The Legend Of Miag-ao

Miagao Public Plaza 

Miagao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

 
The town of Miag-ao became famous because of its old church. It is really beautiful that it attracts people most especially the tourists. Why the town was called Miag-ao?

When the Spaniards arrive to the place they don't know what to name the place. In their wandering, they observe the surrounding is rampant with a wild plant known as Miagos. They unanimously called the place Miagos from the said plant. Eventually, the place was called Miagao.

According to Father Lorenzo Torres, a priest assigned in Igbaras, Iloilo the place came from the name Miyagaw, an elder native Ati residing in the area. When the Spaniard and the said Ati met, he was asked by the Spaniard about the name of the place. For the reason that the Ati could not understand Spanish, he thought he was asked about his name. The old Ati responded the Spaniard with "Miyagaw". The Spaniard immediately noted what he heard. Since then, the town was called Miagao.


Photo Source:

http://www.choosephilippines.com/go/heritage-sites/1396/miagao-church/

The Legend Of Maasin

Maasin Dam at Barangay Daja

Tultugan Festival in Maasin uses bamboo as musical instruments and sometimes equipment and tools. Bamboo is abundant in the town of Maasin.



This town took its name from a place they call Pait which is bitter or salty in English.

During the Spanish occupation in this place called Pait, there is a  woman washing clothes when some Spaniards passed by. One of the Spaniards asked the woman in Spanish, "Como se llama es su pueblo?"

Since the Spanish language was not really understood by the woman she assumed that the Spaniard is asking about the water in the river dug out called balon. (*balon is a small or shallow dugout in a river, brook or a stream to produce some water for drinking, cooking, washing clothes and bathing). The woman answered without hesitation, maasin which she wants to specify that the water in the dugout is salty. The Spaniards thought that the name of the place is Maasin. Since then they call the town Maasin.



Photo Source:

http://www.worldtravelserver.com/travel/en/philippines/airport_iloilo_international_airport/photo_281910-dam-site-brgy-daja-maasin-iloilo.html

http://www.exploreiloilo.com/blog/tultugan-maasin/

The District Of Molo

Molo Plaza fronting the St. Anne Parish Church, an example of Gothic architecture

Yusay-Consing Mansion was renovated and made into a heritage house museum and souvenir shop.

This district is a swampy area so it's impossible to pass through in this place going in or out without passing through water. In Chinese language, this situation is called Bulo (no way out or no way in). In one of the Moro invasion in 19th century, a Chinese was assigned to watch the shores. After he saw the nearing vintas of the Moro, the Chinese went to the poblacion or town proper to warn the people. Since he could not pronounce the letter "r" he shouted Molo instead of Moro.



Photo Source:

http://www.exploreiloilo.com/do/info/molo-church/

http://fieldstoneconstruction.weebly.com/

The Origin Of Mandurriao

Mandurriao Church

Donato Pison Avenue Intersection

A group of Spanish soldiers are crossing the length of the river. They passed by the natives who seems to have noticed something in the river. The noise and celebration invites the strangers. They desire to know the name of the place they have reached. The native who was asked could not understand the Spanish language and just assume that he is asking for what is happening in the river. In his surprise he said:

" Mandu.... Riao...." which means and evokes something of a battle of the mentioned. These are crocodiles whose names were taken from the place of their habitat: the lakes of Mandu and Riao which are now gone.

It was formed in the minds of the people that the name of the place is Mandurriao. Eventually, the letter "r" in Mandu-Riao is replaced with "rr". For the Spaniards, having an "rr" in a word brings further beauty and character.





Photo Source:

https://iloilomass.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/mandurriao-mass-schedule-mandurriao-church-espousal-of-the-virgin-mary-church/

http://www.exploreiloilo.com/blog/ayala-atria-iloilo-kapideco-san-rafael/

The History Of La Paz District

Parish of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in La Paz District, Iloilo City

La Paz Plaza Football Field, where some of the finest football players of the country play

La Paz Public Market, the birthplace of the popular dish La Paz Batchoy and the traditional coffee making Madge Cafe.

In the beginning, La Paz is a barrio or small community of the town of Jaro. It has a span of 110, 700 square meters. The place was originally called Ilawod because it faces Iloilo river on the south while Jaro is called Ilaya because it faces the mountain. Love of freedom and the desire to live peacefully and prosperously compelled the people to separate from Jaro in 1865. The name of the place was changed to La Paz which means peace and their patron saint is  Nuestra Señora De La Paz y Buen Viaje or Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. When the Jaro Archbishop saw the peaceful, law abiding citizens, he designated the Holy Virgin Mary as the patron of the barrio and call it Nuestra Señora De La Paz y Buen Viaje or Our Lady of Peace.

The church in this district was built in 1869 by the priests Candido Gonzales, Leandro Jambrina, Manuel Camara and Mariano Isar.

The La Paz Catholic Church that is situated at Jereos Street fronting La Paz plaza is one of the unique places which has a significant part in history, culture and spiritual development of the people.




Photo Sources:

https://iloilomass.wordpress.com/tag/parish-of-our-lady-of-peace-and-good-voyage-la-paz/

http://mapio.net/s/75584412/?page=12

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_to_La_Paz_Market_Iloilo_City.jpg

The Legend Of Nuestra Señora De La Candelaria - Patroness of Jaro and Western Visayas

Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria or Our Lady of Candles, Patroness of Jaro and the whole Western Visayas Region

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Church or the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral

In Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, which imposingly standing in front of the plaza or town square of Jaro is the enshrined old statue of Nuestra Señora De La Candelaria or Our Lady of Candles. The townsfolk proves that the image is miraculous and countless of help, graces and blessings has been bestowed to the devotees.

Long time ago when the Spaniards set foot in the shores of Iloilo, some fisherman netted a hard object in the shores of Iloilo river. What they saw is a statue of Our Blessed Virgin, as high as one foot. The fishermen attempted to carry the image but it was so heavy.

In just a short span of time, the news spread. The people crowded the area. They plan of bringing the statue in a nearby church no matter what efforts they do to carry it nothing happens.

At last they decided to carry the image to the cathedral of Jaro. It was a surprise that if awhile ago ten men helped to carry the statue without any progress, now only one fisherman is carrying the statue easily. The image is enshrined in Jaro Cathedral.

After it was done, eventually there were so many things that took place. Allegedly, the image frequently disappears from its shrine in the church especially if its too early in the morning. Many have said that they often see a beautiful lady with an unusually long hair giving a bath to her child in the old artesian well formerly located in the middle of the Jaro plaza or town square.

Another miracle took place few years before the war. The incident was witnessed by many people.

The whole place of Our Blessed Virgin is so dark. After a few days, there is a sudden brightness in the site of the image when no one touched and arranged it. Another miracle is this: the once foot long image grows taller and bigger to its present size and a lush vine grows up around the place. The vines became the center of attention and considered to possess miraculous cure to any illness.

This is the patroness of Jaro and the entire Western Visayas. On her feast day, February 2 the candles were blessed, the light symbolizes the brightness of faith.

The new throne of Our Lady of Candles was made in 1980 before Pope John Paul II arrived in Jaro.




Photo Source:

Wikipedia
Flickr courtesy of Mic Cal

The City Of Iloilo

Iloilo City Hall

Different Sights and Places of Interest in Iloilo City

The city of Iloilo is consists of seven districts, six of whom were former towns or independent city namely: Arevalo, Jaro (formerly a town before becoming an independent city), Lapaz, Mandurriao, Molo, City Proper while Lapuz which is formerly a part of Lapaz, was declared a separate district in 2008.

Arevalo - was named La Villa de Arevalo by Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo y Peñalosa in memory of his hometown in Spain.

District of Jaro - the former name of Jaro is Salog. With the arrival of the Spaniards in the islands, they have no idea about the local dialects of the natives. They walk around in the place to view it and to learn about its name. Incidentally, a Spaniard stopped by Barrio Cubay. He saw a man building a house. He is so busy carving and cleaning the bamboos to be used as flooring for the house. The Spaniard asked the name of the place. The man could not understand what the Spaniard is saying so he just answered "salog" (floor).

In another occasion, a group of Spaniards came to the place. Upon their arrival, the natives were so busy in crafting clay jars that they call "saro." A Spaniard ask the name of the place. The natives assume that he asked about the name of the object they were doing so they answered saro. Since then, the place was called Saro that eventually became Jaro.





Photo Sources:

Iloilo City Wikipedia Entry

Iloilo City Government Official Website - www.iloilocity.gov.ph