The tale of Elias Cuadro and Sabiniano Gacias

The old historical tale of Elias Cuadro and Sabiniano Gacias (1937) runs thus:

“Gnaning maontoc na an guibong pagtabas,
pag-iros can salog, sa banua pagrompag;
segun supersticion, encantong balignag,
maraot na pagtubod, ay sosogon nangad.”

“Con caya guinibo, iboniag Irosin,
gnaranan an banua, apodon nin siring;
ta sogno-sognoon an hoyog na quiling,
pag-iros can tubig nin banuang Irosin.”*

Giving credence to the above account, Irosin was indeed frequently eroded due to inundations of the rivers.  On the 24th of December 1933, massive flooding occurred, sending many inhabitants to death. A concrete river control dike in 1937 under Mayor Felipe Santiago and Congressman Norberto Roque was constructed to keep the violent surge of the river from eroding the town’s mainland.

*Translation:

“To end the dissipation,
by the eroding river, to the town’s doom;
according to superstition, a wicked gnomic one,
misguided belief, ye must be obeyed.”

“Thus, it was christened Irosin,
they named and called the town as such;
or it was thus to badger,
the baleful waters of the town of Irosin.”