A "Myth" about Cabingcolan

This is a myth about Cabingcolan, my barrio. I want to share this story which I heard from my Lolo Ilas Cisnero a tale which still   lingers in my mind.

Probably between 1915 to 1923, baseball was still the most popular sport in our country and in the USA. The most important player then was Babe Ruth..Today Basketball is supreme and Michael Jordan is the "King.." But let's go back to the baseball in Pangasinan circa 1920's..

The most popular baseball players in Pangasinan were the four Ramos brothers: : Berting (Felixberto), Eng, Eping (Jose) , and Nador. Nachong, Fidel's father was not included this time because he was busy with social commitments.The Ramos brothers were in the Asingan Team. The elite team in Pangasinan at that time was Lingayen.

My lolo said, Lingayen has always been the yearly champion. Then the Pangasinan baseball league took place in Asingan, at the the "Rancho Carpo Velasco" (Bangkag).. . The town plaza was not big enough for the Major League tournament. . Everybody was surprised when the Asingan Team won the league, beating the elite team from Lingayen. Everyone hardly believed this remarkable achievement of the Asingan Team, so there was a re-match. They won for 2nd time!. The league was held in summer time around March or April. The vicinity to be used for the baseball league was already planted with crops ready for the next season. But the Asingan baseball fans stepped on all the crops and flattened them, just so they can watch the game!

One of the Ramos Brothers named this South Westside area of Poblacion Cabingcolan. . My lolo Ilas did not mentioned who among the Ramos brothers give it such a name. Before, I thought Cabingcolan came from the word Bingcol which means earthworm defecation( Humus), but I was wrong. And so Cabingcolan became the favorite hang-out of the the Ramos Brothers . They became very close friends to the Aquinos and Carlos families in the community, They bought a piece of property from the Aquino Family next to the subdivision and it became the present site of 2 houses; one for Fidel and the other for his sister Leticia Shahani..

The Cabingcolan Youth Organization was then created and it became very active after World War II ( from the 50's, up to the 90's). I was elected as a Vice president of the CYO in early 1980. I have'nt heard anything from the organization and I do hope it still exists. This story is based on some tales from my late Lolo Ilas Cisnero, If you have something to add or a different version story please come forward and e-mail it to me so I will be corrected. Thank you and Happy blogging!

Arsenio Macanas