07/07/2026
The story behind our name. ๐ค
TAMPA Lumberyard & Furniture Shop takes its name from Tampa, the old name of Pamplona. A name that reflects where we came from and the values we continue to build on quality, trust, and service. โบ๏ธ
From Tampa to Pamplona: The Story Behind One of Negros Oriental's Youngest Towns
Long before it became the Municipality of Pamplona, the area was known as "Tampa", a name believed to have been derived from a large tampa tree, a member of the balete family, which once stood prominently in what is now the town's poblacion. Like many early Philippine settlements, the community's identity was closely tied to its natural landscape, with a single remarkable tree serving as a landmark for residents and travelers alike.
The name Pamplona was adopted later in honor of Rev. Fr. Santiago Pamplona, the coadjutor of the parish priest of Tanjay who regularly visited the area to minister to the spiritual needs of its growing population. Before becoming an independent municipality, Pamplona had long been a barrio of Tanjay, a relationship that dated back to the establishment of Tanjay during the Spanish colonial period. Throughout the Spanish and American eras, the barrio was administered by a succession of tenientes del barrio, reflecting its gradual growth into an organized community.
The campaign for self-government culminated in 1950, when the Philippine Congress approved legislation creating the Municipality of Pamplona. The measure was introduced by Congressman Pedro Bandoquillo of the First District of Negros Oriental and was signed into law by President Elpidio Quirino on June 16, 1950. The new municipality was formally inaugurated on October 20, 1950. Among those who played a key role in securing its separation from Tanjay were Juan Canaveral, who became Pamplona's first appointed and later elected mayor, together with Mauro Barredo, Francisco Zerna, Maximo Ibalig, and Candelario Montesa, who helped lead the movement for municipal independence.
Pamplona's history also reflects the broader struggles experienced by many Philippine communities. During the Philippine Revolution, the town convent reportedly served as a refuge for revolutionaries led by Pelagio Lopez and Joaquin Teves as they evaded the Spanish Guardia Civil. During the early American period, government troops confronted and killed a group of tulisanes in the barrio plaza, illustrating the continuing challenges to peace and order following the end of Spanish rule. The darkest chapter came during the Japanese occupation, when on May 15, 1944, Japanese forces looted and burned much of the barrio. Several individuals, including soldier Ignacio Ortega, civilian Anatolio Labe, and Caballero, the manager of the Dumaguete branch of the Philippine National Bank, were among those reported to have been killed during the occupation.
Like many local histories preserved through the Historical Data Papers, Pamplona's story combines documentary records with community memory. While major events such as its creation as a municipality in 1950 are well documented through legislation, some earlier accountsโincluding the origin of the names Tampa and Pamplonaโare based largely on local tradition and historical recollections. Together, however, these narratives provide valuable insight into the municipality's cultural identity and the experiences that shaped its development.
Sources:
National Library of the Philippines. (n.d.). Historical Data Papers of the Municipality of Pamplona, Negros Oriental. National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. https://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph
Republic of the Philippines. (1950). Republic Act No. 588: An Act Creating the Municipality of Pamplona in the Province of Negros Oriental. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/
