BASAY

Origin

The Municipality of Basay is situated at the southernmost part of the Province of Negros
Oriental. Its name was originated from the dialect word “Busay”, which means “Spring”
due to its abundance of natural springs in the area. Based on Republic Act No. 5421 “An
Act Creating the Municipality of Basay in the Province of Negros Oriental”. It was enacted
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled.
Patron
Patron Saint in Basay is Saint Nicolas de Tolentino.
Festival

The festival is usually held in 6 to 9 of March. This fiesta is locally known as Kapaw
Festival. “Kapaw” refers to an overflowing catch of fish. Basay is the province’s Fishing
Capital, each year the fishing waters of the Mindanao Sea is visited by an extraordinary
large school of fish. This always result in an overflowing catch for the local fisherman, and
hence where the name of the festival derives from.
First mayor

In the 1971 local elections, Honorable Emilio O. Sala, a Nacionalista Party candidate
won the election and on January 1, 1972, he assumed office as the first Mayor of the
Municipality of Basay for 17 years
 Bayawan

Origin
It was in 1751 when the Spanish friars first established their settlement. 116 years later,
Tolong Nuevo (Bayawan's former name) had existed as early as 1868 as part of Tolong
Viejo (now the Municipality of Sta. Catalina). It was not until 1872 when she was formally
organized as a pueblo. In 1953, the name Tolong Nuevo was changed to Bayawan, by
virtue of Republic Act 694 as approved by the 3rd congress of the Philippines, consigning
the name "Tolong" into obscurity and deep oblivion soon slowly to be forgotten by the
succeeding generations. From the former name "Tolong", it was changed to Bayawan in
a tragic tale that involved a "Bukidnon", the so-called natives of Bayawan and a priest.
The town center was previously located in an uphill settlement called 'Omod' now Brgy.
Maninihon. A chapel was erected to serve the religious needs of the new converts. One
Sunday morning while the priest was celebrating the Holy Eucharist, an enraged
"Bukidnon" barged in the middle of the assembly. In the act of consecration, while the
priest was elevating the Holy Host, this enraged "Bukidnon" threw a lance to the priest,
instantly killing him. The so-called native of Bayawan, the "Bukidnon" had this ritual called
"Mag-ahat-a" ritual practice involving the act of killing. The practice of "Mag-ahat" was to
avenge the death of their fellow tribesman to appease the spirit of the deceased. The
tragic event left an indelible mark in the minds of the local folks. Thus, the name
"Bayawan" from the Visayan term "Bayaw"– to hoist or elevate.

Festival
The Tawo-tawo Festival in Bayawan is annually celebrated on the month of February. It
marks another season of bountiful harvest in the city of Bayawan. This festival is a
thanksgiving celebration as well to the patron saint of the city, who is Santo Tomas
Villanueva. Tawo-Tawo-in-BayawanTawo-Tawo-Festival-sa-Bayawan
Tawo-tawo Festival and its History
Back in the days when farming was the means of livelihood in any province here in Negros
Oriental, crows were the most hated creatures ever in the rice fields. Of course, farmers
didn’t want to kill any of these lovely crows or maya birds so they so they decided to invent
something to drive them away. Thus, the Tawo-tawo Festival was born. The term “tawo-
tawo” literally means person-person (or person like). The tawo-tawo, better known today
as scarecrows, drove the crows or maya birds away making the town happy again with
the harvest.
Tawo-Tawo-Festival-Bayawan
After the yearly celebration of this tradition, Bayawan City was being recognized for their
intellectual ways of solving farming issues. This brought news all over Negros Oriental
and made people even more interested in watching the unique historical Tawo-tawo
Festival. Bayawan City, like every other municipality here in Negros Oriental, is a well-
known religious town. The town decided to have a celebration in accordance with the
Tawo-tawo festival and have a thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest to their patron saint
who is Santo Tomas Villanueva.
This festival is absolutely unique and enjoyable. With colorful costumes, rice field crops
and small kids dressed in bird costumes, even an old man watching TV would get up and
dance with the Latin and Samba drum beat. Other events such as the search for Miss
Bayawan, live bands and variety shows are also being held during the celebration of
Tawo-tawo festival.

Patron Saint
Santo Tomas Villanueva
(1488 – 8 September 1555) was a Spanish friar of the Order of Saint Augustine who was
a noted preacher, ascetic and religious writer of his day. He became an archbishop who
was famous for the extent of his care for the poor of his see.

LORENZO VILLAREAL
1st Municipal Mayor
1932–1936
 Siaton, Negros Oriental

Fig.1 Tambobo Bay in Siaton, Fig.2 Map of Negros Oriental with

Negros Oriental Siaton highlighted

 Siaton, officially the Municipality of Siaton, is a 1st class municipality and the
southernmost settlement in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines.
According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 77,696 people.
 Minagahat language, the indigenous language of Southern Negros as listed by
the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino. The language is vital to the culture and arts of
the people.

Brief History:
The legend of municipality can be traced back to the days before the arrival of
the Spaniards here in the Philippines. There was a tiny settlement in Bokoboko
between the now Canaway and Siaton rivers who were the descendants of one of
the ten families that moved away from Borneo with Datu Puti. The people were
prone to constant raids by pirates and forced them to move out to Olambid. They
further moved out to Calumpang as instructed by the Spanish missionaries in the
town under Eskong Yawa and finally in 1872, they settled in Poblacion.

Origin of the name “Siaton” :

Old folks say Siaton was founded on the shore between Canaway and Siaton Rivers
by one of the ten "datus" who migrated from Borneo with Datu Puti and Datu
 Sumakwel. The name is said to derive from a certain native called "Aton", who was
believed to possess mysterious powers.

Mayor:
Mayor Cezanne Fritz Diaz
Vice-Mayor Vincent Emil Arbolado

Festival:

The Inagta Festival in Siaton is probably the oldest Festival of Negros Oriental. It is a
celebration of authentic culture. It is celebrated to honor St. Nicholas of Bari, which is the
patron saint of the Municipality of Siaton. The fiesta highlight is a ritual of pagan
provenance, the Inagta, featuring dark-painted performers imitating the movements of
certain wildlife. In the olden times, myths and mystical creatures cross all over the forests
of the island. One of this ancient myth includes that only women are were able to
communicate to the enchanted creatures that lies within the forest through the Babaylan
dance. The Inagta Festival is a celebration for the courageous act of a male Agta who
disguised himself well in order to claim a magical flower antidote that could save the
leader of the village. He stole the clothes of his wife and went to the forest to bargain with
the Fairy Queen known as Reyna Diwata who held a magic flower that could cure their
tribe chief. The male Agta succeeded and went back to the village with the flower antidote
for his leader. The leader was cured and ordered his fellow Agta to make a dancing
celebration for the courage of this one male Agta.
 SANTA CATALINA

Etymology

The name of Sta. Catalina town is taken from the miraculous image of Santa
Catalina de Alejandria, the town’s patron saint.

(The town of Sta. Catalina was formerly named Tolong during the Spanish Regime.
It was ruled with three chieftains. In the process of settling, the Spaniards referred to the
chieftains as “Kamo Tolon”, (a mispronounced phrase for “Kamo Tolo” which means “The
Three of You”). Hence, the name TOLON, and then eventually TOLONG)

Patron Saint:
Santa Catalina de Alejandria
First Mayor:

1948–1951: Telesforo Belloso (first appointed Mayor)

Festival:

Parok Festival of Santa Catalina (it celebrates the contribution of bananas to the
local economy)
 ZAMBOANGUITA –NEGROS ORIENTAL

Origin

Established in 1866, the name of Zamboanguita or little Zamboanga, the gateway to

Apo Island has its origins in its neighboring city across the sea called Zamboanga City,
which is to be the 6th largest city in Philippines.

The name of the place literally means, “hanging octopus” which originates from the
local words “sab-ong” and “kuguita”. According to popular folktales, it is said that
fishermen, in the past, used to hang octopuses on big trees, thereby giving the place its
current name.

Festivals

The annual Baulan Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of May. Literally meaning,
“to plough the fields”, the festival signifies the community’s prime production of corn
and vegetables.

Patron Saint
The festival is celebrated in the honor of the patron Saint, San Isidro Labrador.

Mayor
Mayor: Kit Marc Bantaya Adanza (2010–2013)
Vice-Mayor: Glenson Elola Alanano (2010–2013)