Municipality of Tudela

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Tudela   is a fifth income class municipality in the province of Cebu Province, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 9,859, making it the least populous municipality in the province.
Tudela is eight kilometres (5 mi) east of the town center of Poro. Along with the town of Poro, Tudela is located on Poro Island. The town celebrates the fiesta of parish patron Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception each December 8.

History of Municipality of Tudela "Tag-Anito" Camotes

Tag-Anito was the original name of Tudela, which during the Spanish era renamed to Tudela by one friar named Ramon Alegria, it was the year 1892. Tudela is a city in where the friar grew until he was sent to Tudela during ’s conquest for territory and power. Tudela was only a barrio of Poro at that time for Tudela herself sits on .

In 1934, however a group of prominent residents petitioned to then Speaker of the house of representatives who was Honorable Sergio Osmeña. From that request Tudela as it is now a municipality which has Eleven (11) barangays namely:

1. Calmante 2. Northern Poblacion 3. General 4. McArthur 5. Villahermosa 6. Bag-o Secante 7. Da-an Secante 8. Southern Poblacion 9. Buenavista 10. Puertobello 11. Santander
History books teaches us that, Tag-Anito was characterized and made it to the history books on May 20, 1892 during the Spanish Regime by the Consejo de Administration through the petition letter of Pedro Solano who was the cabeza de barangay at that time and on the same year the friar Ramon Alegria who made it to Tag-Anito, changed the name to Tudela in honor of the place in Spain where he came from.

Mystical

In the murky past, Tudela was a sitio of Poro. The people then were worshippers of anitos, caves and giant tress.
They wore fetishes, which they believed, made them proof against witchcraft, the evil eye and evil tongue,
these fetishes or anting-anting were strung around their waist.
When communities began to form, the first settlement was located in Mag-a-gay-ay Bluff,
a dismembered branch of a hill to the north.
The early settlers chose this strategic bluff to protect themselves from moro raids.

The Moro raiders could not climb the steep southern and western portions.
On the eastern and northern sides, they planted thorny vines called “hagmang” or “buot”.
It is impossible for barefoot raiders to go uphill. If the Moro raiders climbed up on the southern or western sides,
the defenders rolled down boulders.

During these early Moro depredations, one chieftain named Mandayang became a folk hero on account of his anting-anting.
He was the chieftain of Mandayang, Barangay McArthur. Sitio Mandayang is named in his honor.
Tales of his exploits are still remembered today by old residents of Tudela.
When the Moro vintas landed, Mandayang met them on the shore and made the raiders kneel on the coral reefs.

Before the Spaniards came, Tudela was covered by virgin forests.
Wild carabaos roamed the hills and forests.
Some people hunted the wild bulls, using their domesticated carabaos as lure.
The hunter tied his carabao to a tree, and then climbed up with a spear.
After some time of patient waiting, the bull came attracted by the scent of the female.
Then the hunter should spear the wild bull. If lucky, he made a big kill.
The hunters then gathered at Gin-awitan for a week of feasting and dancing.
That’s how Gin-awitan, now Barangay Santander, got its name.

When the Moro raiders ceased making raids and taking captives, the growing population settled on the Tudela plains.
Tudela was only a barangay of Poro. The Spanish Guardia Civil replaced the Moro raiders.
They came to prey on the beautiful women. When they came, the women fled and hid in the forests.
Many of them became mothers but not wives because their boyfriends met them in the woods.

When Juan Pugosa, alias Moyon, became the leader of Tudela and Don Sergio Osmeña provincial Governor of Cebu Province,
Manong Moyon met the Governor at his office. He asked the governor to make Tudela a separate municipality.
Don Sergio told Manong Moyon the move was a big leap and a tremendous responsibility.
You need a municipal building and school buildings. Manong Moyon answered, “Give us a try.
No man can learn to swim unless you throw him into the sea.” Osmeña then told Pugosa,

Bukilat Cave

Of the 8 well visited natural caves in the Camotes Islands, the Bukilat cave is the grandest and most visited cave. It is one of the major tourist spots of Camotes. The interior is illuminated by light coming from the entrance and the crevices on the ceiling portion of the cave. The water level change with the tides of the sea. Tourists and locals usually come here when the tide is high. Some choose to swim in the water whenever its high tide. You might want to consider that when you are planning to take a photo without people in the cave. The cave is very accessible. You only need to go down a stairway.

The cave was named after the person who discovered it, a local chief named Bukilat. During the World War II invasion and occupation by the Imperial Japanese Army, the locals used this cave as a shelter. And whenever the Imperial Japanese Army is involved, stories of buried treasures follow. It is believed that a treasure is hidden somewhere in this cave.

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