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HISTORY OF CUYO

Cuyo, officially the Municipality of Cuyo, (Cuyonon: Banwa 'ang Cuyo) is a 4th class municipality in
the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 22,360
people

Its territory includes the western half of Cuyo Island, as well as Bisucay, Caponayan,
Cauayan, Imalaguan, Lubid, Manamoc, Pamalican, Pandan, Round, and Quiminatin
islands, all part of the Cuyo Archipelago.
Cuyo is the oldest town in Palawan which has a culture of its own and was preserved for
more than 350 years. During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Cuyo became
the second capital of Palawan from 1873 to 1903.
From the sea, Cuyo Island's first visible landmark is a lighthouse by the pier. Many of the
streets leading to the town have already been cemented but the town has preserved the
Hispanic plaza-iglesia structures. Dominating the town centre is Cuyo's 1860 church,
convent, and fort built by the Spanish and finished in 1680. Nearby stands a schoolhouse,
and a monument of national hero Jose Rizal.

Oriental traders were early discoverers of the Cuyo group of islands and introduced barter
trading with the locals.

Later, the Malay chief Matuod and his people arrived in big boats called sakayan and
formed settlements on Cuyo. The Islamic chieftain Datu Magbanua later also settled on
Cuyo, later consolidating his power so that chieftains from other islands recognized his
rule. The Malays brought with them their dances, and when blended with native dance,
the "Soriano", it became known as the "pondo-pondo" one of the most popular folk dances
even up to the present.
During the rule of Datu Magbanua, three Chinese arrived on the island and settled also
on Cuyo. The Chinese discovered gold deposits in Mount Aguado and introduced gold
mining, smith working, pottery, and other handicrafts. The natives of Cuyo became
suspicious of their presence and later expelled them. They sailed to Ilongilong (today
known as Iloilo) and formed another settlement called Parián.
In 1622, the Conde de San Agustín, together with five Spanish missionaries, colonised
the island they named Cuyo. The friendly character of the people proved to be a blessing
to the Spaniards, who found it easy converting the native population to Catholicism. They
immediately baptised some 500 inhabitants, however, many still regarded their
indigenous Cuyonon religion as sacred and continued to perform Cuyonon rituals. The
supreme deity of the Cuyunon people was Diwata ng Kagubatan (literally goddess of the
forest), who was honored in a celebrated feast, periodically held atop of Mount Caimamis
in Cuyo Island. When most of the natives were converted to Christianity during the Spanish
Era, about 2/3 of the converted Cuyunon were still celebrating her feast, angering the
Spanish imperialists. The situation led the Spanish authorities to intensify their
evangelization and governance efforts, which included the forced Roman Catholic
conversion of the Cuyonon people, burning of houses of non-Catholic Cuyonons, and
massive slavery. Later, the Spanish called Diwata ng Kagubatan as Virgen Del Monte, in
another bid to rebrand the deity as 'Catholic'.[7]
In 1636, a powerful fleet under the Muslim Datu Tagul raided Cuyo and other places in
Palawan. In Cuyo, the Muslims attacked the church and clergy house. They set the town
on fire and took with them prisoners including a priest, Fr. Francisco de Jesús María.
They then sailed to Agutaya and Culion, where they pillaged and attacked defenceless
civilians. The raiders abducted another priest from Culion, Fr. Alonzo de San Agustín, as
he was saying Mass. A Spanish naval flotilla of six vessels and 250 men under Captain
Nicolas Gonzáles met the returning pirates with their loot and booty on December 21,
1636. Datu Tagul was killed, 300 of his men captured, and 120 prisoners were freed. The
two captured priests were killed.

MUNICIPALITY OF CUYO,PALAWAN
Known originally as Dapulo in 1200 AD, Cuyo is a group of 45 scattered islands and islets, the
biggest of which is Cuyo main island with an area of 22 square miles. long before the Spanish
occupation of the archipelago in 1568, Cuyo was already stronghold of the Ati, Chinese and the
Vishayan Malay who bartered dried fish, trepang,seashells edible birds' nests for porcelains,
clothing and etc.

The Cuyono - Vishayan dialect mixed with Spanish resembles the Maranao in delivery. The
Cuyono dialect is called cuyono because the people who speak it is from the island of Cuyo, but
actually it is first used as a dialect of Miag-ao, Iloilo province and brought into the island by the
group of Datu Magbanua in 1250. This dialect is being used also in some parts of Antique, Aklan,
Mindoro, and the entire province of Palawan that officially adopted it as the official provincial
dialect.

In the Filipino genes shall be the future common denominator of the world race, now the common
denominator of most Palawan people is the Cuyonon Tribe. Like the Filipinos, the Cuyonons are
considered as the people who are formed by foods out of volcanic ashes. Cuyo is a volcanic
island. And Cuyonons are the children of the volcano.

In Cuyo, the Spanish and Chinese mestizos are the common dominant political and economic
leaders. it was the Chinese who taught the aborigine known as Ati how to trade and barter their
goods. They introduced smithing, pottery, gold mining, and other handicrafts when they
discovered gold in Mt. Aguado. The Spaniards are the rosponsible of Cuyonon Catholic faith
including the Spanish names, family names and culture. The second settlers in Cuyo after the
negroid Ati were headed by Chief Matuod, brave Malay from Madias (Panay) who landed with his
group at Tabunan in Suba on sail boat called "Balanghay". Then Datu Magbanua followed with
his group from Iloilo.

This group landed in a cove at Tarebeng in Pawa in 1250 AD. he is the descendant of Datu
Paiborong, the founding datu of Iloilo in 1212. Their origin is coming from Sri Visayan Empire
based in Udtujan now known as Banjarmaasin in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Their ancestors believed
that they originated from the famous Alexander The Great about 333 BC in India, Persia and
Greece. Then Datu Magbanua expanded his settlement by sending his deputies to the
neighboring islands: Datu Macanas to Calamian (Culion), Datu Cabailo to agutaya and Datu
Cabangon to Taytay.

So great and well known was his settlement that the Datu of Irong-irong (Iloilo) paid a courtesy
call on him. When this chieftain returned home to Panay, Datu Magbanua gave him a sack of red
rice popularly known as cotchiam. Upon the Christianization of the Philippines, the datus
(prince/duke) of the pre-Hispanic kingdoms retain their right to govern their territory under the
Spanish Empire.

King Phillip ll of Spain, in a law signed on June 11, 1594, commanded that these nobles be given
the same respect, and privileges that they had before their conversion. They later formed part of
the exclusive, and elite ruling class, called the Principalia (Nobility), in municipalities of the
Philippines. Cuyo settled by native cuyunons who were then mixed Chinese and Vishayan Malay
become the center of Palawan Barter trade starting in 1300's.

They (being Malayan adn Chinese) become very good ship builders, seaman and traders. Innate
into their being, they are very good sailors. This is because Cuyo is a tiny island being surrounded
by big islands of Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Palawan within the Famous Sulo Sea. The
Cuyunons have nowhere to go but yo the sea by fishing and sailing. the island of Cuyo is very
popular place among Chinese.

Arab and Indian sailors and traders at that period of time. It is a Volcanic island where almost
everything is in abundance . cuyo is comparable to the tiny islands of Tidore and Ternate in
Moluccas,Indonesia famous for their spices. While Cuyo is abundant for its red rice, goat, fruits,
marine products, birds' nest and most especially its buscay shells that were use as money
(medium of exchange or for barter) among the Malay World of Madagascar in Africa, Indonesia,
Brunei, Malaysia and most of the islands in the pacific.

Cuyo had 3000 settlers before the arrival of Spaniards in 1568. The island has its solar salt factory
that is another important item for sailors. This volcanic island is truly a magical island like a
paradise with abundance of food supply. Seaweeds like "lato" are plenty here. Then the Chinese
centralized the birds' nest collection here coming from the caves of Quiminatin, Taytay, El Nido,
Linapacan and Coron. Although it was not Islamized, but Cuyo has a strong connection also to
the Muslim world through its Malay connections. In fact, during the first uprising by the Muslim
leaders of Tondo in Manila, their leaders were caught in Cuyo Island on their was to Brunei to
recruit 2,000 Cuyonon mercenaries in 1588.

His Excellency Sr. Don Pedro de Arce, the Bishop of Cebu,signed a decree assigning the
Augustinian Recollect Fathers for the Evangilation of Calamianes (Palawan) province including
the Cuyo group of islands. The five Spanish Recollect Missionaries from Cebu, with Fray Juan de
Santo Tomas acting as their director and superior, first reached Cuyo in 1622. With the
establishment of Christian centers in the Calamianes province, the muslims, not only form Sulo
and Mindanao but also from Brunei, started their attacks. Sultan Kudarat of Mindanao
commanded his brother Tagal, who attacked Cuyo on June 20, 1636. Invasion were reapeted so
that the Spanish government decided to built fortresses.

The people, under the supervision of Father Juan de San Severo, constructed and finished it in
1680. The rectangular solid structure of massive walls 10 meters high and meters thick has turrets
at each angle including a towering belfry housing big and old bells. The side facing the sea is well
fortified with ornamental cannons which are used to fire salvos during fiestas. In 1762, one of the
British ships that invaded Manila fired at this fort but it was not damaged at all.
The silver altar in its church was a donation by the Duke of Arcos. Other fortresses were built in
some parts of Palawan in Agutaya, Taytay, Dumaran, Labog, Punta Separacion, Balabac,
Canipaan, Cagayancillo, Culion, Linapacan, and Sibaltan in El nido. Because of this, peace was
obtained and progress gradually emerged.

There are centennial houses at the poblacion near the Cuyo Fort which are Cuyo's attractions.
Actually long time ago, the whole of the town plaza was under water. The Capusan beach near
the beach of the seaport is a vast stretch of white, sandy beaches, a rich fishing ground and an
equally ideal swimming area.

Despite progress and changes, Cuyo has preserved its rich cultural heritage. The ati-ati, comedia,
verso, pinundo-pondo, sayaw and sinulog are stagged during the town fiesta. Cuyo was the
second capital of Palawan next to Taytay. The first Spanish Governor in Cuyo Leopoldo Santos
Cruz (1873) and the last was Luis Rodriguez (1899).

In the year 2000, there are more than 168,000 Cuyonons who lived in the province which comprise
more than the 20% of total population of Palawan people, another 40,000 Cuyonons who lived in
the Philippines scattered in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and including abroad. In the year of
1948, there are 17,599 people who lived in Cuyo when Magsaysay was not created into a
separate municipality yet. Then there are 18,257 residents of Cuyo in the year 2000 when
Magsaysay already separated.

The municipality has a total land area of 5,730 hectares which represents 0.38% of total area of
the province. The friendly Cuyonon people speak the Cuyonon dialect which is the official
provincial dialect of Palawan. Many institutional leaders of Palawan are Cuyonon by blood be it
in politics, religion, commerce and education whose ancestors lived in Cuyo for 700 years already.

And according to Cuyo family history and verified reports, Cuyo since 1750 to 1850 was the exile
place for the Spanish royal blood family members of the Bourbon and Austria dynasty. Then the
family names of Austria of Spanish Hapsburg, Ponce de Leon of the Dukes of Arcos, Fernandez,
Alvarez of the Dukes of Alba and most of other family names in Cuyo are not subjected by the
Philippine Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria to the order of changing the family names
of Filipinos on Nov. 21, 1849 because they are royal blood and used to be descendants of the
kings of European kingdoms.

PARISH OF ST. AUGUSTINE: Long time ago in Cuyo Island, the inhabitants worshiped their
ancestors and the moon. They adored a deity who resembled Ceres to whom they commenced
their fields. they also worshiped another deity resembled Mars from whom they asked protection
in their battles. Obsequies for the dead were celebrated during the full moon. The natives were
also animist wherein their belief was sprinkled with superstitions.

His excellency Senior don Pedro de Arce, Bishop of Cebu, in a decree dated August 27, 1622,
requested the Augustinian recollect fathers to take care of the evangilization of Palawan. This
parish of st. Augustine of Cuyo is founded by the Spanish recollect Brother Francisco de la Madre
de dios in 1622 who after serving 16 years in Palawan died as martyr in el Nido during the 1638
attack by the Muslim commander Datu Acheh.
At those were difficult times, the tropical diseases were prevalent and the means of
transportation hazardous. The most pressing problem of the place was peace and order. Muslim
Malays known as ,moros from maguindanao, Jalo and Borneo intermittently came to Palawan to
plunder during the harvest season. They usually brought back with them the Cuyonons,
Agutaynons and Cagayanons as prisoners to be sold as slaves. sultan Kudarat of Maguindanao
commander his brother tagal to attack Cuyo on june 20,1636.

Meanwhile, the Recollect Fathers were rewarded with the convertion into Christianity of almost
all inhabitants. They built the first church made of wood, bamboo and nipa.

Two factors that contributed to the sudden embrace by the natives of the Christian faith are the
mild character of the people and the animosity that the natives had against the Muslims.

As invasions were repeated, so the Recollect Fathers made representations with the Central
Government of Manila so that forts and garrisons would be established to protect the people of
Palawan from the marauders.

There was fear before of an invasion in Manila coming from Taiwan by a Chinese pirate named
Koxinga. Manila had to be defended. The Recollect Fathers interceded with Governor Manrique
de Lara not to abandon Palawan. The governor pointed out that the decision was made for their
safety, and it would be better for them to return to Manila.

The Recollect Fathers in Palawan refused. They all remained in their stations relying on Divine
Providence and on this account that the dictum existed in the Recollect order, "De Palawan al
Cielo" (from Palawan to Heaven).

During the time of the Bonaparte in Spain, some royal families were exiled to Cuyo in 1808, thus
the beginning royal blood mestizo Cuyonon like the Austria and Ponce de Leon.

The revolution in 1898 was not uprising against the Spaniards. The revolution in Cuyo was a
battle between the rich and the poor with the church as headquarter for the rich while the municipal
building was for the poor. The poor people from Suba were headed by Antonio Arguelles, Jose
Arguelles, and Evangelista Manlavi, while the rich from the district of Amianan led by the Ponce
de Leon and the Fernandez families.

The result of the battle near the bridge that seperated the church and the town hall was a victory
for the town people of Suba. Although the arms used by the rich people of Amianan were much
superior than the bolos of the people from Suba. A result of the revolution from Cuyo was the
establishment of the Govierno de Revolutionario Dictaturial at Lucbuan(now at Municipality of
Magsaysay) in Cuyo by Don Casiano Padon.