Siniloan is a Fair Share

Stories from generation to generation say that the early Spanish era in Siniloan or Guiling-guiing (its old name) was not easy for the local folks. Colonizers forced the inhabitants of the town to work with meager pay, and the Spanish government demanded tributes beyond the native’s means. However, in spite of the hardships the natives suffered, they were able to build their own church. The Siniloan church began to rise in 1733. Construction was over six years later in 1719 through the supervision of Padre Melchor de San Antonio, a Franciscan.

It was during this time that a new legend about Siniloan came about. It was a tale that described the fairness of the brothers Juan Puno, Juan Pili and Juan Puhawan. The story says that the brothers were the earliest settlers of the village. When Aetas formerly residing in the locality left the village, they cleared the forest until other settlers from neighboring villages arrived to help. When the time for them to divide the property came, they exercised the best sense of fairness to split the land. Learning about the brother’s dilemma, the Cura Parocco helped them, using the most modern mathematical formula known during the period. The Cura solved the problem. The brothers were glad. They cheered “Sinluluwang!” repeatedly. Since then they called the homestead “Sinluluwang,” which means “Fair share” until it becomes Siniloan.

Taal volcano erupted in 1754, volcanic emissions rained over Siniloan. However it did not cause the town any damage Instead it fertilized the town’s rice fields.

An earthquake shook the town in 1880, destroying the church. Then Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera, came to see the destruction brought about by the earthquake. Locales rebuilt the church eighteen years later.

In 1629, Mabitac, once a paft of the town ceased to be a barrio of Siniloan to become a separate pueblo and in 1910, Famy, also a former barrio of Siniloan, once called Calumpang followed.