OAS (Algeria) - History, Trivia

Abbreviation of Organisation de l'Armée Secrète (‘Secret Army Organization’), the clandestine organization of French Algerians, led by rebel army generals Jouhaud and Salan, active (1960–2) in resisting Algerian independence. It caused considerable violence in Algeria and metropolitan France until thrown into rapid decline by the Franco-Algerian ceasefire (Mar 1962), Salan's capture (Apr 1962), and Algerian independence (Jul 1962).

History

Foundation of the municipality can be traced to the early Spanish Colonization of the Bicol Peninsula.

There are three stories that tell the origin of the name of Oas:

The first version mentions the existence of numerous lagoons or pools of water abounding the place which prompted early colonizers to give it the name of "Oasis". The natives soon called the place by this name and later abbreviated it to "Oas". From then on, the natives coined this name to the place and later shortened it to present from in times of this kind emergency. A third version and perhaps the most logical version of how the municipality derived its name gives an account of early Spanish Colonozers reaching this particular section of the Bicol Peninsula. The Spaniards, inquired the name of the place from the about 600 natives found living there, "Como se llama este sitio?" with gesture of their hands. Labi nikading iwas." From then on the early Spanish colonizers adopted in their official census the existence of "a rich fertile valley with verdant fields of grain" which is a little town of Oas in Bicol.

Badbad Badian Bagsa Bagumbayan Balogo Banao Bangiawon Bongoran Bogtong Busac Cadawag Cagmanaba Calaguimit Calpi Calzada Camagong Casinagan Centro Poblacion

Coliat Del Rosario Gumabao Ilaor Norte Ilaor Sur Iraya Norte Iraya Sur Manga Maporong Maramba Moroponros Matambo Mayag Mayao Nagas San Pascual (Nale) Obaliw-Rinas Petoria Pistola

Ramay Rizal Saban San Agustin San Antonio San Isidro San Jose San Juan San Miguel San Ramon San Vicente (Suca) Talisay Talongog Tapel Tobgon Tobog Tablon

Trivia

Oas is known for family names starting with the letter "R". Stories say that a person living in this town whose name does not start with the letter "R", he/she is most likely a migrant from another place.