The Shallows in Cagayan de Oro River

Thick lambago trees grew along the riverbanks of Cagayan de Oro River.  They were beautiful to behold, like many lovers locked in each other's embrace.  Before the infamous flood of 1916 the river was very deep and the boat "Dalupawon" used to come right up to the riverbank and sell its wares.

 

 

 

There used to be a very clean and wide shoreline which ran all the way from where the Kalambagohan street is now until the house of Mr. Isidro Vamenta near the present site of the city jail. After the flood, however, the river became shallow, and shallows appeared from near the house of the Vamentas until the barrio Consolacion at the north end of the city.

 

 

The flood was really enormous.  It rained for sixteen days.  The river encircled the town; it overflowed its banks and entered the city over the cogon areas of Macasandig, past the coconut groves of the Pelaez's, until it reached Camaman-an up to the present public market. 

 

Perhaps the large trees which were dislodged by the flood, and the Kompay areas above the river which were also detached from their moorings on the shore helped to create the shallows in the Cagayan de Oro River today.

Kosme and the Buaya (Crocodile)

An informant was an eye-witness of the buaya which killed a certain man named Kosme, a kumpay-gatherer.  He swam after what he thought was a big log of wood in a flooded Cagayan de Oro river. The buaya easily overcame him.  The beast was seen by witnesses to go near the old Carcel (now part of Archbishop's House).

 

 

Policemen pelted it with bullets to no avail.  It was seen afterwards to dive into the hole near the convent.  The governor ordered a dog killed and served as bait to the beast.  Three days after, it came out of the hole, devoured the bait and was caught after terrific struggle. The carcass was then paraded around the town.

 

Photo used is not a real representation of the story. Source click here

Then it was opened up and they saw a pair of a woman's slippers and long hairs. There were also nine stones found.  It is believed that the buaya swallows a stone every time it devours a person to keep count of its victims.

 

Photo used is not a real representation of the story. Source click here.

Kini si Kosme, mangongompay.  Ang iyang kompayan diha sa tabok sa simbahan, sa luyo sa iyang balay.  Usa niana ka adlaw, nagbaha ang Kagayan.  Sa kamulong kaon ni Kosme, nakita niya kining usa ka haligi nga naanod ug tungod sa iyang ka anogon niadtong haligi, gilangoy niya kini.

 

Sa pagkapot niya sa haligi, nakita gayod sa iyang asawa ang dakong ikog sa buaya nga diha diay sa ilawom sa haligi.  Pagkaigo ni Kosme sa haligi o ikog diay sa buaya, didto gibandera niya si Kosme nga patay na.  Kay nahitabo man ni duol sa carcel, daghan ang nakakita ug gisigihan pagpusil sa pulis ang buaya apan dili gayod gadotlan.  Usa usab ako niadtong mga tawo nga nakakita.  Ang buaya didto dayon gipaingon sa bangag.

Sa sugo sa gobernador nga si Tatoy Corrales nagpatay sila og iro nga gisudlan ug dako kaayo nga bingwit.  Gibitay kini nila sa usa ka talisay nga gadungaw sa suba. Sa ikatulo ka adlaw sukad nakaon sa buaya si Kosme, migawas kini ug gikaon dayon niya kadtong iro.  

 

Labihan kakusog ang buaya sa iyang pagbiniraha sa kahoy ang sanga gani sa Talisay nakadapat man sa tubig.  Pero sa pagkadugay, namatay ra gayod ang buaya.  Labihan sa kadako kini ug giparada nila sa tibuok lungsod.

 

Pagkahuman, gisi-sian kini.  Sa tiyan sa buaya, diha'y ilang nakuha nga tsinelas sa babaye, taas nga buhok sa babaye ug  uban pa.  Siyam kabuok ka bato ang ilang nakuha ug nagkahulugan man gayod sa usa ka bato pagkahuman niya ug kaon sa usa ka tawo aron matiman-an niya.  Ug nagkahulugan nga siyam na ka tawo ang iyang nakaon; kay ang buaya mo lamoy an gayod sa usa ka bato pagkahuman niya ug kaon sa usa ka tawo aron matiman-an niya.

St. Augustine's Bees and the Moros

Invading Moros are routed by the  bees which lived in the church of St. Augsustine 
in Cagayan.

Kining Kagayhaan nakaligotgot sa mga Moros kay dihay usa ka higayon nga gasulong na unta sila.  Ang simbahan nga San Agustin, gamay pa kaayo.  Karon imbis nga gasulong na unta sila,  ang mga patyukan nga didto nagbalay sa simbahan mao ma'y nagdasmag didto sa mga Moros sa suba sa Cagayan.  Tungod niadto, wala makadayon pagsulong ang mga Moros.

The Legend of Corrales

Corrales had its origin commemorating the name of the worthy governor during the time of his administration.

The place was widely known as "Mabangkal" taken from the native tongue "magahats", for most of the people during and before the Spanish period were warlike or people who had the hobby of killing another person.  The famous Mabangkal was never subdued by any foreign ruler not until an influential governor during the American period by the name of Fortunato Corrales came into power.

By means of his tact and diplomacy in dealing with the natives, he, the governor, won the hearts and admiration of all the people and gained control over the place with full support.

When the governor died, the leading men of the place held a meeting and one proposed to change the name of the place in honor of the late governor.  The change was agreed upon, and the place now bears the name Corrales in order to give life to the Governor.

BIRHEN SA KOTA

A statue of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary has been venerated in Cagayan de Oro from very early times.  Since the American regime, it used to be found on the right wing of the Cathedral where there was an altar on the wall parallel to the river.  This part of the church used to be called by the folk "Sabadohan".  During the Second World War when the Cathedral was destroyed by bombing, the statue was about the only thing that escaped being reduced to powder.  It remained unhurt even though everything else beside it was destroyed.  It was brought for safe-keeping by the Rev. Archbishop to the Seminary of St. Joseph of Mindanao, where it stayed until it was transferred to the Museum at Xavier last August, 1967.  The following is a short history of it.

During the Spanish times, the Moros used to come to Carmen and carry off many people into slavery. The people of Cagayan in order to defend the town built an enclosure along the riverbank on the eastern side of the river, beneath the church and the convent.  Here the people used to hide when the Moros went on a rampage. They had a statue of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary which was venerated by the people and to her the people prayed in times of danger.

One day the Moros arrived and to all appearances wanted to cross over the Cagayan.  They were seen approaching in their bancas when suddenly they were also seen to retreat.  It was rumored that the Moros saw a vision of a woman atop the kota or the enclosure who ordered them to desist from their assault and whose mien was fearsome and commanded their respect.  This happened while the people inside the walls were praying for her intercession. Thus the statue came to be known Ang Birhen sa Kota, "Our Lady of the Walls".

In other ways, this statue was also miraculous.  When someone was sick the folk used to place the statue on top of the head of the patient. Miraculous cures were reported to have followed.  And, finally, when the Cathedral was bombed, this statue did not suffer the slightest injury. This we have already stated above.

BIRHEN SA KOTA

Ang labing karaang larawan sa Birhen dinhi sa Cagayan, mao ang Birhen sa Kota.  Kini dunay kapin sa duha ka gatUs ka tuig na ang panuigon.  Birhen sa Rosario kini nga larawan, apan ginganlan dinhi sa ato ug Birhen sa Kota.  Sama kini sa Birhen sa Rosario sa Manila nga ginganlan usab VIRGEN DE LA NAVAL.

Ang pag ngalan sa Virgen sa Rosario didto sa Manila nga Virgen de la Naval, nahitabo tungod sa usa ka dakung milagro nga gihimo sa Virgen sa mga kasundalohang Pilipinhon. Kaniadto, ang Pilipinas kanunay sulongan sa mga Olandes, kay ang kagamahanan sa nasud sa Olanda protestante man.  Sa usa ka mabangis nga panagsangka sa gubat sa kadagatan, sa tuig 1646, naglisud nga maparot ang mga sundalong Pilipinhon.  Sa ilang kalisud, misangpit sila sa Mahal nga Virgen sa Rosario nga luwason unta niya sila.  Tuod man, gidungog ang ilang pag-ampo; kay sa makalima nga pagsulong sa kaaway, makalima usab sila maparot.  Sukad niadto, ang Mahal nga Virgen sa Rosario ginganlan dayon, agig pasalamat kaniya, nga Virgen de la Naval - sa ato pa, Patrona sa mga sundalo ug sa gubat sa kadagatan.

Mao usab kita dinhi sa Cagayan.  Dunay Virgen sa Rosario nga ginganlan usab VIRGEN SA KOTA. Sa unang mga katuigan,ang Cagayan kanunay gihulga ug gisulong sa mga moros aron pagpamihag sa mga Kristianos. Ang mga lungsoranon, pinangulohan sa Padre Kura, nagtukod ug Kota sa daplin sa suba likod sa Kombento aron tagoanan sa mga tawo, labina sa mga babaye ug mga bata.

Gisugid nga usa ka adlaw niana, gisulong ang Cagayan sa mga moros.  Diha na sila sa tabok sa suba. Ang mga babaye ug mga bata nagtago na sulod sa kota. Ang mga lalaki hinoon nangandam na sa pakig-asdang sa manunulong.

Apan sa dakung katingala sa mga tawo, ang mga moros inay motabok na sa suba, nagsugod na hinoon ug sibug.  Giingon nga ang moros sa tabok sa suba nakakita sa usa ka babaye sa ganghaan sa Kota likod sa kombento nga nag badlong ug nagpugong kanila sa pagtabok sa suba.  Kini nahitabo samtang ang mga tawo sulod sa Kota nag-ampo sa Virgen sa iyang panabang og kalooy nga luwason niya sila sa kadaut.

Kini nga hitabo nakapainit sa pagtoo sa mga tawo sa gahum sa Virgen sa Rosario ug agig pagpsalamat kaniya, ang Virgen sa Rosario ginganlan usab nila sa Virgen sa Kota atua gipasundayag sa lawak sa Seminario.

Dili lamang kay mao da kini ang milagro sa Virgen.  Mga masakiton nga nag-ungaw na 

sa kamatayon nangaayo basta itungtong lamang ang larawan sa Virgen sa ilang ulo.

Apan, ang katingalahan sa tanan mao ang nahitabo sa miaging gubat sa kalibutan.  Sa pagpanghulog sa mga bomba sa Cagayan, ang Katedral maayong pagkaigo.  Nadugmok ug nasunog ang tanang butang sulod niini.  Apan kining LARAWAN SA VIRGEN SA KOTA wala gayud maunsa. Siya nagtindog sa gibutangan kaniya nga wala masunog, bisan gilibutan sa kalayo ug ang tanan nga naglibut nangahimong abo.

Dili ba kini usa ka katingalahan nga daku?

8 Legends On Her Origin

These legends are very much alike in a number of ways.  But then there are also a number of ways in which they differ.

1. Legend of Cagayan de Oro

2. Caayahan or Cagayhaan

3. The Origin of Cagayan de Oro City

4. Ang Sindugdan sa Ngalan sa Cagayan

5. The Origin of Cagayan de Oro City

6. Ang Sinugdan sa Ngalan sa Cagayan og Mindanao

7. An Enviable Town: Cagayan

8. The Legend of Cagayan de Oro

1. Legend of Cagayan de Oro

The first inhabitants of Cagayan lived in a village on the bank of Taguanaw River, eight kilometers south of Cagayan.  Later on, They moved on the bank of Kalambagohan river where Cagayan now stands and called their settlement Kalambagohan from the lambago trees that grew abundantly on the banks of this river. Hence, the first name of Cagayan was Kalambagohan.

The aborigines of Kalambagohan were Bukidnon.  Later on, a horde of barbarous Moros from Maguindanaw under Rajah Moda Samoporna (the unopposed), came and demanded the surrender of the village.  The Kalambagohan Datu Bagani sent his beautiful daughter guarded by his bravest warriors to meet the Rajah and to make the conditional surrender, so that none in the village should be carried away to slavery.  The Rajah, captivated by the beauty of Datu Bagani's daughter, accepted the term of surrender and finally decided to marry the Datu's daughter and settled in Kalambagohan. Rajah Moda Samporna made his warriors build a cotta around the village. So instead the Moros conquering the Bukidnons, they were the ones conquered.  The Moro warriors were ashamed of this defeat.  They went away and they did not return anymore.  So they called the village (Caayahan) the Moro word for shame, or (Cagayha-an) the Bukidnon word for shame.

When the Spaniards came they mispronounced the name of the village, hence they gradually changed it to Cagayan. Later, the name Cagayan was changed to Cagayan de Oro, because of the frequent discovery of gold in its hills, rivers and mountains, especially in Pigtaw, Tumpagon and along the Iponan river. After the coming of the Americans, the name was shortened to Cagayan.

2.  CAAYAHAN or CAGAYHAAN

The Aborigines of Cagayan were Bukidnons.  Cagayan is located eight kilometers north from Taguanaw River.  The first inhabitants of Cagayan dwelled in a village on the bank of the aforesaid river. And later on, they moved on the banks of the Kalambagohan River, where Cagayan now stands.

Due to some "Lambago" trees that grew abundantly on the banks of this river, Cagayan was first named as "Kalambagohan".

Years later, a horde of barbarous Moros from Maguindanaw (now Cotabato), under Rajah Moda Samporna (the unopposed), came and demanded the surrender of the village. The Datu of Kalambagohan sent his beautiful daughter, guarded by his bravest warriors, to meet the Rajah of Maguindanaw and to make conditional surrender, "None in the village should be carried away to slavery". The Maguindanao Rajah, captivated by the beauty of the Datu's daughter, accepted the terms of surrender and finally decided to marry the daughter of the Datu of Kalambagohan and settled in Kalambagohan.  Rajah Moda Samporna made his warriors build a cotta around the village. So, instead of conguering the Bukidnon, they (Moros) were the ones conquered.  So the Moro warriors were ashamed of their defeat.  So they named the village "Caaya-han" (the Moro word for same) or "Cagayhaan" (the Budkidnon word for shame).

When the Spaniards came, they mispronounced the name of the village, so they gradually changed it to Cagay-an.  Due to frequent discovery of gold in its hills, river and mountains, the name of Cagay-an was changed to Cagayan de Oro.  After the coming of the Americans the name of Cagay-an de Oro was shortened to Cagayan. The Moros intermarried with the Bukidnons.  Samporna and his descendants became the ruling families of Cagayhan.

In the year 1622, the first missionary priests arrived in Cagay-haan. They belonged to the Order of Recollect.  They preached the Christian religion to the natives.  In the year 1779,the missionary priests baptized and solemnized the marriage of their pagan converts.  The Samporna families in Cagayhaan became Christians and were given the family name Neri. Hence, the present Neri families in Cagayan de Oro City, descended from the Moros.  The Bandialan families also descended from the Moros, While the Batbato from the Bukidnon.

3. The Origin of Cagayan de Oro City

Was only a little sitio on the banks of the Cagayan River. A beautiful legend was woven around the romantic beginning of our fabulous city of gold.

Once upon a time, the Bukidnons, the aborigines of the city, named the place "Kalambagohan" because of the abundant growth of lambago trees which grew luxuriantly on both sides of the Cagayan river.  Their growth was so thick that they formed a protective umbrella over the surface of the waters of the river, which at that time was only a few meters wide.

For some time, the Moros of Lanao often came to Kalambagohan in a series of raids.  This struggle dragged on for quite  a while until Kalambagohan was captured by the Moros. The Bukidnons retreated to the hills.  They regrouped themselves at a place called Maloypoloy above Taguanao and made plans to recapture Kalambagohan.  In order to know the exact number of his fighting men, Bagani, the Bukidnon chief, required every soldier entering the camp to produce a stone.  In this way, Bagani was able to determine the size of his invading force by simply counting  the number of stones piled up near the trunk of a big tree inside the camp.  It is told that up to the present, a stone, the size of a fist, could be seen embedded in one of the branches of a big lauan tree at Maloypoloy. It is presumed that the stone was one of those piled there by the fighting men of Bagani.

When all the preparations for the liberation of Kalambagohan were completed, Bagani and his forces headed for their objective. Before commencing the attack, an envoy was dispatched to the Moro chieftain.  Unfortunately, however, upon inquiring from the palace guards, the envoy was informed that the Moro sultan was out hunting.  At this time, while the envoy was talking with the guards, the

daughter of the Moro sultan came down on her way to the garden. The envoy impressed by her fascinating beauty left the palace and told Bagani about the woman.  The report of the envoy caused a change in the invasion plans. Bagani decided to win the daughter of the Moro sultan and made her his companion for life.

Not long after, Bagani sent a messenger to the Sultan requesting for an audience.  The request was granted.  Bagani came and was given a welcome befitting his rank as a chief of the Bukidnons.  After the entertainments were over, the Sultan asked Bagani the purpose of his visit. Bagani told the Moro sultan that he wanted to marry his daughter.  This surprised the Sultan very much for he knew that the Budkidnon chief had never seen his daughter. Yet Bagani told him that the moon and the stars in the sky, the cool breezes of the evening, the flowers that adorned the hills and dales, the gushing spring, if all their beauty and splendor were taken together, would not equal the beauty of the loveliest woman  (the sultan's girl) whom he had been dreaming of. The Moro sultan was deeply flattered by Bagani that the Sultan gave his consent to the marriage.  There was a great feast that lasted for many days.

However, the fighting men of Bagani felt so ashamed of what their chief had done,that they changed the name of their place to Kagayha-an, meaning "shame".

They considered it a misfortune for their chief to change his plans to recapture Kalambagohan; but more so it was a shame for them to know that their chief wascaptured by their enemies, the Moros, by love and not by war.

In the course of time, the name of Kagayha-an was shortened to Kagay-an, they had it changed to Cagayan.  And not long after, because of the discovery of gold deposits in Munigi, Pigtaw and in other places around Cagayan,the Spaniards coined a new name for this town - CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY.

4. ANG SINUGDAN SA NGALAN SA CAGAYAN

Long ago there was a Muslim datu here in Cagayan,well-known all over Mindanao.  He had a princess daughter noted for her beauty.  She had many admirers but could choose no one from them.

One of her admirers, Hamak, a son of another datu, had something peculiar in him so that the princess chose him. The princess desired that each of the datus, her father and Hamak's father, would give a great banquet for several months, the purpose of which was to determine  who was more wealthy.  The preparations included different kinds of animals.  After a few months, the animals of Hamak's father were exhausted.  He went home ashamed because he was not as rich as the princess' father.  From that time on, the father of the princess called his place "Kagayhaan" ie. (Kahay-haan sa mga muslim), ie. A Place of Shame for the Muslim.

When the Spaniards came, they asked for the name of the place from those living in he datu's place. They answered, it was called "kahay-haan".  The Spaniards interpreted it as "Cagayaan" which many years later was shortened to "Cagayan".

Niadtong panahona may mipuyo dinhi nga usa ka muslim, siya gibantog sa iyang kasapian sa tanang nagpuyo dinhi sa tibuok Mindanao.  Ug kining datu matawag nato sa ngalang Datu Makan ug siya may usa ka anak nga dalaga ug gibantog usab sa iyang katahum nga gihuptan.  Ug didto sa usa ka silingang lungosd nga kanhi walay ngalan, may usa ka datu nga muslim ug may anak nga lalaki.  Ug kining lalakiha matawag nato sa ngalang Hamak.  Kini si Hamak adunay talagsaong kinaiya nga dili makita sa uban nga magdadayeg sa princesa ni Datu Makan.  Ug tuod man misugod si Hamak sa pagduol sa princesa.  Ug may gusto man usab ang princesa sila nagkasabot.

Ug dayon giandam ang dakung bangkite sa kasal sa usag-usa ka datu.  Ug niini mi-ingon si Datu Makan sa iyang kaabag nga datu nga magtakus sila kun kinsa sa ilaang daku-daku ug gasto.  Ug matag adlaw, si Datu Makan mopatay ug pila ka gatos nga mananap nga klase-klase.  Ingon manusab ang iyang kaabag. Ug sa paglabay sa pipila ka bulan ang kaabag ni Datu Makan inanay na nga mosibog sa ilang sabot kay wala na siyay mga mananap nga igasto sa dakong bangkite. Ug usab milabay ang mga adlaw hingpit na nga mosibog ang kabag ni Datu Makan. Ug kini mipauli sa ilang tribo ng puno sa kaulaw. Ug ginganlan ni Datu Makan ang iyang gipuy-an nga "Kagay-haan sa mga muslim", sa ato pa "kaulawan sa mga muslim".

Ug milabay ang daghang katuigan human mamatay ang Datu, miabot ang mga Katsila sa Mindanao. Ug sa ilang pag-anhi dinhi sa kanghing puloy-anan ni Datu Makan nangutana sila ug unsay ngalan niining dapita.  Mitubag ang mga lumolupyo nga "Kagay-haan".  Ug kay wala kaayo sila  makasabot, ilang ginganlan ug "Cagayaan".

Ug milabay na usabang daghang tuig, ang ngalang "Cagayaan" gihimo nga "Cagayan".

5. THE ORIGIN OF CAGAYAN DE ORO

Before the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro was yet a town named Kalambagohan.  Kalambagohan was derived from the name of a tree, lambago, which grew abundantly in this place.

The ruler of Kalambagohan was Datu Bagonsalibo.  Bagonsalibo  was good and industrious.  He became rich and well respected by his people.

Datu Bagonsalibo had a beautiful daughter called Cagayha-an. She got this name when all her suitors were put to shame (cagayha) since they could not give the dowry required of whoever wanted to marry her. One day, Cagayha-an took a bath in the river which is now called the Cagayan river.  She was drowned while taking a bath.  After her death, both the river and the town were named Cagayha-an, in memory of the beautiful princess.

When the Spaniards came here, they changed name to Cagay-an because they could not pronounce well Cagayha-an.  During the American era,the Americans changed the Cagay-an to Cagayan, again due to the difficulty in pronouncing the previous name.

Sa unang panahon nga wala pa maka abot dinhi ang mga Kastila sa Pilipinas, ang lungsod sa Cagayan ginganlan sa Kalambagohan.  Ang Kalambagohan usab nga lungsod, naga pinasugod ang iyang ngalan sa mga kahoy nga lambago nga maoy naga tubo sa maong lungsod ug labina sa daplin sa suba nga karon ginganlan sa Cagayan river.  Ang mga tawo niadtong panahona, nga namoyo sa Kalambagohan lonlon Muslim,kay wala pa man maka abot dinhi sa Pilipinas ang mga kastila.

Ang datu nga naga mando sa lungsod mao si Sultan Bagonsalibo. Ang iyang ikaduha nga ngalan wala lang masangpit ning sugilanon.  Si Sultan Bagonsalibo adunahan (sapi-an).  Sa panahon sa ting-ani dako ang iyang mahipos nga humay og mais abot sa iyang yuta.  Ang yuta sa Kalambagohan matambok. Daghan pang mga tanom ang ilang mga kaani gawas sa humay og mais.  Ang iyang mga sakop nangag tanom sa kamote, ube, gabi, binggala, lubi, tubo, mangga, baongon, saging, buahan, lumbia og uban pang mapuslanon nga tanom sa kinabuhi.

Si Sultan Bagonsalibo tinahod sa iyang mga gingsakpan, ug sa iyang mga silingan nga mga datu ug sultan.  Kini si Sultan Bagonsalibo adunay anak nga babaye gi nganlan ug Kagayha-an.  Si Princesa Kagayha-an guwapa kaayo nga pagkadalaga.  Sangyaw sa tibook Mindanao ang katahum sa maong dalaga.  Nag pano-igon siya sa napulo ug pito ka tuig daghan ang gusto magpa-ulipon sa iyang kaanyag.  Mga datu ug sultan sa Maguindanao ug sa Lanao mo duaw sa Kalambagohan

aron pag pangasawa kang Kagayha-an.  Apan walay bisa isa nga naninguha sa kamot ni Kagayha-an nga gidawat sa sultan.

Ang hinungdan nga ang tanan nga nangasawa wala madawat kay walay bisan isa kanila nga nakagahum sa gidaghanon sa salapi nga gipangayo bolotangan (dowry) kanila. Ang tagsa-tagsa nga naninguha sa kamot ni Kagayha-an, tapos nila masayri nga dili madawat sa sultan ang ilang tuyo mopauli binalon ang kaulaw (cagayha).  Ug busa maoy hinongdan nga ang prinsesa anak ni Sultan Bagonsalibo gi nganlan kang Kagayha-an, kay ang mga tawo nga naninguha tanan nanga ulawan.

Naga lakat ang panahon, ug isa ni-ana ka adlaw si Kagayha-an, ang prinsesa, migula sa ilang panimalay uban ang isa ka sulogoon (ulipon) padulong ngadto sa suba aron maligo.  Ang mga kaulitawhan nga nanghibalo nga si Prinsesa Kagayha-an nagaligo didto sa suba, nagaligo usab.  Ang mga ulitawo gusto musod-ong sa katahum ug kaanyag sa dalaga.  Sige lang tulon-tulon sa kaugalingong laway ang tanan nga ulitawo samtang naga sud-ong sa guwapa nga prinsesa.  Si Prinsesa Kagayha-an ilhanan sa iyang pagka tahum kay bisan ang suba nga iyang giligo-an nabihag sa iyang kaanyag.  Gihigugma siya sa hilum sa maong suba ug ang dalaga wala makapamalibad kay wala man intawon masayod.  Samtang siya naga langoy-langoy sa hinanali nalumos.

Gi kuha sa mga tawo si Kagayha-an sa ilalom sa tubig ug gidala ngadto sa ilang balay. Gipaningkamotan sa mga tawo nga mabuhi pag balik ang prinsesa.  Apan sa dakong kasubo wala gayod mabuhi ug nadayonan gayud pagkamatay ang prinsesa. Namingaw kadyot ang lungsod sa Kalambagohan sa dihang bag-o pang namatay ang prinsesa.  Dakong pagtulon-an ang gihatag ni Bagonsalibo sa mga tawo.  Siya nakatudlo sa mga tawo sa pag kugi, sa pagpangita sa salapi kay aron sa panahon sa pag pangasawa dili sila maulawan, ilang magahum ang bolotangan (dowry) nga pangayo-on kung sila mangasawa.  Ang tanan tawo nga nasayud nag kugi.  Wala mulabay ang tag-as nga panahon sa pagkamatay ni Prinsesa Kagayha-an,ang lungsod nga Kalambagohan gi balhinan sa ngalan nga Kagayha-an ug ang suba nga iyang nalumsan gi nganlan usab sa Kagayha-an.

Taas nga panahon ang nang labay, giabot ang mga kastila.  Pag donggo nila nangutana sa ngalan sa lungsod. Ang mga lungsoranon mitubag Kagayha-an. Ang mga Kastila dili maka litok sa Kagayha-an ug ilang gi nganlan ang lungsod Cagay-an.  Sa pagka kuha sa Pilipinas sa mga Amerikano, ang mga Amerikano nagnutana sa ngalan sa lungsod ug mitubag lungsoranon Cagay-an.  Ang mga Amerikano sama sa Kastila naglisod pag litok sa Cagay-an ug ilang gi nganlan ang lungsod, Cagayan.  Ug karon nag pabilin ang nglanag siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro nga sa unang panahon lungsod sa Kalambagohan.

THE ORIGIN OF CAGAYANDE ORO

Before the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines,the town of Cagayan de Oro was named Kalambagohan.  Kalambagohan derived its name from a tree called lambago, which grew in the town and mostly on the sides of the river, now called Cagayan river.  During that time, the people who lived in Kalambagohan were pure Muslims, because the Spaniards in the Philippines did not yet reach this place.

The datu who ruled the town was Sultan Bagonsalibo. (His second name is not mentioned in this story).  Sultan Bagonsalibo was a rich datu.  During harvest time, he gathered much rice and corn from his land.  The soil of Kalambagohan was fertile.  Aside from rice and corn, he also had many plants to harvest.  His henchmen planted camote, yam, taro, cassava, coconut, sugar cane, mango, baungon, banana, lanzones, lumbia and other plants useful for life.

Sultan Bagonsalibo was respected by his followers, and by the datus and sultans of the neighboring towns.  Sultan Bagonsalibo had a daughter named Cagayha-an.  Princess Cagayha-an was a very beautiful lady. Her beauty was known all over Mindanao.  When she reached the age of 17, many men admired her. Datus and sultans from Maguindanao and Lanao would come to visit her in Kalambagohan in order to marry her. But the sultan refused them.

The reason why they were not accepted by the sultan was because they could not afford to pay the dowry.  Everyone of them that asked for the hand of the Princess, went home with heavy heart upon knowing the amount required by the sultan.  And that was the reason why she was called Cagayha-an because all her admirers that asked her hand were embarrassed.

Time elapsed.  One day Princess Cagayha-an went out together with a servant, to take a bath in the river.  When the men knew that she was in the river taking a bath, they also went to take a bath.  The men wanted to see her beauty.

The mouth of the men watered as they looked at the beautiful princess.  Princess Cagayha-an was really beautiful because even the river admired her.  The men loved her silently like the river and the Princess could not refuse the river's love without her knowing it.

As she was swimming, suddenly she was drowned.  The men rescued her and brought her to their home.  The people tried their best to save her life, but in vain, the princess died.

After the death of the Princess, the town of Kalambagohan was quiet.  Bagonsalibo gave a great lesson to the people.  He taught the people to strive in acquiring money, so that when the time came for anyone of them to marry, they would not be put to shame.

After a short time, the town of Kalambagohan was renamed Cagayha-an and the river where the Princess was drowned was also named Cagayha-an.

Time passed and the Spandiards reached the place.  When they landed they asked about the name of the town.  The people of the town answered Cagayha-an.  The Spaniards could not pronounce the Cagayha-an and renamed it Cagay-an.  And when the Americans colonized the Philippines, they asked about the name of the place and the people answered Cagay-an.  The Americans were like the Spaniards in that they could hardly pronounce Cagay-an so they named the town Cagayan.

Since then, the name has remained with the City of Cagayan de Oro. But in older times its name was Kalambagohan.

6.ANG SINUGDAN SA NGALAN SA CAGAYAN UG MINDANAO

Before the coming of the Spaniards to Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro was ruled by a good datu, Bagunsaribo. Because of his industry and goodness, he became very rich and well-respected by his people.

Bagunsaribo had a daughter whose beauty was known throughout Mindanao. Many young men planned to prupose their love to her, but these plans never materialized because they felt very inferior to the wealthy Datu Bagunsaribo.

The son of the Sultan of Lanao succeeded where the rest failed.  He felt himself an equal to Datu Bagunsaribo because his father was also wealthy.  He proposed his love to the beautiful princess, and soon preparations were made for their marriage.

After the marriage of their daughter and son, Datu Bagunsaribo and the Sultan of Sulu agreed to match each other's wealth.  They sponsored a feast where each one spent for his allotted day.  The Sultan of Sulu was defeated and was put to shame before his people and the people of Datu Bagunsaribo. Hence the name: "Cagayhaan sa Maguindanao", which means "The place where the people of Lanao were put to shame".

When the Spaniards arrived here, Cagayhaan was changed to Cagayan - the place of Bagunsaribo - and Maguindanaw was changed to Mindanao--the name of the whole island.

ANG SINUGDAN SA NGALAN CAGAYANUG MINDANAO

Sa wala pa moabut sa atong Kadagatan ang mga Katsila, ang Cagayan de Oro gipanguluhan sa usa ka Datu nga si Bagunsaribo.  Si Bagunsaribo dunay usa ka anak nga babaye nga sukad pa sa iyang pagkatawo gi-ubanan sa tumang kaanyag, nga kono, bitoong kabugwason lamang ang ikatanding. 

Apan dili pa kini lamang ang sugid mahitungod kang Bagunsaribo. Siya nag-angkon sa maligdong ug matarong nga pamatasan.  Datu man siya o hari sa tibuok katawhan sa Cagayan, apan wala siya'y nahimo nga abuso sa ilang ginsakopan nga maoy makapahimo kaniyang tawong dautan.

Sa ingon gipangga ug gi-mahal si Bagunsaribo sa iyang mga sakop, hantod ang ubang mga silingan niyang datu sa ubang mga balangay naka kat-on sa pagmahal kaniya tungod sa iyang talagsaong katarong.

Tungod kaha sa katarong ni Bagunsaribo, nag-anam pagdaghan ang iyang katigayonan adlaw-adlaw. Tanan nga klase sa hayop dunay dili kay pila lamang kon dili linibo kada klase sa hayop ingon pananglit sa baka, kabaw, kanding, kabayo, karnero, usa, baboy ug mga manok.  Tanan kini taglinibo. 

Tanan nga klase sa makaon, sama sa humay, mais, saging, mga prutas anaa kaniya. Sa hamubong pagkasulti, tupngan apan dili labwan ang katigayonan ni Bagunsaribo.

Miagi ang mga tuig ug wala matagdi ang pagkadalaga sa anak ni Bagunsaribo.

Dili kalikayan ang estorya nga mikaylap sa mga silingan dapit mahitungod sa kaanyag nga anak ni Bagunsaribo, hangtud nga nabantog kini sa tibuok Mindanao.  Daghan kaayo nga kabatan-onan nga lalake ang naghandum nga makahalad sa ilang gugma sa maanyag nga anak ni Bagunsaribo, apan taman lamang sa pangandoy kay nahadlok sila nga dili sila makaangay tungod sa hilabihang katigayonan sa amahan ning dalaga.

Usa ka adlaw niana, nakaabot sa dalunggan sa usa ka anak sa Sultan sa Lanao ang mahitungod sa anak ni Bagunsaribo.  Sa walay langan mipadayag siya sa iyang amahan nga siya buot makigminyo sa gi-ingong anak sa Datu sa Cagayan.  Sa iyang huna-huna siguro gayod nga maiya ang gugma sa dalaga kay siya ambungan ug may igo mang sapi ang iyang amahan tungod kay Sultan man.

Sa walay daghan nga sulti nangandam ang Sultan sa pagpakigkita kang Bagunsaribo.  Tungod lagi kay si Bagunsaribo maayo man kaayo ug kabubut-on, miingon siya dayon nga magminyoay ang iyang anak ug ang anak sa Sultan.

Usa una ka tuig ang tagal sa pag-andam sa gastuhon sa kasal.  Ang tanan sakop ni Bagunsaribo gidapit sa pagtambong sa kasal. Ang bangkitee natapos sa usa ka bulan.

Pagkatapos sa usa ka bulan nga bangkite, miingon si Bagonsaribo sa iyang balae, "kay nahuman naman ang kasal, adunay akong hangyoon kanimo.  Gusto kong tawgon mo ang tanan mong mga sakop aron maandam ang tanan nga kinahanglanon.  Gusto kong takalon ang kamatuoran kong kinsa kanatong duha ang tinuod nga bahandianon. Maglumba kita paggasto sa sulod sa usa ka buwan kong kinsa kanatong duha ang unang mahugtan sa gastohon," ang ingon ni Bagonsaribo sa iyang balae. Tuod misugot ang Sultan.  Sa unang adlaw sa pagkombite, nagpalapa si Bagunsaribo sa gatusan ka baboy ug baka. Mao usab ang gisunod sa Sultan.  Wala dangti ug duha ka semana ang gasto, nagkabus na ang mga kinahanglanon sa Sultan, apan ang kang Bagonsaribo sustinido.  Ingon sa wala pay nakuwang sa iyang katigayonan.  Ang Sultan nag-inanay na pagluya ug naghinay na pagkaguol

Sa taliwala sa dakong kaguol sa Sultan, nagpakahilum lamang siya kay dili niya buot nga mauwawan sa atubangan sa mga sakop ni Bagonsaribo. Sa wala niya dahuma may usa sa iyang sakop nga nagbalita sa atubangan sa kadaghanan: "sa imong kamahalan, akong ipahibalo kanimo nga ang tanan mong mga sakop naghuna-huna nga moalsa batok kanimo tungod kay wala na'y nabilin kanila nga makaon tungod sa imong hangyo nga ikaw tabangan sa kalisod."  Busa karon dayon gikinahanglan ang imong pagpauli  sa ato, aron kining kasamok nga umaabot masalanta." Diha-diha mora ug natunaw ang Sultan, miyukbo siya kang Bagunsaribo nga miingon, "Dili matugkad ang akong kaulaw nga nadangatan ug giila ko ang akong kaparutan, kung indigay man sa katigayonan." Sukad niadtong panahuna ang nahimong ngalan sa balangay nga gipoy-an ni Bagonsaribo, "Cagayha-an sa Mga Maguindanaw".  Sa pinolungan pang binisaya,  "Gikauwawan sa mga taga Lanao." kay nauwaw man gayud kaayo nga sa bahandi dili man diay makatumbas sa kang Bagunsaribo.  Sa dakong kasubo sa Sultan, iyang gisaad nga dili na siya magpakita pag-usab kang Bagunsaribo.

Milabay ang mga tuig ug namatay si Bagunsaribo pati usab ang Sultan nga iyang balae, pero nagpabilin ang ngalan sa Cagayan de Oro nga "Cagayhaan sa mga Maguindanaw". Sa pagdagos na sa mga katsila dinhi sa Pilipinas, mikuyanap na sila sa kadagatan sa Mindanao, hangtod nga nakalanding ang pipila kanila sa Cagayan de Oro o sa Cagayhaan sa mga Maguindanaw. Nangutana ang mga Katsila sa ngalan sa maong lugar, og nahibaloan nilang, "Cagayhaan sa mga Maguindanaw." Tungod kono kay taas ra kaayo nga ngalan para sa usa ka dyutay nga lugar, ang Cagayhaan, gihimo nga "Cagayan"ug ang Maguindanaw nahimong, "Mindanao".  Ang Cagayan mao karon ang Cagayan de Oro City ug ang Maguindanaw mao ang nahimong ngalan sa isla sa Mindanao.

ANG SINUGDAN SA NGALAN CAGAYAN UG MINDANAO

Before the Spaniards reached our shore, Cagayan de Oro was ruled by a certain datu named Bagunsaribo.  Datu Bagunsaribo had a daughter who was very beautiful.  Her beauty compared only to that of the morning star.  But this was not the only thing that Bagunsaribo famous. He was known to be a good, honest and sincere man.  In spite of his being powerful, he did not abuse his people.  So he was loved and cherished by his subjects, as well as by the datus of the neighboring sitios, who knew about his extraordinary character.

Because of his honesty, his wealth continued to increase everyday. He owned a good number of animals.  He possessed cows, carabaos, goats, horses, sheep, deer, pigs and chickens. They numbered a thousand of each kind.  He also owned different kinds of food stuff: rice, corn, banana, and other kinds of fruits.  In short, his wealth could be equaled but could not be out-done.

Years passed. his daughter grew to be a dazzling beauty. The report of the beauty of his daughter was spread throughout the neighboring barrios and the whole of Mindanao.  Many young men proposed their love, but their plans of marriage never materialized because they felt very inferior to the wealth of Datu Bagunsaribo.

The story about the beauty of his daughter reached the ears of the son of Sultan of Lanao.  Without delay, he made known to his father his desire to marry the daughter of the Datu from Cagayan.  The son of the Sultan believed that he could win the love of the princess, since he was handsome, and his father had vast wealth also.

Without losing time, the preparations were made by the Sultan to visit Datu Bagunsaribo.  Due to the goodness of Bagunsaribo, he immediately consented to the proposal that his daughter marry the son of the Sultan from Lanao.

The preparation for the marriage celebration took one year.  Bagunsaribo invited all his subjects to attend the wedding feast. The banquet lasted for a whole month.

After the banquet, Bagunsaribo said to the Sultan: "Now that the wedding feast is over, I would like to suggest something to you. I would like you to call all your subjects so that they might prepare all the necessities for a contest.  I would like to compete with you, so that in truth it be known who of us has greater wealth. Let us celebrate for another month, and see whose provisions will hold out."  The Sultan agreed to the suggestion.  On the first day of the feast, Datu Bagunsaribo slaughtered more than a hundred heads of pigs and cows.  The Sultan did the same.  After two weeks of feasting the provisions of the Sultan began to give out, those of Bagunsaribo remained steady.  It seemed as though his provisions had not been touched at all.  The Sultan slowly became unsettled and worried.

In the midst of his sorrow, he kept silent, because he did not want to be put to shame before the people of Datu Bagunsaribo.  Unexpectedly, this was reported to him before the people: "Your Highness, I wish to let you know that all your people have planned a revolt against you, because nothing has been left to them, since you requested them to help you in your need.  Therefore, you must go home to Lanao at once in order to avert this coming trouble."  Right there, the Sultan seemed to melt away.  He bowed before Datu Bagonsaribo and said: "The feeling of shame that I feel is beyond measure and I acknowledge my defeat in terms of possessions."  From that time on, the barrio of Datu Bagunsaribo was named "Cagayhaan sa mga Maguindanao". In Bisayan,it means: "Gikauwawan sa mga taga Lanao", (The place where the people of Lanao were put to shame), because the Sultan and his people were really embarrassed that their wealth was no match to the vast wealth of Datu Bagunsaribo.  In his great disappointment the Sultan promised not to see the datu again.

Many years passed.  The datu died followed by the Sultan, but the name Cagayan de Oro has remained. When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they spread all over the shores of Mindanao, untill some of them landed in Cagayan de Oro or Cagayhaan sa mga Maguindanaw. The Spaniards inquired about the name of the place.  They were told that it was Cagayhaan sa mga Maguindanaw. 

Since it was too long for a small place, they shortened Cagayhaan to Cagayan and Maguindanaw to Maguindano.  Today, Cagayan is called Cagayan de Oro City and Maguindanaw is the name given to the whole island of Mindanao.

7. AN ENVIABLE TOWN:CAGAYAN

Kagayhaan means "Kaibugan nga lungsod" i.e. "an enviable town."There were many rich people living here in the past that they bury their treasures in the ground. Near my father's well, a large stone has a deep indentation in its middle which was caused by the pounding of gold on it.

Nasapon pa gayod nako sa unang panahon nga ang mga tawo sa ilang mga nigo og palanggana aron sa pagkuha sa mga digyot nga mga bulawan nga murag mga binlod.

Ang Kagayhaan nagkahulugan nga gusto magkawot didto sa mga bulawan.  Bisan didto sa among balay, anaay dako nga bato diha sa atabay ni Tatay nga nalawon nalang ingon sa lusong kay mao may gadokdokan sa bulawan.

8. THE LEGEND OF CAGAYAN DE ORO

To the Trojans the face of a woman brought destruction because the smile of Helen launched a thousand ships and burnt the topless towers of Ilium."  But to the Cagayanos, the face of the woman with its radiant smile caused the romantic origin of the city with the beautiful name Cagayan de Oro.

The legend dates to as far as the sixteenth century when Cagayan was still a part of the territory of Bukidnon.  The Bukidnons call this place "Kalambagohan" because "Lambago" trees luxuriantly grew like the ever green pines.  Prosperity and contentment reigned over the nateives and their life was full of gaiety unhampered by the tribal wars and petty rivlries which were characteristic of the

neighboring territories.

But change did come, and it was change forthe worse because at hte turn of the sixteenth century, the neighboring tribe of the Maguindanaos of Lanao, headed by the war-like chief, raided kalambagoan.

After a fierce and brief skirmish (owing to the unpreparedness of the Bukidnons and the lightning-like speed with which the attack was staged) the Magindanaos captured the village.  The Bukidnon retreated to the hills.

The debacle that they suffered did not break up or even dented the storng spirit of the Bukidnon. Undawnted and undiscouraged, the Bukidnon gathered all their able-bodied men and trained rigorously in preparation for taking back theland which they considered their birthright.  After the necessary training and preparation were finished, the Bukidnons marched toward the sea, determined to recapture their beloved Kalambagohan.  Spearheading the march was Bagani, Chief of the Bukidnons.

Bagani established camp at the western side of the river, a day before the pre-destined day of hostility was to start.  In those days the code of war demanded that the aggressors inform the occupants of a fort or village of the impending seige before any hostility may begin.  Sleek and surprise attacks were

taboo then.  Following honored code, Bagani sent a war messenger to the chief of the Maguindanaos to inform the latter of the former's plan to attack and recapture the place.

Carrying a spear with a white cloth tied to the prong, the special envoy went to the village on the eastern side of the river bringing the news of the war.

Unfortunately or fortunately, the Moro chieftain was out of the palace on a hunting expedition.  The messenger, upon hearing the absence of the chief, started to turn back and just as he passed by the gardens of the palace, he saw the sultan's daughter.  The messenger stood stiff and flabbergasted and dumb for the beauty he had beheld was even more than what he had heard from stories about the

sultan's daughter. After a little while, the messenger returned back to the war camp of the Bukidnon bringing the news of the absence of the Moro chief.

Undeterred by the failure of his messenger's mission, Bagani prepared to go to the enemy's camp himself. But not without knowing about what the messenger saw. The latter pictured faithfully as he can to his master the beauty of the moro sultan's dughter.  Apparently, though, the Bukidnon chief revered did give any importance to what he heard from the messenger of the beauteous moro maiden.

What prevailed upon his thoughts was the plan to recapture the village whence originally came.  The special audience with the moro chief was arranged and Bagani was afforded the welcome due to a rival chief.  As was customary during the times, Bagani participated in and enjoyed, indeed, the welcome celebration that the occupiers prepared for him.  In the course of the celebration and conference in which Bagani was to inform the Moro Chiefain of the impending attack, the moro maiden - the sultan's daughter, passed by the conferring group.  Captivated by the swaying silken hair and the heart-warming smile, of the maiden, Bagani, instead of telling the brutal news of war, changed his mind suddenly and unprecedentedly.

The storng warrior character of Bagani wavered and the amorous feeling of love and adoration reigned in him. A short flirting glance and a soulful smile make the Bukidnon warrior chief fall in love with the sultan's daughter. Trusting his spear into the stairs of the sultan's palace, Bagani, thus, proposed marriage, instead of throwing his spear in front of the sultan as a sign of declaration of war. The sultan and his daughter readily accepted the proposal and the marriage was arranged.

Upon receiving the announcement of the marriage, resentment and grief prevailed over the entire Bukidnon tribe.  The Bukidnon felt so ashamed of what their chief did.  But because it was the wish of their ruler, no alternative was left for them to do except to bow down their heads with evident hesitation in obedience to their ruler.

But their was one thing they did, however, which has remained up to this day.  Instead for calling their village Kalambagohan, they renamed it "KAGAYHA-AN" (a bukidnon term for shame) in memeory of the deed of their chief which they considered a shameful one.

The place continued to be called such until the Spaniards came and conquered the place.  The conquering sons of the Hispanic nation found glittering gold in the upper beds of the river traversing the village - a reason which prompted the Spaniards to call the place - CAGAYAN DE ORO.