San Andres, Catanduanes
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San Andres Calolbon |
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|---|---|
| Municipality | |
| Motto: Calolbon Mahalon. Lalong Pauswagon! | |
 Map of Catanduanes with San Andres highlighted |
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.svg)
 San Andres
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| Coordinates: 13°36′N 124°06′E / 13.6°N 124.1°ECoordinates: 13°36′N 124°06′E / 13.6°N 124.1°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Bicol (Region V) |
| Province | Catanduanes |
| District | Lone district |
| Founded | Year 1853 |
| Barangays | 38 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (Executive) | Peter C. Cua |
| Area | |
| • Total | 167.31 km2 (64.60 sq mi) |
| Population (2015 census) | |
| • Total | 36,779 |
| • Density | 220/km2 (570/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 4810 |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)52 |
| Website | www |
San Andres is a third class municipality on the island of and in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 36,779 people.
The town's first leader on record was Juan Gazang who served for eight years between 1798 and 1806, with the exception of three other capitans- Cristobal (1806), Felix Santelices (1835–1842) and Teodoro Santelices (1843–1847) -the rest served two terms. The last captain was Alipio Vargas (1899–1900).
The American Era started with a controversial municipal president, Deogracias Belmonte (1901–1903). He was branded as pro-American by the insurrectos headed by Comandante Florencio Eras. Belmonte was almost beheaded on December 8, 1899 in the cemetery of Pandan, Catandauens. However, the father of then Senator Jose O. Vera saved him from execution.
The term "Municipal President" for town heads was last used by Roberto Iñigo (1931–1935).
During the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the town head of Calolbon was Emiliano Surban (1935–1937) who was the first to assume the title of "Municipal Mayor".
Felizardo Santelices (1944–1946) was appointed mayor of Calolbon by President Jose P. Laurel. During the Japanese Invasion, Mayor Santelices experienced what could well be called the most brutal eventuality ever noted for a public servant of the province. It all began in the afternoon of October 5, 1944, when a Japanese tora-tora plane was forced to land on a rice field near the town center. Santelices conducted an inquiry, and although his first urge was to kill the pilot, he sent him instead to the Japanese headquarters in Virac, the capital of Catanduanes, to avoid potential disaster. He knew that Philippine troops and recognized guerrillas would have killed the pilot themselves, and the Japanese reprisal for that act would have been a merciless burning of the poblacion and a massacre of innocent civilians.
The Japanese thanked Santelices for returning the pilot, but the Philippine Commonwealth troops and the recognized guerrillas, accusing him of being pro-Japanese, had the mayor arrested and brought to trial. He was convicted and sentenced to die and be buried with another Japanese pilot who made a forced landing in the province of Camarines Sur. The condemned Japanese aviator was decapitated first, and Santelices was then placed on the execution block. Seconds before the sword was lowered, the wife of the slayer cried out: "Save him...save him... save him! he is an innocent man!" So, Santelices was freed. The woman's name was Felicidad Garcia. Few years after the war, she visited him in Calolbon. Mr. Santelices and Mrs. Garcia didn't knew each other during the war years. But during those times of trials, Mayor Santelices always prayed the Holy Rosary. Up until his death, he was a devotee of Our Lady of Penafrancia.
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Wikipedia