Montevista, Compostela Valley

Map of Compostela Valley showing the location of Montevista

Montevista is a 4th class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 33,225 people in 6,570 households.

Brief History of Montevista

Montevista became a regular municipality on June 18, 1966 by virtue of Republic ACT nO. 4804 comprising the six barangays of San Jose, New Visayas, Camansi, Bankerohan Norte, Bankerohan Sur and Linoan. These barangays were formerly parts of the municipalities of Nabunturan, Monkayo, Compostela and Asuncion.

Long before the coming of Christians, "CAUMANGA", the original name of Barangay San Jose, was a peaceful haven of Mandayan Tribes. It then became the stop-over for the adventurous migrants(settlers coming from different parts of the country), who came to the place in search of the fertile Compostela Valley.

The first settlers of CAUMANGA were Boboy Timbang and two cousins named Isig and Amasig, the disciples of Mongado-the first Mandayan Educator. Then followed by Eduardo Torres, Valentin Mabasag and some Christian settlers Julian A. Mascariñas, late Leonardo Toyong Sr., Late Francisco Ramos and ex-councilor Rufino Ubal. These men helped develop Montevista at its early stage.

During the Japanese occupation, CAUMANGA became the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Forces under Inani Murakami, a kind-hearted Japanese Imperial Officer who befriended Fertig's guerilla movement and the Japanese people induced the evacuees to flock to CAUMANGA for protection, shelter, medicine and food and stayed there for good even after the liberation time.

With the increase of Christian Settlers in the early part of 1950s the name CAUMANGA was changed to San Jose in honor of their patron saint, Saint Joseph the Worker.

In 1960, Councilor Rufino Ubal, a member of the Municipal Council of Nabunturan authored a resolution making San Jose a barrio of Nabunturan. The first elected barrio lieutenant was the late Francisco Ramos and the first Barangay Captain was Julian A. Mascariñas.

Five years after, the barrio officials and some civic minded citixens initiated the separation of barrio San Jose from its mother municipality thus, in 1965, the Barangay Council of San Jose made a resolution addressed to the Provincial Board, proposing to create Barrio San Jose and neighboring barrios (barangays) into a separate town.

Then, a change was made. Board member Simplicio Montaño, the Grand Old Man of San Jose who was inspired by a place in California, USA which had a semblance in topography to San Jose, changed the name from San Jose to Montevista meaning "MOUNTAIN VIEW". Also it was the Grand Old Man who worked hard for its approval in Congress, thus in June 1966, Montevista became a regular municipality.

Though Montevista was created on June 18, 1966, its political administration took effect on January 1, 1969 with Honorable Bernardo R. Rabanoz, as the first elected mayor. After serving his term he was then succeeded by late Simplicio Montaño, who barely served a month due to his untimely death.

By operation of Law, Vice Mayor Julian A. Mascariñas succeeded him. He served as the Municipal Mayor from February 11, 1972 up to March 2, 1980. Mayor Bernardo R. Rabanoz took the reign of administration after winning the 1980 electoral race in which he serve for six years from March 3, 1980 until April 1986 when the Aquino Administration took severiegnty by virtue of the Historic EDSA revolution.

on April 14, 1986, OIC Mayor Felipe B. Flores was then designated under the Freedom Constitution replacing elected Mayor Bernardo R. Rabanoz to last until December 6, 1987.

Hon. Emiliano A. Corias was designated as Officer-In-charge (OIC)replacing OIC Mayor Felipe B. Flores and served as the Local Chief Executive from December 7, 1987 to February 1, 1988.

During the 1988 local polls, Mayor Bernardo R. Rabanoz ran for Mayorship and won which catapulted him once more to be the town's Local Chief Executive. On 1992 first synchronized elections in which the incumbent Mayor, Hon. Bernardo R. Rabanoz with his ardent desire to serve hid beloved constituents ran again for the same position enabled him to attain his fourth term in the office

In 1995 elections, Vice Mayor Salvador S. Jauod, Sr. ran for mayorship and fortunately garnered the most number of votes and became the town's Local Chief Executive. In the recently concluded May 11, 1998 election, Mayor Salvador S. Jauod, Sr. won his reelection bid and continues to reign the Municipal Government of Montevista.

Nowadays, utilizing its scarce resources, the municipality moves towards progress and development under the administration of Mayor Salvador S. Jauod Sr.

Barangays

Montevista is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

Banagbanag Banglasan Bankerohan Norte Bankerohan Sur Camansi Camantangan Concepcion Dauman Canidkid Lebanon

Linoan Mayaon New Calape New Dalaguete New Cebulan (Sambayon) New Visayas Prosperidad San Jose (Pob.) San Vicente Tapia

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information

Coordinates: 7°42′N 125°59′E / 7.7°N 125.983°E / 7.7; 125.983