"DAANBANTAYAN"

Welcome to Daanbantayan (KANDAYA)! Located at the northernmost tip of the Province of Cebu, the Municipality of Daanbantayan as of December 3, 2008 is now a 1st class municipality composed of 20 barangays (2 island, 13 coastal and 5 inland) with a total land area of 10,455 hectares. It has a population of 78,452 as of profile year, whose main source of livelihood is farming and fishing, owing to its mostly agricultural and coastal areas. It is 128 kilometers from Cebu City, with about 3-4 hours travel time.

HISTORY 

  According to pre-Hispanic history, Daanbantayan was believed to be once ruled by a local chieftain or Datu called Datu Daya who was known for his good deeds and bravery by driving away invading foreigners and marauding moros. To help strengthen his defenses, he built strategically placed watchtowers dubbed as “bantayan” which is constantly manned by the natives/residents keeping watch, or in the dialect “daang bantayan”, and so the present name “Daanbantayan”originated. But before the town took on the name Daanbantayan, it was then calledKang Daya, in briefKandaya, named after Datu Daya or Datu Daya’s, in his honor. Not much has been known as to the actual date of the town’s establishment but as was the custom during the Spanish times, the friars or prayles decided to construct the church, now the Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish Church way back in 1886, hence the establishment of the church marked the establishment of the town as well, being at the center of most settlements at that time.

The town was formerly known as Kandaya – from the name of the leader of the first Malayan settler, Datu Daya. Kandaya was changed to Daanbantayan when the area was recognized as a municipality.

Daanbantayan was originally a visayan term for an old watchtower located in Brgy. Tapilon, which used to serve as a lookout for Moros marauding the coastal towns in the Visayas during the early Spanish times.

There are no definite records to indicate the exact year of the founding of the town of Daanbantayan. However, from the book called “Reseñas Historicas de los Dioceses de Cebu” published in the year 1886 it is mentioned that a certain priest, Rev. Juan Protacio Gallares, had been doing periodic inspection in the parish of Daanbantayan. The parish was inaugurated on August 10, 1858. Due to the fact that during the Spanish regime, the church and the state were more or less one in essence, it is logically assumed by many that the establishment of the town was made to coincide with the date of the inauguration of the parish.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Location/Geographical Background

Daanbantayan is a first class municipality located at the northern most part of Cebu with a distance of 128 kilometers from Cebu City. It is bounded on the north by the Visayan Sea, on the south by the municipality of Medellin, on the east by Camotes Sea, and on the west by the Visayan Sea. It is located at geographical coordinates 123057’ – 124005’E latitude and 11008’ – 11018’N longitude.

2. Land Area/Political Subdivision

Daanbantayan has a total land area of 9,227.26 hectares, comprising of twenty barangays. Barangay Poblacion is the urban area, which is 2.35 percent of the total; the remaining barangays are being identified as rural barangays.

Land Area and Percentage Share, By Barangay Barangay Area (Has.) % URBAN   1. Poblacion 216.8406 2.35 RURAL 2. Agujo 394.9267 4.28 3. Bagay 764.9399 8.29 4. Bakhawan 310.9587 3.37 5. Bateria 429.9903 4.66 6. Bitoon 646.8309 7.01 7. Calape 444.7539 4.82 8. Carnaza 166.0907 1.8 9. Dalingding 676.3582 7.33 10. Lanao 525.0311 5.69 11. Logon 136.5634 1.48 12. Malbago 565.6310 6.13 13. Malingin 280.5087 3.04 14. Maya 433.6812 4.7 15. Pajo 436.4494 4.73 16. Paypay 414.3040 4.49 17. Talisay 585.9310 6.35 18. Tapilon 534.2584 5.79 19. Tinubdan 668.9764 7.25 20. Tominjao 594.2355 6.44 Total 9,227.2600 100.00

3. Land Classification

There are two major land classifications in the municipality, the Alienable and Disposable (A&D) lands and Timberlands (see figure 2.2-2). A&D lands predominantly comprised 97.77 percent of the total land area of the municipality. The remaining 2.23 percent or 205.44 hectares are timberland areas, with 12.37 hectares as forest reserved located in Brgy. Lanao and the 193 hectares distributed in various coastal barangays.

4. Topography and Slope

There are six slope categories in the municipality (Table 2.3-2). The flat to nearly level lands are dispersed all over the planning area and constitutes 4,583.93 hectares or 49.68% of the total land area. Gently sloping areas are located in the central portion and the islands of Carnaza and Logon, which covers 1,685.95 hectares or 18.27% of the whole municipal area. Gently undulating and rolling lands are located in some sections of the southern barangays of the town and covers approximately 583.98 hectares or 6.33% of the planning area. Steep to hilly areas in southern and northern sections of the municipality have an area coverage of 2,373.40 has. or 25.72% of the planning area.

5. Soil

The municipality is comprised of seven types of soil, with Bolinao Clay as the predominant, comprising 71.62 percent of the total land area (See Figure 2.2-5. Soil Map).

6. Land Management Unit

The Municipality of Daanbantayan has four (4) description of Pedo-Ecological Zone (Table 2.2-4) with warm lowlands, comprising 57.92 percent of the total land area, predominating.

7. Erosion Potential

Due to its generally level to nearly level topography, the not susceptible to erosion category is predominant in the area. There are also barangays with highly susceptible to erosion areas, such as barangays: Dalingding, Tinubdan, Bakhawan, Paypay, Talisay, Maya, Lanao and Tapilon.

8. Flooding Hazard

The municipality is predominantly comprised of areas categorized as no flooding hazard. Flood prone areas, comprising 3.07 percent of the total area (Table 2.2-6) are located in Brgys. Talisay, Maya, Tapilon, and Poblacion. The municipality is predominantly comprised of areas categorized as no flooding hazard. Flood prone areas, comprising 3.07 percent of the total area (Table 2.2-6) are located in Brgys. Talisay, Maya, Tapilon, and Poblacion.

9. Climate

Daanbantayan falls under the fourth type of climate. In this type, rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. The most common air currents in the country are the northeast monsoon (from high pressure area of Asia), the trade winds (from the Pacific), and the southeast monsoon (from the southern Hemisphere). The general direction of winds from these sources are from north to east (October to January), from the east to southeast (February to April) and southernly (May to September). As of 1996, Rainfall Report in towns has a total of 1685.7 millimeters with the highest rainfall during the months of July (225.5 millimeter) and November (202.4) millimeter). On the other hand, the months of May and March had the lowest rainfall report with only 61.5 and 76.8 millimeters, respectively.

 

HALADAYA FESTIVAL

The Municipality of Daanbantayan, Cebu celebrates its annual Haladaya Festival every 30th of August in time of the feast of its patron saint, St. Rose of Lima. From the word "Halad kang Datu Daya", the leader of the first Malayan settlers in Daanbantayan. The highlights of the festival are the search for Festival Queen and a talent competition, street dancing competition or grand parade and the ritual showdown called "Haladaya." It is a dance where people of Daanbantayan show the heroism of Datu Daya and a celebration of victory, life and good harvest. 

Haladaya means an offering to Datu Daya ("Halad"- to offer and, "Daya"- the legendary chieftain of Daanbantayan). The Haladaya Festival is a celebration of the victory over the oppressive Moro pirates. It is more than just a prayer and dance; it would give us an identity as Kandayan-ons - a people of grateful hearts for being so blessed with almost everything. It also tells the heroism of Datu Daya and showcase the glorious historical past of the town, through colorful street dancing followed with ritual showdown, depicting the Moro dance with the concepts of victory and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

 

Hadalaya Festival stages spectacular performance of competing contingents from public elementary and secondary schools students in their colorful ethnic inspired costumes as they show the intricate steps of the dance as they move along, chanting on the street with the clicking, rolling and the thunderous beat of the drums.