Before there were highways, massive commercial malls, or sprawling sugar mills, the lifeblood of Kabankalan City was the water. And if you want to trace the very origins of the city’s commercial success, your journey ends at the riverbanks of Barangay 8.
Tucked within the Poblacion, Barangay 8 is a highly residential, two-block district that holds one of the most fascinating origin stories in Negros Occidental. Long before Kabankalan was recognized as a municipality (having originally been a village of the town of Ilog), this exact spot was the bustling epicenter of ancient river trade.
Ylaya and the Origins of Lugway
To the early settlers of the 16th century, the concept of numbered barangays did not exist. Instead, the area along the mighty Ilog River—which flows from the deep mountains of Negros down to the sea—was divided by geography.
The western part of the river was called Ilahud, but the eastern part, which comprises modern-day Barangays 8 and 9, was known as Ylaya.
At the heart of Ylaya was a specific area called Lugway. Today, Lugway is simply a street in Barangay 8, but centuries ago, it was the ultimate trading hub. Because the river was the fastest and most reliable mode of transportation, sea vessels from the coast and small wooden canoes (barotos) from the upland mountains would converge here.
Lugway was a vibrant, chaotic, and wealthy tabuan (barter marketplace). Upland farmers would navigate the river to unload raw goods: bamboo, livestock, coffee, root crops like cassava and ube, and tropical fruits. In exchange, they would trade for salt, sea catch, and modern implements brought by coastal merchants.
The Tradition of the Bangkero
One of the most beautiful aspects of Barangay 8 is how certain historical traditions have survived into the modern era.
Centuries ago, if you needed to cross the river from the Lugway trading post over to the lands of Camugao, you had to hire a bangkero—a man who ferries passengers across the water using a traditional baroto (a small wooden outrigger canoe).
Incredibly, if you visit the riverbanks of Barangay 8 today, this exact practice is still alive. For over a hundred years, the same manner of ferrying passengers across the river to Barangay Camugao has continued uninterrupted. It is a living, breathing piece of Kabankalan’s ancient heritage operating right under the nose of modern urbanization.
The Deep Roots of the Community
Because this area was the first true settlement of the town, the residents of Barangay 8 have incredibly deep roots. During the Spanish era, early settlers here were granted cadastral lands by the Spanish Governor. As a result, many of the original families living in Barangay 8 today inherited their residential lots directly from their great-grandfathers.
Living in Barangay 8 is like living on a piece of an ancient map. It is a quiet, residential enclave today, but the ground beneath it was the foundation of Kabankalan’s economy. It stands as a beautiful reminder that before Kabankalan was the “Rising City of the South,” it was a thriving river village where the mountains met the sea.
