The Beginning of Balasan

I love history. I am amused by the stories of the past and the explanations of how things came to be. Here is one of my favorites, the beginning of Balasan as accounted by Douglas Malunda.

It was in the year 1857 when Don Juan Silverio granted Francisco Arreola together with 50 families to sail southeastward from Bo. Sumagbong Cogon, Nabas, Capi (Aklan) to the unexplored lands in the eastern portions of Panay Island. They soon landed in what was then known to be Punta Bulukawe, Capiz (Punta Badaiang, Carles). They were granted a full tax exemption for three years if they cultivate the new land.

Balasan today. A fast-growing town flocked by businesses 

due to its strategic location

After making a settlement, Francisco Arreola quickly appointed an exploration team to survey the new land further south. The team was led by Vicente Navales-the existing perpetual index of the leaders of Balasan started with the first Teniente Del barrio absolute, Vicente Navales in 1852-.  They immediately set forth southeastward to a river where they rested for the night. The morning was when the river got its name when the first man to awaken called out: “Bangon!” which meant “Arise!” The land after he river was a beautiful grassland full of sparrows – probably the Paser montanus (maya bongol), Lochura malacca (maya pula), or the Padda oryzivora (maya costa)-which was from which the place got its name, Maya.  They went further off to such places which are now known as Brgy. Bulac, Batad and Lanubo (Estancia). After being gone for quite some time, the folks in the settlement began to worry so a search party was formed to bring them back. They met with the former party in a place which was from then on known to be Tabuan (a place where people meet).

The accounts of Vicente Navales made some of the folks to decide to make a sister-settlement in Maya. The place did prove promising and it expanded northeastward to a place with a river which was very ideal as a channel for sea trade and source of industrial sand (baras).   The place was from then until such a time was  known as Barasan. It eventually expanded and soon such area which was once the extension of the maya settlement became  known until now as Mamhut.

The records show that Barasan  became large enough that it even covered the areas which now are separate districts such as Carles, Estancia, and Batad.

 The writings of Malunda tell about a treasure that the settlers of Arreola have hoarded in one wooden chest to make it easier o protect from bandits from both land and sea. It was said such chest of silver, gold and pearls was buried in a dried well somewhere in Balasan with only a large tree to mark its location. The most accurate knowledge of its location was known by Arreola’s only son who unfortunately became one of the casualties of a cholera epidemic. With his death, the knowledge of the whereabouts of the treasure disappeared. Until now, the treasure awaits its very fortunate hunter.