11/11/09

ZAMORAS VENTURED FARTHER SOUTH


Historical Background. When the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898, through the Treaty of Paris, much of the provinces and their boundaries as established by the Spaniards remained the same for about 15 more years. A wider portion of Mindanao covering Davao, Cotabato, Lanao, Zamboanga and Sulu was just one provincial unit, the Provincia Mora, wherein Zamboanga was the capital. Dipolog was still part of Dapitan town which once belonged to Provincia Misamis. In 1913, the Americans reorganized the territorial divisions in Mindanao into smaller provinces namely, Zamboanga, Misamis, Lanao, Cotabato, Davao, Agusan (subprovince of Davao), Malaybalay (now Bukidnon), Surigao, Butuan (subprovince of Surigao) and Sulu. The new Zamboanga province for the Peninsula established Zamboanga as the capital. It was also in 1913 when Dapitan was transferred from Misamis to Zamboanga Province, and at the same time split Dipolog from Dapitan as a separate town. On the southern side, Pagadian remained as just a seaport of Labangan municipality until 1940. The road network of the Zamboanga province was then just a dream plan. Due to limited roads, sea transport was the dominant mode of travel. For instance to reach Zamboanga from Dipolog, one should take land transport from Dipolog to Pagadian, then ferry from Pagadian to Zamboanga.

Francisco "Kikoy" Zamoras Martinez Sr [Roman → Rufina → Francisco] happened to venture his way to Labangan (a major town in the south) in the 1930s. According to his son Francisco “Paquito” Lacaya Martinez Jr, he started as a messenger at the treasurer’s office in Labangan but eventually became the municipal treasurer from 1934 up to 1937. Pagadian flourished as seaport and drop off point to Zamboanga and Cotabato, and then it separated from Labangan by 1940 when it gained a municipal status. Francisco immediately was given his assignment as the first municipal treasurer in Pagadian. With such key position in a fast growing community, he established connection with the both local and influential people, and gradually acquired lands piece by piece while they were still very cheap.

World War 2 soon followed and the Imperial Japanese army took over the local government, but Francisco remained as the official municipal treasurer from 1940-1946. During the early period of the WW2, Japanese soldiers infiltrated Pagadian, disguised as photographers and as vendors but soon revealed themselves as high-ranking lieutenants when the Japanese declared war in Asia-Pacific. The municipal officials of Pagadian were arrested by the Japanese army, but Francisco evaded them and fled to Aurora instead. The Japs accordingly detained those officials aboard the Japanese ship, but without the treasurer. The Japs threatened of executing the captured officials should any Japanese soldier get killed by local people in Pagadian. Luckily no Japs were killed; their lives were spared.

While freely mobile outside Pagadian during the war, Francisco accumulated tracts of land in Tambulig and elsewhere which he managed to cultivate (through tenants) that later gave him much wealth. He invited his cousins particularly the Zamoras brothers Jorge and Vicente [Roman→ Pedro→ Jorge & Vicente] from Dipolog to resettle in Tambulig and work as farmer or carpenter. Both migrated to Tambulig with their respective families. Sadly though, Vicente Zamoras, his wife Angelina and all their children perished through the periodic malaria outbreak (which was poorly diagnosed at that time) in isolated part of Tambulig around 1944-46. The family of Jorge was fortunately spared from the epidemic. After the war, in 1946 the then-wealthier Francisco returned to Dipolog and became the municipal treasurer for 6 years. With such position he enjoyed much influence and became one of the key socialites in the community of Dipolog.

On June 6, 1952, during the term of President Elpidio Quirino, Zamboanga province was divided into Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Dipolog and Pagadian became the respective capitals of the new provinces while Zamboanga evolved as a chartered city and as the regional center. Consequently, new job opportunities were opened in both new provincial capitals. Francisco was reassigned as provincial treasurer in Pagadian in 1952. As new job opportunities awaited in Pagadian through Francisco, more Zamoras relatives ventured in Pagadian including Crisostomo and later Estanislao [Silverio→ Venancio→ Baldomiro→ Crisostomo & Estanislao], then also Matilde Zamoras [Roman→ Rufina→ Marcelo→ Matilde] and the family of Jorge and Petronilla.

Photo above shows Dipolog fellows during the Baptismal party of baby Elicia Zamoras at Martinez residence in Pagadian on June 2, 1955. (In the photo are Francisco "Kikoy"Martinez his wife Jacoba, son "Paquito", mother Rufina, and nephews Jose Zamoras, Crisos Zamoras. Complete details to follow...)




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