Cagsawa Festival traces lost town, boosts people’s identity

By: Alfredo L. Vargas Jr. DARAGA, Albay, Jan. 31 (PNA) -- For the first time in the history of this town, residents here and visitors alike will have a chance to trace the lost Albay town of “Cagsawa” and look up to the ardent desire against all odds by its inhabitants to preserve their identity as a people through the centuries. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, with his penetrating advocacy to advance the whole province as eco- and histo-cultural tourism destination, personally carried out extensive research studies about how life was in Cagsawa prior to and after the whole town was buried under tons of volcanic debris in 1814. The lost Cagsawa town was geographically located about 11 kilometers southeast of the crater of Mount Mayon. In the month-long celebration of Cagsawa Festival this February, various events are focused on commemorating the February 1, 1814 Mount Mayon eruption, one of the two most violent and treacherous volcanic events ever recorded. Records revealed that the significance of the day, being the eve of “Candelaria” (Feast of Candles), was ironical. Instead of prayer, psalm and hymn recitals, it was dominated by nature’s fury and people's hysteria. The belfry of the baroque church built in the place by Franciscan priests in 1724 has remained until today the silent witness of the catastrophe and proof of the once-flourishing town of Cagsawa. The festival will also highlight how disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) was done by survivors in the aftermath of the 1814 eruption such as the massive relocation to where and what this town is now. Salceda went over written accounts of Spanish friars and church records to ascertain that this town was once called “Cagsawa” more than two centuries ago, with its center of governance and booming commercial district located about five kilometers from where the present poblacion is. Records also show that this town continued to be called Cagsawa until the 20th century, long after the original town was buried. Until 1905, dead residents of this town were still registered in the church’s Book of Burials as residents of “Cagsawa." The last entry in the Book of Burials, in which the parish is called "of Cagsawa," is dated July 11 of the same year. The last entry in the Baptismal Book under such name is dated April 10, 1907 while in the Book of Marriages is dated July 23 of the same year. These entries were signed by the late Fr. Vicente Rojo, of the Orders of Friar Minor, who was the parish priest during that time. He was believed to have personally decided to change the name of the parish from Cagsawa to Daraga without giving any reason. According to Salceda, there is no official document that changed the name of Cagsawa into Daraga and probably, the people then simply assumed that Daraga is Cagsawa. Bouncing back from the 1814 devastation, the place progressively emerged as a well-to-do town as described in the writings of Fedor Jagor, a well-known German scientist-traveler, when he came to Daraga in 1870. What is worth further emulating among the early natives of Daraga by its present generation was their firm opposition to all attempts, by persuasion or by force, to give the town other names than how it was called after relocating from Cagsawa. Cagsawa Festival this year will also devote events in honor of local heroes such as the councilman named "Budiao," who led a strong resistance against the Spanish conquistadores. A village was later named after him; built with a church and laid with wide open streets by Spanish authorities in recognition of his bravery and participation in setting order and system in the area. The village kept its name up to the present. Aside from the belfry of Cagsawa church, the fragments of the stone walls of the church in Budiao are also mute witnesses to the 1814 eruption episode. The name “Daraga” is believed coined from one of the main characters of the mythical epic of Mount Mayon, “Daragang Magayon” (beautiful maiden) as an affirmation that it was fun then living in the peaceful town of booming commerce and industry. Local historians then regard this town as the "pride and life of Albay.” (PNA) FPV/FGS/ALV/MMG