Manlayo

Manlayo, Guinayangan Quezon

Coordinates:

13°54′14.66″N 122°27′3.73″E

The 3rd most populated Barangay of Guinayangan Quezon. Origin of the word “Manlayo” is unknown though it is always associated with old Visayan word “Man” meaning too or also and word “layo” means far. Thus origin believed to be “Too far”. Other etymologies are retold to people though none ever confirmed the true origin of word. Manlayo is situated in North East coastal part of Guinayangan, making it a gateway of sea food paradise. Original settlers believed to be Visayan and Bicolano. During the “The Great Fish Race” of circa 1950-70 new settlers from Cavite and Batangas populated the coastal areas. Abundant of fishing, accessibility and fishing business at the shore that later became majority dwellers are Caviteños. Most people here are self sufficient. Fishing and other marine products are the major source of income, dried fish and other curing of sea denizens’ follows second. Beachheads are mostly converted to Fish Drying and curing rows called “Bilaran”. Mangroves made barn houses called “Kamalig” were mostly found near the shore for Smoked Curing and Fish Meal processing called “Jako”. Almost 30 % of land area are salt marsh and are inundated during high tide.

Mid areas of barangay are now reclaimed but coastal edges are shrunk relatively by frequent typhoon visiting the region. During the circa 1960-1970 “Basnigan” made most number of fishing landings here and had made Ragay Gulf the “Basnig pastures” of nearby Provinces like Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Cavite. Declined of Basnigan during the 80s spawned other type of fishing activity. The advent of Trawling and Dredge Fishing (i.e. Kuto-kuto, Galadgad and Norway) make way to new fishing system during the 80s. Crabs and Shrimps fishing (Bubo, Sakag and Mangingilaw) minimal activity are scarcely declining but still use today. The closing of the Frontier documented by British historian John G. Butcher that reduction and almost eradication of all fishing activity derived from “Basnigan”.  Mid 90’s mandated closed fishing season brought turmoil to sea dependant cultures of Manlayuhin. Descendants of old fishing multitude strived to work and struggle to cities like Lucena and Manila.

Slowly people are moving to land based work and participate to growing transportation business of nearby town. Today numbers of successful professionals who were fishermen descendants are contend to alter their fate by working abroad and return to their roots by retiring and building houses and frequently enjoy yearly town fiesta.

Population

1,592 As of 2007 Census of Population

Fiesta

Every last Sunday of August, Manlayo celebrates its Barrio Fiesta, in honor of Nuestra Señora De La Paz or Our Lady of Peace. The Fluvial and Sea Caracol punctuated the event thus making the main attraction for the yearly event. The fluvial parade usually initiated by official costume competition that marks the colorful gala of display of creativity of its natives. Such event proliferates as annual “must see” for adjacent town of Guinayangan.

School

Don Guillermo Eleazar Elementary School (Formerly Manlayo-Kalimpak Elementary School)