Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa

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Narciso José Anastasio Clavería y Zaldúa, 1st Count of Manila (Catalan: Narcís Josep Anastasi Claveria i Zaldua; May 2, 1795^[1] – June 20, 1851) was a Spanish army officer who served as the Governor-General of the Philippines from July 16, 1844, to December 26, 1849.

Clavería is widely recognized as a reformist and modernizing administrator. He traveled through many provinces trying to learn the needs of Filipinos. He encouraged agriculture, improved the streets and suburbs of Manila, and succeeded in helping the country.^[3] He was given the title Count of Manila.^[2][4] The towns of Claveria in Misamis Oriental province, Claveria in Masbate province, and Claveria in Cagayan province were named in his honor.^[5]

His grandson,

Early years

Narciso Clavería was a native of the

From the days of the Spanish conquest, some Filipinos had received Spanish surnames. Most people, however, had no surnames, which caused confusion. On Wednesday, November 21, 1849, Clavería issued a decree sending long lists of Spanish and local 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 the names for people in that town began with the same letter of the alphabet.^[3] For instance, surnames starting with "A" applies for those who lived in Alimodian while those starting "M" apply for those who lived in Miagao.

First steamships in the Philippines

The first

Clavería organised an

Clavería mandated that the governors should not engage in trade. This 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 Philippine 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. Often these fortunes were made by dealing unjustly or because of the monopoly they exerted in certain areas.^[3]

Other acts during his term

A casino called "Sociedad de recreo" (" Recreation Association ") was established on Thursday, October 31, 1844. His proposal to establish military library was approved on Sunday, February 15, 1846. A monument to

In 1849, Clavería requested that he be allowed to retire. After which he left the position of governor-general and returned to Spain.[8] He was a man of culture, probity, and industry.^[3] He was made a senator in 1850 but died the following year on June 20 in Madrid.^[6][9]

References