Inopacan has been declared Insurgent-Free

The participants of the Leyte Bantay Bayanihan Forum held at the 19th Infantry Battalion camp in Brgy. Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte on April 14, 2015.

The following article is a reprint from Samar News

Leyte-Bantay Bayanihan holds forum at Army camp in Leyte

By 19th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA

April 16, 2015

 KANANGA, Leyte – A civil society-led initiative that aims to create an oversight body over the armed forces, including defense and security policies, holds its quarterly meeting here on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

The Leyte-Bantay Bayanihan, which was successfully launched at the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, June 23 last year, facilitated its forum inside 19th Infantry Battalion’s camp for the first time.

The forum, dubbed as the “Security Sector-Leyte BB Team Building Activity and Dialogue” was conducted to pursue partnership with the security sector, particularly the AFP and to evaluate its implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan”.

During the forum, Lt. Col. Nedy Espulgar and Lt. Col. Allan Jose Taguba, battalion commanders of 19IB and 78IB, respectively, presented the “bayanihan” accomplishment of their units for the first quarter of calendar year 2015.

It was learned that nine out of 37 municipalities in the province of Leyte were already declared insurgency-free. The said towns are Matag-ob, Merida, Palompon, Matalom, Bato, Inopacan, Dulag, Tabon-tabon, and Tabango. Efforts are already being made to declare other towns as well as cities as insurgency-free.

In his message, Col. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade stated that the military is now giving more emphasis on resolving the root causes of insurgency. This can be manifested in the military’s various peace and development initiatives, especially in far flung barangays which are barely reached by the services of the local government.

“As catalyzers, we tried to fill the gaps between the communities and the government”, he stressed. Col. Dolina likewise vowed to fully support the Leyte-Bantay Bayanihan and its initiatives.

The forum also includes conflict resolution workshops which Col. Dolina himself and his two battalion commanders has ably participated in.

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Other participants of the activity were Ms. Imelda Bonifacio, area manager of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), and representatives from Civil Society Organizations and media networks from Ormoc and Tacloban City.

In her presentation, Ms. Gina Ragudo, the LBB convenor discussed that the core objective of Bantay Bayanihan is to reform the security sector institutions so that they are transparent, respectful of the Rule of Law, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and accountable to democratic civilian authority.

She furthered that “Security Sector Reform” is an important component of peace building, democratization and development”.

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news credit to SamarNews.com. See original article here

"Hinup-akan" the true origin of Inopacan

This is something to ponder about.

The most believable origin of Inopacan town's name is HINUP-ACAN, coming from the Cebuano root word hup-ak, referring to the luno (slough or the skin shed off by snakes).

The town proper in 2010 
(Photo by Edgie Polistico 2010)

The place is known not only for being infested with namok from which it got its old name Kanamokan (the place of mosquitoes) but also for being an old place where snakes were commonly found. A manifestation that snakes used to abound here was the seaside cave called Bay sa has (house of snake) and the story of Inong Pak-an fighting the serpentine snake. Another manifestation of snakes is the story of Barrio Binitinan. So called, because of bitin (snake) found in this place. Binitinan is the old name of what is now known as Barangay Guadalupe. Not to mention that there are many areas surrounding the town proper where tunneling caves and other subterranean crevices can be found and these were the favorite haven for snakes. The network of underground crevices even reached Cuatro Islas and the solitaire hill of Brgy. Bontoc, Hindang, Leyte.

When snake is shedding off its skin, we call it nagluno or nanghup-ak ang panit. A shed off of slough is locally called hinup-ak or hinup-akan and the place where the slough is found or where the snake would shed their skin is called hinup-akan.

Thus, we got the origin of the name "Inopacan" from the following transformation: 

HINUP-ACAN => HINUPACAN => INUPACAN => INOPACAN

The eventual disappearance of the letter H in Hinup-akan could be attributed to the fact that in Spanish, the letter H is often silently pronounced if it is used as the first letter in a word. e.g. hora (o-ra) for time, hielo (ye-lo) for ice, etc. It was during the Spanish colonization era that the names of places in the country were officially recorded.

Moreover, during Spanish time, what sounds like "K" is written with the prominent and same-sounding letter C in Spanish. For example, they used to write camo for kamo  (you), aco for ako (I), buac for buak (broken), calayo for kalayo (fire), caldero for kaldero (cooking pot), cura paruco for kura paruko (parish priest), and many more. This explains why the C in Inopacan sounds exactly like letter K. With this, we can shorten the derivation to look like this:

HINUP-ACAN => HINUPACAN => INUPACAN =>  INOPACAN

Related posts:

• Finding the true origin of Inopacan
  
• THE LEGEND OF INOPACAN (in my years of research)
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video

Brgy. Linao

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Two kabaws (Philippine Buffalos) wallowing in this clear river of Brgy. Linao. A common sight at the deep portion of the river downstream.

 Barangay Linao got its name from the pristine water flowing along the course of Inopacan River. The freshwater would somehow settle for a while on lowly plain before it proceeds to flow downstream toward the sea in Inopacan bay. The pond of water formed by the settling water is called “linaw” in local dialect, which is basically Bul-anon (Boholano). Thus, it became the name of the place where this pond is can be found and became Brgy. Linao.

Villagers in the barangay and neighboring places would gather here for a swimming picnic, especially when celebrating special occasion in the family and other social gathering such as birthday celebration, baptismal celebration, graduation party, despedida (farewell party), bienvenido (welcome party) and during liwas sa pista (day after the barangay fiesta) for the “hugas”, which literally means “to wash” that connotes the traditional swimming in the river where remaining food in the fiesta were brought and eaten till the last piece is consumed.
 

The creek in Sitio Bacung-bacung is actually part of the smaller river in town also known by its name as the subang gamay (a rivulet). This portion  is the upstream of subang gamay that separates Brgy. Linao from the town proper of Inopacan. A potpot (pedal-powered tribike) crosses the concrete bridge (used to be a bridge made of wooden planks) that connects the Brgy Linao to Poblacion (town proper)

Another common sight in Inopacan river are groups of early morning bathers (locals and vacationers) and people washing their laundry like what these folks are doing in Sitio Bacung-bacung, Brgy. Linao.   

Locals would also fetch their drinking water from the tubod (spring) that have been dug alongside the river like the boy here fetching two gallons of potable water and the men with big plastic water container (jerry cans) for use in their houses.

Bathers, kabaws, and motorcycles (sometimes pedicabs, cars or jeepneys) are sharing the river

On ordinary days, local villagers would hunt here some fish, shrimps and tu (a species of small-sized river crabs) and baki sa tubigan (freshwater frogs) for their food, while some farmers would bring their kabaw (Philippine buffalo) for a dip when days were hot so to keep them cool. Until now, some kabaws are still seen wallowing in the river to these days. We could also find cars, tricycles and motorcycles come by for a wash at the downstream portion of the river near the Brgy. Linao bridge.

Because of Spanish influence, the spelling of “Linao” was used in some literary records and official documents in town and is still used now. Yet both “linaw” and “linao” have the similar diphthong sound in the second syllable.

  

The upstream portion of Inopacan River in Brgy. Linao that curves at the foot of a crag.

After the many flooding in the river and avulsion of riverbanks over many decades, the “linaw” eventually disappeared and what is left now is a flowing river of cool, clear water that curves at the foot of a rocky wall or crag. Though the water is no longer staying still as it used to be, the local folks and their guests would still come to have a swimming picnic in this portion of the Inopacan River.


A habal-habal motorcycle is negotiating the Brgy. Linao Bridge to cross over the Inopacan River.

Brgy. Linao is basically agricultural where some villagers are tending to their coconut farm while few are cultivating their rice fields. Other agricultural products in the barangay would include bananas (plantain), bamboos, and some seasonal fruit-bearing trees.

The place had long been accessible through one of the major rural roads in town. Jeepneys, pedicab (motorized tricycle), potpot (pedal-powered tribike) and habah-habal (a single motorcycle that offers a ride to passengers) are plying along this road. Considering that Brgy. Linao is just less than a kilometer away, one can simply walk his way to get there from the Poblacion (town proper).

These are the common mode of transportation plying the rural road that passes by the Brgy. Linao bridge. A jeepney (above), habal-habal (middle) and pedicab (below)..

REVIEW: INOPACAN WAS FOUNDED IN 1852 NOT 1892

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PREMISE: Mr. Jaime Generalao Dianon, a native of Cebu, who now works as a school teacher in Inopacan, spread the news through his XtGem blog account that the municipality of Inopacan was not founded in 1892, but in 1952, a difference spanning 40 years long. He based his findings on a printed copy of Errecion De Pueblos (Towns Establishment ) that he lifted from an old souvenir program. He blew up a photocopy and presented an enlarged image in his blog at XtGem.com account with the English translation that reads: "...This filing began in November 27, 1852 CONTENT Approved (Resolved/Settled) on December 6, 1852."
Years before the Foundation Day was commemorated in the streets of Inopacan, it was Mr. Leonidas Soliva of Inopacan MPDO who went to secure a copy of the certification of the establishment of Inopacan township from the National Archive of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. He brought home a copy of the document which to his understanding declared 1892 as the founding year of Inopacan.

Now, with the scrutiny and some corroborating findings from other sources which Mr. Dianon faithfully believes would support his discovery, the municipal council and the executive committee of Inopacan are now facing doubts on when exactly Inopacan emancipated from Hindang.

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Inopacan Fiesta 2011

May 15 - Pista sa Inopacan.

DALI KAMO! DUAW KAMO!

Some scenes of 2009 Inong-Pak-an Festival.

All photos by Edgie Polistico
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
(Click image to enlarge picture)

For more photographs, click here:



Watch a video of Inong Pak-an Festival

Unfortunately, the next showdown may not be for this year. There must be some good reasons why not this year.

Festival showcase like this would surely draw tourists to come in our town. It would help put our town in the map of tourist destinations. Job opportunities comes along in tourism. Opportunities that would help improve lives of Inopacnons and bring progress to Inopacan.

But several nights of dancing and night shows are lined up to enliven the fiesta celebration.- like the old time - beginning on May 11. May these nocturnal entertainment will not make people tired to go to church for early morning Ecclesiastical Mass.


Some of the festival activities this May 2011 include the following:

May 09 - Hiphop contest
May 10 - ____________
May 11 - SK night
May 12 - Mega Night Disco
May 13 - Live band show
May 14 - Coronation night for Miss Inopacan
May 15 - Concelebrated Mass - Misa sa lungsod alas 10:00 sa buntag. Ayaw kalimot pagtambong sa pinakamahinungdanon nga bahin sa kasaulogan sa pangilin ning atong lungsod.

An early morning Ecclesiastical Mass held in the Inopacan Parish Church during the town fiesta.

May 16 - Liwas na! Daghan mag-picnic sa dagat. Kita-kita sa Badoy beach, Reclamation (Pasil), Baysahas, Da Art, Balintong beach, Villa Editha, Digyo island....bisan asa basta may dagat. Picnic by the seaside is the popular Inopacnon post festival habit. Mao ni gitawag og "panghugas sa salin sa pista" kay ang mga bawon salin-salin na man lang sa pista. Unya hugasan og tagay yuna hugasan ang imong "kuan" diha sa dagat. LOL!

This coming May 14 and 15 is on Saturday and Sunday.

What a chance...grab it!

DALI KAMO! DUAW KAMO!

Click here to find out who are those coming to town.

MABUHI ANG INOPACAN! MABUHI ANG INOPACNON!

The Missing Link!

Perhaps one of you could give/share us the missing list of executive leaders in town.

It is unknown who were the executive leaders in town prior to 1903. World War II and typhoons destroyed the archives in the church's convent and in the town hall.

If Inopacan was once a barangay of Hindang. with Fernando Polistico (a Boholano) as the first appointed Capitan del Barrio, and was succeeded by Francisco Espinosa, and lastly by Agustin Kudera before Inopacan became a town on December 06, 1892.

Then who were the first leader after the township of Inopacan was established in 1892?

Who were the succeeding leaders till 1903?

Anyone?

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NO INONG PAK-AN FESTIVAL in 2010

We missed the Inong Pak-an Festival this year.

The 2008 and 2009 organizers of Inong Pak-an Festival failed to continue this year (2010) the festive showdown of commemorating the legendary origin of our town's name. Blamed it on the 2010 National and Local Election that culminated on May 10, or five days before the May 15 ecclesiastical town fiesta in honor to our patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. Everybody in town and in member barangays were too busy attending to the campaign sorties of their candidates.

I suppose, the newly elected council of Inopacan should establish the creation of a cultural and social committee to preserve and promote our cultural treasure and historical identity.

I even suggest the installation of a municipal museum and public library where all the literary works, relics, memorabilia of olden times and history about Inopacan and about us Inopacnons would be stored and preserved for perpetuity.

Or else, rust, termites, and loss of memory and references will vanish these treasures to oblivion.

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THE LEGEND OF INOPACAN (in my years of research)

(Click the image and find your place in Poblacion, Inopacan, Leyte.)

Inopacan – [Leyte] (demonym: Inopacnon) - A coastal town in the western part of Leyte province. The original site of Inopacan was in Binitinan (now Brgy. Guadalupe). Due to the frequent invasion and pillage of Moro pirates and the wrath of monsoon storms making it bad to moor their galleons in the area, they transferred the village to the present location of this town, which was then called Kanamokan, meaning, “place of mosquitoes” because of its pesky namok (mosquito). 

The relocation was intended to spare early Spanish missionary priests and the native settlers from the attacks of Moro marauders. Besides, the present location is along the seaside and the mooring galleons were well guarded by the Cuatro Islas (four islets): Digyo, Mahaba, Apid, and Himokilan. A place is strategically a good place for hiding galleons from the wrath of habagat (south or southwest monsoon winds). Nearby the town proper is a place where the ships and fishing boats would take refuge during bad weather even to these days. The people called this place Tinago from the word “tago” meaning “hidden.” Thus, “tinago” means “the hidden place.”

Much of the documents that could be a good source for learning about the history of Inopacan were destroyed when the town hall as well as the parish church and its convent were leveled into rubbles as the Japanese warplanes bombed these buildings during World War II. But based on the account of Inopacnon elders and records from neighboring towns, Inopacan was once a barangay of Hindang. with Fernando Polistico (a Boholano) as the first appointed Capitan del Barrio, and was succeeded by Francisco Espinosa, and lastly by Agustin Kudera before Inopacan became a town on December 06, 1892.

The name Inopacan came from the legendary person known as “Inong pak-an,” which means “Inong who have wings” or “winged Inong.” Inong was a mythical man who according to legend was a person who could run very fast and jump up high over the trees and could hop from one place to another as in from hill to hill. Hence, he was thought to have wings. His story happened before the Spanish came to this place. His supernatural abilities are similar to olden esoteric arts called kamal or ilmu which was practiced by the early Muslim aristocrats in southern Mindanao. Kamal was taught by special masters and was effectively limited to members of the aristocracy. Inong could be a rajah or a sultan under the aristocratic lineage of either the endatuan or dumatus. This fit his description of being a leader of a pack of local warriors. He and his men protected the local villagers by driving away Moro bandits and the much dreaded giant serpentine snake that once lived in a cave. 

Related posts: 

• Hinup-akan is the true origin of Inopacan
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video
• Cuatro Islas - the Boracay of Leyte (as reported by GMA Saksi news report)  
• Digyo island
• Apid island
• Himokilan island
• Mahaba island 
• The Untold Story of Manny Paquiao's mother - was Dionisia born in Inopacan and why her parents ran away to Mindaanao

The cave has an entrance opening at the tip of a cape now called “bay sa has” (literally means “the house of a snake”, a seaside limestone cave where the giant reptile used to live). The huge serpentine snake was dreaded by the local villagers because it attacked their carabaos, cows, goats, pigs, dogs, and other animals especially when the snake was hungry. Even the fishermen who were on their sakayan (outrigger rowing canoe), or baroto (small frail rowing boat), or the Muslim pirates who were on their pankos (sailboat) were not spared from the attack if they happened to pass by near the mouth of the cave. 

Until one night, under the light of a bright full moon, the snake was seen playing the trabungko, a brightly illuminating crystal ball. The snake tossed it up in the air while skimming the surface of the sea between the islets of Cuatro Islas. It is believed that the ball was a mystical amulet and had birtud (magical power), and Inong was among those who saw the snake playing the trabungko.

The entrance of Bay-sa-has (house of snake) at present. (Photo credits to Ms. Eldeross Kirong)

 

The long search for the trabungko could be one of the reasons why Inong came to this place. Because of his desire to acquire the mystical ball, Inong chased the giant snake by hopping from the shore to his boat then to the islet, and to another boat as if he had some sort of flying skill. Using his sword and shield and with the show of his supernatural strength, Inong fought the ferocious giant serpentine snake. After a long fight, Inong disappeared along with the giant snake. Because of their subsequent disappearance, everybody thought that Inong succeeded in killing the giant snake. Few had told that Inong got the trabungko and lived a quiet life in a cave in the jungle on top of Mt. Sacrepante overlooking the nearby plains. Others accounted that they saw him on the hilly karst of Bontoc in Brgy Bulacan in the northeastern part of Hindang where many caves can be found; or most probably, he went back to his origin in Mindanao bringing home the treasured trabungko.

The Inong Pak-an Festival

There were some accounts of succeeding great tambalans (a.k.a. albularyo, referred to as the local shaman or quack doctors) before World War II that they happened to have an encounter with Inong in the mountains and network of caves in Inopacan that are connected with the caves in Bulacan, Hindang and to the Cuatro Islas. These tambalans told that they had to pass a test, such as solving a puzzle, completing a tahas (task), or facing a fight of strength with Inong, for him to receive more magical power from him. This kind of ordeal is typical of that of a special master who taught or passed the knowledge of kamal to others.

Years later, back to the cave in the cape, there were few big snakes left in the Baysahas long after the giant serpentine one was gone. Mostly were sawa (boa constrictor). The snakes were quite big but no longer giant, but still, these creatures were feared by the local villagers. According to old folks, it was during World War II that the big snakes were gone because the Japanese occupation armies annihilated them by trolling in the sea carcasses and other big chunks of meat stuffed with bombs. The snakes took the bait and were killed by the explosives. Nowadays, no more sightings of big snakes in Baysahas are reported. The cave still exists now, though its opening is already narrow and partly covered with stones and sand.

The Inopacan bridge that crosses over the subang daku and subang gamay.

Written by Edgie Polistico. 

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Welcome to Inopacan. 

DALI KAMO! DUAW KAMO!

MABUHI ANG INOPACAN! MABUHI ANG INOPACNON!

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