Editing Tabaco (section)

===Spanish period===
According to the ''Estado Geografico Estadistico Historico'' written in 1805 by Father De Huerta, the recorded history of the city began in 1587 through the [[missionary work]] of the first [[Franciscan]] Fathers. In 1616, Fr. Pedro De Alcareso became the first permanent parish priest and established a [[parish church|church]] dedicated to [[St. John the Baptist]], the [[patron saint]] of the city.<ref name="Historical">[http://www.tabacocity.com.ph/Tourism/LocalHeritage.php "Historical Tabaco"]. Tabaco City Official Website. Retrieved on April 20, 2012.</ref>

The first inhabitants settled along the seashore and engaged in fishing and crude farming. Due to the continuous attacks by the [[Moro people|Moro]] raiders, the natives migrated to San Vicente and San Carlos, and started the foundation of the first [[poblacion]] in 1703, while the fishermen of the town transferred to the shores of the bay of what is now known as [[Barangay]] Cormidal. Under the administration of the first town executive, a church was built in Cormidal in 1731. Records on the elected ''Capitan municipal'' (town mayor) started only in 1731 with Martin Aguirre listed as the first mayor of Tabaco.<ref name="Fortune"/>

In 1811, a terrible [[typhoon]] called Baguiong Oguis or White Typhoon brought havoc to the town. This was followed in 1814 by the most destructive eruption of the [[Mayon Volcano]], which showered the areas with ashes and stone. These two events rendered many residents homeless and left the fields unproductive for many years after. It took a full decade for the people to recover, at which time they built a cemetery and laid the foundation of the present church which was completed in 17 years.<ref name="Historical"/>