Brgy. Linao

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Two kabaws (Philippine buffalo) wallowing in this clear river in 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 a low-lying 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 the local dialect, which is basically Bul-anon (Boholano). Thus, it became the name of the place where this pond 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 occasions in the family and other social gatherings such as birthday celebrations, baptismal celebrations, graduation parties, 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 Brgy. Linao to Poblacion (town proper)



Another common sight in the Inopacan River is 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 has been dug alongside the river, like the boy here fetching two gallons of potable water and the men with big plastic water containers (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 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 coming 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 a similar diphthong sound in the second syllable.

  

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

After the many floods 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 a 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, pedicabs (motorized tricycles), 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 modes of transportation plying the rural road that passes by the Brgy. Linao bridge. A jeepney (above), habal-habal (middle), and pedicab (below).