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Friday, March 25, 2016

The Chapel In Balaan Bukid In Jordan




It seems that at all times, God and the angels grants important messages to mankind through the means of dreams and vision. This what transpired in the following story:

There is a priest living in Santa Barbara. He dreamed of the mountain in Jordan. In his dream, he was ordered by God to build a chapel in that mountain. Upon peering over the window, the first mountain he sees will be the one he will put up a chapel with. This dream kept on returning to him repetitively. So he insists on looking that said area. The priest reached Guimaras and asked for the way towards the place he is tracing. On his first and second visit, he has a difficulty of navigation because of the wilderness of everything. On his third attempt, he brought with him some crucifix and medallions. In every step he climbs, he drops a medallion and was buried on the ground by his assistant who clears the area and then puts a marker. The fourteen (14) medallion symbolizes fourteen (14) stations of the cross. In a nearby area where the fourteenth (14th) medallion was buried, it was marked for a chapel to be build. Today, a giant cross of the chapel situated on top of the mountain is visible. It can be seen from a distance from across the shore. This area is flocked most especially on the first day of May, feast day of St. Joseph the Worker as a patron of laborers and workers.


Photo Sources:

www.thirstyblogger.com

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Municipality of Jordan In Guimaras


Jordan Port Mango Marker






The smallest plaza in the Philippines and one of the smallest in the world, Jordan Plaza




The former name of this town was Nagaba. There are two lovers who wished to marry but it was opposed by their parents but love is so powerful. One night, the lovers eloped and rode a banca boat. In the a fit of fury of their parents when they learned of what they did uttered:

         "Kabay panggabaan sila. (Hope they will punish by God)."

In a turn of events, when they are in the middle of the sea there's a madness of the weather. The boat capsized and the two were drowned. Since then, the place was called "Nagaba" from the word "Gaba" which means punishment.

One version of the origin of the name Nagaba. Their parents opposed their courtship but in spite of this, they went on with the wedding. On their way home they pass by the forest. They are walking when all of a sudden a big snake wrapped all over the woman. In confusion of the guy he immediately thrust the snake with a bolo but unfortunately he cut the neck of his bride. For this grim event, they call the place Nagaba.

In 1928 the folk song was released about Jordan town. Eventually, the name Nagaba was replaced by Jordan because the place was surrounded by water. It symbolizes the Jordan river where Jesus was baptized.



Photo Sources:



https://gian05.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/a-blast-in-guimaras/

http://trixiereyna.com/travel/8-things-to-do-in-guimaras/

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The Emergence Of An Island In Guimaras








The island of Guimaras which was sighted by the eyes of Dr. Jose Rizal whose name was taken from the name of a girl, Guia, the princess daughter of a far-away datu; and to the name of the son of a slave - Mara. The two, Guia and Mara are of the same age and secretly in love with each other. However Guia is betrothed to marry to a prince of Sugbu and the choice of her father cannot be refused by the princess because her refusal will put the kingdom in danger.  The wedding day of the princess. It is laden with intense sadness because the sighs of her heart is for her boyfriend - Mara. In that breath taking moment the power of love has spoken. All of a sudden Mara grabbed Guia and both of them jumped off the cliff in the heart of the sea. Eventually, in the place where they fell came the emergence of an island - the island of Guimaras.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Origin Of The Name Of Dumangas




Dumangas Iloilo Marker 








Dumangas Port



The name Dumangas is a combination of the Kinaray-a word "duro" which means many and the Spanish word "mangas". The place also has a bounty of mangoes.  Noon time and the heat is scorching when a Spaniard came to the place. He inquire to a native in his own native language about the name of the community. The native who was asked could not understand what Spaniard had said and in fear of the foreigner struggles to utter a word. Thinking that what he is asking is the name of the tree, that the shelter gives pleasure to the traveler had responded "Dos Manggas," which means a couple of mango trees.

According to a version, the name of "Sitio Du (de) Manggas" was given by a Spanish French expedition leader of Legazpi  here in Panay. He could not pronounce  "de" (meaning of) instead he uttered "du". So on his report to Legazpi, he mentioned "Sitio Du Mangga," a place abundant of mangoes. Legazpi thought that was the real name of the area, so in making the early maps that name was used for that particular place. Shortly after, the name of the place was shortened to Dumangas.

Anothe theory tells that when Captain de Haya arrived in this place from Cebu, he saw a lot of people are wearing barong with "camisa de chino"  with long sleeves (manggas).  There were also lots of mangoes being sold since its market day. Eventually it was shortened to Dumanggas.




Photo Sources:

https://www.ph.geoview.info

www.exploreiloilo.com

Monday, March 21, 2016

The Legend Of The Town Of Dingle




Dingle Town Welcome Sign 








Memorial to the Cry of Lincud Heroes 









Dingle Church 




Long time ago, Dingle is not yet known by the people since it has no name. One day, a Spaniard came to this place. The Spaniard saw some beautiful maiden taking some bath at the river. During the early days, there were no soap so the ladies used some sticky clay to clean their long hair. The Spaniard went to a lady and ask the name of the place. The lady thought the Spaniard ask what she feels when using the sticky mud as cleansing agent, she immediately responded "Maingle." The Spaniard just nod and nod and continued with his journey. While the horse is running, the Spaniard forgot a little the words the lady spoken to him so when someone asked where did he came from, he responded "Dingle" instead of "Maingle." Since then they call the town Dingle.

According to former Mayor Cipriano Montero of Dingle and Reverend Father Felipe Potente, in an old legend, the name Dingle came from the stones that were commonly called in the Visayas as "Tampi" or "Dalipe." The stone is mahingle or hard. The hard (mahingle) stone is found in the northern part of the poblacion or town center which serves as a natural dike to prevent from continued flowing in the shores caused by the flooding in Jalaur river.




Photo Source:

https://www.elhaciendero.com


Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Story Of The Islands In Carles




The islands of Carles, Iloilo on the map 








Antonia Beach in Carles, Iloilo



From a distance, Isla de Gigantes or Gigantes Island, one of the islands of Carles, is about half an hour boat ride from the mainland Carles shapes like a giant lying.

In a village of Punta Bulakawe, town of Carles, there is a childless couple. In their great desire to have a child, they thought of visiting all the saints and ask for at least a child. Months has passed and the woman felt the heaven answered their prayers. She got pregnant and gave birth. They wonder greatly how the child grow up so fast. The height and weight could not fit into their house. At one year-old, he could not climb up the stairs of their home due to his size and weight. An average old person is only as tall as his knees. In short, he became a giant.

When he became a teenager, he lived in a mountain that's not too high. The mountain was called Beheya Hill.

When the giant teen walks, it is as if the surrounding is trembling and the rumbling of his steps is causing the tremor of the entire town and because of that he was called "Higante Tay-og" (Giant Tremor).

Higante Tay-og is very kind and helpful but due to his size, he was feared and the people of his age doesn't go near him. He never experienced playing with other children. No one dares to go near him, no one loves him except to a concerned, considerate mother who felt very sorry for him. His father instead of being sympathetic blame his wife to where she conceived the boy. Each time the people would see the giant, they immediately run away in fear. Thus the once gentle face was changed with anger and the once considerate child became savage.

He decided to live in Behiya Hill since he was feared. Just two or three steps only of the mountain and he's on top. To entertain himself, he learned how to smoke a tobacco. Each time he smokes, the whole surroundings darkened by the smoke and sometimes when he swallows the smoke, he coughs and his coughing seems like a thunder that cause tremors in the entire town. So the people prepares for the coming hurricane. The giant became friends with all the wild and stray animals.

One day he found a boat docking at the foot of his home, He waited and saw it carrying an old woman and a beautiful woman. The woman has a long hair and fair skinned. In her ways, posture and garment, she is a stranger and never knew where she came from. To what Higante Tay-og heard, the maiden was called Prinsesa Maganda (Beautiful Princess) and the old woman is her grandma. They settled in a hut located at the foothill of the mountain. This hut was left by the owner since Higante Tay-og live in Behiya Hill.

On the first sighting of the giant young man to the lady, he felt an unusual feelings for her.  The next day he caught some fish and left it at the doorstep of the hut. Sometimes he left in the hut the pet animals he cared. He kept on doing it until they discovered his kindness. Until one day, the people were just amazed to find out Higante Tay-og and Prinsesa Maganda were lovers. They set their wedding on a full moon. Higante Tay-og is so busy preparing for the coming festivities. He gathered some burot (a kind of plant in the forest), squash, gabi root crop, pomelo, calamansi, sugarcane for the wedding. He also got the Tulun-an (huge pot) of his mother and gathered some cogon grass and anahaw leaves to be used on their house. He also prepared a binangon (itak in Filipino), nigo and he looked for a big shoe for him and small shoes for the princess.  He gathered them all at the top of the Behiya Hill. Eve of the wedding while Higante Tay-og is still busy gathering all the needs for the wedding, there came a paraw carrying the pirates. When they anchored at the hut, they saw the beautiful princess. They salvaged the princess and brought her to the paraw inspite of her pleadings. While this is happening, Higante Tay-og is on the other mountain, gathering what's needed for the wedding. The paraw has not yet gone far, a lot of people came to rescue the lady. They used some spears and some pointed sticks and stones to defend the lady. During the fighting between the people and the pirates, Higante Tay-og arrived. When a pirate saw they were in danger, he stabbed a dagger in the heart of the lady. The heaven wept with the death of the lady. So the giant overturned the paraw and looked for the princess but it's too late. In his huge grief, the giant wept and wept. His cry seems like a thunder and his tears is like a rain that falls. He slowly carries the body of the princess and brought it to his home. In his madness, he picked the gifts one by one and with all strength throw it to the ocean. He first picked the small shoes and throw it to the left  and became an island of Sapatos Diutay (Small Shoes). He then throw the big shoes and throw it hitting near the small shoes and became island of Sapatos Daku (Big Shoes). He picked up a bundle of cogon grass and with all strength throw it far and became the island of Sicogon. This became a tourist attraction until it dwindles in the 1980s with the popularity of Boracay but will soon be redeveloped to reclaim its reputation and status.

He sighted the big pot Tulun-an which contains burot, pomelo, squash, gabi and throw it far. Its content were spread in different areas. The Tulun-an became the isle of Tulun-an. The burot became the isle of Naburot. The pomelo called Kabugaw became the isle of Cabugao and the squash called Kalabasa became Isla de Kalabasa. He then faced the nigo basket full of anahaw leaves and sugarcane. He throw it upwards and fell nearby. The nigo fell near Punta Bulakawe and became the isle of Manigunigo which is now a lighthouse. The anahaw became the isle of Anahaw and cana became Isla de Cana.

When he saw that he has nothing left to pick, he gently kissed the body of the dead princess and float it in space. It seems like he still wasn't able to accept the truth, he grabbed the bolo on his waist and cut his body in half and throw the bolo afar and became the isle of Balbagon. The half body of the giant fell and separately drop but not far from each other. The first half became the isle of Gigante Norte and the other became Gigante Sur. The dead body of the princess floating in the clouds also fell eventually after so long and dropped at the head of Gigante Norte and became the isle of Hegantuna. Over a long time, the paraw of the pirates drifted to the Higante Sur and became a sandstone. The shape of the stone is like that of a boat called bapor thus the locals called it bapor-bapor. This stone is said to have a mysterious cave and lots of unexplained phenomenon is said to occur there.



Photo Sources:

https://www.discovercarles.page4.me/25.html

https://www.exploreiloilo.com

Saturday, March 19, 2016

The Origin Of The Name Carles




The town of Carles is the last town of the fifth district and the northernmost town of Iloilo, about 139 kilometers from Iloilo City. In accordance with the provision on the Executive Order No. 90 issued by Governor - General Francis Burton Harrison, the town of Carles separates from the town of Balasan on the first day of January, 1920. Carles is made of different islands of which the biggest were: Gigante Norte, Gigante Sur, Sicogon and Talun-an. There are two lighthouse in the town: one in Gigante Norte and the other one is in the rocky isle of Manigonigo. The town of Carles is separated by Jintotolo Channel, in the south by the towns of Balasan and Estancia and in the west by the town of Pilar in Capiz province.

The former names of the town were Punta Bulakawe and Badiang. The name Carles was used in honor of the Spanish Governor of Iloilo Province, Jose Maria Carles after he granted the petition of the people of Carles to make it as an independent town.


Photo Source:

http://www.archieoffduty.com/2013/06/the-hidden-paradise-enroute-islas-de.html