History of Kawayan, Biliran
Very long time ago, the present location of the town of Kawayan was yet a forest. When Spain began to establish her domain in the Philippines and when the Moro raiders were at the height of their tyranny, the Eastern Visayas was one of the troubled regions hereabouts. The Spaniards were troubling the Cebuanos by asking tributes of any kind while the Moro raiders were capturing Visayan natives.
One day, a family head by the famous name of Capitan Basio, a resident of Cordova, in the island of Mactan (Cebu), escaped with his family from his native place. He settled in the place where the town of Kawayan now stands. He cultivated a little farm.
(Webmaster’s Note: The historical figure that approximates the Capitan Basio in this narrative seems to be Makyaw, who acted as some sort of native intermediary with the Legazpi expedition in 1565.)
In those days, people used to move from one place to another to escape the injustices done them by the Spaniards and the Moro raiders. Very soon, several families joined the settlement of Capitan Basio. After many years, they were able to produce more than enough for their needs.
People from different places of Eastern Visayas at the time also traveled around to look for food. They brought along with them kitchenware (sukaran), jars, bolos, and clothes - all locally made - to barter for food. They traveled north until they reached a good harbor for shelter from the northeast wind. They learned from the natives that the place was called Visita, the present barrio of Balacson.
From this place they went to the settlement of Capitan Basio where they found the natives to be living in abundance. There they succeeded in bartering their articles for food. Some of them returned home while the others stayed and settled in the place.
During this time, the Visayans were afraid of the Moro raids. Capitan Basio, being the most respected individual in the place, called the others settlers to a meeting. They agreed to assign a man everyday at the top of the hill near Balacson or Visita, to watch for the coming of the Moros. The man so assigned was called Telegrafo. His duty was to run and inform the natives of the coming of the Moros sighted from a distance near Higatangan or Jubay (in the northwestern tip of Leyte). Because of this, the travelers starting calling Capitan Basio’s place or settlement as Telegrafo.
One time, a man was assigned to watch from the hill. He had with him an old bamboo instrument called subing. In the midst of his playing, he fell asleep on the grass, laying the instrument on the ground. Upon waking up, he saw a Moro vinta near the place. To his extreme fear and worry, he rushed to Capitan Basio and informed him of the presence of the Moro vinta. The natives then evacuated their settlement temporarily.
The news spread fast that Capitan Basio and his men lived in abundance. So his place was a popular target of barter travelers.
In the midst of the Philippine Revolution, when General Emilio Aguinaldo became the president of the short-lived Philippine Republic, he sent one of his generals by the name of General (Ambrocio) Mojica to Leyte.
The general happened to visit the place of Capitan Basio. He learned from the natives that the place was locally called Telegrafo. The general recommended that the name be changed to San Clemente, a name given in honor of his only son, Clemente.
Because of the abundance of food, Capitan Basio’s settlement became popular among barter traders. The travelers and barter traders used to meet at the point of Jubay or near Higatangan. They went to Capitan Basio’s place guided by the bamboo (clump) towering at the top of the hill that was believed to have sprouted from the bamboo instrument left behind by a panicky guard and grew to be such.
The towering bamboo clump became the natural guide of the travelers such that Capitan Basio’s place, known before as a place of abundance, became known as Kawayan instead of Telegrafo and San Clemente.
The date of its establishment cannot be ascertained. This town was a barrio long before the coming of the Americans and was officially established as a regular town in 1907.
Republic Act No. 232 separated the barrios of Ungale, Tucdao and Inasuyan from the municipality of Caibiran, Leyte, and merged these barrios with the municipality of Kawayan. This was enacted into law on June 9, 1948. It was originally filed as House Bill No. 745.
Barrio Almeria was separated from Kawayan and created into another municipality through Executive Order No. 162 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on August 12, 1948. Under this order, the former Kawayan barrios of Tabunan, Talahid, Pili, Caucab and Ilijan became part of Almeria.
Informants: Restituto Bernadas - Vice-Mayor and Acting Municipal Mayor
Francisco J. Victorioso - Ex-Municipal President and Notary Public
Felix Obispo - Ex-Principal Teacher and Municipal Councilor
Miguel Sabornido - Ex-Municipal Vice-President
Committee for the Historical Data Papers:
Leodegario Alabarca - chairman
Roque Francisco - member
Gregorio Bartolome - member
Odon Cabatingan - member
Miss Ester A. Gozon - member
Mrs. Maria C. Alabarca - member
Miss Socorro G. Salloman - member
Miss Josefina S. Docallos - member
Miss Maria M. Sanchez - member
Miss Genoveva Caberte - member
Simeon B. Logro - member
Casiano F. Butlig - typist
The Historical Data Papers were submitted by Mr. Ambrocio Ibañez, District Supervisor of Kawayan.