Explore Argao

The municipality of Argao is located at the southeastern portion of the province of Cebu, approximately 68 kilometres (42 mi) from Cebu City. Argao is exactly between Cebu City and the southern tip of the island (Santander). It is approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Carcar, from Alcoy, and from Loon which is across the Bohol or Cebu Strait. The rectangle that is Argao (approximately 20 X 40 km) is bounded, clockwise, in the west by Badian, Alcantara, Ronda, and Dumanjug; in the north by Sibonga; in the east by the Bohol Strait; and in the south by Dalaguete.

The Real Story

Documents written and bi-lingual dictionaries compiled by Spanish friars from as early as the late-16th century indicate that town names are simply often topographical indicators. At least, the Argao stories are right in the explanation that the town’s name came from the Sali-argaw tree (Premna odorata), an abundantly-growing plant that lined the town’s coastal areas in pre-Hispanic times.
Indeed, Argao’s history has always been associated with the Sali-argaw tree, and the town was probably called Sali-argaw even before the Spaniards came. The Sali-argaw was considered a highly medicinal herb whose “heart” was boiled to alleviate stomach pains and its leaves used as an application for ugahip. It was also believed to prevent relapses, head colds, illnesses due to “bad air”, and to alleviate fever by taking a bath with it.
According to the Spanish observers, during the hot season, these shady trees served as a favorite resting place for weary fishermen who went out to the sea to catch fish. Upon their return from the sea, they would stop, cook and enjoy their lunch in the cool shade of the Sali-argaw. But its greatest attribute, however, was not simply its ability to provide respite for weary fishermen; it served as a landmark and as a beacon for those out in the sea and even those near the shore and the traders on land. Even during at night or the stormy season, natives out in the sea always made use of the Sali-argaw as their guide home. Thus, the place where these plants grew abundantly in was always referred to as “Sali-argaw”.
Other records also say that the name of the town is a derivation of the word “abgaw”, which may have been an even older term for the Sali-argaw tree.
Similarly, the Spaniards who came earlier to the Philippines classified the Argao tree as bearing some resemblance with the willow tree, though they stressed that unlike the willow, the Argao plant grew more abundantly near the shorelines or at the edge of the sea. They further identified the plant as having valuable medicinal properties: the leaves, when boiled in vinegar, were a good remedy for fissures, and it was applicable in many other illnesses and diseases; above all, it was considered to be extremely fragrant and aromatic.

Premna Odorata & Name Variants
Sali-argaw leaf and seedsAt any rate, the Argao plant, which has the scientific name of Premna odorata, of the Verbenaceae family, is considered to be one of the most popular Philippine alternative medicines. It is a small tree reaching a height of 8 meters. The leaves which are somewhat heart-shaped at the base and pointed at the tip are 10-20 centimeters long. The leaves when crushed are aromatic. These are sometimes used as condiment and generally considered a good cure for cough.
This tree also grows in different parts of the archipelago, thereby earning for itself several names. The Cebuano Bisayans call it Agbau. The Panay Bisayans and Bikolanos have other names for it - Abgau, Adgau and Argaw. The Tagalogs term it Adiyo while it is Agdau in Pangasinan, Agiao and Anobran in Ilokos, and Anobrang in Nueva Ecija, People in Batanes call it Ariaw, Atingi in Gaddang, Durugaw in Subanum, Guachi in Igorot, Lagau in Maguindanao,Lassi in Ibanag, Pumuhat Tangli in Pampanga, Regaw in Lanao and Tibangngen in Benguet.
It is most probable that the town retained its old designation of “argaw” or “abgaw” as it is phonetically similar to the Spanish word “argao”, a not so common term that refers to a local expression pointing to a deep or sloping channel or a riverbed and is of Roman origin mentioned in the works of the historian Pliny. In the early years of Spanish colonization Argao was also referred to as “Argahao”. Sali Argao Tree

Municipality of ArgaoAwards