The capital town of Boac celebrates its 389th Founding Anniversary today, December 8th., the Fest of the Immaculate Conception. Boac derived its name from “biak”, divided or separated from end to end, referring to the river running from the eastern hinterland down to the sea on the western side of town.
Boac RiverBoac River gained international attention in 1996, when a badly sealed drainage tunnel collapsed and spewed millions of tons of mine tailings into the 26-kilometer long river.
The tunnel has been used to drain acidic water from Marcopper Mining’s Tapian pit since the early 1970s when fishkills in the river also started. The river appears to have naturally resuscitated itself when after only five years, small fishes began to show and the water cleared that those living in the river valleys used it for washing their clothes and bathing.
The bulk of the tailings are within the dredge channel at the north and south estuaries. But throughout the stretch of the river, a huge amount of tailings remain under water or are covered by soil erosion and sedimentation that, authorities claim, secure the tailings from oxidation and acidity of the river.
Our Lady of Biglang AwaA relative awareness of a traditional story that has survived to this day, told of how Moro pirates in the olden days, one gloomy day, invaded the town of Boac passing through the mouth of the river in Laylay.
The townspeople took refuge in the cathedral fortress and prayed, when all at once, a mysterious Lady in white appeared with arms outstretched atop the fortress wall facing the river. With fear and trembling the pirates fled, saving the people in that episode which inspired the creation of a new name, “Biglang Awa” for the revered Lady in white.
The 389th Founding Anniversary of Boac showcases during the week that started on December 1st, various religious, cultural and sports activities that culminates in today’s grand “Bila-Bila Festival and Street Dancing Competition”. This butterfly-inspired festival is participated in by cluster contingents from Boac’s 61 barangays.
The executive committee is headed by Boac Mayor Roberto M. Madla with Vice-Mayor Dante J. Marquez and Dr. Aquilina Rivas, as co-chairs, and officials of the Sangguniang Bayan ng Boac as members. They are Councilors Theresa P. Caballes, Sonny L. Paglinawan, Luisito M. Majaba, Luisito S. Laylay, Robert E. Opis, Benildo L. Largado, Avelino L. Chi, Ma. Herietha M. Gayutin, Ferdinand L. Mameng and Gelacio Raphael Mascarenas.
