Barangay Mahabang Dahilig

Details

Thursday, 08 February 2024 - 1:40:00 PM

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF MAHABANG DAHILIG

1. The present official name of the barrio is Mahabang Dahilig.

2. Popular name of the barrio, present and past, derivation and meaning of this name. Names of sitios included within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrio.

a. The former name of the barrio was "buayahan". Buayahan was derived from the word “buaya”, meaning crocodile. It was believed that the river in this barrio Buayahan, which was formerly made up of the present barrios of Mahabang Dahilig. San Isidro & Sto. Niño was infested with crocodile. The settlers of the place called "Buayahan".

b. The present popular name of the barrio is Mahabang Dahilig. This originally means long hills. It is called by such a name because when the river came to be infested by crocodiles, the inhabitants sought a safer place for refuge on the hill-sides. When the river became peaceful, the people instead of returning to their former home they settled in the valley just below the place where they built their temporary homes. Since then Mahabang Dahilig Proper became a separate barrio.

NAME OF SITIOS:

1. Malalim, meaning deep is situated in the northern part of the barrio.

2. Loku-loko is another sitio at the southern tip of Mahabang Dahilig.

3. Sosyo, means cooperative business. The sitio is in the southern part of the barrio.

4. Original Families : The earliest known inhabitants of the barrio were the members of the Ebora family. Other were the Ronquillos and Panganiban These still form a greater part of the present population.

5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date:

a. Rufino Ronquillo - known as "Kabeza"
b. Pedro Cueto
c. Serafin Ronquillo
d. Esteban Panganiban
e. Juan Ebora
f. Pedro Ebora
g. Simeon Panganiban

6. At present the sitios mentioned above are all inhabited.

7. Date of historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins. The first public school building was built in 1925. The improved school house was burned in 1939 establishment of the Japanese camp in 1943.

8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place:

a. During the Spanish occupation, there were few skirmishes between the Spanish soldiers and the insurrectos. There were excellent hiding places for these Filipinos revolutionists because of the thick woods. The Spanish civil guards had a better chance of capturing their enemies because they use superior weapons, but the brave natives would not surrender. Many men were killed on both sides. Some Spanish veterans were still living, one of them is Domingo Ebora.

b. During the American occupation, up to World War II, when the Spaniards left the Philippines in 1899, the American took the former place as Filipino conquerors. However the American left the recorded events in the history of Mahabang Dahilig. On the other hand, the barrio people aspired for the improvements of the community economically, politically, and socially. The farmers learned better ways of farming because they learned to use fertilizers to produce better crops. School progressed because of the well trained teachers who at present teach in the barrio. During this period, a barrio head was selected to become the leader of the barrio.

c. During World War II : In December 1941, when the war broke out, Mahabang Dahilig became an evacuation place. During the early part of the war the evacuees and the barrio residents were not much troubled exception occasional frightful experiences due to news of coming of the Japanese soldiers in the sitio of Malalim. Tunnels were built; domestic animals are used as their food and as beast of burden. Farm works was abandoned for fear and at times due to less guerillas organization.

d. After World War II: n the early part of 1945, the barrio folks found themselves to fear, undernourished, and sticky. The coming of the American brought new life to the people. That was on January 1945, when all barrio people cheered and thanked God for the return of the Americans in our country. The jobless were able to find work and their home life was restored.

9. a. Destruction of lives, properties, and institutions during war, especially in 1894-1900 and 1941-1945. Life and property were destroys during the war in 1896-1900. In 1941-1945, properties were destroyed. When the Japanese soldiers made camps in the barrios in 1943, some homes were destroyed. Working animals were taken for food and some as beast of burden.

b. Measure and accomplishments towards rehabilitations and reconstruction of following World War II. Upon the coming of the liberation, government offices were restored. The parents of the Filipino veterans were given pensions by the organized Philippine Veterans Board. Jobs for job-seeking people were given, homes and public buildings were reconstructed through the Rehabilitation program of the United States government.