HOW DID THE TOWN DALAGUETE GET THEIR NAME
Because the Spaniards are saying one thing and the natives another. The former could never get their nga's and ing's right, and many of the latter keep interchanging their e's and i's. Or local historians and story-tellers have run out of original ideas and are copying each other. So, when a roving band of Spaniards, came upon a village at the mount of the Obong Spring and they saw a woman washing clothes in the flowing waters, they asked her what the name of the village was. Dalakit, the woman said, referring to the huge balete standing nearby. The tree is known in the locality as dalakit, or dakit. And this was how Dalaguete got its name. Under the Spaniards, the natives built the baluartes or watchtowers at Obong that protected the town from the marauding Moros. Built in the late 1700s and early 1800s, there were three watchtowers referred to as Bantay Moros that formed part of a series of defensive fortifications erected by Fray Julian Bermejo, the Augustinian priest who was also called "Padre Kapitan". The baluartes were strategically placed along the southern flank of the island, from Carcar to the north Santander to the south. One baluarte, rehabilitated in the 1970s and given a pavilion-like addition, is now a town landmark, referred to as the kiosko. Another landmark is Dakung Bato in Barangay Coro. This stone promontory served as the entrance to Dalaguete in the old days. The town's beginnings started as an extension of the Carcar Parish in 1690. It became an independent parish in 1711, but it was not until 1802 that a more permanent building was started. Just like the church in Oslob, the church dedicated to San Guillermo de Aquitania is earthquake-baroque architecture characterize by flying buttresses on both side with a facade divided into three levels by cornice stone moldings. The pediment, adorned with finials, has a central niche and a small circular window that served as a lookout. These days, visitors go to Dalaguete for 2 things, to bathe in the clear waters of Obong Spring, or to go up the highlands of Mantalongon, a barangay located a few hours drive away. Considered the vegetable basket of Cebu. Mantalongon's fairly cool climate is ideal for growing lettuce, tomatoes, cabbages, carrots as well as herbs and other nursery plants. Mantalongon is also a well-hidden secret as a favorite weekend destination for most city folks nowadays who find the lure of mistBecause the Spaniards are saying one thing and the natives another. The former could never get their nga's and ing's right, and many of the latter keep interchanging their e's and i's. Or local historians and story-tellers have run out of original ideas and are copying each other. So, when a roving band of Spaniards, came upon a village at the mount of the Obong Spring and they saw a woman washing clothes in the flowing waters, they asked her what the name of the village was. Dalakit, the woman said, referring to the huge balete standing nearby. The tree is known in the locality as dalakit, or dakit. And this was how Dalaguete got its name. Under the Spaniards, the natives built the baluartes or watchtowers at Obong that protected the town from the marauding Moros. Built in the late 1700s and early 1800s, there were three watchtowers referred to as Bantay Moros that formed part of a series of defensive fortifications erected by Fray Julian Bermejo, the Augustinian priest who was also called "Padre Kapitan". The baluartes were strategically placed along the southern flank of the island, from Carcar to the north Santander to the south. One baluarte, rehabilitated in the 1970s and given a pavilion-like addition, is now a town landmark, referred to as the kiosko. Another landmark is Dakung Bato in Barangay Coro. This stone promontory served as the entrance to Dalaguete in the old days. The town's beginnings started as an extension of the Carcar Parish in 1690. It became an independent parish in 1711, but it was not until 1802 that a more permanent building was started. Just like the church in Oslob, the church dedicated to San Guillermo de Aquitania is earthquake-baroque architecture characterize by flying buttresses on both side with a facade divided into three levels by cornice stone moldings. The pediment, adorned with finials, has a central niche and a small circular window that served as a lookout. These days, visitors go to Dalaguete for 2 things, to bathe in the clear waters of Obong Spring, or to go up the highlands of Mantalongon, a barangay located a few hours drive away. Considered the vegetable basket of Cebu. Mantalongon's fairly cool climate is ideal for growing lettuce, tomatoes, cabbages, carrots as well as herbs and other nursery plants. Mantalongon is also a well-hidden secret as a favorite weekend destination for most city folks nowadays who find the lure of my mornings and cold weather a refuge from the heat of the city. |
Church of St. William the Hermit
First Built in 1770, the present hewn stone and brick church was built by Father Juan Chacel from 1802 to 1825 and was restored by Father Mateo Diez in 1886. The massive, octagonal, three-storey bell tower was built by Father Juan Alonso between 1850 and 1860. The convent, opposite the bell tower, was also built by Father Alonso.
The church has one main nave and is 60 meters long, 18 meters wide and 11 meters high. Its simple and neat, Pseudo-Rococo style facade has three levels with strips of delicate Rococo tracery patterns on the pilasters and window frames. The lower level has a semi-circular arched main entrance flanked by small, simiilarly decorated rectangular statued niches. The second level, separated by a vaguely marked cornice, has a small, rectangular statued niche above the main entrance and two semi-circular arched windows at the choir loft level. The large, steep triangular pediment has a rectangular statued niche with the carved Augustinian symbol. In keeping with its fortress nature, openings are spare and heavily protected. Inside is a Baroque altar, burnished in gold leaf, and crystal chandeliers shipped by Spanish galleons. The bell tower is 33 meters high and 9 meters in diameter, has semi-circular windows and is crowned by a balustrade dome. Its ten bells are still in good condition. Built some distance away from the church-convent complex, the bell tower is connected by a small passage. Dalaguete is located 85.1 kilometers south of Cebu City. |