensuing calamities required more cemeteries for the excessive
burials. A four- hectare cemetery was donated to the town by a member of the landed gentry,
Sebastian Marella. Sebastian and his wife Antonia Mangubat had five children, one of which is
Vicente Marella, who married Gertrudes Legaspi. The youngest of Vicente and Gertrudes’ four
children was named Gliceria, who married Eulalio Villavicencio. This couple became avid supporters
and champions of the Filipino revolutionary forces against Spain.
Taal still progressed with improvements in infrastructure in the face of these catastrophes. A healthy
coffee trade became the engine to power a wealthy merchant class. These citizens then sought to
resurrect Taal’s glory by rebuilding and refurbishing their grand tropical homes made of adobe stone,
called bahay na bato.
Philippine Revolution (1896-1898)
A rebellion started brewing at the start of the nineteenth century when Manila’s ports became open
for world trade. The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896 when colonial forces discovered the
Katipunan secret society. Teodoro Patiño, a Katipunero (a Katipunero is a member of the Katipunan),
had personal grievances with fellow Katipunero, Apolonio de la Cruz. He took revenge by exposing
the Katipunan’s existence along with secret documents to Spanish priest, Mariano Gil. While Dr.
Jose Rizal was still fervently working to implement reforms and enlighten more Filipinos through
peaceful propaganda, a revolution was slowly erupting.
Within days after Rizal returned to the Philippines from his sojourn abroad and founded La Liga
Filipina, the Katipunan was discovered by authorities and Rizal was arrested and deported to the
distant province of Dapitan. Rizal’s personal thoughts were that the revolution was premature, but by
then it was an unstoppable force of unforeseen events. It forced more Filipinos to mobilize for the
survival of their cause.
During the initial formation of the revolutionary forces, the Guardia Civil were the terrors of Taal town.
In 1877, Don Flaviano Agoncillo and Julian Ilagan were hog-tied for no justifiable reason. Such were
some of the atrocities of the local Spanish forces which the Filipinos could no longer tolerate.
Many other Taaleños rallied to the revolutionary cause. Among some of these historic figures were,
Ananias Diokno; Martin Cabrera and his brothers, Leonardo, Mariano and Aguedo; Vicente Ilustre
and Felipe Agoncillio. General Ananias Diokno made successful attacks against Spain in Panay.
General Emilio Aguinaldo later made him governor of Capiz. Martin Cabrera was a brigadier general
and politico-military governor of Zona Oriental. Felipe Agoncillo, the eminent diplomat, was
appointed by General Aguinaldo as Representative to the United States of the First Philippine
Republic. His wife, Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo, was tasked by General Aguinaldo to make the first
Philippine flag. She designed and sewed it with pride in Hong Kong, where she was living at that
time with her husband. Her daughter, Lorenza and Dr. Jose Rizal’s niece, Delfina H. Natividad,
helped her in sewing the flag.
Don Eulalio Villavicencio and Doña Gliceria Marella Villavicencio, a prominent couple in Taal, also
dedicated their lives and contributed a great deal of their resources to the revolution against Spain.
Gliceria was considered a heroine and a “Godmother of the Philippine Revolutionary Forces,” by
General Emilio Aguinaldo. Her husband Eulalio, incarcerated by the Spaniards, gave up much of his
financial resources and sacrificed his life to fight for his convictions.
At one point in the national revolution, the Spanish fleet was gaining ground while the Katipuneros
were divided in their choice of leadership between General Emilio Aguinaldo, who was winning
battles, and Andres Bonifacio, who was losing battles. During this period, an election of officers was
held for the leadership of the revolutionary government. Bonifacio lost and the leadership was turned
over to Aguinaldo, who was away at battle. Angered and insulted by the final decision, Bonifacio tried
to force a coup‘d etat against the newly established government. He ordered a town in Cavite to be
burned when the residents refused to supply provisions. Aguinaldo had Bonifacio and his brother
Procopio arrested when he learned of this atrocity. The War Council sentenced them to death for
committing sedition and treason. (*To date, there are several opinions regarding the true reason on
why Aguinaldo had Bonifacio killed. Furthermore, there are some who still believe that Bonifacio, a
brave fighter and a simple man of the masses, is more deserving of the honor of being the “National
Hero of the Philippines,” instead of Dr. Jose Rizal, who had a privileged upbringing and who was
influenced by western education.)
Aguinaldo and his men found refuge from the war in Biak-na-Bato, where they settled and
established the Republic of Biak-na-Bato. Newly appointed Spanish Governor-General Fernando
Primo de Rivera declared, “I can take Biak-na-Bato. Any army can capture it. But I cannot end the
rebellion.”
Governor-General de Rivera offered the peace pact of Biak-na-Bato, which Aguinaldo and his men
eventually signed in agreement on December 14 to 15, 1897. As part of the agreement, Aguinaldo
and twenty-five other top officials were banished to Hong Kong with 400,000 Mexican pesos.
Aguinaldo planned to use the money later for firearms. However, the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-
Bato did not end the revolution. Armed conflicts resumed in almost every province. Convinced that
Spain would not keep her promise of amnesty and relinquishing financial dues owed, Aguinaldo and
his men renewed their commitment for attaining Philippine independence by any means.

Spanish-American War (April 25- August 12, 1898)

The culmination of the Cuban War of Independence and the explosion and sinking of a U.S. Navy
warship in Havana harbor in 1898, resulted in American attacks on Spain’s colonies, including the
Philippine Islands. Commodore George Dewey sailed to Manila with a fleet of seven U.S. ships. On
May 1, they encountered a fleet of twelve Spanish ships led by Admiral Patricio Montojo. This
marked the first battle between the Americans and the Spaniards, known as the Battle of Manila Bay.
Aguinaldo met in Singapore with U.S. Consuls E. Spencer Pratt and Rounceville Wildman, where
they discussed the potential cooperation between U.S. forces and Filipino insurgents, while Pratt
communicated with American Admiral Dewey through telegram. They persuaded Aguinaldo to join
American forces and lead the Filipino insurgency in a combined effort against Spain. What transpired
in that meeting has been a matter of debate. There are two different sides to the story. Aguinaldo
wrote that Pratt had assured that the United States would recognize the Independence of the
Philippines under the protection of the U.S. Navy, adding that there was no necessity for entering a
formal written agreement. Aguinaldo stated that he hoped that the United States would assume
protection of the Philippines for a time period long enough to allow the inhabitants to establish a
government of their own. Aguinaldo then agreed to lead the insurgents under the commanding
leadership of the American forces with an understanding that the United States would not extend its
sovereign power over the Philippine islands.
On May 19, 1898, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines from Hong Kong, where he was exiled
during the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. He returned on the American battleship “McCulloch” to continue the
revolt against the Spaniards. With the help of the Americans, Filipino warriors had finally achieved
their long overdue triumph over Spain. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine
Independence in Kawit, Cavite, gloriously raising the first Philippine flag made by native Taaleña,
Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo.
Felipe Agoncillo, another Taaleño, was the first diplomat to the United States, representing the
Philippine Republic. He was also an envoy to the Treaty of Paris in 1898, where he endeavored to
block the cession of the Philippines by Spain to the United States. With regard to this, the Filipinos
did not succeed in their collective efforts. On December 10, 1898, the Philippines, along with Cuba,
Puerto Rico, Guam, and parts of the West Indies, were ceded by Spain to the United States for the
sum of $20,000,000.
Philippine-American WAR (1899-1902)
On February 4, 1899, an American sentry patrolling the border between the American and Filipino
lines shot a Filipino soldier, after which Filipino forces returned fire, thus igniting the second battle
cry for Filipinos. The Philippines declared war against the United States on June 2, 1899. Pedro
Paterno, President of Congress, issued a Proclamation of War. The Philippine-American war began
in 1899 and officially ended in 1902.
Taal suffered greatly when the Americans put up a garrison in the convent and later burned Taal,
from the poblacion to the countryside. Many people were killed. Miraculously a few houses were
saved. With the capture of Aguinaldo in March 1901, the remaining days of the war wrote defeat for
the Filipino cause. The Philippine leaders accepted defeat after over one million Filipinos died during
the American conflict and occupation. Over twenty percent of the country’s population had been
killed. Approximately two-hundred thousand men, women, and children perished. American
firepower was superior to anything the Filipino insurgency could muster.
In 1934, the Tydings McDuffie Act was passed by the United States Congress. It promised
independence to the Philippine islands after a ten year transitional period known as the Philippine
Commonwealth. Two Taaleños, Conrado V. Sanchez and Antonino Barrion, were elected as
Representatives of the Constitutional Convention of 1934 that drafted the Philippine Constitution of
1935. Conrado V. Sanchez successfully presented precepts of Women’s Suffrage.
In 1935, the National Economic Protection Association, also known as NEPA, was established. It
ushered programs and parades with the primary goal of encouraging the patronization of native
products. Before the end of the transitional Commonwealth Period, World War II had reached
Philippine shores.

Japanese Occupation (1942-1945)

On December 8, 1941, just ten hours after Japan’s attack on American aircraft in Pearl Harbor,
Japan invaded the northern and southern areas of Manila with aerial bombardment and ordered the
landing of ground troops. General Douglas MacArthur (Chief of Staff of the United States Army and
Philippine Army Field Marshall) was away in Australia, so the Japanese were able to easily advance
and attack. Under the pressure of superior numbers, the defending forces withdrew to the island of
Corregidor and the Bataan Peninsula. The Japanese occupied Manila on January 2, 1942 and
began to immediately organize a new government structure.
On April 9, 1942 the 76,000 starving and sick American and Filipino defenders in Bataan
surrendered and were forced to endure the Bataan Death March, where 7,000 to 10,000 died or
were murdered (death tolls vary for lack of real records of escapees). The Bataan Death March was
the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of Filipino and American prisoners of war after
the three-month Battle of Bataan. The march was characterized by a wide range of physical abuse
and murder and was later judged by an Allied Military Commission to be a Japanese war crime.
The Japanese detachment headed by Captain Ito was stationed in Taal. The Mayor of that period,
Fernando Barrion, was caught between trying to please the conquerors while at the same time
protecting his townsmen. He was branded by his people for being a Japanese collaborator, with the
guerillas also threatening to kill him. Chief of Police, Numeriano, also suffered the same reputation
and hardships.
In 1943, a Taaleño, Petronio B. Huerto, Chief Mate of TSS, Mactan, returned to the Philippines by
submarine after bringing wounded soldiers to Australia. He distributed medicine and ammunition to
the guerillas and engaged in intelligence work throughout the war in the hills. Fellow Taaleño,
Captain Julian Tamayo, was the skipper of the TSS Mactan in this epic voyage to Australia.
Taal men did not wait for the Americans before they took action against the Japanese invaders.
Former members of the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East) became the nucleus
of the resistance movement. The first group was first known as the Volcan Regiment (Volcano
Regiment) and later the Kanluran Regiment (West Regiment). When they attached themselves to
the 11th Airborne, they became known as the Blue Eagles. Another group, the ROTC Hunters, was
lead by Batallion Commander Rafael Zagala, a full-blooded Taaleño who survived the brutal Death
March from Balanga, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. He was one of those who were ferried by
rail to Capas,Tarlac and who walked the few last kilometers to Camp O’Donnell.
Taal women were also recruited under the command of 1st Lt. Emiliana Noble. Taal womenfolk set
up a hospital and make-shift clinics which took care of released, sick prisoners of war. Taal Doctors
who gave free services were, Dr. Dorotea Coronel, Gregorio Noche, Dr. Felino Salazar, and Dr.
Isabelo Noble.
During the Japanese era, educational, political, religious, and health services were demoralized and
the whole country was flooded with cheap paper money, called “Mickey Mouse Money.” “Mickey
Mouse Money” was like play money with little value. When the end of the war was near, Taal’s
barrios (enclaves in the countryside) bore the brunt of brutality from the killing and burning Japanese
rampage. Many of the people who evacuated to the barrios from the poblacion (town center) were
brutally hunted and massacred.
The Japanese occupied the Philippines for over three years until Filipinos succeeded in ousting
them with the highly effective guerilla campaign of Filipino resistance forces. The guerillas controlled
sixty percent of the islands, in mostly jungle and mountain areas. General Douglas MacArthur
helped supply these guerrilla forces with their needs. Using submarines, he sent reinforcements and
American officers until his return, where he deployed 700 vessels and 174,000 men to help
extinguish Japanese reign.
THE TREATY OF MANILA (1946)
In Manila on July 4, 1946, a treaty of general relations was signed by the Government of the United
States and the Republic of the Philippines. The treaty recognized the independence of the Republic
of the Philippines and the relinquishment of American sovereignty over the Philippine Islands,
deemed effective in the United States on October 22, 1946.

TAAL in the Period of Independence from American

Rule
Taal was on its way to progress when in 1953, a market debacle caused by a misunderstanding,
reduced the town to a purely residential area. This is known as the vendor’s exodus to Lemery. In
spite of the debacle, Taal remained a first class town because of the Pansipit Fishery. Taal
deteriorated and was classified as a 5th class municipality when two of its barrios, San Nicolas and
Sambat, were separated from it.
Today it is slowly but surely improving. It has achieved a Third Class (3rd) municipality ranking within
the last 6 years. It is still a peaceful residential town with small business establishments slowly
improving the economic landscape, while maintaining the quaint streetscape. Private citizens have
rallied Municipal Government Officers in creating sustainable restoration efforts of their landmark
structures; promoting tourism, and encouraging fair practices for new business ventures to thrive, to
help renew Taal’s glory of yesteryears.

TAAL Culture
According to Najeeb Saleeby, author of History of Sulu, the development of the Malayan-Filipino
passed through four stages. These stages were marked by different historical eras represented by
different people with separate cultures. These cultural mixtures make up the DNA of the present
Filipino. Since Taal was already a trading hub, it is safe to conclude that the present-day Taaleños
are typical of this “cultural mix”:
1) The Prehistoric Era – A primitive culture of mostly hill tribes of Luzon and Mindanao
2) The Commercial Era – Hindu-Malayan culture of pagan tribes of Mindanao, the Visayas and
Luzon; pre-Spanish occupation.
3) The Firearms Era – A Muslim culture of Moro Tribes
4) The Spanish Era – The Spanish-Christian culture represented by Catholic Filipinos
The Chinese, dating back to pre-Spanish occupation, makes up another cultural influence. The
American occupation is also a big cultural influence. Stories passed down from generation to
generation reveal that pre-Spanish Filipinos had their own system of government dictated by the
Codes of Kalantiao and Margatas. The Spanish colonizers tried to wipe out local culture and
destroyed most of the literature of the early years in their attempt to convert the natives to
Catholicism. With the disposal of their pagan literature and practices, the locals were made to
believe that their history and culture were not worth preserving. This leaves many loopholes, making
it difficult for historians to come to a definitive agreement or conclusion about pre-colonial times, as
in the era of the Margatas. However, the passing-on of “legends” via oral anecdotes ensured that the
history and culture of the Filipinos lived on.
By the same token, the legacies of religion and language left by the Spanish colonizers cannot be
denounced, for much of it has proven to serve the Filipinos well. To this day, majority of Filipinos
deeply embrace and cherish the Catholic faith, making the Philippines a main stronghold of
Catholicism in the world. In terms of Language, Spanish-sounding words permeate the Filipino
vocabulary, some with the same Spanish spelling and meanings like: mesa (table), silya (chair),
tinedor (fork), kutsara (tablespoon), kutsilyo (knife); kutsarita (teaspoon),etc.
The legacy of religion will never perish in Taal town, for many of its legends and traditions live on. In
Taal, people constantly honor their patron saints such as The Lady of Caysasay & St. Martin of
Tours, through processions, fiestas and luas. There is also the famous pabasa where incantations of
the life of Christ are recited during Lent.
Along with their religious beliefs, the people of Taal are superstitious, like many Filipinos all over the
Philippines. Although the younger generations have not been as superstitious, some archaic beliefs
of the older Taaleños are:
-The belief that the best day to marry, move, open a store, or establish a business is when the moon
is in the growing stage.
-The belief that if a person comes home hungry and greets someone in the house who is also
hungry, the person who is already in the house will get very sick.
-The belief that if a corpse is brought down the house, the windows must be closed and the house
should not be swept for four days. Cleaning is only done by wiping, using a rag and never by
sweeping a broom.
Despite the imposing cultures which have come within these shores, Taaleños have proudly kept
many of the Filipino traditions alive. Examples unique to Taal are:
-When newlyweds meet at the threshold of a home, they are fed with honey and a special sticky
native rice cake for lifelong understanding, sweetness and togetherness.
-Coins are showered over a newly baptized baby by the godfathers and godmothers for good
fortune. Coins are also showered in house blessings and inaugurations of establishments by the
sponsors and the guests who then scramble for these same coins. Keeping the picked coins brings
the “picker” good luck.
Tagalogs, Taaleños in particular, are very respectful. They always use the word po when talking to
elders and superiors as a sign of respect. They practice mano po with their lolos and lolas
(grandparents), wherein they bow their heads onto their elder’s hand as a greeting or as permission
for departure/blessings.
Some of the most creative, hardworking, and industrious citizens of integrity and pillars of Philippine
Society come from Taal. True Taaleños believe that rewards and fortune are not worthy unless it is
acquired through honorable work, which can explain why Taal is the Barong Tagalog and Balisong
capital of the Philippines (Balisongs are machetes or fan knives). Embroidery-work and forging metal
is a long and painstaking process that requires diligence, sophisticated skills and dedication,
resulting in finished-products with Taal’s signature intricate craftsmanship.
Taal has been referred to as the “home of heroes” because of the numerous Filipino revolutionaries
and patriots that have originated from here. These people are famous for their passionate, bold,
adventurous, valiant, and noble characteristics. The Balisong is a great symbol of the fierce warriors
of Taal during the bygone eras, who have left a legacy of bravery and love for town and country.
Present-day heritage-warriors who restore their ancestral homes, promote the arts, culture and
education, have new bridges to cross and battles fight to ensure that future generations fully
appreciate the value of past experiences and the intrinsically rich culture. Civic-minded individuals,
church leaders, municipal officers and concerned town folk are encouraged by the “calibrated” and
well-planned developments in the town in the recent years. It is a dream to have a common goal and
mind-set, to ensure that future development does not destroy the landscape, local practices and the
uniqueness of this quaint town.