Monongsong and Elizabeth Castellano.

It begins, with a purely Spanish family from Bacolod who ran afoul with the civil authorities. To avoid arrest, the entire family consisting of husband and wife and daughter evacuated to the mountains of Negros and settled in the thick rain forests of the razorback mountain range in the center of the island. The places inhabited by the natives know as "negritos," so called because they were black, kinky-haired and diminutive in stature, towering (sic) only five feet or less in height. The negritos helped the Spanish evacuees build a house as well as secure food from wild yam and root crops and meat from deer and wild board which the natives hunted. This Spanish family and the negritos became fast friends.

The third member of the family was a little girl named Elizabeth. As a child, she played with negrito children who came to their house everyday. Then Elizabeth grew to be a beautiful young woman who became the center of attraction in that mountain refuge. And of of the young negritos who was among her playmates, name Manongsong, became enamored with Elizabeth. He was deeply in love with Elizabeth and wanted her as his wife. 

In short, Manongsong got Elizabeth Castellano to be his wife and they lived happily ever after - this part of the story is yours to envision or speculate upon. Anyway, Manongsong and Elizabeth bore children who were given native-sounding names which were named after their individual characteristics or traits. The oldest was "Gom-os" because he was extraordinarily strong. He later on was christened by the Spanish priest as "Gomez" and became the ancestor of the Gomezes of Guihulngan. Another son was named "Baguio (Bagyo)" becaused he acted like a storm or typhon. He retained that surname. Another was "Lampos" who liked to "lampos" or hit anything he sees with piece of wood like a bat. The priest changed his last name to "Campos". 

The couple Manongsong and Elizabeth settled in the village known as Mapinia where they raised their offspring. And Manongsong was finally civilized and had himself baptized by the local Spanish parish priest who gave him the name Mariano Montejar.


as Narrated by: Christian Malahay