SIBALE - This is the name commonly used by the people for this island. There are two versions on how this name is acquired:One was, when another Spanish galleon sought shelter inside the bay, a native noticed the interest that one of its crewmembers had shown while scanning the beauty of the town and the bay. He asked the Spaniard in his native language. "BALE ANO?" (It’s beautiful isn’t it?). The Spaniard approvingly answered; "SI, BALE!" (Yes, it’s beautiful!). Imitating the sound of the answer, the native spread the news that the name of the town is SIBALE. Another version is that, when the English vessel sought shelter inside the bay, an officer was heard to make a comment about the beauty of the town and the bay. That is a "VALLEY NEAR THE SEA" and called it a "SEA VALLEY’. From the sound of the name given, the native who over heard the comment again spread the news that the name of the town is really SIBALE.
MASUSUD - People here are known to be expert in making farm implements locally called SUDSUD. It is a sharp pointed triangular iron used for plowing and dehusking coconuts in making copra. They produce more than the demands and hence, the name MASUDSUD.
BGY. MASADYA -
BGY. DALAJICAN - This place has a long sandy beach in which turtles (locally called PAWIKAN) use to lay their eggs to hatch. The natives hunt the turtles and gather the eggs for food. Every time they go to town they would bring turtle meats and eggs as their provision while in town and as gifts to friends and relatives. (Raya is Pawikan) hence, the name RAYAJICAN in Visayan or DALAJICAN in Tagalog.
BANTON, CORCUERA (or SIMARA) & TABLAS ISLANDS
"SAMPIRO" - This place use to have a thick outgrowth of rain forest that served as a sanctuary and breeding place of certain specie of birds called SPARROW. The natives call that specie of bird SAMPIRO and named the place SAMPIRO.
BANTON ISLAND
BGY. SAN VICIENTE (former name "BIDOOZ") - Whenever the people from this place goes to town on rainy and wet days, they would just slide down NA OZOZ) at the edge of the slope above the town to avoid rolling or tumbling down. The people then named this place, BIDOOZ. This place is now called San Vicente.
"BATARIYA" - This is a small mountain located at the right side of the entrance of the bay. Originally, this was square shaped that looks like a battery of a car. The people called this BATARIYA. Due to the action of the natural elements, erosion took place and now looks like a cone. On top of one of a rock is mounted the statue of the Immaculate Concepcion which is visible when entering the bay.
BATARIYA - This is a small mountain located at the right side of the entrance of the bay. Originally, this was square shaped that looks like a battery of a car. The people called this BATARIYA. Due to the action of the natural elements, erosion took place and now looks like a cone. On top of one of a rock is mounted the statue of the Immaculate Concepcion which is visible when entering the bay.
"CONCEPCION" (The Municipal Town of Sibale Island) - This name was adopted in honor of the patron saint, the IMMACULATE CONCEPCION whose feast day is celebrated on December 8 of every year. The town is the set of the municipal government.
THE MUNICIPAL TOWN OF SIBALE ISLAND
"SUYOR" - This word means interior. A person hiding in Tinago who feels insecure would go to this place where the forest is thicker and ideal place to hide. A Spaniard who chosen to stay constructed a palatial house in this place. Nearby is a brook with cooled running water where the Spaniard uses to take a bath. The front wall chiseled and a life size mirror was placed so the owner could see himself while taking a bath. Please follow this link to see the wonder of this place! - http://www.sibale.com/tinigban_falls.html
TONGGO There is an outpost in this place which requires all sailboats entering the bay to pay a certain fee called TONG before they GO. Hence the name TONGGO.
BAGULAYAG In this place, the sailboats are inspected to see if they have paid the required tong before they raise their sail to proceed. (BA-O-MAGYADAG)
AGBATANG This name is derived from the word drift log locally called BATANG. During a turbulent weather, a passing cargo ship jettisoned some of its log cargoes to lighten its load and prevent it from sinking. These logs drifted to the shore of this place and was then called AGBATANG. This place is now called San Pedro.
MINDORO ISLAND
CALABASAHAN The fertility of the land in this place made it suitable to grow vegetables and among them is the squash locally called KALABASA. During harvest season, people from other places come to this place to gather this kind of fruit for consumption. Hence, the name CALABASAHAN; a place to gather squash fruits.
This place is called "TIPIG-TIPIG because of the rock formation being piled on top of the other rock!
SAMPONG - This name was derived from the word "Phong", a sound of a cannon fire. At one time a passing Spanish war vessel shelled the place. Asked what the native heard, their reply was "OSANG PHONG". The natives coined the word SAMPONG and adopted it as the name of the barrio. By coincidence, the same place was shelled by a passing Japanese war vessel during the Second World War. And during the liberation, a group of five Japanese strugglers in a small sailboat attempted to land on the said place. The angry natives riding on an outrigger tried to intercept the strugglers and hurled stones at them. The strugglers fired one shot from small firearm and the natives dived into the sea and scampered for safety. The strugglers did not attempt to land and changed its course for another destination.
SAMPONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BACKHAWAN- This place is noted for its mangrove, which is locally, called BAKHAW. The natives use to cut, gather and sell the trees to bakeries for use as fuel for making bread and also for charcoal used in ironing clothes. The barks soaked in water are used to dye fishnets to make it durable and less visible to the fish. The dried barks are pulverized and used to ferment tuba to vinegar.
