Official Website of the Provincial Government of Basilan

SPANISH OCCUPATION

In 1637, Spanish GOVERNOR GENERAL SEBASTIAN HURTADO DE CORCUERA made an expedition to Mindanao going to the South of Basilan and captured Lamitan, a stronghold of Sultan Kudarat in the island of Basilan. Later their forces were withdrawn because of the threats of the Samals from the coastal villages.

The Jesuit missionary formally evangelized Basilan in 1664. Father FRANCISCO LADO, a Spanish missionary succeeded in winning their friendship and converted numerous natives to Christianity,

In 1663 GOVERNOR GENERAL SABINIANO MANRIQUE DE LARA withdrew all troops from Mindanao in order to concentrate their forces in Manila against possible attack of the Chiness warlord, KOXINGA. Although the assault did not materialize, the stations in Zamboanga and Basilan were not restored until their occupation in 1718.

In 1747, the DUTCH came and attacked Basilan, but they were repulsed by the natives. Meanwhile, the Tausug continued their incursion to the island led by DATU BANTILAN who established a short live sultanate in the island.

In 1844, the Spaniards occupied Pasangen that is now Isabela and constrcted a provincial fort. In the following year DON RAMON LOBO, a marine chief of Zamboanga and DON CAYETANO SUAREZ DE PEGEROA, Governor of the District, paid an official visit to Pasangen and named it "Isabela" in honor of QUEEN ISABEL II of Spain, at the same time hoisting the Spanish flag over the provincial fort.

That same year in 1844, through GOVERNOR GENERAL NARCISO CLAVERIA, the Spanish Government ordered the construction of a stone fort in place of the provisional one. The fort was constructed on the very spot where the Provincial Capitol now stands.

The stone fort was completed in 1848 was name FUERTE de ISABELA SEGUNDO. Stately and proudly the stone fort reminds one of the greatest Spanish conquest that spanned the hemisphere of the world and reminder of the castellan rule. The Spanish Government also built a Naval hospital by the sea in 1879 on the shore fronting the ferry wharf. Both the fort and the hospital were reducing to rubble by the American bombs during World War II.

In 1848 the Spanish Government established a military garrison in Basilan and place it under the control of the governor of Zamboanga. In 1863, however, the island was separated from the jurisdiction control of Zamboanga and it became the 6th District of Police-Military Government of Mindanao.

THE FRENCH INVATION

The French also attempted to occupy Basilan in 1844. But the forces of DATU USUK of Maluso firmly resisted and as a result captured the foreign invaders. Voicing the displeasure of the French Government, the French Ambassador MONSIGNOR LAGREME, attacked the principal village of Lamitan. Later in 1845, French Commander proposed the session of Basilan Island for One Thousand Dollar (S1,000) but the Sultan of Sulu refused the offer.

THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE OCCUPATION

The people of Basilan have their first Municipal President in January 1899, but it was a short-lived one. DATU PEDRO CUEVAS, a willy and fearless leader of the Yakans in the district of Lamitan who became known as the legendary DATU KALUN. Ironically, he was a native son of Cavite.

He was the first Filipino to head the Civil Government of Basilan. He played an invaluable role in the pacification of the Americans.

In 1901, when Zamboanga became a chartered city, NICASIO VALDEROSA was appointed the first City Mayor of Zamboanga, Basilan became Municipality under Zamboanga, and EMILIO BUCOY brother of Fire Chief TORIBIO BUCOY of Basilan became the first Municipal Mayor of Isabela.

Then World War II broke out and the Japanese forces occupied Basilan. The Japanese organized a puppet government in Isabela and Lamitan, respectively.

In 1945, the Americans liberated the Philippines and Basilan was also liberated. American forces then occupied Basilan and military government was then established. The Americans appointed LEROY BROWN and he was name Military Mayor of Basilan. Later the Americans re-established civil government in Isabela and appointed PANTALEON BANOS as Deputy Governor.

The Americans forces stayed in Basilan for almost two years before pulling out for the United States of America.