Magsungay River

Did you know that Bacolod started as a small village near Magsungay River? It became known as San Sebastian de Magsunggay when the Spanish missionaries put the small village under the protection of St. Sebastian.

According to Fr. Cuesta, a Spanish Recollect historian and as quoted by Mr. Modesto Sa-onoy, our local historian, this settlement can be traced back from 1500s. History books are consistent in mentioning the existence of Magsungay when there was no Bacolod, yet. Mr. Saonoy quoted 1777 as the year when the relics of San Sebastian was donated to the visita, that is, a small mission dependent upon Bago. So, Bago predated Bacolod. 

Next time, I would like to photograph, the same River a little further inland where it will be called Lupit River near San Antonio Abad Church. The same sources mentioned the occurence of the bloodiest battle in 1787 when Moro raiders in 12 and a half vintas attacked them at 4:00 in the morning. So, that means 18 vintas of blood thirsty pirates attacked them before the break of day. Hundreds of Taga-Ilogs died in the attack. Their women were raped and almost all of the houses were either burned down or looted.

Lupit River winds up at the back of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and I intend to follow this river trek up to that bridge near the Bacolod City High School and towards the New Government Center where the river is said to be called Ngalan River. Well, not through the river, of course. Sorry but it's not clean, anymore. I will just do it by land. Okay? 

Seriously, I want this river cleaned up and turned into a Historic tourist attraction for the City of Smiles, Bacolod. 

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