 The
legend of Alimodian has four versions. Out of these four, it was
not actually proven which version is the real legend. One such story is
the Ali Mudin version. It's all about Magtanong, his wife Si Kanugon and
their son Ali Mudin. The story goes like this: There was once a mother
and a daughter named Kalipayan and Si Kanugon. Si Kanugon was so lovely
that Agustin Magtanong could not resist not falling in love with her. However,
Kalipayan did against Agustin Magtanong who she claimed was a worthless
man who possessed nothing but a small parcel of land he was tilling for
livelihood. The rejection of Kalipayan for Magtanong’s proposal made him
more insistent to get Si Kanugon by hook or by crook.
On the
other hand, Si Kanugon was not a problem. She was in love with Magtanong,
too. So that, her mother's intervention with her affair with Magtanong
made her grieve so much that she decided to put an end to her life.
Meanwhile,
Magtanong decided to kidnap the woman he loved most. So, together with
forty other villagers, he went to Si Kanugon’s place just to catch her
on the act of taking poison concocted from wild roots. Later, they eloped,
together with the villagers and bound for the south.
The village
they established was named Ubodan. And as the tribe increased, they
decided to establish a town on the plains about three kilometers south
of Ubodan. They named the town Ali Mudin after Magtanong’s corruption
of the original name to what is now the Municipality of Alimodian.
Another
tale is about the love and passion of Girom, Himaya and Madalig. There
was also the common "Halin Kamo Diyan version".
Once upon
a time, a group of Spaniards went to the place, which is now the present
site of Alimodian. They saw several men climbing the coconut tree. The
visitors asked the natives of the name of the place but they could not
understand what new comers were asking about. Fearing that some coconuts
might hit the Spaniards, one man atop the tree shouted. "Halin kamo
diyan" (get away from there). The strangers thought the men were telling
them the name of the place and the words sounded like "Ali Mo Diyan",
the three being tall. So, they call the place "Ali Mo Diyan" believing
that, that was the actual name of the place.
The last
legend is quite unpopular, declaring that the name was after Cabudian
Creek running along the southern outskirt of the poblacion. Cabudian
Creek is now called Alimodian Creek.
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