The Town of Sikatuna
Part 2
(Editor’s Note: This page is prepared by Atty. Nilo G. Ahat. He said, “Nothing exciting or amazing about my blog. Initially I thought it would just be a repository of my legal research materials. But little did I realize how it became a note of all sorts.”)
This double whammy experience of Clemente Lacea made him think of shifting gear to the alternative plan of creating the Paroquia de San Antonio de Padua. Thus, as suggested by his friends, Clemente Lacea wrote a letter to the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Cebu for guidance how to go about the creation of a Parish or at least a Church for common worship area. However, the response of the Bishop of Cebu that came out later, favors the creation of a town first before building a church. As a matter of strict conditionality, a Church can be built only after creating a Town complete with a Town Hall, a School, and Market. That pronouncement of the Bishop of the Diocese of Cebu, was something that spiced up the dampened zeal of Clemente Lacea and the enthusiasm of the people of Cornago. This made them all the more focused on their desire to convert Cornago into a town first and a parish later.
From then on, both civic and religious groups of Barrio Cornago were unanimous in pushing Clemente Lacea to seek the assistance of Atty. Jose Aniceto Butalid Clarin (Representative of the Second District of Bohol in the Philippine Legislature), for advice and guidance in their endeavors of establishing a new town. The good bachelor lawyer in turn readily lent his services. Atty. Jose Clarin happily guided and taught them how to establish a new town.
The Final Draft of the Proposed Town of Sikatuna was formally submitted by Atty. Jose A. Clarin to the new Governor – General Francis Burton Harrision on 27 December 1914. At the same time a copy was also sent to the Bishop of the Diocese of Cebu for the intended creation of the Parish of San Antonio de Padua. In the said final draft, the proposed territory of Sikatuna was formed by merging adjoining sitios in order to make out the seven (7) component barrios of the Proposed Town of Sikatuna, described, to wit :
1. Sitio Abucay of Barrio Cornago, Sitio Sambog of Barrio Cornago and Sito Tinghoyan of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Abucay;
2. Sitio Buntud Dacu of Barrio Badiang, Sitio Badiang of Barrio Cornago, Sitio Lahug of Barrio Cornago and Sitio Maglihi of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Badiang;
3. Sitio Canagong of Barrio Cornago, Sitio Cogon of Barrio Cornago and Sitio Odtohan of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Can-agong;
4. Barrio Cambuac of Loboc, Sitio Baliti of Barrio Cornago and Sitio Pangkaanan of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Cambuac;
5. Sitio Calobijan of Barrio Cornago, Sitio Jalasan of Barrio Cornago and Sitio Libjo of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Libjo;
6. Sitio Cambuyod of Barrio Cornago, Sitio Gabon of Barrio Cornago and Sitio Bahaybahay, the new name of Sitio Bajinay of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Bahaybahay;
7. Sitio Basac of Barrio Cornago and Sitio Tiguib of Barrio Cornago were formed as Barrio Cornago, and designated as the center of governance of the town of Sikatuna.
Meanwhile, on 13 June 1915, while waiting for the action of the Governor-General on the creation of the Proposed Town of Sikatuna, Miguel Oppus who already assumed higher office as Provincial Board Member, endorsed Clemente Lacea to run for the post of Municipal President (Mayor) of Alburquerque against the incumbent Julian Ugdoracion in the forthcoming general elections. This was allegedly advised by Miguel Oppus in order to eliminate Julian Ugdoracion’s opposition, and to attune Clemente Lacea to the rigors of a political office. And true to the proven political mettle of Miguel Oppus, his endorsement of Clemente Lacea, catapulted the latter to the much coveted seat of Municipal President of Alburquerque. Clemente Lacea’s assumption to the post on 15 January 1916 paved the way for the smooth realization of the dreamed Town of Sikatuna. (to be continued)
