Ubay, Bohol, Philippines, 6315

INTRODUCTION:

Historical writing in the Philippines has been either silent or mute with facts where it concerns our province Bohol.

There are some passing references on the history of the ‘Blood Compact’ between Raja Sikatuna with the Spaniards and the longest Dagohoy’s Independent State ( it has a territorial jurisdiction, followers, independences from Spain, and sort of benevolent monarchy which strained of religious admixture of Christianity and indigenous diwata rituals) and subsequent quasi-government corresponding historical data of our town were lack as much, even at the later part of the Spanish regime.Records were scanty and lacking in connective details and none of those that concern with our ties with Dagohoy’s Government, its subsequent conquest and its dying ashes.In 1951 project of the Bureau of Education through it’s over burden ushers regarding the respective station history even though dashingly done were enlighten in varied views but sad to say that Ubay Educational District was missing among the volumes submitted to the National Library.

However, the work of Dr. Cecilio Putong, the Thesis of Mr. Cadaves, on the origin of the town on the third district of Bohol and Major Sotero Nuez Misa’s Dagohoy Rebellion can open a data of speculative theory and clues for review for what are accepted as local fact or legend. The interviews of this works were however too young to catch the timely turn of the events of which they are active participants to minimize un–writing destruction of data and over bias effect. Many facts about the Dagohoy epic are forever lost and may take a lot of patience, detective works to recover them, if at all with discrepancy of records about the turned of the century or early Spanish Regime were many participants, surrenders, conquerors or anonymous, non- surrenders were, including its scolded remnants are some of the most significant parts of our missing local history specially those referring to BANGKAW or BERODJA.

When Father Gaspar Benito Morales, S,J, was the curate of Inabanga, Bohol in 1744 an unfortunate incident sparked a revolt which lead to the establishment of Dagohoy Quasi – Government and declared the Bohol Independent State on July 4, 1744 to be free from the Spanish domination, leading sway not only at the interior territories but also among the eastern coastal destined to last even after the death of the revered leader.

Dagohoy and his men sailed out lightning raids on the lowland towns, assaulting the local Spanish garrisons, looting the churches, and slaughtering Spaniards, particularly the Jesuits priest.  The rebellion ruled over the whole island like a tropical storm. On January 24, 1746 one of the Dagohoy’s bold warriors killed Father Giuseppe Lamberte, an Italian Jesuit and curate of Jagna. Shortly afterwards, on April 1746, the hated Father Gaspar Benito Morales was killed. Dagohoy’s personal vengeance was fulfilled. But he continued his rebellion, for his armed movement was organized not merely to liquidate a personal enemy, but to regain the lost freedom of his people and to make his beloved Bohol a land of free men.

Dagohoy’s Governance covers the maximum jurisdiction bigger than our mother town, Talibon. It covers the whole Pilar town, further barrio of San Isidro up to Ipil River (Rio Fragata in the National Archives), thru Cabatang creek over Hinlapaan and Cabulao hills down to the seashore of Naasug channel and all of Carlos P. Garcia town formerly Lapinig Grande and or Pitogo.

History of our town Ubay was connected with the historical events of the Dagohoy Independent State. At an early date we were virtually a remote territorial part of Inabanga under revolt. Ubay became a corridor of Dagohoy’s warrior. There was a trail in the hinterland to follow by the native folks in going to Ubay from the foot of Hinlapa-an hills (rich of forest products and wild animals), down to coastal areas and sandy beaches of Biabas, Sinandigan, Poblacion, Achila and Camambugan where abundance of sea foods and marine life  sustained and supplied the needs of the strong Boholanos that lasted for long years of struggle.

According to the final campaign report by Captain Manuel Sanz in 1830 at Talibon (when Ubay was her visita pueblo) that catholic rites of marriages, birth and death were official within that Dagohoy Government together with our Diwata Rituals.

It was at this point of our history that we have a glimpse of an important event in connection with our local history and the long Dagohoy Independence Revolt. Two of the trustee Lieutenants of Dagohoy revolution; Going (Ignacio Aranez or Arait) and Berok (Bernabe Samonte) had longed to returned to the catholic folds and request their chief to return to Inabanga to help rebuilt the burned church which was the subject matter discussed by the catholic fathers in previous negotiation, but Dagohoy turned it down. Oging and Berok were infiltrated by the Spaniards and became spy and intelligence agent who revealed which resulted to the discovering of the secrets of Dagohoy’s hiding places. The Spanish authorities were studying the situation and take advantage of their intelligence agent to defy the common enemy of the government.

Dagohoy died not in the battle but with a humble dog bite that greatly weakened the cause of the Boholanos, two years before 1829. He was succeeded by his two valiant sons (Handog and Auag) and successors with extreme courage determined to continue their resistance against the tyranny of Spain. Reaching to the ears of our patriot that the secrets of the revolution was revealed through intelligence; they sent their women and children to different lowland places for evacuation and to safeguard their loved ones.

On May 7, 1827, the Filipino–Spanish lead troops came from the neighboring towns of Guindulman, Jagna, and Talibon, including Ubay, attacked and destroyed the commercial center of Danicop and Catagdaan by Captain Celidonio Villahermoso upon the orders of the Alcalde Mayor Jose Lazaro Cairo of Cebu. The Boholano patriots resisted fiercely but they were defeated.

Missing Dagohoy’s excellent leadership, Maximino (Tugpa) the brave younger brother of Francisco “Dagohoy”  Sendrijas continued the battle to defy the Spanish power. He moved the quasi-government and make refuge to nearby Inaghuban (Boasa) cave at Pilar, Bohol. In April 1828, another Spanish expedition landed in Bohol after more than a year of hard campaign. Spanish finally subdued the patriots (they were under siege by the Spaniards). A huge bonfire was made at the mouth of the cave, and unfortunately, Tugpa perished because his larger body got stuck in the narrow opening of the cave. Reportedly, some 300 strong Boholanos died of suffocation as well. Others tied themselves and committed suicide rather than surrender. Inaghuban cave was the last stand and final downfall of Dagohoy Independent Government on August 31, 1829.            

The surrendered men, the remnants of Dagohoy’s Government were put in concentration camp to different low land villages in Bohol; Batuanan, (now Alicia) Cabulao, Balilihan, Candijay and Catigbian. The first five were made into towns but Cabulao was abandoned because the inhabitants plead to Ubay and Leyte. Ubay became the placed of refugees of the followers of Dagohoy and at that date there were already almost 3, 000 Ubayanos, to reckon with and more were coming including those non-combatant and remnant’s of the Dagohoy Independent Government last battle in unknown hiding places.

Berinja “Virginia” Bugsok, the wife of Francisco Dagohoy escaped back to her homeland (for evacuation), taking away with her the tax collections and the booty of gold derived from the treasury of Dagohoy Independent Government during the attacked of the trade and religious centers of the Dagohoy rebellion. 

The stunning discovery aside from the problems of records scantiness, lingual difficulties and bios of the chronicles, was the report of Don Anicito Clarin, the American Appointed Civil Governor of Bohol in 1904, that one Richard H. Sutherland, acting provincial treasurer of Bohol in 1902 ordered the destruction of all records subsequent to the time of the Spanish Government, except those that pertained to un-appropriated lands. “What were those records part discriminating to whom? What were the data pertaining to Bangkaw or Berodja that might have been destroyed with it?”

It was very fortunate that ample church records specially of deaths, marriages and births both in our mother town Talibon and at Ubay Parish, the latter (records) was carefully saved by Mr. Ibarleo (Inday) Tubo of Son-ok, Ubay (Parish Fiscal of our town) during his flights from the occupying forces of Japan in World War II. The secretarial offices and the municipal libraries of our town cannot furnish historical data for the events following the war. Fortunately there are new several volumes of Xerox copies of reconstructed Spanish records for Bohol at the National Library and with interviews to some local respondents.

TRACING UBAY AS A PUEBLO

The early History of our town was mainly tied up with the foundation and development of Inabanga, one of the first six settlement in Bohol under the jurisdiction of the Alcalde Mayor (Governor) de Sugbu. This old name (Ubay) was derived from the fact that there were yearly tales of lives drowned in the river where on its bank were built a casa Municipal on the lot donated by the Olaivar Clan to the Civil Government of Ubay and then the Civil Government donated it to the church when the Cora Paroco have been approved as petitioned by Tan Saturnino Boyles and the Principales, to be an independent parish. The church as the center of the town, have their bells sounded when “Moros” were seen from the church’s tower,  to warn the locality concerning the Muslim pirates which were common at that time.

The church was managed by the Jesuits Fathers still under the Cebu Political Military Units or Province. Talibon was a visita pueblo de Sugbo with the barrios of Cabigyon, the pueblo Ipil presently Trinidad on a river bank of Rio Fragata (Ipil river), and further 15 kilometers eastward at the swampy river–lets along the shore was the promising settlements of Ubay with rich fishing grounds complimented with large cattle feeding ground and agricultural potentials to back up her future.

After the suppression of the Dagohoy Quasi-Government, the town was composed of two original barrios in the mainland and group of islands  located at the north-eastern rim of the province, approximately 123 kilometers from the City of Tagbilaran, Bohol, along the famous Camigao Channel, includes the islands of Talisay (previous name) before it became Pitogo (now Pres. Carlos P. Garcia) and San Pascual deep within its interior plains. Just a former barrio of Talibon where based the Spanish-Filipino forces during the final conquest of the Dagohoy Government last heroic stand at the Inaghuban cave about ten (10) kilometers from San Pascual even those times it was already predicted to be the rice granary of the province.

House Bill No. 14932 (RA5864) (1964)1969, P.D. 1228 Amending Organic Act of the Towns) sponsored by: Congressman Teodoro B. Galagar of the 3^rd district of Bohol (formerly Ubay was part) making Pitogo into a full pledge municipality that includes barangay La Suerte to the Municipality of Pilar resulted to reduced our total land area. The House Bill was met with vehement objection by the Lady Mayor Rufina Boyles Delima.

1990, another House Bill was passed to Congress, by Honorable Congressman of the 2^nd district of Bohol, David B. Tirol; creating San Pascual into a municipality but did not realized because it was vehemently opposed by incumbent Mayor Atty. Eliseo Casil Boyles for there was no consultation of the present administration. This was an act of (gerrymandering) to preserve the progress of the Municipality in line with dreams and desire that someday Ubay will become the capital of the proposed creation of a province of the Eastern Bohol.

Today, Ubay has a total land area of 29,945.28 hectares with forty four (44) barangays.

Before the final conquest, the Spanish Captain Manuel Sanz, based in Talibon studying the estuaries and rivulets as then required by previous mopping campaigns, especially Ipil rivulet (now Trinidad). Further east; Soom, Son-ok, Kajuring, Mahayahay (Tipolo), Pasanan and Biabas rivulet. These settlements could not be utilized for water transport of war logistics especially Spanish canons because it run very shortly along the seashore itself. “Ubay – ubay sa Baybayon” luyo sa kanding (now Brgy. Tapon).

The Pre-American regime carries the call the parroquia or Visita Sto. Nino (also pueblo de Ubay) at Son-ok rivulet) settlement of the Dagohoy “regime” vintage in which town, Ubay got the historic name: meaning in line with or alongside or plenty.

When we were a part of Talibon there was already a catholic make-shift chapel, a symbol of the Christian faith that was actually built by the town officials headed by Tan Saturnino Boyles, (the founding father) as prerequisites of becoming and shows interest for their intentions to be an Independent Cora Paroco. The catholic chapel was managed by the Jesuits Fathers of Talibon who visited once in a while to performed marriages, baptism, and other church duties. Toribio Reyes and other rich family that had a political standing in the community were compelled to donate a sack- full of ten realest coins to exempt them from the force labor of the colonial government of Spain.

This reales coins (Pesetas) were melted into church bells. The biggest bell was donated by Toribio Reyes (noted: año 1872 with smaller crack). The medium church bell was donated by Senor Pascual Baylon (noted: año 1872 with big crack) and the smallest with anonymous donor (noted: dedicada al Senor Sto. Nino Erneste Pueblo de Ubay año 1862). These bells are currently installed in the belfry of our Parish with a unique sound compared to other bells in the province of Bohol.

On October 22, 1877, the petition was granted then Ubay became a separate Independent parish from the matriz pueblo de Talibon Tan Tudni (Saturnino Boyles) was made assistant (Curate) to the Cora Paroco and Tan Toribio Reyes was succeeding as Governadorcillo for he was generous to the Christian faith but there was no reduction of power between the two for there was a union of the State and the church.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF “UBAY”:

Our early ancestors usually named their places after the names of the trees where it was abundant but during the Spanish colonization and the advent of the Christianity in the country derived their names from Saints and religious or legendary person.

Our towns got its name Ubay which is a contraction of the word Ubay-ubay a vernacular word which is came from its geographical, population, economics, legend and beliefs;

1. 1.Ubay – ubay means coasting along parallel to the seashore along side or in line with it;
2. 2.Ubay – ubay is to lie along the infant especially the infant is not in the crib but a floor;
3. 3.Ubay – ubay means a little bit much or somewhat plenty as when someone inquires about the bounties of a harvest or fish catch.
4. 4.Ning-ubay sa baybayon; (Historic Origin of Pueblo de Ubay) various records showed credible historical weight for the brief British interventions of the Spanish Colonization of the Philippines. The small arms produced by the Dagohoy forces made possible the ambuscade of the Spanish boat along Ipil River. This lead to the frenzied military activities by Captain Manuel Sanz at his headquarters at Talibon where plans include the critical surveys of all mangrove river and rivulets to transport military logistics during the month of June and or December solstices high tide. The Biabas and some rivulets were considered as creek while Son-ok was even considered a creek but merely a water flow retainers from the rice paddies and canal creeks along cultivated rice lands just include plains and mangroves which incidentally in parallel to the seashore.

It therefore was noted as “ALONG” or NING–UBAY without outlet seawards just a common by word, although the authorities knew that the mangroves and swamps were full of sea foods much more abundant than those of Ipil and Talibon.

They were left over the minds of the military unto the dustbins of memory altogether unwittingly to neither become the anonymous free sanctuary of Dagohoy’s followers again if unwittingly it was of no chance nor luck but rather as prepared by destiny of Camambugan where and when, time and place were fit into a perfect harmony at the hunchback shape of hill also called Bood. Where the Amazon Berudja of polyandry and Islamic culture held sway as Mr. Cliffard suggested to become an International Heritage Site.

The forgotten “UBAY” by–word beyond Lothian soul of the namesake, today ready to fall into the laps of the modern Technology as Son-ok river was destroyed by Alturas reclamation and by our own seaport.

(1.)The story goes that during the Moro raids who were seeking captives to be sold as slaves at the early part of the Spanish regime, the pirates would hear the crowning of the cocks seemingly from below the sea loosing among themselves the direction, so that they will be just coasting along the shore (ubay-ubay) unable to land on the village until when the dawning light force them to withdraw from the town. The inhabitants attributed this supposedly a miracle from their Patron Saint Senor Santo Nino who depended the inhabitants from the infidels of the Barbarians. Alone the term ”Ubay sa Baybayon” was known to the travelers on sailboats and “barotos” who used to find the settlements among the island and avoid the strong current at the channel;

(2.) Another version that the Spanish soldier inquires a housewife inside the “nipa” house about the name of the place, the housewife thought that her unexpected visitors inquiring what was she was doing, “she replied,” ubay-ubay sa bata Señor”;

(3.)And also the term that when the Spanish soldier inquire a person about his fish he caught or the bounty harvest a person simply answer “ubay-ubay” Señor.

(4.)During the final attacked by the entire forces of the Filipino-Spanish soldiers against the Dagohoy Independent Government the Spanish forces utilizes only the Ipil river which appeared in the National Archives as RIO FRAGATA to transport their armaments from Talibon to Hinlayagan taking the opportunity of the solstice to carry and drag the cannons by boats near towards the mouth of the cave and mountain stronghold for the                                                            conquest of the Dagohoy government. Other rivulets were not utilized because they were too short for the transportation. Spanish Navy was just coasting parallel along the shoreline or Ubay-ubay sa baybayon. The way of telling the origin of the name of a place retold over and over makes people readily believe and accept stories.

(Note: Interviewees referred to were Mr. Pedro Sarabosing Sr. overseers Don Eutiquio Boyles and Tay Ino Boiser and Bettes, half Auntie Estifania olaivar Boiser, whose husband was the official letter carrier of the mother town of Ubay – Talibon.)

There was a remain of a giant fossil (sea mammal) and two Spanish (ancient handy cannon) (lantaca, native name of a cannon) unearthed at Barrio Pang-pang near the mouth of Ipil River (Rio Fragata) belong to as personal property of Mayor Carlos M. Boiser of Pang-pang Ubay, and handed to town executives Mayor Sabiniano D. Cuyno and the Cannons were handed to Mayor Ricardo O. Boyles incidentally not knowing how important the cannons, it was given to a Ship Captain or (Araiz) CAPTAIN TEOFILO PAIRES (mayor’s wife cousin) who bought and sold the cannons to a Japanese Museum.

(If there is a possibility of recovering or tracing the property, inter-government negotiation  have to be done).

(The Ubay Museum together with its inseparable Library is contemplating to write the Japanese Embassy to trace and recover the ancient Spanish cannons.)

SPANISH TIME:

For many residents, the artifacts (Lusong used to pound the “bujo” to offer a guest as a signed of hospitality and the Church Bells) were the reminders that the famous Berodja was the guardian who used the mountain of Hinlapaan hills as her observational high ground, where there was a wide viewing that when Moros on board their Panco or Vintas would arrive from the tip of Bien-Unido and at the eastern part of the town the Moros would enter the Camigao channel and stay at the island of Minog and Cayagas could easily be seen in the far distance. Berodja warmed the inhabitants in the lowlands of the coming Pirate attack by blowing the horn trumpet or “bodjong” (triton’s trumpet shell) or the alternative “kuratong” made of bamboo and when the sound heard, the town bell  rings to warned the inhabitants against the Moros (term used by the enemies of our Islam brothers) who seek captives to be sold as slaves.

She rode a horseback down hills from Hinlapaan to downtown to direct the warriors to drive the enemies. She was called the horse riding amazon warrior. “Bangkaw” was her weapon of choice to fight the enemies. Many version of the legend have been told, but the most popular pertaining to Berodja was a legendary Amazon warrior, able ruler, strict but kind, generous and brave general who ruled Ubay during the Spanish era. She was influenced by the polyandry and Islamic culture.

She was seemingly similar to Berinja (Virginia) Bugsok the wife of Francisco Dagohoy) Sendrijas. The family name Bugsok, (sound vernacular) was often used mistakenly to hide her identity and her followers in disguised using similar trick for cover-up against the Spanish forces, hoping for the recovery of the sack-full of ten realest coins and the booty of gold derived from the treasury of the Dagohoy Independent State after the final downfall of the revolution.

Stories that these gold and coins were put to a big jar or “tadjaw” buried triangularly entombed with an infant so that the spirit of the infant would guard those treasures.

(source: Constancio (Tasio) Luyong, Ondol, Mabini and Marcos (Macoy) Valles, Palayang Bayan, Tipolo, Ubay.

(Note: no paper bills on the time of Berodja; the first paper money were circulated in 1852 issued by El Banco – Espanol- Fil de Isabel II)

(Note: At The Hinlapaan hills capturing the natural attractions that captures our admirations of the wide viewing, the beauty of the town that can be seen in a far distance.)

(noted: Nov. 21, 1849, Gov. Gen. Narciso Claveria giving Spanish surnames for the Filipinos, A-Z).

She owned large track of land a “hunchback like” or “Bood” in Camambugan which she raised with cattle that according to stories, that an astray animals especially white colors that may joined her flocks would automatically belong to her. Being polyandry she borrowed a tenant’s husband a night or two if she likes to. On other hand a male cow and carabao were brought to the wives whose husband spent a night with her. She was strict but kind and generous even unto herself. Nobody could refused nor question her authority since she was respected and because she possessed with physical prowess and many men was fascinated with her magical charm.

Sometimes during the Spanish occupation in the Philippines, according to stories that the King (Rei) of the island of Romblon came to our place to bought cattle, Berodja liked and lived with the King, and its believed that in the passing years the lineages of the family names of Reyes, Delima, Gaviola, Garces, and the Cuynos were the siblings and the forebears of Tan Toribio Reyes, Tan Unga (Francisco) Reyes, Tan Ambo (Ambrocio) Reyes, Tan Gero (Genovivo) Reyes and Rosalia (Sarig) Reyes were the last descendants of Berodja and the King of Romblon.

During the early part of the Spanish era, Ubay was the home of the Moro pirates that stayed in the island of Campamanog (Minog) and Cayagas, and from Punta Centinela as their lookout, the Moros could easily attacked and captured many unwary fishermen. When the Moros were pursued, they hid at the swamp of Lapinig Grande (now Pres. Carlos P. Garcia) When Francisco ‘Dagohoy’ Sendrijas lead the Boholano revolution in July 4, 1744; the Moros were still in Ubay in 1762.

Through the Moros in Ubay, the British gave arms to Dagohoy. This news had reached to the Spanish authority then the Moro pirates were driven off by the Spanish Navy sometimes and took control of the town (Ubay).

DETERMINING THE DATE:

Ubay was created in 1821 based on the tax receipt, and started to function as civil town but did not live longer nor function. Philippines was a crown colony of Spain and was under the general control of the Viceroy of Mexico from 1565 – 1821. The abuses of Spanish Friars to their colonies resulted to a fight for Independence. Mexico was under revolt from 1810 – 1821 (Internet, Mexican Revolution), finally won and proclaimed Independence from Spain on August 24, 1821. Philippines lose its relationship with Mexico. The Viceroy resigned resulted to reorganization and arrangement of the structure of the Spanish Government in the Philippines.

At that time Ubay was still remote territorial jurisdiction of Francisco Dagohoy and most of the inhabitants still resisted the Spanish government. Virtually, there was a stagnancy of Pueblo status of the town for they were no more representation to the Spanish Cortes.

In 1846, Jean Mallat, a French visitor to the Philippines published a book regarding the Philippines; History, Geography, Customs, Agriculture, Industry and commerce. In his book, he listed the existing town of Cebu in which Bohol was still a part. Our town Ubay was not among the towns listed.

On September 1, 1847 the Alcalde Mayor (equivalent to Provincial Governor) of Cebu, Don Manuel de la Canal, reported the result of the tax census of Bohol. In tax census the town of Ubay was listed, the tax census was the basis of the establishment of its Civil foundation therefore the functioning of the town Ubay was reconstructed to its civil aspect on September 1, 1847, 30 years ahead of its religious aspect that occurred on October 22, 1877 which is unique in Bohol on the creation of the town.

Ubay is a native name, it must be recalled that on July 31, 1854, a Royal Decree authorized the Spanish Governor General to give the name of a new town at his discretion. As a consequence, all towns in Bohol created from 1898 were given Spanish names by the incumbent governor General. The last town in Bohol with a native Bisayan names was town of Ipil previously Cabidion, (indicating the mosquito net waving industry was prevalent this modern Trinidad town), that created in 1950. The first to be created with Spanish name was Garcia Hernandez in 1854 on its civil aspect. There were several suggestions to change its name to our national figures but many Ubayanos prefer to retain its name.

ECONOMICS AND WAY OF LIFE:

During the pre-Spanish time Ubayanos depends on sea product, wild life, and other forest product to support their family needs. As time passing they learned and improved their way of life. Those living along the coast of the town are traders and fisherman. They caught plenty of fish every day and some catch are exported to other towns and nearby provinces. (Long before Ubay was famous of crabs or “lambay” and “alimango”).

On the hinterland they cultivated lands for growing agricultural products. They are mostly farmers that produced rice, corn, root crops, cattle, and domesticated animals. The cultivation of rice is the principal economic activity of the people which become their staple food with fish and vegetables. Our wide plain is the main factor of rice production.

Tuba is produced locally, a fermented coconut wine. The women had played a great role in those time. They are in charge of the home and do some mat and hat weaving for additional income of the family. The husband catches fish for food and cultivates the farm.

The poor families built their houses made of woods, bamboo and nipa they usually built their houses near each other and formed into villages or “balangay” to keep them from danger. They lived along the sea shore or river their easy means of transportation. Today the rich families built their houses with concrete materials with galvanized iron products with the fishermen living in the coastal and island barangays, and this trade relation was known as barter in which the center of the market was held in Panas located at the boundary of Union and Sinandigan. They enjoy their market (barter) day because they engaged in some sports activities like playing the traditional volleyball, sipa (a native football using small rattan ball) and most was the cockfighting or sabong (toquis) which become the major highlights of the activity.

Today the bounties field is fast expanding that someday this town will become a trading center due to its nearness to Cebu City and the province of Leyte with easy means of transportation. The flow of emigrants from different provinces have tremendously increased attracted by the growing expansion of business and fishing grounds due to its favorable geographical situation.

Ubay Stock Farm, the largest of its kind in the Philippines for grazing purposes hundreds of different breeds of cows, carabaos, buffalos, hog and horse imported from foreign countries by our government are placed for breeding and our people were benefited by the modern methods of artificial insemination to improve their livestock. Camambugan landing field, the historic site during the 2^nd World War, Ubay Port, Tapal Wharf, the creation of don Eutiquio Boyles for imported cattle landing seaport to improve our native stocks. Philippine Carabao Center that produced carabao fresh milk and dairy products. Philippine coconut Authority, and Palm Oil Plantation, Capayas Water system, irrigates hundreds of areas of rice fields. Bohol Experimental Station (BES) and the don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital constructed at the donated lot of don eutiquio Boyles (thru his heirs Felomina Boyles vda del Valle, and his grandson Eutiquio del Valle) and many others that back-up in the future to come.

During the early period, arnis was used to practices as art of self defense with wooden stick locally known to us siety paris. Cockfighting became popular and has been continue to be until the present time by our townsfolk especially aged that enjoyed watching the only things that a person have. There was also a horse racing, bullfight which was usually celebrated during fiesta that was held at our playground (now Gov. E. Boyles Sports complex).

Each year Ubayanos celebrate fiesta, the feast day of our Patron Saint Senor Sto. Nino. It was celebrated with ay, music, frenzied dancing evolution to Sinulog, more often banquets, religious procession. Our official holiday was the last Thursday and Friday of January of the year. It is our tradition that those living outside the town would take their vacation just to celebrate fiesta with their families.

Ubayanos had extended family relationship which important in many cases, extended family lives together. Some parents arrange the marriages of their children (buya – buya). They prefer smooth relations with their relatives, and friends. Ubayanos were gentle, friendly and cheerful people. They are known for their courteous and hospitality and close to their family ties. To them “BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER”.

Some families were venerated with ancestral spirits with special religious rituals. They performed Diwata rituals with frenzied dancing evolution through Christian Sinulog as thanksgiving for the bounty harvest and good health. They performed not only thanksgiving but also offer sacrifices to Minonos or Anitos for help and guidance for more health and abundant harvest. Ubayanos were lover of music. They had various musical instruments and numerous folk dances and kundiman or songs for the different occasions. They loved folk dances, kuradang, kuratcha and harana, (yesteryears way of courting a girl thru music), balitaw and versu.

Ubay consist of a rich mixture of religious, reflecting their influence of many culture. About 15% of the Ubayanos were Chinese blood. Majority of them are Roman Catholic which was introduced by the first Christian Missionaries early as of 15^th century. Some tribal people practices Spiritual Worship of their own. They buried their dead in an elevated ground or suspended sites. They laid money, jewelry, and weapons sometimes along the dead. After the interment, the relatives and descendant gathered for nine (9) consecutive nights, and another forty (40) night’s extension. They offer prayers and songs for the salvation of their love ones.

EDUCATION:

During the Spanish regime, a Spanish school was held in the convent where the children and adults were taught and learned the “cartilla” method of rudiments of reading, writing and prayers. The coming of the Americans the first school was conducted in a private house of late Jose Garces family at Poblacion. In 1915 Ubay Central School was established but it was destroyed during the 2^nd World War, however it was reconstructed after the war.

Many Ubayanos has dreamed to have a High School in Poblacion. It was opened in a 12 hectares on the lot donated by Gov. Eutiquio Boyles during the administration of Mayor Lucio O. Cutanda Ubay High School was materialized in 1946 but as time passing, Ubay High School encountered many problems caused by the interventions of the local politicians and unfortunately the school was closed in 1954. The discrepancy on the part of our local politicians had a great influence to our educational progress to our youth whom someday they could contribute prestige and honor to our town.

Abraham Lincoln College was established 1948 under Atty. Donato Galia. It offers 2 years E.T.C., A.B and secondary vocational courses. There were students from Talibon were coming to study at Abraham Lincoln College namely Jose (Peping) Evangelista,Dolores (dolet) Evangelista, Sergio Rosales, Felipe Evangelista, Troy (Eutiquio) Evangelista, Pedro Garcia, Andres Canas, Miguel and Quiling Reyes. In short Ubay was a head of our Mother Town, Talibon when comes to education.

It was a non sectarian school but it does not lasted for long time because of financial problems resulted to quarrel of our leaders it ended up in 1953. Parents had to send their children just to finish college courses to different colleges in Bohol, Cebu and Manila.

The closing of the Junior High School and the Abraham College was supplemented by the establishment of the Holy Child Academy Academy in 1955 under Fr. Germiniano Cempron, the first director and Mr. Aquedo Maboloc as the first principal. The Holy child Academy stability prevents the problems of political interventions.

At present we have five public high school established to materialized for a higher education of our youth that can be obtained within our locality. National Science High School, San Pascual Agricultural national High School, Camambugan National High School, Biabas Trade High School and Union National High School.

To meet the increasing demands of our growing college, the Bohol Northeastern College was founded in 1996 and established by famous Ubayano great political leaders (Erico B. Aumentado and David B. Tirol) with their associates with noble and dedicated by providing the quality education to uplift and find the rightful place in the challenging world of the Ubayanos and the nearby municipalities.

Eutiquio Boyles was elected as first Presidente Municipal in our town during American Regime in 1901 – 1907. He was unsung political Leader who was caught in the drumbeats of the 2^nd World War, the grand old man saved the townsfolk from the Japanese executions, succeeding Director Gingona as the Director of the Non- Christian Tribe in Mindanao (now Maguindanao, North and South Cotabato and Large portion of Lanao an Davao). He was responsible for the recognition of the Muslim Royalties and expansion of political rights preservation of tribal customs and tradition,complete religious freedom. Prioritized tribal scholarship fought for the policy of benevolent pacification fort all tribal recalcitrant minorities.

First Elected Governor of Bohol in (1916 – 1919) he was also elected two times representative or (Deputado) of the 3^rd district of Bohol to the first National Assembly in July 30, 1907 – 1909 and 1909 – 1911. As an Assemblyman he was a committee member of Education, Agriculture, Banks and civil Service. He was the brained and co- Authored of the Gabaldon Act, the first law of the National Assembly appropriating in the amount of  one million (1,000,000.00) pesos for the building of barrio schools in the Philippines especially until up to elementary concrete school building at Central Elementary School. He allocated the Nation’s biggest stock farm which wharf age exchange for foreign breeding. Foresaw town’s plains as rice granary for the province of Bohol.

Hon. Manuel L. Quezon, the majority floor leader of the National Assembly was closed and college –mates of Hon. Eutiquio Boyles at the University of Sto. Tomas because of their intimate relationship, Hon. Manuel L. Quezon asked him to waive (co-author) his House Bill to Assembly of Nueva Ecija Hon. Isauro Gabaldon in returned of his appointment as Director of the Bureau of the Non- Christian Tribes succeeding Dir. Gingona, Co- drafted the U.P. charter in July 18, 1908 (Batas Bilang 1870) and full support for the Bureau of Government Laboratories (Sciences). He was a Mason practitioner building temples in the hearts of men for permanent brotherhood, advocated universal religiosity; avoid inter-religion debates and pseudo moralizers. He was too seasoned and matured for a ran cored or vindictiveness to effect peace of mind at life afternoon.

We had Justice Ramon Garces Gaviola in the Court of appeals in 1926- 1987 and were also an administrator of the Social Security System.

Atty. Diosdado Reyes Delima was elected two times Bohol provincial Board in 1957 – 1958 and also appointed as Philippine Ambassador to Japan 1961-1972. Most Rev. Mariano Garces Gaviola, JCD, D.D. was elevated to exalted position in the roman Catholic Hierarchy. He was the former Archbishop of Lipa, Batangas. Father  Joaquin Golosino Boiser+, the first Ubayano priest assigned in our parish. Other were Father Eutiquio L. Boyles Jr., Father Domingo M. Boiser Jr.+, Father  Sebastian Valleser+, Father Manuel Y. Mendez, and most Rev. Ignacio H. Reyes, Bishop Palace Talibon, Bohol and Colonel Jose O. Garces, provincial commander of Cavity.

From a poor and humble family rose Governor Erico Boyles Aumentado, a former two terms elected to the Provincial Board and elected to the office of the Vice-Governor of Bohol 1987. He was a governor for three terms before winning in the last May 10, 2010 election as congressman. Prior to his stewardship of our province he also completed three terms as congressman of Bohol.

In Congress he was best remembered for two significant events 12 hours, the longest on record in congress, to depend the National Budget as Vice – Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations in 1999. He was elected as president of the Governor’s Leagues of the Philippines and a Deputy Speaker. 

There were many political achiever in the province of Bohol but has recorded a defeat even President Carlos P. Garcia of Talibon. The former water aquador has never met a single defeat in his political career. He is instrumental in the implementing of multimillion projects in 2^nd district including entire province of Bohol. For all his achievements, Erico B. Aumentado has been given the honor and being called MR. ACHIEVER.

Dr. Amalia Reyes Tirol, Ph. D., from the Reyes clan, educator, and she was undefeated in her Board Member post in the 2^nd District of Bohol for three consecutive terms.

Judge Nicanor Reyes was a Juez de Paz in Ubay in the year 1920 – 1934. Judge Quintin Golosino Boiser, Juez de Paz of Sierra Bullones, Bohol in 1936 – 1956.

Judge Abundio Payot at the Municipality of Guindulman, Bohol 1966 – 1984.

SPORTS

Ubayanos has also contributed its achievements towards sports. There are an Ubayano athlete who had competed to the Eastern Visayas Athletic Association (EVAA) meet latter we participated the Central visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA), but only few competed in the Palarong Pambansa and the International competition especially in track and field event.

Mr. Panfilo Esclante has competed in Asian Game, Tokyo, Japan. He has an official record of 11 seconds in 100 meter dash but unluckily he was unsuccessful for he was set back in one hundred meter dash for he committed two (2) consecutive violations.

Sir Eugenio Atuel competed in the Palarong Pambansa finished off for 2^nd place in 400 hundred meter low hurdles in 58 seconds. His inspiring achievement in track and field has inspired Ubayano Youth to follow his steps especially he finished his Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and became an official coach in track and field event.

Another Ubayano was Sir Bienvenido Escalante (son of Mr. Panfilo Escalante who follows his steps). He participated in Palarong Pambansa, Lucena City in 100 meter high hurdles and 400 meter low hurdles. He finished his studies and became a school teacher assigned at Sierra Bullones, Bohol. He was appointed as coach in track and field event, junior division.

Ubay track and field delegation headed by Sir Gavino del Valle, the School Distrcit Supervisor of Ubay was dedicated and had a strong support to our local athletes. The Bohol delegation sailed for Catbalogan Samar in 1975 to compete the Eastern Visayas Athletic Association (EVAA) meet. Leonardo A. Boyles reached the final in track event, placing (a) 1^st in 400 meter dash – 52 seconds (b) 1^st in 1,500 meter run, and (c) 2^nd in 800 meter run). In the following year 1977 he participated in Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA). He proved dominance in track event when he harvested 5 gold medals and was considered as hero of the Bohol Athletic Association when Bohol delegation captures the championship in the track and field event in CVIRAA in 1977. He finished in 400 meter dash with an official time of 50 seconds. He won gold medals in 800 hundred meter and 1, 500 meter run. Ubay delegation proved it prowess with cunning ability with team leader Leonardo Boyles, teamwork with coordination with team members in relay event they won gold medals in 4x400, and 1x400 meters and L. Boyles improved and breaking his own record in 400 meter dash with 49 seconds.

He competed in the International track and field Athletic meet at Cagayan de Oro City in 1977 under the Cebu Athletic Youth track and Field Association (CAYTAFA) with bronze medal in 1, 500 meter.

Lauro Gaviola Mumar, was a native and son of Judge Nicanor Reyes and Cecilia Mumar of Talibon Bohol. The pride of our Municipality who became a member of the RP Mythical team in the world basketball championship and became hero in the Philippines Sport history. He was the playing coach of the Philippines Basketball Team who finished third in the world  basketball championship at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Olympic in 1954. He was known as Lauro the Fox who made the trick in playing the foul betting tactics.

He was the founding first president of the Ubay Civic Association of Metro Manila (UCIAM) the umbrella of the Bohol Association of Metro manila (BAMME) Ubayanos ultimately called him BODONG and his colleges in basketball called him as EL Presidente.

Marlon G. Sarabosing a point guard became 3 times Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award when he was a member of the University of Visayas Launchers Basketball Team played on the Universities Atheltic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Sir Filemon Cutamora Jr. Played also in basketball at Palarong Pambansa. He finished his Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and became a school principal at Ubay Elementary School.

Today, our Government Officials of LGU – Ubay, NGOS, and other are the active participants continuously giving support, cooperation to the progress in all aspect that we Ubayanos are really proud towards a greener future.