Cawayan, San Agustin, Romblon

Cawayan is a rural barangay in the municipality of San Agustin, island of Tablas, province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 853 people in 167 households. Its land area is 315.61 hectares.

History of Barangay Cawayan

Historical Data:

Source of Information: Romblon Historical Data, National Library

Barangay Cawayan is located in the northern-most part of San Agustin. It is the youngest barrio among the five northern barangays that comprise the Unit-1 District of the Municipality of San Agustin and the Parish of Mount Carmel based in barangay Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon. The five northern barangays are the following: Cabolutan, Carmen, Sugod, Mahabangbaybay (also called Long Beach) and this barangay, Cawayan.

In 1952, Cawayan formerly a sitio of Mahabangbaybay became a regular barrio of the municipality of San Agustin. For this reason, its history is included to its mother barangay Mahabangbaybay prior to its creation. The first Teniente del Barrio was Mr. Margarito Bastillador on acting capacity, who was also the Teniente del Barrio of Mahabangbaybay who served as acting barrio head until 1954, when Mr. Dionesio Mores became its first elected Teniente del Barrio.

During the early days, the place was thickly forested area of different varieties of bamboo. The name “Cawayan” is a kind of grass or bamboo that the early settlers found growing in abundance in this particular place. The natives used this name in order to distinguish the place from its adjoining barrio. Cawayan was a forested area of bamboos thoughtout the Spanish era and continued to be so even in the early part of the American regime until about 1928 when it became a sitio of Mahabangbaybay. Perhaps Cawayan was penetrated by progress and development after its vital road was completed in 1930 and the construction of its huge lighthouse at sitio Tangkap or Punta Gorda which was started during the term of Jose Gutierrez as Municipal President (present equivalent is Mayor). Gutierrez hails from Carmen, part of the northern district of San Agustin. As Cawayan progressed slowly but steadily, it became a barrio in 1952.

Today, Cawayan's Centro is thickly populated and considered an urban area with mostly concrete houses of galvanized roofing where most of its local residents are fishermen and farmers.

Date of Creation

The date of creation of this barrio or barangay was in 1952 when it was created into a barrio taken from Mahabangbaybay.

Legend of Cawayan

Many years ago there lived in what is now barangay Cawayan a man who was strong and handsome. He was the idol of the weaker men and most well loved among the women. It was this time when the Moro pirates were foraging the place and capturing the natives to be sold in the slave markets. The natives rose to arms a fierce battle erupted.

The total death toll on both sides was heavy. The strong young man, the pride of the barrio was able to kill ten Moros. Then all of a sudden, a spear hit and pierced his side and felt dead.

Finally, the Moros were repelled and on the spot where the young man fell grew a green plant. It grew to a height of thirty feet known as “Cawayan” or bamboo. From then on the place was called Cawayan to remember the young man who died on the spot where the Cawayan grass grew.

Churches Located in Barangay Cawayan

Source: Parish of Mount Carmel Records, Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon

Saint Roch (San Roque) Chapel - Cawayan Roman Catholic Chapel
* Feast Days – March 11th and April 3rd Saturday
* Barangay Apostolic Council Chairman - Bro. Herminigildo FalcutilaSaint Roch (San Roque) Chapel - Sitio Dayongdong Roman Catholic Chapel
* Feast Day - May 25th
* Barangay Apostolic Council Chairman - Sis. Teresita Malabrega

Higher Ground Baptist Church – Bamboo Baptist Outreach (Baha & Cawayan)
* Pastor – Ptra. Rose Motin / Bldg. Caretaker – Bro. Dominador Mores

Church of Twelve Tribes – District Church of Cawayan
* Supreme Head – Rev. Rolly Galicia

itios of Cawayan

Data from Year 2000 Census(U) - Urban places. Areas with population density of 1,000 people per square kilometer or 10 people per hectare. Source of Information, Bureau of Coast & Geodetic Survey Map.

Cawayan Elementary School

(School Year 2006-2007) Source: Department of Education, Division of Romblon

List of Teniente del Barrio / Barangay Captains from earliest to the present :

Teniente del Barrio (After the War)

# Margarito Bastillador # Dionesio Mores # Macario Marquez # Jose Mesana # Ruperto Mores # Digno Archola

* 1952 – 1954 * 1954 – 1956 * 1956 – 1960 * 1960 – 1962 * 1962 – 1964 * 1964 – 1965

Cawayan Capitan del Barrio

# Digno Archola # Alfredo Mores # Carlito Mabasa

* 1965 – 1968 * 1968 – 1972 * 1972 – 1982

Cawayan Brgy. Captain (Punong Brgy.)

# Roberto Frogosa # Joel Sixon # Roman Fampula

* 1982 – 1989 * 1989 – 2007 * 2007 - Present

Source: Bautismos, Defunctiones & Matremonios Church records, Parish of San Agustin, Romblon from the Family Heritage Library (Microfilm files), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Unknown Soldiers from Cawayan Recruits

Source of Information: Surviving World War II Guerillas lead by SSgt. Lorenzo M. Morada, Sr.
* Pvt. Dionisio Mores - Civilian Inductee assigned in “Mango” Area. He survived the war in Mindoro and migrated to the United States after the war.
* Pvt. Ruperto Mores – Civilian Inductee, assigned in “Mango” Area. Cousin of Dionisio Mores. He survived the war and returned to his family in Cawayan after the war.

Link to the Barangays

* Poblacion, San Agustin, Romblon
* Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon
* Cabolutan, San Agustin, Romblon
* Cawayan, San Agustin, Romblon
* Mahabangbaybay, San Agustin, Romblon
* Sugod, San Agustin, Romblon