SPOTLIGHT: About Calabanga

In the early 1950’s many of the families who were landless in the town, joined by others from elsewhere, settled in the vacant lot owned by, and surrounding, the Catholic parish church of Our Lady of La Porteria, here. Highlighted are some of the lots with informal settlers.
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Calabanga marks its 260th year of townhood July 15th since it was created into a municipality in 1749.

As a community of over seventy three thousand people, however, the town traces its history from the earliest days of Bicol when natives crossed rivers and seas and climbed mountains to settle in places where the soil looked rich, and nature kind.

The original settlers came from far and near, carved this community out of forest wilderness between two rivers, the Bicol and Tigman.

Ever since, these vast land of 16,200 hectares, has been called Calabanga.

Where the name originated nobody can be definite. There are in fact two versions as to the origin of the word.

The name may have been coined from the word cacabalangan suggesting that the place once abounded in monkeys (cabalang)).

Another version has it that Calabanga came from the term calabangan as the natives and settlers used traps or snares (labang) to catch wild chickens and forest lizards (goto).

Calabanga began as a small barangay when it was founded by Spanish missionaries before 1578. Much later, it was converted into a full-fledged municipality on July 15, 1749. by the Spanish military governor. The territory used to be a part of the big town Quipayo.

Manungod sa Calabanga

An Calabanga nagcelebrar kan pagiging banwaan kada ika 15 poon kan ini imukna na sarong munisipyo kan taon 1749. Bilang komunidad nin sobra sa setenta y tres mil na tawo, an Calabanga piglilingon ang historya poon kan mge enot na aldaw sa Bicol kan ang mga tawo nagbalyo sa mga salog asin dagat, nagtukad nin mga bukid para makahanap nin marhay na lugar kun saen an daga sa saindang paghuna-huna mayaman asin maboot ang kapalibutan.. Sindang mga naenot gikan sa harayo saka haraning rona, pigpoonan ang komunidad hale sa katangyanan na naiipit kan duwang salog, an bicol saka Tigman.

Poon kaidto, an mahiwas na daga nin 16,200 ektarya, nabisto na sa ngaran na Calabanga. Kun saen nakua ang pinunan kan ngaran mayo siisay man pinal na makapagsabi . May duwang rawitdawit an ngaran. Ansaro siguro hale sa termino na cacabalangan na ang suhestyon an lugar dakul an ukay. Sarong istorya an nagsasabi na an Calabanga gikan sa tataramon na calabangan hule ta an mga tawo nagdadakop nin mga layas na manok saka goto gamit an labang.

Sa enot an Calabanga sarong baryo kan ini imukna kan mga Espanol na misyonaryo bago pa kan taon 1578. An gobernador na Espanol ginibo ining bagong banwaan kan Hulyo 15, taon kan 1749.

Remembering Calabanga.

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6 thoughts on “SPOTLIGHT: About Calabanga”

  1. Definitely agree with what you stated. Your explanation was certainly the easiest to understand. I tell you, I usually get irked when folks discuss issues that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail right on the head and explained out everything without complication. Maybe, people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

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