APH Visayas Bio

Cristina
The meaning of this name in Spanish is ”Follower of Christ”. Cristina is taken from Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain, who made Iloilo City a royal city due to the Ilonggo's loyalty to the Spanish crown. Since this name is quite ”Christianized,” it could refer to numerous images, sights, festivals, etc. that the Visayas islands have to offer. Examples would include the famous Magellan's Cross, the Sinulog Festival, the Ati-Atihan Festival, and so much more.
Isabel
The meaning of the name Isabel in Spanish is ”God is my Oath”. Again, this name should refer to how Visayans (—Not only Visayas, but other parts of the country as well) hold a great reverence towards Jesus Christ. Visayas was rather somehow the first island to be Christianized, since Ferdinand Magellan first landed on Homonhon and converted the tribes to Christianity. Not to mention that the first mass ever held in the Philippines was held in Limasawa.
Lagos
Lagos is taken from Nazaria Lagos, who was also known for her moniker ”The Florence Nightingale of Panay”. She served as the first president of Iloilo's Red Cross in 1897, possibly referring to the generous hospitality of Filipinos. Amidst the fact that she and her husband were on good terms with the Church and government, they secretly supported the Filipino revolutionaries—referencing to how Filipinos are always willing to fight for their independence.

The reason why her real birthdate is unknown is because of this statement: "Before the war, Christian settlers in non-Christian Philippine regions were most struck by the fact that the tribesmen in such regions had no chronology and didn't even know when they were born." As March 17, 1521 is known to be the date when Ferdinand Magellan landed in Homonhon (located in Visayas), I didn't find this suitable for my characters. In relation to the said statement, in 1543, it is said that Villalobos named the islands of Samar and Leyte to Las islas Filipinas, to which in my opinion is the original Las islas Filipinas; again, I find this unsuitable for them. As for June 12, 1898—the proclamation of Philippine independence, it didn't seem suitable as well due to the fact that during the second ratification of the Proclamation of Independence at September 15, 1898 — some regions did not recognize the authority of the Revolutionary Government at Malolos since they had a government of their own ("In a pointed letter to Aguinaldo, who was addressed merely as "Sir" and not "President," President Aniceto Lacson made clear that the Negros elite would not submit to the Malolos Republic.") It didn't seem (to me) as if the republic was unified as a whole.  

Cotton was a breathable, natural fabric very much preferred by the locals as material for their traje del diario (everyday wear), which included the baro, saya and pañuelo. Cotton was considered as the most important of the textile items.

The patadiong continued to be worn alongside other types of skirts. Even until the 1890s, Visayan women paired the patadiong with camisas with the airy angel sleeves common in that period. As their camisas, like the rest, were low-necked (escotado), their shoulders were similarly draped with the customary pañuelos. 

In the Visayas region, specifically in the island of Panay, the 19th century saw the beginning — and golden age — of weaving from pineapple fibers, a painstakingly laborious task that qualified piña as a luxury fabric fit for royalty. 
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Although living in the world of poverty, the attires of many of the members of the common class showed that they were not that far removed from the broader clothing culture. The reality of a divided lower class meant they would exhibit varying degrees of hispanization and fashionability. Those who were working for foreigners and hispanized families were, for example, regular recipients of clothes and even jewelries. Others, like cocheros and houseboys, were “costumed” or dressed in attires imposed on them by their employers. Almost every poor indio invested on, at least, one set of special attire for festivals and other celebrations. 

Women in the countryside or rural areas wear or used the patadyong as a sort of kerchief, shawl or even to shade or cover themselves from prying eyes. In bygone days when washing or bathing in rivers were commonplace, women hold a piece or one end of the patadyong with their teeth or free hand, while soaping and cleaning their body with another hand. It works by providing a bit of privacy. (Source: aboutphilippines.ph/files/Pata…)

Cebuanos are the hardest to please; when it comes to musical performances. It is often said that when a band becomes famous in Cebu; it will surely be popular in any other part of the country. Cebuanos are not generous with applause and only applaud with gusto for performers that they think deserve their applause. Otherwise, it’s just the cricket sound that you’re gonna hear. No wonder when some popular actors or actresses go to Cebu, they are hardly noticed. (Source: www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g29…)

American missionaries were soon to be disconcerted by the discovery that the Filipinos were Christians already, having been forcibly converted to Catholicism by Spain. 

Cebu and Manila have rich historical legacies. As both cities grew, certain forms of rivalry began to take shape. Cebu back then was a big kingdom, way more famous than Manila was. When Legazpi came, he proclaimed the city of Manila as the capital, stripping Cebu of its' former status. He also authorized the widespread teaching of Catholicism and Spanish to the Tagalogs. Eventually, Spanish influence was so deep that about 35% of the Tagalogs are mixed Spanish-Tagalog. Also, since they live near the capital, the Tagalogs benefited more. While Manila flourished, Cebu was down in the dumps. (Source: jpthehistorian.wordpress.com/2…)