Title
Collection of Philippine Local Histories
Law
Executive Order No. 138
Decision Date
Jan 3, 1938
Manuel L. Quezon mandates the collection and preservation of historical data from barrios, municipalities, and provinces to safeguard the Philippines' incomplete history and ensure its availability for future generations.
A

Authority and Responsibility

  • President Manuel L. Quezon directs the provincial governors and city mayors to collect the specified historical data.
  • Data must be transmitted to the Director of the National Library by December 31, 1938.

Collection Procedure

  • Upon issuance of the Executive Order, provincial governors instruct municipal mayors.
  • City mayors instruct designated city officials.
  • These officials must convene elderly residents of each barrio, sitio, or district to obtain community histories.

Required Historical Information on the Barrio

  • Present official and native names, meanings, and any changes.
  • Jurisdiction over sitios within the barrio.
  • Establishment date.
  • Original families.
  • List of barrio tenientes from earliest time to present.
  • Accounts on old, depopulated barrios or sitios.
  • Local traditions, legends, folk tales, beliefs, proverbs, sayings, superstitions, puzzles, songs, nursery rhymes.
  • Preference for vernacular text with English translations.
  • Data on historical sites, structures, old ruins.

Required Historical Information on the Town or City

  • Current and former names with meanings.
  • Date of establishment.
  • Similar cultural narratives as barrios (traditions, tales, songs).
  • Information on historical sites and events.
  • Names of officials such as capitanes municipales, alcaldes mayores, curas parrocos, and municipal presidents.

Required Historical Information on the Province

  • Present and former names with meanings.
  • Date of establishment.
  • Chronological list of governors and key officials.
  • Names and achievements of at least five outstanding deceased citizens.
  • Significant historical events within the province.

Attribution of Source Materials

  • Identification of families who maintain records to ensure proper credit.

Authentication of Submissions

  • Required signatures for historical writings:
    • Governor for province history.
    • City mayor for city history.
    • Municipal mayor for town history.
    • Barrio teniente for barrio history.
  • Materials involving cultural expressions and historical site data must bear signatures of original information providers.

Additional Data Collection

  • Information on books and documents about the Philippines in local possession to facilitate acquisition by the National Library.
  • Comprehensive listing of Filipino authors from each community and their works, noting locations of manuscripts.

Transmission and Handling of Documents

  • Historical papers on barrios delivered to municipal mayors, then forwarded with municipal data to the provincial governor.
  • Governors transmit all documents, translations, and packages marked "Historical Documents" to the Director of the National Library in Manila.
  • City mayors follow the same forwarding procedure for city-related documents.

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