Salay, Misamis Oriental

Salay
Municipality
Municipality of Salay
Map of Misamis Oriental with Salay highlighted
Salay Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 08°52′N 124°48′E / 8.867°N 124.800°E / 8.867; 124.800Coordinates: 08°52′N 124°48′E / 8.867°N 124.800°E / 8.867; 124.800
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Province	Misamis Oriental
District	1st district of Misamis Oriental
Founded	June 19, 1960
Barangays	18
Government[1]
• Mayor	Romeo L. Gue Sr.
Area[2]
• Total	92.79 km2 (35.83 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	27,591
• Density	300/km2 (770/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	9007
Dialing code	88
Income class	4th
Website	www.lgrc10.org/salay/

Salay is a fourth class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 27,591 people.^[3] Formerly, Salay was part of the Municipality of Balingasag.

Poblacion is the center of Salay and had been governed by the Capistrano politicians until the 2007 elections. Lanzones is one of the major source of income among Salayanos aside from commerce at Poblacion and fishing to other people. May 1 is the official feast day of Salay although March feast is also celebrated and is the original.

Salay Central School provides primary education to the graders in this town while the nearby Salay National High School provides the secondary education, the latter has been nationally recognized for quality education among public schools.

History

It was on the middle part of the year 1919 were the civic organization of the barrio Salay initiated a petition to became a separate municipality. The petition was forward to Mr. Artadi the Congressman- elect at that time that personally brought it to the American governor-general for approval. Said petitioned was promptly approved thus, Salay became one of the first Municipalities of the Province of Misamis Oriental.

It was inaugurated on January 1, 1920. The first Municipal President of the Municipality was the late Quirico Soldevilla.

The origin of Salay is believed to have begun long before the Spanish Colonizers even set foot on the island of Mindanao. The Higa-onons, highlander’s tribes from the neighboring province of Bukidnon, had their small communities established along the banks of Casulog River before the “tall white men” came.

The early settlers of Higa-onons were progressive and engaged themselves in trade and commerce. In time, the land of Salay became productive as the early settlers learned to raise food crops and domesticate animals.

The increase in productivity and the consequent development gradually attracted migrants from all over the country. The bulk of these migrants were Visayas. With the eruption of Mt. Hibok-Hibok, migrants from Camiguin Island also came. The influx of migrants not only increased the population in the early settlement but also added vigor to its economic life. Thus, as soon as the Spaniards came to Mindanao, the Salay settlement was among the first complete when the last among the Higa-onon Cheiftains, Datu Tagata was baptized into Christianity by Rev. Father Parache, a Spanish Missionary. Datu Tagata carried the Christian name Captain Rufino Gonzales.

The current Poblacion of Salay was developed a little later by the Spanish Administrator as attention then was focused on fortifying the Binuangan Area (then called Daang Lungsod) from sea-borne moro raids. As soon as danger from pirate attacks simmered, the Spaniards saw the potentials of the current Salay Poblacion as strategic seat for a new Municipal Government that they contemplating of establishing at Binuangan. It was Captain Jacinto Zagado who donated a parcel of his irrigated land for use as public plaza, site of the Municipal tribulan and other government buildings. Subsequently, Spanish administrators worked towards establishing a permanent community. At that time, the Spaniards did initial municipal planning.

The Legend of Salay

Salay is a town of Misamis Oriental. Many legends are told about Salay. But one of the best love legends tells how Salay get its name. Salilang beamed happily. She had been practicing everyday with the bow and arrow and was now very good at it. Salilang wanted until every man has hit try. They were good marksmen but so far nobody had try hitting the bull’s eye. Then she asked permission to try; some men cheered, others were openly amused and still others were angry, expectantly. When Salilang round her bow and arrow many man got ready to break into loud guffaws. They are surprised when Salilang hit the bull’s eye. The deafening applause embarrassed her opponents further. And they slowly leave the place. The datu himself put the necklace on Salilang’s neck. She was so happy she could hardly speak. From that time on she never took off the necklace.

Salilang was a truly a child of nature. She loved to race with the deer, to tease the wild boar, or frolic with the fishes in the river. One day while she was swimming, she suddenly discovered the necklace was missing. Alarmed, she dive and dive to look for it. When some men and women passed by, she requested them to help her. The men dive it with her and the women tried to help by looking around the bank.

They did not notice a group of white men approaching. The strangers asked the busy woman about name of the place. The woman did not understand. They thought that the strangers were asking what they are doing, so they answered they were looking for the necklace “Silay”. The strangers thought they were answered correctly, so they repeated “Salay” because they could not say “Silay”. They listed the name of the place as “SALAY”.They were a group of Spaniards send by the governor to list the names of the different place of Mindanao.

Barangays

Salay is politically subdivided into 18 barangays.^[2]

Demographics

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

		Binuangan / Sugbongcogon	Balingoan
	Bohol Sea
	Salay
		Lagonglong	Claveria

Province of Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro (capital) Municipalities Alubijid Balingasag Balingoan Binuangan Claveria Gitagum Initao Jasaan Kinoguitan Lagonglong Laguindingan Libertad Lugait Magsaysay Manticao Medina Naawan Opol Salay Sugbongcogon Tagoloan Talisayan Villanueva Component cities El Salvador Gingoog Highly urbanized city Cagayan de Oro (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Misamis Oriental by the National Statistics Office)