Legend In the research work "Guinobatan Through the Times," the following version of the legend is stated: • In a region on Mayon's slopes lay a village. It was dotted with huts whose roofs were made of
nipa, as well as with a number of stone houses. In the village was a church, and inside the belfry was a Golden Bell. So great was the bell that when rung, the sound could be heard from miles away. The sound could even reach the land of the Moros. The Moros, made curious by the sound of the bell, sent spies so that they would know what kind of bell was producing so loud and peculiar a sound. The spies were amazed and surprised to find out that the townspeople rang was made of pure gold. They went back to the land of the Moros eager to report their findings to their superiors. Motivated by greed, the Moros assembled a squad to plunder the bell. When they arrived at the village, they pillaged the community and torched houses. They attempted to force the people to tell them where the Golden Bell was. Their attempts failed. Many were still able to flee. The fleeing townsfolk knew where the bell was, and they hid the bell underneath the roots of trees. However, an old man was left in the village. As he was the only person left in the town; Moros tortured him so that he would tell the raiders where the Golden Bell was. The old man, however, did not know. Finding no use for the old man, the Moros killed him. They tried to pursue the townspeople, but they were too far away to be captured. Instead, they went to the woods in search of the Golden Bell. They uprooted every tree underneath which they believed the Golden Bell was hidden. Their efforts proved futile. Hence, with empty hands the Moros went back to their land, while the townspeople went back to the village to rebuild their lives, which had always been under threat from Moro pillagers and natural calamities; from bad harvests and oppressive
encomienderos. The townspeople also kept the valued Golden Bell safe from anyone who tried to steal it. Seeing the uprooted trees, the townsfolk named their area “Guinobatan” meaning “a place where trees were uprooted.” So ends the legend.
Spanish colonial era Luis Née, a botanist, reached
Bicol in January 1792, accompanying the expedition of Capt.
Alejandro Malaspina. Née explored towns near
Mayon and including the area now known as Guinobatan. He noted that "trees grew in exuberance making the foothills impenetrable in many parts." Dr. Leonilo RC. Palacio of Guinobatan's Republic Colleges mentioned in an essay entitled "Guinobatan and its Church" that "in 1672, the Parish of Guinobatan was already mentioned in books as a
visita of the Municipality of Camalig." In 1890, the title of the
gobernadorcillo was changed to
Capitan Municipal. The Municipal Law of 1894 guaranteed that the term of the local executive would be extended from two years to four years. Also among the salient provisions of the law was the election of 12
vocales, equivalent to today's councilors. In 1895, the Colegio de San Buenaventura was also built, making Guinobatan the centre for higher education in Albay. ==Geography==