History

Cambaro. At the time of American occupation, it was observed that the people of a particular sitio, then part of barangay Looc, were in the custom of borrowing for a fee. They called their small business as“Come and Borrow”. This attracted followers and the business grew, becoming very popular so that those who knew no English but was party to the practice would answer “cam-baro” to the question where they got their money. Again, the name stuck and the sitio came to be known as Cambaro.

Another version states that Cambaro comes from the English “can borrow” or “makahulam”. The reason for this is that old citizens of the place used to just borrow from each other the things they needed.

Thus, in 1969, when Mandaue was positioning itself for city characterhood, but lacked as a requirement three barangays to fill the bill, Cambaro was then separated from Looc. It was then included, with Umapad and Pagsabungan, in the line-up of registered barangays that now added up to the needed 27.