THE HALOY CLAN

 

Sometimes between the beginning of the 15th century and the middle of the 16th century during the coming of the third wave of Malay Settlers to the Philippine archipelago, there come to the island of Panay among the group of Datu Kalantiao, a brave young and adventurous datu named Kilaton, who, with his followers roam the hinterland of Panay and finally found a settlement on the bank of the river Tigum where big stones abound. Kilaton has a twin brother called Hotik, who settled in Hamtik, Antique. Hotik was a great traveler, who legend says often visit his brother Kilaton by crossing the mountain ranges of Panay, jumping over deep ravines and gorges. One time in jumping over deep ravines, he fell on the other side and left a deep imprint of his knees, legs and buttock on the rock in the place now called “Linumpatan ni Hotik” in the mountains of Ma-asin, province of Iloilo.

 

The intrepid and daring Datu Kilaton begot a son; a brave and fast fighter named Humanging, who ran fast like wind and who legend says can run and catch in the midair the spear he had thrown. Humanging had a son named Haloy, who must have been born just before the Spaniards under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi came and settled in Panay in 1569. Haloy when of age inherited the Datu of his forebear and live his long life during the beginning of the Spanish era. He witnessed the advent of the Spanish colonization and christianization of the people of Panay and how the settlement founded by his forebear Datu Kilaton, on the bank of river Tigum flourished and later became the pueblo called Cabatuhan, meaning many stones, now the town of Cabatuan in the province of Iloilo.

 

In the process of christianization, all traces of paganism were eliminated and the Spanish friars in baptizing the Filipinos, changed their pagan names to christian names of Spanish origin particularly those related to saints. Already christianized, Datu Haloy was baptized and given the christian name Alonzo. In their long life, Datu Haloy and his wife Amas, have good fortune to amass a great wealth in Spanish gold and silver and according to the story handed down, they were commonly referred to as “Si Alonzo(Haloy) Pilakan, si Amas Bulawanan”. They begot seven sons widely known for their nicknames, “Bido”, “Kayaw”, “Pongkol”, “Batol”, “Oming”, “Hadog”, “Ontolan”. The Filipinos already christianized, baptized and have christian names, have no offical surnames to identify them and their family lineage, which fact prompted the Spanish government thru the Spanish priest of each town to give and have every Filipino adopt surnames from the list of Spanish surnames to identify them and their families, particularly during conscription for force labor. Thus the seven brothers and their families were made to adopt the different surnames of CASPE for Bido, TORMON for Kayaw, MOSCARDON for Pongkol, MONEVA for Oming, CELDA for Batol, VALENZUELA for Hadog and CUARTE-FUERTES for Ontolan, all of Spanish origins.

 

The seven having inherited the wealth of their parents, became prosperous and all became Cabezas de Barangay in the municipality where they live north and south of the Tigum river. They were among the first Cabezas de Barangay to compose the political unit of the local government of the town. After the town of Cabatuan was fully organized in 1733, with a gobernadorcillo, the Spanish priest of the town ordered several life-size images of the passion of Jesus Christ for religious procession during the Holy Week celebration. Each image was assigned to influential and prosperous families of the town for payment and care. The image of “Pieta” was given to seven brothers. As handed down, the story says, that one of the brothers, identity not known, refused to contribute to the payment of said image which cost 300 pesos in gold coin, because he said the image cannot also drive away chickens from the palay being dried, (“Indi man ca bugno cang manok sa uga”). The “Pieta” was given under the care of Bido Caspe, he having a house in the poblacion. It has been preserved thru five generation with the Caspe family and is presently in the possession and care of Mrs. Josefina Caspe Perez. The “Pieta” is one of the remaining original images still used during the Holy Week procession on Good Friday. The other original images are the “Dolorosa” and “Veronica” with the Alcayaga family; the “San Pedro” with the Munieza family; the “Resureccion” with the Morales family; and the “Santo Entiero Lignum” of the church under the present care of the Colomeda family.

 

Although living far apart, the seven brothers in their lifetime, together with their families gathered together annually for one week feasting and drinking rice wine (pangasi) siphoned from big china jar, each brother taking turn each year to host the gathering. To preserve and perpetuate family ties among the descendants, marriages between second cousins and down were encouraged and arranged by the parents, as it is still being done among the seven families.

 

From the descendants of the seven brothers, Bido, Kayaw, Batol, Oming, Pongkol, Hadog and ontolan, comprising the families of Caspe, Tormon, Celda, Moscardon, Moneva, Valenzuela and Cuarte-Fuertes, come the entire HALOY CLAN.

 

Scattered all over the Philippines and also abroad with great majority comprising the major portion of the inhabitants of the town of Cabatuan, Iloilo, the Haloy Clan have produced men and women who became successful and famous in their respective field of endeavors, foremost among them is the famous Cabatuananon, the late Thomas Valenzuela Confesor.