In Bogo, and maybe the whole Cebu province, the word “carbon” used to mean market place or place of commerce. This would seem a misuse or a merely tolerated use for the same word is also used to mean coal which appears to be appropriate. We have an appropriate Visayan or Cebuano word for a market which is not carbon but “tiyangge”. Mercado is sometimes used as an alternate but this is definitely Spanish.  

Why then is the word carbon to mean public market from which Barangay Carbon in Bogo got its name?

The circulated story runs this way:

The first power plant established by the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) in Cebu City near the old carbon and freedom park powered by coal “carbon”. Because coal was the main fuel for the engines, VECO had to stockpile a big volume of coal which appeared like small mountains beside the plants. The mountain- like stockpile of coal ”carbon” gradually became the popular reference point for people who want to go to the public market near it.

So, instead of saying, “I’m going to the market”, one would instead say, “I’m going to carbon”. Ultimately, the word carbon was accepted by many to mean public market.

So, when Bogo constructed its first public market after the Second World War, it was also called carbon. Since Barangay Carbon in Bogo is located inside the poblacion and includes the public market for its territory, it was but natural to name it officially as Barangay Carbon of Bogo.

source: cityofbogocebu.gov.ph

Historical population

The population of Carbon fell from 503 in 1990 to 263 in 2015, a decrease of 240 people. The latest census figures in 2015 denote a negative growth rate of 7.32%, or a decrease of 129 people, from the previous population of 392 in 2010.





source: https://www.philatlas.com/visayas/r07/cebu/bogo/carbon.html 

Barangay Bungtod was created in 1964 by virtue of a resolution of the municipal council during the incumbency of the late Mayor Jesus M. Almirante.

The Barangay got its name from its location and terrain. The Barangay center is on top of a hill, which in the vernacular dialect is called “bungtod”. From this word was derived the name of the Barangay.

During the early years, the place was covered with the large trees and intertwined vines where wild animals and different species of birds abound. It was then like mini-forest where local residents rely for their firewood and source of good lumber for the construction of their houses.  People who loved to hunt also flock to this place for birds and wild animals. More importantly because of its commending location the elders used the place as observation/watch post for any strangers especially the pirates who frequently harassed and robbed the residents.

Barangay Bungtod is at present the center of religious activities not only in the city but also in fact for the Northern Cebu because of the Archdiocesan Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer is situated in this Barangay. Devotees of the patron saint from the locality and from other places go to the church everyday especially Thursday for the Novena.

source: cityofbogocebu.gov.ph 

The population of Bungtod grew from 883 in 1990 to 2,324 in 2015, an increase of 1,441 people. The latest census figures in 2015 denote a positive growth rate of 3.65%, or an increase of 399 people, from the previous population of 1,925 in 2010.

Going to Cebu City and approaching Barangay Binabag, you will notice from a distance that there seems to be a series of mountains connected with each other that they seem to appear as a formidable wall lying across your way to Cebu City. 

The position and description of this wall mountain played a great part in naming this Barangay.

The Cebuano words “GIBABAG, BINABAG OR NAGBABAG” is interpreted in English as “lying across” or placed across a certain path.  

Some commuters or passengers of buses plying the Bogo-Cebu route, while approaching the Barangay usually point to these interlinked mountains and described them as “BUNGTOD NGA GIBABAG” or “BUNGTOD NA BINABAG”. It did not take long for the inhabitants to call their Barangay BINABAG.

The population of Binabag grew from 1,590 in 1990 to 2,024 in 2015, an increase of 434 people. The latest census figures in 2015 denote a positive growth rate of 1.17%, or an increase of 120 people, from the previous population of 1,904 in 2010.

sources: cityofbogocebu.gov.ph, https://www.philatlas.com/visayas/r07/cebu/bogo/binabag.html

One of the many ways of naming a certain place is to name it for the kind of plants or trees that abundantly grow in it.

It was told that even before the coming of the Spanish colonizers into the country, Barangay Banban which has no official name yet and which was far from being a barangay of Bogo, Cebu, was known to have Banban trees growing abundantly and luxuriantly nourished by its fertile lands.

The very industrious people of this place decided to make use and take advantage of the leaves of these trees by drying and stripping its leaves and weave it into baskets and other shapes they can contrive. When a resident of this place is asked about where he is residing, he usually answers in vernacular, “Naa ko puyo sa daghang Banban”. This was eventually shortened to, “Naa sa Banban” until “Banban” alone became the usual answer to this same query. Quite naturally, in the end, the name “Banban” was unanimously accepted and adopted the official name of this Barangay.

source: http://cityofbogocebu.gov.ph/banban/

Anonang Norte is a rare Philippine hardwood tree used as housing material. It is found in many parts of the City of Bogo. The tree is most abundant in two of Bogo’s 29 barangays which got its name from this tree, Barangay Anonang (Sur and Norte).

The tree was so abundant in those barangays during the Spanish era that when you speak of Barangay Anonang, you speak of the tree. It was natural then that the two Barangays was named after the tree.

How and why this was divided into Anonang North (North) and Anonang Sur (South) is not clear but it is believed that political rifts between two opposing prominent families was the reason.

PLACES are named in various ways and for various reasons, too. That is why many places, may they be provinces, cities, towns or barangays, sport queer, unique and sometimes comical names, Barangay Gairan, one of the 29 barangay of the City of Bogo in northern Cebu, is one of the barangay sporting queer names.

Very long time ago, before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, Gairan was still unnamed. It was only a very small settlement consisting of very few families living in small nipa huts scattered along the coastline. Most of the residents engaged in fishing and very few in farming. The settlement or village grew steadily as settlers intermarried. They all lived peacefully and harmoniously together.

One day, a small group of moro bandits came and attacked the village by pillaging and burning the houses. The attack came as a complete surprise to the villagers as it was never expected considering that their village was party hidden from open sea by a luxuriant growth of mangroves. The attackers took almost anything of value including domesticated fowls and three of the fairest maidens. Nobody, however, was killed due probably to the absence of resistance.

After the attack, the villagers started to rebuild and vowed to arm themselves and never to be surprised again. The village head recruited around thirty able-bodied men to represent its core village defenders armed with bolos and bamboo lances. he ordered the construction of an observation post to be able to spot any attacker from yet a far distance to give them enough warning.

More than a year had passed since first attack when suddenly; Adrenalin ran high in the blood of the villagers when they hear the frantic cry of the guard announcing the coming of moro bandits. The village defenders, who now increased in number to around forty, were promptly gathered by the dull but loud sound of the “budyong”. The village head, from the constant drills, was able to quickly scatter and position hi defenders behind large “Pagatpat” and “Bungawong” trees that abound in the area providing perfect cover. It was low tide near the coastline and the village head knew the bandits had a wade in shallow waters to enter the village. This would afford him the element of surprise!

The bandits who came in colorfully-sailed vintas, numbered only around twelve men. They were allowed by the defenders to pass by the first line of defense and when they were in the middle, a very loud cry of attack from the village head caught the bandits by surprise. The first volley of bamboo lances felled almost lay wide-eyed and open mouthed. Two of the bandits remained standing with minor injuries. One of them was promptly decapitated by a defender using his sharp bolo. The one wearing a bright-colored turban was presumed to be the leader. He was kept alive and tied with rope in both hands.

When the chaos of the short-lived battled died down, the village head summoned the village elders to discuss the fate of the bandits leader. The group decided that the bandit be tied unto a post purposely planted near the observation tower fronting the open sea. He will be left there to die serve as a warning to other pirate groups who might commit the mistake of attacking their village. Since then no other attack ever happened again. The news of the battle quickly spread to far-flung villages inland and across the sea. Most of all who hear the news raved to see and visit the place. When asked where they were going or wanted to go, they found difficulty in telling where because the village had no name then. For convenience, they were forced to use the Cebuano word “Gigairan” meaning the where the bandit was tied. The Cebuano words “Gigairan”,”Gigairan”, or “Gairan” come from the root word “Gaid” meaning to tie. So, these three Cebuano words mean the spot or place where something or somebody was tied. Since the pirate was tied there, the people started to describe or associate these words to the village. Eventually, they preferred to use the much shorter word “GAIRAN”. As time went by, this word became the official name of the place.

Barangay Gairan sped headlong toward the future with hardly a backward glance. The changes are striking, even now – at this very moment some transformation is taking place. Development is slow, almost like an unnoticed evolution that happens over time as people, the landscape and othere elements in the community adapt. At Barangay Gairan, the pace is breathless, a mutation – sudden, drastic.

Gairan seems to have gone bigger – too big, too quick. To the passerby, its streets seem bustlier and the people busier. There is potential here – the kind that is mushroom-like, full of both dark foreboding and promise. Every day, something new and sometimes strange, rises up from the deserted squares of earth behind Gairan’s main roads.

Soon it will be hard to recognize, but for the Gairan native – it will be always be home.

Source: http://cityofbogocebu.gov.ph/gairan/

Municipality of Bogo Official Seal

THE TREE

The tree that dominates at the center of the seal retraces the unforgettable founding legend of the town. The community that first started as a mere gathering of fisherman and fish-buyers under a Bogo tree grows to what is now dubbed as queen of Northern Cebu. 

THE CHURCH

It occupies a big space in the seal, signifying what the people of the town intrinsically are God-loving, religious, and whatsoever of the kind that respect the supreme authority of our omnipotent maker. 

THE SUGARCANE

It simply represents one of the major crops raised in the town. Majority of the people is earning their living as sugar cane landowners or laborers. 

THE PLOW

Some people live as farmers being an agricultural town, too. Some farmers earn their living either as hired plovers or tillers in other farms, because usually they are tilling smaller lots of land, being that bigger lands are developed as sugar haciendas. 

THE FISH

Some barangays like Nailon, Odlot, Polambato, Siokon, and Gairan are all strategically located and considered as fish centers. Some catch in Bogo is transported to other neighboring towns and Cebu City.

THE SHIP

Being ideally located a landlocked bay that could provide a safe haven for sea motorists during bad weathers, sea transportation has become a bustling activity and boat riding is a fast craze in town. 

THE STARS

Stars represent the 29 barangays comprising the town of Bogo. Stars suit the representation as when bunched or bounded together could give a light much brighter than a moon. These 29 barangays are Bogo's stars, and there continue flickering even in the thick of clouds.

source: http://www.angelfire.com/bc/bogo/seal.html

by Eufrosino Ursal Luna | Bag-ong Suga | November 26, 1965 

Ang Oktubre 25 maoy mapulang titik nga adlaw alang sa mga Bogohanon. Ang tanan manag-ambahan pagkuyog sa usa ka parada agig pagyukbo, pagtahod ug paghandom niadtong daku ug inilang tawo nga nagpahimutang sa kabantug sa Bogo diha sa mapa. Adlaw nga maoy kamatayan ni Senador Don Pedro Lazala Rodriguez, ang bayani ug amahan sa lungsod sa Bogo. Ikakatloan nag tolo ka tuig sumad sa iyang pagkapukan. (sa pagsulat niini)

Nyor Indong ang saga itawag kaniya. Natawo niadtong tuig 1869 gikan sa dugo sa mga ginikanang katsila, Don Jose Rodriguez ug Donya Vicente Lazala. Nakatungha sa seminaryo sa San Carlos ug mipadayon didto sa Ateneo de Manila, diin nakahupot sa silid pagka B.S in Agricultural Engineering, A.B ug BSC. Tungod sa gugma sa panguma

Nahimo si Nyor Indong nga Presidente-Munisipal sa Bogo sa panahon ni Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo sulod sa mga tuig 1898 hangtud sa 1903. Ug sa 1905 miadto sa Espanya ug sa ubang dapit sa Uropa ug paghibalik, ginominahna siya isip usa ka delegado alang sa unga Asembliya sa Pilipinas. Unya sa 1907 mirepresentar kumo senador samtang ang iyang igsoon, Celestino Rodriguez - deputado sa unag distrito.

Sulod sa iyang administrasyon dinhay higayon nga nahimo siyang usa ka mamumulong sa pagsaulog kun inawgurasyon sa Independensya sa karaang plasa sa Sugbo, matud pa niya...

"....Dinhi sa ibabaw sa kalibotan, duruha da ka bukid ang labing bantugan, ang bukid sa senai ug ang bukid as sudlong. Apan alang sa mga Pilipino ang bukid sa sudlon maoy labing mahal ug halandumon, kay sa tumoy-tumoy sa iyang sima...diha mahitarok ang unang bandilang Pilipinhon nga gipakayab sa panganod Sugboanon...nga gipaagasan ug daghang dugo sa atong mga kaliwat aron paglaban sa inahan tang yuta...."

Mapuslanon kaayo an giyang pag-alagad sa unang hugna sa Sendaorya, nga maoy nakapaaghat kaniya pag-usab pag-apil sa kombensyon sa pagka Senador batok kang Don Filemon Sotto sa partido Nasyonalista. Kadaghan sa mga delegado habig kang Don Sotto ug gihukman nga modaug sa kombensyon.

Masipang pakpak ang mitapus sa lima ka gutlong pakigpulong sa banggiitang mamumulong nga Sotto. Unya misunod si Don Pedro Rodgriguez ug misugod....

"...Minahal kong mga delegado sa kombensyon: kon tinuod man ugaling nga ang kalibotan tang gipuy-an matapus unya manudya? Sa panahon nga ang tawo mabanhaw... akoy unang mobangon gikan sa akong lubanganan dinala sa akong mga bukton ug ipakayab ko sa kahanginang Pilipinhon ang bandila sa partido Nasyonalista...ug kon walay suwerte ning kombensyona, ako moyukbo og motabang sa maong partido nga minugna...tinukod ug gipangulohan ni Don Sergion Osmeña..."

Makabungog ang gahub nga mibukot sulod sa Sine Ideal diin himoa ang tigom sa kombensiyon. Kadtong mga pulonga nga nanuhotsuhot sa kinailadman sa katawhan maoy nakapadaug kaniya niadtong higayona.

Gisublian si Nyor Indong sa 10th Senatorial District diin mimayoriyag daku labaw kang deputado Vicente Sotto sa partido Demokrata. Sa Senado usa siya sa manggimbuhaton, bantugang mamumulong, nagsilbe sa katarung ug kaligdong. Ug supak sa katungod kun ugaling dili mahiangay sa mga lungsoranon.

Si Don Pedro Rodriguez mao ang "Pahid" sa luha sa mga kabus, kay lagi mahigugmaon man sa mga timawa. Ang magkinahanglan ug yta, gibaligyaan sa kubos nga bili ug pinaagi pa sa data-data. Nagpahulam ug salapi nga walay tanto. Gihalad ang iyang kinabuhi pagtukaw pagtabang niadtong nanagkamang sa kapit-os ug kakabus.

Katoliko Romano si Nyor Indong sanglit gitugahan man ug lote alang sa Simbahan sa Bogo ug Medellin.

Naminyo kang Donya Masay Veloso - gitugahan ug tolo ka mga anak sila sa Jose V. Rodriguez, ang kanhi Deputado ug na-Mayor sa dakbayan sa Sugbo, Anhing Amparo ug Pedring Jr.,

The Mayors of the Municipality of Bogo

1898 - 2007

Don Pedro L. Rodriguez  1898-1903	Vicente dela Viña  1904-1907
Teodorico Rodriguez  1908-1911, 1919-1921, 1925-1928	Roman Fernan 1912-1915
Victoriano Goopio  1916-1918	Paulino Tenchavez  1922-1924
Antonio Mansueto  1929-1932, 1933-1936	Sergio Rodriguez  1937-1939
Severo Verallo  1939-1940, 1948-1951	Anastacio Pedroza  1942-1943, 1952-1955
Moises R. Lepatan  1943-1944	Perfecto Andrino  1945-1947
Victor E. Lepiten, Jr.  1956-1959	Jesus M. Almirante, Sr.  1960-1963, 1964-1967, 1968-1971
Manuel M. Link, Sr. 1971	Celestino E. Martinez, Jr. 1971-1975, 1976-1979, 1980-1986
Gregorio T. Reyes 1987-1988	Reynaldo E. Dy  1987, 1988-1992, 1992-1995, 1995-1998
Celestino A. Martinez, III  1998-2007

City of Bogo Mayor
source: http://www.angelfire.com/bc/bogo/mayors.html

City of Bogo's name origin has always been embedded in the heart and soul of every Bogohanon.  It is no mystery that the name points to the Bogo trees that thrived in the place where early people came to trade. The tree is called by other names in different provinces and countries. 

The scientific name of this tree is Garuga floribunda Decne, which early botanists found abundant in Iloilo, northern Mindanao and the Central Visayas. Below is the Taxonomy Hierarchy of the Bogo Tree:

Kingdom: Plantae

   ↪ Phylum: Magnoliophyta

      ↪ Class: Magnoliatae

         ↪Order: Sapindales

            ↪Family: Burseraceae

               ↪Genus: Garuga

                  ↪Specie: Garuga floribunda Decne  

A young Bogo Tree © rafi.org.ph

Garuga floribunda is a deciduous, small to medium-sized or occasionally fairly large tree that can reach up to 30 meters tall.

Bogo Tree Bark © N. Ayyappan

Bogo Tree Bark Cut © N. Ayyappan

Leaf and Flower Drawing source: www.globinmed.com

Bogo Tree Flower source: wikipedia.org

Bogo Tree Fruits © N. Ayyappan

Bogo Tree Leaves © N. Ayyappan

Uses

• Fodder: The leaves are used for fodder (food for livestock).
• Food: The fruit is edible. 
• Medicine: A decoction of the bark has been given after childbirth. 
• Tannin or dyestuff: A decoction of the leaves has been used to dye mats made from Corypha leaves black. 
• Timber: The wood of G. floribunda is used for general construction, bridge building, posts, light duty flooring, furniture and cabinet work, interior trim, mouldings, shelving, skirting, sporting goods, agricultural implements, boxes and crates, carvings, toys and novelties, and turnery. It is also used for the production of veneer and plywood.
• Shade or shelter: G. floribunda is occasionally planted as a shade tree.

Planting Your Own Bogo Tree

Resources:

angelfire.com/bc/bogo/polhist.html
globinmed.com
indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/12438
rafi.org.ph

The year 1600 usher in the founding of a real settlement which was subsequently transformed into a barangay where small huts made of cogon and bamboos squatted at the site where the Bogo Central Extension now stands. While the barangays was then a part of another bustling community in the north, now known as the town of DaanBantayan, the natives enjoyed tacit freedom of self-rule although they continued to pay tributes and taxes to the chieftain of DaanBantayan. This barangay grew in prominence and for this reason, it was separated from the vassalage of DaanBantayan. Hence, in January 1850 the Bishop of Cebu, appointed Father Jaime Micalot, Spanish friar as the first parish priest of Bogo and decreed Saint Vincent Ferrer as the town's patron saint.

The first mass was celebrated in the hastily built chapel of cogon roofing and mixed bamboo and lumber materials on April 5, 1850, to coincide with the death anniversary of the patron saint. Unfortunately, however, this chapel was gutted by fire of undetermined origin and a new stone church was constructed at the same place where the present Bogo Town Plaza is located. About this time, the Spanish authorities in Bogo introduced civil government. Pedro Aballe became the first Cabeza de Barangay or Capitan of the Town from 1864 to 1869. The late Ex-Senator Pedro L. Rodriguez, popularly known as the Grand Old Man of Bogo named one of the oldest streets of the town after him.

In those times, a Capitan or Cabeza de Barangay took charge of th recollection of tributes to support the encomienda system of Spain. Late the tribute was substituted with the "papelita" (cedula} which the individual paid in two installments annually. A taxpayer who could not afford to pay the cost of papelita in the amount of P1.50 was made to work on local projects at fifty centavos a week. Because of this, a good number of delinquent taxpayers escaped and hid in the mountain fastness of Bogo.

Early historian aver that the town of Bogo derived its name from a lone Bogo tree which stood on the brink of the shore which is now a part of Bogo wharf. Under its spreading shade the natives of the place meet incoming traders who rode on frail sailboats loaded with goods to be sold or bartered with the natives of the town. Thus, this spot became a rendezvous for traders and merchants as well as for nature lovers and leisure-seeker who found refuge and comfort under the cool shade of the tree made more poignant by the balmy air wafted by the ocean breeze. Some of these traders, however remained and married with the natives of the place.

A few years before the turn of the 20th century, eventful episodes took place in the town marked by fire and blood. The nationalistic fervor of the Katipuneros in Luzon fanned the flames of the resistant movement in Cebu. In Bogo, the younger kins of the Katipuneros, the so-called "Pulahans" exacted heavy tolls on the forces of the Casadores (guadia civil) during fierce encounters near the out-skirts of the town. Although the Pulahans were ill-armed, untrained and outnumbered at times, they nevertheless continued to hit back at the enemy with unrelenting vigor and determination.

Success was almost within their grasps when in 1898, an American cavalry unit under Captain Rowan landed at Nailon point, a norteastern barrio, and proceeded to the Poblacion where he assembled his troops in fron of the Catholic Church. On hand to meet him was Pedro L. Rodriguez then Presidente Municipal of the town. After brief amenities, Capt. Rowan and Presidente Rodriguez sealed an agreement for the protection of the civilian populace of the town.

With the defeat of the Spanish forces in the islands from the hands of the invading American armies-political, economic, social and educational reforms were instituted. Thus, was born the American system of government which the Filipinos enjoyed for almost half a century.

Again in 1941, the Philippines, being a territory of the United States, became a battleground in an undeclared war between the invading Japanese Imperial Forces and the combined Fil-American troops. After the surrender of the USAFFE from Bogo refused to swear allegiance to the Japanese. They went to the hills and organized guerilla warfare headed by disbanded officers of the constabulary and army units in the province.

Under the command of Capt. Garcia the guerilla forces encamped at Mt. Binabag. Foremost among the guerilla were Jose Carrasco, Jose Momongan, Leo Española and several civilian volunteers who joined the guerilla movement.

Cognizant of the anti-Japanese sentiment of this armed group who were determined to carry out harassment tactics against the occupation troops in northern Bogo, six Japanese seaplane bombed the town of Bogo on the early morning of December 12, 1942. Several civilians cost their lives and many injured. In order to quell the seething rebellion, the Japanese military authorities in Cebu established a garrison in the town in a building now owned by the Northern Cebu Colleges. Captured guerillas and sympathizers were subjected to untold brutalities at the Japanese garrison.

As a means to win the loyalty and support of the people of the town, the local puppet administration was established in Bogo under Japanese supervision. Councilor Moises Lepatan was appointed town mayor during the occupation.

Liberation came in 1944, and no sooner civilian government was restored. Ex-Municipal Secretary Perfecto Andrino was appointed first Mayor of Bogo after liberation by the victorious Liberal Party of President Manuel Roxas in 1945. In the first local election held after the World War II, Severo Verallo, considerable majority elected the candidate of the Liberal Party in the town mayor. Hand in hand, the people and the local leaders worked feverishly to regain the town's enviable prestige as the Queen Town of Northern Cebu out of the shambles and ruins of the last war.

Bogo now stands proudly at the threshold of progress.

Political History of Bogo by Prof. Regino Dodds Giagonia, MNSA