History Of Mansalay


Long before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the Gumangas, a family from the Island of Palawan in search of greener pasture settled in that which is now the barrio of Manaul. They lived the primitive life of early settlers of Mindoro which was then called Ma-I by the Chinese Traders of the Madjapahit Empire.

Subsequently, another group of Malay settlers from Panay Island, who were members of the clan of Datu Puti, also came to this part of Mindoro. This group intermarried with the children of the Gumangas. The descendants of this union later became known as the Buhids and Baribes, a class of Mangyan who inhabited the heart of southern halcon mountain ranges.

Soon after, another wave of settlers from Panay came under the leadership of Datu Puntoy and Abucay. These settlers occupied the coastal plains, and consequently, the early inhabitants moved up to the mountains. Abucay followers settled the lowland of the mouth of what is now called Mansalay River. They cleared the forest, fought the wild beast and established the first settleent.

Then time came when strange sailing vessels anchored on the sea waters of Mansalay Bay. Abucay and his followers met the strangers who were the Spanish conquerors. The Spaniards made friends with them. When the Spaniards inquired on the name of the settlement, the natives replied by saying "Unman may malay", their native tongue which meant "I Don't Know". Thinking that the reply actually gave the town's name, the Spaniards began referring to it as MANMALAY. Though time, the name of the community became MANSALAY.

During the Spanish time, Mansalay was under the jurisdiction of the government of Mangarin, Mindoro. Together with Bulalacao and Semirara, with the Cuela of Mangarin was exercising influence over these regions.

The first Cabeza de Barangay at the start of the Spanish Era was Cipriano Cobarrubias, who later became Captain and followed by other Captains like Eulalio Filosop, Ramom Oracion, Patricio Cobarrubias and Victoriano Salazar.

The Americans later on occupied the town in 1901. The inhabitants fled and hide nearby mountains. But the policy of attraction by the Americans slowly brought the people to return to normal life and in May 15, 1902, the people led by Capitan Ramom Oracion, Capitan Patricio Cobarrubias, Capitan Apolonio Fesalvo, and Capitan Victoriano Salazar surrendered to American forces. They were concentrated in the Sitio of Pookan, a land concession of the Spanish Government, which became the nucleus of the present town. 

During the term of Teotimo P. Cusi (1916-1919) the seat of government was transferred to Mansalay again. Because of the strained relations between the people of Mansalay and Bulalacao brought about by the transfer seat of the government, Don Mariano E. Leuterio representative to the Philippines Legislature passed a law creating a separate Municipality of Mansalay. On July 24, 1928, Mansalay became an independent town under Act No. 3498.

Teotimo P. Cusi became the first appointment Municipal President and the election on 1931 of Ildefenso Maliwang made the latte first elected Municipal President until 1941. Later on, he was succeeded by Mr. Marcelo Cabrera until the outbreak of the war. In 1948, Andres Torrefiel was appointed mayor of Mansalay, Marciano Merino was elected in 1952. And was succeeded by Eleuterio A. Presto in 1956 and who was also succeeded by Gerardo Cobarrubias in 1960.

In the election in 1963, Sergio Maliwang was elected Mayor and served as such up to April 1986. He was replaced by the President Cory Aquino, who was installed President virtue of the EDSA Revolution People Power. During the period, OIC Mayor Faustino Sangil was appointed under the Revolutionary Government until 1987 when government of President Cory Aquino calls for an election. Sergio F. Maliwang was re-elected again as Mayor up to 1992. Another election was conducted in May 2004, Celestino A. Papasin, former Board Member of 2nd District was elected Municipal Mayor and on May 2007, local elections, Mayor Celestion A Papasin was re-elected during May 10, 2010. Jose Ildefonso M. Maliwang was elected as Municipal Mayor defeating the incumbent Mayor. In the last election in May 13, 2013, Mayor Jose Ildefonso "Joel" Maliwang was re-elected on a second term.