Essay 2009 Reg 8- The Amazing History of Sapian

Registration No. 8

The Amazing History of “Sapian”

         Municipality of Sapian is real replica of government by the people and where sustainable development through people’s participation in a way of life.

            Sapian is located at the northern portion of panay, island, 27 kms. West of Roxas City. It is bounded on the North of Sapian Bay, on the northeast by Ivisan, on the west bay Batan Aklan.

            The upland, lowland and coastal areas of Sapian is abound with natural resources. The sapianons have made the land more productive through planting of mahogany trees and fruit trees such as mangoes, lanzones, rambutan, oranges, and vegetable tribes along the road side and open fields. With sapianons willful protection of Sapian bay, there is bountiful catch of Mabalad, Kitang, lapu-lapu and other marine fishes.

            Ms. Edna Obordo said, that Sapian was founded on hilltop, more than 300 years ago, and has one of the oldest histories among the Capiz Province. Sapian is safe to assume to have the late years of the 17^th century when a tiny settlement on a hilltop was established by groups of wonderful person.

            There is no definite place was cited on the hilltop but folk stories have it on the hilltop catadman a distance of half kilometer east of the present site of Poblacion. The old site catadman hilltop is now known as “Laging Banwa” or “old town”. The old settlement on the hilltop was strategically chosen to serve as a convenient look out for Marauding Moros  rampantly raiding settlements during those days. At any point on the hilltop, Moros on their vitas could be spotted when they enter Guibogan or Sapian Bay.

            Ms. Merly Ombega sited a story based from folk stories that long after Spaniards occupation in 1568, some Spanish soldiers setfoot on the hilltop settlement. The first person they meet was sent on an errand. He was holding a salapi when the Spaniards stopped the bay perplexed by the strange looks of the castellan figure and in comprehensive of Spanish tongue spoken answered hesitatingly in faltering voice “sapi” Fifty centavo silver coin were locally called Salapi means half a peso. Thus the Spaniards name the village “Sapian” shortly afterward the settlement was organized as the town of Sapian.

            Sapian now a place where gugma is service Sapianon actively participated in the advancement of their beloved town. The neighborhood groups are partrners of their municipal government in the developments, specially the clean and green program inspired by the people had made Sapian a town of love, peace and progress.

            Mrs. Juvy Selorio told that the people of Sapian has not only maintained their cleanliness and beauty but it has also made an impact on which are confirm to be essential in the process of physical health, socio-economic and political development. The general cleanliness may infact be attribute to both the Sapianon’s nature love and working hand in hand to sustain collective enthusiasm of the people of sapian to provide a stable base for people participation.

Sources:

• Ms. Ena Obordo – an elementary teacher, 49 yrs. Old
• Ms. Merly Ombega – an elementary teacher, 52 yrs. Old

Mrs. Juvy Slorio – an element