The village is considered as a fishing place. Every year in June, they celebrate the famous "Kinsan Festival", named after a fish that is usually abundant in months of May to July. It was believed that the town is named after that fish called "KINSAN". Since then, the place was called "KINSAN". Another local lore explained the etymology of the name. During early days, the Spanish authorities traveled around the newly-colonized island, making friends with the natives and asking the name of the place.
One soldier happened to pass the place and was eager to known the place. He asked the fisherman, “Como se llama este lugar?” which literally translates into “What is the name of the place?” Thinking the Spanish was asking about the kind of fish he was bringing, the fisherman answered, “kinsan”.
Not clearly stated, the Spanish again asked the question. The fisherman, who was selling kinsan, was carrying the basket with the head of the fish as he already sold the other parts and answered, “Ulo sa Kinsan” or “Head of Kinsan”. As years passed, Ulo sa Kinsan eventually evolved into “Aloguinsan”.
The festival showcases local talents performing original dance steps in this street dancing competition and ritual showdown. The colorful costumes and movements imitate the movements of the fish and how folks live life in everyday basis.
The town fiesta is celebrated every 23rd & 24 October in honor of St. Raphael the Archangel. Unlike other towns, whose festivals are in cognizance to the feast days of their patron saints, Aloguinsan has its own reason why Kinsan Festival is not held simultaneously with the its fiesta celebration. The town observes the feast day every October but celebrates Kinsan Festival in the second Sunday of June because March to June are Kinsan season.
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Aloguinsan was formerly a barrio of Pinamungajan. It was created a town by virtue of the Royal Decree of the King of Spain in 1886. The first capitan was Felomino Nengasca who became its first "Captain Municipal".
Bulwarte, a historic landmark, still stands as a mute testimony to the courage of the early inhabitants of Aloguinsan. Because of the frequent Moro attacks, the natives, under the supervision of the Spaniards, constructed a watchtower on top of a hill at the mouth of a river. From this vantage point, they could see incoming Moro vintas.
One night (a full moon and favorable winds), the Muslim invaders approached the village. With old people, women, and children safe behind the hills, the men began firing their cannons and did not stop until the pirates were annihilated. It was the end of Moro assaults.
The historic hill of Villona between the barrios of Olango and Cawasan was also the site of a battle between the American forces and Filipino revolutionist. The rebels under the leadership of Anastacio de la Cruz encountered the forces of Lt. Walker on Holy Thursday on April 1903. Lt. Walker and a number of his men were killed. The following day, Good Friday, Lt. McCoy took over the command of the American troops and outfought the Pulahanes (the rebels because of their red headbands were known as such.) who were defeated.
The courage and patriotism of the Aloguinsan were again tested in World War II. Cebuano guerillas from the place stubbornly and fiercely resisting Japanese invaders to helping Allied Filipino troops of the 81st, 82nd and 83rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army in barrio Konguigon resulted in the death of many Japanese soldiers. The enemy retaliated by killing many civilians, including babies, and there entered by joint Filipino and American troops together with the Cebuano guerillas until the end in the Second World War.
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