Buntay

Barangay Buntay is a barangay in the town of Dagami, Leyte. It is bounded in the north by Barangay Abaca, in the east by Barangay Poponton, in the west by Cambuyacao Creek with Barangay Hinabuyan, and in the south by Barangay Culawin of the town of Pastrana, Leyte.

Its primary source of income is rice planting, coconuts and other crops such as sweet potato, cassava, legumes.

People

Buntayanon celebrates their feast in the month of May with festivities in honor of its patron saint.

History

Long ago, before Buntay was considered as one of the barangays of Dagami, it lies silently as a place unknown to many. The people were far from each other and the place was just a little forested land and a little pathway for travelling from one place to the another as well as their way of transportation to the town. The name 'Buntay' refers to a small longitudinal patch of land with vegetations situated in an open or rice fields.

The people who call it as 'Buntay' which according to their native tongue means "pahalaba". The barrio is a long parcel of land wherein the residents are living at the bank of the main road. There, in that shape of the place, Buntay, got its name. But though the natives called it as such, it was far from their mind that their place is a barrio, even to call their place officially as Buntay, is not a concerned of them.So they just live their peacefully as if isolated from the outside world. When colonization occurs globally, the Westerners lost their way to Buntay. One of the group that gave a great impact to the origin of the name of Buntay were the religious group which they called as "Pulahanes." Along their track, they met some of the natives and as an introduction to friendship, they (Pulahanes), asked the name of the place. Though Buntay was in the mind of the natives, because it was not yet officially declared as such, they can't give the name of the place. They called the elderly people of the place as well as some of the noble men during their time just to answer the friendly question of the stranger. To their surprised about the question, they can't officially gave the name, but rumors and some words that comes out from their lips, Buntay. To settle the problem, it was then that the PULAHANES decided to call the place as Buntay and from that time, it will be called as such. So, from that moment until now, that long time ago, a silent and peaceful land, unofficially known to many, was known as Barangay Buntay.

Barangay Officials

• Francisco Vertulfo (called as Tenyente del Baryo)
• Eustaqiuo Gardiola
• George Bandoles
• Remegio Maat (appointed by the people)
• Roberta Calderon
• Emeterio Sosing
• Anacita Abino

Anacita Calderon

• Pacifico Candalo
• Demeterio Arguilles
• Clarita Superable

This is according to the knowledge of the former Barangay Chairwoman of the said barrio, Anacita Abino.*

Education

Buntay has been blessed by first two buildings for elementary education long before. It was Mr. Geronimo Guerilla who first opened the mind of the pioneers of Buntay to the learning of the world outside when he became the first mentor of the children there. When he died, he was succeeded by Mrs. Marciana Nielo.

The two buildings before were then given by five more. So as of 2007, Buntay had seven small buildings for the education of the Buntayanons.

Election Process

As of 2007, there are about 891 headcounts of qualified voters in Buntay. The census of non-voters are not yet done as of 2008 but more or less, the population may reach to about a thousand people, according to the Census Department of Buntay.

Religion

Some of the intermixed religions in Buntay are; Roman Catholicism, which comprises the large mass of the population and minor religions like "Born Again" (Apostolic Church Of Jesus Christ), "An Tulda Han Ginoo", The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and other minor religious institutions.

contribute by

 Ronaldo M. Gisma