About Manlawig, derived from Palauig

The story from the old folks as to the origin and meaning of the name Palauig comes from the Zambal dialect (sambalic language), ‘Manlawig’ meaning ‘to pasture the carabao in the grass field’. The legend explains how the name Palauig came to be. During the Spanish rule of the Philippines in Palauig, the Spanish ‘Guardia Civil’ (Civil Guard), a police force for the community, often crossed paths with native farmers while hiking or riding with their carabaos on their way to the green fields. Out of curiosity, the Guardia Civil asked where they were going. Although the natives can understand what the Guardia Civil is inquiring about, it’s not easy for them to respond in Spanish with long sentences; instead answer them in their local Zambal dialect, which can easily be expressed in short meanings and one word as ‘manlawig’, which means ‘they are going to pasture their carabao in the grass field’. As the guardia civil becomes a usual vocabulary they always hear from the natives, it becomes their understanding that ‘Manlawig’ is the name of a place in the area until they adapt to name the whole sitio with a similar sound, how they understand to overhear as ‘Palauig’ instead of ‘Manlawig’.

About Napoleon Jimenez

The Aetas, an indigenous group, first inhabited the sitio of Sto. Niño (now one of the barangays of the Municipality). The defeat of the Spanish Armada essentially marked the end of Spain’s dominance in the New World and on the seas, as overall control of the high seas was maintained well into the 17th century. After the Spanish Armada’s defeat, the so-called Manila Galleon Trade from Acapulco, Mexico, was disrupted, and one of the most critical points where these galleons stopped was Palauig, the present municipality. Napoleon Jimenez, the patron of one of the galleons, landed on an unnamed island, which later became known as the Island of San Juan. After many years, this island was underwater, and the settlers inhabited the shore that was formerly called Bitaoy. Therefore, two sitios were founded; the first was the sitio of Sto. Niño and the other was the Sitio of Bitaoy. Napoleon Jimenez married a native in one of the sitios; thus, the origin of the Municipality of Palauig. These sitios expanded to many other sitios and became the barrio of Sto. Niño, which was later taken under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Masinloc. Napoleon Jimenez, as the head of this barrio (now called ‘barangay’), was able to transfer it to the Municipality of Palauig.

About Marcelino Gregorio

In 1900, Municipal President (Mayor) Marcelino Gregorio became almost the ruler of this Municipality until the present time. The Spanish Kingdom ruled the town of Palauig as a colony for nearly 400 years. However, in 1896, the Spanish Government was defeated by the Katipuneros under Andres Bonifacio. They established a Philippine Republic under the presidency of Emilio Aguinaldo. Still, due to the intervention of the American-Cuban War, the Americans, who had anchored in Manila Bay under Commodore Dewey, took advantage of the Philippine Army under General Emilio Jacinto, not General Juan Luna. They fell under American rule for more than 60 years. The intervention of World War II led to the Japanese occupation for four years. Then they returned to the American Commonwealth and were granted our independence on July 4, 1946, under the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Bill.

About the present Palauig

Palauig was located between Iba in the South and Masinloc in the North. The climate is temperate. Currently, the municipality has 19 barangays and over 20 sitios. The dialects spoken are Zambal, followed by Ilocano for settlers from the Ilocos Region, and Tagalog for those who came from Bulacan, Cavite, and Batangas. 

The inhabitants of Palauig were Aglipay and Catholic in Religion, followed by Iglesia Ni Cristo, 7th-day Adventist, Methodist, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The date of the town fiesta celebration was April 11 to 12, but was moved to April 14 to 15 by resolution of the Municipal Council. April 12 is memorable because robbers entered Palauig coming from Iba Provincial Jail in broad daylight. The religious town fiesta is also celebrated on September 10, in honor of its Patron Saint, Nicolas. Among the most prominent social activities was the town fiesta. A pacification campaign, aimed at maintaining peace and order, was being conducted by various religious organizations. Each religious organization appointed a representative and went to all barangays as a group, explaining Bible verses to all interested listeners.

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