Tanjay City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
The quality of this article or section may be compromised by wording which promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms or finding content which backs the claims. |
 |
| Location | |
 |
|
| Government | |
| Region | Central Visayas (Region VII) |
|---|---|
| Province | Negros Oriental |
| District | {{{districts}}} |
| Barangays | 24 |
| Income class: | 5th class |
| Mayor | Hon. Lawrence Teves y Solis |
| Cityhood | April 1, 2001 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 478.30 km² |
| Population | |
| Total (2000) | 70,169 |
| Density | 147/km² |
Tanjay City is a 5th class city in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 70,169 people in 14,156 households. It has a land area of 478.30 km². The city itself is a very diverse one. It has a wide collection of flora & fauna found in its hinterlands. It also has myriads of tourist spots that just needs development. Its culture has its own uniquess that can't be found elsewhere. The city has evolved for the better.
Contents |
[edit] Barangays
Tanjay City is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.
|
|
HOME THE ARROGANTS, SOCIAL CLIMBERS AND WANNA BE'S!!! MGA SOCIALERA KUHUNAY POBRE RA DI AY! HAHAH
[edit] History
[edit] Señor Santiago and Tanjay
The first map of the island, dated 1572 and chartered by Diego Lopez de Povedano identified it as BUGLAS, the native reference derived from the tall cane-like grass which ranged thick and persistent over the island. Here, in much earlier times, lived men whose relics and artifacts, dating back to 200-500 A.D. and the 12th century Sung Dynasty have turned up in recent excavations were said to have ventured perhaps in the area we now know as Tampi in Amlan. Here, in 1565, Esteban Rodriguez of the Legaspi expedition, caught by storm on his way back to Cebu from Bohol, sought refuge in the eastern shore of the island and came upon squat negroid inhabitants called ata, agta, or ati.
His report upon returning to Cebu prompted Fray Andres de Urdaneta to visit the island, landing in what is now Escalante in Negros Occidental. In the same year, Capitan Mateo de Cadiz led a small expedition which reached an area near Tanjay. Capitan Manuel de Loarca followed with a bigger expedition and force and proceeded to lay claim to what the Spaniard now call NEGROS. Both Diego Lopez de Povedano and Capitan Manuel de Loarca pointed to the Tanjay – Dumaguete area as the most densely-populated in the eastern half of the island. Tanjay, considered the more important settlement, was made the Administrative Capital of ORIENTAL NEGROS. It however, remained under the jurisdiction of the province of Cebu. It was the first archdeacon of Cebu, Don Ferreira, who sent Fray Gabriel Sanchez and other Augustinian priests to the new territory. Thus in June 11, 1580, the mission of Tanjay was founded. It became the center of religious supervision for Dumaguete, Marabago (Bacong), Siaton and Manalongon.
From these few parishes along the coast, the priests administered the sacraments to the people in the hinterlands and served as mission to the wandering Malays, converting them to Christianity. Evangelization began very slowly because of the great distance over hills from one hut to another.
By 1587, the Augustinians had almost abandoned all mission in Oriental Negros due to lack of manpower. Evidence, however, points to a secular priest in-charge of the Parish of Tanjay before 1602. It was in 1600 that these missions regained pastoral attention when the Jesuits were assigned in Negros. The first priest of Tanjay, Fr. Diego Ferriera, was appointed in 1589. Tanjay parish, under the patronage of St. James the greater is the oldest in the Oriental coasts.
[edit] Parish of Tanjay
Caloy: The Christian faith was brought to this part of Oriental Negros by the Augustinian Fathers. In the Definitorium dated June 11, 1580, it made mention of the foundation of the Parish of Tanjay, with the communities of Dumaguete, Siaton, Marabago (now Bacong) and Manalongon. Due to the lack of personnel on the part of the Augustinian Fathers, the spiritual care of this new foundation was entrusted to the care of the Diocesan Clergy of Cebu. This is why the reason Tanjay Parish became part of the Diocese of Cebu.
Later in the year 1851, at the request of the Bishop of Cebu, the Augustinian Recollect Fathers took over the spiritual care of the Parish and up to the time the diocesan clergy again took over. Then when the Diocese of Jaro was erected in 1865, Tanjay as part of Negros became part of the Diocese (since the whole Negros was made part of the new Diocese). And then, when the Diocese of Bacolod was erected in 1933, again, Tanjay became part of this new Diocese (since Oriental Negros and Siquijor were made part of the new Diocese). And in the year 1955, Tanjay became part of the Diocese of Dumaguete. Up to the present, it is still part of the Diocese of Dumaguete.
From the Parish of Tanjay, came later the following parishes: Dumaguete was separated in the year 1620; Amlan, in the year 1848; Siaton, in the year 1848; Bacong (Marabago), in the year 1849; San Jose (Ayuquitan), in the year 1895. And when Dumaguete became a Diocese, again two more parishes were taken from Tanjay: Pamplona, in the year 1960 and Sta. Cruz, in the year 1969.
[edit] World War 2
In 1942, Japanese Imperial forces landed in Tanjay.
In 1945, Filipino guerrillas fought the Japanese troops to liberate Tanjay.
[edit] Sinulog
The fiesta celebration of the City of Tanjay is never complete without the performance of Sinulog. Why is this so? This can be answered by a legendary folktale handed down to the present generation by our forefathers.
Tanjay, being the first Spanish settlement and parish of Negros Island had St. James the Greater popularly known as "Señor Santiago" as its patron saint under the Spanish priest Father Diego Ferriera way back in 1859. During this period, Tanjay was already frequented by Moro vintas or "pangko". The inhabitants were afraid of them as they were known to "daguit" or capture especially the women. So a Moro watchtower was built along the shores with someone to keep watch and blow the "bodjong" or shell horn whenever Moro vintas could be sighted in the horizon.
One day, several vintas were seen, and so came the sound of the bodjong. People in terror ran at once to hide. All was quite in fear waiting for the invaders until darkness covered the atmosphere. The people slowly came down and returned to their respective homes. The following day, someone from Bais came to Tanjay to notify that the Moro vintas landed in the shores of Bais for they could not approach the shores of Tanjay. It was because there were hundreds of soldiers at guard, and that a man with a shining sword riding on a white horse could be seen flying on air from one end of the shore to the other.
The incident strengthened the faith of the Tanjayanons in their patron saint. They erupted in a spontaneous dance of celebration. The dance later became part of the town's tradition. Organizers borrowed the name "Sinulog" from the worship dance made popular by the same name in Cebu. The term "Sinulog" evolved from the term "Sulog" which means water current in Cebuano. From then on, Tanjayanons regularly held a war dance depicting the fight between the sea pirates and the Christians, reminding them of the divine protection they enjoyed from their patron saint Señor Santiago. This performance is never missed every fiesta celebration. Viva Señor Santiago!
[edit] The Sinulog*
THE SINULOG is purely Tanjay tradition. it is a religious devotional festive dance with a mock battle depicting the war between the Moros and the Christians in Granada, Spain in centuries past. It is based on the legend that St. James miraculously aided the Christians by riding on white horse from the heavens and slew hundreds of Moors.
Thus, the Sinulog is a religious exercise glorifying the Christians and honoring the feast day of Sr. Santiago (St. James the Greater) who is the patron saint of Tanjay and also the patron saint of Spain.
The Sinulog was first performed in this town in 1814, under the auspices of the Catholic Church whith Fr. Fernando Felix de Zuñiega as Parish Priest. It then became the highlight of every fiesta celebration during the incumbencies of succeeding parish priest from Fr. Pedro Bracamonte (1816-1898) to Fr. Jorge Gargacilla (1885-1889). Father Jorge Adan (1889-1898) dispensed with the Sinulog in 1897 for reasons known only to him, but then his successor Fr. Baldomero Villareal revived it in 1904 until the end of his term in 1929. There was Sinulog performance for two fiestas during the term of Fr. Gregorio Santiagudo as Parish Priest in 1930-1931.
In 1932, through the initiative of group of laymen from Tabuc (now Barangay San Isidro) and Ilaud, the Sinulog was again a part of Tanjay fiesta celebration through all the years until the outbreak of the Second World War II, 1941. The war ended in 1945 but the Sinulog came to be resumed only in 1947 and continued to be an annual fiesta spectacle until 1970 when most of the long-time devotee participants were already too old to perform it, or had already gone to their eternal rest.
In the very early 70's, this Sinulog devotion was taken over by a group of elementary school children from Ilaud under the tutelage and management of Mr. Alfred Garcia, a lone survivor of the old time Sinulog team. Until the 1987 fiesta, the Sinulog had been a children's affair. Although the children's Sinulog bore the spirit of Tanjay Fiesta celebration, it was evident that they lacked the right expressive moments and authenticity of the former groups which were composed by matured men.
It is worthwhile mentioning here in passing that because of its high historical and cultural value, the Sinulog was featured in the Folk Arts Theater in Manila in 1981. In the year 1988 is the most significant for it is a milestone in Tanjay's Sinulog history. In the spirit of love and concern, of cherishing what is really ours, and of keeping and preserving a beautiful Tanjay tradition - Tanjay Mayor Arturo S. Regalado introduced a Sinulog Contest as the highlight of that year's fiesta celebration. His purpose was to revive the real Sinulog, and for the different participating groups to recapture the art and skill and the logical movements and sequence of the Sinulog in the past. It was the Mayor's aim to let the contesting groups portray the Sinulog dance and mock battle with the right grace and ability, the right logical sequence of movements, and the ability to elicit the air and spirit of festivity. Above all he wanted the contestants to re-live the authenticity of the Sinulog that Tanjay used to witness in the past which our forefathers proudly termed as the SINULOG DE TANJAY - the original Sinulog.
In addition, choreographed street dancing with a finale is again incorporated with the mock battle to make for a more artistic and colorful sinulog. There will also be a Merry Making Contest in the evening of July 23, Sinulog Finale, July 24 and and endurance contest with follow right after. As usual the contest will be participated in by the different barangays and high schools.
As it has happened in the past fiesta celebrations, the Sinulog de Tanjay again will draw the admiration and feelings of joy and thanksgiving from the visitors as well as from the TANJAYNONS themselves.
VIVA SEÑOR SANTIAGO!!!
*On research done by Andrews M. Calumpang at the Tanjay Catholic Archives.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||
