Alimodian Barangay - Sinamay

Sinamay

Feast Day: May 13

Patron Saint: St. Isidore, the Farmer

               During the early years before the Spaniards arrive, there is a group of people who live peacefully, happy and prosperous in the eastern part near the town of Alimodian. In those days, the women in this place are famous for weaving the Sinamay textile or fiber. 

               The vast territory or barrio covers the sitio of Salungan, Manguining, Kudiapa, Garo, Atay-atay, Tingib, Lanag and Pinamuno. 

               When the Spaniards came in the place, they torture and abuse the residents, so the people revolted and fought and stand up for their peaceful living. The bloody revolt took place between the invaders and the native locals. What was left of the locals are those people who came out from hiding and they found the bloody and lifeless bodies of the Spaniards and their fellow natives. Due to their immeasurable grief, they can only utter "Nagsirinamay-samay" (mixed up). What they mean is that the blood of the foreign invaders mixed up with the blood of the native residents and they can never forget this tragedy in history. According to the story, these words became the origin of the name of Sinamay. 

                During the Spanish occupation, Remegio Amolar became the leader of Sinamay from 1875-1878, during the independence, Gregorio Alingalan became the leader from 1895-1902 and during World War II Candido Amoyan (1939-1946).

            

Alimodian Barangay - Quinaspan

Quinaspan

Feast Day: February 11

                  October 11 (Sitio Bugsukan)

Patron Saint:  Our Lady of Salvation

                       Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Sitio Bugsukan)

               During the Spanish occupation, this place was called Bugsukan since the water flows downward (nagabugsok) from the mountains like the waterfalls. In 1860 the place was called Quinaspan and covers sitio Cumaron, Bugtong, Barang and Cuyad. The Spanish authorities employ the people in a forced labor. Due to language barrier and miscommunication makes it more difficult for the laborers. When the Spanish soldiers say "Por Que?", the people are in panic calling for their "sinakpan" (co-worker) to work. Due to the repetition of calling these phrases it became Quinaspan. 

                Teniente del Barrio Damiano Caguimbal is the leader of Bugsukan when the name was changed to Quinaspan. The first leader of this place was Teniente del Barrio Pedro Ambacan. The old barangay central site is now called Sitio Bugsukan. Their patron saint is Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. During the early years, the feast is celebrated in this sitio until the barangay transferred to a new site. The sitio started to have their own fiesta separate from the barangay proper in October 11, 2008.    

Alimodian Barangay - Punong

Punong 

Feast Day: October 7

Patron Saint: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

               According to the elderly folks of this place, Barangay Punong already exists during the Spanish period. During the early day, the water which overflows from Pianda-an Creek stays on this place that looks like it stuck up (ginpunongan) until it widened and deepened. When the Spanish soldiers came and ask the name of the place, a man responded "nagapunong ang tubig" (the water stuck up here). Since then the place was called Punong.

               Until 1946, Punong was a part of the town of Maasin however half of it is situated within the boundary of Alimodian. So the two town decided to divide the barangay into two. In 1947, Punong became a sitio of Barangay Gines which was headed by Venancio Misamen. During those years, the barangays were disturbed by the rebel group Huk. Many residents of Punong were tortured for suspicion of Huk sympathizers so many residents evacuated to Maasin, some parts of Alimodian and other places.

                In 1950, the people started to return to their homes and Alipio Misamen was recognized as the first Teniente del Barrio. Sitio Punong separated from Barrio Gines in 1960 becoming an independent barrio. Canuto Misamen became the barangay captain from 1962-1982. During those times, the leftist rebel group New People's Army (NPA) roamed the barangays and disturb the peaceful living in these places. Some of the residents were imprisoned for suspicion of being a member or sympathizers of the rebel group. Later, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) established in the barangay and peace returned. 

                Nestor Mondega, former SK chairman, was chosen as Barangay Captain who served from 1982-1989. The first fiesta in Punong was held in October 1982 and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary was chosen as the patron saint. The first fiesta queen was Helen Misamen and the first priest to hold mass was Father Glorioso Gepolongca. All of the residents are Roman Catholic.     

Alimodian Barangay - Pianda-an Sur

                                          Pianda-an Sur

Feast Day: October 3

Patron Saint: St. Therese of the Child Jesus

               There are six household who were the pioneer residents in this place in 1870s led by Pido Ambid. In the 1880s there is a fierce battle between the Spaniards and the Katipuneros. In this place, the Spaniards ran after these Katipuneros and the caught a man too slow to run. The man shouted "Pi ang daan ko!" Since then they call the place "Piang da-an" which later became Pianda-an. 

               When the Americans came in the 1900s, Pianda-an was headed by Enrique Ambid. In this year a sugar mill was built. Someone stole the mill by two carabao pulling it. In 1920 processing of sugar cane stopped and people incur loses in their sugarcane crop. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, many people from the city evacuated to this place to hide from the enemy and returned home after liberation of Panay. 

                 In 1946, Ricardo Hisugan was appointed as the Teniente del Barrio. During his term, the residents constructed a chapel and they celebrated the first fiesta in their barangay on October 3, 1946. The patron saint is St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The image of St. Therese was stolen in 1950 and it was never returned. 

                 Quintin Anecita became the Teniente del Barrio in 1960 and Barangay Captain starting in 1964 when the church was transferred closer to thirty (30) households and also during this time when the first multi-purpose hall was completed. During the term of Captain Rogelio Tagurigan the church undergone some extensions and the electricity reach this barangay. During the term of Captain Burt Cortez, a new chapel was constructed which still stood until today.      

Alimodian Barangay - Pianda-an Norte

Pianda-an Norte

Feast Day: Second Week of February

Patron Saint: Our Lady of Salvation

               In 1900s there were only a few residents in this place led by Teniente del Barrio Crisanto Alibango Anarajado. The name of the barrio according to the elderly folks was taken during the Spanish period where there is a man going to the Buriraw and Kahimayaan creek and was asked by the Spaniards the name of the place. Due to the language barrier and miscommunication, the man answered "Pi, ang daan ko"." Since then the people started to call their place Pi-ang daan which later became Pianda-an. 

              Until World War II, Teniente Crisanto Anarajado is the leader of Pianda-an and aside from them, the pioneering families living in the place were Piojo, Misare, Anitohin and Albancia. In 1952 Teniente Anarajado died and was succeeded by her daughter, Cristita Anarajado Albancia. Due to the vast expanse of the land and the long distance of houses, the barrio was divided into two: Pianda-an Norte (North) and Pianda-an Sur (South) before the 1960s. Juan Aldabar succeeded Cristita Albancia from 1960-1963 and in 1964 Cristita Albancia returned as a captain and served in that position until 1980. 

            In 1981 Jesus Cabalfin became the barangay captain of Pianda-an Norte and the people plan to have a fiesta. The residents choose Our Lady of Salvation as their patron saint and the people donated to buy an image of their patron saint. The first fiesta in the barrio was celebrated on February 11, 1981 and celebrate it every second week of February.   

Alimodian Barangay - Pajo

Pajo 

Feast Day: August 16

                  Second Saturday of January (Sitio Balogo)

Patron Saint:  St. Roch

                      Holy Child Jesus (Sitio Balogo)

               Barrio Pajo was established in 1858 according to the Spanish documents. The name of the barrio came from a creek called "Pajo" which became the camp of the Philippine Army during World War II.

               During the term of Mamerto Quirante alias Etok, the residents planned to construct a chapel but before that so many people got sick. Teniente Etok held a meeting to choose a patron saint for the sick and they choose St. John the Baptist yet they haven't held a fiesta. 

                In 1940 when Teniente Etok passed away Teniente Aurelio Quirante alias Orel took the leadership. During that time, there are lots of pests and insect that infest the crops of the farmers, so Teniente Orel called for a meeting to discuss with the people who will be the patron saint they will pray for to get rid of the insect and pest infestations. They choose St. Roch so Teniente Orel bought an image of St. Roch for the barrio chapel. 

               The first fiesta of Barrio Pajo was held on August 19, 1942 with Msgr. Carlos Crucero, the parish priest of the town officiating the first mass in the barrio. Since August is a rainy month and the road to the barrio is muddy and difficult to reach, the priest requested that the feast be transferred in April. So in April of the following year, the feast was held and the first fiesta queen was Epefania Quirante. In later years, the people went back to the original feast day in August in the very date of St. Roch feast day. 

              The barangay prides itself of the Aganan River Plaza, primary school, and Pleywun Ravine in which the people believes that if one part of ravine will erode, someone will die. 

              Sitio Balogo became a part of Barangay Pajo since 2007 but before that it was a sitio of Barangay Cagay. The residents of the sitio started to celebrate a feast on January 10, 1995 in honor of the little child Jesus. Since then the feast is held every second Saturday of January.     

Alimodian Barangay - Manduyog

Manduyog 

Feast Day: January 31

Patron Saint: Holy Child Jesus

               During the Spanish occupation, this place was a woodland. The place became infamous for being the hiding place of the brigands in the wood who steal animal from surrounding barrios. 

               According to the old stories of elderly folks, there are some Spanish soldiers who visited the place and ask for the name of the place. An innocent resident responded by saying "ang mga buyong nagapangguyod kasapatan" (brigands who pull out animals). In a short understanding of the Spaniards, they call the place Manduyog. 

               Manduyog started to have an increase in settlement before the war in the 1920s at the same time the woods started to disappear.  The place became an independent barangay in 1969.  Twenty (20) families each bought 100 sq. m. homelot which costs twenty (20) pesos each.