Distrito de La Infanta

Distrito de La Infanta was a politico-military district established during the late Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. Created in 1858, it was situated at the eastern coast of Luzon. It covered a portion of what was known as 'contracosta'—the pueblo of Binangonan de Lampon, and the islands of Polillo. The capital of the Distrito de La Infanta was located in Binangonan de Lampon, where the 'Politico-Militar Comandante' resided and exercised authority over the entire district. All of the area that was formerly part of Distrito de La Infanta are now part of the Province of Quezon.

Background

On May 23, 1855, the alcalde mayor of Nueva Ecija wrote to the Gobernador General of the Philippines, proposing the division of the towns of contracosta to their respective provinces. He cited the considerable distances of these towns from their provincial capitals, which made it difficult for government authorities to effectively administer and promote development in the area.
Subsequently, on March 18, 1858, the Superior Government, under the direction of Governor-General Fernando de Norzagaray, issued a decree creating two military commandancies in the eastern Luzon. The first commandancy, El Príncipe, was carved out of territory that formerly belonged to Nueva Ecija. The second, La Infanta, was organized within the jurisdiction of La Laguna.
Further administrative clarification came on July 2, 1858, with an agreement proposing to grant judicial powers to the leaders of both El Príncipe and La Infanta. This agreement was officially sanctioned by a higher decree on July 23, 1858. Felix Huerta's book Estado, refers to the creation of the district as having taken place in 1856.

Description

According to the Estado geográfico, topográfico, estadístico, histórico, the District of Infanta occupies an estimated area of 1,900 square kilometers, encompassing within its jurisdiction the Polillo Archipelago, consisting of twenty-six islands. Though separated from the mainland district by a distance of approximately twenty-four miles, these islands are administratively attached to it.
The district is bounded as follows: to the north, by Nueva Ecija; to the east, by the Pacific Ocean; to the south, by the province of Laguna; and to the west, by both Laguna and Bulacan.
The population, at the time of reporting, does not exceed 9,000 inhabitants. Of these, approximately 8,700 are Tagalogs, while the remainder are Dumagat Negritos, indigenous peoples who inhabit the mountainous interior regions, particularly in the environs of Binangonan de Lampon. The Banatangan mountain range, running from west to south, forms a formidable natural barrier between Infanta and its neighboring provinces. The range is characterized by steep precipices, torrential ravines, and a complete lack of developed infrastructure. As of the date of the report, there exists no road worthy of the name. The only passage is a treacherous and rugged trail traversing deep ravines and fast-flowing rivers—some over twenty fathoms deep—making communication with the town of Siniloan extremely difficult and perilous.
Economically, the primary agricultural product of the district is palay, while its principal industry is the distillation of nipa wine. On Polillo Island, there is limited timber exploitation, along with a more significant trade in balate and beeswax, both of which are found in relative abundance.
The capital of the district is Binangonan de Lampon, located approximately three kilometers inland from the coast. Here lies Puerto Real, a port of historical significance that, during the 16th century, was highly esteemed by Spanish galleons as one of the finest harbors for trans-Pacific communication with New Spain. Binangonan de Lampon and the town of Polillo, located on the island of the same name, are the only notable settlements within this modest yet strategically situated province.

Development

According to an article published in El Estado on July 12, 1859—, as well as reports from various newspapers of the time, the district capital, the town of Binangonan de Lampon, had undergone a complete transformation. What was once a disordered and forest-like settlement had been thoroughly renovated and systematically arranged to resemble a proper colonial town.
The streets, formerly irregular and overgrown, were neatly aligned, following a deliberate urban plan. Each plot of land was enclosed with elegant hedges made of mangrove wood, all constructed in uniformity according to an established model.
Significant improvements in local infrastructure were also noted. Sturdy wooden bridges had been erected to replace the former makeshift crossings made merely of coconut or palm trunks, greatly enhancing both accessibility and safety.
In the vicinity of Puerto Real de Lampon, extensive works were also carried out. These included land clearing, the systematic spacing of terrain, and the extraction of stone from nearby quarries as part of the Spanish colonial government's commitment to developing the eastern frontier of Luzon.

List of District Politico-Militar Comandante

No.	Image	Comandante	Year
1		Francisco Guido y Perez	1858 - 1861
2		Rafael Ripoll y Marquesta	1861 -
3		Antonio Garcia y Ferriz	1868 - 1870
4		Carlos Gonzales Rodriguez	1870 -
5		Manuel Lopez	1875 -
6		Antonio Seco y Velarde	1877 - 1882
7		Jose Nunez y Nunez	1882 - 1884
8		Juan Sierra	1884 - 1887
9		Eduardo Lopez	1887 - 1888
10		Jose Ramirez de Alba	1888 - 1889
11		Salvador Cayuela Diaz	1891
12		Jose Martinez Pedreira	1891 - 1892
13		Juan Tiscar y Croquer	1892
14		Jose del Pozo Morales	1892-1893
15		Miguel Clavito	1894
16		Pedro Miras Trias	1895
17		Rafael Luna Modelo	1896 - 1897
18		Ildefonso Parras Sarradel	1897 - 1898

Under Revolutionary Government and First Philippine Republic

Philippine Revolution

The Philippine Revolution, which erupted in August 1896, quickly spread beyond the central provinces of Luzon. By September 1896, signs of unrest had already reached the Distrito de La Infanta. During that month, Rafael Luna, the District Politico-Militar Comandante, issued a public announcement indicating concern over the presence of revolutionary activity in the area.
On July 4, 1898, in the town of Polillo, Filipino revolutionaries apprehended Father Félix Pinto, a Spanish priest, along with his coadjutor, Father Anastasio Gutiérrez. Later that month, on July 20, Pinto and Gutiérrez were taken to the district capital of Binangonan de Lampon. There, they were detained alongside other Spanish captives, notably Father Félix Ángel, and Father Eduardo de la Torre. Additionally, members of the Spanish regiment stationed in the district were also held in custody.
Based on narrative of parish priest of Binangonan de Lampon at that time, Fr. Felix Angel, a teacher from Anoling reveals to him about the outbreak of the revolution, also revealing the names of those implicated in it. After the surrender, the entire town served a farewell dinner to the members of the detachment. They remained at Binangonan de Lampon until August 9 before heading to Malolos.
The 20th of July 1898, signified the end of Spanish colonial rule in the Distrito de La Infanta. In recognition of this momentous occasion, the main street of Binangonan de Lampon capital was named "20 de Julio"—a name that remains in use to this day, serving as a lasting tribute to the dates historical significance. For over four decades, the date was commemorated annually by the local community, with celebrations continuing until 1941.

Revolutionaries from District of Infanta

Though the names of many revolutionaries from the district have been unaccounted, a few individuals who have been identified in P.I.R. documents include:

Pablo Astilla, Colonel
Rufino Ortiz, Major
Azcárraga
Mariano Portales
Estevan Juntereal
José Garin
Dissolution

Following the end of the Philippine-American War and the establishment of American sovereignty, the new colonial administration undertook a reorganization of provincial and district boundaries.
One such change came with the passage of Act No. 417 by the United States Philippine Commission on June 11, 1902. This act formally dissolved the Politico-Military Districts of Infanta, as well as the administrative separation of the Islands of Polillo. These areas, once semi-autonomous under the Spanish colonial system—and whose status was retained during the Revolutionary Government and the First Philippine Republic—were annexed and reverted under the jurisdiction of the Province of Tayabas, effective June 12, 1902.
Subsequently, on July 16, 1902, the civil commission approved a law changing the name of the town of Binangonan de Lampon, located in the Province of Tayabas, to Infanta.

News and Events

October 13, 1860: Boletín Oficial de Filipinas
January 10, 1870: Simon de Anda Monument
1877:
January 23-31, 1880: Visit and report of French Naturalist and Explorer Alfred Marche at Binangonan de Lampon
July 14-20, 1880: Luzon Earthquake of 1880
December 22, 1880: Jose Centeno y Garcia arrived at Infanta District capital- Binangonan de Lampon.
August 13, 1884:
August 23, 1884: La Oceania Española
June 18, 1891: La Oceanía Española
1895:
July 11, 1896: El Comercio