HISTORY OF LAWAAN E. SAMAR

AND

THE LEGENDS ABOUT AGTAK

By

Crispin Gañas Gavan

(1917 – 1994)

Retyped unedited by direct grandson Ramon Leo L. Gavan, DBA, CTP

D E D I C A T I O N

To my grandchildren, grandchildren’s children and youths of Lawa-an whose

curiosity and want of information from this profile may warrant referring to this work, the

same is lovingly dedicated.

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T

The idea of writing this profile was first suggested by Mayor Pio C. Diasanta, now

deceased, and afterwards seconded by the members of the Municipal Council

(Sangguniang Bayan) to be included as “annex” to the Town Fiesta ’85 Program but

which did never materialize by reason of some unavoidable circumstances. To them, I

sincerely acknowledge their inspiration and encouragement.

Many of the details of this profile were made possible through the contributions of

some respectable old folks presently residing in Lawa-an, such as Mr. & Mrs. Rosendo

D. Gavan concerning the plight of the first settlers; Mr. Hilario Tiozon about the family

name of Etifania; Mrs. Martina G. Tigley who disclosed the deception of the banana-

trunk warriors and the subsequent construction of the stone-tower; Mrs. Eufrosina G.

Gadicho for her reference to the sequence of Tenientes del Barrio within the Gabornes

clan; Igmedio Gacho relating the participation of Lawa-an in the Balangiga Massacre;

and Mrs. Clotilde G. Bumby filling some additional details in the manuscript. To them, I

likewise extend my gratitude and acknowledgment.

C. G. Gavan 1985

HISTORY OF LAWA–AN

Profile Venture of CRISPIN G. GAVAN (1917-1994)

This is a brief profile of Lawa-an, the latest municipality out of the twenty-three

towns comprising the province of Eastern Samar. It is bordering Western Samar on its

south-western tip.

CURRENT HAPPENINGS: (1985)

As of this writing, Lawa-an has already undergone two stages of attack by the

New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists, the first of which was in the morning of November

16, 1984 when a strong bond of more than 200 heavily armed men suddenly entered

the town proper, violently confiscating the firearms of the unsuspecting members of the

PC/INP detachment, terrorizing the innocent civilians and robbing them of valuables.

Being the first of its kind that ever happened in this municipality since time immemorial,

our policemen were rather caught off-guard and taken aback except the Sub-station

Commander, Cpl. Francisco Gavan, Jr., who managed to return the NPA fire, but

withdrew after a minute or two of battle-testing. This action killed one NPA, modified

later by the sporadic fire of two CMDF members, inflicting one more casualty upon the

said outlaws.

Again, four months later, at about 7:00 o’clock, AM, March 10, 1985, another

attack of a more drastic and crucial magnitude was attempted by the same insurgents.

This writer had the rare chance of witnessing exactly what actually transpired as he was

virtually trapped in the house of one Macario Guino directly opposite the Rural Health

Center where the insurgents deployed and started the attack.

Fortunately, the handful of our defending force (6 or 7 were in the vicinity of the

municipal building at the time) were sufficiently warned of their coming and were

instantly in their foxholes and improvised embankments when the outlaws arrived and

immediately tried to penetrate the hedge-obstructed area behind the above-mentioned

house where this writer was in hiding.

As the firing grew in volume and intensity, it became clear that our defenders,

apparently summoning enough courage, were not going to withdraw but were

determined to hold their ground. Nobody budged an inch, despite of the overwhelming

odds of being greatly outnumbered. For two long hours some thousands of bullets were

exchanged. At last the NPAs pulled out, somberly bringing with them their own

casualties (4 dead and 2 wounded). Of the defenders, there was not even a scratch.

In their hasty retreat, an NPA member was overheard inquiring from a

companion what happened in the main area of battle, saying: “Na onan-o kamo?” (How

did you fare?) at which the other answered: “Waray pakadali.” (Not successful.) Then

the former said: “Balika ta.” (Let’s go back.) But the latter angrily retorted: “Deri ako, Hi

kamo nala. Matig-a.” (Not me. You go yourselves. It’s hard.)

A hand-grenade, one round of M79 ammunition, a fully loaded Armalite

magazine, a water canteen, a pair of jungle boots and a hunting knife were left behind

by the outlaws and recovered by the police.

Friends and even relatives are now mistrusting each other, suspecting one or the

other as an NPA sympathizer or supporter of active members. There is now widespread

agitation as many residents have gone to other places to escape reprisal or harassment

from either side. Under close analysis, one might come to the conclusion that the cause

or causes behind this deplorable situation is due to some disgruntled individuals

bewitched by dirty politics all over again. And unless otherwise stipulated by divine

intervention, such misguidance of irresponsible elements in our midst may flare up into

an awful tragedy. The future of this town whose memorable past has been full of glory

and ablaze with romance, is in serious jeopardy. One thing certain: Lawa-an shall never

be the same again.

What is bewailing and hard to understand by the people is the fact that many of

the participants in these sneak operations were identified as native residents of Lawa-

an themselves, composed of malcontents, low-minded peasantry and social outcasts,

acting as guides to expose the identities of NPA’s black-listed persons in the

government service. Their motives cannot be explained or understood by their

concerned relatives in the poblacion. Apparently, it is their unbelief in the supposedly

democratic processes of the government or its operation of social justice that spurred

these skeptics afar from the law.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: How Lawa-an Got Its Name

It was probably in the latter half of the 14th or early part of the 15th century, or

thereabouts, long before the colonizing Spaniards started spreading the cause of

Christianity and converted the Filipinos into the folds of the Roman Catholic faith, that

an enterprising young couple by the names of JUAN (Guingot) GABRILLO and his wife

ETIFANIA HALBAY, together with their children, set sail one day in a small sailboat

from Guiuan, in search of a greener pasture of an ideal place to settle. On their

westward journey along the wooded coastline of Southern Samar, they reached a small

island known as “Monbon” which was bordering the mouth of what is now the Lawa-an

river. It was just in time to see that a severe storm was brewing from the western

horizon.

Being apprehensive of their safety should they remain in the said island, they

decided to move inland, hastening towards the coastal jungle in their immediate front, to

seek shelter behind the trunk of a towering tree which was clearly visible from the sea. It

was behind that great tree that the frantic family was divinely protected from the roaring

fury of the storm and a dire calamity was happily averted.

When the typhoon subsided the next day the couple noticed that another tree of

the same height and stature was also growing on the opposite bank of the river, twin

sister to that of the other side – both so majestic and impressive in appearance, such

that the branches up above completely overshadowed the river in-between.

After a hasty and meager breakfast of hot porridge, the small family looked

askance of their surroundings and was deeply impressed by their new environment. The

jungle growth even along the seashore bespoke fertility of the soil; the abundance of

rattan and “hagnaya” vines was easy source of income and the shallow sea beside

them was teeming with marine life of all kinds. All these offered suggestions that the

place was ideal haven for habitation. So they abandoned their journey westward,

instead, started building a makeshift hut at the foot of the same Lawa-an tree where

they took refuge, at the same time, collecting whatever few belongings they could

salvage from the wreckage of their boat.

The days and weeks that followed were a series of trips inland by Juan Guingot –

to cut rattan and hagnaya vines hereabouts or, perchance, he might find some edible

fruits or root-crops nearby. Still further, he found unmistakable signs that the area was

infested with wild life. The presence of these predators posed quite a problem to his

intended plan of growing a vegetable farm; nevertheless, Guingot presently started his

clearing (caingin) and the making of traps to capture some wild hogs or monkeys for

food.

As was predictable in situations like this, Guingot reconstructed his sailboat,

loaded it with rattan and hagnaya vines and sailed back to Guiuan where he sold his

cargoes, telling the people and his friends along the way how he, with his family, was

overtaken by a dreadful storm and escaped disaster behind the trunk of a giant Lawa-an

tree. He emphasized to them the bright prospect of settling in the area partly as a token

of gratitude and reverence to that haven of refuge – the enormous trunks of the twin

Lawa-an trees; but most importantly, that the surrounding area was abundant and ideal

for habitation.

“Mamatay lak O-toy”, Juan Guingot would excitedly employ the slang and flavor

of the Guiuan vernacular, “mamatay lak, dedi okoy ha Lawa-an (naming the place

Lawa-an for the first time), ayaw pag-alang. Di ka mawawara hit doro-ongan kay kita

gud iton hita-as nga kahoy ha dagat.” (Boy, when I die, stay here in Lawa-an, don’t

hesitate. You will never get lost of the loading dock because the tall trees can be seen

from the sea.) Indeed, there was no other point of reference more appealing to the

settlers this outstanding landmark conspicuous from the sea.

That was how the present town of Lawa-an at first received its name. Ironically,

five wide centuries have come and gone; people have lived and died along with

generations in accordance with the short span of human life, but the name “LAWA-AN”,

a former barrio of Balangiga, province of Eastern Samar, has remained, to this day,

unchanged.

EARLY SETTLERS

Months and years crowded past. Many people by then were new Catholic

believers – converts from paganism and idol worship. In their enthusiasm for

Christianity, they gathered together in small groups to discuss or talk about their new

faith and/or about their way of life. As news traveled fast enough by word of mouth in

those days, people were sufficiently informed in due time about the new settlement;

thus, was started an influx of excited travelers, all attuned to the prospect of adventure

and the romance of migration in Lawa-an as though a gold deposit was found.

Sometimes people would come in numbers, sometimes singly from nearby

places, then from farther east and distant west like Leyte and the Bicol region. It is said

that Boholano peddlers bearing the GACHO family names chose to remain in Lawa-an

with the idea of getting happily married to some modest country beauty in the area.

Many came only with scanty clothing on their backs with nothing more than the will to

work and cast their lot in cooperation with the other settlers.

There is the story, as an example, of a young revolutionary from somewhere in

Luzon named Julian Flores. He was a deserter and a desperado wanted by the Guardia

Civil in Manila. At first, he went to hide in Dulag, Leyte, thinking that his whereabouts

can no longer be traced by the Spanish authorities. But one night, Julian Flores was

tipped by his friends that some persons were hunting for him. Immediately, that very

night, he slipped out of town, stole a banca and paddled across the sea towards Samar,

and upon reaching Capines point, left the stolen banca and trekked eastward along the

seashore until he finally arrived at the tiny Rawis peninsula where Juan Guingot and his

bond of settlers were encamped.

Whereupon, Julian Flores humbly introduced himself before the breathless crowd

and frankly told them everything concerning his plight as a fugitive including his desire

to join and stay with them should they accept him into their fold.

Guingot was all but very willing to admit him as one of their members on

condition, however, that he (Julian) should be willing to change his family name, that is,

to forget “Flores” and become Julian Gadicho, instead, so that in the event of a further

hunt of his person in the settlement, he could not be pointed out as Julian Flores, the

escaped renegade, but Julian Gadicho, a peaceful and harmless innocent man. Julian,

without second thought, readily agreed. What better fate or fortune, he thought, could

he ask of God and man!

Thereafter, Julian Gadicho was Juan Guingot’s favorite and regarded him as one

of the most active settlers in the camp. And, in his constant and close association with

his new acquaintances, he fell in love with Guingot’s charming daughter, Marciana,

eagerly married her, to be blessed later on, with the birth of a son christened Carlos

Gadicho, destined to become the first Teniente del Barrio of Lawa-an.

TROUBLES AND PETTY PROBLEMS

Obviously, the first settlers were beset by persistent rumors about strange, naked

cannibals called the “ONGLO”, and were in existence and roaming the jungle

wilderness of Samar. These were hairy human beings, of enormous height and size,

whose elbows and knees were said to be as hard as stones. They were jungle

wanderers without permanent dwellings but would just lie down on their bellies behind

tree-trunks to sleep wherever they were benighted. They thrived on raw meat they could

capture and wild fruits in the forest. Being shy and timid creatures, the Onglo moved

inland with occasional visits to the seacoast as predators and rapacious burglars. They

stayed away from the coastal settlers whose hunting dogs they greatly feared and

avoided. It is said that their body-odor was similar to that of the wild hogs and whenever

the dogs sensed their presence by way of their smell the Onglo would be chased or

pursued without let-up throughout the jungle. Because of their animal-like mentality and

backward way of life, they have ended up in utter extinction.

Another disturbing factor that bothered the later peaceful life of the settlers was

the serious threat posed by the occasional appearance of Moro Vintas (Pangko). The

Moros, at the time, mistook the sea separating Samar and Leyte to be a great river

basin suited for their marauding expeditions, on the pretext of selling or bartering their

wares (tan-bark and fancy jewelries), but in reality, they meant to plunder the coastal

villages, kidnapped able-bodied men and women to be sold or bartered among the

cannibals (Tidong) in the island of New Guinea or North Borneo.

As a precautionary measure, it was Etifania, wife of Juan Guingot, who initiated

the construction of a stone-tower off Rawis, seat of the settlement, to protect the people

from the plundering Moros. With the assistance of the early Spaniards, the work was led

and supervised by Julian Gadicho, later taken up and completed by Carlos, Julian’s

son. When the construction was completed, it was the simple policy in the settlement to

sound the alarm the moment More Vintas were sighted off the coast, thereby all women

and children would gather inside the tower while the men being armed with bow and

arrow, bolos and spears, would remain on top and around the tower ready to defend

their families happen what may. As a result, never was there any effective attempt of

attack by the Moros until the passage of time rendered the tower in ruin.

However, long before the tower was in existence, an attempt at landing was

ventured by four or five Vintas (Pangko) which, one early morning’s sunrise, dropped

anchor and hastily sailed away upon seeing the shoreline of Lawa-an occupied by

scores, if not hundreds of warriors in staggard formation seemingly ready and poised for

battle. In reality, these would-be warriors were merely banana trunks left standing on

the sand, dressed like warriors, holding bolos, spears or bow and arrow. This simple

decoy was a deception to make the Moros believe that the place was heavily defended.

As usual, the scheme was attributed to Etifania’s ingenuity – that genius of a woman in

ancient military strategy, the centerpiece and rallying figure of the booming settlement.

This skillful feminine endowment was to be inherited by her grandson, Carlos, in his

coming manhood.

EARLY TIMES

Naturally enough, marriages and intermarriages became common within the

settlement, perhaps even among distant relatives, as can be gleamed from most

bonafide natives in Lawa-an this day whose family names begin with the letter “G”.

Perhaps it was due to inadvertent errors or corruption in the assignment or distribution

of family-names or simply coincidental on the part of the Spanish friars performing the

baptism of newly born babies at the time, the real truth is quite difficult to account.

Indeed, it is uniquely a wonder nowadays that many present-day residents are a

conglomeration of family names beginning with “G”, such Gadicho, Gabornes, Gavan,

Gayda, Gamalo, Gabrillo, Gacita, Gacillos, Guino, Gapul, Gacho, Gade, Gacus,

Garrego, Gagaboan, etc., all were the first inhabitants of Lawa-an who conspired,

bonded together in a wholesome spirit of harmony and friendship to form the nucleus of

a flourishing community.

It is of common knowledge that nature always has its own way with things and

people, as was true in early Lawa-an days. Perhaps this community might have been

different today were it not blessed with the existence of a man named Cenesio Gavan,

alias “AGTAK” who rose to local prominence by healing and alleviating the sufferings of

persons possessed by evil spirits or under the spell of unnatural enchantments.

Incredibly enough, his exploits, far and wide, as a famous “TAMBALAN” are legendary

to this day (please see the Legends about Agtak). His ability and power over the evil

characters of the underworld night have been related with mild exaggerations from time

to time yet, one thing is certain: the name “AGTAK” is still widely remembered with mute

reverence and abiding admiration by the conservative generation at present.

It is said that Agtak wore no clothing except for a rugged loin wrapped around his

waist. His old and faded camisita was always hanging across his shoulder wherever he

went. His small hut (lagkaw) was located at the foot of a Narra tree he himself planted in

Rawis which can still be found growing today. This was the spot where he was to be

sought and contacted by the anxious relatives of sick persons. The people knew then as

a premonition that a sick person was going to die or live because, if going to die, Agtak

was nowhere to be found. But if Agtak was around or found inside his hut he would

readily agree to visit the patient who was surely going to survive or be healed.

FIRST LEADERS

At the close of the Spanish era or early American rule, Lawa-an became a barrio

under the municipality of Balangiga. At this juncture, the people were awakening to the

tenets of democracy by taking interest in the makings of the government. Barrio officials

were first appointed then elected to take part in the government administration.

The first Teniente del Barrio, as was stated before, was Carlos Gadicho,

grandson of Juan Guingot Gabrillo and Etifania Halbay. Having inherited the whole land

comprising the present town proper of Lawa-an, Carlos, upon assuming the position of

Teniente del Barrio, voluntarily distributed or divided this area among his constituents

without benefit of payments. It was this benevolent measure of Carlos that initially

promoted the spirit of clannishness among his people as if they were a bunch of one

single family around this grand old man of the village at the time.

Carlos Gadicho, on his old age, was superseded by Pablo Gabornes, the next

recognized leader of the people.

At this juncture of Lawa-an’s early political advent, the adult population became

involved in a plan to suppress the abuses of the American soldiers garrisoned at

Balangiga by staging a surprise attack against them. It was led by Balangiga’s strong

man, Valeriano Abanador, the town’s remarkable leader. It was known as the infamous

“Balangiga Massacre”.

The 100-man contingent from Lawa-an was headed by Paulo Gacho as its

Lieutenant. This memorable event took place in 1901 and the outcome was a complete

success in the sense that by Abanador’s cunning and ingenuity of planning, the Filipinos

fought only with bolos and daggers against a heavily armed and well-trained foreign

soldiers, wiping them out except one American sergeant named Bumpos who managed

to escape unscathed to Leyte to tell the tale.

Now Lieutenant Paulo Gacho’s short but splendid career as one of the leaders in

that massacre earned for him a happy return to Lawa-an with his election as the next

Teniente del Barrio vice Pablo Gabornes.

Paulo Gacho was succeeded by Evangelista Gabornes whose wife was

Marcelina Gavan. He was subsequently followed by one Hilario Trajano, another

revolutionary renegade from Bicol. After Trajano, Leoncio Gabornes, younger brother of

Evangelista, came next. He was afterwards succeeded by his brother, Regino

Gabornes, who was finally relieved by Alejandro Gabornes. They were all sons of Pablo

Gabornes.

After the Gabornes period of leadership came Vicente Gacillos, otherwise known

as the carpenter who used to make some public improvements by working alone. Then

he was succeeded by his own brother, Silvestre Gacillos, who died in office. His position

was then taken over by Mateo B. Inciso, an outstanding merchant in the locality and

later on, to be elected Municipal Mayor after Lawa-an was created a new municipality.

As Teniente del Barrio, he was succeeded by Guillermo Abuda, a belated settler from

Guiuan and a former police officer.

After World War II, the next Teniente del Barrio was Francisco Ballon from San

Joaquin, Leyte who married a descendant of the Gabornes family in Lawa-an. Then

Nicolas Inciso came next and was later elected Municipal Councilor of Balangiga

representing Lawa-an. Nicolas Inciso’s term was succeeded by Anacleto Boñol whose

mother was of the Gadicho clan. After Boñol’s term expired, Manuel Gayda was elected

next.

This writer, after years of military service and teaching positions in the public

schools, upon suggestions by prominent individuals in the barrio, finally agreed to run

for the office of Teniente del Barrio which position was won and acquired by relatively

unanimous vote. It was shortly before Lawa-an was separated a new municipality from

Balangiga.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL GROWTH

The progress of Lawa-an was sadly interrupted by the advent of World War II

wherewith all civic and economic activities were held at a standstill. Chaos became

nationwide in scope as this writer and all other reservists were ushered and inducted

into the service of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), only to be

routed afterwards by the Japanese in utter defeat in every battlefront. The enemy

occupation that followed was known to all as a three-year period of anguish, misery and

humiliation. People went to the hills to escape the Japanese onslaught. Guerilla

defenders continued to fight while Gen. MacArthur, then in Australia, was frantically

making good his promise “I shall return” to liberate the Filipinos. It was our country’s

only hope, and so in October 20, 1944 our American liberators finally came and the

Filipinos breathed once more the air of decency and freedom and the barrio of Lawa-an

resumed once more its program of post-war activities.

As was stated before, this writer was the humble barrio executive at this time,

while the late Rosendo Gadicho, a Lawa-an native, was the Mayor of Balangiga under

which Lawa-an was a barrio, when our people jointly agitated or clamored for a political

change. Evidently, our people thought and believed that we were sufficiently qualified to

become a town. Accordingly, ex-Mayor Gadicho and this writer took this matter to the

attention of Hon. Felipe J. Abrigo, Congressman, 3rd District of Samar who

subsequently filed or sponsored a bill to this effect. The same bill, making Lawa-an a

separate municipality, was approved by Congress in 1958.

The first mayorship was offered to ex-Teniente del Barrio, Mateo B. Inciso. But

incidentally, he politely declined and refused the offer. So the office was given to

Rosendo Gadicho, being the most logical person and whose term of office as Mayor

was already terminated at Balangiga. Ironically, Rosendo Gadicho was the great

grandson of Carlos Gadicho, first Teniente del Barrio of Lawa-an.

On August 13, 1959, the municipality of Lawa-an was duly inaugurated, inducting

Silvano D. Balasbas of Barrio Maslog as Municipal Vice Mayor, together with six

Municipal Councilors. The members of the Police Force were carefully picked from

among the veteran soldiers of World War II. This writer, being an ex-Army Officer, was

appointed first Chief of Police with a monthly salary of P45.00 together with eight

policemen at the rate of P25.00 each.

Clearly enough, this position was a matter of personal challenge and sacrifice on

our part, but being inspired by our sense of loyalty and the inward desire to serve and

uphold the law and order in our town, we ventured to take the job in the hope that Lawa-

an might be maintained as such and have a better future.

LOCAL POLITICS

Appointed Mayor Gadicho launched his candidacy for the same in the next local

election, being challenged by his compadre, Semeniano S. Trajano, son of an ex-

Teniente del Barrio. Gadicho won by a very close margin. But Trajano filed a formal

protest and, after almost three-fourths of the terms had expired, he was proclaimed the

winner. Trajano became the second mayor of Lawa-an.

As the next local elections approached, Mayor Trajano was, with hesitation,

challenged by Mateo B. Inciso who, as was to be remembered, the very man who

refused the free offer of the office at the start. But now he won as the third mayor a

resounding victory. He refused a try for a second term, so the party candidacy was

taken up by Filemon Gañas versus Pascual Grefiel – both neophytes in politics and

descendants of one family clan. Gañas was duly elected fourth mayor of Lawa-an.

The following local elections was a four-cornered fight among re-electionist

Gañas, challengers Cornelio Dacuno of Bo. Bolusao, Jose Eder of Bo. Taguite, and ex-

PC Sgt. Ignacio Badilla. Badilla won by a comfortable margin, but with Pio C. Diasanta

as Vice Mayor, a vice mayor candidate of the Dacuno line-up.

Fifth Mayor Badilla’s incumbency was, so far, the longest stay in office (a period

of almost eight years) being interrupted and intervened by the proclamation of Martial

Law of President Marcos in 1972, but which administration could have been extended a

little longer were it not for the fact that Badilla’s performance in office was found wanting

of accomplishments by the authorities. For that matter, he was considered undesirable

and ordered relieved. Vice Mayor Pio Diasanta assumed office as the sixth mayor of

Lawa-an.

Pio C. Diasanta, by the way, was a dashing, astute young man, enterprising in

his own ways and was rather a prosperous settler from Balangiga. He married a young

teacher – the former Miss Fe Inciso, scion of the mixed Gabornes-Gavan-Inciso

families. The couple then settled in Lawa-an, ventured a business enterprise and

afterwards entered politics. As Mayor, Diasanta was challenged by Marina Inciso Gavan

and ex-Mayor Ignacio Badilla again, the fight was virtually between Pio and Marina only,

involving practically several, if not most of the family clans in early Lawa-an days –

families bearing letter “G” names. Finally, Diasanta won by a good margin.

MARKED IMPROVEMENTS

Lawa-an by then, was under the dogma, like all other towns, of the New Society

of President Marcos yet, has miraculously survived the ordeal of political intrigues,

setbacks, and the worsening economy of the nation all along since that fateful day of

August 13, 1959. Perhaps due to downright ineptitude of our past leaders, our progress

has been rather stagnant and relatively slow; whereas at present, the Diasanta

administration by way of infrastructure projects, such lasting souvenirs never before

attempted, much less started by any previous administration are now on display before

our very eyes. Nowadays people, even among the subversive elements and anti-

administration, if any, cannot deny some structural achievements here and there, as

they go around the municipal jurisdiction.

As early as 1962, this writer, seconded by then Vice Mayor Silvano D. Balasbas,

initiated a resolution, petitioning the Diocese of Calbayog to grant and register the

Parish of Sto. Niño and install a Parish Priest in Lawa-an. The said Diocese accordingly

responded by sending Rev. Fr. Dionisio Chinel as the first Parish Priest. Shortly

thereafter, Father Chinel, at this writer’s suggestion, applied for a permit to open a High

School in the poblacion. This High School is now known as the Divine Child Academy, a

secondary institution of secondary level.

A few years later, the government put up the Lawa-an School of Craftsmanship

of Home Industries, followed by the coming into existence of the Bolusao Barangay

High School. These were precisely big strides obtaining in Lawa-an in matters of

education – in contrast to educational opportunities way back in the 1920s when the

highest curriculum opened in the grade school in Lawa-an was simply Grade IV. At the

time, a pupil could enroll in Grade V either in Balangiga or Basey; could start high

school either in Tacloban or Catbalogan and take college in Cebu or in Manila. It was a

real test or trial in endurance, constancy of purpose and firm determination among the

youths and, incidentally, only a comparative few ever succeeded.

In Lawa-an now, secondary education is practically brought to our doorsteps. As

a result, scores, if not hundreds, of our children have become professionals in many

fields of studies – Medical technologists, Certified Public Accountants, Practicing

Lawyers, Doctors of Medicine, Civil Engineers, Registered Nurses, Midwives, Clerks,

etc., all because of these institutions. We have lots of professionally trained teachers,

both in high school and elementary level.

There is no reason for any youngster nowadays to lag in ignorance and wallow in

the mire of want of knowledge. There is virtually scamper for higher education being

spurred by the accessibility of these schools within the municipal jurisdiction –

seemingly beckoning our youths with that irresistible light towards a brighter dawn.

But with the emergence of insurgency nagging at the back of the people’s mind,

the future appears somewhat gloomy and still has got to be seen. As the famous author

Mathew Arnold, amply puts it: “Only the events will teach us in its hour.”

THE KILLING OF A MAYOR (Pls. see supplement)

Supplement

THE KILLING OF A MAYOR

The shadows were shortening as the midday sun across the sky, was moving

towards its zenith that fateful day of August 13, 1985 when Mayor Pio C. Diansanta of

Lawa-an, Eastern Samar, Governor Federico Mingote, a certain Engineer Estaron,

together with a few other civilians, started from Balangiga, to inspect the progress of the

work on the access road construction leading from Brgy. Guinob-an, Lawa-an, Eastern

Samar to the Amandaraga and Amanhuray Falls.

From Balangiga they boarded a small motorboat and went direct to Guinob-an.

Many people, later on, reminisced why Mayor Diasanta did not suggest to the Governor

by passing Lawa-an proper to fetch some PC/INP soldiers to act as their security during

that trip, considering that some reliable information disclosed the fact that his life (the

mayor’s) was already doomed or menaced by the NPA insurgents. Or, could it be that

he simply ignored the advice of the Governor, if at all, for him not to go to Guinob-an

without the benefit of security? Very obvious.

Upon landing at Guinob-an, the small party got inside a service truck and moved

towards the road jobsite; thereupon, were promptly joined in or accosted by some four

or five armed men. The Governor, apparently alarmed at this sudden turn of events,

stepped down from the truck, presumably on the pretext that he would conduct the

inspection alone. But Engr. Estaron, it is said, accordingly followed the Governor,

leaving Mayor Diasanta inside the vehicle.

Presently, the armed men commanded the Mayor to come down or, rather pulled

him bodily from the truck and led him to a clamp of bushes several meters off the road,

with the avowed intention of shooting him down. Too flabbergasted as to inquire as to

his dismal situation, he stepped forward being prodded with the muzzle of a gun from

behind. He had never been in a worst tight place.

With a life of rich promise, so suddenly going away, the poor Mayor must have

already felt, at this moment, some occasional flash of pain – the kind that comes to a

man when he realizes that nobody, save his wife and children, would give him a good

last chance – when he dies. His five and a half decades of life on earth had not been

verged from the ruts of the ordinary roadway or would have seemed in the winter of his

life around whom tragedy would suddenly break and swirl. It was then that he thought of

lost dreams, blown away by the realities harsher than the cold chilling winds of

December.

Helplessly surrounded, the song of birds and the soft plash of the cascading

Amandaraga and Amanhuray falls on his ears, the poor prisoner stood aghast. His

protestation of innocence was the fact that the tragedy was going to be played out in the

presence of the Governor. Certainly, the aftermath would not be without the elements of

black comedy, for he could not have imagined a more perfect purpose of these men

other than that of killing him. He was, at this juncture, in the midst of personal crisis that

society’s laws cannot hope to understand.

Second by ticklish second, five spiral minutes crowded past. The next sound the

Governor and the rest heard was the dreaded explosion of a gun, followed by the

agonized shrieks of Mayor Diasanta behind the bushes. One hurried glance at the

scene of the commotion immediately told them that the Mayor was shot and on the

throes of death.

What was important now, the Governor reflected, was to hurry back to Balangiga

with information about the sad incident passed along the way.

At Lawa-an, an armed party was immediately organized by some municipal

officials and PC/INP personnel who, afterwards, found the body of the victim sprawled

on the ground face downward, with gauge-12 pellet wounds at the back of the body and

several nasty stab-wounds. No stage drama could equal the impact of the scene

displayed before their eyes; there was no doubt in their minds as to the premeditation of

the murder, judging from the weary resignation mirrored on the victim’s rigid features.

Perhaps there have been some forms of previews provocation on the part of the

Mayor, but could any degree of provocation be sufficient enough to justify the callous

killing wantonly committed that day? Was his position as Mayor, like many others of his

kind nowadays, a license for him to die? In fact no other Mayor in Lawa-an, has ever

managed to make marked improvements as Mayor Diasanta has done. Indeed, but it is

the unwritten law of these NPA fanatics.

Pio C. Diasanta was a man given to load laughter that could rattle a room. His

position as Mayor was, to him, a professional life with a gift of authority filling for the first

time with a passion that he had never otherwise possessed. I think it was only his fault,

delusion or shortcoming if ever there was any that could be counted or considered.

His incredible death which was entirely devoid of justifiable reason was a

depressing tragedy that tore us away from him. There is nothing we can do but cover

our pain with a veneer of almost cocky toughness and accept it as if it was the

monument to his life and his despair, that is – we try to recognize that such outrageous

death is the merciful handiwork of Providence.

Those of us who are fortunate enough to continue living and have faith and

believe in the divine purposes of God, can find a deeper meaning in the untimely death

of Mayor Diasanta. As I have known him personally, I have observed that was always a

feeling of goodwill about the man. There was in him no façade, no pretense. Due

however, to the pressure of work mandated by his office, he was seldom aware of his

imminent mortality which I hope his transient and brief existence will forever reside in

our memories and in the memories of his loved ones. He is now forever gone to eternity

– returned to the Father in an afterlife that is beyond description.

He died a violent death, it is true, but death with dignity.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The next day, August 14, 1985, Vice Mayor Ambrosio Palaña of Barangay

Maslog was sworn into office as Municipal Mayor.

LEGENDS ABOUT AGTAK

LEGENDS, as referred to in Roget’s Thesaurus, are mythical stories about past

events concerning wonderful persons long deceased. It is the passage of time that

tends to diminish the truth of factual happenings, changing them into legendary tales

mostly by the new generations.

Legends about Agtak, as I call them now, have actually happened as recalled by

great great grandparents in Lawa-an, although shunned and set aside now as mere

legends and unbelievable tales by the new-thinking individuals in the modern age.

Indeed, based from scientific fact that “nothing can happen without a cause,” the

following exploits of Agtak can be considered as fictitious. Yet they have been definitely

told and retold by our elders in every anniversary novena commemoration held yearly in

Lawa-an by the town’s people. And such tales appear plausible and true. But people

now are no longer given to superstitions and bigotry and the stories about Agtak seem

incredible and quite hard to believe.

I am recounting these tales about Agtak supposedly of handing down to

posterity, not because his true and real name was Cenesio GAVAN alias “Agtak”; in

fact, I have no claim as a recipient of his mystic power except for the fact that one of my

two sons is christened “Cenesio Gavan” as a grateful fulfillment of my personal pledge

that, should my tenth child be a boy – after the consecutive births of nine (9) girls – I

would christen the tenth, God willing, “CENESIO” in reverent memory of Agtak, the

alleged famous ‘Tambalan’.

Agtak was only my father’s uncle, his father being a younger brother of said

Agtak. His direct great grandson now living is Abundio T. Evina whose mother, Pastora,

was Agtak’s first grand-daughter. But Agtak was already long dead before my father,

Ramon Gavan, was born.

In every novena commemoration, tireless stories of Agtak’s abilities and power of

healing sick persons and his superiority over the fairy people (Encantos) were being

repeated by elder men before the listening ears of youngsters.

The following are typical examples:

First, there was a story by an old man at Camp Dones, Ormoc, Leyte, from

Palompon, who upon hearing that a Gavan trainee was in the camp, passed thru the

gate and inquired about me. Upon being summoned to the guardhouse, I introduced

myself and he asked me what relation was I to Agtak whose real name was Cenesio

Gavan from Lawa-an, barrio of Balangiga, Samar. I told him that he was my father’s

uncle. “Why?” I said.

The feeble old man begun his story, recalling his younger days when he was but

a little boy of 12; how he happened to be with a party, in a big two-masted sailboat just

to fetch Agtak at Lawa-an that he might heal and save the life of their Parish Priest who

has been sick for already about 12 years. The priest, he said, has been brought to

Manila for treatment but to no avail.

According to the old man, the informer was a man from Basey who vouched for

Agtak’s extraordinary healing power. The leader of the party found Agtak in his small

hut at the foot of a Narra tree near the mouth of the Lawa-an river. Without further ado,

Agtak readily agreed to go with them despite the prospect of the long and inclement

journey. Palompon was quite far.

As usual, he was only dressed with a rugged loin wrapped around his waist and

an old undershirt (camisita) thrown across his shoulder.

When all was ready and aboard the sailboat for the return trip, Agtak told him

(this old man), being then the errand boy, to go back to the hut and get his “capipis”

(small nito bag) which he had forgotten and left hanging on a side corner of the hut.

He then waded ashore and, truly enough, he found it there, but out of curiosity,

he secretly opened it by himself to see what was inside, to be so important in his

personal mission, but he found it entirely empty. But before he climbed inside the boat

he noticed that the small capipis was already quite heavy and saw, to his surprise, that

it was already filled with roots and herbs of different kinds. This astonishment he kept to

himself.

The trip back to Palompon lasted for three days. When they arrived, Agtak was

escorted direct to the convent where the priest lay lingeringly dying. The patient was

already in a serious condition, mirrored by his emaciated body and his subconscious

feeble movement.

Agtak eyed askance the pitiful priest, whereupon he asked for a coconut shell of

tuba. The tuba was produced immediately and Agtak mixed it with his saliva by spitting

on the said wine. Then in the presence of the onlookers he forced the tuba into the

Priest’s system thru the mouth. The watchers were inwardly aghast and apprehensive

least the priest would suddenly succumb and die by just a swallow of the liquor. But he

did not; instead, he opened his eyes as if to welcome the stranger. Then Agtak

announced to the people present that at 4:00 o’clock that afternoon it was going to rain

and he and the priest were going to take a bath in the rain.

Truly enough, it rained on the specified time, so that Agtak roughly dragged the

agonizing patient downstairs until they were both soaking wet. Presently, the two

seemed to be having a wrestling match until the priest appeared to enjoy the game.

Evidently, the people watching the show observed a physical transformation was

actually obtaining in the priest, as was shown by his increasing strength, agile

movement, and smiling countenance. Seemingly getting tired of the sport, Agtak

beckoned the priest to go up the convent – both happy and gay. The priest, changing

for dry clothing, called for a celebration immediately that evening of all the town officials

together with their families.

The Municipal President was Master of Ceremonies during the dance. While the

merrymaking was in progress, it was proposed that Agtak must now render a dance

number locally known as LaJota to be paired by no other than the charming First Lady,

wife of the President himself.

Being a shy and timid old man, Agtak acted as though taken aback by the

announcement. He kept declining the demand, considering his rugged attire. But the

President firmly countered by saying that the purpose and significance of the

celebration that evening would never be complete unless the audience was honored by

Agtak’s compliance. Empathically, he said: “It is not your appearance or how you look

that counts. You are our special guest and we simply adore your true person.” So Agtak

beg to be excused from the crowd and went outside. After a while he came back entirely

a changed man. From rugs to the richest attire ever beheld by the people of Palompon,

he appeared. He danced the LaJota with gusto and utmost agility ever performed. The

audience was held spellbound and agape with admiration. What manner of a man is this

stranger named “Agtak”? It was not Agtak himself in their midst but his double – the

“TAMYAW”. The Tamyaw is said to be a friendly spirit from the underworld character

who obeys whatever command is given by his human master in all circumstances.

The gayety having subsided the next afternoon, Agtak was graciously offered a

hatful of silver coins by the Priest and the Town President. Agtak picked up only a

piseta (20-centavo coin), politely saying that he was not used to payments.

As the sailors were busily preparing for the return trip to Lawa-an, Agtak was

nowhere to be found. Apparently, he had slipped out unnoticed. After several days the

people of Palompon learned that Agtak was already in Lawa-an, again drinking day in

and day out. How he managed to go home was a complete wonder and mystery.

THE RESCUE AND RECOVERY OF TABIANA

Tabiana was a beautiful woman by ancient standard. She was very religious,

always praying in church every morning and afternoon. But one day, she disappeared,

nowhere to be found. She was greatly missed by the priest and the church-going public.

The priest, therefore, lost no time, in his sermon, in proclaiming that Tabiana was surely

ascended unto heaven body and soul. In his Spanish guttural waray-waray dialect He

declared: “Hi Tabiana, tungod han iya kama-singbahon, a-adto na ha langit lawas pati

kalad.”

As was his wont, Agtak, perhaps mildly drunk at the time, was passing by the

chuch at the moment and overheard the priest delivering his sermon about Tabiana,

countered by saying: “Hibobo nga langit, a-ada la hi Tabiana hit sanga hit dalaquit ha

Palaypay.” This comment of Agtak was overheard by some members of the

congregation near the door, so that he was reported to the priest immediately after the

Mass ended. The priest, furious and bursting with anger, ordered that he be arrested

and taken before him. Sooner than expected, Agtak was bodily brought before the

foaming priest. “Ano an imo sering – hi Tabiana a-ada la hit dalaquit ha Palaypay?” “O-

o, Padre, ongod iton,” Agtak submitted. “Ta hala, niyan mismo kuha-a. Deri ngani nimo

madara hi Tabiana, pag kakalirohon ka.” (to be burned alive). “O-o, Padre. Tagui la ako

hin mga kaupod nga iba nga tawo,” Agtak confidently assured the priest.

The following dawn, at about 3:00 A.M., a party consisting Agtak, the Vice

President, three councilors, and four policemen set out to a place called “Palaypay”

about 1 ½ kilometers eastward. On their way, Agtak informed his companions that the

Encantos or Fairy people who abducted Tabiana were making hasty preparation to

leave for Homonhon, home of the fairy bridegroom of Tabiana. They were presently at

this dalaquit tree where the wedding feast was in progress for almost a week now.

At the foot of the Balete or Dalaquit tree, or so it appeared to the men, Agtak

signaled them to be quite and cautious least the fairy people be alerted. He huddled

them together with the last-minute instruction to take a firm grip at whatever object he

brought down for their assistance. These companions below worried and apprehensive

of what was going to happen next.

Agtak now disappeared from their sight. Suddenly a commotion broke up-above.

Agtak seemed to overturn tables, topple down tables and cabinets and break appradors

while women scampered for safety. There was wailing and cries of distress all over the

big house. With aid of his Tamyaw, Agtak was dominant and master of the situation and

completely taken the fairy people by surprise.

Sooner than expected, Agtak was already downstairs or at the bottom of the

balete tree, exclaiming: “Kapot kamo”, as if in despair. Thereupon, his companions

rushed to his succor, grabbing hold of a three-foot wriggling rod-like object covered with

sharp thorns, inflicting painful stab-wounds upon their hands. The party immediately

turned back to town with their strange prize. As daylight materialized, the men

discovered that the wriggling object in their bleeding hands was already a female

monkey, biting and scratching them and struggling to get free.

It was inside the church of Balangiga, after the priest has anointed the monkey

with holy water that Tabiana became herself all over again. Her appearance as a

beautiful and charming woman was completely restored to normal, but she remained

mute and dumb, entirely devoid of speech, never to talk again. Having been claimed by

her family, Tabiana grew to be an old maid, outliving Agtak by several years. She died

long after Agtak was dead.

AGTAK AND THE PARISH PRIEST

The Priest, thereafter, became friendlier and solicitous of Agtak, but the

townspeople of Balangiga, except his relatives, acted hostile to him, perhaps because

of the drinking spree and annoyance he caused in town. In order to silence him

policemen would lock him up in jail. But every time he was locked up in jail, Agtak would

go out at will, continued drinking and making noise around. That was Agtak’s only

mischief and shortcomings.

While in Balangiga one day, Agtak was invited by the Priest to visit him in the

convent. Presently, after their dialogue the priest asked Agtak to show him any of his

feats of power over the evil spirits and enchantments in order that he might come to

believe him. “Waray ko gad abilidad, Padre.” Agtak told him. Still the Priest was insistent

to show him anything unusual, so Agtak said: “Kon asya man, pangadi tubtub hit imo

hinbabaro-an kay mag bubuhat man ako hit akon mahihimo.” So the priest knelt before

the altar and said his prayers, invoking the powers of all the Saints in heaven to extend

their help in this hour of need.

At this juncture Agtak moved closer to the window and uttered a mournful cry –

like an animal lost in the jungle. Suddenly, there was a rustle of a strong wind hitting the

convent, followed by a violent earthquake, swaying the convent back and forth like a

pendulum. The doubting priest could no longer stand upright, but lay spread-eagled on

the floor. There was utter panic in his features and, finding words at last, said: “Husto

na, Cenesio, husto na. Natu-od na ako.” By the gesture of Agtak’s hand the wind and

the earthquake stopped as if nothing has happened at all. What remained visible was

the trembling body of the panic-stricken priest with which all his supplications to heaven

never served as a restraint to the power of Agtak’s Tamyaw.

THE CASE OF THE HERBAL ROOTS UNDER THE BOILING WATER

My grandmother on my mother’s side died a centenarian at the age of 110 when

I was still a small boy attending the grade school. Her story about Agtak was

disseminated to me shortly before she died. According to her personal recollection, it

was during her younger days as a teenager when she got sick of a strong fever. While

she was lying in bed, her own mother hastened to invite Agtak to see what he could do

to her. When the old Tambalan arrived he instructed her mother to boil water early the

next morning for her (the sick girl) to bath with.

The instruction was strictly followed. Her mother secured a big clean pot and the

water was boiling the next morning when old man Agtak arrived bringing some herbal

roots in his hand. A big wooden basin (panay) was provided wherein Agtak dropped the

said roots. He poured the boiling water into the basin while she (the sick girl) was

getting ready for the bath. As she was waiting for the water to cool off, to her great

surprise, she saw that the herbs inside the basin were actually bearing flowers instead

of getting withered due to the heat.

By merely observing and looking at what was happening to the herbs under the

hot water in the wooden basin she felt an inward upsurge of hope and assurance that

she was going to get well that very morning. Her mother bought only a liter of tuba with

which to entertain Agtak.

Thenceforth, for as long as Agtak lived among the people in Lawa-an, my

grandmother said she never got sick again.

BARRIO TENIENTE IN BASEY KIDNAPPED BY THE ‘ENCANTOS’

With the help of his double (the Tamyaw), Agtak was endowed with the power of

claiming or recovering “binobugkot” persons from the custody of the Encantos as was in

the case of Tabiana.

At one time, Agtak was invited to Basey, Samar where a Barrio Teniente was

said to have been kidnapped by the Fairy People at their dwelling inside a cave at

Banglay mountain. Agtak went there, being accompanied by Rural Policemen and

barrio officials. He got inside the cave, leaving his companions outside, where he

virtually waged war against the Encantos, threatening them with serious trouble unless

they give up their evil designs of holding the poor victim prisoner. Sensing their own

destruction to be inevitable, the Encantos finally relented, throwing out a seemingly

large snarling monkey from the cave. Agtak knew him to be victim who was already

under the spell and influence of the Encanto devils, was chasing and roaring at his

companions outside the cave. Thereupon, Agtak followed suit from the cave just in time

to escape the terrible closing of the door (pagtangub), his loins wrapped around his

waist was caught and pressed in-between and immobilizing Agtak in his maneuver. One

of his companions had the presence to hack it off with his bolo.

As usual, the victim was hog-tied in order to pacify him and brought to the church

in Basey where he was anointed with holy water by the priest. His old self was definitely

restored but he remained mute and dumb the rest of his life. It is said that persons

victimized by Encantos, if they ever return, can never tell anything about their

experience or association with them. They have to remain speechless and dumb, for as

long as they live.

THE LAST DAYS OF AGTAK

In his old age, Agtak was soothed to heal a seriously ill person in Palo, Leyte.

Another quack doctor had been administering healing medicine to this patient for a long

time but was never successful. At long last Agtak was invited, with express notice to the

former that Agtak of Lawa-an would be fetched so that the worsening patient might be

saved. After a day of treatment the patient got well. This naturally called for a

celebration in thanksgiving for the patient’s recovery.

When the drinking and merrymaking were in progress the former Tambalan was

cordially invited out of respect for his efforts to heal the now-recovered man.

Sensing something queer in the behavior of his quack-doctor rival, Agtak

excused himself from the group and went to the seashore to take a short nap and

relaxation. He told his companions not to leave while he was asleep at the pro of their

boat. Nevertheless, his companions did not heed to his warning and tarried somewhere

else, away from the sleeping Agtak, long enough for the evil rival to take advantage of

applying devilish witchcraft upon the sleeping person of Agtak. When he woke up he

found out that he was feeling a sense of despondent weakness and he knew that it was

this other Tambalan who made the mischief. He then soothed his antagonist to give him

his own medicine in retaliation, after which he told his companions to make ready for

departure and not to tarry any longer. But before they were cleared of the beach, Agtak

and his mean heard the distressed wailing inside the house of his rival apparently dead,

killed by a dose of his own evil-doing.

In Lawa-an, months later, Agtak died of a lingering illness inflicted by his jealous

evil rival in Leyte, leaving a void irreplaceable in the region. No other drama could equal

the impact of the people’s consternation and bereavement of Agtak’s passing. They

could hardly be reconciled with so great a loss and, from then, onward they were to

render a yearly novena to commemorate his memory, so that this commemoration is

faithfully passed down through the years being sponsored by the surviving families and

distant relatives of the late Cenesio Gavan, alias “AGTAK”.

The End

`

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CRISPIN G. GAVAN was a retired government employee with 31 years in the

service. During the outbreak of the Second World War in 1941, being a reservist of the

Philippine Army, he was inducted into the service of the United States Army Forces in

the Far East (USAFFE), saw action in Bukidnon, Mindanao.

After the USAFFE capitulated in Mindanao, he managed to struggle home and

joined the Guerrilla Forces, South Samar Sector led by Major Manuel O. Valley, which

was later absorbed by the 42nd Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, Samar Area Command,

under Lt. Col. Juan Causing. Crispin G. Gavan was honorably discharged 2nd

Lieutenant, Infantry, P.A. in 1946 at Calbayog City.

After liberation, he taught for a time in the elementary school, then as

teacher/PMT Commandant at the Balangiga Jr. High School. After his teaching service

was terminated, he was elected Teniente del Barrio of Lawa-an.

When Lawa-an was created a new municipality by act of Congress in 1958, Mr.

Crispin G. Gavan was appointed first Chief of Police, then much later, he was

transferred to the Municipal Court until he retired in 1980.

A happily married man, Mr. C. G. Gavan was a father of a modest family with

eight (8) children, all professionals. He died of diabetes at the age of 76.

From a family friend