HISTORYA NIN BANUAAN

"The History of the Town of Irosin"

 By
Sabiniano Gacias and Elias Cuadro

 

PROLOGUE

 

1 - History of the town of Irosin, Sorsogon,

since it became a sitio, barrio and municipality;

then under the municipality of Bulusan,

then of the province of Albay…

 

            INTRODUCTION

 

2 - With the aid of heaven, object of our hope,

may this story take its worth;

from its genesis up until now,

history of this town.

 

3 - Great was the urging that this be done,

to recall to mind the ages past;

if e’er this work may be improper,;

aright the wrong then, it is our hope.

 

4 - It was truly wished that this be done,

that even when at times we in danger be;

trait of this one with a purpose in mind,

mock o ye where there is wrong.

 

5 - And again ,out of hope,

this little tale that will be told;

the truth will then be revealed,

note ye well, and I will thus proceed.

 

CHAPTER I

The First Inhabitants of Hin-ay

 

6 – In the year eighteen hundred and seventy[i]

there was a hunter who would always be seen;

the land was forested still,

where a handful of people would settle in.

 

7 – Then they constructed little houses,

and they farmed with the neighbors;

accordingly, people increased,

with no vested interests, they lived in one measure.

 

8 – The founders I do recall,

their given names, their surnames including;

Francisco Guela, Apolonio Gapido,

Damiano Gamba and Fausto fruto.

 

9 - And also, Lazaro Foller,

 Blas, Agapito, surnamed Foller;

 Juan Gallarda and Simeon Furing

Sotero Gabito, Alejandro Furing.

 

10 - Octato Gacias, also Juan Fortes,

Jose Gallenito, Juan de Asis;

Fulgencio Fulay, Bernardino Fortes,

Donato Fornias and Mariano Gamas

 

11   - Francisco Galido, and Esteban Glico,

Esteban, Antonio, surnamed Polo;

Silvesre Galban and also Damaso,

Juan Franche, too.

 

12   – Bernabe Escanuela and Felix Galeza,

that Apolinario who was a Babrentina;

Enrique Fortajada and Francisco Gamba,

Juan Españo, his companions including.

 

13   – Mariano Buendia and Fructuoso Fulla,

Damiano Galon, Tomas Fortajada;

that Julian Gamis, Julian Gareza,

Angel Galias, Bernardo Galicia.

 

14   – That Tomas Cuadro, Anastacio Hugo,

Cipriano Guyal, Luciano Gabito;

Salvador Frejas, Bernardino Clutario,

that Andres Gamba, Candido Funesto.

 

15   – Pastor Gallanosa, too,

Sebastian Franche, Gavino Gabionza;

that Juan Gabion and Dionisio Gamba,

Benito Encinares and his family.

 

16   – And they who were married,

with children growing and increasing;

united were they by one common creed,

Catholicism, they all professed.

 

CHAPTER II

Hin-ay: The Origin and Meaning of the Word

 

17   – First name given to this sitio,

Hin-ay, they all called it;

whose meaning I will thus make clear,

note ye well for it is this.

 

18   – This region was sorrounded by waters,

rivers, brooks, lakes ans springs;

sinuos were their flows,

akin to a hin-ay, whose image it was .

 

19   - Zigzagging, a joy to behold,

  to a woof of a loom it was thus likened;

 made facile and thus it was called

 everyone referred to it as sitio of Hin-ay.

 

20   - The one with jurisdiction over said sitio,

municipality of Bulusan during that time;

later on, it was made into a barrio,

since the number of residents started to grow.

 

   CHAPTER III

The First Public Officials of Hin-ay

(Cabezas de Barangay: 1896-1880)

 

21   - The first Teniente was Bruno Galias,

in the barrio of Hin-ay he governed ;

in the contributions and taxes they pay,

to the Cabeza de Barangay, they called him.

 

22   - Said Teniente had a term limit,

which would be two years of service;

there would be an election after this,

the fortunate one would succeed.

 

23 – Second in place was Mister Luis Galban,

they had a reception during his inauguration;

invited guests were people of his town,

and they ate a wild boar.

 

24 - Great was the joy of the townspeople,

there was a ball, Pantomina they danced;

the Capitan as well as the Pastor,

principal guests, they graced the function.

 

25 - Thus, for every two years,

they would hold a reception always;

they would always prepare foods,

for everything was in abundance.

 

26 - Third Teniente was Fausto Fruto,

comfortable was the lifestyle of that man;

big and painted was his house,

he was chosen by everyone.

 

27 – Fourth in rank was Domingo Ramos,

who was educated and kind;

to his subjects he was a good leader,

his services were praised by all.

 

28 – The fifth was Lucio Gallego,

again chosen by all;

for his ways were undefiled,

his character served as a good model.

 

29 – Last was Julian Galias,

and this sixth was indeed fortunate;

Teniente Absoluto, because it was desired,

 in the province of Albay, he was thus called.

 

CHAPTER IV

The Public Officials During the Emanicipation Period

(Capitanes del pueblo: 1881- 1886)

 

30 – Then, Emanicipation was declared,

the barrio was freed from dominion ;

of the municipality of Bulusan,

out of hope, it was now one peaceful town.

 

31 – Great was the joy when it become a town,

of those who resided in the place;

they waited for the advent,

of the Governadorcillo Capitan of the town.

 

32 – For he went to the province of Albay,

to receive the office of Capitan;

the scepter of command, with its hanging bands,

of great power, whose symbol it was.

 

33 – Eighteen-eighty-one when he came,

month of January of that same year;

Don Pedro Fruto, a man from Bulusan,

Aliased “Cabalang” as he was thus called.

 

34 – Uninterrupted were the celebrations,

of the principal guests who were with him;

the Pastor of the town of Bulusan,

celebrated the Holy Mass on that day.

 

35 – This barrio, they changed her name,

San Miguel it became, no longer Hin-ay;

the name of the patron, it was thus followed,

for it was the desire of the new Capitan.

 

36 – So the town was now growing,

with its own goods;

they asked for a priest since it was now a town,

and the Bishop assigned one.

 

37 – The Pastor who was assigned,

in San Miguel in eighty-one;

Mariano Miranda, a zealous priest,

In his administration, in his ministry.

 

38 – Thus, years progressed,

they changed the Capitan every after two years;

in order, I will thus annotate

concerning their administration.

 

39 – Don Pedro Fruto, Governadorcillo,

from year eighty-one

in eighty-two, he ended his term,

for he aspired to become Governador-Provincial.

 

40 – Don Damiano Gamba, he was fortunate,

eighty-three, eighty four, he had the authority;

his orders were never missed,

for they would be settled through a slap.

 

41 – Don Juan Gallarda came next,

eighty-five, eighty-six, he was the Capitan

a good man, truth to tell,

but suffer you must, whenever you err.

CHAPTER V

Irosin: Nominal De-construction

 

42 – During this year,

the former name of the town was again changed;

by one Spaniard,

and its meaning was not explained.

 

43 – By one Inspector who was assigned here,

Jose Roco was his name;

it was he who would define territorial bounderies,

mojon de mamposteria, he would make.

 

44 – However, it was the tale, a common talk,

from our forebears of ages past;

Irosin accordingly, was a name arighted,

to overcome the river’s eroding force

 

45 – To end the dissipation,

by the eroding river,to the town’s doom;

according to superstition, a wicked gnomic one,

misguided belief, ye must be obeyed.

 

46 – Thus, it was christened Irosin,

they named and called the town as such;

or it was thus to badger,

the baleful waters of the town of Irosin.

 

47 – It was indeed made that the name be changed,

instead of San Miguel, Irosin it was made,

for it was to deride an evil deed,

to excite anger and vanish evil.

 

48 – For it is like as canards go,

if a child is accordingly sickly;

the thing to do is change his name,

if he is Juan, change it to Abdon.

 

49 – Then immediately, sickly child,

Juan before, now named Abdon;

and since his parents now call him Abdon,

he now gains weight, he now gets well.

 

50- This belief, however, was one of the Igorots’,

men of the jungle, race of ignoramuses;

yet what are we to do, this became our lot,

they were our forebears, suffer this we must.

 

51 – This story which is now legendary,

invented tale, tradition of the town;

by our fathers narrated,

in functions and gatherings.

 

52 – It was thus that Irosin called,

since then up until now;

what our government has done instead,

was to make this name official.