KUTHLEIYN WRITES

SAGBAYAN'S RIGHT MIX

April 2, 2020

//An essay I wrote describing my hometown and how I love it❤//

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          Within the majestic province of Bohol lies an ambling town enveloped with promise of all good things for its people. This is the town of Sagbayan. It is a master planned community sprawling more than 9000 hectares of plains and gently rolling hills. Rich in nature and filled with exciting options for relaxation and recreation, Sagbayan is an ultimate rural hideaway. This is a good place to unwind amidst greenery, lush trees and colorful flowers, savoring the fresh and cool town air.

          Historically speaking, the town was established on the 9th day of February, 1949 after being separated from its surrounding municipalities — Clarin, Inabanga, Carmen and Catigbian. Known as Borja, in honor of the first civil governor of the province of Bohol, Salustiano Borja, it reverted into its current name after 8 years. Sagbayan was named from the word "sagbay" which means "to hang". This refers to the hanging of deer hides on trees to dry after hunting since this is said to be the source of income of the prior Sagbayanon.

          Over the past 71 years of being a town on its own, Sagbayan with its residents and the aid of fast growing technology continues to develop its landscape. Sagbayan becomes the center of trade among people from the nearby interior and coastal towns of Bohol. During Sunday, there is this trade known as "tabo" among bisaya on which Sagbayan, especially the market, will be filled with the bustling Sagbayanon and people from neighboring towns. This is because of the purpose of selling and buying for their weekly supplies of goods.

          Sagbayan also has its broad roads that will lead you to the town. It has convenient transportations on which rides bounded to different routes are available. Located at the center of the province, Sagbayan has its buses bound to Carmen and its sequent towns. On its opposite route are  the rides going to the only city of Bohol, Tagbilaran City using the coastal Tagbilaran North Road. The time spent going to this city will be minimized by using the shorter route passing the municipality of Catigbian. Lastly, it has also buses that are going to the municipality of Danao. These show how busy Sagbayan is from time to time as it accepts different people going from one place to another.

          After years of being devastated by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, Sagbayan was able to withstand and counter the difficulties. After being the center of the temblor, significant buildings are being destroyed including the municipal hall, schools, rural health center, the market and even the church. Today, these buildings were already renovated. The classrooms were made possible by many foundations and non government organizations donations and help. The municipal hall was totally changed with its immaculately white exterior making it called by most Sagbayanon as the town's white house. The church was renovated with the help of the generous much fortunate Sagbayanon and help  of the former parish priest as he sought some donations from an international Filipino organization based in United States. The market was totally changed and improved so much which has many stalls available and expanded making it more comfortable to wander from one store to another.

          After the calamity, the known apartment in Sagbayan which is the Tour Bitang expanded and already named as the Paradise 88, willing to accept people especially tourists to stay with exchange of rent. Trailing the road from Catigbian to the center of the Sagbayan town, a housing project at barangay Santa Catalina can be seen. This project was provided by the government to families living with their parents or more than one families living in a single roof. This project was also prioritizing the families living on a private owned land at Sitio Fabrica, Poblacion.

          With the town's cleanliness, the municipal committee always make sure that it is maintained. As time goes by, many available job opportunities are available in the town. More schools are being built or even expanded. There are many who opted to start a business. With these, a lot of people involve, getting sufficient salaries and wages. Having its wide plains with healthy soil, most Sagbayanon have their own lands for tilling of crops such us rice, corn, banana, vegetables, and various rootcrops. There are also people who engaged in handicraft businesses such as weaving, amakan making and other accessories.
On the other hand, most Sagbayanon have their own lots on where they can build their houses. There are also people especially those who have their jobs in the town rented apartments. It cannot be denied that people in Sagbayan are having different financial capabilities in building their houses. There are houses that are made from light materials such as woods, plywood and even a known product by Sagbayanon, the amakan. There are also houses that are  half concrete and the half is made of light materials. Lucky enough of resources, there are people who were able to build concrete houses.

          Looking the different houses in our town, I can see that most houses are gated. Even the simple non-concrete houses are having their own fences. Regardless of being in different status in life, Sagbayanon shows that they are prioritizing their safety.

          Living in this town have such great impact on my life. In my sitio, everyone seems to know everything about everyone else. Financially blessed or not, professional or not, people in our town, especially in our sitio, do not let anyone to feel out of place. Though, there are times when less fortunate people feel uncomfortable jiving with rich people. There are also rich people who degrades the less fortunate ones. Despite this, people in Sagbayan are friendly. Saying simple greeting to someone even to a stranger is a norm that can make someone's day a little better. Within this town, I feel secured and belonged because of its people, from family, to the sitio and kabarangay and the youths from the 24 barangays of the town. The people are also religious which is evident among the different religious organizations starting from kids, to youths, to adults and even the senior ones. Also, despite the different religions the Sagbayanon have, people are still standing as one saying “Padayun Sagbayan!” They give me a sense of community and togetherness.

          I live in a town bounded with so much unwritten history. I live in a town on which various stories of each origin and name's etymology passed from generation to next generation. I lived in a town where people are now openly accepting the inevitable change, a nature phenomenon. We can see the evidences of these changes anywhere daily.  I lived in a town where people are cooperating and united with each other. I love my hometown as I love my home. Sagbayan has its right mixture that I like to live on like how I stay in the rooms of our house.