Siaton, Negros Oriental

Fig.1 Tambobo Bay in Siaton, Fig.2 Map of Negros Oriental with

Negros Oriental Siaton highlighted

 Siaton, officially the Municipality of Siaton, is a 1st class municipality and the southernmost
settlement in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it
has a population of 77,696 people.
 Minagahat language, the indigenous language of Southern Negros as listed by the Komisyon
ng Wikang Filipino. The language is vital to the culture and arts of the people.

Brief History:

The legend of municipality can be traced back to the days before the arrival of the Spaniards
here in the Philippines. There was a tiny settlement in Bokoboko between the now Canaway and
Siaton rivers who were the descendants of one of the ten families that moved away from
Borneo with Datu Puti. The people were prone to constant raids by pirates and forced them to
move out to Olambid. They further moved out to Calumpang as instructed by the Spanish
missionaries in the town under Eskong Yawa and finally in 1872, they settled in Poblacion.

Origin of the name “Siaton” :

Old folks say Siaton was founded on the shore between Canaway and Siaton Rivers by one of
the ten "datus" who migrated from Borneo with Datu Puti and Datu Sumakwel. The name is said
to derive from a certain native called "Aton", who was believed to possess mysterious powers.
 Mayor:

Mayor Cezanne Fritz Diaz Vice-Mayor Vincent Emil Arbolado

Festival:

The Inagta Festival in Siaton is probably the oldest Festival of Negros Oriental. It is a celebration of
authentic culture. It is celebrated to honor St. Nicholas of Bari, which is the patron saint of the
Municipality of Siaton. The fiesta highlight is a ritual of pagan provenance, the Inagta, featuring
dark-painted performers imitating the movements of certain wildlife. In the olden times, myths and
mystical creatures cross all over the forests of the island. One of this ancient myth includes that only
women are were able to communicate to the enchanted creatures that lies within the forest
through the Babaylan dance. The Inagta Festival is a celebration for the courageous act of a male
Agta who disguised himself well in order to claim a magical flower antidote that could save the
leader of the village. He stole the clothes of his wife and went to the forest to bargain with the Fairy
Queen known as Reyna Diwata who held a magic flower that could cure their tribe chief. The male
Agta succeeded and went back to the village with the flower antidote for his leader. The leader was
cured and ordered his fellow Agta to make a dancing celebration for the courage of this one male
Agta.