Rinconada Section
Buhi

 

 
History
 
The town of Buhi owes its name to the Bicol Buhinon or Boienon word “nakabuhi” meaning ‘able to escape or flee’.
 
There were two theories put forth to support this: there is the theory that says that the Boienons’ predecessors come from the Buhi tribe who settled in Camalig, Albay from the successive waves of migration of the Indonesians and Malays in the early history of the Philippines. The Boienon dialect shares a close similarity with the dialect spoken in Camalig, Albay. In those days, Chinese and Moro pirates used to raid the Albay coastline. This forced the Boienon to flee and and seek refuge in the highlands of Mt. Malinao, and from that vantage point saw the land at the foothills of Mt. Asog, and settled there for good.

The second theory says that ‘nakabuhi’ referred to the people who fled the violent eruption of Mayon Volcano in 1814, and came across this place which borders the surrounding environs of the volcano.  Thus the name Buhi – the place where  the Boienon tribe was able to find peaceful refuge, and restart their lives anew.

The Spanish discovered Buhi on April 14, 1578. Captain Pedro de Chavez, and Fr. Tomas Francisco, the leaders of the Spanish exploring party noted the presence of dark-skinned inhabitants, the local Agtas, in several settlements near what is now Lake Buhi who survived on fishing and hunting.

In 1591, census showed that population numbered 1,248 persons. In 1641, Mt. Asog (from the eastern side; Mt. Iriga from the western side), had a violent eruption blowing out the side of its caldera. The resulting eruption gave rise to what is now Lake Buhi where the famous Sinarapan or Tabios , scientific name Mistichthys luzonensis Smith , the smallest fish in the world, is found. 

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, population increased at a fast rate making Buhi the 4th most populous town in the province of Cam. Sur in 1896.

The coming of the Americans in the 1900’s ushered in a new phase of development for Buhi. Infrastructure was set up. Economic activity perked up. Under the Commonwealth government of 1935 the first elections were held. 
It was a time of relative peace until World War II broke out. The Japanese occupation brought the town’s development to a standstill from 1941 to 1945.

In 1946, when the country gained independence from the Americans, elections were held, and Boienons elected Agustin Villadares, the son of a bamboo carpenter from Virac, and a laundrywoman from Tambo, as the 1st Mayor of Buhi.

Today, Buhi is a now a thriving municipality, a big change from the old Buhi of yesteryears.

But then as now, one thing is constant – the Boienons’ economic and social life revolved around the center of the town – the majestic Lake Buhi.