HISTORY OF BANTAYAN ISLAND

The origin of the name "Bantayan" is unclear, but it has existed for centuries. Spanish maps from the mid-1500s already show the name, and by 1579, Bantayan was recognized as a parish. On June 11, 1580, the Convento de la Asuncion de Nuestra Señora was established, making Bantayan the oldest parish in the Visayas and Mindanao, with a jurisdiction that even included Guam and the Marianas.

Historians speculate the name comes from “bantayan,” meaning to protect or watch over, possibly referring to the island’s rich marine resources. The Spaniards called it “Madre de Los Pescados” (Mother of the Fishes) due to its abundance of fish. Research also shows the island was once entirely surrounded by coral reefs.

Bantayan had a thriving community even before the Spaniards arrived, as proven by precolonial artifacts found in old settlements like Barangay Bantigue, Patao, Baigad, and Atop-atop. Many of these artifacts are now part of the Sugbu Museum’s collection, on loan from a private collector.

During the Spanish era, Bantayan prospered, with Casas de Teja (tile-roofed houses) dotting the town. A fire in 1973 destroyed half of the town, or it might have rivaled Vigan as a heritage site. Bantayan is also the birthplace of Sortido Cebuana, a Spanish-influenced quadrille dance.

Today, Bantayan is a First-Class Municipality with 25 barangays, five of which are on surrounding islets. It remains a center of commerce, industry, arts, and culture in the region.

WHAT MAKES BANTAYAN ISLAND WORTH VISITING?