User:Leo Montegrande

Borbon, Cebu, Philippines

This town is located roughly 70 kilometers north of the City of Cebu. This was a sleepy town since only natives lived there. This place was surrounded by heavy forest and monkeys used to roam around the Silmugue River. The soil was fertile and main products were corn and tobacco. Maguey which was used to make ropes was also widely grown in the area. Supplies of fish were in abundant since the conglomeration of the river and the ocean made the sea a haven for diverse species. Unfortunately, the sediments of harvesting and processing maguey were instrumental in killing many species of fish that have contacts with its waste.

The Spanish authorities were interested in the area due to its strategic location. It has an elevation where float of boats can be seen from the highest peak. It was also widely known that this strait is the passage way of the Moorish flotilla. Around this time the Islamic faith has widely spread in Indonesia and Southern parts of the Philippines. Men and women were taken hostages, made slaves and converted to the Islamic religion by the invading Moors. Therefore, the Spanish authorities were determined to repel such brutal kidnapping and invasion.

Finally the Spanish authorities decided to build a church surrounded by massive walls and the bell tower which will gather the townspeople in any impending invasion, attack or danger. They picked San Sebastian as the saint protector of this newly built church. San Sebastian was a Christian captain of the Roman army under the reign of Emperor Diocletian. He converted several members of the Roman army to Christianity and died as a martyr because of his Christian faith. The walls erected were also called "The Miraculous Walls of San Sebastian". As legend says the walls were paraded with soldiers and can be seen from afar whenever there was an impending attack or invasion. Consequently the would-be invaders turned back and stopped their attacks.

The area was visited by the Spanish authorities and met the chieftain of the area. Upon asking the husband for his name, he answered Bor which means husband. Likewise the wife answered Bon meaning wife. Therefore, the Spaniards named this place Borbon. This couple owned vast parcel of lands and mountains in the area. They were then given the name Montegrande (owners of big mountains). In addition a port was also built to facilitate the flow of the new inhabitants. Over the years this port was damaged and washed away due to heavy currents generated by storms and floods.

The Spaniards recruited generals, soldiers, workers and farmers to inhabit the area. The early influx of immigrants were from Cebu City, Mandaue and Lapulapu City. The new inhabitants of the area were the Herrera (General Herrera's descendant), Sepulveda, De Roda, Cabahug from Mandaue, Rivera from Cebu City, Mangubat from Lapulapu City, Mayol, Mondonedo, Mondigo, Suico, Lumbab and many others. It was widely known that farming was very attractive due to the fertile agricultural lands.

Prominent public officials emerged out of this new settlement. Bor and Bon had a prodigal son who was vicious and alcoholic. He was known to have traded their lands with alcohol or tobacco pipes. Consequently, a large portion of their assets were transferred to several citizens of the area especially the new immigrants. Out of this union another son named Valentin Montegrande was appointed by the Spanish authorities as the first mayor (alcalde) of Borbon. Pablo Montegrande (Tan Amboy) followed his father's footsteps. Thereafter several individuals followed as mayor. Notably Bandala Mangubat, Santiago Mangubat, Lazaro Mondonedo, Justino Mondigo, Gregorio Antigua, Juan Dosdos, Perseverando Sollano, Lily Vergara, Butch Sepulveda, Neil Vergara served the capacity as mayor. Noel Dotillos is now the current mayor.

The people of Borbon have been loyal to the Roman Catholic Faith. During the Spanish-American war the townspeople sided with Spain. The argument was that America will bring Protestantism and abolish the Catholic traditions of the Filipino people. They fought very hard with bolos and arrows. Eventually the Americans won and seceded the Philippines for several million U.S. dollars. At the same time some Spanish colonies like Puerto Rico and several others became territories of the United States. Although the Americans won the war the people of Borbon were given the freedom of religion and able to practice their religious preference. The town remained a bastion of the Catholic faith. On September 15, 1862 it was designated as a new parish and no longer a vista of Sogod, Cebu which means that a parish priest was assigned and be able to administer the parochial duties such as baptism, daily masses, marriages, funerals and many others. There were several known priest assigned in the parish notably Fr. Belarmino, Fr. Villordon who officially started the musical band of which Mano Nano Monilar was one of the original members, Fr. Alojipan, Fr. Ramon Tamayo who served for over 35 years, Fr. Gregorio Montecillo, Fr. Cortes who died during his assignment in Borbon, Fr. Doming Dosdos. Fr. Cabanes, Fr. Eric Jecong, Fr. Macoy Villamor, Fr. Aurelio Ocarol, Jr. and the current pastor Fr. Romarate. In addition Borbon itself produced many priests. The first known priest from Borbon is Fr. Pedro Montebon. Thereafter several were ordained to the priesthood such as Msgr. Esteban Montecillo, Msgr Gregorio Montecillo, Fr. Filomeno Singson, Fr. Eufronio Cabahug, Fr. Manuel Montegrande, Msgr. Alfeo Montegrande Manalili, Fr. Tani Mangubat, Fr. Doming Dosdos, Fr. Agustin Sollano, Jr., His Excellency Msgr Osbaldo Padilla, His Excelency Msgr Francisco Padilla, Fr. Levy Montegrande Manalili, Fr. Rogelio Montebon, Fr. Daitol, Fr. Ginny Villamor, Fr. Lyle Cono, Fr. Eulogio Suico, Fr. Erik Orio, and Fr. Mante. The town is still a stronghold of priestly vocations.

One of the remaining landmarks that points to the rich history of Borbon is the Miraculous San Sebastian Walls. The steps going down to the Camotes sea and the remnants of the wall are still visible. The bell tower itself is still in existence and the bells are now being used in the new church. The statue of Dr. Jose Rizal built during the mayoral term of Hon. Gregorio Antigua still stands before entering the church. This is the gathering place of young men and women when the moon was out and many romantic memories were initiated around this area. Bandstand where numerous bands played especially during the town fiesta is still in existence. Some sites need to be studied and excavated to bring back memories of our beloved Borbon such as the Nonoc cave which was once the headquarters of the invading Japanese forces during the 2nd world war.