MOALBOAL CEBU Walking Tour | Day & Night at PANAGSAMA BEACH + Bars & Restaurants | Cebu, Philippines
Moalboal, officially the Municipality of Moalboal (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Moalboal; Tagalog: Bayan ng Moalboal), is a fourth class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,930.[3]
Pescador Island, a popular tourist attraction, is part of the municipality and is one of the best known diving sites in the Philippines.
Etymology
There are two versions of etymology that was proposed about the origins of the town’s name, both based on phonetic distortions, are ascribed as the origin of the place named “Moalboal,” The first version is an onomatopeic derivation from the bubbling sound called as “bocalbocal” (bukal-bukal) in Cebuano, emitted by the waters of a spring located within the town proper. The second is a less popular version attributes to the belief that most of the town’s first settlers are from the island of Bohol, known as Boholanos or Bol-anons. In either version, it is believed by many residents that bocalbocal or Bol-anon eventually was transformed into “Moalboal”. Perhaps, the real clue to the etymology of Moalboal is its old orthography. Redondo’s “Breve Reseña de la Diocesis de Cebu en las Islas Filipinas” spells the name of the town as “Mualbual”. The same spelling is reflected on a page from Sale’s “Ang Sugbo sa Karaang Panahon” showing a map of the Cebu Province.[5]
History
There is a legend said that Laurente Sabanal who is popularly known as “Laguno” was the founder and the first ruler of the town. It was also said that he possessed supernatural abilities where he was gifted with an oración also known in Cebuano as yamyam which make objects float in the air whenever he could. He would use this ability to scare the Moro raiders. When Laguno died, his body was buried in the sandy shore where he made his defense against invaders. On his grave was placed a log, that serves as a symbol of the uttermost respect for his heroism, bravery and exemplary life. A street along the shore where he was buried was named after him which is the “Laguno Street”.[6]
Spanish Colonial Period
San Juan Nepumoceno Parish Church
Sometime in the year 1851, the Spanish Governor passed a decree approving the petition which was the erection of Moalboal as a parish. By the following year, January 20, 1852, the corresponding decree from the Bishop was received. And on February 6, 1852, San Juan Nepomuceno Parish, Moalboal, Cebu was officially established.
Geography
Moalboal is a peninsula situated on the south-western coast of Cebu Island, bordered to the west by the Tañon Strait; Negros Island is visible from its shore.
Moalboal is bordered to the north by the town of Alcantara, to the west is the Tañon Strait, to the east is the town of Argao, and to the south is the town of Badian.
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