Lungsoda-an...

Lungsoda-an…
A Visayan Term for Old Town

Barangay Lungsoda-an, was then the site of the Municipality of Hinundayan, Southern Leyte. Why it was transferred to the present location now, is a fascinating story as told by an aging folk. He would then, evidently with pride, earnestly narrate to anyone interested the untold heroism of the early Hinundayanons, a couple of years past.

Facing the enormous Pacific Ocean in the East and dwarfed by the unknown Mt. Kantawoktok in the West, the peaceful town of Hinundayan can be reached after a five hour ride from Maasin, the Capital town of Southern Leyte. Mostly viewed by the 144km. journey along the parsley-paved roads, a rice farmlands that are almost immediately walled by the mountains. Lungsoda-an is less than a kilometer from Poblacion, having been cut by the Camunga-an River in the South. Even before the turn of the centuries Lungsoda-an has been at the top among rice-producing barangays of Hinundayan, whose area is about 933,707 square meters.

Hinundayan was one of the Visayan villages that experienced the fury of the Muslims Marauders during the 17th and 18th centuries. The shoreline of the town which curves to form a small bay is an inviting resort for refuge to imperiled bathers. The mile long beach grants an excellent atmosphere to any campers or picnickers. Thus, the Muslims might have this idea when they made their unforgettable stopover.

The people were just alarmed one day, when a flotilla of Muslim vintas made the most unexpected landing, supposedly to fetch fresh water. Upon learning that the place was populated, the relentless pirates moved to plunder the town.

The Muslims, entering the river, sailed nearer but viewing a resistance from the distance, positioned themselves in the bank opposite the Markadero. What ensued was a great battle between the Hinundayan Christians and Muslims, unknown in our history. The hole-wielding defenders, though greatly swarmed, fought valiantly to the great surprise of the Muslims. Some defenders were said to be stone-bodied and the pirates found it futile to pierce their “Kris and Kampilan”.

All the efforts of the defenders were directed to prevent the Muslims from pushing through, for a breakthrough for them, would mean perile or death to the many people inside the town Church. After almost a day of heavy encounter, the defense seemed to weaken. Heroes steadily lost their courage.

A few defenders languid and demoralized having perceived the futility of further resistance, fled away. Only a handful of heroes remained and fought to the last breath. The Muslims sensing victory, found new energy and became more ferocious in crashing the waning adversaries. At sunset, the skirmishes were over. The triumphant pirates then advanced, razed the houses and lotting everything including domesticated animals. The church was not spared. A few families were able to escape before it was burned down. Many people perished in the fire together with statues of images of Saints in the altar.

The pirates were astonished when they saw

the image of Saint Joseph remained unscathed after the whole church was razed down to the ground.

They dragged the image and tried to crush it into pieces with the use of an axe, but to no avail. So, they threw it away somewhere near the church. The Muslims, enjoying the deserted farmland of the place, choose to reside for months before leaving. They waited the harvest time of the crops principally, corn. Their enjoyment was undisturbed by any threat from the Spaniards, but they could not penetrate the neighboring pueblos. They then sailed away after harvesting the crops and never set foot again in Hinundayan. They attempted to carry the “Lingganay” (The Golden Bell of the Church) along with them, but any boat would then can capsize once loaded with the very precious load. The Golden Bell fell into the deep river and thy never were able to retrieve it.

The families who fled to the mountains and those of the neighboring villages, begun to settle again. They rebuild the badly plundered church. They were able to recover the image of Saint Joseph. Many had attempted to retrieve the Golden Bell from the river, but all were in vain. The Golden Bell would periodically show its glitter from the deep river but then would vanish when anyone attempts to find it.

Weeks after the people had settled down, they unanimously resolved to move the town opposite Camunga-an River. It was a more spacious place than the previous site. They named the town Hinundayan (“Ang Hinungdan, Dayan-dayan…) to honor the fallen defenders during the siege. Naturally, the old place was appropriately called, “LUNGSODA-AN”, a Visayan term for Old Town.