Views and Culture
November 24, 2009
The town of Argao is considered as one of the oldest towns in the province of Cebu, having been founded by the Spaniards and established as a pueblo in the year 1608. But prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, what was then Argao was composed of several families that lived mainly by fishing and farming, as many still do today. According to stories passed on from generation to generation, the name of the town was derived from an abundantly-growing plant in the area, known locally as “Sali-argaw”. The story of Argao’s name is very much like many other localities in the Philippines that derived their names from popular flora or fauna found in the area. As the story goes, a delegation of Spanish officials came to the town and asked a villager, some say a fisherman, what the name of the town was. Obviously, not comprehending the foreign tongue, the man presumed that the Spaniard was referring to the “Sali-argaw” plants in the area, as the Spaniards were waving their arms to mean the entire place. With this, the fisherman simply said “Sali-argaw”, and from that moment on the Spaniards christened the area as el pueblo de Argao.
Extant records pertaining to the establishment of Argao as a town go only as far as the middle eighteenth century, when the Augustinians started building the church in Argao,
later named after St. Michael the Archangel. 
Indeed, prior to 1730,
there have been no more written records that have survived to this day that can pinpoint to the 1608 founding of the town.
According to church records, the church of Argao was founded on October 16, 1733. Another source says that Argao began as an encomienda and that the Argao parish was founded on May 17, 1734. It places Ignacio Olalde, OSA, as its first parish priest. The church tower or belfry was built upon the orders of Bishop Santos Gomez de Marañon (Bishop of Cebu 1829 – 1840).
Because Argao was opened as a commercial port in the last portion of the 19th century and because of the establishment by Philippine Railway Co. of a train system from the city to Argao in the South and Danao in the North, mainly for the transport of coal to the city, the population of Argao during the time of Mayor Antonio Miñoza (1914-1917) surged to about 61,000. But when he was appointed as Deputy Governor of Sulu and Mindanao under Governor Guingona of the Bureau of Non-Christians, he encouraged the Argawanons to migrate to Cotabato and Davao. Enticed by the promise of owning vast fertile lands, thousands went to Mindanao, causing the population to drop more than half and leaving many houses vacant. The first town executive during the American regime was Capitan Juan Lucero. The first president was Alejandro Ruiz.
Argao is also the hometown of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
An Excellent Performance!
November 24,2009
What an excellent performance which was performed by Talaga National High School last September 28,2009 at exactly 3:00 p.m in Diosdado Macapagal Sports Complex.This was a second time of participating the Pitlagong Festival sa Argao but it was the first performance that people were shocked and proud.There were only two offertory of pitlagong dancing during the “Bisperas”town fiesta in Argao;Cambanua NHS and Talaga NHS.It was a good example to show that argawanon are very active and cooperative individual.
Colorful Town
November 24,2009
Municipality of Argao is the birth town of the famous Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.Argao is famous in “Hablon”industry.It is usually use for wedding occassion as decoration in the church. Argao is very colorful town even it is night time.During daytime,you can see clean and green environment, you can smell the fragrant of the flowers and you feel the fresh air and it trapped to your face.Meanwhile,during night time you will feel the X’mas season entire the whole years and you will hear some music if you are in the plaza.If you have laptops,you can use it everywhere,there’s a wifi here.
“Vis-ual act-Ion”(VISION)
November 24,2009
Argao vision is what they called the eyes of argawanon to their town.They always think positive.First thing they do is planning their works.You see how they give values to their beloved town.They spend efforts and time.I don’t know if they will also spend their own money but I assure that after planning thier works ,they work whatever they will plan.
