By Lino Sumaylo
(Editor’s note about the author: For more than 30 years, he has been serving as a government employee, taking on multiple roles that have shaped both his career and perspective. He has worn many hats over the decades: Budget Officer, Accountant, Human Resource Officer, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, and Traffic Officer. Each position demanded a different lens, from balancing public funds and keeping records straight, to managing people, protecting the environment, and maintaining order on the streets. Along the way, he pursued his Juris Doctor degree, driven by a belief that law and governance should serve the public with both clarity and compassion. His love for writing has long been cherished by those who have read his articles.)
Lino Sumaylo
I may be new to feature writing, but I am no stranger to the stories behind public service. After 30 years in government and earning a Doctor of Laws, I’ve worn many hats—accountant, budget officer, HR lead, and environmental advocate. Now, I’m picking up the pen to weave those years of local governance into stories that matter.”
Feature:
In the quest to determine the exact date when the Municipality of Panglao, Bohol came into being, this author was one of those assigned to conduct research in the National Library of the Philippines or to the National Archives of the Philippines or in other places where we get the reliable information. Of course, the team acceded to the call and wallah, names of places that sound very far like Pamanguitan (or Pamingwitan?), Agad, and Dauaguet which is part of the encomienda of Panglao and many dates that added our dilemma. The determination of the exact date or at least nearest to the real McCoy was our biggest challenge in this exercise.
At the outset, several dates are to be verified. The official seal of Panglao unequivocably indicated the year 1782. There are writings that Panglao existed in 1803. But the expedientes which records the milestones of Bohol began much later. There is also that narration that Panglao is only a visita (sub-village) of Baclayon being the seat of the Jesuits Administration in Bohol and that ereccion civil mostly coincides with the ereccion parroquial, thus it is near August 28.
All these are either circumstantial or myth because they are not supported with historical data. It is like the word Panglao, some say that the term was derived from the Tagalog word “mapanglao” which means lonesome because of the absence of river and the soil is unproductive. How in heaven that the tagalog word was imported from tagalog region to suit to a place in the Visayas? Or the term was from the fishers paraphernalia “panggaw” because the Spaniards who came here cannot pronounce letter “g”, thus the word panglao.
If we follow that narration the proper name should have been” Panlao”. There is also this “Pang-alao” according to Dr. Jes Tirol from the word “alaw” as root word which means to trap or surround. Taken from the old Bisaya like “Pag alawon ta ining mavacar, mamomono, vel, tibono, an baboy, an vaca, an manuc, an isda, etc.” or Let us surround the thief, the killer or various animals like pig, cow, chicken or fish. With due respect to the esteemed Dr. Tirol, this writer would respectfully disagree.
The journey to the truth as to the establishment of Panglao, Bohol as pueblo is far and yet to be made known.
The beautiful Roman Catholic Church of Panglao, Bohol.