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.