This handwritten document is a personal letter addressed to Mayor Serapio Palma of Cantabaog, Negros Oriental, dated March 3, 1943, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The content discusses a personnel issue involving Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Dolores, seemingly about the mayor's non-approval of a man the author recommended for a position, which is tied to the management of municipal funds and a "graduating clerk." The letter suggests friction in the local administration and the sensitivity of appointments during a period of war and external control. It provides a rare glimpse into the functioning of municipal government and the complex social dynamics, including collaboration and resistance, under the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic (established October 1943, but the framework for local governance was in place). The discussion of who is a "good man" and who is agreeable to different parties reflects the delicate political environment where local officials had to navigate Japanese oversight, the expectations of the populace, and the presence of guerrilla movements in areas like Negros. Cantabaog may refer to Cantil-Ebog, now a barangay in the municipality of Canlaon, Negros Oriental (the location name is partially obscured and difficult to read).
Letter to Mayor Serapio Palma of Cantabaog, Negros Oriental, Regarding Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Dolores