the CHAMP

CAPUL

In ancient times, the municipality of Capul was called ’Abak’. This was founded by the Jesuits in 1596 who administered it until 1768 when it was assigned by the Gobierno to the Franciscans. The tributos counted to a total of 300 with 884 almas. Calbayog was its single visita, and its first pastor was Father Joaquin Martinez. OFM.

The island is located at the 12.0 24’ 34” latitude, in a flat land on the E. coast of the island amid the Strait of San Bernardino, among the 130.o 23’32” and the 130.o 27 25” of oriental longitude of the meridian of Cadiz and 12.o 22’ 40” up to 12.o 29’24” of latitude N.

This isle is two leagues long from N. to S. and like one from E. to W., being hilly in its biggest part. It is confined at the E. with the island of Samar to whose Province it belongs and at a distance of three hours of sailing for SE. With the island of Dalupirit: ‘por SO, con una a portion of the islandas’ known as Los Naranjos, pertaining to the government of Masbate and facing NW the terra firmas called the Island of Luzon, three hours by navigation.

It enjoys a temperate, healthy and perfectly ventilated climate. There are two springs in the town, which are of excellent quality. The mail was received weekly since it was a traffic point for all the Bisayan Islands and those coming from Luzon.

The church, falls under the advocation of San Ignacio de Loyola, was constructed of stone. It was built by the Jesuits and repaired in 1781, by Fr. Mariano Valero, OFM. At the same time he constructed a beautiful, majestic tower that exists in the Province of Samar. There were also a stone tribunal and a school of primary school whose master was paid by the Cajas de Comuniedad. Due to a shortage of Franciscans, this parish was served by the Cura of Calbayog.

Estado de la Parroquia

Tributos 796

Almas 3063

In its mountains were woods such as the alintataw known in its class. Also, the ipil that generally reaches up to sixty two feet long. It had plentiful of liana, a diversity of palms, a lot of wax and volateria caza. Its plains are fertilized by a multitude of streams which were so useful in watering. Its coasts were filled with tortoise shell. The force of the currents of the strait of San Bernardino prohibited fishing. Although to the S. of the island, there were good ports, they need great know-how for anchoring them. What more, they were only protected by the N. wind.

The cultivated land produces sufficiency of rice, corn and tobacco, with many nutritious roots. The Capuleños are dedicated to agriculture and fishing; the women to weaving of guinaras whose products along with surplus palay are exported on their vessels to the Province of Albay.

CATARMAN

This town was founded by the Jesuits in the year 1596 and given over to the Franciscans in the year 1768 when the Jesuits were expelled from all Spanish dominions. When the Franciscans were assigned to take up the parish administration, the count was 430 tributes and 1,305 souls. Its first Franciscan Parish Priest was Fr. Nicolas of Herrera, OFM.

This town is located at 12.o 32’20” latitude, in a sandy and flat land, to the left of a river of the same name and on the N. coast of the island of Samar. It is confined on the E. with the town of Pambujan, at some eight leagues; on the S. with the central mountains of the island and for W. with the town of Bobon at two leagues.

The climate was tempered, healthy and well ventilated. But since the tide comes into the land in great abundance, this caused the water to be rather salty and of poor quality. There was a good road leading to the town of Bobon which was opened under the direction of Fr. Jose Diaz, OFM. However, people generally traveled by sea or rivers to the bordering towns. The mail was received from the cabecera in uncertain days.

The church was dedicated to the Anunciacion de Nuestra Señora which was constructed of timber just like the Parochial House and one that serves as the tribunal. There was a school of primary instruction, endowed by the Cajas de Comuniedad.

It had four visitas under its jurisdiction which was of little consideration and at a distance of some seven leagues or more. The pastor was Fr. Sebastian of Almonacid, OFM, 48 years in age.

Estado de la Parroquia

Tributos 1,953

Almas 6,880

The boundaries of this town have no limits marked out on the S. It had mountains which abound with fine timber, bamboos, wax, pitch, smaller nutritious roots and major and minor hunts.

On its coasts, fishes, balate, carey or tortoiseshell and gulaman were plenty. The outlet of the river bathes the pueblo and there was also a secure port for ships of two hundred tons. Its river was navigable as far as the visita called Kubukubo, at a distance of some seven leagues. The cultivated land produced abundant crops of rice of the best quality, abaka, coconuts, kamuti and palawan.

The people of this pueblo were devoted to agriculture. They profit from the abaka and coconut oil, gathering of wax and pitch and fishing. The women were engaged in the fabric of guimaras whose products were exported for the markets of Manila while the palay was exported to the Province of Albay.

CATUBIG

In ancient times, Catubig was known as Kagninipa. It was also founded by the Jesuits in 1596 and was given over to the administration of Franciscans in 1768. At that time of turn-over, the count numbered some 510 tributes with 1,515 almas. Its first Franciscan cura was Fr. Antonio de Valdeolivas, OFM.

Catubig was located formerly where today the town of Las Navas is situated. It was transferred due to the invasion of the Moros who set the town on fire and where a multitude of people were burned and perished. Also, some five hundred of the people were taken as captives.

This transfer should be verified between 1770 and 1775, because having taken over the administration in 1768 with 510 tributes, it appears in 1775 that it was only at 300. In the year of 1777, it was joined to the town of Palapag and in 1784 to that of Lawang until in 1790. The first Franciscan assigned as minister was Fr. Juan of Plasencia, OFM.

This pueblo is located at the 12.o 24’25” latitude, in a flat land, to the left of a mighty river of the same name and at the foot, a mountain on which a rampart (baluarte) existed as a defense against the Moros. It confined at the N. with the island and town of Lawang, some four leagues; on the E. with the mountains settled by many non-Christians; on the S. with the town of Navas, some two leagues away and on the W. with the mountains also inhabited by the unchristianized.

The climate is humid and unhealthy, little ventilated and covered daily by a dense fog that usually lasts until mid-day. The dominant illnesses were rheumatism, dropsy and fevers. The town was provided with very good waters from this Catubig river. The folks communicate with the towns of Lawang and Navas by way of the river; in dry weather by way of a rough path. The mail was received from the cabecera in unspecified times.

The church, under the patronage of the Patriarch San Jose, was built of stone in the old place where until today one could still see the ruins. For the years of 1790 it was built out of timber or wood, under the direction of the Fr. Juan of Plasencia, OFM. In 1805, it was rebuilt in masonry by Fr. Jose Mata, OFM, which fell into ruins since the foundation was laid badly and not well cemented. Lately a new church and wooden parochial house were erected by Fr. Agaton Martinez, OFM, in the year 1838 and the following. There was a cemetery outside of the poblacion, very well located along with a small nipa hermitage.

Lately there was a constructed a new Church and wooden parochial house by Fr. Agaton Martinez, OFM, in 1838.

The Casa Real and the one that serves as a school of the first letters whose teacher was paid by the Caja de Comunidad. It was made of wood with a stone foundation. The population’s remaining houses were of nipa and some fifteen of them were of wood. The administrator was Fr. Antonio Sanchez, OFM, who was 27 years in age.

Estado de la Parroquia

Tributos 1,396

Almas 5,383

The boundaries of this town did not have any limits marked on the E. or W. with extensive mountains with excellent and abundant timbers for construction and furniture, a variety of palms, lianas, abundant wax and major and minor hunting. At these boundaries, there run a multitude of mighty rivers and somewhat muddy and some of which bathe the town. One of them was about seventy feet in depth and was navigable as far as Navas. By paddling with an oar it takes about three days of navigation. The sailing with small bancas in this river was dangerous, for there were many ferocious kayman which snatched children or people.

The cultivated land produced a lot of rice, abaka, some cocoa, kamuti and palawan. The people were devoted to agriculture, and benefit from the abaka and coconut oil, from hunting and gathering of wax. The women were engaged in guimaras fabric whose products, along with surplus palay, were exported in medium-sized vessels to the cabecera or to the province of Albay and Manila.

PALAPAG

The foundation of this town of Palapag was initiated by the Jesuits in 1596, which they administered until the year 1768. It then passed onto the Jurisdiction of the Franciscans which at that time numbered only 375 tributes with 1,615 almas. The first Franciscan assigned here was Fr. Antonio Sellez, OFM.

Palapag is located at the 12.o33’40” altitude, on a flat, sandy land, to the left of a river of the same name on the beach of a beautiful bay on the N. coast of the island. It was confined on the E. with mountains that form the so-called Cabo de Espiritu Santo. On the S. and W., with the mountains of the center of the island, was inhabited still by non-Christians and on WNW with the isle and town of Lawang, with a distance of three hours sailing.

The climate is tempered, healthy and very well ventilated. The people were provided with water from several springs, all of good quality. Its communications were generally by water. The mail was received from the cabecera when convenient.

The church was under the patronage of De La Asuncion de Nuestra Senora and was made of solid construction. It was built by the Jesuits same with the parochial house. There was a tribunal that was also made of wood along with a primary school supported by the Caja de Comunidad while the school that was just for girls was supported by interested individuals.

The visitas that belonged to Palapag were: Pampang, located in a very marshy land, with a distance of a league and Gamay, located in flat and clear land to the SSE of the town at seven leagues away. Fr. Pedro Liaño, OFM, 26 years in age, was in-charge of the parish.

Tributes 1,139

Souls 4,135

Its boundary did not have any limit marked on the W. portion; on the E. and S. with extensive plains and a multitude of excellent timbers in the mountains, palms, lianas, roots, wax, pitch and bigger and smaller hunt are found.

It had a beautiful and a clean port which was well preserved and it can hold large vessels. There were plentiful fine fishes, balate and carey. The cultivated land produced sufficient amount rice, abaka, tobacco, kamuti and palawan. Their people were devoted to agriculture, and benefited from cultivating the abaka and fishing. The products were exported to the Manila markets and surplus palay to the province of Albay.

In its port, there was the detained Patache “Filipino” in the year of 1762 for fear that the English would take possession of the Galleon arriving from Mexico to Manila. Thus the silver was unloaded and transported, by the order of the Senor Anda, to the town of Pulangi, belonging then to the Province of Camarines. This safeguarded the financial aid for the Islands. From Polangi, all was transported over-land to the town of Iriga and from there it was all driven by the river of Cabusaw to the N. coast of Camarines as far as the pueblo of Mauban, under the direction of Fr. Francisco Rosado de Brozas, OFM. Then, by order of Sr. Anda all was delivered by bankas with good results.

LAWANG

The first founders of this town, around year 1680, were three principales of the town called Palapag. They were Kahundik, Surahan and Anudanod, who remained subject to the town of Palapag until the year of 1768. It was separated from its mother town, and the first assigned first was Fr. Antonio de Toledo, OFM.

This town is located at the 12.0 33’33” latitude, in an irregular and a little high plain on the S. coast of a small island of the same name, separated from the mainland of Samar by several mouths of the abundant river of Catubig. This isle delays among the 131.o 16’34” and the 131.o 20’39” of Oriental longitude of the meridian of Cadiz and 12.o 33’15” up to the 12.o 35’50” latitude. Its figure belongs to SE to N like three leagues long and its tip NW. avana toward the N. like a league, confined at NNE with the Batag island and on S. with that of Samar.

The bordering towns were Palapag at ESE with a distance of three hours of sailing; at the S., Catubig at four leagues and at WSW, Pambuhan, like three leagues in distance.

The weather is warm but healthy. The waters that they draw are scarce and bad; in times of dry weather the people were forced to go to the mainland of Samar and quite a distance. The mail was received from the cabecera in uncertain days.

The church, dedicated to the Arcangel San Miguel, was built by masonry as well as the parochial house which the two buildings were renovated and roofed around 1848 and 1852 by Fr. Sebastian de Almonacid, OFM, who at the same time directed the construction of a stone and wood tribunal and another building, a primary school endowed by the Caja de Comunidad.

This town had three visitas known as Kalumutan and Matumbuton, located in the same isle and the denominated Burabod in the mainland of Samar. Fr. Benito Diego, OFM, confessor, 28 years in age was the cura parroco.

Tributos 1,478

Souls 5,185

The boundary of this town includes the entire island on which it was founded and it also possessed some territory on the mainland of Samar such as the whole island of Batag that was four leagues large and two wide. The island of Lawang was somewhat broken and its mountains abound in fine timber, many coconuts, palms, canes, lianas, nutritious roots and hunt of all classes. To the SW of the town there was a beautiful port, wide, clean and secure but its entrance need some expertise and practice in entering due to the great bar that the mighty Catubig River forms. On its coasts, excellent fishing was available and plentiful like balate and carey.

The cultivated land, fertilized by multitude of streams, although of little flow, produced a lot of rice, tobacco, abaka, sugarcane, coconuts and palms. The people were devoted to agriculture, benefited from abaka, coconut oil and nipa wine which palm was plentiful. Others devoted to the breeding of bovine livestock and fishing while the women to the fabric of guinaras. The products were exported to the Province of Albay.

NAVAS

Navas was known before as Binuntuan which means a place where there was a town previously. That is, originally the town of Catubig was founded and settled there. Now this was a visita until 1850 civilly. Spiritually, it was separated on March 12, 1863 and was given the name Navas.

It is located at the 12.o 22’latitude, in a flat land, to the right of a mighty river that takes the name of the town. It is confined on the N. with the town of Catubig, at some two leagues; the remaining region is surrounded with unchristianized rancherias.

The climate is humid, cold and not very healthy, being daily covered with a dense fog that comes from the river. The common illness is hidropesias.

The people were provided with water from mentioned river that is crystalline and thin, but in times of floods, they took water from a stream that runs off the distant mountain called Tatangbang. They communicate with the town of Catubig by river which was navigable. For not urgent cases, they take to the difficult path. There were several paths to communicate with the non-Christians in the hills. The mail was received from the cabecera in undetermined ways.

The church was under the patronage of the Natividad de Nuestra Senor and was constructed of wood just like the parochial house, the tribunal and the primary school supported by the Caja de Comunidad. There was one visita that depends on this town called Pupunton, located to the S. like two leagues away which was established in the year 1823, by an elderly man named Timoteo. Also another was founded called Napawala in the year of 1824 by a captain of Catubig called Don Tomas Simon. Due to shortage of a religious this town was ministered by the Cura of Catubig.

Tributos 564

Almas 2,428

The boundary of this town does not have any limits marked out on the N. portion. On the remaining region there were extensive mountains and wide plains, with abundant and good construction timber and joinery, palms, lianas, fine pastures, many nutritious roots, wax, pitch, hunts of all classes. There were many rivers, but less mighty, and about a league and half from the pueblo. There was also a lake which was about six hundred feet deep and about a half league de bojeo, where there were plenty of fish. Its origin ws the famous river from which the town took its name.

The cultivated land produced a lot of rice and abaka. The people were devoted to the agriculture and benefited from abaka while the women from the guinaras fabric. Its products were exported to the markets of Manila and surplus rice to the Province of Albay.

BOBON

This was one of the visita’s of the town of Catarman which was separated by an ordinance on August 4, 1863.

This town is at the 12.o 33’ latitude on a beautiful plain on the N. coast of the island of Samar and to the left, a river of the same name. On the E. with the town of Catarman at two leagues and on the S. with the mountains at the center, on the W. with the same mountains which run to form the so-called tip of the Balikwaton in the San Bernardino Strait.

The pueblo enjoyed a temperate, healthy and very well ventilated climate. The people were provided with water which was of good quality. It also had a beautiful roadway to Catarman, opened around the year 1849 under the direction of the Fr. Jose Diaznes, OFM. However, the folks generally communicate by water. The mail was received from the cabecera in uncertain days.

The church was under the invocation of Dulce Nombre de Jesus, the parochial house, and Casa tribunal all were made of nipa. There was a primary school endowed by the Caja de Comunidad and other two in the visitas, paid by the interested ones. It had four visitas of little consideration, at a distance of some seven leagues from the town. Due to the great shortage of Franciscans the Cura of Catarman came to minister here.

Tributos 981

Almas 3,809

The boundary of this town on the S. portion did not have limit and on the W. extends along the coast for some eight leagues. It included the islands of Biri, Sawang and other islets on the N. of Samar, which were about three hours of sailing. The region was generally hilly and very abundant with good timber, palms, bejucos, wax and hunt of all classes. Its port was very well secured, but certain vessels were unable to enter due to the many reefs. The extensive coasts were full of excellent fish, balate, gulaman and tortoiseshell.

The cultivated land produced a lot of rice of the best quality, some abaka, and palawan. The people were devoted to agriculture, benefited from abaka, gathered wax and pitch, and did much on fishing. The women were engaged in the guinaras fabric whose products were taken to the markets of Manila or to the province of Albay.

PAMBUHAN

This town owed its foundation to a zealous missionary named Fr. Antonio de Toledo, OFM, who, during the year 1768 being assigned as a Cura in Lawang, was able to convert several infidels that inhabited the riverbanks.

In 1781, the first gobernadorcillo was already chosen by D. Domingo Katangas, a native of the town of Lawang. The following year (1782), its inhabitants were dispersed by an invasion of the Mindanaw Moros who destroyed everything. All the people sought refuge in a place called Ginulgan, some four leagues inland where they remained until the year 1784. It was at the same time that Fr. Buenaventura Espinosa, OFM, returned from Lawang. On August 4, 1863, this town was separated from Lawang.

It is located at the 12.o 33’ latitude in a flat and a sandy land, to the right of the river from which it takes its name and envelops the N. coast of the island. It is confined ENE with the town of Lawang, situated on an islet of the same name and about two hours of navigation. On the SSE with the town of Catubig some six leagues whose distance could be shorted by opening up a direct road that is not difficult; on the S. with the central mountains of the island and on the W. with the Catarman town at some eight leagues away.

The church, was dedicated to the Precursor Saint John the Baptist, was made of wood and nipa. The parochial house and the one that serves as a tribunal were all built around the year 1847 and was under the direction of Fr. Sebastian de Almonacid, OFM. The school of primary instruction was endowed by Caja de Comunidad,. This town received a considerable increase in 1849 and 1850, in which it converted and reduced in population as referred by Fr. Sebastian de Almonacid to seven hundred unfaithful people.

The climate is warm but healthy. The people were supplied with water from a well which was of bad quality. There were two rough roads in the direction of Catarman and Catubig. The mail was received from the cabecera.

This town had four visitas: one was Lawangan, located on the beach to the W. about a league and a half from the town; Bantayan was located on the same beach at two leagues and a half and in which there was a nipa hermitage; Kaparanga, at a distance of a league and located at the mouth of the river of the same name; finally, Ginulgan, located toward the S. at about five leagues, on the margins of the river. Due to a shortage of religious, the P. Cura of the town of Lanang comes to minister here.

Tributes 793

Souls 2,547

The boundaries of this town have no limit marked on the S., E and N which stretches for some five leagues. It included extensive plains with excellent pastures and on a portion of the S. in the mountains there were fine, abundant timbers like cedar. There was also a diversity of palms, lianas, lot of wax and hunt of every class. This area was bathed by several rivers among the larger called Ginulgan which had its origin in the mountains of the S. and flows N. where it emptied into the sea. This river was navigable for smaller vessels for some five leagues, and its margins there were gold washing, quite abundant, especially after being verified by some big floods.

The region which was cultivated produced a lot of rice and of the best quality known in the Philippines which was exported in great quantity to the Province of Albay. It produced plenty of abaka, cocoa, Palawan and kamuti. Its port was little secure but the crafts have a refuge of going into the river for its natural security. The people were devoted to the agriculture, benefited from the abaka, nipa wine whose palm was plentiful at its margins; hunt, fishing, balate and carey were plentiful too whose products go to the cabecera and the Province.

LA GRANJA

This town was formed from the visitas of Mawo, Sukhan, Pinunayan and Barubaybay, belonging to the towns of Capul and Bobon, which was erected officially on December 1863.

It is located at 12.o33’ latitude, in broken land, on the W. coast of the island that forms the strait of San Bernardino at the margins of the Mawo River and fronting Dalupirit. It continues N. toward the sea and the islands of Balikwaton (not Balicuatro), on the E. with the town of Bobon, and on the SE with that of Calbayog.

Its climate is healthy and perfectly ventilated, the only news that can be made mention relating to this pueblo was that it had no Franciscan to administer the town and parish.

CATBALOGAN

Catbalogan, the capital of the Province and the residence of the governor, was turned over by the Jesuits on October 17, 1768. There was at that time some four hundred seventy tributes or one thousand nine hundred fifty souls. The first Franciscan parish priest was Father Jose Fayo, OFM.

It is situated at 11.o 49’10” latitude on the western coast of the island. It is a horseshoe form, and next to a medium bay was the Antiyaw river. It was confined on the north and east by the mountains which extend to the very center of the Island. On its southeast side was the town of Jiabon (Hiabong actually) some two leguas in distance; at northwest, some six leguas, was the town of Dapdap [now Tarangnan].

The Church, under the invocation of Saint Bartholomew, the Apostle, was of a solid construction, built by the Jesuits. In the year 1769, it was destroyed by fire.

In the year 1814, the old church was repaired by Felix Carrion, OFM , and in 1844 Fr. Martin Yepes, OFM, built the altars.

The church had two orders of timber columns, forming three naves and its principal architecture was based on the Jonic style. The cemetery was located outside of the poblacion, very well situated along with a small chapel dedicated to the Virgen del Rosario. There existed the Casa Real of stone. There situated the offices of the Superior Tribunal of the Province.

There was also an edifice similar to the previous one, where there was a school supported by the Cajas de Comunidad. Thus there were some one hundred twenty wooden houses and the remaining were of nipa. The following visitas were attached to Catbalogan: Mahakod, Mankaris, Sulanga and Buri, located toward the northwest on the shore, with a distance of some three leagues; and toward the SSE those known as Pangdan and Giaan, with a distance of a league and a half. The parish was administered by Fr. Antonio Figueroa, OFM, predicador, 27 years in age.

Tributos 1,783

Almas 6,512 (in 1865)

The demarcations of the town did not have any limits on the north and the east. Its land was hilly and had plentiful timber for construction and ebanisteria, lianas or bamboo, diverse types of palms, nutritious roots and major and minor hunt. The cultivated land was rather insignificant and alone it produced palay and some corn for consumption only.

The port took its name from the town was not very secure due to its winds of the E., and its entrance was dangerous for those who did not know as there were many stone reefs and sand. It can anchor ships of a hundred tons, and the people can utilize it all the time or seasons of the year. It was for this reason that it had been made the cabecera and which sustained the cultivation of trade in coconut oil, abaka, balate, wax and tortoiseshell, actively with the capital of Manila.

Their Samareños were devoted to a bit of agriculture to fishing, profit from abaka, and some others like embroidery, carpentry and forges where its products were sold in their own markets. Abaka, coconut oil and tortoiseshells were exported to the markets of Manila in several crafts which belonged to the Samar folks.

Around the year 1769, the Franciscans established or founded in this town an infirmary. The first infirmarian was a Religious Brother named Jesus Jose Maria, OFM, However, this infirmary no longer existed, and it was not known why such an important contribution was abandoned.

BANGAHON

The foundation of this town in 1596 was due to the Jesuits, and under whose administration it remained until 1768. At that time the tributos numbered to 530 while the almas at 2,346. The first Franciscan assigned was Fr. Juan Salguero, OFM.

It is located at 12.o latitude on a kind of a tongue formed by two mighty rivers that later joined and embraced the center of the island. On its southwest, at five leagues away, located the town of Dapda. On the west was that of Calbayog at some eight leagues.

Its climate is humid and unhealthy, or little ventilated and covered daily by a dense fog from the rivers which usually last until about ten o’clock in the morning. The dominant illnesses were dropsy, rheumatism and fever. The people were supplied with waters coming from the rivers that were of good quality. But in cases of floods they were forced to take it from distant areas. All their communications with the bordering towns were by river that was navigable for vessels of little limits. The mail was received from the cabecera at uncertain days.

The church with the Archangel’s invocation, San Miguel, was made of stone, built by the PP. of the Society of Jesus where also a convento stood of the same materials. There in the town were the Casa Real which was made of wood and a primary school supported by the Cajas de Comunidad. The houses that formed the center of the town were all of nipa and they did not reach even fifty. All others were scattered which was a great burden upon the parish administration. It had three visitas under its administration: Matuginaw, Tawiran and Kantagi. Its pastor was Father Saturnino Bajo, OFM, 27 years in age.

Tributos 1,302

Almas 5,838

The boundaries did not have limits; marked on the N. and E. by hilly lands abundant with varied fine timber, palms, lianas, excellent herbs, wax, hunt of every type and many nutritious roots. It also had a multitude of flowing creeks that bathe the town; the one that runs by the N. courses by the NW and SE..

It had two currents which resulted to a great flood because the river that came from the N. had a great force which met the other that held or pushed it back. This created something like a lagoon which then the people called Sapinit at the SE of the pueblo. It filled up to about fifty feet ending up in the town. The trees and plants were plentiful and were poisonous such as Karisaw and Kunumay. When the waters were stagnated for some 25 to 30 days, all these rot which caused a very bad odor enveloping the town making life there unbearable.

This was a terrible calamity for the pueblo each time the river overflew and last as long as two months.

The cultivated land produced sufficient rice, abaka, palawan, and kamuti. These Bangahons or Samareños were dedicated to agriculture. They profited greatly from abaka, hunting, gathering of wax and pitch, and from fishing. The women were engaged in fabrics or guinaras, which products along with the palay as surplus, were exported to the markets of Catbalogan.