AgusanAgusan MarshMarshA Brief HistoryA Brief History

Greg Greg HontiverosHontiveros

LinaoLinao 16221622

““a village located on the shores of the river, forty a village located on the shores of the river, forty leguasleguas away from the sea.away from the sea.””

History of the Augustinian RecollectsHistory of the Augustinian Recollects

This Recollect mission was closed in 1860, after This Recollect mission was closed in 1860, after the great flood doubled the size of the lake along the great flood doubled the size of the lake along which the which the LinaoLinao

mission was located. mission was located.

The Recollect fathers advised the survivors to join The Recollect fathers advised the survivors to join the new Christian community in San Jose de the new Christian community in San Jose de BunawanBunawan. .

““Just the name of the sea and the winds that blow over it frighteJust the name of the sea and the winds that blow over it frighten a people who n a people who

were born and have lived in the interior of Mindanao without seewere born and have lived in the interior of Mindanao without seeing anything ing anything

else than mountains and rivers, and without ever experiencing tyelse than mountains and rivers, and without ever experiencing typhoons. This phoons. This

is so true that many families would prefer to live wandering oveis so true that many families would prefer to live wandering over the lagoons r the lagoons

formed by the formed by the AgusanAgusan

river, without more of a house than their poor river, without more of a house than their poor barotobaroto, nor , nor

more food than the little fishes of the water on which they floamore food than the little fishes of the water on which they float, or the heart of t, or the heart of

the palm tree.the palm tree.””

PeoplePeople’’s Petition s Petition June 21, 1875June 21, 1875

““I go down the I go down the SimulaoSimulao

River which soon becomes narrower River which soon becomes narrower

and begins to and begins to

Meander between low banks covered with Meander between low banks covered with bitoonbitoon and blooming and blooming with marvelouswith marvelous

whitewhite--crowned flowers with a plume of scarlet stamen in their crowned flowers with a plume of scarlet stamen in their centercenter……

Dr. Joseph MontanoDr. Joseph Montano

““The trip up the The trip up the AgusanAgusan

River is a most wonderful one. Nothing could surpass River is a most wonderful one. Nothing could surpass

the magnificence of the tropical vegetation along its banks. Thethe magnificence of the tropical vegetation along its banks. The

sportsman sportsman

finds himself constantly diverted. Great fruitfinds himself constantly diverted. Great fruit--pigeons and huge hornbills pigeons and huge hornbills

frequently fly over onefrequently fly over one’’s boat, or perch in trees where they can be shot from the s boat, or perch in trees where they can be shot from the

river. Monkeys abound. Huge crocodiles may occasionally be obserriver. Monkeys abound. Huge crocodiles may occasionally be observed sleeping ved sleeping

on the banks. Wild hogs are plentiful, but usually keep out of son the banks. Wild hogs are plentiful, but usually keep out of sight. The trees ight. The trees

are hung with a marvelous drapery of vines, orchids and ferns, aare hung with a marvelous drapery of vines, orchids and ferns, and, as the nd, as the

stream is so broad and deep as to render its navigation easy, onstream is so broad and deep as to render its navigation easy, one can lean back e can lean back

and enjoy to the full the beauties of nature displayed in prodigand enjoy to the full the beauties of nature displayed in prodigal abundance on al abundance on

every side.every side.””

Dean C. WorcesterDean C. Worcester

World War II World War II WaloeWaloe

in Loreto was the site of a superin Loreto was the site of a super--secret radio secret radio

communications transmitter which was the final relay communications transmitter which was the final relay link from the Philippines to link from the Philippines to MacArthurMacArthur’’ss

headquarters in headquarters in

Australia. Australia.

It was a crucial communication link in the campaign to It was a crucial communication link in the campaign to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese.liberate the Philippines from the Japanese.

An operative of theAn operative of theAmerican Intelligence BureauAmerican Intelligence Bureau