ALTHOUGH Benguet was formally constituted as a Comandancia Politico Militar only in 1846, it had already been subject to what was called the Comandancia General de Igorrotes, a governmental unit, with office in a coastal town. This unit served for the general control of the mountain people and the collection of the tribute called reconocimiento de vasallaje from those tribes who recognized the sovereignty of Spain.

Guillermo Galvey, then called the Comandante General de Igorrotes, made his first expedition to Benguet on January 1829. This first expedition, consisting of two officers, three sergeants, six corporals, and fifty troopers, accompanied by 200 carriers, had an encounter with the inhabitants of Trinidad valley, in which a number of these were shot, others made prisoners, and some 180 houses burned down. After this military success, Galvey returned to the coast.

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When Galvey returned shortly afterwards, he was met by Bigung, the son of Apulog Anas.

Bigung was a brave and fearless man, familiar with life in the lowlands where, thru his gold business, he earned many friends. He met Galvey in Agoo and accompanied him to Benguet.

After some time, Galvey offered Bigung the position of Kapitan of Benguet. Bigung declined since he feared that his acceptance of that post would lead to his being killed by tribesmen who believed that he was in effect selling their people to the Spaniards. So Bigung suggested a relative of his who stayed in Kafagway. His name was Pulito, a man of good character who wouldn’t mind serving as the kapitan. When Pulito agreed, Galvey presented him with a fine shirt and a hat; a baston, the staff of office, and charged him to take good care of the people of Benguet. Pulito remained in office for four years. He was an ancestor of the late Kapitan Piraso and his wife Davingit.

When Pulito had finished his four years of service as kapitan, he was succeeded by Chokorog, grandfather of Kamdas, Piraso's son-in-law. Chokorog’s public service did not seem satisfactory to the people, so that after one year in office he asked the Governor to relieve him from his post for being unable to bear the unruliness of those under his control.

He was followed by Ampagey, a man of-good character, who received orders from the then Comandante B. to see to it that the Ibaloys became Christians. Not being able to achieve this, he was whipped by the -Comandante and his life was otherwise made miserable. As it appeared that the people did not follow him, he was removed from office. The successor of Ampagey as kapitan was Apulog Minse who held that post for four years. During this time, a certain comandante repeatedly forced Apulog to comply with the desire of his superior that the Ibaloys be induced to become Christians, and that they build good roads. This caused the people much hardship and aroused their hostility. A number of them took to flight, unwilling to be baptized or to work on the roads without proper remuneration.

Apulog then told the comandante about this unrest and accompanied these representations with presents in gold until the comandante became his good friend.

Upon Apulog Minse's leaving office, he was succeeded by Kaldyas, the father of Ugasdya, wife of Kustasio Karantes. Kaldyas experienced the same difficulties as Apulog, but maintained himself in the good graces of his superior by following Apulog’s footsteps.

Kaldyas was followed by Enrique Ortega Dangvis, father of Bayosa. During his term, another cruel comandante mulcted the kapitan and others of presents in the form of cattle, eggs, chicken, rice, etc.

Dangvis was succeeded in office by Makay. During his term the comandante ordered soldiers to march to Mankayan, so that Makay had the same difficulty as Dangvis in procuring a crowd of carriers. He held office for two years.

The next kapitan was Apsan Karantes. During his term, the Spanish comandante in Benguet was one Oraa who was said to be a good official and showed fondness to the natives. He improved the road to Benguet and ordered the people to build their houses in a way to form solid villages, as he saw in this the means to promote their civilization. Thus even those residing in Akupan were obliged to have separate houses in Baguio. Apsan Karantes died while yet holding office and his untimely death was blamed on the excessive troubles he experienced in discharging his official duties.

The next kapitan was Kampolet, grandfather of Antondyo Dimas. During his tenure of office and while Comandante Oraa was absent on official business in Manila, the Comandante’s house in Benguet was destroyed by a fire allegedly caused by the carelessness of one of his servants. During his absence, many of those forced to populate Baguio and Benguet took the opportunity to go back to their original homes. Kampolet was succeeded by Dovos Badyating, the father of Alumno and Gwakat Swildyo, the latter of whom died as president of Tuba in 1931. (Comments welcome at adambaguio2009.wordpress.com)