"Sipak nga Banwa": A history of Valderrama, Antique (ca.1500-1945)

Abstract

This is a descriptive study of the history of Valderrama from the pre-Spanish period to the Japanese occupation (ca.1500-1945). Long before the colonial period, the town was already settled by "tumandok" or native residents composed mainly of two groups of settlers— Bukidnon and Taga-Baybay. Bukidnon or mountain people of Valderrama came from the nearby mountain ranges of Mt. Baloy and Mt. Igcoron, while Taga-Baybay or coastal people came Ilaures, the coastal barangay of Bugasong. Both groups settled and worked together in Caberi-an or what is now "Valderrama".

Old residents of Valderrama refer to their town as "Sipak Nga Banwa" literally, "the town going to another direction". "Sipak nga Banwa" has a double meaning. It identifies the early settlers who abandoned their coastal community to go to the interior Valderrama. These coastal people left and "nagsipak" which meant "went to another way or direction". Another meaning refers to the town's geographical location.From the souther part of Antique going upward where coastal towns of Antique are located, the road to Valderrama suddenly turns to the right or another way, "nagsipak".

During the pre-Spanish period, the babaylan (priest healer) were considered as the most respected persons in the town. These baybaylan healed the sickness of the people. When the Spaniards came into the place, the colonizers spread and converted many natives to Christianity but not without staging a resistance. The Bukidnon and Taga-Baybay babaylan fought against the Spanish colonizers when the Philippine Revolution broke out. in 1896.

Though the town was not directly affected by the Philippine Revolution of 1898 (Spanish-American War), the natives considered the Americans better than the Spaniards. It was during this period that the economic and political life of the town improved due to sugarcane and tabacco cultivation.

However, When the Japanese occupied the town, economic and political development became stagnant due to the ravage of the war. As a result, many residents of the town joined the guerilla forces in the nearby mountains due to the harsh treatment and abuses of the Japanese soldiers. Finally, due to the outbreak of the Second World War (1942) in the province, which resulted to the bombing of Japanese camp in Atique, the Japanese soldiers left the town of Valderrama.