Gino A. Villacampa

“The History and Livelihood of Brgy. Calaya”

       In this picture, we are interviewing a resident of Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. We are gathering information about the origin of Brgy. Calaya and its history. According to him, Brgy. Calaya exists even before his grandfather was born. Its first settlers came from Guimbal, a municipality in the province of Iloilo. He told us that during World War II, the Japanese soldiers never reached the said barangay. He also told us the reason why they named their barangay “Calaya”. It is because according to the people there, during summertime, all the grasses and shrubs there withered that is where they got the name of their barangay. Besides their history, we also interviewed him about the industry their barangay is famous for. He told us that they are into farming and weaving mats before. But now only few households are making mats. He said that Calaya now famous in making native purse and bags. 

“We are on the top of Brgy. Calaya”

In this picture, we are on the top of a large boulder found in Brgy. Calaya. According to the residents who lived there, this boulder is only small before. As time goes by, it begun to “grow” bigger and bigger. According to one of our interviewees when we ask him if the stone is truly alive, he answers us jokingly. “ambot kung buhi guid man na. Kung magsaka ko daw wala man na gagiho” (I really don’t know if it is alive. Every time I go up there, it is not moving). There are two big boulders located in Brgy. Calaya. They named it “Bato Lapad” and “Bato Taas”. According to the residents there, many of their visitors never missed the chance to climb on the two boulders every time they are in that place. When you are up there, it is truly a wonderful view because you can see the islets located in Guimaras.