12/05/2014
ARTICLE PRINTED ON THE FIESTA SOUVENIR PROGRAM 2014:
The Old Name of San Remigio
BEFORE San Remigio was created a town, she was still then known as the Visitas (chapel/ kapilya)/ barrios of Ysabel II, Lambusan and Maraat. She was then under the Administracion Civil of Bogo.
The name “KANGHAGAS” is a by-word in San Remigio many believed and claimed as the old name of San Remigio. Gervasio Lavilles was also quoted: “San Remigio, which was formerly called Kanghagas…” in his book Cebu: 4 Cities and its 49 Municipalities.
However, if we look back at the very act of naming a town basing on the pertaining documents that we possess, they never mentioned that “Kanghagas was later named as San Remigio,”. They mentioned that Ysabel II, Lambusan and Maraat was created as Nuevo Pueblo de San Remigio.
Where does Kanghagas come from? There is a great possibility that Kanghagas was the old name of Ysabel II because, of the three names, Ysabel II sounds foreign and quite different in comparison to Lambusan and Maraat. The difference clearly shows that, Ysabel II was a name of a person and at the same time Spanish-sounding one. And, such a name belonged to, no less than, the reigning queen of Spain, Ysabel II, who was honored with a place here in the northernmost hemisphere of Cebu. There must be something special in this place that it was named after her.
Thus, we can assume, that there was a time that the visitas before were Kanghagas, Lambusan, and Maraat.
Kanghagas, perhaps, being the largest Visita and Cabecera, enjoyed a prestige of being the most developed and populated area because of its proximity to Bogo. If we are to analyze the jurisdiction and land area what Kanghagas before, and with an assumption of basing it from our present territorial set up and boundaries, Kanghagas had covered as far as Argawanon to Hagnaya, from Punta to Anapog; and, from Anapog to Lawis. It means, a vast track of land and territory.
Thus, it was fitting that this place was the right place to be re-named to give honor to someone who was great.
On the other hand, one may wonder why, that of the three visitas/ barrios, only Kanghagas was changed before? There must be something in Kanghagas that it was changed to Ysabel II.
The act of changing the name of a place was a Spanish display of dominion and power. And, the usual way to do it, was finding where the existing seat of power of the native lies and, of course, the center of the worship of the people. With this, Spanish missionaries and colonization would heavily pe*****te on these areas. And after a successful endeavor, they would erect a church where the previous center of worship stood and they would change the name of the place, to display Spanish supremacy. Perhaps, it was in Kanghagas where the real missionary efforts took place and eventually converted. And, one of the signs of the conversion of the place is naming it or claiming it before the name of the King or Queen, a display of Spanish conquest and subjugation of that place.
Who was Ysabel II? She was born in 10 April 1830; was the daughter and only child of Ferdinand VII and Ma. Cristina of the House of Bourbon. Ma. Crisitna was the fourth wife of Ferdinand VII since his previous marriages failed because of the absence of off-springs.
When Ferdinand VII died, Ysabel II, was proclaimed queen at the age of 3, under the regency (command) of her mother. When Ysabel II, arrived at the right age to assume the throne. Her uncle, Carlos V, the brother of Ferdinand VII, disputed the legitimacy of Ysabel’s throne because of the Salic Law. The law prohibited any female to assume the throne. Thus, it resulted to Carlist Wars in several instances. Ysabel II was exiled to France. She reigned from 29 September 1833- 30 September 1868. She abdicated her throne in 25 June 1870 and was succeeded by her son Alfonso XII. She died in 10 April 1904 at the age of 73.
What is the old name of San Remigio then?
It is safe to assume that “Kanghagas” was only the old name of Ysabel II.
But, it is accurate to say, for history’s sake, that San Remigio was created a town from the component barrios of Ysabel II, Lambusan and Maraat.
Postscript:
What is KANGHAGAS
“KANGHAGAS” was believed to be a kind of a tree especially those who wrote about the history of San Remigio, quoting Gervasio Lavilles ( Cebu: History of its 4 Cities and 49 Municipalities, 1965).
However, G. Lavilles never mentioned that "Kanghagas" was a kind of a tree. He only described that "in the course of years, the population of the barangay became big. The village became progressive. The people decided to enlarge it. So THEY CUT DOWN BIG TREES AT THE PLACE CALLED KANGHAGAS to make an opening for expanion. The community was then given the name "KANGHAGAS." (p. 127).
Reading and understanding deeply his statement, there was no specific mentioning that "Kanghagas" was a kind of a tree (and what is its scientific name?), but a PLACE where people cut down big trees, BUT NOT A KANGHAGAS TREE.
On the other hand, the term "KANG" (other derivatives are: KAM/ CAM and KAN/ CAN) in Cebuano language is a POSSESSIVE PRONOUN (meaning: owning something or attributing something to a person). For example, "KANG DODONG ning kwarta, KANG ONDO ning bisikleta, KANG Padre ning imahen, KANG Lolo ning yuta-a, KANG Garo ning mananapa, and the likes..."
That is why, there are so many places here in Cebu and somewhere else that bear this same attributive character: CANSOMOROY, CAMBONGA, CAMBINOCOT, CANTIPLA, CANSOJONG, CANSAGA, CANDUMAN, CAMPUTHAW, KANGLEON, KANG-IRAG, KANLA-ON, and so many more.
Thus, when we say KANGHAGAS, it means that the place or the area of land or the centro where people gathered was probably owned by Hagas. After all, Kanghagas was NOT a kind of tree. Have you seen one?
Thus, hopefully, this tidbit of information would give us a deeper knowledge and understanding of our past so that, we know the meaning of the thing we say that is distinctively “Kang Hagas”, I mean, San Remigio.
