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Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Salvilla: Leon -- bulwark of democracy
By Atty. Rex S. Salvilla
DURING World War II, in the mountain barrio of Bucari, Leon, Iloilo, civil resistance Governor of Panay and Romblon Tomas Confesor established his underground government against the Japanese.
Because of the fierce love of the people of Leon for freedom and democracy, Confesor was never captured despite several close encounters with the Japanese. This fierce love was exemplified by Sgt. Jose Calugas who was the only Filipino soldier recipient of the much-coveted US Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic action in the Battle of Hermosa, Bataan.
Last August, for the first time, the town celebrated the Handurawan commemorating the transfer of the town poblacion from its original site at Camando to its present site at Sitio Capan in 1875. This festival held under Mayor Lorenzo Cabardo was a re-enactment of the procession of the townspeople from Camando to Capan bearing the image of its patron saint, Santa Catalina de Alexandira and led by the principalia (the officials of the pueblo).
Camando was founded in 1730 by a group of 707 people led by Bernardo Bunkag who eventually became the first capitan of the pueblo. After living in Camando for around 135 years, the inhabitants decided to transfer to Capan, a higher place because of the frequent flood threatening the plaza. Once in Capan, parish priest Fray Agustin Castro renamed the pueblo to Leon after his home city in Spain.
Regarding the new poblacion at Capan, it was owned by Don Placido Caspillo who refused to cede it to the pueblo. So, the Spanish authorities had it declared as property of the Spanish Crown thus taking it by force.
Disappointed, Caspillo left the place and went to Ajuy where he changed his surname to Salcedo to avoid Spanish persecution. He became the ascendant of the present day Salcedo families in Concepcion and Sara.
Going back to Handurawan, an official dance of the town called La Jota Camdano evolved from it. The dancers imitate the movements of people transfering from Camando to Capan like crossing the river, guyod (towing their belongings), lukdo (carrying things on the head), kiwo (wiggling to avoid big stones or holes on the way) and tin-tin (tiptoeing to avoid stepping on sharp pebbles and thorns).
Come November 25, the patriotic people of Leon will celebrate their town fiesta in honor of Santa Catalina de Alexandria - also patroness of philosopher and preachers. She was a martyr born of noble family who converted the wife of Emperor Maxintius and two hundred of his soldiers to Catholicism. Upon knowing this, the emperor sentenced her to death by strapping her to a wheel with spikes. To his surprise, the spikes were broken without injuring her. So, he ordered that she be beheaded. |
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