Not so long ago, or exactly 118 years past, Palawan and the islands within its territory was still known as Paragua, when the provincial government was established during the US Occupation in the Philippines.
It was on June 23, 1902, when the Americans established the Civil Government of Paragua (Palawan) with Major John Brown as the first appointed Governor.
“The island of Palawan was occupied by one of the early expeditions sent from Manila to take possession of the islands. On February 15, 1902, the only military stations were at Alfonso (Alphonso) XIII, on the bay of Tagbayug, on the west coast and Puerto Princesa, on the east coast, of the Moro portion of Palawan, to which civil government was not extended under the provincial government act. On that date, there were no military stations within that part which is now the province of Paragua (Palawan),” excerpts from a historical document from the Elihu Root collections of United States documents during the US occupation in the Philippines.
The historical documents said that a large part of the island was included in the newly-formed civil government.
“Under the Act of June 23, 1902, provincial government was extended to that portion of the island of Palawan (Paragua) N of the 10th parallel of N. latitude and to the small island adjacent thereto including Dumaran and islands forming the Calamianes and the Cuyos group, under the name Paragua,” it said.
During the US occupation, the provincial governor received $1,600, $1500 for the secretary -treasurer, while the supervisor received $1200, and $1000 for the fiscal.
These officers are appointed by the American Civil Governor of the Philippines, with the advice and consent of the United States Government. Among the requirements under the act, the provincial secretary-treasurer is required to be able to read and write the Spanish language and after January 1906, the English language also.
In Paragua (Palawan) the offices of the officers are established in the municipality of Cuyo, Cuyo Island in 1902.
Cuyo’s role as the capital of the civil government in 1902 was short-lived since the capital was transferred to Puerto Princesa in the following year 1903.
Many reforms and projects were later introduced in the province like the construction of school buildings, promotion of agriculture, and bringing people closer to the government were among the priority plans during this era.
A year after the establishment of civil government in Paragua (Palawan), or in 1903, pursuant to Act No. 1363 of the Philippine Commission, changed the name of the Paragua to Palawan and the capital was transferred from Cuyo to Puerto Princesa.
Prior to the establishment of Palawan civil government, or during Spanish era in 1818, practically all the territories, which now belong to Palawan, where known as the Province of Calamianes, with Taytay as its capital. In 1858, Calamianes was divided into two provinces, known as Castilla and Asturias. Castilla comprised the Calamianes group and the adjacent islands, and the northern portion of Paragua- with Taytay as its capital. Asturias included the rest of Paragua together with the island of Balabac, which early that year was made into a politico-military province with the name of Principe Alfonso. Its capital was Puerto Princesa.
In 1873 however, the capital was transferred from Taytay to Cuyo.
At the end of the Spanish rule, Palawan was divided into three politico-military districts—known as Calamianes, Paragua, and Balabac.
It was only in 2009, or 11 years ago, when then-President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, signed the Republic Act 9748, declaring the 23rd of June of every year a special non-working public holiday in the entire Province of Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa.
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