History
Long before the Spaniards came to Negros, this town was a wilderness and primitive people depend on hunting and fishing for a living. The town was covered with bamboo thickets called Kawayan in the local dialect hence, the name Cauayan.
In 1822, Cauayan was formally founded by Don Vicente Paulo Decena, believed to have come from Cebu. He was enticed into Cauayan by the legendary beauty of a native girl who subsequently became his wife.
During the Spanish era, a seat for the municipal government was sought. Guiljungan, Cauayan and Isio were candidates but Isio prevailed as it was more populated. It got the honor of being the center of government although gobernadorcillos were accorded Cauayan and Guiljungan.
Not much progress happened to the town at that time since the Spanish rulers were reluctant to educate their subjects. Even if they built schools, only a few privileged were admitted to them. There were no roads and most people were required to render forced labor.
All these changed when the Americans came in 1904. The tribunal in Isio was shifted to Cauayan and this fostered development. The natives were taught modern ways to raise crops while schoolhouses, roads and bridges were constructed. Not even the Japanese occupation could disrupt the development of the town since then.
Today, Cauayan is known for its fine beaches, limestone and dried fish products.
Read more about this topic: Cauayan, Negros Occidental
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—David Hume (1711–1776)
“Perhaps universal history is the history of the diverse intonation of some metaphors.”
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986)