Proem

In Mindanao there is a town called "New Corella" because majority of the residents came from the town of Corella, Bohol.

According to Fr. Francisco Combes, S.J., when the Dapitan Kingdom or Bo-ol Kingdom was destroyed in 1563, most of its residents fled to what is now called Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte. However, some fled to Tanjay, Negros Oriental and Cebu; -- but where in Cebu?

Cogtong

The place in Cebu where the Boholanos fled was called by them as "Cogtong". Take note that there is another prominent place in Bohol called Cogtong, Candijay, Bohol.

Eventually the place of Cogtong in Cebu became a visita or mission field of Moalboal, Cebu located at the western side of the island of Cebu.

The flight of the Boholanos must have occurred long ago because the present residents of Tanjay, Negros Oriental and Cogtong, Moalboal, Cebu no longer speak with the Boholano "J" as in jamo.

By comparison the present residents of Maasin City in Southern Leyte still speak using the Boholano propensity of the letter "J". The Boholanos fled there by the thousands in 1829 after the fall of the Dagohoy Revolution in Bohol.

The identity of the Boholanos at Cogtong, Moalboal became intact because Boholano fishermen who happen to be fishing at the western side of the island of Cebu will base themselves at Cogtong.

Proposal To Become A Town

On 30 March 1865 the Politico-Military Governor of Cebu received a petition from the Gobernadorcillo (now: Mayor) of Moalboal, Cebu that the visita of Cogtong desires to become a separate town in both the civil and religious aspects.

The Gobernadorcillo said that Cogtong has already satisfied all the requirements for a separate town and its number of tributes or taxpayers have already reached 528.

(Note: The requirement was 500 tributes - JBT.) This petition was then forwarded to the District Governor of the Visayas.

On 8 January 1866 the District Governor of the Visayas asked the opinion of the Bishop of Cebu.

Bishop's Opinion

On 24 March 1866 the Bishop of Cebu made the following comment: "I support the proposed separation (of Cogtong) from its mother town of Moalboal, Cebu because almost all of them are Boholanos. Without doubt it will grow much especially if a Parish Priest will be assigned to the new town to prevent them from going to the hills."

On 19 April 1866 the papers were sent to the Governor General of the Philippines.

New Town

The Governor General thereafter issued a decree converting the visita of Cogtong, Moalboal into a new town to be called "ALCANTARA". It will yet be independent in the civil aspect only, until such a time that the new town can construct its parochial house for the priest to stay. Thereafter it will also become independent in the religious aspect.

No Equivalent in Bohol

There is a town in Cebu created because the residents were Boholanos. However, there is no town in Bohol created because the residents are Cebuanos. The nearest equivalent is the town of Clarin, Bohol. However, Clarin, Bohol was already a separate town before the massive infusion of Cebuano residents in the place.

Reference: Ereccion Pueblos: Cebu, Book I, pp. 116-150. MSS, found at the National

Archives, Manila.