Anything under the Sun
Origins of place-names (10)
After mysterious incidents
San Miguel – In 1805, sixty bandits from Alimodian, Iloilo led by Magua-ay attacked the pueblo of Anggoy.
Some inhabitants through prior notice of the coming of the bandits gathered at the convent to help parish priest Padre Nicolas Concepcion defend the church.
When the bandits arrived at night they forced open the church door. Then a strange very bright light emanated from the altar and blinded them. Afraid, they fled.
Along their way, they informed the people that they saw the statue of San Miguel step down the altar and confronted them with a blinding light.
Because of this incident, the people petitioned the authorities to rename their pueblo San Miguel.
Victorias – One day, during the Spanish regime, a Muslim vinta landed at Maliao, a pueblo in Negros Occidental and kidnapped Doña Fausta, wife of Capitan Gregorio Conlu and their maid Mikay.
While at the middle of the sea, the two women were thrown overboard. They say a beautiful lady waking miraculously on the water. She helped them swim to the shore.
Believing that it was the Virgin Mary, Doña Fausta asked her husband for an image of the Virgin. Capitan Gregorio went to Bacolod to order an image from Spain. When the image arrived, Doña Fausta was very much surprised to see that it looked very much like the lady who saved them at sea. It was La Nuestra Seño de las Victorias.
In 1880, the Muslims tried to raid Maliao. But they were blocked at the sea by a vinta with a beautiful lady and a strong man with a sword. The Muslims fled but two days later, they returned and were again blocked by the same lady and strong man.
Believing that it was La Señora de las Victorias who saved their town and the strong man with a sword was San Miguel, the people renamed it after her.