The Beauties of Yesteryears 1920s

Miss Florita Alonday, Alimodian’s fairest in the1920’s, was Miss Alimodian in the Second Annual Beauty Contest in Iloilo Carnival in 1927 equivalent to Miss Iloilo province. The song “Beauty of Alimodian” was dedicated to her by a persistent beau.

The Beauties of Yesteryears 1919

Miss Consolacion Altura, who later became Mrs. Jose Aligaen, was chosen Miss Independence Day on January 1, 1919, when Alimodian was separated from Leon. She has been an English and Music Teacher of the Iloilo Normal School, now the West Visayas State University. The couple are all natives of Alimodian, but later resided in Singalong, Manila.

The Beauties of Yesteryears Introduction

      “A thing of beauty is a joy forever,” says the poet John Keats, and sure enough, the beauties of the past will long linger in the memories of the townspeople of Alimodian. Everybody loves a beautiful face, so much so for the Alimodiananons who have always been vocal admirers of feminine charm. In many occasions during the past years, an Alimodian beauty has reigned for a night or for a day, capturing the hearts of the populace during those short moments when she becomes queen.



       Age may have taken its toll on most of these beautiful faces of yesteryear's, but the folio of photographs that follows will show why during their time, these bundles of pulchritude have transformed the quiet town of Alimodian into an enchanted kingdom with themselves as dazzling queens.

Alimodian Firsts: John Amarra

Mr. John Amarra

First B.S. in Veterinary Medicine

   Mr. John Amarra is the first graduate of Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine. He is the son of Dr. & Mrs. Napoleon Amarra.

Alimodian Firsts: Simeon Arensol

Mr. Simeon Arensol

First Director of Moro-Moro Plays

     Alimodiananons are never in want of thespic talents. It is, therefore, with great pride, that they remember Mr. Simeon Arensol, the first director of Moromoro plays this town has ever produced.


     Mr. Arensol was a native of San Miguel, Iloilo. A widower early by his first wife, he was attracted by the beauty of Alimodian, Juliana Alfeche, of Magtanong Street. Their marriage was blessed with eight children.


      A voracious reader, he became fascinated by stories of adventure and romance he read while in school. The heroic exploits of gallant knights to win the heart of their ladyloves left a deep mark in the mind of the young Simeon.


     Endowed with poetic talent, he made his first venture into comedia or moro-moro production with his contemporaries, Mr. Apolonio Loredo and Francisco Amolar who shared his passion for the stage. The stage play, entitled “Si Ludovico at Esberta sa Kaharian sang Berbania” had his son Alfredo in the title role. The immense success of this first venture inspired him to produce the same play in San Miguel, this time with another son, Numeriano, playing Ludovico.


     Mr. Arensol died in his late ‘80s. His play has been revived time and again with Numeriano directing. The last presentation was in 1976.

Alimodian Firsts: Cornelio Alejo

Mr. Cornelio Alejo

Chairman – Alimodian Historical Society

     The publication of this book would have not been possible were it not for the efforts of one man – Mr. Cornelio Alejo – the chairman of the Local Historical Committee.

     Mr. Alejo was the man who fought that this noble project may be pushed through, that the people of Alimodian may relive the glory of their past in the pages of a history book they could call truly their own.

    “Cone” as the man is known, was born to a couple, Apolonio Alejo and Baldomera Allin of this town on July 12, 1914. He has served his town mates and countrymen as salesman,clerk, teacher, policeman, soldier, deputy assessor and administrator.

     After the Second World War, he was employed by the Bureau of Education, now the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, as Clerk I, but he rose through the ranks to become the Administrative Officer IV of the Division of Iloilo until his retirement on July 12, 1979. Upon his retirement he was given several awards and certificates of merit for his valuable services to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.

     He is married to the former Fe Kilayko of Leon, Iloilo. The union is blessed with ten children, eight of whom are now professionals.

Alimodian Firsts: Felix Amparado

Felix Amparado

First Agriculturist

      In 1907 a baby boy was born to Emeterio Amparado and Natividad Rodriguez. The couple named him Felix, and the boy later became the first agriculturist of Alimodian.

     After his elementary and secondary studies, Felix, who had always shown fascination for the bounty that springs from the fertile earth, went to Laguna to enroll at the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture at Los Banos. In 1930, he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from that school, the first Alimodian to do so.

    After graduation he found employment at the Pilar Sugar Central in Capiz. But, his desire to serve his town mates led him to leave that job and become the agricultural inspector of Alimodian. He also lent his expertise to the teaching profession, by joining the faculty of the Iloilo High School, and later, the Alimodian High School.

   He was married to the former Natalia Alingasa, and they had one daughter Delicia. The Amparado family is well remembered in the community because they put up the first electric plant in Alimodian which served the need of the populace before the service from the Iloilo Electric Cooperative became available.

  He died on September 21, 1955.