THE HISTORY OF BARANGAY LANTANGAN IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MANDAON
A RETROSPECT OF A TRACT
Lantangan takes its name from a lexically influenced by neighboring language groups, geometrical equivalent, and mathematical Minasbate term “Gantangan,” which means, a wooden cube box used to measure the quantity of rice. It originates from the word “gantang,” a unit of volume that is equivalent to one galloon or having a sub measurement of sixteen cups, eight pints, or four quarts.
As ascribed to being an archipelagic country (Philippines), Filipinos were navigators, sea explorers, and shipwrights (throughout the time of prehistory) to travel not only their Asian neighbors (China, Japan, Vietnam, and Malaysia) but also other distant places.
The journeys’ main purpose is to trade products from different regions. Same with the intent of other neighboring regions. The early inhabitants that came to exist in this place traditionally, as means of providing necessities take barter products, in exchange with the foreign traders.
Basically, mathematics is used in the barter system. Since the natives were not yet exposed to the English metric units they had only their own representations and were probable for exemplifying the units, weights, and measures through geometrical concepts. Thus, Gantangan was used to measure salts and rice.
As Chinese traders engage in the exchange of their products to the natives, they would often hear the word “Gantangan,” and pronounce it as “Lantangan”. An impetus to the inhabitants to call the barangay Lantangan.
AT THE CROSSROAD OF EVENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Encompassed by seas and dwelling with mountains. Lantangan is nurtured by agriculture, aquaculture, and livestock productions. Being one of the third biggest in twenty-six barangays of the Municipality of Mandaon, its nourishments also are great shares not only the growth of the municipality but to the province.
Thus, regarded as one of the fishing grounds of Mandaon and is rich in aquatic marine resources that supply not only to the demand of its constituents but of the demands, province-wide.
The Eastern part of the barangay covers an agricultural land that gives the necessity of aborigines with an abundant harvest of rice, corn, root crops, and many others. The coast meanwhile offers a bouquet of dried fish reaching not only the table of the locals but beyond the bounds of the country.
Mt. Pingganon, almost 1, 800 meters above sea level, an elevated land is evident to these abundances. Not only able to see the river banks where fishponds give opportunities among businessmen to trade their aquatic products to be imported in the local markets. But, also able to see the genuine, hospitable, and industrious residents.
A retrospect of a tract and a meeting at the crossroad of event and development does not only give rise to the hindsight of the history of Barangay Lantangan but a realization of its milestones.
Credits: Barangay Secretary of Lantangan
