The Town of Del Gallego

Historical Background

Del Gallego is the town on the northern most tip of Camarines Sur. This is where the Quirino Highway road meets the first town of Quezon province, Tagkawayan.

Little is known about the history of the town of Del Gallego, Camarines Sur.  Information taken from the old residents revealed that in the latter part of the Spanish regime, this town was a crude fishing village north of Ragay Gulf, at the mouth of Kilbay River and was named after the river. The Gulf abounded with fish and other sea products. A little further to the north was a virgin forest. This forest attracted much the attention of a strapping young Spanish traveler, Don Juan del Gallego from the little town of Villaviciosa in Northern Spain. Old residents of Del Gallego further claimed that he came from the south (Iriga) with his lone batel (a small merchant boat), trading in wild products and almaciga. The first lumber mill that Don Juan erected was in Sitio Pinagdapian, five kilometers up Kilbay River. The town folks left their fishing livelihood for whatever fortune they can reap from the new industry. Others went on with their farming. In a few years, this lumber camp rose to a progressive community. Don Juan led the people in most social activities. He erected a school and a chapel. He even organized a village orchestra. By this time he married a native of the village, the former Potenciana Ubante. He was 37 and his bride, 17.

In 1927, the lumber mill was now expanding and needed a bigger area. It was moved to Danawin, the original name of Del Gallego Town. This moved made the lumber yard a bustling little community. Traders, merchants, businessmen and just plain folks looking for jobs came to the little baranggay (village).

A Town Was Born

In 1936 Don Juan del Gallego succeeded in securing the help of Camarines Sur 1st district Assemblyman Francisco Celebrado. Assemblyman Celebrado worked for a passage of a bill in the National Assembly separating then Barrio Danawin from the town of Ragay to make it a new town. In the later part of the same year, President Manuel L. Quezon through Executive Order No. 56, dated October 5, 1936, proclaimed the barrio as a regular municipality. In December 1936, the town folks witnessed the inauguration of the Municipality of Del Gallego (named after its founder and benefactor).

The following year, the new municipality was honored by the presence of no less than the president of the Philippines, President Manuel L. Quezon. The president inaugurated the southern line of the then Manila Railroad Company by driving the Golden Nail to a piece of pile, marking the meeting point of the south and north construction. An impressive railroad marker now stands a half kilometer from the town proper to mark this historic event.

In August 31, 1941, the Grand Old Man Of Bicol, founder of Del Gallego Town, and great benefactor of the people expired in his home in Manila, leaving his town mates with a good example of what patience and industry was all about. “He will always be remembered for having built with his own funds the town hall, the Central School and many other beautiful places in the community,” said an old timer.

Location and Political Subdivisions

Del Gallego is one of the 35 municipalities of the province of Camarines Sur. It is bounded by the Municipality of Tagkawayan, Quezon, in the northwest by Ragay Gulf and on the southwest by the Municipality of Ragay, Camarines Sur. This fourth class municipality has a total land area of 28,860 hectares. It has a total of 32 baranggays, with Pamplona (6,053 hectares) being the largest. The total population as of 1995 stood at 18,760. The town’s income in 2000 was P21,087,896.61.

The municipality has 14 public schools, 2 private, 3 government owned secondary schools, two private secondary schools and one tertiary private school.

Town Mayors

Don Juan Del Gallego 1937 – 1938	Franciso Navarro 1939 – 1940	Jose U. Del Gallego 1941-1942	Emilio Q. Natano 1942-1944
Casiano Lampos 1945 – 1946	Teodulo Rodejo 1947	Alfredo Y. Adulta 1948 – 1951	Silverio B. Veluz 1952 – 1959
Napoleon Pendor 1960 – 1971	Julio U. Del Gallego 1972 – 1976	Noneluna Pendor 1976 – 1978	Lucy B. Veluz 1978 – 1986
Henry Pendor 1986 – 1988	Silverio B. Veluz 1988 – 1998	Eduardo Q. Uy Sr. 1998 – 2000	Bayani B. Veluz 2000 – 2001
Carolina C. Uy 2001 – 2003	Bayani B. Veluz 2003 – 2010	Lydia B. Abarientos 2010 – present

Research Notes

1  “Del Gallego“. Official Site of Camarines Sur.  Date published: 2009.  Date accessed: 14 June 2010.
2  “Del Gallego, Camarines Sur“.  Wikipedia.  Date published: 20 May 2010.  Date accessed:  14 June 2010.
3  Herederos de Don Juan del Gallego.  “The Town of Del Gallego”.  Data accessed:  2003.