A Brief History of La Trinidad

In former days there was a large, marshy lake in the middle of the beautiful and fertile valley of La Trinidad. A hard lodge of rock at the lower end kept the water from running out; so that during typhoons, the water backed up as far as what is now Km. 5., so the people named the place Bunguit *signifying a lake where the water can’t run out.

The primitive inhabitants which are the Indonesians probably arrived here more than 25,000 years ago, when there was a more or less complete land passage from Asia to the Philippines, due to the seawater being used up in the ice during the glacial periods. The early settlers were joined later by various immigrants who amalgamated into the Ibaloi tribe.

These people were industrious and prosperous. When the Spanish explorer, Don Quirante, arrived in 1624, to search for gold, he reported that there were 800 cogon thatch-roofed houses standing on the low hills surrounding the lake. On that expedition, Quirante reached the Antamok area.

He was hospitably received and a great feast was made for him. The natives had been for centuries mining gold from Antamok, Acupan, Tablo, Suyoc, etc. and trading it with the Ilocanos.

For over 200 years the Spanish government governed this “Igorottes”, mountain people loosely from the lowland headquarters at Agoo. Their mountain province was called the “Commandancia Politico Generalde Igorottes”.

The Spanish were much interested in the conversion to Christianity of the “heathen” Igorots; and sometimes made headway. Around 1755, while Don Arandia was Governor General of the Philippines, the Augustinian friars became especially active. Six leading Igorots, apparently in the hopes of getting back their confiscated gold and obtaining other redresses, agreed to be baptized. They were taken to Manila and there, in Tondo Church, they were baptized during a big celebration. Afterward, the Governor General kissed the hands of the new Christian Igorots.

Hundreds of other Igorots came down from the mountains and were baptized at Agoo. They asked for a priest and Padre Vivar was send. He built a Mission at Tangdo (near what is now Tuba).

On October 16, 1775, Padre Vivar came to La Trinidad and the next day said mass where the people had set up a cross. They told the padre about the cross which, they said; God had sculptured for them on the rock at Karus (now Cruz). However, the padre fell into difficulties. The people obligingly allowed themselves to be baptized; but they, of course refused, to abandon their canao form of worship.

Padre Vivar was enthusiastic over Trinidad Valley. He wrote that there were some 200 houses scattered around the low hills and that the lake was full of eels and water fowl. The principal food of the people was camote with some gabi, camoteng kahoy, and beans. They raised rice only to make tapuy (rice wine), to be drunk at their canaos. There were plenty of pigs and chicken; while on the rolling hills and mountains, there were innumerable cattle. Life was good. The Igorots had many Ilocano slaves, obtained through barter and forays. They raised large quantities of tobacco which they traded in the lowlands. This nearly broke the lucrative Spanish monopoly on tobacco.

In order to stop these things and also to put the Igorots under tribute, Governor General Arandia ordered the Alcalde Mayor of Pangasinan, Don Manuel Avha de Unitis, to lead a punitive expedition against the Igorots. After considerable difficulty, the Mayor finally gathered 1,365 men and after several setbacks, was able to accomplish his mission. He burned 35 ranches. He had been very ably and bravely opposed by Kidit (an ancestor of Baguio’s Mayor Carino), who gathered hundreds of men and first defeated the Spanish near Asin; but on March 16, 1759, was overwhelmed at Lumbang and Boa. This punitive expedition did not result in improving the Spaniard’s position; but it paralyzed all mission work.

The Ibaloi were finally pacified by Commandante Don Guillermo Galvey, who first came to La Trinidad in January 1829 with two officers, 59 men, and 200 carriers. The inhabitants opposed him with their spears, bows and arrows; but he shot some, made others prisoners, and burnt 180 houses. After several other expeditions, in which Don Galvey adopted the kindly policy of attraction and gave them gifts, he established the province of Benguet in 1846. There were 30 ranches with the capital at La Trinidad. The first Kapitan of Benguet was Publito of Kafagway (now Baguio), a minor ranch which had only 20 houses.

The names of Spanish Commandantes Politico Militar were: Don Guillermo Galvey, Sorra, Oay, Bellows, Oran, Vicente Villena, Cesario Martinez, Guillermo Lanza, Eduardo White, Eduardo Cereseda and Antonio Bejar. They built trails, started schools and churches. Arenas propagated and had an extensive coffee industry. Some of these commandantes were kind; but the general picture is one of forced labor, beatings, cruelties, exorbitant taxation, confiscatory “gifts”, and incipient revolts.

The general insurrection of 1896 against the Spaniards spread to Benguet. So at the end of July 1899, Commandante Bejar and his companions left the capital and retreated to Bontoc. The Katipunan came, gathered the Igorots, looted and burned Spanish government buildings, and set up the Philippines Republican government (at Puguis) with Ora (Juan) Carino as Governor of Benguet. Miguel Picarte was President of La Trinidad.

Early in 1900, the Americans were coming. So Juan Carino and his officials retired to the Agno River, where at Daclan, Bocod in May 1900, they surrendered to Capt. Robert R. Rudd, infantry, U.S.V.

Captain Rudd established his headquarters in the old convent (across the road from the Catholic Church). Clement Valdos was made Presidente of La Trinidad. In 1901, H.P. Whitmarsh was appointed the civil governor of Benguet and the capital was moved to Baguio, Clemente Laoyan was appointed the Municipal President of La Trinidad.

The rest of the story is that of modern development within the memory of many. The Agricultural School was established in 1916 with Donato Carino as acting superintendent. He resigned in Juna and James A. Wright took his place. Wright had a great deal to do with putting the school on its present splendid status. The Bureau of Public Works blasted out the bed of the Badili (now Balili) River, and dug canals to drain the old lake. Year and year, except for the Japanese Occupation, brought about constant improvements.