loon church

History of Loon Bohol

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Loon, the third town from the province’s capital, Tagbilaran City, has no definite date as to when it was founded as a community due to the dearth of official documents. Without any proof from official documents, the town considered the year 1610 as the earliest year to reckon. It was when the ministering activities of Jesuit friars resulted into a Christian community in the coastal village of Napo. It was more than 85 years earlier.

However, records of the Catholic Church confirm that it was on 1753 that the first parish priest was installed. Jesuits were the first to serve the community but Recollect priests took over in around year 1855 when the construction of the stone church of the Our Lady of Light was completed.

Exceeding 70 priests had already served the parish since the year 1753. Presently, five Catholic parishes were constructed in the town. The Parish of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was noted to be the newest parish established on November 19, 2000.

The town of Loon was named after crystal-clear spring water gushing from a crevice in the barangay of Napo. In the Visayan dialect, ‘lo-on’ means to merge, coexist or live together

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Tomas Sevilla, Loon’s first town executive, begin his service in the year 1810 which was a 200-year gap between the emergence of the community in the barangay of Napo in 1610 and the year he was installed into service..

It was towards the end of the 19th century when Loon was burned by the assailants in an attempt to discipline the reluctant natives. It happened when Americans first set foot on Bohol but was met by resistant forces of local guerillas that were supposedly opposed to another foreign dominion.

In the year 1900, an American engineer pays a visit in Loon. With this, he described the place as a progressive town and a fertile plateau with coconut, corn and tobacco. The imposing structures, children going to school, a prosperous community with a well kept environment did not miss his observations. He also wrote about the spring gushing from a cave after which the name Loon was coined.

A particular river, called Moalong River, which divides the municipality into the northern and southern parts, became a witness to the considered most successful ambush against the Japanese imperial forces on September 27, 1942.

The guerillas were led by Vicente T. Cubero, which is also known as Captain Francisco Salazar, who claimed to have his family roots in Barangay Pondol. It was said to be Juan “Aning” Relampagos, a former member of the United States Armed Forces, who brought Cubero to Bohol. Relampagos later became a municipal mayor and a member of the provincial board. The book entitled “Boholano Guerillas in Action” described the war exploits of Cubero a.k.a Salazar. The author of the book was Pio B. Ferandos, a former Cebu RTC judge and a mayor of the municipality of Loon. This event is already annually commemorated since 2001.

An official count of the nationwide population has been conducted in 1903. It shows that the population of Loon was described to be fairly large compared to the other municipalities of Bohol, including Tagbilaran City, the province’s capital city.

In the political history of the province, Loon has always been prominent. In the years following the Second World War, well-known Loonanons became active participants in charting the development of the province and the country as well. This brought prosperous changes to the municipality.

  1. Loon Town
  2. Loon Seaport
  3. Loon Church

Origin Of loon Town Barangay's names

Below is the list of Loon’s barangays with the description on how it got its name.

Agsoso was taken after particular species of freshwater shellfish, locally called as “sosó”; these are abundant in a spring that provides water to the municipal water system.

Badbad Occidental and Badbad Oriental, was taken from a shrub or tree called “badba-an”. This local shrub still abounds the area even at present.

Bagacay Kawayan, was named after the word “bagakay” which means ‘bamboo’. These are abundant in the area. The residents make use of these in making various handicrafts. “Kawayan” comes from the local term of “bamboo”.

Bagacay Katipuhan was also taken from “bagakay” and the word “katipuhan”. Katipuhan signifies a place where trees, known as “tipolo”, grow in abundance.

Bagacay Saong was named after “saong”, particular tree species which sap was believed to be the same as to what was used as paste in the construction of Noah’s Ark.

Bahi, the barangay named after “bahi” or the hard portion of the trunk of a “pugahan” palm which abounds the area.

Basac, called after “basak” or rice paddy which is no longer found in the village. These were replaced by patches of “palaw”, a water-loving plant species.

Basdacu is a combination of the words “balas” and “daku”. Balas means sand while daku means big. These two words are referring to the wide shoreline of the particular barangay.

Basdio, was also from the combination of the words “balas” and “diyo” or “diyot”. The word “diyo” means small. Unlike Basdacu, the place has a little patch of sand on its shoreline.

Biasong, was taken from the trees that grew near a little spring that flows to the Moalong Rives. The trees has the same name with the barangay.

Bongco, taken from “trabongko”, a legendary shining ball that giant snakes amused themselves with on dark evening.

Bugho, was presumed to be taken after “buho” or hole.

Cabacungan was called after the plant named “bakong” which was once abundant in the barangay.

Cabadug was said to be a place owned by “Badug”, considered the first inhabitant of the barangay.

Cabug, named after the nocturnal bats seen hanging from the branches of a big “tipolo” tree in the middle of the barangay, locally known as “kabug”.

Calayugan Norte and Calayugan Sur. These two barangays were named after the swaying of the coconut trees of the island village which, when viewed from the mainland, looked like they were in a fighting match or “ga-layug”.

Cambaquiz, was taken from the sand that crisscrosses from one side to the other depending on the wave’s direction. However, there is also a tale about the name’s origin. It was said to be taken from the phrase “come back and kiss (our ladies)”.

Campatud, originated from a spring known as “patud”, located in the middle of a thick forest.

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

Canhangdon Occidental and Canhangdon Oriental, was after a spring named “kanhangdon”. It was also said to be named after its location with regards to the Moalong River; thus, a place to be “halangdon” or to be looked up.

Canigaan, was taken after a legendary isolated place where big “nigad” trees abound, known as “Nigaran”.

Canmaag was named after the world’s smallest primate “mamag” or tarsius.

Canmanoc, was taken after “manok” that used to crisscross its lush hills and rest upon the branches of a large “tipolo” tree.

Cansuaguit, originated from a spring of the same name. The spring is where the villagers get much of their water for household use.

Cansubayon, was named after the Visayan word “subay/subayon” which means walking following the banks of creeks until reaching one’s destination. Or it was also taken from “subay-subay”, the term which refers to the act of catching freshwater fish starting from a spring to a bigger body of water.

Cantam-is Bago, was possibly taken from the 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, was also taken after the combination of “tam-is” and “baslay”. “Tam-is” means sweet while “baslay” is a spring which is an important source of water for the community.

Cantaongon, was taken from “taongon” tree which abounds in the locality.

Cantumocad, was after the creek called which is located in a “canto”. The creek cuts the barangay at its center and is where one is obliged to “tukad” or take a leap.

Catagbacan Norte, Catagbacan Sur and Catagbacan Handig, was from the word “tagbak” meaning to barter or exchange goods produced by upland communities with those harvested from the sea. “Katagbacan” refers to a place where the barter takes place. The word “handig” was probably taken after the location of the place, that is, reclining on the slopes that rise from the plain.

Cogon Norte and Cogon Sur, was named after the grass, locally known as “kogon”.

Cuasi. The name was said to be taken from the word “Kawasi!”, which is an order to disembark or jump overboard to save their merchandise. It was from the legend where a banca was filled with merchants but was assaulted by strong winds and big waves. In order to save their merchandise, the men shouted “Kawasi!”.

Genomoan. Was said to have originated from a legend where a carabao was left to wallow or “homol” in the river by its owner. The owner had a stomachache which forces him to leave for home. It was raining hard and it caused the river to swell. The farmer’s condition got serious and in his delirium, the farmer kept murmuring about his “hinomolan” or the carabao he had left to wallow in the river.

Lintuan. The name was taken after the word “balintong-balintong” or “tuwang-tuwang”. The word refers to the changing movement of sand near Lawis Point caused by the blowing of the south and north winds.

Looc, was taken from the curved shape of its coastline, that is “na lo-ok”.

Mocpoc Norte and Mocpoc Sur, was from the warning sound “pok-pok” which is produced by knocking a drum every time the Moros would emerge on the sea to attack the barangay and plunder its homes.

Moto Norte and Moto Sur, was from the word “moto” or hill.

Nagtuang, was originally taken after “nagatuwang”. It was a phenomenon in the place where the flow of water from a spring is absorbed in a much higher elevation.

Napo, was said to be taken after “napolo” or “napo-o” which means island-like. It is a description of its location that seems to be separated from the mainland. The word “Napo” also means “dapit nga balason” or a sandy place.

Nueva Vida, was taken after the Spanish phrase “new life”. The residents discovered this as a new settlement when the population of the barangay Catagbacan located below it increased.

Pananquilon. A medical herb called “panankilon” that abounds in the locality was believed to be where the barangay got its name.

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, was named after “pi-ot” which refers to the narrow stretch of the provincial road that had been widened by blasting the cliffs and boulders.

Pondol, after “pundok-pundok”, “pundo-pundo” or “pondol”, a description of the place which has several “lawis” or points jutting out into the sea.

Quinobcoban. There were several holes dug by the early residents of the village and was referred to as “kinubkoban” was said to be the origin of the barangay’s name.

Sondol, after “donsol”, a sea slug species abundant in its seashore.

Song-on, was said to be taken from the arch-like rock formation along the shoreline that looks like a cave viewed from the sea. In order to pass through, one has to stoop or “so-ong”.

Talisay. Talisay trees grow on cliffs hanging over its shoreline. It was where the barangay got its name.

Tan-awan. The word that means a place where one gets a good view of the villages below it as the place is located on the highest peaks of Loon.

Tangnan, was after a cave-like hole called “tangnan” that contains fresh water.

Taytay, was taken from the word “taytayan” which means bridge.

Ticugan, the barangay named after the “tikog” plant whose leaf strips can be woven into mats.

Tiwi, after the “tiwi” trees that once grew on the eastern part of the village.

Tontonan, was from the word “tonton” which means a rope used by early residents to scale a high mountain in the village.

Tubodacu and Tubodio, was after from “tubod” (spring), “daku” (big) and “diyot” or “diyo” (small), descriptions of the villagers’ sources of water.

Tubuan, taken 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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