"The
first attempt was the presentation of a MEMORIAL to the Hon.
William H. Taft, Chairman of the Second
Philippine Commission, who came to visit the capital of Capiz
for the purpose of organizing the local
government in accordance with President William McKinley's
instructions . . .
"The first Memorial fro the separation of Aklan was
received by the Honorable Chairman during the JUNTA MAGNA held
at the Gran Teatro Capiceņo . . . . The Aklan delegation
which submitted the historic Memorial was headed by Don
Natalio B. Acevedo. With the delegation was Prof. Simeon Mobo
Reyes who acted as spokesman of the Aklanons. The Capiz
Central Committee was composed of Dr. Simplicio Jugo Vidal as
Chairman, Atty. Alejandro Pardo, Don Antonio Habana, Capitan
Jose Albar and Don Eleuterio Acuna as members . . . . This
Memorial, however, was politely disapproved by the Second
Philippine Commission after hearing the remarks of Dr. Jugo
Vidal . . . . In the afternoon, Mr. Taft proclaimed the
appointments of Dr. Simplicio Jugo Vidal as provincial
Governor, Don Alejandro Pardo as Provincial Fiscal and Prof.
Simeon Mobo Reyes as Provincial Secretary, and four Americans
as District Engineer, Provincial Treasurer, Provincial
Commander and Provincial Auditor to complete the first
Provincial Board of Capiz Province.
"Again, seeing that there was an opportunity in 1920,
Representatives Jose Alba Urquiola and Eufrocino Alba for the
Second and Third Districts of Capiz, respectively, presented a
bill for the separation of Aklan. This bill was considered
inopportune owing to the political influence of the Capiceņos
of the Ilayan section who were then in power.
"Other attempts were made by Representatives Manuel
Laserna and Teodulfo Suņer from the Third District of Capiz,
in 1925 and 1930, but their bills of separation met the same
fate as that of the Urquiola-Alba Bill. . . .
"And the third attempt was made under good auspices.
Having elected an Anti Representative in the person of Dr.
Rafael Tumbokon . . . who was in good graces with President
manuel L. Quezon, a bill for the separation of Aklan . . . was
presented . . . . Unfortunately, he was not able to push it
through. . . .
"Again, the most auspicious time came when the
Nacionalistas gained control of the government under . . .
President Ramon Magsaysay.
"In conformity with the wishes and clamour of his
constituents, in order to fulfill a commitment on the issue of
separation, Congressman Godofredo P. Ramos of the Third
District of Capiz, presented Bill No. 334 to separate the
Aklan section of Capiz to be an independent province."
