Calatrava, Romblon

Early history

Calatrava, once a barrio in the town of San Agustin (then called Badajoz) in Tablas Island. During pre-Spanish period, the place was called "Andagao", named after a medicinal plant growing in abundance everywhere in the locality especially in places along the shore.

Around 1810, the first settlers in Andagao migrated from Banton and Romblon islands, as well as in central parts of Tablas Island, in search of lands more suitable for agriculture. The Simaranhons, Sibalenhons and Bantoanons were the first settlers of the municipality and joined later by migrants from Odiongan of which, like them, spoke Asi. Today, this group of people made up the great portion of its residents, while the northern barangays of Linao, Pangulo and Talisay have significant Romblomanon residents. Onhan settlers originally from central Tablas decided to settle in the southern barangay of Balogo.

Around 1838, Andagao was organized into a fundacion (settlement) attached to visita (village) of Odiongan under the pueblo of Banton by the Spanish colonial authorities. The following year, a Spanish friar named Padre Jose Aznar from the parish of Banton visited the place and planned the construction of its first Roman Catholic church made of wood and limestone. Eleuterio Asuncion, the barrio's cabeza de barangay spearheaded its construction. After the church was completed, Andagao immediately progressed and developed. In 1850, people started using family names beginning with letter "F" as decreed by Spanish Governor-General Narciso Claveria issued on 21 November 1848.

In 1853, after the creation of the District of Romblon, 17 new towns were created which included Andagao. This was Calatrava’s first proclamation as a municipality. However, when the District of Romblon was elevated into a full-pledge province a total of 15 towns were abolished, including Andagao. On 11 January 1868, Romblon became a fully pledged province and Andagao reverted to its former status as a visita and it was annexed to the town of Guintiguian (renamed Badajoz on August 28, 1868, now San Agustin).

On 14 June 1881, Andagao was renamed Calatrava during the term of the controversial military governor of Romblon, Don Jose Fernandez de Terran (1880–1883), after the Military Order of Calatrava, which was founded by the Cistercian monk St. Raymond of Fitero and tasked to defend the castle of Calatrava and other crucial towns and cities in the Andalucian region from invasions and attacks from the Moors.

Modern history

Calatrava remained part of Badajoz municipality throughout the American colonial period until 4 June 1940, when Commonwealth Act No. 581 (authored by Congressman Leonardo Festin) was passed and created the special municipality of Tablas, with its seat at Odiongan. The town of Badajoz became part of the new municipality and was represented with one special municipal councilor at the municipal council in Odiongan. Calatrava, being a barrio of Badajoz then, was not represented. On 4 June 1943, during the Second World War, the special municipality of Calatrava was created upon the sponsorship of the guerrilla movement regime under the Revolutionary Republic of the Philippines. Its first and only mayor then was Benito Famini, Sr. who served up to the liberation period. This was Calatrava's second proclamation as a municipality.

On 1 October 1946 Commonwealth Act No. 581 was repealed through the passage of Republic Act No. 38 sponsored by Congressman Modesto Formilleza. Badajoz regained back its independent municipal status and Calatrava was annexed back to Badajoz municipality as a barrio. The same year, a three-man delegation composed of Pablo Fetalino, Lauriano Falcutila, Sr. and Jose Capa from Calatrava went to Manila to lobby for a bill in Congress that will establish Calatrava as an independent municipality but it didn't push through.

On 15 June 1968, through the sponsorship Congressman Jose Moreno, Republic Act No. 5317 was drafted and approved which finally established Calatrava as an independent municipality. Thus Calatrava became Romblon's 15th independent constituency under the category of municipal-district. This was Calatrava's third proclamation as a municipality.

Former names and territorial changes

Separate district from Capiz*
As fully pledged politico-military province**
Province established by US civilian government***

Geography

Calatrava is situated along the northern coastal plains and rugged terrain of Tablas Island. It is bounded on the north by Tablas Strait, on the east by municipality of San Agustin, on the south and west by the municipality of San Andres. The municipality has a total land area of 8,670 hectares (21,400 acres) constituting 6.39% of Romblon's land area.

Barangays

Calatrava is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.

Demographics

According to the 2015 census, Calatrava has a population of 10,275 people. Asi is the native language of Barangay Poblacion, Pagsangahan and San Roque, while both Asi and Ini are used in Barangay Talisay, Linao and Pangulo. Onhan is used by majority of Barangay Balogo's inhabitants, however in some of its sitios, both Asi and Ini are also being used regularly by its native residents.

Local government

Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, the municipal government is composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice-mayor (bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Bayan alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.

The first mayor of an independent Calatrava was Benito Famini, Sr. who served up to the liberation of the Philippines. The incumbent mayor and vice mayor for the 2013-2016 term are Robert Fabella and Berlito Fajel, Jr. respectively.