The mayors of Municipality of Capiz

The early history of Roxas City (formerly known as the Municipality of Capiz, Capiz) presents a
significant challenge in uncovering its past, which holds essential, meaningful, and relevant
insights for our present times. The earliest attempt to document the history of Roxas City was
made during President Elpidio Quirino’s administration in 1953. However, it is regrettable that
the Historical Data Papers (HDP) of Roxas City are incomplete and fraught with questionable
information.
The Roxas City school teachers, led by its District Supervisor Jose G. Haguisan, who worked on
compiling these papers, acknowledged encountering numerous challenges, which primarily
stemmed from the absence of authentic documents and the loss of knowledge held by older
residents, many of whom perished during historical conflicts and natural disasters. Nevertheless,
despite these obstacles, the HDP, now archived by the National Library of the Philippines, offers
some glimpses and insights that can guide future and more extensive historical research
compared to what was possible in the past.
With the digitization of Spanish documents that have long lain dormant in archives both within
the country and abroad, I am undertaking an endeavor to introduce some of the lesser-known
local chief executives who governed the pueblo de Capiz, later Municipality of Capiz, spanning
from the 1800s to 1951 when it was chartered as a city by President Quirino, honoring its
illustrious son, President Manuel Acuña Roxas.
The earliest recorded and verifiable records of gobernadorcillos of Capiz, a position which bore
resemblance to today’s municipal mayor, date back to Don Jose Consolacion. He is said to have
overseen the construction of a stone fortification at Baybay Beach (Baluarte) in 1814. This
fortification served as observation posts and a defense system against the frequent raids by Moro
pirates in the town. The second recorded gobernadorcillo, Don Francisco Javier Andrada, is
noted for leading the construction of a bridge in 1841 that connected the two parts of the town
separated by the Panay River.
It was followed by Don Saturnino de la Cerna in 1856, Don Hermones Ledesma, and Don Pedro
Alvarez in 1857. Then the wealthy sugarcane planter, Don Isidro Azarraga, in 1867. Then, Don
Simeon Vidal who served as gobernadorcillo during the cholera epidemic in 1889, followed by
Don Dionisio Barrios from 1889 to 1891, and Juan Laserna Albar from 1891 to 1893.
Don Eleno Andrada Villaruz became the last gobernadorcillo and the first to hold the title of
Capitan Municipal in 1893. Villaruz was the brother of Doña Ramona Andrada Villaruz, the wife
of Don Eleuterio Marino Acuña. He was the uncle of Doña Rosario Acuña, the mother of
President Manuel Acuña Roxas.
Don Eleno was followed by Don Isidro Azarraga from 1894 to 1895. The first elected Capitan
Municipal of Capiz was Don Manuel Barredo Barrios in 1895, who was the father of Don
Conrado Villaruz Barrios, married to Jovita Villaruz Acuña, the aunt of President Roxas.

However, Don Manuel’s election was subsequently annulled due to a protest that he concurrently
held as a member of the Junta Provincial (Provincial Board) of Capiz. His position was
subsumed by Don Jose Maria Andrada Albar from 1895 until the liberation of Capiz in late
November 1898.
When General Ananias Diokno of Batangas liberated Capiz from Spanish Colonial forces, Albar
ceased to function as the Capitan Municipal. He was replaced by Presidente Local Interino Don
Pedro Ortiz from 1898 until December 10, 1899, when General Robert Hudges and the American
troops occupied Capiz.
By 1900, by virtue of General Order No. 40, elections were held in Capiz, and Don Mariano
Payad Chiyuto, a native of Manila, was elected as Municipal President or Presidente del Consejo
de Municipal. He was instrumental in the surrender of Colonel Eleuterio Marasigan in February
in Binontocan, Pontevedra, Capiz. He served until the elections took place in early April 1901 by
virtue of Act No. 82 or the Municipal code of the Philippines.
In the first elections conducted under Act No. 82, Antonio Villagracia Habana from Cuartero,
Capiz, who was married to Doña Crisanta Laserna, the sister of Doña Soccoro Laserna Altavas,
the wife of Senator Jose Cortes Altavas (1916-1922), was elected as the inaugural Municipal
President of the Municipality of Capiz (1901-1904). He later served as the second governor of
the Province of Capiz (1906-1909).
Don Manuel Abalo Arnaldo succeeded Habana in 1904, reelected twice, and served as Municipal
President until 1909. He was married to Doña Ricarda Villaruz Acuña, and their sons who later
followed his footsteps, Congressman Ramon Acuña Arnaldo, and Roxas City Mayor Lorenzo
Acuña Arnaldo.
When Arnaldo finished his term, Don Pedro Delfin Dorado assumed post from 1910-1912. Don
Pedro was married to Aurea Amancio, coming from a prominent family, and their son Jose
Amancio Dorado would later become City Mayor of Roxas ((1957-1959).
After Dorado, the next elected Municipal President was Pastor Alcazar who served from 1912-

  1. He was a Captain of the Philippine Navy under General Ananias Diokno’s Expeditionary
    Forces. After Capiz was liberated from the Spanish forces, he married Rosario Arcenas, of
    wealthy family of Capiz. He fought during the Philippine American War and surrendered in
    1900 and remained in Capiz as he considered it his home.
    After Alcazar’s term, Antonio Laserna became the town executive from 1916-1919. Then,
    Vivencio Andrada Villaruz succeeded in 1919-1922. Villaruz was the brother of Capitan
    Municipal Eleno Villaruz and Doña Ramona Andrada Villaruz, the wife of Don Eleuterio Acuña.
    Then, from 1922-1925, Don Manuel Abalo Arnaldo returned as Municipal President. Then, he
    was followed by Municipal President Santiago Villaruz Andrada from 1925-1933. Then, the last
    Municipal President was Calixto Alba Alvarez from 1934-1937. In 1938, by virtue of
    Commonwealth Act No. 233 of 1937, the Municipal President title was abolished and changed to
    Municipal Mayor. To this effect, the first Municipal Mayor was Eduardo Vidal Abalo Sr., who

was a lawyer by profession and a sugar planter by vocation. He would later become the
Governor of the Province of Capiz from 1952-1955.
The last Municipal Mayor (1938-1940) before the onslaught of war was Eduardo Ruiz Pardo.
His father was Alejandro Pardo, the first Provincial Fiscal of Capiz. His sister Vicenta Ruiz
Pardo was married to Senator and Governor of Capiz Jose Miraflores Hontiveros.
In September 1945, Municipal Vice Mayor Libertad Altavas Conlu (1945-1946), the daughter of
Senator and Capiz Governor Jose Cortes Altavas (1910-1916) was appointed by President Sergio
Osmena as Acting Municipal Mayor. He was succeeded by Atty. Arturo Alba Jugo, the son of
former Municipal Councilor Atanasio Jugo (1916-1919), the brother of Capiz Governor
Simplicio Jugo Vidal (1901-1906).
The final Municipal Mayor of Capiz, Capiz, was Mayor Lorenzo Acuña Arnaldo, who was the
first cousin of President Manuel Acuña Roxas. He also held the distinction of being the inaugural
Mayor of Roxas City, assuming office on May 12, 1951. Mayor Arnaldo was married to Violeta
Acevedo Alvarez, the daughter of Municipal President Calixto Alba Alvarez.
Through their leadership and vision, these local chief executives played a pivotal role in shaping
the course of history, transforming the humble pueblo de Capiz into the vibrant and progressive
Roxas City we know today. Their dedication, foresight, and unwavering commitment to public
service left an indelible mark on the landscape of the municipality, laying the foundation for its
growth, development, and prosperity. From navigating through turbulent times of conflict and
transition to spearheading initiatives for infrastructure development, public welfare, and
community empowerment, these leaders have left a lasting legacy that continues to influence and
inspire generations to come.