Tacloban City History

Tacloban developed from a small fishing village, a barrio of Basey, Samar. The word Tacloban
evolved from "Taklub", a basket-like contraption for catching fish. It became a major trading
town in the late 18th century. The city is well-known for its role in World War II, being a major
base for the US forces and the first town liberated by Douglas MacArthur's forces from the
Japanese Imperial Forces. For a time, it served as the capital of the Philippines
while Manila was under Japanese control.
The city is also known for being the hometown of the flamboyant former Philippine First
Lady Imelda Marcos, whose Romualdez family still commands a large political following in the
area.
For several decades, Tacloban was a barrio of Basey, Samar. At the time, the place was
known as Kankabatok - meaning belonging to Kabatok, because its most prominent
inhabitant was named Kabatok. The change of name came about in this manner:
Kankabatok was a favorite haunt for fishermen. They would use a bamboo tray called
"taklub" to catch crabs or shrimps. When asked where they were going the fishermen would
answer, "to tarakluban", which meant the place where they used "taklub" to catch crabs.
Later, the name was shortened to Tacloban.
It is not definitely known when Tacloban became a municipality because records supporting
this fact were destroyed during a typhoon. It is commonly believed that Tacloban was
officially proclaimed a municipality in 1770. Others however maintain that it was in 1669
during which time there was a rain of ashes. It was the Augustinian mission followed by the
Franciscans who sparked the people's interest in religious activities. Within a year's time the
first church was built with two lofty belfries under the untiring effort of Fray Aniceto Corral.
Carigara was the capital of Leyte at the time. With Don Hipolito Gonzales' incumbency as
alcalde mayor of the province, a popular clamor for the transfer of the seat of the province
came up. Thus, on October 5, 1774 after the construction of the Casa Real and the prison,
the transfer of the seat of the provincial government was officially approved. In the year
1824 however, Don Pedro Antonio became alcalde mayor and restored Carigara as the p
rovincial capital on march 31, 1824. This enhanced bitter disputes. It was finally Don
Ceferino Fernandez, alcalde mayor in 1827 who succeeded in pacifying the controversy.
The final approval for making Tacloban the capital of the province of Leyte cam on February
16, 1830. The decisive reasons for choosing it as capital were:
- 1) it had the ideal location of the port area,
- 2) the place was well-sheltered and adequate.
During the Philippine-American war on January 17, 1899, General Vicente Lukban (for
whom a street is named in the San Fernando district) came to Tacloban to talk about the

problems of the people. The provincial government was evacuated to Palo while General
Mojica and his men prepared to fight the Americans. On January 31, 1900 General Kohe
arrived with an American team to negotiate a cease-fire and surrender of the province. He
was firmly refused. On the following day armies stormed the trenches and by 2:00 PM, the
province was in American hands. General Mojica and his men fled to the interior towns and
it took a long time for the Americans to cajole every town until every revolucianario had
surrendered. Mojica and Lukban eventually yielded to American sovereignty. Captain Leon
Rojas, Sr. surrendered last. He led his men in a colorful pageant of surrender by riding on a
white horse to the spot where the Americans formally received them. When peace finally,
Rojas was designated chief of Police of Tacloban. A company of American soldiers was
placed under his command.
In February 1901, the first American military governor of Leyte, Col. Murray, assumed office.
He had only one aim in mind: gain the friendship of the people by getting their confidence.
In a gesture of sincerity, he opened Tacloban to world trade. Civic-spirited citizens
cooperated and organized a committee for peace. Don Gabriel Galza, the founder, became
its first president. Their first undertaking was to petition Governor Murray for the release of
prisoners who were in Tanauan. The governor received the petition favorably and thus
peace and order in the whole province was completely restored.
With American military rule over, Taclobanons who were trained in the art of selfgovernment took over the reins of the administration. Catalino Tarcela became the first
provincial governor. There were others who were responsible for the progress and
development of Tacloban. Among them were Lodovico Salazar, known to all as Capitan
Lodo, the first public teacher of the town (a street is named after him). Lodovico Basilio,
known as Capitan Bigong, and Capitan Martin Hidalgo. Of the womenfolk, Doa Eulalia
Rubillos, wife of Governor Vicente Diaz is remembered for having served the first Filipino
flag that fluttered in the Leyte sky when the revolutionary government was established.
On May 24, 1942, Tacloban awakened to see Japanese imperial forces in its midst. The
town offered no active resistance to their oppressive occupation. For little more than two
years, it suffered from hunger, terror and brutalities of the invaders. Despite the ugliness of
war, the people never forgot to pay homage to their Patron saint, Sr. Santo Nio, by
celebrating the town fiesta. One such big commemoration was on the fiesta of 1843, on
June 30 where an industrial and agricultural fair was held in the old Leyte park. Here, hate
and sorrows of war were forgotten so that it became one of the most remembered carnivals
the town ever held. The mayor at that time was Vicente Quintero.
Leyte was the first in the itinerary of MacArthur's return route to the Philippines. Thus, on
October 20, 1944, while the waters of Leyte Gulf were calm and clear, six battleships hit the
beaches at Cataisan Point and nearby areas. Before twilight, the Tacloban airstrip which
was the objective of the day was recaptured by the first division. The entire Cataisan
Peninsula was soon under the command of Major General Verne D. Mudge at 3:00 PM of

October 21. This day, Tacloban was liberated from the enemy. In a rousing welcome,
Filipino civilians line the streets greeting the liberators. Chewing gun, cigarettes, chocolates
and wide American smiles flowed freely - all symbolic of friendship and freedom.
On October 22, 1944, Tacloban City was safely back in American hands. On October 23,
1944, General MacArthur announced the establishment of the Philippine Civil Government
on the steps of the provincial capitol. He installed Sergio Osmea Sr. as the president in the
presence of Lt. General Walter Krueger, Lt. Gen. Richard Sutherland and Col. Ruperto
Kangleon with a guard of honor consisting of First Lt. John Gregory and 30 dirty and tired
but
efficient-looking soldiers. After the liberation, Tacloban's first appointed mayor was Paulo
Jaor. The inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines saw Epifanio Aguirre as mayor of
Tacloban.
On June 20, 1952 by virtue of Republic Act no 760, Tacloban City was born. Dr. Ildefonso
Cinco, last mayor of the Municipality of Tacloban became the first city mayor.
Tacloban City has grown from a small fishing barrio of Basey to a bustling, growing center of
commerce and industry, into probably the first most important city in Eastern Visayas.