Alimodian Municipal President (now called Municipal Mayor) Gelacio Allones

Gelacio Allones (1885-1961); 6th Municipal President 1929-1931

Gelacio Allones

6th President of Alimodian

(1885 – 1961); President 1929 – 1931

Gelacio Allones Y Amarra was born on November 10, 1885 to Emeterio Allones and Alejandra Amarra. Young Gelacio was bright, active and interested in education. His mother was his first teacher who taught him the ABC and the “the caton.” When Mr. Wilford Nichols, the American teacher, arrived in Alimodian in 1902, Gelacio was already 17 years old. He started his education and his first teachers were Mrs. Felicidad Alingasa Sta. Cruz, Venancia Sta. Cruz Edurese and Mrs. Concepcion Alfante Akol.

From Alimodian he continued his studies in Iloilo Central School. After finishing Grade III he became a teacher first in Sulong and later in the Central School.

Mr. Allones married Rosario Sta. Cruz, a member of a prominent family in Alimodian, with whom he had seven children: Desamparados, Adelaida, Priscilla, Rebecca, Alejandra and two boys all named Nicasio.

Mr. Allones aside from being a teacher was also a farmer and a politician. He was involved in the affairs of the government. He was a municipal councilor in 1919. During the June 6, 1922 election he won again as municipal councilor under the banner of the Democratic Party with Gregorio Alvior as president and Tomas Algallar as vice president.

In the 1929 election Mr. Allones won as president under the Democratic Party with Ruperto Rodriguez as vice president. He was the 6th president of Alimodian since its separation from Leon on December 31, 1918.

Dedicated to the improvement of his town, he was able to have roads and bridges repaired. Peace and order was maintained. He served as president of the municipality until 1931. After his term as president, Mr. Allones continued to serve the municipality as councilor. In the election of December 10, 1940 he again won as councilor with Felix Altura as president and Anacleto Amparo as vice president. In 1946 he was also one of the councilors of Simeon Canonero.

After serving his town as a teacher, councilor, and president he got sick and died on May 4, 1961 at the age of 75.

In his memory the Sangguniang Bayan of Alimodian named the street where the family resides as Gelacio Allones Street. His picture as a former town head hangs in the Municipal Hall.

Separation of Alimodian from Leon

*Separation of Alimodian from Leon

National Library, Manila – Official Gazette Vol. 16, No. 50

Page 1949

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 45,

Manila, November 22, 1918

Municipalities of the Province of Iloilo have to increase, from 29 to 30 by separating the barrio of Alimodian from the present municipality of Leon and organizing the same into an independent municipality to take effect on January 1, 1919.


The election of the new set of officials was held on New Year’s day, 1919. Reelected to the town’s presidency was Gregorio Alvior with Ramon Libo-on as vice president. Ten other people made it as concejales. They were Tomas Algallar, Florencio Alinsangan, Ambrocio Amaguin, Anacleto Amparo, Telesforo Alminaza, Pablo Amarra, Anastacio Penas, Felipe Mediana, Timoteo Ambong and Clemente Alibango.


Leon Candolada was chosen treasurer while Gregorio Amoraco filled the post secretary.


The elementary school which was originally housed in the Municipal Hall was transferred to its present location in Magtanong Street on November 15, 1922. The municipal government whose offices were once housed in the residence of Leon Alderete, took over the Municipal Hall on the same date.


Border Rift Between Alimodian and Maasin



A border rift between Alimodian and the nearby town of Maasin in the early part of 1923. Originally, the boundary between the tow municipalitie was fixed at Mt. Igcaratong the boundary proceeded to Butacan then followed the course of the Aganan River until the Pianda-an Brook. The boundary turned upward to Atabay and Bokbok.


But the municipal government of Alimodian wasn’t amenable to the change. It wanted the original Igcaratong-Maniporon boundary to be retained, so that Siwalo, a progressive barrio, would be within the town’s territorial limits.


The border problem necessitated the coming over of Governor Tiburcio Lutero on May 22, 1922. However, the visit did not resolve the conflict, so a hearing of witnesses was scheduled on the 7th of June 1923.


On that date, Presidents Gregorio Alvior and Cayetano Mandario of Alimodian and Ma-asin respectively presented their witnesses to the provincial court. Those who testified for Alimodian were Placido Anasarias, Gervacio Almira and Andres Amonoy. Because of the expense involved in bringing the witnesses to Iloilo City for the hearing, the Alimodian delegation proposed that further hearings be held in the town. This gained the approval of the provincial court.


On November 9, the governor and the members of the provincial court arrived for the hearing. Those who testified on the side of Alimodian were Tomas Borja from Atabay, Regino Amante from Laylayan and Pedro Bustillos from Punong. On July 21, 1923, the testimonies of President Gregorio Alvior and that of the immediate past president Justo Puga were heard.


In February the verdict of the provincial court was made public. The division worked against Alimodian as Siwalo was placed under the jurisdiction of Maasin. It was ruled that the territory of Alimodian would extend until Manguining and Igcaratong, which means that Mambawi, another thriving barrio would be under Alimodian, but not Maasin.



Education, Economic and Beautification Programs under Alvior Administration



In February 1922 the intermediate school was put up in Concepcion Street (now Magtanong Street). It was finally completed on November 14, 1922 under President Ramon Libo-on and stared when Gregorio Alvior was the president. The total amount spent was P700.


President Gregorio Alvior also undertook the gigantic job of putting up a beautiful town plaza which will be the center of attraction in the Poblacion. It was completed in August 1924.


President Alvior did not leave out the economic development of the citizens. He encouraged all to plant bananas on their backyard and also in their farms because he was of the belief that it could be of much help in their livelihood.


To avail the citizens of secondary education, the town executive put up the Alimodian Institute at the residence of Mr. Rito Tolentino in Plaza Libertad Street. The first teacher was Mr. Florentino Capitulo and some of the students were Asuncion Allin, Antonia Ambong, Trinidad Aldep, Socorro Tabiana, Epifania Altura, Agaton Alfiscar, Trinidad Aniago, Clara Ambe, Felisa Ambe, Caridad Alvia, Felicidad Algallar, Custodia Loredo, Primo Amodia, Federico Ambata, Severo Aldep, Cipriano Alderete, Jose Amparo, Salvador Aliboso, Nicolasa Amaguin and Herminigildo Alcudia. After a year the institute was closed because of lack of qualified teachers.


On December 1, 1922 the construction of the public market in Nichols Street was started. Its site was later transferred to Canonero Street (formerly Taft Street) in 1937 when the town executive was Jose G. Alvior.


The streets in the town underwent repair in February 1928. Those which received most attention were the streets of San Gelacio, San Rufino and Sto. Tomas. Concrete bridges were also constructed in places where they were needed.


Under the administration of President Gregorio Alvior the people were encouraged to change the cogon roofs to galvanized iron in order to lessen fire hazards/ This was evidenced by the fact that before the last war almost all homes in Alimodian had galvanized iron roof.


On February 1, 1929 Ex-President Gregorio Alvior died at St. Paul Hospital in Iloilo City and was interred at the Alimodian Municipal Cemetery the following day. Because of his countless improvements, he was acclaimed the father of his town in the Proclamation No. 2 series of 1970 under mayor Miguel Anas.


During the term of Alvior the town of Alimodian was a happy recipient of 29 volumes of Encyclopedia Britanica, which was the donation of Maximo Alonzaga. It was his gift to his native town upon arriving from California.

Alimodian During the Forty Years of American Rule

Governor General Francis Burton Harrison, governor-general of the Philippines 

 American High Officials in the Philippines During The American Occupation

Introduction

When the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898, many Filipinos felt that they were cheated by the Americans. The American behavior toward the Filipinos was the behavior of the conqueror. They had no intention of leaving the country. They showed that they meant to stay and be masters, the successors of the Spaniards. This marked the beginning of Filipino disillusionment with the Americans.

Meanwhile there was no instruction to invade Iloilo. The Iloilo patriots under Martin Delgado decided to fight. To prevent enemies from capturing the city, Delgado ordered his men to burn it. The Americans landed in force and on February 20, Jaro fell, followed by Sta. Barbara, Oton and Mandurriao.

Then the Filipino leaders surrendered to Commander Vacker and they were made to take their oath of allegiance to United States.

The Coming of the Americans

In Alimodian the coming of the Americans was not felt very much as the towns nearer the city were already occupied. This marked the start of American occupation of the islands. Although the Philippines was under the American rule, still there were many tragedies that befell her.

September 1900 was another tragedy-infested year in the history of the town. Starting on the 8th day of the month, cholera took its toll on the residents. Deaths reminiscent of the plague of 1882 occurred. The official death count was placed at 700 but this did not include those in the barrios.

A strange thing happened at about the same time cholera was raging in Alimodian. In Iloilo City, several people were arrested for possession of bottles containing poison. Some residents ventured to say that the numerous deaths of September were not entirely due to cholera. Some of them were due to some inexplicable reasons.

Start of Public School System

One of the greatest achievements of the Americans in the Philippines was the introduction of the public school system. After the mock battle of Manila, schools were established. American teachers were brought to the Philippines aboard the USS Thomas, hence the first American teachers were called Thomasites.

In 1902 an American teacher, Wilford Nichols came to Alimodian to teach the English language. Those who could read and write Spanish were made to attend schools first so that they could in turn teach the other citizens of the town to read and write in English. 

Chosen to be the principal teacher was Mr. Justo Puga and the first three teachers were Mrs. Felicidad Alingasa Sta. Cruz, Mrs. Venancia Sta. Cruz Edurese and Mrs. Concepcion Alfante Akol.

This was the beginning of the public school system in Alimodian. 

From then on the people began to realize the importance of education.

In the executive branch of the government, the president Municipal at that time, 1902 to 1904, was Leonardo Libo-on. His vice was Catalino Alisla and his councilors were Sixto Tabiana, Silvestre Amargo and Ciriaco Amarillo.

In 1903 President Leonardo Libo-on died and Don Catalino Alisla, who was his vice-president, became acting president of our town until it was fused with the Municipality of Leon.

Fusion of Alimodian and San Miguel

In January 1904 an important legislation was passed by the provincial government. It ruled that small towns be incorporated under the jurisdiction of larger ones. Thus, Alimodian and San Miguel that were much smaller municipalities were placed under Leon, a much larger town. Head towns in such arrangement were called “cabeceras” or capital towns. Subordinate towns like Alimodian and San Miguel were called “arabales” or territorial colonies.

*FUSION ALIMODIAN, LEON AND SAN MIGUEL

Enacted on April 4, 1903

By the authority of the U.S. it was enacted by the Philippines Commission that 51 municipalities of Iloilo be reduced to 17. The Municipality of Leon shall come to its present territory and that of Alimodian and San Miguel with the seat of the government at the Municipality of Leon. This shall take effect on its passage.

Due to the change in the territorial set up, a new set of officials were installed into office. The president was Evaristo Capalla from Leon and the vice president was Gelacio Tabiana from Leon. Concejal Inspector was Solomon Algallar from Alimodian.

From 1906 to 1907 Alimodian was still under Leon and the president was Gelacio Tabiana of Leon; vice president, Tomas Algallar, Alimodian; councilors, Catalino Alisla, Ciriaco Amarillo, Ambrocio Amaguin, Luis Tabiana, Leon.

In 1908 to 1909 the president was Nicolas Cambronero of Leon; vice president, Sixto Tabiana and councilors were Tomas Algallar, Ciriaco Amarillo, Ambrocio Amaguin and Ramon Libo-on, secretary was Gregorio Alvior.

On May 22, 1910 a zarzuela entitled “Filipinas” was presented at the town plaza. The zarzuela was penned by Gregorio Alvior with music by Paulino Altura.

On June 4, 1912 an election was held to choose the municipal officials, governor and representative to the Philippine Assembly. This election was significant because it revoked the earlier ruling that fixed Election Day on the first Tuesday of November. Among those elected were Adriano Hernandez, governor and Ernesto Gustilo, diputado in Assemblea Filipina for the third district.

Starting January 1, 1916, San Miguel was given the status of an independent municipality when the order making her an arabal under Leon was lifted. Alimodian was not so lucky at that time, as Alimodian was not separated from Leon.

In the election of June 1916, the post of presidente and most of the concejales went to Alimodian candidates. In January 1917 the Leon candidates, finding it hard to admit that they were defeated by those in a subordinate town, filed a letter of protest with the Juzgado de Primera Instancia de Iloilo. The judge upheld the validity of the votes of the people and restored the power of the elected officials.

The case was elevated to the Supreme Court. Still the highest court of the land sided with the Alimodiananons.

In June 1917 the provincial governor suspended from office Presidente Gregorio Alvior because of a case filed against him by the president of the newly independent municipality of San Miguel, Damiano Saclauso. Saclauso alleged that Alvior barred the patadiong weavers from Alimodian from selling their woven materials in San Miguel every market day. Vice President Cajilig temporarily assumed the position of president.

On July 7, 1917 an investigative body led by Provincial Governor Gregorio Yulo came to look into the Saclauso complaint. Yulo came together with Tercer Vocal and three attorneys, Don Ruperto Montinola, Don Jose Locsin and Don Cresenciano Lozano. After an exhaustive investigation of witnesses, power and office were restored to the suspended Alimodian president.

Alimodian Separated from Leon with Alvior as First President

At the end of Christmas day 1918, Governor Yulo returned to Alimodian but with good news this time. He had with him Executive Order No. 45 signed by Governor General Francis Burton Harrison and confirmed by the Provincial Board, that ordered the separation of Alimodian from Leon effective the 31st of the month. Alimodian would then be elevated from mere arrabal to a full-fledged municipality.

Alimodian Central School 1960s

* Fusion of Alimodian, Leon and San Miguel. Enacted on April 4, 1903.

Alimodian During The Revolutionary Period

Philippine revolutionaries during the Spanish period
Introduction


        There were many reasons advanced by the Filipinos in revolting against Spain. The Spaniards refused to introduce reforms in the government to make it efficient. They committed cruel acts against the Filipinos. The greed and abuses of officials and employees, intolerance of the friars who refused to recognize other religions but the Roman Catholic religion aggravated the situation.

        There year 1896 holds a prominent place in Philippine history as it was during this year when, through the concerted effort of the Filipinos, an unprecedented revolution exploded.

        The Katipuneros, with Andres Bonifacio at the helm of the fight, started the Philippine Revolution. It was the year of the revolution and it did win for the Filipinos independence from the clutches of the Spanish rule.

        The people of Alimodian, away from the battle arena, that centered in Central Luzon, felt soft repercussions of the independence victory.



The Outbreak of Revolution in Alimodian

         In the town, meanwhile, the first concerted insurrection against the Spanish rule took place on October 31, 1898, a Monday.

         Before that day, about 400 revolutionarios or insurrectos converged in Barrio Buhay, some four kilometers from the Poblacion, to wage a nationalistic battle against the Spanish government in the town. Some of those revolutionaries were Tagalogs who came all the way from Luzon to spread the Anti-Hispanic sentiments among the relatively complacent Visayans. The rest of the 400 were made up of Alimodian nationalists. The leader of this belligerent group was a certain Don Pedro Torres, a Tagalog speaking revolutionario.



Assault in the Convent

         Words of the impending attack reached Don Timoteo Alvior, the Capitan Interno at that time at about 4:00 o’clock in the morning. The Capitan immediately informed Fray Lorenzo Labiana, the Spanish parish priest assigned in the town at that time. However, the priest still confident of his hold on the God-fearing people of Alimodian, did not believe in the news, so he opted instead to wait for further developments.

          Don Timoteo Alvior was more realistic. After he got hold of the notice of the convergence in Buhay, he immediately called on the citizen volunteers to the Municipal Hall and briefed them for any eventuality.

         When the revolutionaries reached the Poblacion at 6:00 o’clock in the evening, the voluntaries were at the plaza to meet them. But when the volunteer group saw how ferocious the revolutionarios were, they realized how futile their effort of suppressing the onslaught would be. Their machetes or pickaxe were nothing compared to the rifles and guns of the insurrectos.

          Demoralized by fear, they immediately took their uniforms and ran home to their wives and children and informed them about the impending danger.

         When the revolutionarios reached the town plaza, they immediately surrounded the convent because the target of their fury was actually the clergy in there. But they did not know that when the padre cura saw the throng nearing the convent, he left the convent and sought refuge in the house of Silvestre Amargo, a friend and supporter in Concepcion Street, now Magtanong Street. When the revolutionarios got in the convent, all they found was Fray Celestino Fernandez, an old and retired priest, who was too weak to escape with Fray Labiana. They brought the feeble priest to the Municipal Hall, locked him inside the prison cell and tortured him for hours. The friar nearly beaten to death by the angry insurrectos, pleaded that he be spared of their fury as he was already old and weak. With the intervention of Capital Interino Don Timoteo Alvior, Don Pedro Torres, the leader of the attackers, was finally convinced to free the old man.

         Fray Jose Labiana, meanwhile, stayed for two nights, fearing for his life, in the house of Silvestre Amargo before he was transported via raft to Iloilo City together with his co-adjutor, a Filipino priest Padre Ramon Amparo. When they reached Iloilo City, they immediately took refuge with the religious community at Colegio de San Agustin where Fr. Celestino Fernandez was also brought several days before.

        The revolutionarios, unable to locate the padre cura, vent out their anger by plundering the convent and the Municipal Hall, burning all the invaluable legal and religious papers there.

        The Tagalog fighters stayed in the town for about one week during which time they made foot paths leading to San Miguel and Maasin towns immediately bordering Alimodian, so they could recruit Filipino soldiers and sympathizers from these two neighbors.

        From the original number of about 400, the size of the group swelled with the joining into the Alimodian insurrection of Filipino soldiers from adjacent places. The group was ready to face not only the clergy, but the Spanish military forces as well.



The Victory and Defeat of the Revolutionarios

        When the Spanish authorities in Iloilo City heard about the insurrection in Alimodian and the subsequent evacuation of the three priests to the Colegio de San Agustin, they immediately dispatched a group of Spanish soldiers to reinforce the meager military might in the town. This reinforcement brigade arrived at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon of November 2, 1898, a Wednesday, three days after the fateful attack of the convent and the Municipal Hall.

         But the Spanish soldiers, uncertain about the number and capacity of the revolutionaries, decided to stop in the boundary of Barrio Banag, part of the town of San Miguel.

         The Tagalog revolutionaries, together with their Ilonggo comrades, banking on their success a few days before, advanced to the boundary, ready to fight the Spanish agitators.

        When the Spanish authorities got wind of the plan to attack them, they changed the course of their journey and instead of following the road, found an alternative path through Pacol, a sitio of Sulong, Alimodian from where they could ascend Igcaras Hill and proceed to the Poblacion. They were led through this unexpected change of course by a sympathizer from San Miguel.

        Unknown to the newcomers, the Filipino soldiers in town got information about their move, so when the Spaniards reached Igcaras Hill, the Filipinos were already positioned for their onslaught.

        Surprised but undaunted, the Spaniards faced the Filipinos on the slopes. Decidedly, lacking weapons and tactics, vis-à-vis their foes sustained with sophisticated guns and military tactics, the Filipinos learned that their initial enthusiasm and bravery could not get them through the lethal bullets of the men from the West. Downhearted, they retreated to Sitio Taban at the foot of the hill where the Spaniards caught up with them and drove them to the Poblacion.

        When the townspeople heard of the defeat of their brave men in Igcaras Hill, they packed their things and proceeded to their farms, afraid that once the Spaniards had infiltrated the Poblacion, they would go on a rampage and kill the people.

         The victorious Hispanics, on the other hand, wearied after that day, decided to take rest and spend the night on the slopes of Igcaras Hill. When they finally entered the Poblacion early in the morning of the next day, they found it virtually deserted as the people had scampered to their farms. Confident that the battle had been won, the troops left the town for the city the next day.

         Barely two hours after they had left, a fresh batch of Filipino soldiers who were to aid their battered Alimodian comrades came. Numbering a big 1,000 and coming mostly from the northern towns, they discovered that they were late as the enemy had already gone back to camp.

         When words spread that the Poblacion had returned to normal, the people started returning to their homes. From the experience, they learned a precious lesson that though their might may be meager compared to the white men, all they needed was more organization on the part of the revolutionaries, if not to win the war, at least to have their voice heard.

          Since the Filipinos did not have sufficient arms and preparation to challenge the mighty Spanish force in the islands, the revolt of the Alimodiananons came to an end. From then on, the Filipinos showed resistance to all foreign invaders including the Americans.

Ang Resplandor Speech

Resplandor sang grasya sa karon dumilag

Sa bug-os nga mundo amo ang gumu-ob
Aton nga Makita sa labing bunayag
Poder ni Hesukristo Dios nga matuod

Entodos los anos gina selebrar
Hamili nga adlaw sang Resurreksyon
Ang aton Gino-o ila gin Martirizar
Sadtong mga Hudios malaut sing ambisyon


Mainakupon sa mga wala sing palad
Kailo desperado ang mga inanak ni Adan.


Enemigo nga tu-od wala sing katulad
Kay pinanganak sang mantsado nga dugo.
Sa bilog nga mundo siya ang pumahayag
Sang mga kalautan nga iya ginhimo.


Kay iya ginkalipay sing walay duha duha
Sanglit kat vensido sang mga vanidades
Ang mga despresios dili gin repara
Nga mangin porvenir sang ma infamis.
Kag sa walay patugsiling iya nga ginhimo
Dili niya gindumdum ang mga kabalaslan;
Ang iya maestro iya pinabakho
Sinang tao nga labing tampalasan.


Umugyon sa iya mahigko nga isip
Kay siya ang kautivado sa gahum sang pilak
Banyaga nga tao wala pasunaid
Yanang traidor engrato sing buhat


Rosa nga hamili bilidhon nga Maria
Iloy nga na-antus sang mga kasakit
Bangud kay Hudas nga alivosia
Ang iya Maestro iya pinagtangis.


Rosa nga masulub-on wala sing katulad
Kag amo ang alaypon sang tanan nga kasakitan
Inosentes Cordero sa sining duta nga luha-an
Nga nagpadeser sang mga torno
Makalolo-oy matuod ang iya himtangan.
Kag wala sing makig-iloy niya sa mundo.


Mahinuklogon nga Iloy kag ulay nga Maria
Sa mga kasakit nangin autora
Sa sini nga adlaw maabut mo
   Victoria nga igabalus sang
   Dios nga Amay ta.


Nag-ambahan ang mga Anghel
Kutob sa ginsakpan sa pagka- Emperatriz
Nag singgit sila nga


   Viva Victoria sa mga infamis


       Ang ila pinamulong


      “Aleluya sicut dixit.”

Bitay Speech

Ang mga dampog magkapala,
Ang mga alupu-ok magpahawa;
Kay ang mga kasakit nga bugana,
Gintigaylohan sang himaya.


Maghimaya ka, O Reina nga langitnon,
Kay ang gindala sang imong tiyan;
Nabanhaw nga wala maglidan,
Siling sang Iyang pinamulong.


O, halangdon nga Prinsesa,
Emperatrizsa langit kag duta;
Atubanga ang himaya,
Talikdi ang kasakit kag kagha.


Ang kalibutan magkasadya,
Maghimaya ang tanan;
Magkalipay ang mga kataohan,
Kay ikaw ang ambahanon nila.


Magkalipay kag magkasadya,
Kay nian natapus na;
Ang pagpanubos sang mga sala,
Sang mga inanak ni Eva.


Natapos na ang tanan,
Ang unos sa kalangitan;
Kag natigaylo na nian,
Ang himaya nga walay katubtuban.


Yanang bilidhon mo nga korona
Nga sa ulo mo pinahamtang;
Amo’ng tanda sang paghigugma,
Sang Dios sa kalangitan.


Busa paalam na ako,
Sa mahal nga atubangan mo;
Kag didto magahulat ako,
Sa langit nga Emperio.


Didto ikaw koronahan,
Sa langit, himaya nagaluntad;
Nga ginatigana nga daan sa imo,
Sang Santisima Trinidad.
Viva! Viva! Viva la Virgin Maria
Viva! Viva! Viva!




Intro:  Alleluia, Alleluia
Quia quem meruistre portare,
Alleluia, Alleluia
Resurrexit sicut dixit,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Ora pro nobis Deum,
Alleluia, Alleluia.


Angels below answer:


Alleluia, Alleluia
Regina Coeli
Iaetare, Alleluia

Holy Week Beliefs and Practices

Beliefs

       Varied religious beliefs and practices are related to the Holy Week in this community. These are handed down from one generation to another by word of mouth. Some are reasonable and justifiable but others are out of place. Practically, those which are already found to be unfounded were already discarded by the new generation.
       During the Spanish regime people believed that they can eat meat during the Fridays of lent and on Good Friday if they have the Santa Bola which can be bought from the Spanish authorities. This is not true during our time.
       At present the church advocates fasting and abstinence during Ash Wednesday, Fridays of Lent and Good Friday for all Catholics except those who are sick, invalid and 60 years old and over.
The old folks in this community also believed that fruit bearing trees would be shaken when the church bells ring on Holy Saturday so that they would bear much fruit. Children who were quite stunted in growth were held by their elders and lifted up and shaken so that they would grow taller and bigger. Old folks also prohibited children to bathe on Good Friday for fear of getting sick.
Babaylans and quack doctors found Good Friday a busy day for them as they went to the caves and mountain to get herbs and bark of trees which they needed for their medicine. It was believed that the medicine was potent if taken on that particular day.
      These beliefs may sound quaint to the young generation, but those were religiously followed by the folks of long ago.

Some Holy Week Practices

      Since the Philippines was colonized by Spain, the people in the whole archipelago embraced Christianity. Churches were constructed in the parishes and people started strengthening their religious faith.
      Religious practices introduced by the Spanish priests were handed down from generation to generation. One of them is the construction of 14 Capilyas or makeshift or improvised chapel in strategic places in the town following the route of the procession.           These 14 capilyas represent the 14 stations undergone by Jesus Christ in his passion and death in Mt. Calvary. Each capilya depicts the station in the Way of the Cross.
       In this community the route of the procession is from the church to Libo-on Street, Magallanes, Maximo, Exaltacion, Magtanong, Alvior, Plaza Libertad and back to church. After the procession, people of all ages, and sex retrace the route of the procession several times until midnight as they eat peanuts, watermelon and other edibles. Young men and women together exchange conversation and laugh to their hearts’ content until midnight. The town plaza becomes a little Luneta with a sea of faces.
       There is a sort of merrymakings on street corners. Laughter and peoples’ voices fill the air. In many towns in the province this practice has been stopped, but loyal Alimodiananons feel that young generation will have to experience the joy and fun going around the capilyas as many times as they want so they can say that “Holy Week” was well observed.
       This practice is the exact opposite of what the church wants people to do. Lay leaders of the church have attempted to alter the practice but to no avail as it are much easier to amend a law rather than the custom which has long been practiced by the people.
At present the practice of having a procession on Holy Thursday is against the church liturgy, but upon the insistence of the people, there is procession on both Holy Thursdays and Good Friday.

Bitay and Resplandor

         Easter Sunday is the greatest celebration in the whole Christendom. The people are awakened early by the pealing of bells beckoning the faithful to church to attend the early mass. The church is full and crowded with people from all walks of life.
        When the mass is over all men follow the image of the resurrected Christ as they take the right turn from the church. A young man clad in barong tagalog carries the church banner. The women group follow the image of Virgin Mary and take the road on the northern side of the plaza. The two groups – meet in front of the Plaza where the Easter Sunday ceremony is performed.
        The Bitay which corresponds to an angel who was seen on the tomb of Jesus, rides up on a carriage which takes the shape of star, comet, flower or any shape or motif that the family so desires. The image of Virgin Mary, whose head is covered with a black veil, is brought near the Bitay and she begins to recite and sing the age-old ballad and song which I will include in the later blogs.
When the angel or Bitay has finished delivering her speech, she removes the black veil on the head of Virgin Mary which she later returns to the priest.
         It is the Resplandor’s turn to deliver his discourse, cursing Judas for selling Jesus to his captors, when the Bitay is through reciting. An effigy of Judas’s figure is made to move when his name is mentioned by the Resplandor. This makes the spectators laugh.
        At the end of the speech of the Resplandor the effigy of Judas is burned to depict hatred of the people to Judas. Then the whole congregation returns to church amidst loud pealing of church bells, march music of the band and rejoicing of the people.

Alimodian Parish Priests From 1755 - Present

January 25, 1755 – July 4, 1756 – Fr. Vicente de Campo
July 9, 1756 - December 31, 1757 – Fr. Rector Francisco Calchetas
January 4, 1758 – October 29, 1762 – Fr. Andre del Solar
November 4, 1762 – December 10, 1762 – Fr. Rector Francisco Mansanet
December 1762 – January 18, 1763 – Fr. Juan Ferrer
January 18, 1763 – May 4, 1763 – Fr. Rector Francisco Mansanet
May 4, 1763 – March 12, 1764 – Fr. Rector Narciso Menoso
March 12, 1764 – October 10, 1764 – Fr. Rector Jose de la Cruz
October 10, 1764 – February 9, 1767 – Fr. Francisco Monastero
February 9, 1767 – November 20, 1767 – Fr. Juan Aguado
November 20, 1767 – May 30, 1769 – Fr. Francisco Monastero
May 13, 1769 – June 8, 1769 – Fr. Pedro Albarrido*
June 8, 1769 – May 13, 1776 – Fr. Francisco Monastero
May 13, 1776 – July 20, 1776 – Fr. Pedro Besanio
July 20, 1776 – January 15, 1777 – Fr. Jose Montenegro
January 23, 1777 – January 5, 1779 – Fr. Jose Serapena
January 25, 1779 – December 4, 1781 – Fr. Francisco Monastero
December 4, 1781 – March 27, 1782 – Fr. Julian Banuelos
March 27, 1782 – January 15, 1783 – Fr. Manuel de Diego
January 15, 1783 – April 24, 1797 – Fr. Matias Carbajal
April 24, 1791 – August 13, 1797 – Fr. Jose de Agustin
August 13, 1797 – June 23, 1811 – Fr. Manuel Gonzales
June 23, 1811 – August 22, 1811 – Fr. Julian Banuelos
August 22, 1811 – December 3, 1823 – Fr. Justo Azufra
January 1, 1823 – August 9, 1825 – Don Pablo Montano
August 9, 1825 – August 15, 1838 – Fr. Alejandro Aburis
August 15, 1838 – December 15, 1845 – Fr. Ramon Aburis Honce
October 16, 1845 – December 14, 1845 – Fr. Jose Paco *
December 14, 1845 – October 1, 1854 – Fr. Diego de la Hoz
October 1, 1854 – March 31, 1855 – Fr. Manuel Portal ^
March 31, 1855 – March 8, 1865 – Fr. Florencio Martin
March 8, 1865 – December 12, 1867 – Fr. Serapio Gonzales
December 12, 1867 – December 31, 1867 – Fr. Tomas Villaruz
January 1, 1868 – December 11, 1879 – Fr. Ignacio Marcos ^
December 15, 1879 – May 6, 1888 – Fr. Serapio Gonzales
May 6, 1888 – June 30, 1889 – Fr. Candido Gonzales
July 1, 1889 – July 31, 1889 – Don Vicente Tupaz
August 1, 1889 – November 3, 1889 – Padre Joaquin Fernandez
November 3, 1889 – April 1, 1893 – Fr. Jose Labiana
April 1, 1893 – November 6, 1894 – Fr. Pablo Lascano
November 6, 1894 – March 6, 1896 – Fr. Manuel Camara
March 6, 1896 - April 10, 1896 – Fr. Nicolas Porras
April 10, 1896 – October 31, 1896 – Fr. Jose Labiana
October 31, 1898 – December 28, 1902 – Don Ramon Amparo
December 28, 1902 – March 17, 1917 – Fr. Maximo Montealto
March 17, 1917 – May 1, 1918 – Fr. Nicasio Makilan
May 1, 1918 – November 15, 1920 - Fr. Carlos Castrillo
January 10, 1921 – April 16, 1942 – Fr. Mariano Perez
1944 – 1945 – Fr. Genaro Ramos
1945 – December 26, 1946 – Fr. Marcos Doloso
December 12, 1946 – July 16, 1966 – Msgr. Carlos Crucero - Parish Priest
November 4, 1961 – January 27, 1963 – Rev. Fr. Juan Nacawili – Asst. Parish Priest
April 30, 1963 – May 13, 1965 - Rev. Fr. Santiago Seberiaga – Asst. Parish Priest
August 6, 1966 – July 6, 1968 – Rev. Fr. Alfonso Tamonan – Parish Priest
May 5, 1966 – May 29, 1967 – Rev. Fr. Nicolas Caberoy – Asst. Parish Priest
June 3, 1967 – June 22, 1968 – Rev. Fr. Cesar Subong – Asst. Parish Priest
July 6, 1968 – August 16, 1982 – Rev. Fr. Ismael Castano – Parish Priest
February 3, 1979 – June 15, 1980 – Rev. Fr. Arthur Selvederio – Asst. Parish Priest
June 21, 1980 – April 26, 1981 – Rev. Fr. Ildefonso Tagamolila – Asst. Parish Priest
June 15, 1981 – May 29, 1983 – Rev. Fr. Ramon Baron – Asst. Parish Priest
August 17, 1982 – 1997 – Rev. Fr. Justiniano Hingco - Parish Priest
June 4, 1983 – June 1, 1985 – Rev. Fr. Henrietto Losaria – Asst. Parish Priest
June 8, 1985 – 1989 – Rev. Fr. Glorioso Gepolangco - Asst. Parish Priest
Rev. Fr. Moises Tacardon
Rev. Fr. Paul Acebuque
Rev. Fr. Joel Rudi
Rev. Fr. Joenic Teritorio *
Rev. Fr. Herminio Tacardon
Rev. Fr. Rex Jiloca
Rev. Fr. Amador Encanto
Rev. Fr. Edgar Palmos
Rev. Fr. Renante Salabe
Rev. Fr. Jesus Glofel Mana-ay
Rev. Fr. Celestino Zagra+
Rev. Fr. Ron Michael Alquisada*
Rev. Fr. Edgar Palmos
Rev. Fr. Martin Alarcon *
Rev. Fr. Maloney Gotera
Rev. Fr. Peter John Guarin *


Legend:

* - Asst. Parish Priest    
^ - former Asst. Parish Priest became Parish Priest

St. Thomas of Villanova: Patron Saint of Alimodian

The traditional town fiesta of Alimodian is in honor of the town’s patron saint, St. Thomas of Villanova.


On September 22, 1288 King Charles V of Spain appointed St. Thomas archbishop of Valencia. Even before his appointment to the lowly but exalted position, he had entered the house of the Augustinian Friar in order to study further the science of saints.

As he was being led to his earthly throne in the church, he set aside all the silken and golden ornaments he was entitled to and with humility knelt down and kissed the ground in tears.

When St. Thomas was offered huge amount of money with which he would build his palace, he spent the money for the local public hospital.

On his appointment as archbishop of Valencia, he was to visit a prison to improve the condition of the inmates in it. To the poor and needy, he gave a big portion of the Episcopal revenues under him each year as his alms to them. Even as a child, he was known to have given him his meal to the poor. He was a kind-hearted lad.

During his episcopate which lasted for eleven years, he fed at least 500 poverty-stricken persons each day, and took care of the foundlings like to a mother does to her child.

Every maiden belonging to a poor family received alms from him on wedding day serving lessons to those who were aristocratic and rich but unfortunately selfish. After learning a good lesson from the act of kindness of the archbishop, the rich and affluent persons became kindhearted and generous with their fortune.

Front View Of Alimodian Parish Church

front view of Alimodian parish church

Alimodian Roman Catholic Church History

View of the Pre-War Alimodian Church during the 1930s. This is the original belltower before the topmost (3rd Storey) floor of the belltower was toppled down by the 1948 Lady Caycay Earthquake.

Photo by Casanave Studio.

 

This is the right-side view of the present church showing the bells in the belfry. Two thirds of the belfry toppled down during the earth.
aerial interior view of Alimodian parish church
the altar view of Alimodian parish church

Alimodian church pre war pic
Spanish Colonial Period

The Spanish colonization of the Philippines logically started on March 16, 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan landed on Homonhon, an island in Samar. Since then, several Spanish expeditions were sent to the Philippines to colonize the natives. The first move that the Spanish Conquistadores did was the construction of the Roman Catholic Churches in all the towns or pueblos (seat of government) they colonized and Alimodian was one of those places.

Alimodian was founded in 1754 and a few months later the town leader s planned to build a church. It was agreed that the site of the church would be on the place where the rope that pulled the tablon(a huge timber) would break. The tablon came from the shore of Ogtong (now Oton) and it was pulled by a pair of carabaos. Thus the site was decided and the people built a chapel of bamboos, cogon and logs. On January 25, 1755, Fr. Vicente del Campo was assigned as the parish priest of this town. On July 19, 1756 he was replaced by Fr. Francisco Javier Calchetas.

In the year 1780, Marcos Gregorio, the town gobernadorcillo, and the incumbent priest Fr. Francisco Monasterio initiated a move to build a permanent church of bricks, rocks plastered with lime. The site was moved northwest of the church’s cemetery on Nichols Street. It was finished in 1784. However, in 1787 a strong earthquake shook the town and partially destroyed the church.

Almost 74 years later, a plan to build a stronger and more permanent building was made. Then on December 5, 1859 the cornerstone of the permanent church was laid amidst fitting religious ceremonies attended by high Spanish dignitaries from Manila, Cebu and Iloilo. Father Florencio Martin was the parish priest. There were documents signed by the high officials of the church and the town. These documents were placed inside the barcelona mixed with the following coins: 1 sicualohon (P0.6 ¼), 1 sicapaton (P0.12 ¼), 1 capatihon (P0.25), 1 salapion (P0.50), 1 pisoson (P1.00) and one gold necklace. This barcelona was covered and placed inside the tabla which was prepared like a trough bait big enough to hold the jar. The tabla was sealed with lime and buried under the main door of the church. There were fireworks and singing of the Te Deum, Laudamus Letania de San Marcos and ringing of church bells. The sponsors, visitors, and church dignitaries were treated in the house of Capitan Timoteo Amarra. The church was finished in 1864 and was formally opened for public worship on December 22, 1864 amidst impressive ceremonies. The construction of the convent was then immediately started. The convent was just as big as the church and longer in length because of its tri-square form as the church’s annex from north to south. It was completed in 1868.

During the construction of the church, the Alimodiananons sacrificed and suffered much. Forced labor was utilized in the construction as well as in the gathering of materials. Each cabeza was given a quota of table, lime, sand and gravel. Failure to fill up the quota incurred the punishment of flogging. The palmeta was used for light offenses. Labor was not paid and the laborers provided their own food. Women and children were utilized in gathering white stones and making them into lime. Lime was made by roasting the white stones in improvised ovens for nine days and nights and pouring cold water over them to cool. Then these were pounded to produce lime powder. Lime was used in plastering bricks and tabla (wood). The men were utilized to get tabla from Camando, now Leon. Some were utilized in making tisa. Tisa was made from clay which was mixed by human feet or by carabao then moulded into squares or rectangles and burned in kiln. They were used for walls, roofs and floors of the church.

In the morning of June 20, 1869 when Fr. Ignacio Marcos was the parish priest, an earthquake of undetermined intensity rocked the building for a couple of minutes. It was Sunday and many people were injured in the human stampede.

On February 17, 1877 the new bells manufactured in 1876 by Juan Reyes in his foundry in La Villa de Arevalo were installed in the belfry. The largest of these bells weighed 120 arobas, (one aroba is equal to 12.25 kilos) thus giving the biggest bell (mayor) the total weight of 1,470 kilos. The bells were made of bronze with alloy of silver. Two pairs of bullcarts arranged side by side were utilized to haul the bells from La Villa de Arevalo to Alimodian. It was said that residents lined along the streets and offered alms of Spanish coins as their voluntary contribution to defray the hauling expenses. It took hundreds of men to pull up the bells to belfry using a big cable, the end of which reached the river bank on Nichols Street. One man died on the spot when the cable snapped and broke.
Pino, a brave man, was responsible for putting up the biggest bell (mayor) into its place. The bells had different names like San Agustin, Sta. Monica, Ma. Consolacion de Leonisa, Sto. Tomas de Villanueva and San Ignacio de Loyola.

The use of the bricks and lime as roofing materials for the church was later found to be impractical, so on February 13, 1882 during the term of Fr. Serapio Gonzales, these were replaced by galvanized iron roof.

On February 2, 1887 an earthquake shook the building and caused the large image of San Agustin to fall from its pedestal in a niche over the main door of the church.
Different Spanish priests were assigned to this parish and the first Filipino priest and native of Oton, Iloilo was Fr. Maximo Montealto.



American Period


When Spanish gave up the Philippines to the Americans on December 10, 1898 in the Treaty of Paris, the Alimodian church retained its beauty and splendor. Its belfry was one of the biggest and the most beautiful in Panay and Negros. No remarkable changes were made in the physical setup of both the church and the convent.


Japanese Period


With the outbreak of World War II on December 8, 1941 evacuees from the city flocked to the interior towns, especially Alimodian since it was a mountainous place. The convent became the refuge of the rich from Iloilo City to mention the Ysmael and Caram families who were friends of Fr. Mariano Perez, the incumbent parish priest that time.

When the Japanese landed in Oton, Iloilo on April 16, 1942, the people left the Poblacion and fled to the mountains. Looting and robbery became rampant in the Poblacion. The convent was the first target of the robbers and looters and in the course of their work, a spark from a match stick caused a can of gasoline to burst thus causing a big fire in the convent.

No help was given. Thus the once tall, proud and beautiful convent was turned into an ugly pile of soot-covered ruins. Upon the order of the head of the Civil Government, the church was burned a month later for fear that it would be used by the Japanese as their hiding place and storage of their supply. Since the base and walls were made of table and bricks, only the rafters, the roofs and interior furnishings and decorations were burned. The image of the patron saint, Sto. Tomas de Villanueva was saved by Tomas Claveria and Cipriano Amsua and the image of the Santo Entiero by Antonio Allonar. The church and the convent were left to unabated weathering and disintegration.

On August 22, 1943 the civilians surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Forces, so the people returned to the poblacion and constructed their huts. The parishioners put up an improvised building inside the hollow shell of the old church. It was made of bamboos and roofed with solidap (coconut leaves). True to its mission, it afforded a sanctuary to the parishioners with Fr. Genaro Ramos as the parish priest. Later the solidap roof was changed to nipa and elevated to the original roof base. It remained as such until the liberation period came.



The Republic and the New Society


With the return of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on December 20, 1944, the Filipino way of life returned to normal. Schools were reopened and postwar reconstruction began. Americans granted independence on July 4, 1946. Payments of war damage claims brought more improvements to the towns and cities. The facilities of the church began to improve. Pews were donated. The two side altars were roofed, although with nipa. The parish priest this time was Fr. Marcos Doloso.

However, in the dawn of January 28, 1948 a titanic earthquake called Lady Kaykay rocked the whole island of Panay, especially the Province of Iloilo and caused the collapse of the church, the convent and the belfry. About two-thirds of the belfry was destroyed by the earthquake brought the bells to rest to solid ground (except the biggest – mayor) which for 71 years signaled to the parishioners not only in moments of worship and sacrifice but also on the approach of impending evils that threatened their lives and property. Thus, the church was left and neglected.

A temporary building was built on the southern part of the ruins to provide the need for a place of worship. A temporary convent of wood, bamboo and nipa was also put up adjacent to it. Fr. Carlos Crucero was the parish priest that time. This temporary building and belfry were used for almost three years.

After three years of intermittent earthquakes of varied intensity, the temporary church managed to stand undisturbed. So the parishioners requested an engineer to check the safety and durability of the burned building. Assured of the safety of the façade, the walls and the arches, the parishioners decided to rebuild permanently. The parishioners pooled their resources, used all ways and means in order that the roof would be made of galvanized iron, the arches cemented and reinforced with iron bars, and the walls plastered with cement. The back part of the main altar was totally changed into hollow blocks. The main, as well as the side altars, were modified. This was made feasible through the efforts of Fr. Juan Nacawili, who was then the co-adjutor of Fr. Carlos Crucero. A new communion rail and pulpit made of marbolized cement were donated as well as the church received a donation of an organ. Uniform pews were also put up. The renovated church was opened for public worship in 1951.

Though the church was opened in 1951 for public worship, the belfry was finished in 1952. The bells were installed to the belfry through the efforts of the “Caballeros de San Jose,” a religious organization in the parish under the management of the late Venancio Alejan, a noted carpenter of the town.

The years that followed were marked by rapid construction of the new convent and improvement of the church. The parishioners and different mandated church organizations like the Catholic Women’s League, the Pastoral Council, the Association of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Dominicans and the Knights of Columbus, finished the convent through their cooperative efforts. The parish priest at that time was Fr. Alfonso Tamonan with Fr. Nicolas Caberoy as his coadjutor.

Fr. Ismael Castano came to Alimodian in 1968 and through his efforts the interior part of the church, its walls and arches were reinforced, strengthened and painted white. A ceiling of lawanit and plywood was put up and painted cream. The image of St. Thomas of Villanova, the town’s patron saint, was placed in a niche above the main door facing the plaza thus giving a warm welcome to the parishioners and visitors. The grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes constructed and once prominently standing at the right front part of the church gave attraction to the plaza. Major improvements and renovations had been made during the time of Fr. Encanto and carried by the parish priest Fr. Edgar Palmos. Succeeding priests include Fr. Rex Jiloca, Fr. Ron Alquisada, Fr. Martin Alarcon.  The Alimodian Parish Church is one of the beautiful landmark that this town can be proud of.

Alimodian Church and Convent 1930s 

Photo Source: 

Old Iloilo Facebook Group

Casanave Studio