philippine studies Ateneo de Manila University • Loyola Heights, Quezon City • 1108 Philippines Alcalde Versus Friar in Camarines Fransisco Mallari, S.J. Philippine Studies vol. 40, no. 4 (1992): 464–479 Copyright © Ateneo de Manila University Philippine Studies is published by the Ateneo de Manila University. Contents may not be copied or sent via email or other means to multiple sites and posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s written permission. Users may download and print articles for individual, noncom- mercial use only. However, unless prior permission has been obtained, you may not download an entire issue of a journal, or download multiple copies of articles. Please contact the publisher for any further use of this work at
[email protected]. http://www.philippinestudies.net Fri June 27 13:30:20 2008 Alcalde Versus Friar in Camarines Francisco Mallari, SJ. Nineteenthcentury Libmanan, a town of Camarines Sur, was situ- ated on flat terrain on the left bank of the Bicol river, about a league (3.46 miles) from San Miguel bay. It was once a visita of Quipayo till 1586 (de Huerta 1865, 193). On assuming the status of a town, it took control over an extensive temtory. Its jurisdiction stretched from the coast of San Miguel Bay to the shores of Ragay Gulf and from the boundaries of Sipocot to those of Magarao and Canaman towns. Its sprawling territory was a boon to its inhabitants and proba- bly a factor in their lovable disposition. The Libmanenses were said to be light-hearted, lovable, liberal and hospitable to a fault, so much so that their fiestas attracted many, and their customs and culture distinguished them from other Bicolanos (Ruiz 1887, fols.