Iloilo City is the "CITY OF LOVE" it is a highly urbanized city on Panay Island n the Philippines, and the capital city of the province of Iloilo. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area. In the 2010 census, Iloilo City had a population of 424,619 with a 1.8% population annual growth rate.Iloilo City is bordered by the towns of Oton in the west, Pavia in the north,Leganes in the northeast and the Iloilo Strait in its eastern and southern coastline. The city was a conglomeration of former towns, which are now the geographical districts consisting of: Jaro (an independent city-before),Molo, La Paz, Mandurriao, Villa Arevalo, and Iloilo City Proper. The district of Lapuz, a former part of La Paz, was declared a separate district in 2008.THE FIRST DISTRICT OF ILOILO
GUIMBAL
Guimbal is a fourth-class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It has been cited by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as most business-friendly local government unit, 4th -6th class municipal category in Western Visayas, and the cleanest and greenest town in Iloilo. With a 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) shoreline facing the blue waters of the Panay Gulf, it has attracted tourists from different places because of its scenic beaches and inland resorts.Guimbal produces mango in Iloilo as well as other seasonal fruits. Farming and fishing are among the main sources of livelihood of its people.
HISTORY
The first reference to Guimbal by such name in Spanish records appeared in Father Coco’s appendix to Medina’s “The History of the Agustinian Order in the Philippines” Where it referred to the establishment of a convento in Guimbal, Iloilo in 1590.
A closer fact compared to some other writings showed that the name of the municipality was derived from a musical instrument called guimbal. The Spaniards discovered the settlers using the instrument to warn the people of the coming of the raiding Moro pirates who used to loot the town and capture the natives to be sold as slaves in Mindanao. To show gratitude to the instrument, with high spirit and pride as the unconquered people, the inhabitants named their settlement Guimbal.
CHURCH
The Guimbal Church is one of the oldest churches in the country. This yellow sandstone church is made made from adobe stones called igang and coral stones quarried from Guimaras. It was built in 1774 by Father Campos.The facade is a two-story affair flanked by twinned round pilasters decorated with floral carvings. Its vintage belfry is 4 stories high and doubles as a watchtower during the Spanish occupation against pillaging Moro pirates. It has undergone some reconstruction after it was destroyed twice, during the Second World War and during the 1948 earthquake. Recently, it was rehabilitated to its original structure.
IGBARAS
Igbaras is a third class municipality in the province of Iloilo , Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 31,347 people.
Igbaras celebrates its town fiesta annually on May 22 in honor of Sta. Rita de Cascia. The town has many points of interest including the ruins of the church belfry, Mount Napulak, Bahi-Bahi, Nadsadjan Falls, Lagsakan Falls, Timapok Falls, Guiritsan Falls, Sampanan Falls, Bat Cave, Igcabugao Cave, Bais Cave and the Pakuyang sa Tangyan Festival. A species of Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, can also be found here.
HISTORY
As a result of the implementation of Spanish Governor-General Narciso Claveria's decree on giving Filipinos with Spanish surnames in 1849, inhabitants of Igbaras during that time were interestingly apportioned with surnames starting mostly with the letter E.
Igbaras was fused with Guimbal in 1902 until the American regime made it a separate town on January 1, 1919. Don Flor Evidente became the first municipal mayor.
American soldiers water tortured Igbaras leaders then burned the village to the ground during the Philippine-American War.
Igbaras has the distinction of having the first congressman elected to Congress in 1925-1928 in the person of Don Eugenio Ealdama, and the delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention, Don Mariano Ezpeleta who later served as Consul-General and ambassador to several countries.
CHURCH
A regular tourist or visitor to Iloilo will be familiar with the many fine churches in the province. But there is one site, called the ruins of the Church of Igbara, that has been drawing in a lot of people too.
The history of the Church of Igbaras began in the early 1870s when plans for the building were started. In 1878, the edifice was completed and at the time it was one of the largest churches in Iloilo and the Philippines. In the succeeding years, another church was built at the site, and became a popular site for devotees. However, by 1948, the main church was in ruins. Most believe that the edifice was destroyed by an earthquake.
MIAGAO
Miagao (also written Miag-ao) is a first class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 64,545 people.Miagao is considered as the "Onion Capital of the Visayas". It is located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest of Iloilo City.
The town center of the municipality lies on the western bank of the Tumagbok River, the largest river in the municipality. The poblacion is made up of eight barangays.
The town holds their patronal fiesta in honor of St. Thomas of Villanova(more commonly known as Sto. Tomas de Villanueva) every September 22 that lasts several days.
HISTORY
The name of Miagao has many disputed etymologies. One of the most popular, and probably the most widely accepted version is that the name of the town was derived from a plant named Miagos. Miagos or Osmoxylon lineare is a flowering plant from the family Araliaceae that used to grow abundantly in the area when the Spaniards came. Because of its abundance in the area, the Spaniards named the place Miagos which later became Miagao. Another version, according to Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Torres of Igbaras, is that a native named Miyagaw was asked by the Spaniards for the name of the place but gave his name instead.
CHURCH
The Miagao Church also known as the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church is a Roman catholic church located in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. It was also called the Miagao Fortress Church since it served as defensive tower of the town against Muslim raids. The church was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993 together with San Agustin Church in Manila; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches.
OTON
Oton is a first class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 82,572.Oton borders Iloilo City.The Municipality of Oton is a gateway to the Southern part of Iloilo. It is located 10.2 kilometers away from the City of Iloilo and only 7 kms. away from the airport of Mandurriao. It has also major road attachment as to permit greater accessibility to other places.
HISTORY
Oton, the home progressive-minded and future-oriented people, derived from three popular theories. Many people believe that Oton is a hispanized version of the phrase "ogtong adlaw", which means noontime. According to the story, the native gave this phrase when they were asked by the Spanish exporters as to the time of the day. Many people still refer to the town as Ogtong.
Another theory is that the name of the town comes from the name of a fish, "kogtong", a very abundant kind during those days.
The third is that Oton’s name comes from a plant abundant in the river’s estuary. It was the decayed stalk of this plant that was deposited along the river banks, later forming the town’s site.
Oton was the first settlement established in Panay during the spanish Period and which later became the seat of the Alcadia de Panay from 1572 to 1581.
After the founding of Arevalo in 1581, the seat of the government was moved there, hence, Arevalo was the capital of the province from 1581 to 1688 while the province was then called Province de Iloilo.
Much earlier, Oton was also an important Malay capital. Under Datu Paiburong, the seat of the government was Katagman(now, Brgy. San Antonio) until he died of old age in 226 A.D. Only then did the chieftainship was returned back to Aklan, that was when Balingsasa, Datu Bankaya’s son became Paiburong’s successor.
The town has the great honor to be the first place in the Philippines where the temple dedicated to the Immaculate Concepcion of the Virgin Mary was built and where the Gospel was first preached.
CHURCH
The Augustinian Friars first arrived in Oton as early as 1572 under Friar Martin Rada from Dumangas where he had established ‘the church’ in southern Panay having been sent there from the town of Pan-ay in Capiz in 1566, because of his success in evangelizing the population and his ability in the languages of the region. According to history the first Church built by Friar Rada (date unknown) was destroyed in 1614 when Oton was attacked by Dutch Privateers who razed the church in one of their raids.The on-going history of the church in Oton is very unclear with the next reference to church construction, according to The Panublion, being in the mid 1800’s.It was under the stewardship of Friar Demetrio Cobos, the parish priest from 1844 to 1854, that construction of the ‘new’ church was started. Construction, with interior decorations being made in 1882, was completed in 1883. It was officially blessed in 1891.
SAN JOAQUIN
San Joaquin is a second class municipality in the province of Iloilo,Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,645 people. It is the southernmost municipality in the province of Iloilo and is 53 kilometres (33 mi) from the provincial capital, Iloilo City.
HISTORY
The history of San Joaquin according to Maragtas legend begin when ten (10) Malayan Chieftains or "Datus" together with their families, warriors and slaves on board ten "binidays" (boat for sea travel) landed at a place called Andona, near the mouth of the Siwaragan (Suagan or Sugan) River. This took place in the latter part of the 12th century. The chieftains heded by Datu Puti fled from the tyranny of Sultan Makatunao in Borneo in search of and to establish a new land for the free. At that time, Panay Island was inhabited by the "Atis" or Negritoes under the rule of King Marikudo and Queen Maniwangtiwang, Datu Puti and his men, instead of subduing chieftain Marikudo and the lowly "Atis", made negotiations of all the lowlands of Panay at the price of one golden hat called "Saduk", a long gold necklace called "Managyad" and various gifts. Said negotiations successfully took place at Imbidayan Rock, Sinogbuhan, San Joaquin, Iloilo, now a historical site. After the transaction was sealed, the "Atis" retired to the mountains and the Malays took complete control of the lowland. Datu Puti continued his travel and the settlement was left to the able leadership of one of the chieftains, Datu Sumakwel whose wife was Kapinangan. Later Datu Sumakwel divided Panay Island into three districts – Irong-irong, Hamtic and Aklan. Irong-irong was given to Datu Paiburong as his territorial domain. It was Datu Sumakwel who decreed the Code of Kalantiaw and Panay Island lived in peace and prosperity for three hundred years until the Spaniards came.
What freedom our ancestors gained from this "Purchase of Panay" was lost when Magellan discovered the Philippines in 1521. Spanish colonization of the island and gradually under Spanish dominion, devfeloped this settlement into a "Pueblo" that also contributed to a large degree to our town’s cultural heritage. As a legacy from this period, the San Joaquin Roman Catholic Church was finished in 1869 and was a national shrine on September, 1977.
About 700 years later, the Treaty of Paris of 1898 ended the Spanish-American War. As a result, San Joaquin was annexed to the Municipality of Miag-ao in 1904 for purposes of efficient administration under American rule. But the annexation was shortlived because when the late Eliseo J. Sanglap, a native of San Joaquin became the Municipal President (now Municipal Mayor) of Miga-ao by popular vote in 1908, he fought for the return of San Joaquin to her former status. And by virtue of Executive Order No. 21, Series of 1910 issued by the American Military Governor General, San Joaquin became a municipality on December 10, 1910.
CHURCH
The main church in town, a Roman Catholic parish was built in 1869 by Spanish priest the Reverend Tomas Santaren.The church is unique among those in the Philippines for its large pediment featuring a military scene, the Spanish victory over the Moors in the Battle of Tetuan. The National Historical Institute listed the church as a National Cultural Treasure.
TIGBAUAN
Tigbauan is a second class municipality in the province of Iloilo,Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 58,814 people.
HISTORY
The Maragtas Legend tells us, that in the 12th century, ten (10) Bornean datus or chieftains left their homeland in the island of Borneo. In order to escape the cruel tyranny of their king, Sultan Makatunaw, they sailed towards the north in their long boats called “balang-hais or barangays.” They landed here on the island of Panay, in order to live a life of unrestricted freedom.
The ten (10) Bornean datus or chieftains were led by Datu Puti. They bought the island of Panay from Datu Marikudo, the native chieftains of the Aetas or Negritos. For Panay Island, they paid Datu Marikudo with one (1) golden salakot (head gear), and one (1) gold necklace for his wife Maniwantiwan. ( The Aetas or Negritos then went to live in the mountains.)
After the purchase of Panay, it was divided among three (3) Bornean chieftains, namely: Datu Sumakwel for Hamtik (Antique); Datu Bankaya for Aklan-Capiz; and Datu Paiburong for Irong-irong (Iloilo). Datu Puti and the rest of the Bornean Chieftains left for Luzon.
Population increased mostly in the Siruwagan area (presently located in San Joaquin, Iloilo), were most of the Borneans settled down.
And so, families from the tribes of Labing-isog and Mangwalis decided to settle elsewhere in Panay. They sailed in their long boats, and followed the course of the rising sun.
They landed on a place which they immediately called “Katigbawan” because of the thick growth of a species of giant grass or tall reeds on this place, known to them in their native dialect as “tigbaw”. The famous Spanish Jesuit Historian Fray Pedro Chirino, SJ, called this place “CAMPO DE SUARAGA” (a field of reeds).
The Maragtas Legend identified “KATIGBAWAN,” (a field of reeds) as an between a big creek, now known as Buyu-an Creek, in the southwest, and two big rivers in the northeast, now known as the Tacuyong and Sibalom Rivers. ( This area being identified and referred to, is known and occupied by Barangay Parara Sur and Barangay Parara Norte in Tigbauan, Iloilo.)
A form of local government was functioning well in “Katigbawan”, when the Spaniards discovered it sometime in 1575. That year (1575), the Spaniards came from their Administrative Center in La Villa Rica de Arevalo, and established the “Pueblo de Tigbauan”, having shortened “Katigbawan” to its present name-the town of Tigbauan, in the Province of Iloilo.
The Spaniards later transferred the administrative seat or Poblacion of the “Pueblo de Tigbauan,” from Parara to its present location.
And so, the town of Tigbauan, in the Province of Iloilo, was named after the giant grass or tall reeds known as “tigbaw” in our dialect, which is a legacy from the freedom-loving Borneans who settled Panay Island. (Note: The “tigbaw” or tall reeds are still growing luxuriantly along riverbanks in this town.)
CHURCH
Tigbauan Church – San Juan Sahagun Parish: history architecture and photos. An ecomienda given to Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, Tigbauan became a visita of Oton on 3 March 1575. Although it had become an independent parish in 1578, no permanent priest was assigned to Tigbauan until 1580, when Fr. Luis de Montoya was assigned as prior. Originally under the advocacy of Our Lady of Grace it was later renamed Juan de Sahagun, after an Augustinian saint. In 1593, the parish was handed over to the secular clergy because the friar, Fr. Garcia de Quiroga, was appointed secretary of the province and had to leave the Visayas. The seculars held the parish until 1617 when they were assigned to Antique (Hamtic) in exchange for Tigbauan. Fr. Fernando Camporredondo may have built the Tigbauan church described in a report of 1848 as made of yellow limestone and which survived the earthquake of 13 July 1787 despite its considerable height. Fr. Fernando Martin is credited with building the present church, though Augustinian historian Pedro Galende, opines that he may have reconstructed a previous church, since the description of his work corresponds to the one previously mentioned. Only the church façcade, bell tower and a few pillars of the convento remain. The same earthquake that brought Oton to the ground damaged the interior in 1948, apparently. The interior is greatly renovated and has been decorated with mosaics in 1994.
TUBUNGAN
Tubungan is a fourth-class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 21,540 people.
HISTORY
TUBUNGAN. . . . came from the word “TUBONG” , a term used in gambling or in games, meaning “addition”, “contribution” or “Chip-in” to original bet. The Spanish Laws of Indies required a place to have a certain population in order to be recognized as a town. To comply with this requirement, people from neighboring towns were recruited and encourage to settle in the original town called TIN-AN. The recognition of Tubungan as a town during the Spanish regime was made possible therefore through the “tubong-tubong” which signifies cooperation from the people to pursue the township of Tubungan. And thus, Tubungan got its name from the word “tubong”.
CHURCH
St. Anthony the Abbot Church's present stone stucture was done by Fr. Luis Toro in 1844, enhanced by Fr. Calixto Gonzalez in 1874. It was partially destroyed by USAFFE troops in 1942 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1948. Its facade has Corinthian columns, pillars and Aztec-like side entrances which has winged angels as decoration.Tubungan is located 41.78 km. northwest of Iloilo City.
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