Lipa City: A Historical Sketch
Lipa: A Historical Sketch
I wrote this short history of the city for a first prepared by the City Government of Lipa City years ago. It also appeared on the website of Wow Batangas. Portions of this article were also extracted from the book I wrote "Take and Receive: The Life and Legacy of Madre Laura Mendoza"... Photographs appearing in this article are not the author's, credit is given to their respective owners.
Early Beginnings
The wonderful, almost epic saga of a people in search of a permanent settlement where they could live secure and peaceful lives began on the panoramic lake shores that surround the stunningly beautiful yet dangerous Taal Volcano.
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| Aerial view of the Cathedral and the population |
Tradition has it that the early settlements of Tagbakin in the southeastern region of Bombon Lake were inhabited by the war-like descendants of the two Bornean Datus Dumangsil and Balkasusa. From these pre-colonial settlements evolved the ancestry of Lipa.
It is said that the early Lipeños were Buddhist in religion and Indian in civilization while influences coming from other races also became inevitable due to the not so infrequent contacts with traders and merchants coming from China. With the Spanish conquest of the region, the Lipeños were also forced to embrace the Hispanic Christian culture of the West. This is the reason why they say that in Lipa, “the East also meets the West.”
In 1570, the Spaniards under the leadership of Martin de Goiti began to colonize the areas surrounding Lake Bombon and in 1605, Bombon was made an encomienda which was awarded to Marshal Gabriel de Rivera. The Augustinian missionaries established a mission center in Tagbakin which they named San Sebastián. In 1702, the settlement was made a regular municipality.
The Coffee Boom
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| Lipa once became the sole supplier of coffee beans in the world |
For about six months, around 1886 – 1888, Lipa was the world's sole supplier of coffee beans. This was a period of grandeur and extravagance for Lipa. Its society was unrivaled in terms of wealth, prestige and culture. The richest in the Philippines, Lipa had mansions which were furnished with the best from Europe and the children of wealthy landowners were sent to Manila and even to Europe for their studies.
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| Nata de Coco was invented by Dr. Teodula Africa, a Lipena |
Villa de Lipa became famous for its feasts, parties and merry-makings. But despite the ostentatious lifestyle and the high-society living of the people in the villa, the Lipeños were still described as “diligent, sympathetic, helpful, respectful, generous, God-fearing, understanding, hospitable, cheerful and strong-willed.”
The National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, upon the request of his friends from Lipa, wrote a poem praising the diligence and industry of the Lipenos in connection with the celebration of the town's fiesta. This was before his second departure for Europe on February 3, 1888. In Hymno al Trabajo , Rizal extolled man's labor and industry, singing praise to labor, of the country, wealth and vigor. I have challenged the youth to be worthy of their elders by following their footsteps.
Lipa's economic boom may be attributed to a virus that had attacked the coffee plantations in Europe, then those in South America and in Java making Lipa the sole supplier of coffee beans in the world. But the same virus soon reached Lipa. This ended Lipa's golden age.
Under the American regime, Lipa maintained its status as a social and cultural center. Many schools were established that attracted not only students from Batangas, but also from other provinces.
As a political and intellectual capital of the province, three outstanding governors of the province during that period hailed from Lipa: Simeon Luz, Gregorio Aguilera and Dr. Jose Lozada.
Rising from the Rubble
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| Lipa was one of the most devastated cities during World War II |
The once proud and majestic Lipa was humbled by the Second World War. The war has caused severe and damage to life and property. Lipa's palatial houses reminiscent of her glory days were leveled to the ground. The city was literally reduced to rubble. Lipa was most devastated, second only to Manila in terms of civilian casualties and infrastructure and other war damages.
But the catastrophe did not prevent the Lipeños from rising up to start anew. A period of reconstruction was completed and after a while, the town was on the road to recovery. Lipa was made a chartered city on June 20, 1947, the first in the province of Batangas and at present one of the four component cities in the province which include Batangas City, Tanauan City and Sto. Tomas City.
Miracle City
Dr. Francisco Villanueva, in his book "The Wonders of Lipa" had the following observations: "The first time that the Blessed Virgin had ever appeared in the Far East was in that place of the Philippines called Lipa City. This is a very special and great privilege granted by God and His Holy Mother to the Filipino people."
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| Lipeno Bishop Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, DD |
Our Lady appeared to the visionary Teresing on many occasions, giving her messages.
Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, local ordinary of Lipa and his auxiliary, Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar, personally believed in the authenticity of the apparitions but in 1951, an investigative commission created by the Philippine Episcopal Hierarchy declared the absence of any supernatural intervention in the reported extraordinary events including the shower of rose petals and subsequently issued a quite unfavorable pronouncement on the apparitions.
The apparitions, which captured the attention not only of the Philippines, but the rest of the world, were soon forgotten. The image of “Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace” was later ordered withdrawn from public veneration.
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| National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera |
Seventeen years later, on November 12, 2009, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles issued a decree that officially reversed the 1951 ban on the public veneration of the image of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. The decree mandated for the creation of a new commission that will review the documents pertaining to the so-called apparitions of 1948 and will gather further documents thereafter up to the present.
Lipa Today
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| Dr. Gregorio Zara: inventor of the Video Phone |
Today, Lipa is experiencing rapid urbanization and industrialization. It continues to be an important growth center in the CALABARZON Region because of its strategic location, its relatively cool climate and its industrious and God-fearing human resource. It has been home to many businesses as well as industrial and commercial centers. The city is also continuously rising to become the center of medical care in the region with the rise of many tertiary hospitals and medical care facilities offering more and more specialized medical services. The city is also gearing to become an excellent travel destination with its world-class tourist facilities and attractions. Likewise, Lipa continues to be a religious center, the city being a Metropolitan See.
The city is home to saints and heroes, founders of religious congregations, famous statesmen and scientists, national artists, journalists and writers, intellectuals, musicians, businessmen and economists who had actively contributed and continue to contribute to the cultural, artistic, political, economic and religious dynamism of the region and the entire country as well.
Lipad, Lipa, Lipad!
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| Prof. Edgardo L. Manguiat, Founder and Conductor, UP Singing Ambassadors |
List of Notable Lipenos (partial)
National Artists: Bienvenido Lumbera (Literature), Arturo Luz (Visual Arts)
Musicians: Edgardo Manguiat (Composer and Conductor), Charo Unite (Composer), Francis Reyes (The Dawn Band), Sylvia Latorre, Antonio Africa, Darius Semana (Parokya ni Edgar), Paola Luz
Scientists and Engineers: Gregoriio Zara (inventor of the video phone), Teodula Africa (inventor of nata de coco), Mikaela Irene Fudolig, Jose Petronio Katigbak, Manuel M. Lantin, Alberto Barrion, Ireneo Lit, Jr.
Founders of Religious Congregations: Ven. Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar, Servant of God Alfredo Verzosa, Mother Rosario Villanueva, Mother Laura Mendoza
Literary and Theatrical Artists, Journalists: Bienvenido Lumbera, Dennis Marasigan, Fidel Reyes, Enrique Laygo, Teodoro M. Kalaw, Claro M. Recto, Karina Africa Bolasco, Lorna Kalaw Tirol, Gregorio Katigbak, Benito Reyes, Hugo Latorre, Pedro Laygo, Bernardo Solis, Catalino Dimayuga, Manuel Luz, Gregorio Aguilera Solis, Marie Lozano, Jake Macasaet, Romalyn Ante, Jose Lardizabal
Statesmen and Heroes: Claro M. Recto, Teodoro M. Kalaw, Cipriano Kalaw, Fidel Reyes, Ma. Kalaw-Katigbak, Gregorio Aguilera Solis, Dr. Jose Losada, Baldomero Roxas, Lauro Dimayuga, Maria Kalaw-Katigbak
Educators: Fr. Valerio Malabanan, Maximo Kalaw, Corazon Lumbera Abansi, Norma V. Lerma, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, Bro. Jun Erquiza, FSC, Sr. Carmen Reyes, RA
Church Leaders: Venerable Alfredo Obviar, Madre Laura Mendoza, Mo. Rosario Villanueva, Sr. Brigida Katigbak, FMM, Sr. Emigdia Aranda, FMM, Sr. Felicitas Aranda, Sr. Ma. Concepcion Kalaw, MM, Mo. Presentacion de San Jose, AR, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, Bro. Jun Erquiza, FSC, Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit, Fr. Eduardo Africa, Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, Fr. Teodoro Kalaw, CRM, Amb. Alberto Katigbak, Sen. Maria Kalaw-Katigbak
Visual Artists: Arturo Luz, Lito Mayo, Teodorico Cumagun
Doctors and Health Professionals: Dr. Baldomero Roxas, Dr. Gary Villanueva, Dr. Candido Africa, Dr. Jose Losada
Beauty Queens: Maria Kalaw Katigbak, Eva Reyes, Cristine Alzar
Sportsmen: Darwin Laylo (Chess), Melchor Teves (Basketball), Aristeo Dimaunahan (Basketball), Chrisantoni dela Pena (Basketball), Desiree Hernandez (Volleyball), Vince Mangulabnan (Volleyball)
This, to me, is a very comprehensive rendition of the history of Lipa, written from the perspective of someone who is a "native" of the city, and continues to be an active participant of its spiritual growth, being a priest himself. Thanks a lot for this, Father Eldrick
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