The town of Victorias was
originally located in what is now known as Daan Banwa
(Old Town), a fishing village beside Malijao River and near
its outlet to the sea.
During the
Spanish era, the town was called Malijao, a name taken from
malijao trees which grew in abundance along the riverbanks.
It was ruled by Capitan Gregorio Conlu, and moro pirates and
tulisanes reigned unmolested.
One day, the
capitan's household was robbed. He was able to
escape together with his secretary Alfonso Pachera, but his
wife Capitana Tutang and their servant Micay were taken
aboard the sailboat which immediately sailed for the open
sea. When Capitana Tutang was asked whether she knew how to
swim, she replied she could not. And so she and her servant
were thrown overboard while their vessel was just outside
Malijao's river mouth.
The robbers
sailed on believing that the two will be drowned. But that
was not the case, for both women were good swimmers. While
struggling in the water, Capitana Tutang saw a beautiful
lady she believed was the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When she
reached home she prayed and promised to buy an image of the
Lady who helped her. But having been divested of their
possessions, it took several months of careful savings to be
able to purchase the image from Barcelona, Spain. However,
since she did not specify what image she wanted, Capitana
Tutang received the statue of the Nuestra Seņora de las
Victorias, which to her amazement held the likeness of
the Lady who saved her and Micay from drowning.
The
inhabitants later proposed to change the name of Malijao to
Nuestra Seņora de las Victorias to perpetuate the miraculous
incidents. They enjoined Capitan Gorio to ask the Governor
to approve the change of name. The governor gave his
consent, but retained only "Victorias" as the official name.
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Negros
Occidental, Victorias City
