The Legend Of Sta. Cruz

The Holy Cross in Arevalo District, Iloilo City

If there is an image honored, venerated and consecrated by the elders of Arevalo, it is the Santa Cruz. There are lots of peculiar stories which are mysteriously attractive to narrate about this.

Long time ago, it was said that, there is a mananguete, a person climbing a coconut tree who saw the cross. He observed that the said cross grows bigger everyday. He took the attention of the natives about this. They plan to build a chapel for the cross. According to the elders, the wooden cross never dried up. It's tree is always moistened by the juice or sap that came from the living tree.

According to a statement, this cross was planted or erected by the Spanish missionaries on their first landing in the shores of Panay. The mysterious cross continues to grow. Others believed that the cross emerge from the shores to stop the Mohammedans of the South which frequents the area and  ransack the town in those days.

Whatever is the truth, each story strengthens and fortify the belief of the people in the sacred symbol. The elderly has kept attractive stories about the mysterious cross.

Many years had passed, they said that if the feast of the Holy Cross could not be celebrated properly or appropriately because there is no Queen Helena and King Constantine in the holy procession, the cross could not stand upright strongly no matter how tough is its nailing. In the whole duration of the procession, it moves as if it will fall from the decorated crate. It will only stand strongly if there is a complete colorful pageantry by the next day. According to the rumors, when the town attempted to abandon and forget  the celebration, a deafening thunder and a terrifying line of a lightning hit the place. This continued until the people decided to celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross.

In the celebration where the colorful pageantry or presentation lacks the presence of a king and princesses, a great fire or conflagration mysteriously took place which engulfs several houses while the procession is continuously happening.  

The men and women who were chosen to participate in the procession to portray the characters in the colorful presentation or pageantry could not refuse in the fear that they will meet misfortunes or bad omen. According to the rumors of the elders, if a beautiful young lady dared to refuse to be dressed as Queen Helena or Reyna Elena, she became insane, crazy or mentally ill, sometimes becoming blind some others are crippled. while others met an unfortunate accident.



Photo Source:

http://localphilippines.com/attractions/santa-cruz

The Crown Of Arevalo

Crown Monument in Arevalo District, Iloilo City

The big crown sitting distinctively atop a tower in the plaza beside the church is a one of a kind marker of Arevalo. According to Father James Mansfield who served in the parish, this crown has a hidden history.

Many years had passed before the spread of Christianity in Arevalo, there is a group of Jesuits who were looking for a place to stay in a place now called as Santa Cruz. They built a chapel here and evangelize the natives. Nobody knows for whatever reason or event happened but the natives were infuriated with the Jesuits and they were driven away.

One day, a farmer unearthed a beautiful crown. In an untoward incident, a scepter and a big black cross was found nearby where the crown was found. The crown and scepter which were made out of expensive metals were just average in size. The cross which is now kept under the custody of the church is more than 15 feet tall and made out of hard and unusual kind of wood.

In 1854 during the incumbency of Domingo de Guzman as captain of the pueblo or town, the crown was made bigger in Fundidor, Molo. It was placed in the plaza or town square. This is gaining attention on top of the district of Arevalo as a statue of missionary purpose of the Spaniards in town.

The present day name of the former Jesuit missionary settlement is Santa Cruz. It was in this place where the crown, scepter and cross was found.





Photo Source:

http://www.iloilocity.org/places.html

The Origin Of Places Names According To G. Loreto Angayen

Ajuy - came from the name of a tree
Alimodian - came from the old local name of the puyas plant thriving and abundant in the area
Badiangan - came from the Badiang (Alocasia Macrorrhizos or the Elephant Ear taro plant) tree
Banate - came from Banate tree
Balasan - came from balas or sand
Batad - came from the batad plant
Concepcion - came from the name of the daughter of the last Spanish garrison commander of the town
Dueñas - named by Father Florencio Martin in remembrance of his beloved hometown in Spain
Estancia - a word which means a ranch of fish in the mountains
Igbaras - from the combined words of ig which means community and baras which means sand - so if combined the name would mean a sandy community.
Nueva Valencia - came from a city in Spain
Pavia - came from the name of a Spanish colonel
San Enrique - came from the name of a saint
San Dionisio - came from the name of a patron saint
San Miguel  - came from the name of an archangel

The History Of Zarraga

Zarraga Parish Church

Zarraga Plaza Basketball Court 

Gamot Cogon Waldorf School in Barangay Libongcogon

The town of Zarraga before is a thick forest with the abundance of grasses growing in the area. Tigbao, cogon (Imperata cylindrica) and other grasses are tall and thick. Only the hunters dare to live in the area without any fear. This forest has no name and was said as "no man's land".

This place is formerly a forest but thanks to the pioneers of Pototan that includes Marcelino Penuela, Fulgencio Penuela, Damian Penuela, Eugenio Sollesta and Marcelino Poblador. They discovered and founded the town in 1853.

The town of Zarraga was named after Pedro Zarraga  who became the Alkalde Mayor or City Mayor of Irong-Irong (present-day Iloilo City).





Photo Source:

http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Zarraga,_Iloilo,_Philippines

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/29437813   - courtesy of Boxxer "jAz" Rose

http://www.gamotcogon.org/school

The Origin Of Tubungan

Bato Sumpit Hidden Falls at Barangay Igtubli

The present day site or sitio of the town and its neighboring places are formerly cogon (Imperata cylindrica) fields and wilderness. The arable land is ideal for farming and pasture. Adventurers and farmers were attracted to go to this place. The first settlers came from Nahapay, a barrio of Guimbal. It was then followed by the settlers who were natives of the towns of Leon, Igbaras and Tigbauan. The natives settled together in Tin-an. Due to the increase of the population, the plan of establishing a town was recommended by one of the farmers named Mangon. The establishment of the town was inaugurated in 1768 in which the leader is Mangon.

The Spanish law during that time states that before a place or community will be considered officially as a town, it should first follow the mandatory rule about population. A lot of people were persuaded and motivated to live in Tubungan in response to the requirement of the law. Thus, the town of Tubungan was born in 1768 from the contribution or "tubong" from its neighboring towns.

The Hiligaynon word "tubong" means contribution or add-on which were usually used in gambling;  an addition to the original bet.

The establishment of the town was made possible from the additional number of settlers from neighboring places to meet the required minimum population before a place will be  officially considered a town. The name "Tubungan" came from the root word "tubong".



Photo Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubungan,_Iloilo
http://www.tubungan-iloilo.com/tourism-and-culture.html
https://pinoyontheroad.com/2012/08/15/ilo-ilo-chasing-bato-sumpit-hidden-falls/

The Legend Of Tigbauan

Tigbauan Church and Public Plaza

Bearland Resort

The town of Tigbauan is found southeast of the city of Iloilo. It is bounded by the following towns: in the north by the town of Leon, town of San Miguel in the northwest, Oton in the east, Iloilo Strait in the south, Guimbal and Igbaras in the west, and the towns of Tubungan and Guimbal in the northeast. This town is about 30 kilometers away from the city. It has 52 barangays, has an area of 6,667 hectares and a population of 58, 814 people according to 2010 census. The municipality has a flat terrain. The plain is approximately 57% of the total area, covering about 6,667 has. along the north-west site of the Sibalom River. There are lots of coconut trees and bamboos can be seen around. The Tigbaueños are the makers of frying pans, basket, lamps, glassware cover made of bamboo. Tuba palm wine, nata de coco, bucayo, vinegar, different kinds of candies, sweets, confectioneries are products of coconuts. The town of Tigbauan is one of the main supplier of healthy fish in the neighboring towns. Fishing is one of the jobs and source of livelihood of the people and they earn a lot from it which they use to send their children to school same with making palm wines.

One of the important events in Philippine history is the landing of American Liberation Forces on March 18, 1945 in the shores of Parara-Buyuan,  Tigbauan, which caused the liberation of Panay Island and Romblon from the Japanese Imperial Forces.

Tigbauan is known not only in the Philippines but also around the world because it was in this town where SEAFDEC (Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Council) Aqua Culture Research Center is located. The Research Center attracts foreign tourists to study about fisheries in our country but most especially students on their educational tours. The breeding of milkfish and shrimps are just some of the first researches of the center.

In accordance with the program of the government to improve the quality of lives of the people in rural areas, ILECO (Iloilo Electric Coop, Inc) was established in which office was located in Tigbauan. Same with SIBALOM RIVER IRRIGATION SYSTEM that provides water in the whole town and the town of Oton. The water system or irrigation gives a lot of help and improve the lives of the people in the town.

During the old days, the town was known by the name "Katigbawan" (mountain of the tigbao grass) which became Tigbauan today. The town is well known before because of the tall grasses growing thickly which was called "tigbao" o tambo with a scientific term, "Acanthus ebracteatus."

Three-fourths of this area is grown with tall and thick grasses growing abundantly everywhere in the area. Long time ago, according to the old folks, the most common practice of people is to cut tigbao grasses which they use as fuel and its leaves is made into broomsticks. During those times, there is a young man cutting some "tigbao" and he has a boyfriend who brought him food at noon time. One afternoon the lovers walked together home when they meet a Spaniard. The Spaniard asked about the name of the place. They could not understand what the Spaniard is saying so they keep silent. The Spaniard asked again pointing to the tall grasses.

The lovers responded katigbawan. With three parting ways, the Spaniards ascertained the name of the place where he was lost and he never thought he could give the name to the place. Since then, the place of the tigbao grasses became famously called "katigbawan". However, it eventually became "Tigbauan" because according to the townsfolk of Katigbawan the name is long so it was shortened by removing "ka" in Katigbawan and it became Tigbauan. The spelling of Tigbawan was again changed and became Tigbauan the place before where it was almost covered with tigbao grass. However, it is unbelievable that not a tree of Tigbaw is growing or can be seen today anywhere in Tigbauan.





Photo Source:

http://www.ivoteph.com/candidates/region-vi-western-visayas/iloilo/tigbauan-iloilo-official-local-candidates-mock-poll-2016/

http://ramzkie.com/2012/05/experience-paradise-experience-bearland-resort-tigbauan/

The Town of Sara

Sara Municipal Hall

Relaxing Garden Resort

A lady is living in this town, that is not only reputed or famous for its admirable traits and honor but also known by the people as the most beautiful maiden during her time in the entire Panay Island. The name of this lady is Sara. Because of Sara, the town charmed its neighboring towns. A lot of people came just to see the lady. It is already common for the people if they plan to visit the lady they will say "We will go to Sara" or "Let's visit Sara". Until eventually, people forgot about the lady but people continued to call the place Sara.




Photo Source:

https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g298465-i109748097-Panay_Island_Visayas.html

http://ray.dilg.gov.ph/projects/12363/REPAIR/REHAB+MUNICIPAL+HALL/