Loon during the Spanish Occupation to the Post-war Era

The year of Loon 's founding as a community has not been ascertained due to the dearth of official documents. The earliest year to reckon is 1610 when a nucleus Christian community in the coastal village of Napo resulted from the ministering activities of the Jesuit friars who came to the Philippines more than 85 years earlier.

Church records, however, show that the first parish priest, also a Jesuit, was installed in 1753. The Recollect priests took over the administration of the local church in the late 1760s, but it was only in around 1855 when the imposing stone church of the Our Lady of Light (Birhen sa Kasilak) was completed.

Since 1753, more than 70 priests had served the parish. Today, Loon has five Catholic parishes, the last one (Parish of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage) having been established on November 19, 2000.

A 200-year gap exists between the emergence (in historical records) of the community in Napo in 1610 and the installation of Tomas Sevilla in 1810 as Loon's first town executive. Then addressed, as 'cabeza de barangay', the municipal mayor was called 'capitan' and 'presidente municipal' in the ensuing years.

Thirty-one mayors had served the municipality, excluding the incumbent, mayor, Dr. Cesar Tomas M. Lopez. At least three town heads served for more than one term, namely, Vivencio Nazareno (1916-22 and 1928-31); Geronimo Lituañas (appointed, 1946-47 and elected, 1948-51); and Wilfredo Caresosa (1980-86 and 1988-98).
Loon always figures prominently in the political history of the province. Towards the end of the 19th century when the Americans first set foot on Bohol and were met by resistant forces of the local guerrillas opposed to another foreign dominion, Loon was the first town burned by the aggressors in an effort to subdue the reluctant natives.

In about 1900, when enmity towards the foreigners subsided, an American engineer visited Loon and described it as a fertile plateau planted with coconut, corn and tobacco, and a progressive town of 16,000 people (see separate story). He wrote about the imposing structures of the town like the church and convent, stone stairway or Inang-angan, and wharf; children going to school; an affluent community with well-kept environs; and a spring flowing from a cave on the northern edge of the town, after which the name Loon (from 'nag-loon', or the merging of freshwater and saltwater) was coined.

In 1903, the first official count of inhabitants was conducted nationwide. Loon's population was described as fairly large at 18,114 residents. At that time, no other Bohol municipality, including Tagbilaran, registered more than 10,000 residents.

On September 27,1942, amid the raging US-Japan war, the Moalong River that dissects the municipality into the northern and southern parts, became mute witness to the most successful ambush mounted against the Japanese by the Boholano guerrillas led by Captain Francisco Salazar (see separate story).

In the years following the Second World War, prominent Loonanons became active participants in charting the development of the province and the country as well. Among them are Natalio P. Castillo, Executive Secretary to Pres. Carlos P. Garcia and member of the House of Representatives; Ramon Lapez, another House member; Ricardo Miranda, governor of the then only Davao province; Fermin Mesina, commercial attaché to Japan and Vietnam; Purisimo R. Castillo, commercial attaché to Spain; Rene Lopez Relampagos, Bohol's youngest governor; current Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos; and current Secretary of Economic Planning Romulo L. Neri who is also Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

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HOW LOON'S 67 BARANGAYS GOT THEIR NAMES

Agsoso, after "soso'", a freshwater shellfish species abundant in a spring that still provides water to the municipal water system.

Badbad Occidental and Badbad Oriental, after a local shrub or tree called "badba-an" which abounds in the area even at present.

Bagacay Kawayan, Bagacay Katipuhan and Bagacay Saong, after "bagakay" or bamboo abundant in the area and utilized by the residents to make various handicrafts.

"Kawayan" is the most common local term for bamboo. In Bagacay Kawayan, during the Spanish times, a bamboo thicket grew beside a small pool of mud to where the early inhabitants brought their carabaos to wallow. "Katipuhan" means a place where "tipolo" trees grow in abundance, while "saong" is a tree species whose sap is believed to have been used as paste in the construction of Noah's Ark.

Bahi, after "bahi" or the hard portion of the trunk of a "pugahan" palm abundant in the place especially during its establishment.

Basac, after "basak" or rice paddy, no longer found in the village but replaced by patches of "palaw" or "paw", a water-loving plant species belonging to the taro family.
Basdacu, coined from "balas" or "ba'as", which means sand, and "daku", which means big, both words referring to the wide shoreline that covers the breadth of the barangay.
Basdio, also from "ba'as" and "diyo" or "diyot", the opposite of "daku"; thus, a place where there is a little patch of sand on its shoreline.

Biasong, after trees of an orange variety of the same name that grew near a little spring that flows into the Moalong River.

Bongco, after a legendary shining ball called "trabongko" that giant snakes amused themselves with on dark evenings.

Cabacongan, after the plant named "bakong" which the barangay used to have plenty of.

Cabadug, or place belonging to or owned by "Badug", purportedly the first inhabitant of the barangay.

Cabug, after "kabug", the nocturnal bats seen hanging from the branches of a big "tipolo" tree in the heart of the barangay.

Calayugan Norte and Calayugan Sur, after the swaying of the coconut trees of the island village which, when viewed from the mainland, allegedly looked like they were engaged in a fighting match or "ga-layug".

Cambaquiz, probably denoting that the place belonged to or the residence of a certain person named "Bakis".

Campatud, after a spring called "patud" in the middle of a thick forest where hunters would go to.

Candaigan, after a legendary ever-burning stump of a dead tree where people kindle or "daig" their oil lamps.

Canhangdon Occidental and Canhangdon Oriental, after a spring called "kanhangdon", or after its location vis-à-vis the Moalong River; thus, a place to be "halangdon" or to be looked up.

Canigaan, after "Nigaran" a legendary remote place where big "nigad" trees grew in abundance, and to where a black sheep of a son produced from the marriage between a Marimon and a Labastilla was banished; for being a "turo" or bull, he acquired the monicker "Saturos of Canigaran" or Canigaan.

Canmaag, after "mamag" or tarsius, the smallest primate in the world, which were plenty in the area.

Canmanoc, after the wild chickens or "manok" that used to crisscross its lush hills and roost upon the branches of a large "tipolo" tree.

Cansuaguit, after a spring of the same name from which the villagers get much of their water for household use.

Cansubayon, after "subay" or "subayon", the act of walking along or following the banks of creeks until finally reaching one's destination; or from "subay-subay", the term used by the early villagers in reference to the act of catching freshwater fish starting from a spring to a bigger body of water.

Cantam-is Bago, probably a combination of the words "tam-is" or sweet and "bago", which refers to either a vegetable tree called "bago" or the native cassava cake called "binago".

Cantam-is Baslay, also after "tam-is" or sweet and a spring called "baslay", an important source of water for the community.

Cantaongon, after the "taongon" tree abundant in the locality.

Cantomucad, after the creek called "sondo" which is located in a "canto" cutting the barangay at its center where one is obliged to "tukad" or take a leap.

Catagbacan Norte, Catagbacan Sur and Catagbacan Handig, from the word "tagbak", which means to barter or exchange goods produced by upland communities with those harvested from the sea; thus, "katagbacan" means a place where barter takes place. "Handig" was probably named after the location of the place, that is, reclining on the slopes that rise from the plain.

Cogon Norte and Cogon Sur, after the "kogon" grass that doesn't seem to leave the place despite being burned to open up new areas for agriculture.

Cuasi, after a legend that testifies to the villagers' propensity to engage in business. A banca filled with merchants was assaulted by strong winds and big waves prompting the elder men to shout "Kawasi!", an order to disembark or jump overboard to save their merchandise.

Genomoan, after a legend about a carabao left to wallow or "homol" in the river by its owner who had to leave for home because of a stomachache. The farmer's condition got serious while it was raining hard causing the river to swell. In his delirium, the farmer kept murmuring about his "hinomolan" or the carabao he left wallowing in the river.

Lintuan, after "balintong-balintong" or "tuwang-tuwang", the changing movement of sand near Lawis Point caused by the blowing of the south and north winds.
Looc, after the curved shape of its coastline, that is "na lo-ok".

Mocpoc Norte and Mocpoc Sur, after "pok-pok", the warning sound produced by knocking a drum hung from a big "pagatpat" or mangrove tree every time the Moros would emerge on the sea, their swift vintas poised to attack the barangay and plunder its homes.

Moto Norte and Moto Sur, after "moto" or hill, the location of the place as referred to by the residents of the coastal barangay of Napo, the town's original settlement.

Nagtuang, after "nagatuwang", a phenomenon in the place where the flow of water from a spring is absorbed in a much higher elevation.

Napo, after "napolo" or "napo'o", which means island-like, a description of its location that seems separate from the mainland.

Nueva Vida, after the Spanish phrase for "new life", probably discovered as a new settlement when the population of Catagbacan below it increased.

Pananquilon, after a medicinal herb called "panankilon" that grows abundantly in the locality.

Pantudlan, after "tulod-tulod", the thrusting action of the waves resulting in the transfer of the sand to the southern side of Baluarte Point when the north wind blows and to the northern side when the south wind blows.

Pig-ot, after "pi-ot", the narrow stretch of the provincial road that had been widened by blasting the cliffs and boulders, resulting in the fleeing of the monkeys and total wiping out of their population from their habitat in the enchanted place called "Bogo".

Pondol, after "pundok-pundok", "pundo-pundo" or "pondol", a description of the place which has several "lawis" or points jutting out into the sea; or after "tubig nga gapundo", or pools of stagnant water found in the place.

Quinobcoban, after "kinubkoban", in reference to several holes dug by the early residents of the village in search of sources of water.

Sondol, after "donsol", a sea slug species abundant in its seashore.
Song-on, after "so-ongon", an arch-like rock formation along the shoreline that resembles a cave when viewed from the sea, where one has to stoop or "so-ong" to pass through.

Talisay, after the "talisay" trees growing on cliffs hanging over its shoreline.
Tan-awan, after the same word, which means a place from where one gets a good view of the villages below it, being located on the highest peaks of Loon.

Tangnan, after a cave-like hole called "tangnan" that contains fresh water.
Taytay, after "taytayan" or bridge, a description of the narrow hilltop-located pathway that leads to the center of the village.

Ticugan, after the "tikog" plant whose leaf strips can be woven into mats but whose population in the village had been reduced to zero.
Tiwi, after the "tiwi" trees that once grew on the eastern part of the village.

Tontonan, or "to use a rope", after "tonton" or rope that the early residents had to use to scale a high mountain in the village.

Tubodacu and Tubodio, after "tubod" (spring), "daku" (big) and "diyot" or "diyo" (small), descriptions of the villagers' sources of water.

Tubuan, also after "tubod" or "tuburan", a local spring.

Ubayon, after "nag-ubay sa baybayon" or straddling the shoreline, a description of its location.

Ubojan, after "ulbohan", a place where there used to be a spring or natural well from where abundant water gushed in spurts or "ga ulbo-ulbo".

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CRADLE OF LOONANON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

Where did most of our ancestors come from? Here's a list based on historical records. Note that most if not all sound Spanish, proof that the decree issued by Gov. Narciso Claveria requiring all Filipinos to use Spanish surnames was strictly followed in all of Loon.

Abes - Pondol / Agocila - Tontonan / Almasa - Cantomucad / Almedilla - Cansubayon / Cacho - Basdio / Calabria - Tiwi / Calatrava - Napo / Camilotes - Bahi /Cantones - Song-on / Caresosa - Bagacay Kawayan, Biasong, Cansuaguit / Carnice - Badbad / Casalta - Pig-ot, Cabadug / Castillano - Basdacu / Castillo - Cabilao / Castillon - Tangnan / Catayas - Cogon Norte / Caterbas - Pig-ot /Ceballos - Biasong / Celerinos - Cogon Norte / Centino - Tontonan / Charcos - Napo / Comodas - Canmanoc / Concha - Bagacay Kawayan / Contestable - Pondol / Coquilla - Tontonan / Corbita - Cogon Sur / Coritico - Pig-ot / Cubio - Pondol / Dalugdog - Napo / Dospueblos - Napo / Ferandos - Napo / Floren - Cuasi / Florenosos - Pig-ot / Flores - Pig-ot / Formoso - Basdio / Fuerzas - Cogon Sur / Gablines - Cuasi / Ganados - Mocpoc / Garnica - Pig-ot / Gaudicos - Pig-ot / Guadalquiver - Agsoso, Tubodio / Gubantes - Pig-ot / Guitones - Tontonan / Josol - Pananquilon / Juaton - Pananquilon / Labastilla - Bagacay Kawayan / Labesores - Basdacu / Lafuente - Basac, Catagbacan / Lanoy - Pananquilon / Lanzaderas - Sondol / Lapez - Cabilao Island / Lapiceros - Lintuan / Leones - Cantam-is Baslay / Leornas - Mocpoc / Lera - Lintuan / Lesula - Catagbacan / Libranza - Cantan-is Baslay / Lidon - Tontonan / Literatus - Basdio / Longjas - Cabug / Lopez - Moto, Cabilao Island / Lugo - Cogon Sur / Luminarias - Bagacay / Lupiba - Pondol / Magallen - Bahi / Magoncia - Pondol / Maluenda - Pananquilon / Mante - Napo / Marcojos - Basdacu / Marimon - Catagbacan / Martos - Lintuan / Mascariñas - Badbad / Mataflorida - Lintuan / Matutes - Basdacu / Medrina - Campatud / Meguillo - Tangnan / Mejorada - Bagacay / Morastil - Basac / Moria - Tontonan / Mulato - Bahi / Murcia - Cabilao Island / Nazareno - Napo / Orcullo - Badbad / Palmitos - Tangnan / Palma - Biasong / Palomares - Basdacu, Taytay / Pamplona - Cogon Norte, Tontonan / Pastoril - Tontonan / Pedrablanca - Bahi / Pedros - Canmanoc / Pelpinosas - Bagacay Saong / Peñaranda - Basdio, Pananquilon / Perez - Basac / Perges - Looc / Pestillos - Cuasi / Piodos - Bahi / Piscos - Cabug / Planos - Bahi / Plazos - Calayugan) / Policianos - Tontonan / Poligrates - Pig-ot / Ponte - Lintuan) / Preciados - Basdacu / Ramada - Agsoso / Rebucas - Cantam-is Bago / Recamadas - Canmanoc / Refugio - Basdio / Regañon - Cabug / Relampagos - Canmanoc / Relator - Mocpoc / Remoreras - Bugho / Roferos - Catagbacan, Pananquilon / Rojas - Basdio / Roslinda - Mocpoc / Sablas - Pananquilon / Salamanca - Napo / Salinas - Tontonan / Salomon - Napo / Sanguenza - Cuasi / Santillana - Basdacu / Sarabia - Cuasi / Sarabosquez - Pondol / Sarpamones - Cantomucad / Sartorio - Tontonan / Saturinas - Catagbacan / Sevilla - Napo / Sieras - Taytay / Simbulas - Agsoso / Sobrado - Pig-ot) / Soler - Basdacu / Sombrio - Cantomucad, Bagacay Kawayan, Bahi / Sumatra - Canhangdon / Supremo - Basdacu, Bahi / Taylaran - Cantaongon) / Veloso - Catagbacan

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LIST OF OFFICIALS WHO EMERGED FROM AMONG
THE EARLY OCCUPANTS OF LOON

Badbad Oriental: Esteban Carnice, first official / Bagacay Kawayan: Silvestra Concha, first cabeza de barangay, assisted by Vicente Mejorada and Jose Torino, barrio policeman. / Bagacay Saong: Simeon Pelpinosas, Marcelo Pelpinosas and Eugenio Mejorada, first officials / Bahi: Luis Torino, Segundo Planos, Ponciano Magallen, Miguel Mulato, Buenaventura Sombrio and Severo Mulato, first officials / Basac: a certain Lafuente, first teniente del barrio / Basdacu: Juan Castillano, first cabeza de barangay;

Placido Palomares, Faustino Labesores, Julian Preciados, Pedro Ponte and Rufino Marcojos, first officials / Biasong: Antonio 'Otoy' Ceballos, first official / Basdio: Leon Gadia, first teniente del barrio / Cabadug: Agustin Casalta, first cabeza de barangay / Cabug: Leocadio Regañon, first teniente del barrio / Calayugan: Benigno Plazos, first teniente del barrio / Cansuaguit: Fausto Caresosa, first teniente del barrio / Cansubayon: Francisco Almedilla, first cabeza de barangay / Cantomucad: Crispiniano Sombrio, first official, became vice mayor to Vivencio Nazareno / Cogon Norte: Lt. Ireneo Catayas, early listed official / Cogon Sur: Mateo Fuerzas, Gregorio Corbita, Baldomero Lugo, first cabezas de barangay / Lintuan: Isidro Lapiceros, Segundo Martos, Patricio Relator, Eugenio Ponte, Justiniano Martos, Paulino Supremo, Martin Meredores and Fortunato Martos, first officials and residents / Looc: Estanislao Perges, first cabeza de barangay / Mocpoc: Pedro Relator, first cabeza de barangay; followed by Pedro Ganados, Catalino Roslinda, Juan Ganados and Filomeno Leornas / Napo: Tomas Sevilla, first town executive / Pananquilon: Macario Roferos, Martin Peñaranda, Gabriel Maluenda and Pedro Lanoy Sr., first officials / Pig-ot: Juan Coritico, first cabeza de barangay; Julian Sobrado, Tomas Poligrates and Victorio Gubantes, first officials / Pondol: Enden Cubio, Severino Lupiba, Marcos Tayabas and Segundo Lopez, first officials / Taytay: Benigno Palomares and Pedro Palomares, first officials; the latter became a municipal councilor / Tiwi: Francisco Calabria, first official / Tontonan: Liberato Coquilla, first cabeza de barangay

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How the "Birhen sa Kasilak" became Loon's first patroness

The image of the Kasilak was reported to have been originally enthroned in a church in Butuan, Agusan del Norte on September 8, 1597. When the Moro bandits attacked the coastal villages of Mindanao, concerned Butuanons sailed north towards Bohol bringing with them the wooden statue of Our Lady. Unfortunately, the Moros were also wreaking havoc on some communities on the island. The group was determined to sail towards Cebu but the Marian devotees opted to sail towards the western rim of the island, dropping anchor in Sandingan, a tranquil island near mainland Loon.

Upon knowing that a well-established community existed in Napo, the group led by Rev. Fr. Pedro Lopez, S.J. brought the image to the latter where it was warmly received and enthroned. This happened in 1610. For several years, the Birhen sa Kasilak was venerated by the Loonanon faithful in this old poblacion of Loon.

In 1753, Fray Manuel de Elizalde of the Jesuit Mission became the first parish priest of the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Luz (Our Lady of Light). In 1768, the Jesuits ceded administration of the parish to the Recollects. Years later, the image of the Kasilak was permanently enthroned in the present church of Loon which was completed around 1855.

The first miracle attributed to the Kasilak happened in the 18th century when a band of Moros sailed towards Napo to loot its houses of valuables. Our Lady allegedly appeared atop the steps of Inang-angan in her most radiant glory. The blinding lights radiating from her forced the intruders to sail away. Since then, countless untold miracles have been experienced by the Loonanon faithful.

Today, SidlaKasilak, Loon's Festival of Lights, brings back the memory of those days when Our Lady was brought to Loon almost 400 years ago. A few days before September 8, the feast day of the town's patroness, we Loonanons stage the festival to commemorate the arrival of the image of Our Lady from Butuan.

The "birhen sa Kasilak" exhorts all of us to seek the True Light, Jesus Christ, especially in these times when selfishness, corruption, indifference and deceit seem to eclipse the real essence of life and living. She also encourages everyone to pass on this Light to all families and communities so that all will live united in a much better world.

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LOON IN THE EYES OF A VISITING AMERICAN CIRCA 1900

WHEN the United States of America gained possession of the Philippines in 1898 by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, it took the new colonizers quite sometime to crush the shell of Bohol's isolation and add her to the group of sister islands already received into the fold. For this purpose, Major H.C. Hale and the B and C companies of the 44th Volunteer Infantry sailed on March 14, 1900 for Bohol from Iloilo, where they were based at the time, aboard the transport Elcano. With them was George Percival Scriven, who was particularly interested in the establishment of cable communications in Bohol. In fact, he cited that an Argao-Loon link would be feasible. What follows are excerpts from his Bohol Diary.

On the 'Republic' of Bohol. The island was known to have its own government, its own laws, its police and its church; and it was known to have maintained its people from native aggression from without and to have maintained its republican state within the greater native Republic for more than a year. Its ports were closed, and beyond the fact 1) that a government believed to be not unfriendly to the United States existed, 2) that there was an armed force of indefinite strength which had successfully protected the people from disorder within and from native aggression without and, 3) that there were laws and the church, little was really known of the republic which stood as a sort of state within a state and a part of Aguinaldo's great informal confederation.

On Bohol and the Boholanos. The unknown island is absolutely cut off from the world without means of communication with the other islands, except by the natives' boats. It has a population of something like 250,000 natives who, for nearly two hundred years, have lived under their own independent government.

The Bojolanos are a pleasant people with larger frames and of lighter color than the natives of other islands of the Visayas whom I have seen, and with more open and intelligent faces. They appear friendly and respectful but are very shy. They have well-nourished bodies, and their well-developed and rounded limbs seem to indicate a better type than the skinny monkey-like inhabitants of Panay. The quantity of clothing worn, especially by women who wore more graceful flowing garments, and set of clothes seem to indicate a nearer affinity to European ideas amongst the Bojolanos than elsewhere in the Visayas.

The women are modest in appearance and prettier than others, they have finer complexions, and their mouths and teeth do not seem as fouled by the use of betel nut. They have more curves to their figures and flesh on their bones than have the willowy, bamboo-shaped houris of Panay. They are very modest (and unsophisticated) and wear more and better clothing than the bean poles of Panay. The men manage to appear modest. The better class wear coat and trousers like other civilized people.

The houses are often of wood and of a very good class. The people show every evidence of comport and well being. The expression of their faces is open and kindly, and for the most part they seem well fed.

Sojourn in Loon. At about 4:45 in the early morning of April 2, 1900, Major H.C. Hale, the Chief of Police and the President (town executive or mayor) of Tagbilaran, and Scriven boarded two horse-driven carriages with Hale and Scriven in the first. Theirs, according to Scriven, had a pair of ponies and a native perched on the splashboard like a monkey. The following are excerpts of what Scriven wrote about his brief stay in Loon:

Presently the road began to climb the hills, and the scene to expand into beauty worthy of the celebrated Corniche road itself, and not indeed unlike it. On the one hand (I see) green hills and pleasant fields, and sapphire sea on the other, and away to the west the green coast and wooded mountains of Cebu.

Signs of comfort and well-being appeared on every hand, a patch of tobacco here, and coconuts there, and always pleasant-faced people who invariably saluted by passing their hand over the hair in an odd fashion of civility. Yet here we were, Hale and I, in a hostile island occupied a fortnight before by Americans for the first time. And so driving pleasantly along over the excellent road in a comfortable carriage with all the beauties of the scene before us, the march of invasion was continued and the President with his pistol and Chief of Police followed us as they might.

About eleven we reached Loon and drove at once to the church where there alighted and awaited the arrival of our formal introducer, the President.

Loon is an interesting place on account of its situation on a bluff rising perhaps 250 feet from the sea, on the summit of which stands an old stone parapet flanked by two bastions (now unarmed), the whole having been built by the Spaniards in times long passed as a protection against the Moros of Mindanao of whom their people have to this day an extreme dread.

The church lies back of the parapet and is grand and bare as the others, but from the level ground beside it a broad and well-built flight of stone steps (Inang-angan) worthy of a Roman temple leads down to the shore from which runs a long narrow pier (Tulay). In front and seeming very near - - though really some 16 miles away - - lies the coast of Cebu, the buildings and church tower of Argao gleaming in the sun.

Loon is a little town composed chiefly of bamboo huts, but with two or three large stone buildings whose floors threaten to tremble at every step. Two of these were used as schools. One end of the huge loft of the second floor of one building contained a few timid little boys, and in the other a bevy of wee girls huddled together, their little black eyes glistening with curiosity and fright as we paid a visit to them. The teachers seemed mortified at the small number of scholars they could muster but explained by saying that the children were too frightened to appear. Indeed I think children and grown people expected to see some strange kind of creature in the American half-man-half-ogre, and whether black or white they did not know.

Going down the grand steps of Loon that lead to the pier, with Argao standing out white and clear on the opposite coast, I had the idea of establishing a heliograph station which should connect Bohol with the telegrams and cables of Cebu. This was afterwards successfully accomplished.

After chatting with the Padre and walking through the bare rooms of a former monastic building connected with the church (now Sacred Heart Academy), whose terrace or belvedere commanded a most beautiful view over sea and shore, we walked to the lower town (Napo) and through its main street lined with bamboo huts to a beautiful natural pool in the rocks (Tubig-Loon) partly shaded with great trees and filled by the sea. Into this welled from the hills behind a spring of fresh water, and the whole place, with its limpid ever-changing water, surrounding rocks and trees, made a perfect bath for Diana. And the little brown imps of boys jumping cross-legged from a jutting rock answered well as the water sprites of the place.

The road, however, was hot enough to make one doubt whether we had not been looking on some molten lake of the inferno; and with the weakness of fever still on me, I was glad to get shelter from the sun in the house of the Presidente of Loon (Francisco Soria?). This man was an unusual type of the Filipino of a village. Well-dressed in khaki, with a linen collar and coat buttoned to the throat, and with pleasant if somewhat too convivial manners, he was rather a surprising personage.

The house of the Presidente was small but well appointed. In the drawing room on the second floor the usual double row of bent wood chairs, mostly rockers, and various bedrooms were visible in the distance. The dining room was furnished with one long table where presently we sat down to a most elaborate breakfast.

The Presidente's wife appeared for a moment in the parlor but did not remain or come to the table. Indeed, we could see her flitting about in the kitchen amongst the servants and directing the feast. She was a well-looking Boholana, dressed in the same general fashion as the women of the country and probably barefooted most of her days.

The meal was elaborate, well-cooked and good but the amount of meat served was astonishing and the fish of course came in about the middle of the repast. A good Spanish wine was given, and various other drinkables including tuba, which the host seemed to prefer to all others. Then we were given choice of waters, one rain caught from the nipa roof, which were made of leaves, the other from a spring.

Sitting and chatting after this very solid meal, and nearly dropping asleep in the warm still afternoon, we rested for an hour or so, and were then summoned to mirienda, a pleasant afternoon meal of bread with cooling drinks as a rule, but to which we went like turkeys stuffed for fattening.

Then we once more went to the terrace of the priest's house (where the carriages were parked). And so when the sun's heat dropped we started again by the good metaled road towards Calape.

Loon is a town of about 16,000 people, 6,000 of whom are adults who pay taxes which omit old women and children. There is much tobacco raised in the neighborhood, as well as corn, but coconut is the chief export on this part of the island, in the form of copra. A coarse fabric is made from the fiber of a species of banana (probably referring to abaca).

The town does not have sheltered harbors and the water seems shoal in shore. In the rear rise large hills apparently uncultivated except near the bases. Livestock is not abundant, and horses are few. The people seem well-to-do, peaceful, contented, and very respectful.

The road from Loon to Calape passes for the most part through a pleasant well-cultivated country (northern barangays of Loon), which a few miles north of the former place becomes a veritable garden. The hills rise towards the east and a wide plain extends from their bases to the sea. Evidently the soil is very rich. Corn, sugarcane and rice, with the inevitable coconut tree, grow in abundance. The houses are trim and neat. The people are well-to-do and prosperous in appearance, and the landscape beautiful to look upon.

On leaving Loon the region was hilly and the soil well suited to tobacco, then the road descended to near the level of the sea, at times becoming a causeway that passed through mangrove swamps of foul black water (probably the swamps of Catagbacan Handig, Cantomucad and Pondol) and snaky bushes, but again rising opened upon the fertile valley. [Source: On-line Archival Collection of the Special Collections Library, Duke University. 1997.]

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LOON'S PLACE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Excerpts from 'The Bohol Guerrillas in Action' written by the late Pio B. Ferandos, former Cebu RTC Judge and Mayor of Loon.

The March to Victory. In the early morning of September 26, 1942 at the "Behind the Clouds" Camp in Maitom, Balilihan, Capt. Salazar called his officers to a conference and before them he discussed plans, tactics, and strategy for ambushing the Japanese soldiers in Moalong on their way to Calape. After the conference, Capt. Salazar ordered all the soldiers to get ready and assemble. He divided them into sections and assigned the following officers: Lt. Brigido Serrano, in the rifle section: Lt. Woodrow Sales, in the shotgun and .22-caliber-rifle section; and Lt. Vicente K. Nunag Jr. the pistol section.

Then at about 9: 30 in the morning, Capt. Salazar and his officers and men left the "Behind the Clouds" camp for the eventful encounter the next day at Moalong. The intuitive powers of Capt. Salazar appeared very strong. The timing of the planned ambuscade and the choice of the place appeared perfect. The gods seemed to favor him and prodded the brave warrior to victory.

After breakfast when all were ready, Capt. Salazar and his men began their memorable march from Maitom to Loon, a distance of more than sixty kilometers, through the shortcut via mountain trails. There were around eighty guerrillas - 34 with .30-caliber rifles; 10 with shotguns; 18 with pistols; and the rest with bolos. Capt. Salazar led the march with Capt. Graciano Espinueva, Lts. Brigido Serrano, Vicente K. Nunag Jr. and Woodrow Sales, and Sgt. Sotero Arbilon.

The sky was very cloudy and gloomy. It was symbolic of a fateful day. Soon it rained cats and dogs the whole day. The trails were all muddy; the mud reached over the knees. Brooks with strong currents had to be waded by the guerrillas who held each other's hands to avoid slipping away and being carried down the stream. All were wet to the skin and everyone shivered from extreme cold. It was a wearisome and terrible journey.

The soldiers passed through Triple Union and Alegria, Catigbian, and then to Kambansag and Agbonan, Antequera. They did not rest, except when they took their lunch. At night they reached Agbonan and took their supper. After supper and without any rest, they proceeded immediately and groped in the dark night. They headed for Canlawi, Calape, and then to Loon, passing through the barrios of Saong, Katipuhan, Kawayan, and then to Candaigan and Cantam-is, until they reached the sitio of Moalong along the provincial road at about 6:40 in the morning of September 27.

All were tired and hungry and without a wink of sleep during the whole night. Here in Moalong the patriots vowed to meet the bastards of Nippon and fight them to the last to defend the towns of Calape, Tubigon, Clarin and Inabanga which the Japanese wanted much to burn. Here the guerillas swore to high heavens to avenge the wrong done to the Filipinos and to show to the world that the Filipinos are no animals or beasts but real men - - Christians and patriots ready and willing to die for country, loved ones and God.

The Battle of Moalong. Upon reaching Moalong in the early morning of September 27, Capt. Salazar ordered for breakfast. Enthusiastic civilians led by Cecilio Soria, Filoteo Soria, and others slaughtered a cow and prepared a good breakfast for our soldiers.

Meanwhile, Capt. Salazar ordered his boys to inspect their chosen battle position on a rocky plateu overlooking the Moalong Bridge and to make improvised defenses. He further ordered that the riflemen should constitute the first line of defense; the pistol men should stay behind; and the bolo men to remain a hundred meters away.

Thirty-four were armed with .30-caliber rifles, 10 with shotguns, 18 with pistols, one with an automatic rifle, and the rest with bolos. Two tall coconut trees were felled down and placed across the road at a distance of fifty meters from the bridge in the direction towards Calape and about 20 meters from each other, to block the passage of any motor vehicle.

At 7:30 a.m., before our soldiers were able to take a bite of their much-needed breakfast, two passenger trucks rambled down the road from the direction of Tagbilaran, loaded with around 70 Japanese soldiers. On top of the first bus were two Japanese each holding an automatic rifle, with sandbags at their sides serving as cover. On top of the second bus were three Japanese holding a low-mounted machine gun and a stoke mortar.

Upon hearing the rumbling sound of the approaching vehicles, our guerrillas upon command of Capt. Salazar, immediately leaped to their respective positions. As the two buses were fast approaching the Moalong Bridge, our soldiers watched very anxiously and, upon seeing the two buses already past the Moalong Bridge and just below the high cliff, Capt. Salazar shouted at the top of his voice: "Fire!"

Instantly, our boys forgetting all together hunger and fatigue and only too eager to make a memorable kill, let loose a volley of their grenades, dynamites, automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols. Lt. Nunag pulled the safety pin of his hand grenade and hurled it smack into the driver's seat of the second bus; thus exploding and causing the said bus to turnturtle and fall into the sea, killing or seriously wounding most of the Japanese therein.

The remaining Japanese and those on the first bus leaped out and immediately took position. They were completely taken by surprise, and only after a lapse of about ten minutes were they able to answer. The enemy returned fire with their mortar, machine gun, automatic rifles and .25-caliber rifles.

Our soldiers, emboldened by the initial success, fired rapidly with gusto. Soon the fight attained great intensity. Many Japanese hid themselves behind the trucks and others behind the road-prop and steel bridge. Some hid in the holes on the roadside.

Although the firings of both sides were deadly, our guerrillas, however, had the vantage ground. Besides, the Japanese were demoralized at the start, after one of their buses turned turtle and nearly all the soldiers were annihilated or disabled.

Before nine o'clock our boys were able to silence the machine gun of the enemy, but their mortar continued barking in rapid succession. At this time, the fight still continued and, although our soldiers were very hungry and almost exhausted, Capt. Salazar and his diehards went on with the fight. Every now and then he would shout to the Japanese at the top of his lungs: "You bastards, now we'll kill each and everyone of you!"

Capt. Salazar ordered Capt. Espinueva and Lt. Serrano to go to the right flank and encircle the Japanese who were hiding in some holes in the road-prop so that they could not escape to the mangroves.

It was almost 12:00 noon, but the fight continued unabated. With a .30-caliber rifle Nunag cut down several Japanese including one who was aiming at Capt. Salazar. Nunag was almost hit by a bullet fired by a Japanese soldier from the right. Noting immediately this soldier, Nunag fired and felled him with one shot.

Moments later, Salazar ordered Nunag to cross Moalong Bridge to encircle the Japanese on the left flank. With several men, Nunag came down the bridge and forced the Japanese to retreat towards the sea, killing many of them. Nunag swam across the river three times with the aim of finishing off all the Japanese who were hiding under the bridge and some under the houses nearby. He did his job so well that before 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon he attained complete control of the bridge and the river area.

The remaining Japanese, who were well-entrenched behind the passenger trucks and in the holes on the roadside and in the road-prop, continued the fight. However, they were already greatly weakened. Our soldiers fired with deadly accuracy. Upon seeing many more Japanese seeking cover behind the road-prop, Capt. Salazar came down from the precipice and crossed the road amid heavy gunfire, and leaped into the sea where he took position with one soldier who was a sharpshooter. From there he fired with a shotgun and his companion with a rifle and felled down at least ten more Japanese.

By four o'clock in the afternoon, firing ceased on both sides. The enemy lost about 60 men in this terrible nine-hour encounter, their two buses completely demolished, 27 guns captured, and several thousands of munitions, steel helmets and others confiscated.

Of the whole Japanese force only around eight soldiers, mostly wounded, managed to escape towards the mangroves. As night fell, these stragglers walked or limped their way to the poblacion of Loon some four kilometers away where they were given first aid treatment at the town church at about 10:00 o'clock in the evening.

Our force lost Capt. Graciano Espinueva, Lt. Brigido Serrano and Pvt. Antonio Iyas. Lt. Woodrow Sales and six enlisted men were wounded and sent to Tubigon for treatment in an emergency hospital.

At dawn of Monday, September 28, a jitney and a bus with around fifteen Japanese soldiers arrived in Moalong from Tagbilaran. They got their dead and put to the torch all the houses (numbering around 15) in Sitio Moalong, south of the bridge. Capt. Salazar ordered the destruction of the Moalong Bridge the following night to prevent the Japanese from coming back to burn the towns of Calape, Tubigon and Clarin.

At almost the same time, Capt. Salazar and his all men who fought in Moalong the previous day went up to the mountain barrio of Cantaongon, about five kilometers from the scene of the battle, and there established his camp.

The fame of the Moalong encounter spread far and wide. Even people of the neighboring provinces of Cebu and Leyte learned of this great victory led by the intrepid captain. As a result, hundreds of soldiers who were then in hiding, and volunteers from far and near reported to the supply camp and command post in Cantaongon for enlistment.

Here in this camp, Capt. Salazar inculcated in the mind and heart of the guerillas the love of country and the true worth of a man. Everyday he preached by precept and example on discipline and devotion to one's duty, love and fear of God, respect for women, self-reliance and abnegation, courage and daring, loyalty and patriotism. The guerrillas imbibed the teachings of the great Captain like the Disciples of Christ; and many of them followed his teachings even to this day.

Captain Francisco Salazar: Loonanon war hero. Sometime in the later part of June 1942, a well-built muscular man, about 30 years of age, barely 5 feet and 3 inches tall with light brown complexion, a little bow-legged, with prominent white of the eye, and with fine wavy hair, arrived in Bohol from Mindanao.

Lt. Juan 'Aning' Relampagos, himself an officer of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East or USAFFE who did not surrender to the Japanese and was in hiding, led a trading vessel which reached Macrohon, Leyte in May 1942. There he accidentally met a man who was very friendly and even greeted him 'Sano'.

Knowing that Relampagos' boat was bound for Bohol, he went abroad. The boat, however, first went to Dinagat, Surigao to fish; to Dumaguete, Negros Oriental to sell the caught fish; and to the southern towns of Cebu, and Baclayon and Tagbilaran to sell sugar, before finally proceeding to Sitio Lawis in Catagbacan in Loon.

While in the banca, the friendly man endeared to Relampagos and introduced himself as Captain Francisco Salazar and that he was a USAFFE captain in hiding. Salazar served as cook and sometimes as hewer of wood and drawer of water while with the group of Relampagos.

Later, Salazar revealed his true identity. He told Relampagos that his real name is Vicente T. Cubero, born on September 28, 1911 in Barrio Carmen, Lanuza, Surigao but his parents were Isidro Cubero from Loon and Antonia Tejol from Corella who migrated to Surigao where they lived permanently. In his boyhood, he lived in Barrio Tultugan, Calape and in Pondol, Loon.

Immediately, after landing in Bohol, Captain Salazar started his work as secret agent of the USAFFE to spy on the activities of the pro-Japanese spies in Bohol. He went from place to place incognito or assuming different aliases.

Lt. Vicente K. Nunag Jr. said of him: "Captain Francisco Salazar always treated me like a father to a son. Alone he lectured to me on the true worth of a man who fights for his country. He also taught me some military tactics especially during actual warfare. In the last lecture he gave to the boys before he died in an encounter in Ubujan, Tagbilaran, he again emphasized and stressed on bravery, honestly, trustworthiness, self-restraint, goodness, love of fellowmen, respect for women, love of country and love and fear of God. He taught us how honorable and glorious it is to die for the sake of one's country and loved ones.

With a soft mellow voice, coupled with a very pleasant personality that commanded respect, Salazar easily won hundreds of followers, friends and supporters wherever he went. From a handful of soldiers, his organization dedicated to wipe out all the spies and all the Japanese from the province of Bohol, grew bigger and bigger day by day. Within a remarkably short time he had more than 1,000 soldiers and volunteers under his command.

Salazar was a splendid disciplinarian. A soldier disciplined by him was a real soldier who would fight like a lion and die side by side with him. His constant motto was: "We come here not to eat and retreat, but to eat and fight." Ironically, in the Battle of Moalong, they did not have a chance to take a bite of their breakfast since the Japanese were already right under their noses in the early morning of that fateful day.

In Cantaongon, the people who flocked around the camp learned to love and admire the great leader. As a spontaneous reaction to the teachings of Captain Salazar, they turned over heartily all forms of donation to the guerillas, such as food supplies, clothing, arms, munitions, dynamites, beddings, bolos, office equipment, stationery, and others.

In the period of four months, from October 1942 to January 1943, the Cantaongon Supply Camp collected food supplies and clothing to the aggregate value of over P10, 000. The Camp became the most dependable supply depot of the guerilla army in the whole province.

Captain Salazar died during an encounter with Japanese forces in Ubujan, Tagbilaran on October 22, 1942. His remains were buried in Tubigon and later transferred to the Loon cemetery.

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SIGNIFICANT DATES IN LOON'S HISTORY

•1610: arrival from Butuan of the image of the Our Lady of Light in Napo, patroness of the whole Mindanao; in 2010, the 'Kasilak' will be 400 years in Loon.

• 1753: establishment of the Our Lady of Light Parish and installation of the first parish priest; in 2003, Loon will celebrate its 250th annual fiesta.

• 1810: assumption into office of Tomas Sevilla, the first town mayor, then called 'cabeza de barangay'; he served for 15 years. In 2010, the LGU will be 200 years old.

• 1915: completion of the construction of the Gabaldon Building, the main structure of the Loon Central Elementary School.

• About 1899-1900: the burning of Loon by the Americans to subdue the alleged remaining members of an anti-American movement in the province.

• 1929: completion of the American-style public plaza that features a monument dedicated to the national hero, the only Rizal monument topped by a replica of the Statue of Liberty; and a fountain that depicts the legend of Tubig-Loon.

• September 27, 1942: Battle of Moalong, now jointly commemorated annually, since 2001, with the Municipal Day of Prayer for World Peace.

• 1946: Opening of Loon Institute (Rafael Palma College Branch), first secondary school

• 1948: Founding of Sacred Heart Academy, first sectarian high school, by Msgr. Felix Zafra

• 1952: establishment of the Loon Municipal Library during the incumbency of Mayor Juan 'Aning' M. Relampagos.

• 1968: Typhoon Reming destroyed most houses and damaged agricultural crops and livestock. It also destroyed the old municipal building, then used as Loon Central Annex in Moto Norte.

• December 13, 1975: energization of Loon by the Bohol Electric Cooperative (Boheco I); prior to this electric power was already available from the local power plant established by the municipal government.

• 1979: Loon hosted the annual National Science and Technology Fair which was participated in by high school students who won in the science fair (investigative projects) and quiz competitions in their respective regions.

• June 2003: Opening of the Loon South High School in Barangay Cuasi, the seventh secondary school in the town.

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