The Municipality
Sometime in 1835, Missionaries of the Augustinian Recollect together with the Spanish Conquistadores came to this thickly forested area which was inhabited by some heathen natives. They established a community and made known their influences, mainly to spread Christianity.
They called the place after a Catmon Tree which was abundant at that time, hence, the birth of the town named CATMON. During those days a Moro pirates were a regular threat to the safety of the unprotected shores and its inhabitants. The Conquistadores built the Moro Watch Tower (also known as Bantayan Sa Hari) atop of the hill which is evident by the remains of the fort found in barangay Catmondaan the old town site. They also built a sanctuary wherein the Christianization of the natives was held. Sr. San Guillermo De Aquitania was chosen as Patron Saint and February 10 was adopted as the date for the celebration of the town’s annual fiesta.
The government under the Spanish dominion prepared plans, made ordinances, imposed taxes to its inhabitants, organized the barangays and appointed their respective leaders which were known as “Cabezas de Barangay”. All barangay leaders were of Catmonanon descent.
The Filipinos were under the Spanish colonization for 333 years. The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896, upon the discovery of the anti-colonial secret organization Katipunan by the Spanish authorities. The Katipunan (which was flared up by the deportation of Dr. Jose Rizal to Dapitan), led by Andrés Bonifacio, was a secessionist movement and shadow government spread throughout much of the islands whose goal was independence from Spain through armed revolt. In 1898, with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Aguinaldo unofficially allied with the United States. The relentless struggle of the Katipuneros against the invading Spanish Sovereignty was finally over when a Filipino flag was able to replace the Spanish color in the entire archipelago on June 12, 1898, whereby General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Independence in Kawit, Cavite and the First Philippine Republic was established.
However, neither Spain nor the United States recognized Philippine independence. Spanish rule in the islands only officially ended with the 1898 Treaty of Paris, wherein Spain ceded the Philippines and other territories to the United States. After eruption of the 1899 Battle of Manila on February 4 between Filipino and U.S. forces, Aguinaldo immediately ordered, "that peace and friendly relations with the Americans be broken and that the latter be treated as enemies". In June 1899, the nascent First Philippine Republic formally declared war against the United States. The Philippine-American War (1899–1902) then ensued. Catmon played a very important role during this revolution, sitio Kapayas in barangay Cambangkaya was chosen as the location for the Provincial Headquarters of the Military Government of Don Juan Climaco, Supreme head of the Revolutionist aided by Don Arsenio Climaco, Generals Arcadio, Samuel, Dionisio, all surnamed Maxilums. Aguinaldo was captured by U.S. forces on March 23, 1901, and swore allegiance to the U.S. on April 1. On July 4, 1902, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed a full and complete pardon and amnesty to all people in the Philippine archipelago who had participated in the conflict, effectively ending the war.
The Municipal Government under the American Regime. The American authorities helped the political leaders of Catmon and Sogod to unite, organized one municipality and a common government. The first election was held in 1903.
Municipal Presidents
Santiago Montecillo (1903-1907), rented and held office at the house of
Segundo Colina in Catmon.
Simeon Seno (1907-1907), he served until December 31 of the same year.
Mariano Montejo came into the picture but was immediately replaced by
Manuel Bregente, both served as Mun. President in 1908.
Gervasio Monsanto (1909 -1911).
Santiago Montecillo was re-elected Municipal President in 1912 election.
In the year 1921, Sogod was segregated from Catmon during the term of
Marcelo Menchavez (1921- 1922).
Juan Ginoo (1922 – 1926).
Angel Dongallo (1926 – 1930).
Pedro Ares (1931 – 1934).
In the year 1934, the Philippines was given ten-year transition period in preparation for the granting of Independence. In year 1935, the Commonwealth Government in the Philippines was inaugurated in Manila with Manuel Quezon as President and Sergio Osmena as Vice-President.
Municipal Presidents under the Commonwealth Government
Bartolomeo Pontillas, served from 1935 to 1936.
Gabriel Jurado, was elected into office in 1939 and served up to 1941. His term was cut short by the outbreak of World War II where the Philippines was involved being an American territory.
After World War II. The Municipality under the Commonwealth restoration. In 1945, the Philippines was liberated and the Commonwealth Government was restored. Luis Molina, then the Municipal Vice-President during pre-war of 1939, was appointed by the Governor of Cebu as Municipal President of Catmon. Gabriel Jurado was re-elected to the position during the last commonwealth elections on April 23, 1946.
The Municipality after the Declaration of Philippine Independence. In 1946, following World War II, the United Sates gave the territory independence through the treaty in Manila. On July 4, 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated, and the American flag was lowered and independence of the Philippines was proclaimed.
The turned of events made Gabriel Jurado as the last Municipal President of Catmon during the Commonwealth era and the first Municipal Mayor (transitional position) when the Philippines became a Republic.
Atty. Gabriel Roldan. In 1951, Atty. Roldan won the election, and was the first Municipal Mayor “officially” elected into office after the Philiipines became a Republic. He served until 1959.
Pedro J. Monsanto (1959 – 1986 Edsa Revolution). Elected in 1959 and was replaced with Atty. Roldan after the EDSA Revolution in 1986. Atty. Roldan was appointed OIC by President Corazon Aquino as replacement of Mayor Pedro Monsanto.
Atty. Gabriel Roldan. Eventually, Atty. Roldan was re-elected Municipal Mayor in 1988 and served until 1992.
Dionisio O. Sucalit. Elected in 1992 and served a three-year term this ended in 1995.
Mst. Sgt. Abel J. Modequillo. Also served a three-year term, from 1995 up to 1998.
Herminia B. Jurado. Was the first woman elected into the office in 1998 and served up to 2001.
Estrella C. Aribal. Elected into office in 2001 and became the second woman Mayor of the Municipality. She served for three consecutive terms from 2001 up to 2010.
Dan Jusay. The current Municipal Mayor, elected in 2010.
They called the place after a Catmon Tree which was abundant at that time, hence, the birth of the town named CATMON. During those days a Moro pirates were a regular threat to the safety of the unprotected shores and its inhabitants. The Conquistadores built the Moro Watch Tower (also known as Bantayan Sa Hari) atop of the hill which is evident by the remains of the fort found in barangay Catmondaan the old town site. They also built a sanctuary wherein the Christianization of the natives was held. Sr. San Guillermo De Aquitania was chosen as Patron Saint and February 10 was adopted as the date for the celebration of the town’s annual fiesta.
The government under the Spanish dominion prepared plans, made ordinances, imposed taxes to its inhabitants, organized the barangays and appointed their respective leaders which were known as “Cabezas de Barangay”. All barangay leaders were of Catmonanon descent.
The Filipinos were under the Spanish colonization for 333 years. The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896, upon the discovery of the anti-colonial secret organization Katipunan by the Spanish authorities. The Katipunan (which was flared up by the deportation of Dr. Jose Rizal to Dapitan), led by Andrés Bonifacio, was a secessionist movement and shadow government spread throughout much of the islands whose goal was independence from Spain through armed revolt. In 1898, with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Aguinaldo unofficially allied with the United States. The relentless struggle of the Katipuneros against the invading Spanish Sovereignty was finally over when a Filipino flag was able to replace the Spanish color in the entire archipelago on June 12, 1898, whereby General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Independence in Kawit, Cavite and the First Philippine Republic was established.
However, neither Spain nor the United States recognized Philippine independence. Spanish rule in the islands only officially ended with the 1898 Treaty of Paris, wherein Spain ceded the Philippines and other territories to the United States. After eruption of the 1899 Battle of Manila on February 4 between Filipino and U.S. forces, Aguinaldo immediately ordered, "that peace and friendly relations with the Americans be broken and that the latter be treated as enemies". In June 1899, the nascent First Philippine Republic formally declared war against the United States. The Philippine-American War (1899–1902) then ensued. Catmon played a very important role during this revolution, sitio Kapayas in barangay Cambangkaya was chosen as the location for the Provincial Headquarters of the Military Government of Don Juan Climaco, Supreme head of the Revolutionist aided by Don Arsenio Climaco, Generals Arcadio, Samuel, Dionisio, all surnamed Maxilums. Aguinaldo was captured by U.S. forces on March 23, 1901, and swore allegiance to the U.S. on April 1. On July 4, 1902, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed a full and complete pardon and amnesty to all people in the Philippine archipelago who had participated in the conflict, effectively ending the war.
The Municipal Government under the American Regime. The American authorities helped the political leaders of Catmon and Sogod to unite, organized one municipality and a common government. The first election was held in 1903.
Municipal Presidents
Santiago Montecillo (1903-1907), rented and held office at the house of
Segundo Colina in Catmon.
Simeon Seno (1907-1907), he served until December 31 of the same year.
Mariano Montejo came into the picture but was immediately replaced by
Manuel Bregente, both served as Mun. President in 1908.
Gervasio Monsanto (1909 -1911).
Santiago Montecillo was re-elected Municipal President in 1912 election.
In the year 1921, Sogod was segregated from Catmon during the term of
Marcelo Menchavez (1921- 1922).
Juan Ginoo (1922 – 1926).
Angel Dongallo (1926 – 1930).
Pedro Ares (1931 – 1934).
In the year 1934, the Philippines was given ten-year transition period in preparation for the granting of Independence. In year 1935, the Commonwealth Government in the Philippines was inaugurated in Manila with Manuel Quezon as President and Sergio Osmena as Vice-President.
Municipal Presidents under the Commonwealth Government
Bartolomeo Pontillas, served from 1935 to 1936.
Gabriel Jurado, was elected into office in 1939 and served up to 1941. His term was cut short by the outbreak of World War II where the Philippines was involved being an American territory.
After World War II. The Municipality under the Commonwealth restoration. In 1945, the Philippines was liberated and the Commonwealth Government was restored. Luis Molina, then the Municipal Vice-President during pre-war of 1939, was appointed by the Governor of Cebu as Municipal President of Catmon. Gabriel Jurado was re-elected to the position during the last commonwealth elections on April 23, 1946.
The Municipality after the Declaration of Philippine Independence. In 1946, following World War II, the United Sates gave the territory independence through the treaty in Manila. On July 4, 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated, and the American flag was lowered and independence of the Philippines was proclaimed.
The turned of events made Gabriel Jurado as the last Municipal President of Catmon during the Commonwealth era and the first Municipal Mayor (transitional position) when the Philippines became a Republic.
Atty. Gabriel Roldan. In 1951, Atty. Roldan won the election, and was the first Municipal Mayor “officially” elected into office after the Philiipines became a Republic. He served until 1959.
Pedro J. Monsanto (1959 – 1986 Edsa Revolution). Elected in 1959 and was replaced with Atty. Roldan after the EDSA Revolution in 1986. Atty. Roldan was appointed OIC by President Corazon Aquino as replacement of Mayor Pedro Monsanto.
Atty. Gabriel Roldan. Eventually, Atty. Roldan was re-elected Municipal Mayor in 1988 and served until 1992.
Dionisio O. Sucalit. Elected in 1992 and served a three-year term this ended in 1995.
Mst. Sgt. Abel J. Modequillo. Also served a three-year term, from 1995 up to 1998.
Herminia B. Jurado. Was the first woman elected into the office in 1998 and served up to 2001.
Estrella C. Aribal. Elected into office in 2001 and became the second woman Mayor of the Municipality. She served for three consecutive terms from 2001 up to 2010.
Dan Jusay. The current Municipal Mayor, elected in 2010.