- Mindoro (province)
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Mindoro was a province of the Philippines from 1921 until 1950 when it was split into two provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. It is located on Mindoro island.
Contents
History
Pre-History and Indigenous Civilization
Legend has it that long before the Spaniards discovered the Philippines, Mindoro was already among the islands that enchanted pilgrims from other countries. It was said that vast wealth was buried in the area, and mystic temples of gold and images of anitos bedecked the sacred grounds of this relatively unknown land. The Spaniards even named the island Mina de Oro, believing it had large deposits of gold.
The history of Mindoro dates back before the Spanish time. Records have it that Chinese traders were known to be trading with Mindoro merchants. Trade relations with China where Mindoro was known as Mai started when certain traders from "Mai" brought valuable merchandise to Canton in 892 A.D. The geographic proximity of the island to China Sea had made possible the establishment of such relations with Chinese merchantmen long before the first Europeans came to the Philippines. Historians claimed that China-Mindoro relations must have been earlier than 892 A.D., the year when the first ship from Mindoro was recorded to have sailed for China.
Historians believed that the first inhabitants of Mindoro were the Indonesians who came to the island 8,000 to 3,000 years ago. After the Indonesians, the Malays came from Southeast Asia around 200 B.C. The Malays were believed to have extensive cultural contact with India, China and Arabia long before they settled in Philippine Archipelago.
Spanish Era
Mindoro was first discovered by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines. When Legaspi conquered Cebu in 1565, he heard of a flourishing settlement in Luzon. The search for abundant food evidently lacking in most Visayas Islands prompted the exploration leading to the discovery of this island. Captain Martin de Goiti, accompanied by Juan de Salcedo, sailed for Luzon.
On May 8, 1570, they anchored somewhere in Mindoro Coast, north of Panay. Salcedo and de Goiti had the chance to explore the western part of the island, particularly Ilin, Mamburao and Lubang. From Ilin, Salcedo sailed north of Mamburao where he found two Chinese vessels containing precious cargo of gold thread, cotton cloth, silk, gilded porcelain bowls and water jugs to be exchanged for gold with the natives of Mindoro. In 1571, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi also visited the island and brought the natives under the Spanish rule.
Evangelization
The evangelization of Mindoro started in 1572 through the Augustinians. In 1578 the Franciscans took over and ten years later the secular priests. Also in the seventeenth century did a new phase in Christianization begin for the Mangyans were likewise visited by missionaries. The Jesuits erected seven “reducciones” in 1636. It was in these settlements that Mangyans from the inaccessible forests and hills were induced to settle down and be baptized as Christians.
The Province of Mindoro
Mindoro, which was formerly integrated into the province of Bonbon (Batangas) together with Marinduque, was made a separate province in the beginning of the seventeenth century. The island was divided into pueblos headed by gobernadorcillo and composed of several barangays headed by cabeza de barangay. A place now called Bayanan in present-day Minolo in Puerto Galera became the first provincial capital, then Baco and finally Calapan which was founded in 1679 as a result of conflict between the Recollect priests and the Provincial Governor.
The Spanish Government
In 1801, the Spanish authorities started a program of re-populating Mindoro but such attempts failed since the people were afraid to migrate to the province. Those who were eventually sent to Mindoro still returned to their homes after several years.
It was only in the second half of the 19th century that the island's population started to increase due to demographic pressure in the main settlement centers. This resulted in the founding of new administrative units. The number of pueblos increased and education expanded. However, the number of teachers available was limited such that very few were able to read and write and speak Spanish. These people formed the small native upper class in the province.
In terms of trade and agriculture, change came very slowly to Mindoro. In 1870, only minor quantities of crops were shipped out to Batangas due to neglected agricultural development.
The coal mines between Bulalacao and Semirara Island were discovered in 1879. In 1898, the Spanish colonial government granted titles for nine coal mines but exploitation in large quantities never took place.
When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1898, Mindoreños rallied to overthrow the Spanish Government in the province; although the uprising predominantly originated from outside the island as planned, organized and triggered off by the Caviteños and Batangueños. This was not for social changes but an anti-colonial war to gain independence. However, their victory was short lived because the events that followed marked the beginning of the American Regime in the Philippines.
The American Period
The victory of Admiral Dewey over the Spaniards in Manila on August 13, 1898 brought about general changes in Mindoro. A general primary school system with English as the language of instruction was established. Calapan port was opened to inter-island commerce. The U.S. Army Signal Corps connecting Calapan and Batangas installed a series of military cables. Land telegraph for public use was also installed in Calapan and Naujan. With the construction of provincial road along the east coast, the most important towns of the province were connected with one another. Free trade was established between the U.S.A. and the Philippines that brought about significant changes in the economy of Mindoro. Infrastructure and economic measures were adopted which induced massive wave of migration to the island.
Changes in the affairs of the local government also took effect in the island. Mindoro was made a sub-province of Marinduque on June 23, 1902 by virtue of Act No. 423 of the Philippine Commission. On November 10, 1902, Act No. 500 separated Mindoro from its mother province, thereby organizing its provincial government. The same Act provided further that "the province shall consist the main island and the smaller islands adjacent thereof, including the islands of Lubang, Caluya and Semirara. Puerto Galera was made the seat of government, with Captain R.C. Offley as the first civil governor. In 1907, the province was allowed to elect its first delegate in the person of Don Mariano Adriatico. Mindoro was finally declared a regular province in 1921.
In the years following the invasion of Mindoro by the United States Forces, there had been a considerable increase in population due to the pouring into the highly underpopulated island of a massive influx of new settlers. For the first time, the development and cultivation of the island's interior was made possible. The structure of society and the distribution of landholdings were likewise altered. The minority policy of the Americans was adopted, uplifting the Mangyans to the Filipino majority's level of civilization through special educational regulation and separate settlements.
World War II
When the Japanese invaded the Philippines during the late 1941 and early 1942, Mindoro was easily taken by the invaders.
Further information: Battle of MindoroOn December 15, 1944, the invasion of Mindoro began. The clear weather allowed the full use of American air and naval power, including six escort carriers, three battleships, six cruisers and many other support warships against light Japanese resistance. Because of inadequate airstrip facilities in Leyte, the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team came ashore in Mangarin Bay with the landing force instead of jumping. Destroyers provided fire support for the troop landings and anti-aircraft protection for the ships in the transport area. Two LSTs struck by kamikazes were abandoned and sank.
During the First Battle, local Filipino ground forces under the Philippine Commonwealth Army 4th, 5th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary was sending the combat operations in the island province of Mindoro and aided the local guerrillas, the U.S. and Australian ground forces to fought the defeated against the Imperial Japanese troops.
After the battle, the defending Japanese forces on Mindoro suffered some 200 killed and 375 wounded. The survivors fled into the jungles, where they lurked till the end of the war. The U.S. Army 24th Infantry Division lost 18 men and had 81 wounded. The Philippine Commonwealth Army 4th, 5th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 4th Infantry Regiment lost 27,400 killed and had 65,000 wounded.
Second Battle of Mindoro
The aftermath of the First Battle of Mindoro on December 1944 from the victorious by the Allied troops and guerrillas in Mindoro and through the recapturing again by the Imperial Japanese military forces was taken and came back in Mindoro on December 1944 and they started the Second Battle of Mindoro on January to August 1945 between the local Philippine Commonwealth military forces and recognized guerrilla groups against the Japanese in Mindoro.
Further information: Battle of Mindoro (1945)Second Battle of Mindoro Part of World War II, the 1944-1945 Philippines Campaign and Pacific War Date January to August 1945 Location Mindoro Island, the Philippines Result Allied Victory Belligerents 
Philippine Commonwealth
- Philippine Commonwealth Army
- Philippine Constabulary
- Local Mindoro Guerrilla Resistance
Australian Army- Royal Australia Navy
- Royal Australian Air Force
Empire of Japan
Strength 125,000 Filipino troops
24,000 local guerrillas
35,000 American and Australian troops346,000 Japanese troops Casualties and losses 34,000 Filipino troops and guerrillas killed and wounded in action
27,000 American and Australian trooops killed and wounded in action253,000 Japanese troops killed, wounded and captured in action Started the Second Battle of Mindoro on January to August 1945, local military forces of Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army 4th, 5th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 4th Infantry Regiment was they recaptured and liberated the island province of Mindoro and aided the local guerrilla groups and defeated to fought against the Imperial Japanese troops.
The aftermath of the First Battle of Mindoro on December 1944 by the successfully from the Allied ground forces and guerrillas against the Japanese. The Japanese Imperial forces was they recaptured again and came back to returning in the island province of Mindoro on December 1944 after the post-first battle by the successfully to the Allies. Start the Second Battle of Mindoro on 1945 between the Filipino and Japanese ground troops.
The military re-built and founding of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary was found active on 1942 to 1946 at the general headquarters in the island province of Mindoro was begins the engagements of the Imperial Japanese military counter insurgencies and operations on 1942 to 1945 before the First Battle on December 1944 and the Second Battle on January to August 1945 and helping the local guerrilla groups against the Japanese.
On January 1945, local Filipino troops and officers under the 4th, 5th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was entering the invading recaptured and they landing beaches was around in the island province of Mindoro and aided the local guerrilla resistance fighters in the defeated and fought against the Imperial Japanese armed forces. The U.S. and Australian military forces continues and helping the local Filipino military forces under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units including the local recognized guerrillas in Mindoro was beginning the main battles and invasion commands.
The combined local and Allied military and guerrilla sieges, invasions and raid of the general headquarters of the Imperial Japanese armed forces around the province of Mindoro was inside the GHQ camps of the Japanese soldiers through invaded and attacking by the combined Allied and Philippine Commonwealth troops including the local recognized guerrilla groups captured and entering the Japanese GHQ camps after the main battle and invading commands.
After the Allied siege and invasion of the Japanese military GHQ camps in Mindoro, The joint and combined military forces of the Philippine Commonwealth, United States and Australia including the local recognized guerrillas was they captured and re-taken of the Japanese military GHQ camps in Mindoro and they surrendering Japanese Imperial forces. The inside of the capturing Japanese GHQ camps of all combined Filipino and Allied military forces with the local guerrilla groups was poled the rising flags was down of the Japanese flag of the Imperial Japanese military through the up the Philippine war flag of the Philippine Commonwealth military and the American and Australian flags of the United States and Australian military after the fighting the battle commands.
The aftermath of the Second Battle of Mindoro on August 1945, the joint and combined Allied military and guerrilla resistance casualties during the fighting and succeeding battles includes over 34,000 Filipino troops and local guerrillas killed and wounded in action, 27,000 American and Australian troops killed and wounded in action and over the part of 253,000 Japanese Imperial forces killed, wounded and captured in action.
The joint and combined military forces of all Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary, the American troops under the United States Army, United States Navy and the United States Army Air Forces and the Australian troops of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force are saluted on their successful victories after the invasion and battles as they captured the island province of Mindoro after the Second World War.
Division
On June 13, 1950, by virtue of Republic Act no. 505, Mindoro was divided into Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.
See also
Categories:- Former provinces of the Philippines
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