Arriving on the Island

At long last

At long last, the Loay migrants composed of the Acaac family found their dreamland in a place of plenty facing the Mindanao Sea. A place of their own liking, it was a place strategically located for people whose livelihood depended so much on the sea.

But the sea alone is not the only source of their satisfaction. More than this, the land itself has plenty to offer. With rich land for agriculture, and abundant fishery resources to satisfy their appetite for the sea, they decided to stay at Daisog — or what is now known as Lopez Jaena — their new home.

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The landing at Barra

On the morning of May 3, 1870, the Loay migrants entered the mouth of the Daisog River and landed on the left bank of that river. Because of the high embankment deposited by the alternative movement of waves and the flow of the shallow river, a delta was formed, posting a barrier. They called the place Barra — from the Spanish word Vara, meaning something that impedes. From there on, the delta came to be known as Barra, for it was here that their pilang ran aground. With their boat stranded on shallow water, they waded ashore and carried their boat closer to the land.

The land: its location and topography

As they went ashore on elevated ground, they saw in the immediate surrounding a variety of resources: a lowland wilderness covered by hardy mangroves and lush vegetation, swamplands, plains and river valleys. At a distance, they saw hills slowly rolling gradually towards the mountains. In between these hills were flat lowlands sprawling indefinitely towards their unknown boundaries.

With its vast tract of land along the coastal areas, the place would become an ideal home for the new settlers. It is from the mountainous and rolling topography that Puntod got its name. They were also delighted to see the clear, mighty river streaming towards the sea, teeming with fish, crabs and other forms of wealth just within the shallow water.

Prior to the settlement period, the Daisog Valleys had been a marshy stretch of land abounding in birds, wild animals and other game fowl. The swamplands as well as the grasslands which covered the valleys on either side of the river came to be known as Daisog, a name taken from the river. Later, the name came to be applied to the entire town before it became the municipality of Lopez Jaena.

Primitive occupants

At the time of the migrants’ arrival, part of the land was already occupied by the Subanus, a primitive people who had lived there for centuries. After pitching their shelter, the settlers strolled along the riverside and, not far from the present site of the Daisog Bridge, they saw and met the Subanus. They were friendly and cordial to strangers. They used to live and build their homes along the river, their subsistence depending mainly on the wealth of the forest and river. For this simple existence, the settlers came to call them Suban-on, a word which literally means “riverine people.” Later, in other areas, they came to be known as Subanen, now recognized as members of the Cultural Minority Group (CMG). They were the first inhabitants of the place.