The Early Inhabitants of Sto. Domingo
Prior to the establishment of the church, the early inhabitants of Sto. Domingo have already religious ideas, beliefs and practices that aSupreme Being is called God, creator of heaven and earthand without limit. In their simple way of thinking, God is so high above men and far beyond their reach, and they have already manifested a true love of God. They worship in the form of a “TARAHADI” by praying and chanting the word of God, an indication of praising and thanks-giving for all the blessings and graces bestowed upon them especially during good harvests. This was a big and special celebration offered to God with the best harvest they have received from the mountains, fields, seas as well as enjoying life in good health, a manifestation of a special appreciation as God’s gifts to them.
During the harvest, they gathered together in a designated place bringing with them their best harvests for a big feast, getting together as one family of God, sharing the best foods they prepared like native linangang/cakes, roasted fish and foul with the best drinks called “Tuba” and the kind of good harvest the so-called “Tinagba” as an offering to God for the bountiful harvests they have received. This was an occasion that every inhabitant participated in the different activities considered the best gathering in honor for the goodness and love they enjoyed from God.
Experiencing a strong feeling of oneness among the group, a felt-need was discovered to have a definite place for the early inhabitants for their spiritual activities as growing God-believers and worshippers, to have a bigger chapel to accommodate the growing population for their spiritual life. This was the first chapel built that eventually became the first church.
It was constructed nearby the seashore of modest size, using light materials available in the area somewhere in the year 1765. Originally, it was made up of split bamboos called “basag” woods for its walling and nipa shingles for its roofing. The Patron Saint was St. Dominic of Guzman and the first designated Parish Priest was Fr. Jose Antonio Rodriguez. Since then, the feast day of the patron saint was celebrated every August 8 and carried over up to this time, and another celebration every 1st Sunday of October, a big feast day in honor of the Most Holy Rosary in the whole parish. The first church lasted for more or less 37 years and due to its light materials, it was easily destroyed by fire in the year 1882.
The town of Sto. Domingo was a former barrio of the Municipality of Albay, now Legazpi City. It became a separate municipality in 1749 through the clamor of its inhabitants and under the leadership of Don Diego Castellanos who took the matter first to the civil authoirities in Manila and to the Bishops of Caceres in Naga.
Sto. Domingo was originally named “Libog.” Albay historians say that there were a number of versions regarding its original name. According to stories of long ago, a Spaniard passed by a man who happened to be taking his carabao for a dip in a muddy pool. When asked by the Spaniard in his own tongue as to what he was going to do, the native answered “mapalabog.” Later, the word was shortened to “Labog” since the place had plenty of muddy places for carabaos to wallow in. With the passing of years the word “Labog” had been changed to “Libog.”
Another version is that Libog was derived from the Bicol word “Labog” meaning unclear water, for there was a time when there was no potable water anywhere in the locality.
Still another version has it that the town might have been named after “Labog” (jellyfish) which abound on its coastal water.
There is no exact record of how and when the town of Sto. Domingo was officially founded.
Still another version has it that the town might have been named after “Labog” (jellyfish) which abound on its coastal water.
There is no exact record of how and when the town of Sto. Domingo was officially founded.
According to Ex-Mayor Hilario Balilo, the name Libog is a corruption of the Bikol term “libot” meaning “round about” or “circuitous”. This fact came about during the early part of the Spanish times when only a foot trail connected the hinterlands of what are today the towns of Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco and Malilipot down to Banwang Daan known today as Binanwaan or Albay Viejo at the northern approach to Mayon. The trail forked on one side to Sabloyon winding its way along the twilight side of Mayon Volcano while the other to the opposite flank lacing around the morning side, cutting straight into the heart of a settlement which for what of a name, was called Libot.
Later, when the time came to organize and integrate this settlement to give it a political status as a visita of Binanwaan now Legazpi Port, the corruption crept in, Libog for Libot.
In 1749, a “secessionist” group of ilustrados of the Visita headed by Don Domingo Castillanos sought to emancipate the Barrio from its mother town to attain the status of townhood. This was granted by both the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of Nueva Caceres, now Naga City, and also by the Ayuntamiento of Manila the same year. Don Domingo Castillanos became the first Capitan of the town.
The Municipal Council of Sto. Domingo, Albay, headed by Mayor Hilario Balilo, Vice-Mayor Cirilo Rodriguez and Councilors Matilde Barrios, Antonio Banta, Hilarion Balute, Pablo Balistoy, Rufino Romero and Dionisio Balin, adopted a Resolution No. 57 changing the name Libog to Sto. Domingo.
Resolution No. 57 became House Bill No. 554 in 1959. It was sponsored by Congresswoman Tecla San Andres Ziga. Upon approval by Congress, House Bill No. 554 became Republic Act 2520. The new name was inaugurated in 1959 from Libog to Sto. Domingo.
To start the straddling town, the first chapel was built that eventually became the first church. It was constructed nearby the seashore of modest size, using light materials in 1765. Originally, it was made up of split bamboos called “basag,” woods for its walling and nipa shingles for its roofing. The Patron Saint was St. Dominic of Guzman and the first designated parish priest was Fr. Jose Antonio Rodriguez with a feast day every August 8 to-date. The first church lasted for more or less 37 years and was ravaged by fire in 1822. In the same year, the people started to build a new church made of “piedras labradas” or cut stones in today’s present site which took 10 years to complete.
The Sto. Domingo Church was constructed under the close supervision of the Diocesan Friars as shown by the coat of arms in the main entrance of the church during the early part of the 18th century.
It was constructed through forced labor. It was massively built. Men and women were made to work by gathering stones from Maranlog, now San Isidro, and was constructed in a span of ten years.
Culturally, the town is the birth place of a classic love song, “Sarung Banggi,” which was composed by Potenciano Gregorio in 1910. At this time, the town was the center of the resistance movement against the Japanese which was headed by Col. Faustino M. Flor, a native of the town.
Later, when the time came to organize and integrate this settlement to give it a political status as a visita of Binanwaan now Legazpi Port, the corruption crept in, Libog for Libot.
In 1749, a “secessionist” group of ilustrados of the Visita headed by Don Domingo Castillanos sought to emancipate the Barrio from its mother town to attain the status of townhood. This was granted by both the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of Nueva Caceres, now Naga City, and also by the Ayuntamiento of Manila the same year. Don Domingo Castillanos became the first Capitan of the town.
The Municipal Council of Sto. Domingo, Albay, headed by Mayor Hilario Balilo, Vice-Mayor Cirilo Rodriguez and Councilors Matilde Barrios, Antonio Banta, Hilarion Balute, Pablo Balistoy, Rufino Romero and Dionisio Balin, adopted a Resolution No. 57 changing the name Libog to Sto. Domingo.
Resolution No. 57 became House Bill No. 554 in 1959. It was sponsored by Congresswoman Tecla San Andres Ziga. Upon approval by Congress, House Bill No. 554 became Republic Act 2520. The new name was inaugurated in 1959 from Libog to Sto. Domingo.
To start the straddling town, the first chapel was built that eventually became the first church. It was constructed nearby the seashore of modest size, using light materials in 1765. Originally, it was made up of split bamboos called “basag,” woods for its walling and nipa shingles for its roofing. The Patron Saint was St. Dominic of Guzman and the first designated parish priest was Fr. Jose Antonio Rodriguez with a feast day every August 8 to-date. The first church lasted for more or less 37 years and was ravaged by fire in 1822. In the same year, the people started to build a new church made of “piedras labradas” or cut stones in today’s present site which took 10 years to complete.
The Sto. Domingo Church was constructed under the close supervision of the Diocesan Friars as shown by the coat of arms in the main entrance of the church during the early part of the 18th century.
It was constructed through forced labor. It was massively built. Men and women were made to work by gathering stones from Maranlog, now San Isidro, and was constructed in a span of ten years.
Culturally, the town is the birth place of a classic love song, “Sarung Banggi,” which was composed by Potenciano Gregorio in 1910. At this time, the town was the center of the resistance movement against the Japanese which was headed by Col. Faustino M. Flor, a native of the town.
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