Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa

Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa
71st Governor-General of the Philippines
In office July 16, 1844 – December 26, 1849
Monarch	Isabella II of Spain
Preceded by	Francisco de Paula Alcalá de la Torre
Succeeded by	Antonio María Blanco
Personal details
Born	May 2, 1795 Gerona, Spain
Died	June 20, 1851(1851-06-20) (aged 56) Madrid, Spain
Spouse	Ana Berroeta Clavería

Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa (May 2, 1795 - June 20, 1851), a native of Gerona, Spain (but of Biscayan origin), was the Governor-General of the Philippines from July 16, 1844 to December 26, 1849. Clavería was a man of culture, probity, and industry. He traveled through many provinces trying to learn the needs of the Filipinos. He encouraged agriculture, improved the streets and suburbs of Manila, and tried to give the Islands a government as good as that of modern Spain. His command in the Philippines was remarkable in every respect that he and his wife were titled the Count and Countess of Manila after returning to Spain. The towns of Claveria in Misamis Oriental province and Claveria in Cagayan province were named in his honor.

Biography

Narciso Clavería was born in Gerona, Spain on May 2, 1795.

After leaving the position of governor-general of the Philippines, he immediately returned to Spain where he contracted a disease and died on June 20, 1851 in Madrid.

As Governor-General of the Philippines

Reformation of the Philippine calendar

The Philippines till 1845 were one day behind the calendars of Europe and America. When Ferdinand Magellan sailed west around the world, he lost a few minutes every day. He was going the same way the sun was going, so his day ended later than that of the people who remained in Europe. Therefore he was later in beginning the next day. By the time he reached the Philippines he was a day behind Europe in his date. This error had been known for centuries. That it was not corrected shows how the rulers of the Philippines in those days were slow to change a custom. Finally, Clavería and the Archbishop of Manila agreed to drop December 31, 1844, from the Philippine calendar. So after December 30, 1844, the day that followed was called January 1, 1845.

Surnames for the Filipinos

From the days of the Spanish conquest some Filipinos had received Spanish surnames. Most of the people, however, had no surnames, which caused much confusion. On November 11, 1849, Clavería issued a decree sending a long lists of Spanish surnames to the chiefs of the provinces. These were sent out to the different towns, and given to the locals who had no surnames. In many towns, all these names began with the same letter of the alphabet.

First steamers in the Philippines

The first steamship war-vessels to sail regularly in Philippine waters were the Magallanes, Elcano, and Reina de Castilla. They were brought from London in 1848. These steamers were of great value, because now it was possible to chase and capture the swift boats of the Moro pirates from the South who used to raid the coastal villages north of them.

Conquest of the island of Balanguingui

Clavería conducted a successful expedition against the pirates of the Samal Islands. He destroyed several towns and forts on the island of Balanguingui (between the islands of Basilan and Jolo) and released one hundred and thirty Filipino and Dutch captives (from Java) in 1848, for which he received the titles of Count of Manila and Viscount of Clavería, and the received the Knight Grand Cross of Royal and Military Order of San Fernando from Queen Isabella II, besides other rewards.

Reforming the governors of the provinces

From the earliest days, the chief of a province had acted both as governor and judge. He also engaged in trade, of which he had a monopoly. With the duties of three men to perform, it was not strange that the governors were often poor rulers. They knew little of the law. Therefore they sent all the important cases to Manila. For this reason there were often long delays in processing cases. Sometimes it required years to get justice and this encouraged the strong to oppress the weak. Clavería therefore ordered that the governors be men of two years experience in the law.

Clavería mandated that the governors should not engage in trade. This wise decree was not fully obeyed for many years after the time of Clavería. At that time there were thirty-one provinces. The governor received a salary of from three hundred to two thousand pesos a year. The most common salary was six hundred pesos. In return for the privilege of controlling the trade of the provinces the governors paid the government as high as three thousand pesos a year. Yet they usually became rich. Men of high position tried to get these places. Sometimes they returned to Spain with fortunes, after a few years as governor. Too often these fortunes were made by dealing unjustly with the Filipinos. From the days, of the first encomenderos the Spanish officials looked upon the Filipino as a mine out of which to dig a fortune. They did not see that if the rulers of a country are to be prosperous, they must make all the people prosperous.

Other acts during his term

A casino called "Sociedad de recreo" (" Recreation Association ") was established on October 31, 1844. His proposal to establish military library was approved on February 15, 1846. A monument to Ferdinand Magellan was erected on the south bank of the Pasig River in 1848. The regular clergy were forbidden to alienate property on January 15, 1849. His term was marked by intense activity, and a number of papers were founded, among them being the first daily of Manila, La Esperanza (December 1, 1846), and Diario de Manila (1848).

External link

• Narciso de Clavería Zaldúa from Universidad Complutense de Madrid