Proem

During the Spanish era, a town had two aspects of administration. There was the civil aspect and the religious aspect. In fact there was no separation between church and state.

The civil aspect of the town was headed by the gobernadorcillo (Now: Mayor). The parish priest headed the religious aspect.

Most of the time the civil and religious aspects of the town were created at the same time, like the case of Tagbilaran, Bohol on February 9, 1742.

Sometimes the civil aspect was created ahead of the religious aspect like the case of Sevilla, Bohol.

During the American period and followed until today, the church and state were separated. The religious aspect was eliminated from the political life of a town. The civil aspect continued. So if we trace the establishment of a particular town existing today, we must trace the civil aspect of the town.

The Proposal

The records available in the Ereccion de Pueblos: Bohol (Erection of towns: Bohol) kept at the National Archives starts in the national level already.

On Dec. 13, 1869 Don Faustino Feliner, the Secretary to the Superior Government informed the Governor General regarding the request of the prominent men (principales) and Barangay Heads (Cabezas de Barangay) of barrio Panas, Loboc, Bohol. The barrio of Panas desired to be madean independent town separate from Loboc in the civil and spiritual aspects.

Reasons Given

The proposal gave the following reasons:

1. The number of tribute or taxpayers is 548 among all the families. (Note: The requirement was 500.-JBT)

2. The parish priest said that there was reasonable cause for proposing the new town.

3. The Politico-Military Governor of Bohol, Don Antonio Martinez, manifested that it was convenient to create a town in the interior part of the island even though it was less populated. It will avoid out-migration.

Preliminary Steps

The Secretary of the Superior Government informed the District Governor of the Visayas to prepare the following:

1. A map showing the boundary line in color, delineating the town of Loboc and the proposed town.

2. To indicate in the map (croquis) the area proposed to be segregated from Vilar (Now: Bilar) and the tributes or taxpayers and places to be included.

3. The agreement of the affected places to be in the new town.

4. Show in the map the existing situation of the area from Loboc River until Malabago (Now: Cortes, Bohol) and the means of communication of the inhabitants in both sides of the river.

5. Give Information regarding the manifestation of the parish priest of Vilar town.
Report of Secretary Feliner

The necessary documents and actions were made and accomplished and reported to the Secretary.

On May 6, 1870 Secretary Faustino Feliner made the report to the Administrative Council that the required data were accomplished.

On July 1, 1870 in Manila, the Administrative Council indorsed the documents to the Superior Government regarding the proposal to create barrio Panas into a new town.

In the documents, it was only Vilar (Bilar) that disagreed regarding the segregation of a portion of its town. Upon further negotiations it was shown that it was possible to issue the decree creating the new town with the condition that only those part of Vilar that are in favor of the new town will be accepted.

(Note: When the town was implemented the people were given time (plazo) to transfer residence to the town of their choice. If due to these movements the residence and the farms happen to be located in different towns, the people were allowed to cultivate their farms.- JBT)

Name of the Town

On July 31, 1854 there was a Royal Order regarding the new rules in the creation of new towns. One of its provision allowed the Governor General to give the name of the town at his discretion.

So the Administrative Council recommended, "Your Excellency will designate the name of the new town."

The Decree

Herewith is the English translation of the original Spanish text of the decree, done by this writer (Jes B. Tirol).

"On this date the following is resolved:

It is bestowed the creation of a town independent from its mother town of Loboc, the barrio of Panas in the District of Bohol to be called 'SEVILLA.'

It is communicated to His Highness for his knowledge and consequent results. May God watch over Your Highness and grant you more years.

Manila, 7 of July 1870."

(Signed) Carlos M. dela Torre
(Governor General)

Further Actions

The decree is not clear whether the civil and religious aspects were created at the same time or not. The consequent events tell us that the creation was only in the civil aspect.

On July 26, 1870 the Bishop of Cebu, Fr. Romualdo Gimeno received the communication regarding the creation of barrio Panas as the new town of Sevilla.

On December 12, 1870 the Ministry of Colonies (Ministerio de Ultramar) issued letter No. 1177 to the Ecclesiastical Fiscal for the creation of the religious parish of Sevilla.

On January 9, 1872 the order was made, confirming the establishment of the religious parish of Sevilla. The new parish was advocated to Nuestra Señora Guadalupe de Caceres" of Extramadura, Spain. The first parish priest was Fr. Bernardo Echevarria.

If you read the book "Bohol and Its People" by Dr. Cecilio Putong, it givesthe date 1872 as the establishment of Sevilla. That date is for the religious aspect that was already discontinued politically. The civil aspect was created on July 7, 1870 that is still continued at present.