Photo by Mila Garcia Glodava Metro Infanta News, Vol 4, No 3, Spring 1998

Panukulan Mayor: Panukulan derived its present name from the Tagalog word "Panulukan" which the early settlers (Dumagats) used to call the place at the corner of the Panangatan Point on the main island of Polillo. In the early twenties, Panukulan was a barrio of the municipality of Polillo. Due to the heavy influx of settlers from the neighboring town of Infanta, the barrio of Panukulan, together with the barrios of Libo, Lipata and Calasumanga was converted into a municipal district on June 21, 1959 .The late Hon. Manuel S. Enverga, then the incumbent congressman of the First District of Quezon, sponsored and worked hard to have these barrios attain the status of a separate political subdivision. History recorded that the early settlers of Panukulan were the Dumagats. They settled in this locality for a long time, living along the seacoast of the new poblacion. They planted root crops and hunted wild life for food, which were abundant in the area during those times. As years passed by, migrants from the neighboring towns of Infanta and Mauban, and recently from Bicol and the Visayan provinces settled in Panukulan. The early settlers of Panukulan recalled that during the American regime, no foreigners ever visited the place. In the early twenties, however, Japanese settled in the vicinity of Hook Bay, now Barangay Bato, and operated a logging company. The people still remember that time when large ocean vessels docked on Hook Bay to load logs for export. Before the outbreak of World War II, barrio schools were opened in Panukulan, Libo and Calasumanga. While the Japanese occupation saw changes in the economic and cultural life, the people did not suffer much during the war. In fact, people from the neighboring town of Infanta evacuated in the area, where they were aided by the guerrilla forces. Past Municipal Mayors Crispin A. Tena Aug. 28, 1959 - Dec. 31, 1971 (4 terms) Landelino H. Pestañas Jan. 1, 1972 - Jan. 30, 1980 (2 terms) Crispin A. Tena May 1, 1986 - Feb. 1, 1987 Landelino H. Pestañas Feb. 2, 1987 - Jun. 30, 1992 Eufemio P. Pujeda Jul. 1, 1992 - Jul. 30, 1995 Ronnie T. Mitra Jul. 1, 1995 &endash;2001

"We did it!" We built a church with pennies!

by Mila Glodava

Five years after they started saving their pennies -- one penny at a time -- the children and youth of St. Thomas More Parish in Colorado completed their promise to raise one million pennies or $10,000 to help rebuild the St. John the Baptist Church in Panukulan, Quezon.

"We did it! We built a church with pennies!" the children said proudly.

They have reason to be proud. Their "Pennies from Heaven" campaign which started in 1998 ended in 2003 when STM's pastor, Fr. Andrew Kemberling, delivered the last $2,000 to Fr. Roque Betancur, who has since retired as parish priest of Panukulan (The Prelature of Infanta announced that Alagad ni Maria will take over the parish).

For the record members of Metro Infanta Foundation, including those from Panukulan, contributed to this fund to the tune of $3,000. Among those who made a contribution to this fund were: Junlo Tena, Mario Leodones, Jose Pujeda, Marites Espiritu, the Garcias and Glodavas.

I have to give special mention to my brother Nony and his wife Emmie for donating cash gifts they received for their 30th wedding anniversary. This gesture was the idea of their daughter Vanessa and concurred by the other children -- all six of them.

So to all of them thank you for taking part in the "Pennies from Heaven" Campaign for Panukulan. Of course,Metro Infanta Foundation appreciates the resolve of the children and youth of St. Thomas More for sticking with the campaign from 1998 through 2003.

Maraming salamat po!