HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The name Medellin is of Spanish or Latin American origin which can be traced to a city with the same name in Colombia, South America. As a historical background, Medellin became a municipality by virtue of a royal decree promulgated by Queen Isabela of Spain on September 9, 1881.
Medellin was formerly part of the town of Daanbantayan. As a town, it started with only three barangays namely; Kawit and Buenavista in the west coast and Tindog in east coast Kawit, being the biggest and progressive barangay at that time became the first seat of government. But because of its deep shore, the area was prone to pirate attacks. As a consequence, the seat of government was then transferred to Buenavista (Daanglungsod). However in view of its shallow shore water, traders and merchants found it difficult to transport their goods to and from Buenavista. A distance away south of Buenavista, there was a place called Tawagan which later found out as the ideal site for trade and commerce. When the seat of government was transferred to Tawagan, the new Poblacion was then called Medellin.
Bordered by
North: Daanbantayan
South: Bogo
East: Bogo Bay
West: Tañon Strait
NATURAL FEATURES
Terrain: Generally flat terrain which makes Medellin suitable for agriculture, 85% of the total land area is planted with sugarcane
Caves: Amigo Poy Cave, is believed to have healing powers and Caidiocan Cave has bats.
Beaches: Fine white sand with cool sea water Sitio Pasil, Gibitngil - shoreline regularly changes
depending on the wind direction
Sunsets: Romantic and golden sunsets in Brgys. Kawit, Mahawak, Gibitngil and Daanbantayan
Flora: Vintage acacia trees more than 100 years old in Kawit, Curva, Tindog and Luy-a, also
thick mangrove forest in Brgys. Poblacion, Tindog, Caputatan Sur, Luy-a and Lamintak Norte
Fauna: Presence of Tuwabong (Chinese egret) in poblacion swamp, various fish species for eating,
and various ornamental fish species for export
Rocks and minerals: Rich limestone deposits in Brgy. Antipolo, Maharuhay and Dalingding Sur
Underwater: Beautiful and colorful corals in Gibitngil Island ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving
HERITAGE BUILDINGS
Church Relics of first Catholic Church in Brgy. Daanlungsod
Old bell tower of Poblacion Church constructed in 1956-1963
Government Buildings: Municipal Hall constructed in 1960's and Renovated gavaldon buildings in the town center and Dayhagon
Schools: Medellin Science and Technology school, St. Paul School of Medellin, Medellin Central School,
Kawit National High School, Kawit Elementary School, Tindog Elementary School plus most
barangays have their own schools
University: Cebu Normal University, Medellin campus.
Market Places: Medellin Public Market, Curva Public Market, Kawit Public Market.
Plaza: Medellin Rizal Park (1960’s) and Medellin Public Plaza
Cemeteries: Daanlungsod Cemetery, Kawit Cemetery, Bakyad Cemetery Cave with vintage bones and other artifacts also in Sitio Baybay a Japanese burial ground.
Airfield: Sitio Landing Air Strip - used as landing site during the World War II
Bridge: Dayhagon bridge - connects Daanbantayan & Medellin to mainland Cebu
Houses: Tumulak House - used as the first school of Medellin. Quijano ancestral house,
Mangubat ancestral house and Salimbangon ancestral house all in the town center and the
Gimenez ancestral house in Tindog
LOCAL RITUALS AND CUSTOMS
Festival:
Sinulog Mardi Gras in bonor of Sr. Sto. Niño
Dance:
Pastores sa Belen in Brgy. Kawit
Local Technology:
Intosan- a sugar making machine which converts sugarcane into brown sugar locally called maskobado
Local Sports:
Bato lata - children use an empty in can and slippers for the game
Syatong - played by two or more kids with the use of one long and a short stick.
Luthang - a bamboo gun which uses wet paper as bullet
Ungo-ungo - Local hide and seek Buwan-buwan uses water as a marking on the road to delineate the
boundaries for the game
Kasing - a top game
Piko - played with the use of a round stone and kicked within blocks
Lantaka - played during christmas season which uses bamboo pole for making a form of cannon.
Beliefs:
During wakes, the following are prohibited:
taking a bath in the house of the dead
cleaning using a broom
During burial, bringing of food and other stuff from the cemetery is banned
Burial route should not lead back to the house
Taking flowers from the religious carousel provides healing powers and luck
Jumping over flames and smoke drives away evil spirits especially after burial
Rituals:
Offering biko, puto maya and other food and drink to the departed ones during All Saints Day
Dancing Sinulog for the loved ones
Culinary Arts:
Kiseo making in Panugnawan - uses carabao milk to make a kiseo
Bukhayo - a mixture of coconut and brown sugar
Balikutsa or Tira-tira made of brown sugar
Healing Arts: Tambalan - a local person who heals people
Miriko - a witch doctor who drives evil spirits away
HISTORICAL ITEMS
Musical Instruments:
Various wind instruments used during the early 60s by the municipal band composed of government employees
Equipment:
Intosan - a local sugar making machine which is composed of a large wooden grinder driven by a carabao
Furniture:
A long table and cabinets made of hard wood in the Tumulak ancestral house
Religious Items:
Various religious items of Sto. Nino, Mother Mary, St Joseph, Baby Jesus. Jesus carrying the Cross, Pietta
Weaponry:
World War two tank cannon displayed in BOMEDCO park.
Transportation:
Vintage locomotive train and cane cart displayed in the town center and barangay Luy-a
Work Implements:
Lagting sa tapas - a tool used for the manual harvesting of sugarcane which is grouped into bundles and then
carried to the truck or train
Sanggot, kaw-it and sugong - tools used for coconut with (tuba)
Sud-sod - a fishing gear used for catching shallow water fish
PERSONALITIES
Captains during the spanish period:
Tiburcio Osabel, Ramon Ybañez, FIores Rosos, Felix Perez, Mariano Montesclaros and Juan Rubio
Municipal presidents during the american period:
Victor Tumulak, Julian Tumulak, Perdo Perez and Marcos Muñasque
Municipal mayors:
Jose Ancajas (1934-1940) Julian Tumulak (1941-1942)
Jose Gelig (1942-1944) Ignacio Rodriguez (1945-1946)
Sabas Quijano(1946-1955) Maximo Dublin (1956-1969)
Alfonso Lim (1969) Cipriano Noynay (1969-1979)
Joven Mondigo (1980-1986) Catalina Dublin (1986-1987 OIC)
Froilan Quijano (1987 OIC) Artemio Gimenez (1987-1988 Caretaker)
Joven Mondigo (1988-1998) Manreza Lim (1998-2007)
Ricardo Ramirez (2007-to date)