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WHEREAS, the recorded history and cultural development of the Philippines is far from complete;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 138, dated January 3, 1938, providing for the collection and compilation of historical data regarding barrios, municipalities, cities, and provinces of the Philippines, has not been fully implemented.

WHEREAS, a great wealth of historical and cultural materials is believed to be still in the possession of the people, some preserved only in the memory of our elders, and the rest, in manuscripts or other records which are not fully safeguard from destruction; and

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest that these materials be gathered and preserved in as complete a form as possible for posterity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby direct that the information and materials hereinafter specified be secured by the provincial governor and city mayor of every province and city, and that the same be transmitted to the Director of the National Library and/or the Director of the National Museum not later than December thirty-one, nineteen hundred and sixty-three, for compilation and preservation.

The following rules shall govern the collection and transmission of the desired materials and information:

a. Upon the promulgation of this executive order, each provincial governor shall immediately issue instructions to all municipal mayors under his jurisdiction and, in the case of a city, each city mayor shall issue such instructions to any city officials designated by him, enjoining said municipal mayors or city officials, as the case may be, to call together the old men in each and every barrio, sitio, or district in each municipality or city and obtain from them or from any documents or material evidence in their possession the entire history and cultural development of such community insofar as may be possible.

b. All information data, and material evidence gathered shall be recorded as outlined in paragraph (i) hereof, preferably in the language or dialect of he locality, with a translation in English.

c. All writings should be signed by the governor, for the history of the province; by the city mayor, for the history of the city; by the municipal mayor, for the history of the town; and by the barrio lieutenant, for the history of the barrio.

d. The name of the family or families that have kept the records mentioned above should be indicated in order that due credit may be given to them.

e. Information should also be given regarding books, documents, or valuable cultural and historical objects on the Philippines owned in any community, in order that such books, documents, or objects as are desired may be obtained, if possible, for the National Library or the National Museum by purchase or gift.

f. The names of all Filipino authors of any community and the titles of all their productions, whether printed or in manuscripts, should be included. If the productions are in manuscript form, a statement should be given of the names of the persons in possession of the same.

g. All papers and articles pertaining to the barrios shall be delivered to the mayor of the town, who shall forward the same, together with the data pertaining to his municipality, to the governor of the province. All the original documents and translations if any, shall be forwarded by the provincial governor in a carefully made and protected package to the Director of the National Library, Manila, and all materials of historical and cultural value shall be sent to the Director, National Museum, Manila. Each package shall be marked “Historical Documents.” The ame procedure shall be followed by the city mayor in forwarding all materials, papers, and documents pertaining to the city either to the Director of the National Library or to the Director of National Museum, as the case may be.

h. Provincial governments which have already complied with the requirements of Executive Order No. 133 shall give information only to update the historical data required.

i. The information desired is as follows:

The Barrio

1. Present official name of the barrio.

2. Native name of the barrio with its meaning; changes in the name of the barrio, if any, and the derivation of the name; and the names of the sitios included within the jurisdiction of the barrio.

3. Date of establishment of the barrio.

4. Original families of the barrio.

5. List of the barrio lieutenants from the earliest time to date.

6. Story of old barrios or sitios that are now depopulated.

7. Traditions, legends, folk tales, beliefs, proverbs, sayings, superstitions, puzzles, songs, nursery hyms, etc.

8. Material evidence of the historical and cultural life of the people should be collected, if available. A list itemizing in detail the historical and cultural relics, artifacts, antiques, etc., in the possession of the community or individuals of great importance to our historical and cultural development giving a similar outline (as in the recorded history of written or unwritten literature) as a guide, adding that if possible this be donated to the government and kept in the National Museum.

9. Data on any historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc. List of historical sites, landmarks, or buildings, such as churches, monuments, public or private buildings, giving an outline of the date of construction, present ownership, present conditions, historical or cultural or tourist relationship to town, barrio, or province, etc.

The Town or City

10. Present official name of the town or city.

11. Former name or names of the town or city with their meanings.

12. Date of the establishment of the town or city.

13. Traditions, legends, folk tales, beliefs, proverbs, sayings, superstitions, puzzles, songs, nursery hymes, etc. (It is preferable that these be written in the language or dialect of the locality and that a translation in English be forwarded with the vernacular versions.)

14. Data on any historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.

15. Important historical events that took place in the town or city.

16. Names of all capitanes municipales, alcaldes mayores, curas parrocos, jueces, municipal presidents, or other officials that may be obtained in the community.

17. As much as possible, gather samples of old costumes, dresses worn on different occasions, hats, canes, utensiles, instruments, and other relics associated with the past history or culture of the town or city. (See also item 8 above.)

The Province

18. Present official name of the province.

19. Former name or names of the province with their meanings.

20. Date of establishment of the province.

21. Chronological list of all the governors and principal officials of the province.

22. Names of at least five of the most outstanding citizens (only among those already dead) in the province, together with a statement of their achievements.

23. Important historical events that took place in the province.

24. As much as possible, gather articles that serve as evidence or mementos of the events, personages, or of customs and traditions.

Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-three.

(Sgd.) DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
President of the Philippines

By the President:
(Sgd.) SALVADOR L. MARIÑO
Executive Secretary