By Jose Navallo Enano, published in “The Surigao Times” Sept 1954
Updated from Gigaquit Town Fiesta 2006 Souvenier Program by Jose L. Bonite, Jr.
In the early years of human civilization, Gigaquit was largely a swampland forests straddling several miles from the eastern part of claver down to the western coastal areas of Placer.
The rivers and streams crisscrossing these vast areas were teeming with fauna and abundant marine life, according to oral history.
These nature’s bounties have lured the early settlers to stay for good. The early known settlements were those of Panhutungan, Boyugnon, Tapahan, Panamaw, and Kasibuan which were all under the territorial jurisdiction of Gigaquit.
The early nomadic settlers were Negritoes a Spanish term for “Little Negro” who were inhabitants of Southeast Asia and Oceania. They were short below five feet, dark brown to black hair that was curly to frizzy, skin color ranging from yellowish brown to black, and scant body hair. Their traditional way of life was based on hunting and food gathering ( Grolier, 1999 ).
The anthropologists Hontendorf, Gervan, and Beyer called them Jojoan Mamanwas, literally means bush people, who arrived at Mindanao through the backdoor of Sulu Archipelago by land bridges between 800 B.C. to 800 A.D.
The third group of settlers, the Indonesians, Papoans, and Malays had driven the Mamanwas inland towards Nuevo Campo mountain ranges.
As permanent settlements have flourished, a bustling economic activity known as barter trade have been established between the natives and foreign traders who came from as far as China and India.
In 1620, a pioneering Recollect priest, Fr. Juan de San Antonio based at Numancia parish propagated the Christian faith among the natives.
As more natives were Christianized, the Muslims escalated their attacks to settlements. The Spaniards who never subdued Muslim settlements in Mindanao called the invaders as “Moros” which means sea marauders.
A converted Christian named Cero established the first settlement at Boyugnon along the seashore open to Muslim attacks. The raiders would capture the natives who would be sold to traders as slaves and/or employed them as house helpers.
To elude invaders, Cero and his men has transferred their settlement in the hinterland of Nuevo Campo. Soon after Muslim raids has subsided, Cero made the dramatic return riding on a raft called GAKIT and landed on a seashore known as Gigad ( hi’gad ). It was later called GIGAQUIT a name derived from that significant event.
In 1849, Rev. Fr. Gregorio Logronio was installed the pioneer parish priest when Gigaquit became independent parish. A year later, the parishioners celebrated their annual fiesta imploring the intercession of patron saint, St. Augustine who died on August 28. He was acknowledged patron saint by parishioners on account that he was a Muslim turned staunch Catholic faith defender.
In 1840, Don Buenaventura Napil became the first town executive known as gobernadorcillo in the Spanish regime. The town’s head was given the title of respect or address as Don.
In 1860 during the term of Don Julian Parnada, wavy Boholanos looking for greener pasture reding on large bancas settled in the Poblacion, Canlagsik, Hinangbudjan, Parang, and Mahanub. The Boholanos being religious originated the Minoros and Djinawa to honor the patron saint during fiesta.
It was widely the lyrical dramas staged along and after the procession of the wooden image of St. Augustine around town would dispel bad weather during the celebration of the annual festivity.
Lack of cultural awareness, however have dragged what would have been the town’s great cultural heritage into the murky depth of oblivion.
Nicolas Enano was elected the first Captain under the American regime established in 1904 as Don Felix Legaspi held on the last vestige of the Spanish colonial regime in 1903.
Recaredo Gonzalez was elected in 1915 when the title of Captain was changed to President. The commonwealth government had Gregorio Canda, popularly known as Kapitan Oyong as the first elected mayor.
When World War II broke, Mayor Leopoldo E. Eliot surrendered to the Japanese to prevent bloodshed even as Protolico Egay became the guerilla governor with headquarter at sitio Tomorok in Nuevo Campo.
In 1956 during Mayor Juan Gijal second term, claver became independent town as the offshoot of his campaign promise. In 1964, Francisco L. Gonzalez won the mayorship and facilitated the establishment of the Gigaquit National School of Home Industries.
In 1972, Atty. Carlos M. Egay served an extended term when President Marcos declared Martial Law on September 21 that same year. During his term, Gigaquit was energized through the rural electrification program of the Marcos regime. After the EDSA bloodless revolution in February 25, 1986, Dr. Rafael B. Eliot was installed the officer incharge in the office of the municipal mayor. His OIC status was confirmed by electoral mandate in 1988.
During Eliot’s term, the remnants players of MINOROS AND DJINAWA tried to revive the play but lack of morel and financial support caused their natural deaths.
In 1992, Mayor Domingo Perral wrestled the mayoralty belt after he was defeated in his first attempt and proceeded to become the second long-reigning mayor completing his three consecutive term. He stepped down and put up a political revenge after his son was defeated in what perceived as a clan showdown in 2001 election.
Mayor Elvira A. Egay easily won the contest only to be humbled by Mayor Mayor Perral in a return mayoralty bout in 2004 election.The MINOROS and DJINAWA were revived during her term along with a SINULOG-inspired street dancing called Serong Serong.
When Perral took over in 2004 it was taken away as a center of activity. It came to limelight with renewed vigor, vivacity, and pomposity of world-renowned SINULOG Festival.
The new administration of comebacking Mayor Carlos M. Egay, Sr. will continue the revival efforts especially the MINOROS, DJINAWA and the Sinulog-inspired street dancing Serong Serong.
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