Anda, Bohol Etymology

Jack Maico
Jun 12
3 min read

The decree in 1875 on the separation of Quinale from Guindulman did not explain why the name "Anda" was chosen. It was presumed that the name referred to Governor General Simón de Anda y Salazar, who was Governor General of the Philippines from 1769 to 1770. Simon de Anda was a member of the Royal Audiencia in the Philippines who did not surrender to the British in 1762. But considering the century gap between de Anda and the time of the town's creation, and also taking into account the poor literacy of the populace at that time, the naming of the town after him may not be the case. A more acceptable reason from oral history is that "Anda" is a reference to the land that moves forward, as in Spanish "el lugar anda" – the land walks or moves. This was a rough attempt to translate "Quinale" into Spanish. The word "quinale" or "gui kale" is a colloquial local term for a pile of sand dunes caused by the waves enhancing a new land mass. Hence, Anda, which means "it walks."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anda,_Bohol

Special credits: https://philippineshiddengems.com/anda-beach-bohol.../

Church in town: 𝐒𝐭𝐨. 𝐍𝐢𝐧̃𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡

Sto. Niño Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Anda, Bohol, Philippines. Its second patron is St. Augustine.

The town was formerly called Quinali, and it used to be part of the nearby town of Guindulman. Its name was changed after Simon de Anda y Salazar, who fought against British colonialists in the 18th century. It was organized into an independent town on March 12, 1875.

The church that was erected by the Augustinian Recollects was a visita of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Guindulman. The Royal Approval to make it into a parish was issued on January 6, 1885, and a declaration of Bishop Benito de Madridejos was made on March 19, 1885. Fr. Julian Cisneros, OAR, was installed as the first parish priest on July 18, 1885.

A church made from tabique and nipa was mentioned in historical records, and oral tradition states that it may have been erected within the grounds to the left of the present-day church.

The Recollects planned to construct a permanent house of worship, but it did not push through with the start of the Philippine Revolution. The Recollects left in 1898, but they returned four years later and stayed until the parish was given to the diocesan clergy in 1937.

Fr. Carlos Ortuoste, OAR, oversaw the church-building that was completed in 1926. The murals found in its ceiling were accomplished by Cebuano artist Ray Francia in the 1920s. The bell tower was built between 1950 and 1952.

Source: https://www.theoldchurches.com/.../sto-nino-church-anda/

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

Renamed Anda in honor of Simon de Anda y Salazar, who resisted British occupation in 1762-64, becoming governor general in 1769, the town was created in 1876, and the parish in 1885. The Recollects were in charge of Anda until 1898, and by special request of the people returned in 1902 until finally leaving in 1937.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐚