26/07/2024
| 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
Buguey has a vibrant history filled with notable events and changes. Originally a small fishing village known as Mission, it was accepted as a mission pueblo by the Dominicans on June 15, 1596, under the patronage of San Vicente Ferrer (now the patron saint of the barrio parish of Pattao, Buguey, Cagayan). It was founded as a town on May 20, 1623, by a Royal Decree from the King of Spain, with Saint Anne becoming the new patron saint. However, at the start of the 20th century, Buguey was expropriated and reduced to the status of a barrio, becoming part of Camalaniugan.
In 1905, despite the Americans organizing municipal and provincial governments in the islands, Buguey remained a barrio. In their desire to uplift the political-social status of the municipality, a group of political leaders led by Alejandro Varilla, Gregorio Valle, and Placido Calaycay organized a society called “Guimong Sinnaranay” and petitioned the American Governor-General to restore Buguey to its old status, but it was not until 1915 that it was declared a municipality through the efforts of Vicente Marasigan and Ex-Representative Venancio Concepcion. It was then that hundreds of cows and pigs were slaughtered as people celebrated the occasion for the feast of Saint Anne, the new patron saint of the town, and Buguey's forefathers decided that her feast be celebrated on July 26.
Buguey derives its name from the Ibanags word "Nabugay,” which means capsized. The legend recounts that in the early 1600s, the sea pirates attacked, plundered, and looted the town in revenge against the Spaniards who attacked them in Mindanao. Reportedly, a big Spanish bell named. “Sta. Barbara,” which was installed at the Saint Anne Church, one of the oldest churches built in 1620 at the Poblacion, was forcibly taken by the pirates as a present to their Sultan. But while on the high seas, the pirate ships capsized, prompting the people to shout with joy: “Nabugay ira, Nabugay ira,” “they were capsized." Word of what happened to the pirates quickly circulated even to distant areas, and the word “Nabugay” became an accepted name to refer to this town. The term eventually evolved into "Buguey," the name by which the town is known today.
Happy 3rd Malaga and Guraman Festival and Patronal Town Fiesta!
Photo Credit to Sir Arthur Pagador
References:
Cagayan Heritage Conservation Society Community
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/cagayan-state-university/bachelor-of-science-in-computer-science/buguey/44390707
https://www.scribd.com/document/551379620/BUGUEY-was-founded-on-May-20-Copy
