How Alimodian Got Its Name

The name Alimodian may sound strange and awkward at first hearing. But the fact is, three versions are vying to be regarded as the true account of the origin of the town's name. Some old folks in Alimodiar believe that the history of Alimodian town cannot be completely told without making mention of Kalipayan and her fair daughter Si Kanugon. With a few other natives, Kalipayan and Kanugon had a kaingin patch in a place called Sibukawan near the present site of Barangay Ca-gay.

The hero of this narrative, Agustin Magtanong, was in love with Si Kanu. gon. Kalipayan, however, was opposed to the idea of giving her daughter's hand in marriage to one who, she claimed, was a worthless young man whose only means of livelihood was tilling a small kaingin patch of upland rice. This made Magtanong even more resolved to get Si Kanugon by all means.

He gathered forty husky men about him and planned for their next move to kidnap the object of his affection.

On the other hand, Si Kanugon, grieved over the frustrated romance with Magtanong, decided to end it all. Magtanong, however, caught Si Kanugon in the act of taking poison from wild roots. After a brief and hurried exchange of loving words, the lovers decided finally to elope. They went south where, together with Magtanong's forty male followers and their respective families,

founded the village of Obodan.

Obodan later proved too small a place for the fast growing tribe. Magta The town was named Ali Mudin after Magtanong's first born son with Si

nong then prepared another plan to found a town on a plain about three kilo meters south of the village of Godan, Kanugoh. That was in 1753. The word "Alimodian" was merely a corruption of the original name given to what is now the Municipality of Alimodian.

Another version states, that when the founders of the town wanted to break away from the Municipality of Ogtong, now Oton, they had a dilemma as to where the poblacion would be built. Those on the northern end of the town, now Sitio of Bagumbayan, wanted the poblacion to be located in their place for

some obvious reasons. But, of course, the leaders from what is now the Sitio of Balabago in the southern end of the town was not amenable to this. They also wanted the poblacion to be in their place.

Therefore, they had to reach a compromise. They decided to haul logs from the beach of Oton and agreed that in whatever part along the way the rope would snap and break, there the poblacion should stand. Luckily for the town leaders, one of the ropes snapped on the bank of the

Cabudian Creek, where the present town plaza is located. Consequently, the men

built their houses around the place where the rope was broken, as what was agreed upon. The name, Alimodian, the account tells was derived from the Cabu dian Creek, the change occurring gradually with the march of time.