A Brief History of Baras

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BARAS
THE TOWN OF BARAS

There are many versions on how the town of Baras got its name. One
version stated that the seashore of Baras was being used to harbor sailboats
during inclement weather and to protect against pirates. The place was then
called Barahan which “means a place of anchorage.”
The Spanish conquerors shortened it to Baras.
Another version related that a Spanish priest

named Fr. Francisco Barasoan, known for his kindness
to the parishioners, became a byword in the area and
the community was named Baras in his honor.
The third
version
recounted
that when
Baras was
a still
hinterland, there was plenty of hardwood which was made into “barras” or two
pieces of wood between which the horse was harnessed. Barras later became
Baras.
BARAS BEFORE ITS INDEPENDENCE
In 1595, the Franciscan Missionaries founded a “visita” for Morong

known as “Visita de Santiago” then inhabited by 400 Aetas and other
mountain people.
The mountain people burned part of the town and its church a year
earlier and the town was transferred to a place called Ibayo under the
jurisdiction of the Jesuit Fathers of Morong in 1636.
Three (3) years later, about 13,000 Chinese rebels retreating from
Manila towards the Sierra Madre razed the towns and churches of Baras and
Tanay. The ecclesiastical administration of Baras was given back by the
Jesuits to the Franciscan in exchange for Binangonan four (4) decades later.
The town was transferred to its present site out of reach of marauding
mountain tribes in 1682. Construction of the present church started this year
and upon its completion in 1685, an inaugural was held in honor of its patron
saint St. Joseph.
From 1601 to 1853, Baras was under the province of La Laguna and
from 1853 to 1900, its administration was transferred to the Distrito de las
Montes de San Mateo. Franciscan Fr. Dela Parilla, then parish priest of the
town, directed and managed the construction of the stone bridge across
Baras t facilitated communication among neighboring towns in 1728. From
1728 to 1750, the estimated population of the town of 1,028 was paying 299
tributes to the Spanish authorities. Baras was divided into “barangays,” each
under a cabeza de barangay, appointed by the head of the town, the Capitan
Municipal in 1750. It was the parish priest who was the actual ruling party in
the community. In 1872, the jurisdictional conflict between Tanay and Baras
ended. A monument, which can still be seen today, marks the boundaries.
Three (3) years later, the Superior Civil Government grants the request of the
Gobernadorcillo of Bosoboso to create a dependent barrio from a cluster of
houses scattered in Hacienda Pinugay and in 1876, new placing of mojones
in the jurisdictional boundaries of Baras and Morong was completed. In the
same year, the civil government interceded to end the jurisdictional conflict
between Tanay and Baras. The people enjoyed tranquility for a period of 15
years. The Katipunan of Baras established the Real or Military Camp at sitio
Gogo or Pamitinan in July 1895. On November 21, 1896, the Katipunan
attempted to capture the town of Morong but were driven away by the Guardia
Civil. Military Order No. 40 by American Governor General Merritt came into
effect directing for the election of an Alcalde Municipal, Vice Alcalde, and the
Municipal Council on March 29, 1900.
In 1902, the Philippine Commission passed Act 942 renaming the

province of Morong to Rizal, after the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. This Act
also provided for the consolidation of the Municipalities of Morong,
Binangonan, Cardona and Baras as one municipal district, with Morong as its
capital, which took effect a year later.
From 1903 to 1906, Baras was made a Barrio of Morong The progress
of the town was neglected by Municipal Officials of the central government of
Morong and Leopoldo Digma, representative to the municipal council of
Morong, presented the case to the Provincial Governor asking for the
immediate separation of Baras from Morong.
On January 16, 1906, Baras was annexed to Tanay as a barrio by Act

No. 1442. During the election of 1912, not one councilor came from Baras and
the people of Baras started clamoring for independence but the demand was
denied by the Provincial Governor due to the economic incapacity of Baras.
BARAS AS AN INDEPENDENT MUNICIPALITY
The claim for independence was realized when His Excellency, the
Governor General of the Philippines signed Executive Order No. 57 providing
for a change in the status of Baras from a barrio of Tanay to the Municipality
of Baras on November 24, 1920.
In 1921, a decree signed by Governor General Francis Harrison

separates the then barrio of Baras from the Municipality of Tanay with intent
to organize the barrio into an independent municipality.
Adriano Ferrera was elected Municipal President and during his term a
new site for the municipal building was purchased through donations from the
townspeople and with P500.00 from the provincial fund, the construction of
the municipal hall was undertaken in 1922.
From 1922 to 1928, Baras constructed new school buildings, built

additional classrooms, and increased school grounds. A site for the public
market was also purchased. Up to 1931, Baras was classified as a fifth class
municipality and had settled its boundary disputes with Tanay and Morong.
The years saw the continued development of Baras: reconstruction of the
municipal building; repair of the municipal artesian wells; construction of more
classrooms; construction of additional school buildings at Barrio Pinugay; and
construction of an irrigation dam for the farmers.
On February 6, 1942, Baras was occupied by the Japanese Imperial

Army and many young men of Baras joined the guerilla forces and in 1945
Baras was razed to the ground in the course of liberating the town from
foreign invaders. Subsequently, war damage claims amounting of P300,000
were filed to help in the rehabilitation of the town. First post-war mayor,
Mariano Golla, focused on the improvement of roads and the construction of a
public dispensary. Under his term, Baras was elevated to a fourth class
municipality due to an increase in income.
In 1951, under the administration of Mayor Felix Sacayan, more funds

were released to Baras for the construction of roads, school buildings, deep
wells and a portion of the public market. Mayor Hilarion Constantino
implemented improvements on the road network including the Santolan
Pinugay Road, irrigation dams, and additional classrooms in 1956. For his
accomplishments, Mayor Constantino was awarded the gold medal for
outstanding mayor of the province from the Rizal press club.
The administration of Mayor Alex Digma became known for its

reforestation project in 1959.
In 1963, Mayor Bayani Fereirra headed the implementation of “River

Control”, repair of Lagundi-PinugayRoad, and improvement of the municipal
hall and selected barangay roads.
Meliton C. Geronimo was voted mayor, Christian Dinoso was elected

president of Kabataang Barangay and Buenvenido Garrovillas headed the
Assoc. of Barangay Captains (ABC) in 1980. After the EDSA revolution, Col.
(Ret.) Meliton Geronimo became OIC of the municipality during which he
spearheaded the construction of the municipal hall and the Baras gymnasium,
among others.
The administration of Mayor Willy Robles from 2004 to 2013, continued

improvements on the road networks, increased the number of schoolhouses,
and undertook enhancements on the new government building the installation
of river controls, and the launching of reforestation program.
At present, Mayor Kathrine B. Robles seeks to bring the Municipality of

Baras, Rizal into the 21st century. She has cherished that dream ever since
her initial exposure to public administration. She pins the hope that her
dynamic administration will be able to consolidate the achievements that have
already been made before her and to contribute the experience she has
gained as a seasoned local executive in various capacities.

A Brief History of Baras

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Brief History of Baras

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Brief History of Baras

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BARAS

THE TOWN OF BARAS

Another version related that a Spanish priest

BARAS BEFORE ITS INDEPENDENCE

In 1595, the Franciscan Missionaries founded a “visita” for Morong

In 1902, the Philippine Commission passed Act 942 renaming the

On January 16, 1906, Baras was annexed to Tanay as a barrio by Act

BARAS AS AN INDEPENDENT MUNICIPALITY

In 1921, a decree signed by Governor General Francis Harrison

From 1922 to 1928, Baras constructed new school buildings, built

On February 6, 1942, Baras was occupied by the Japanese Imperial

In 1951, under the administration of Mayor Felix Sacayan, more funds

The administration of Mayor Alex Digma became known for its

In 1963, Mayor Bayani Fereirra headed the implementation of “River

Meliton C. Geronimo was voted mayor, Christian Dinoso was elected

The administration of Mayor Willy Robles from 2004 to 2013, continued

At present, Mayor Kathrine B. Robles seeks to bring the Municipality of

You might also like