In the years 1698 until 1836, San Juan was just a barrio of the large town of Rosario located in the eastern part of Batangas. From 1837, the government of San Juan was governed by tinientes or Deputies with term of one to two years. However, when San Juan was recognized as a separate town in 1843, the position of tinientes was replaced by Cabezas de Barangay serving one for each new barrio. It was only in 1848 when the Spanish government officially recognized the independence of San Juan from its mother town of Rosario, and was given the name San Juan de Bocboc.