A question, a beautiful maiden and a jealous father, according to one of the more popular legends, gave the city its name. The story goes that Spanish conquistadores, with their “Que lugar este? (What place is this?)” inquisition and thoughtless ignorance of other cultures, happened to stand dangerously close to a young woman who was the daughter of an overprotective father. The predicament was made even worse by the visitors’ and the locals’ incapability of understanding one another. So when the enraged father kept shouting “Tabak ko! Tabak ko! (My Bolo! My Bolo!)”, the clueless Spaniards mistook this excitement as jubilation at their arrival and took the words as the answer to their question. Thus, the frenzied screams of “Tabak ko!” of a father who only wanted to protect his daughter from harm, became the name of our city. Another related tale, more romantic but less humorous, describes pre-Hispanic Tabaco, a self-sufficient, peaceful and prosperous town with the ancient name of Pagkamoot (Love) under the able leadership of the warrior Datu Maisog (Brave) who had an exceptional daughter, the Princess Nayoka or Magayon (Beautiful). Although the staple formula of miscommunication between the locals and foreigners and the expected clash of cultures is present, this version supposedly happened during the wedding feast of Princess Nayoka-Magayon to a distant cousin named Makusog (Strong). While everyone was preparing for the wedding, armed visitors of a strange race beached the shores of what is now Natunawan, and the natives, anticipating trouble, cried out “Tabak ko! Tabak ko!”. And like in the first version, the foreigners recorded this as the name of the place. Funny or heroic, truth or mere myth, these different stories relate to us only one thing, Pagkamoot or Tabaco, as described by Congressman Edcel C. Lagman, is truly the home of a proud and gallant race. Although there is now nothing remotely warlike about Tabaco whose people are peace-loving, gentle and warm, the name never lost its ancient connotation. Just as the bolo, which is the premier product of a city renowned for its blacksmiths, is a balance of beauty, represented by the craftsmanship of its sheath and polo or handle and brutality, symbolized by the lukas or blade, Tabaquenos, are also of a dual nature. Their passionate nature and fiery disposition hide just beneath their calm and laid-back exterior and this altogether makes for a remarkable and unusual combination.