The History of Basey and its People
Introduction
An invaluable piece of history flows with the great Kadak-an River. Its headstreams up the Sohoton Mountains down to the reefs and shoal where it abuts San Pedro Bay, bears witness to a timeless flow of events. While we can only tell what secrets the big river has revealed thus far, the wealth of information may explain why some folks call it Golden River, even more fittingly perhaps.
Time seems to have left behind the barangays that scatter along the banks, so with the poblacion nestled at the mouth of the big River. But its proud people are always ready to tell its colorful history and to showcase the banig artisanship that is deeply rooted in its beautiful past. The name Basey for which the municipality came to be known comes from the waray word baysay, which means beauty.
A review of local archeological discoveries, internet-searched church records, ruins and relics of antiquities and more recent activities of its people piece together a priceless testimonial that reflects the true character of its people that defines what has truly been Basaynon.
Basaynons from Makarumpag to Marabut
About a thousand years ago, most of recorded history made a big stride to the waves of migration of Malays from the surrounding lands of Indonesia, the Malayan peninsula or Borneo. They settled in various islands of the Philippine archipelago. In Samar and Northern Leyte, Malayan settlers introduced the Waray dialect, one of the major Malayo-Polynesian languages spoken in the Philippines. They brought with them arcane rituals still practiced today by the present generation. These include the blood sport of cockfighting, the craft of mat weaving, the chewing of betel nut as astringent, ancestral worship or animism and belief in a supreme being called Bathala.In their conquest and evangelization the Spanish conquistadors called them heathens in contradistinction to the Moros or Muslims, who settled mostly in the south of the archipelago and in Mindanao. The heathens were the early Filipinos who would eventually convert to Christianity. The Moros resisted conversion, fought against the Spaniards and even plundered the Christian villages of which they call infidels.
Independent feudal states or fiefdoms existed during this time. Like it was in other parts of the archipelago, this socio-economic structure of the barangay in Omit (presently Magallanes) was already established. It was headed by a guinhaupan. The word guinhaupan, which means lordship or the fiefdom itself, is a derivative of the word saup, or haup, a vernacular for tenant in present-day usage. References to Makarumpag, Makahilig, and others in popular folklore may be examples of a guinhaupan, as in guinhaupan ni Makarumpag, which would mean the jurisdiction of Makarumpag. The word could also have come from the word sakup, meaning boundaries, as in guinsakupan.
The coming of the Jesuits and the Moro plunderings that followed was a focal point in local history. The twin villages of Omit and Balud (later named Guibasayi) needed to come together for survival from natural calamities and put up better defenses against Moro raids.
From these earlier settlements, a rugged land at the foothills with dense undergrowths, aptly called Buscada (from the Spanish word el bosque meaning forest), offered an expedient alternative. The nearby hills certainly provided refuge during Moro raids and the narrow winding Lauan River that runs through it was an accessible getaway or a strategic place for ambuscade.
As population grew, families moved farther away from congested settlements. They claimed and established their own properties. Settlements spread to and behind the hills near the shoreline, aptly named Loyo (means the Other Side) and Baybay (means Seashore). In addition more settlements established around the vicinity coalesced in time to form the present poblacion.
The growing town was constantly raided and plundered by pirates and Moro marauders. As noted earlier from the writings of Fr. Alcina, the Jesuit-built church in Loyo was ransacked and burned down. Historians believe that Moro plunderings were in retaliation by Muslim leaders to punish the Spanish for the evangelization of the Philippines especially Mindanao.
A landmark stood mute witness to this era of atrocities. The watchtower called balwarte or its ruins is still perched atop the Guintolian hill on the western ridge of town. From its vantage point it is easy to discern oncoming vessels in the horizon.
There is certainly no lack of heroic stories and legends in local folklore. Names of prominent early Basaynons and their contributions are not etched in monuments but are always mentioned in oral history told for generations. Maria Bungansakit and Juan Suguihon made for us a tragic love story. The legendary strength of Makarumpag, the foresight of Makahilig and the bravery of Katindoy, who single-handedly fought the Moros in the shore, are an inspiration to its people.
Heroes are born in extraordinary times. During the past two wars, many Basaynons died for their patriotism. We always hear about Capitan Juan Colinares who led local insurgency against the Americans during the Philippine-American War in the 1900’s. In the 1940’s, Col. Luciano Abia led the Basaynons during the difficult times of World War II.
Local Basaynons have risen to national prominence in the person of Serafin Marabut, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention, who served as Secretary of Finance and Budget Commissioner during the time of President Quezon. In every generation of Basaynons a brilliant and successful Basaynon distinguishes himself in his choice of interest or profession to serve nobly at various levels in the municipal, provincial and national stage. Some have attained international notoriety.
How Basey Got its Name
The word Basey comes from the vernacular Baysay (means beauty). This is in deference to its most beautiful erstwhile inhabitant named Bungansakit. When the new town adopted the name, a competition in her honor caused Bungansakit’s original home village of Balud to be renamed Guibaysayi (means most beautiful).It is easy to presuppose that the Americans named Basay Basey, with emphasis on the last syllable. The idiosyncrasy of the English language tends to have difficulty pronouncing ah, when followed with consonant y. The locals probably unwittingly popularized the word by imitating or ridiculing the American pronunciation. But to claim that the Americans originally adopted the word is not supported by facts.
Basaynons themselves contracted Baysay to Basay for convenience in ordinary talk. In turn the Spanish corrupted Basay to Basey to suit in their formal writings. Basey is always found in Spanish records relating to the town. This includes early Spanish maps of the Philippines, which puts Basey in its right location. In addition, the church bells, which date back as early as 1858 in the St. Michael’s church belfry are engraved with Basey in reference to the town. These bells predate the arrival of the Americans in 1898.
The Legacy of Mat Weaving
It is foolhardy to believe that Basaynons invented mat weaving. The sedge grass Fimbristylis utilis Elmer, locally called tikug used as raw material, grows abundantly in the marshlands. It is as ubiquitous in the region as coconut for copra and abaca for rope making. However, mat weaving is an example of discipline in the Basaynons. For generations they have practiced this handicraft from their Malayan ancestors. Like fishing and farming, it has become a source of livelihood for a typical family.In recent years the art of the banig has made a spectacular transformation. The traditional plaited sinamay and colorfully embroidered sleeping mats found place in other household uses and to accent wall decors, dividers, lampshades, bags, slippers and other novelties.
More recent innovations extol the artistic merits of the banig in fabulous accoutrement by local fashion designers and craftsmen as displayed during the much-celebrated Miss Guibaysayi beauty pageant. This annual, pre-fiesta event is a competition of sorts but more among local artisans of elegant and ostentatiously embroidered ternos of banig. These bring out the best presentation among its beautiful contestants albeit for fashion shows only. This big development in the town’s mat weaving industry has caught national attention and importance. It has certainly become a source of pride for the Basaynon.
In 2000, the Basaynon laid its claim to have woven the longest banig in the world for the Guinness book. But, wouldn’t it be equally distinguished and ingenious if Basaynon entrepreneurs could claim to supply a world market?
