Sampaloc Sounds Like San Pablo

From Majayjay, Captain Juan de Salcedo and his troop met Aetas carrying their goods to the market. The young captain noted that the Aetas were wearing gold trinkets. He asked his Visayan interpreter to find out where the gold came from. The Aetas however thought that the interpreter was asking where they came from, so they said they were from the mountains of Sampaloc.

Hungry for gold, Salcedo with his troop followed the path the Aetas took from Sampaloc. Perhaps Salcedo’s pace became more and more vigorous and bouncy as he imagined the glitter of gold that awaited him in Sampaloc.

Soon enough, Salcedo may have learned that Gat Sungayan, a faithful ally of Gat Pangil rules Sampaloc. Gat Sungayan and Gat Pangii’s influence spread in an extensive territory. It included not only the lakeshore villages but also Lipa and Tanauan. Salcedo may have wondered why Gat Pangil did not reveal to him that there was gold in Sampaloc confirmed by the ornaments the Aetas were wearing.

Gat Sungayan may have been obliged to welcome Salcedo, knowing that he had tied friendship knots with Gat Pangil, No record showed that Sungayan resisted Salcedo.

Maybe Gat Sungayan endeavored to please the Spanish captain. However, neither the wonders of the seven Lakes of Sampaloc nor the splendid coconuts would please the conquista. Salcedo wanted gold.

Perhaps Salcedo doubted Gat Sungayan, thinking that he was hiding the gold source. Sungayan however succeeded in convincing Salcedo that the gold was in Paracale, which was further down south in the Bicol region.

Captain Juan de Salcedo departed Sampaloc disappointed. He followed the mountain path to his dream− a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Nevertheless, Salcedo’s quest in Sampaloc was never futile. Christianity immediately caught the simple imagination of the pagan villagers. In 1590, nineteen years later, new converts promptly agreed to build a church. The stronger ones climbed mountains to cut selected timber.

In the absence of working animals, believers yoked themselves and pulled carts to carry necessary materials. A certain Padre Mendoza, with crucifix on hand chanted and prayed as he moved around the construction site to inspire workers.

Village devotees completed the wooden church of Sampaloc in 1591. Devotees dedicated it to San Pablo de Hermitanyo. Residents supposed that St Paul the Hermit was selected by the Augustinian missionaries, because of the similarity of the sound “Sampaloc” produced when enunciated by the Spanish padres− Sampaloc… San Pablo.

Old stories narrated that even before the enthronement of the new Patron Saint, Spanish missionaries already called Sampaloc, “San Pablo.”

Soon enough the village of Sampaloc bear the name San Pablo de los Montes.

The Spanish colonial government officially declared San Pablo a town in 1647. The Alcalde Mayor of the province appointed Bartolome Maghayon, a native “Indio,” Gobernadorcillo.