Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 9 - American Siege of Iloilo

Chapter 9

American Siege of Iloilo

* highlighted in violet is the timeline or date

Dr. Frank S. Bourns (front left) and  Dean C. Worcester (front right) with their Filipino assistants in Iloilo in 1888

American Spy and their Espionage to Spanish Iloilo and whole of Philippines

1887 - Four American biologist came to Iloilo to study its flora and fauna. They were Dr. Joseph B. Steere a zoologist, Dr. Frank S. Bourns (photo front left), Dean C. Worcester (photo front right), and E.L. Mosley. Worcester collect zoological specimens for the University Museum. They left Iloilo for Concepcion on a sugar steamboat where the Spanish military headquarter was located.

He went back to the US in 1889 and returned to Philippines in 1890. They spent two and a half years (1890-1893) collecting  more than 3000 specimens of birds, reptiles, mammals, butterflies, shells and ethnographic objects. But those are just few of his feats. Worcester expedition was a very prolific one. His documentation such as descriptive details of general condition of Philippines was magnanimous one with hundreds of pictures from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Worcester very quick ascension to high-profile American government office albeit he is just a mere biologist raised a suspicion that he worked for clandestine intelligence service by collecting information to assess Philippine vulnerability to American territorial expansion.

Dean C. Worcester published a book in 1898 "The Philippine Islands and Their People ". In 1899, President McKinley of the United States appointed him in the First Philippine Commission as an only civilian. The following September he returned to Washington to oversee the compilation and publication of the Commission's 1600 page report. He continued his service as a member of the Second Philippine Commission (the only person to serve on both) headed by William H. Taft, Secretary of Interior. In 1901, Worcester was appointed the Secretary of Interior of the Commission Government a position he held until 1913 making him the longest serving administrator in the colonial government.  This was an extremely powerful position that oversaw a number of  government bureaus: Health, Forestry, Public Lands, Agriculture,  Weather, Mining, Government Laboratories, and Non-Christian Tribes. He also published a book The Philippines: Past and Present.

American War Ships Surprise Visit Iloilo Harbor

December 27, 1898 - Just two days after gaining independence as the newly-born Iloilo Nation, a 3,000-strong American military force led by Gen. Henry Miller arrived in four US warships (USS: Baltimore, Boston, Concord & Petrel) to Iloilo harbor to demand the surrender of the city. The commander of the expedition, Gen. Marcus Miller assisted by warships from Admiral George Dewey lowered the  Filipino flag and hoisted the American one signifying American control requested permission to land saying that they had come as friends. But the Ilonggo officials refused to grant his request.

Gen. Marcus Henry Miller

Gen Marcus Henry Miller could not force his way because U.S. President William McKinley had ordered that armed conflict with the Filipinos should be avoided while the Treaty of Paris was pending ratification by the U.S. Senate. A telegram says "To preserve the peace and protect the life and property. It is more important that there should be no conflict with the insurgents, be conciliatory but firm"

Negotiation

One day Gen. Miller tried diplomacy. He sent his army surgeon, Dr. Henry Dur. Phelan to negotiate with General Martin Delgado, Attorney Raymundo Melliza and Attorney Francisco Soriano.

“We  have sacrificed lives and money to destroy the power of Spain,” Phelan told the leaders.

Melliza who was the Ilonggo spokesperson replied, “We  have also made great sacrifices in life.” He paused for a moment and added, “We have the power to govern ourselves and need no assistance.”

Failing to  persuade the native officials to let the American ships land, Phelan dropped a  threat. He said the Americans could destroy Iloilo any time with the big guns from their ships. Melliza stood up and forcefully answered, “We will withdraw to the mountains and repeat the North American Indian warfare. You must not forget that.”

Half-Baked ratification of Treaty of Paris

February 4, 1899 -  The American command claimed that the Filipinos initiated the fighting. The big news of the fighting and the false information was wired to Washington instigating the Senate to ratify the treaty. Previously, Americans made a sham battle at this second time around they made another sham fighting to influence the Senate vote to be scheduled on February 6.


February 6, 1899 -  There was an intense fight in the United States  politicians. The treaty was finally ratified by a margin of just one vote. The ratification of the treaty indicated that the United States was committed to take possession of the Philippine islands and that it would oppose the Filipino independence movement. US President McKinley and his cabinet.

Americans attacked Iloilo

February 7, 1899 -  Gen. Robert Hughes,  an American started to bomb Iloilo about a week that brought irreparable damage and totally demolished the historic “Fort San  Pedro“ citadel.

War Broke Out

February 11, 1899 - At  9:30 a.m. Saturday, February 11 the gunboat Petrel and the cruiser Baltimore bombarded the Filipino shore trenches. Forty-eight marines from the Boston and a company from the Petrel were sent ashore.

The defenders were led by General Martin Delgado and Teresa "Nay Isa" Magbanua y Ferraris, the Visayan "Joan of Arc" retreated.

America totally crushed Ilonggo Independent Movement

February 14, 1899 - American troops landed in Iloilo and took it by storm landing at Fort San Pedro near Santo Rosario and forced their way into the city. Villages were razed to the ground and hundreds of civilians were brutally killed including defenseless women and small children. Soldiers burned Iloilo to prevent the Americans from making it as their base of operations. The Swiss consul's residence was burned. The entire Chinese and native sections of the city were destroyed but foreign mercantile property escaped with slight damage.

“The house was a fine one and richly furnished but had been looted to a finish. The  contents of every drawer had been emptied on the floor. You have no idea what a mania for destruction the average man has when the fear of the law is removed. I have see them—old sober business men too—knock chandeliers and plate-glass  mirrors to pieces just because they couldn’t carry them off. It is such a  pity." (- D. M. Mickle, Tennessee Regiment at Iloilo)

Americans took properties for themselves including the money in the banks.

(In Iloilo: Americans lined up for mess at their headquarters kitchen. Photo taken in 1899)

February 22, 1899 – After two weeks of battle, Iloilo City finally fell to the Americans. Don Raymundo Melliza and Roque Lopez  surrendered readily because they are elderly. Melliza was appointed president of the military branch of the Supreme Court by Gen. Elwell Otis, the military governor of the Philippines on May 29, 1899 with Ambrosio Rianzares, Julio Llorente, Major R.W. Young, and Captain W.E. Brikhimer as magistrates.

Remaining Ilonggo troops fought the Americans in pitched battles in towns around Iloilo City. The resistance continued line in defense outside Jaro from Balabag, Pavia to Jibao-an extending towards Oton and checked American advance. Under Martin Delgado guerrilla warfare was still raging in the province and continued for 8 months of resistance.

March 19, 1899 - The Queen Regent of Spain ratified the Treaty of Paris.

Apr  11, 1899 - Exchange of treaty ratification in Washington by both Spain and the  United States. It was only at this point in time the treaty was actually  formalized and became internationally binding; officially ending the  Spanish-American War. Thus, consummation of the anomalous Philippine  purchase.

Ilonggo Nation - Independent from Manila

April 27, 1899 - A decree abolishing the Federal Republic of the Visayas was issued by Emilio Aguinaldo. This was ignored  by the Ilonggo leaders since Iloilo leaders knew that they are not under his authority. The embattled Visayan government continued to function while fighting U.S. forces. Ilonggo Republic continued to function moving its capital from Sta. Barbara, Jaro, Cabatuan and other towns in the province of Iloilo. On January 18, 1900, Benito Lopez at age 21 was elected a member of the Council of the Federal State of the Visayas.

A new life is ahead Iloilo during the American colonial government.

Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 8 - Iloilo Nationalism

Chapter 8

Iloilo Nationalism

* highlighted in violet is the approximate timeline or date

There was an increase in the number of wealthy and educated Ilonggos. The new industries had brought wealth. Their means enabled them to build spacious and splendid homes of the fine class. This emerging class is called the " Ilustrado" or educated mestizo and the sangley. They were rapidly gaining education in Manila or in abroad so far from their ancestor of one hundred years ago. They were conscious about the aggressive revolutionary spirit that  successively stirred  Europe and  North America .




In the Spanish countries of the New World and between 1810 and 1825. They fought themselves free of Spain. Fueled by nationalism, they begun to conceive the intellectual  framework for Filipino liberty challenging the colonial and religious authority. Literary and journalistic exposés were printed aimed to attack the social, political and economic abuses directed against the friars. The most famous indictment is Rizal's novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) in which priests are represented as greedy, arrogant, and authoritarian. The Ilonggo Graciano Lopez-Jaena work “ Fray Botod” also have the same motiff . Along with Marcelo del Pilar, the three Ilustrado set up a propaganda movement in Spain.


"I, as a patriot, a Spaniard first of all, because I love Spain"

Graciano Lopez Jaena oration on February 25, 1889 at the Ateneo de Barcelona, Spain: "I, as a patriot, a Spaniard first of all, because I love Spain I ought to rouse here so that it may be revealed the mysterious veil of letters and obstruction that explain why the Philippines does not advance and progress".


1898 - March Comite Conspirador was organized

March 18, 1898. Learning that the Spanish garrison in the city was captured and withdrawn to Zamboanga, members of the Ilonggo elite organized the “ Comite Conspirador” in Molo with good perspective to win. It is a revolutionary movement in within Iloilo City that systematically plan how to overthrow Spain by maintaining contacts with surrounding provinces .

In a short span of two months by May of the same year the Comite was expanded and changed into “ Comite de Central Revolucionario Visayas“ initated by Francisco Villanueva of Molo. Several joined the group such as Patrocinio Gamboa of Jaro.

Gen. Roque Lopez was elected as President of the Assembly.
Other leaders of the committee secretly maintained liaison with their relatives and friends in Negros and nearby provinces to start the armed uprising  in their area . It also sent secret emissaries to the other provinces of Panay and the rest of the  Visayas, and tried to establish contact with the Malolos government under Aguinaldo such as Cols. Emilio and Eduardo Esteban who were sent on mission sent by General Pablo Araneta.

Source: Page 30-West Visayan Real Audiencia member- Raymundo Melliza/Book 12 Interesting  Facts about West Visayas by Rex S. Salvilla of the West Visayas  Historical Research Foundation, Inc



Araneta Brothers of Molo - and their monuments

Gen. Pablo Soriano Araneta of Molo, doctor of surgery,  Panay Island Commanding General and Chief Expeditionary Forces for the Visayas (Photo Above) was immediately sent to secure funds for the purchase of arms and ammunitions. (with monument in Molo)

Marciano Soriano Araneta run the vast hacienda in Mangkas ( La Carlota). Led the revolucionarios fought and captured the "Cuartel General" of the Spanish forces. (with monument in La Carlota Municipal Hall). Anastacio Soriano Araneta who served under his elder brother Marciano was killed by remnants of the "guardia civil" who became roving bandits in the hinterlands of Negros.

Jose Soriano Araneta was appointed "Capitan" assigned at the office of the Panay Revolutionary Forces "Cuartel General" in Pavia, Iloilo together with Capitan Ramon Lopez. He fought in the battle of Tacas, Catmon and Balantang in Jaro in 1899. (with monument in Pavia municipal building)

Dr. Vicente Armada Locsin of Janiuay, Iloilo acted as Confidential Intelligence Emissary Officer of the Central  Revolutionary Committe based in Molo, Iloilo and coordinated with the Panay and Negros revolutionary councils.

Don Gregorio Soriano Araneta (photo above), a lawyer who served as secretary-general of the Malolos Congress under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo upon advised of Apolinario Mabini (with monument in Manila). His descendants brought about founding of Araneta University, Araneta Center of Malls, Araneta Coleseum, Senator Mar Roxas. His grandchild Greggy Araneta married Irene Marcos, the daughter of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

Magistrate in Supreme Court of Cuba, an Ilonggo

Raymundo Melliza, a magistrate in the Spanish Cortes in Cuba convinced Jose Rizal to serve as a military doctor in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He later became the second governor of Iloilo under the civil government. 

Ilustrado attorney, Don Raymundo Melliza son of a rich trader Don  Cornelio Melliza. He gained bachelor of arts degree from the University of Sto. Tomas in 1873. He enrolled at the University of Barcelona and then University of Sevilla where he got licenciate in law and finally the doctorate (doctorada en leyes y canones ecclesiasticus) in 1879 when he was 25 years old and sent to Cuba as Spain territory to become magistrate of their Supreme Court. He went home in Iloilo due to an increasing tension of independence in Cuba. A classmate and good friend of Rizal.




Don Benito and Brothers - Comite de conspirador

Eugenio Lopez (photo above as head of his family) who once supported Spain initially  have changed positions. Manila public turmoil prompted his 3 sons who are studying there to go home in Iloilo. Don  Benito Lopez, (above) a third year law student of Santo Tomas sobresaliente of San Juan de Letran joined the comite led by his uncle on the mother side Francisco Villanueva and a relative Don Roque Lopez. Vicente Lopez 19 years old, Ramon Lopez 17 years old. They joined the comite through instigation of their relatives. They were young but because they were college  students they were given officers rank in  the revolutionary army becoming captains in the brigade of General Pablo Araneta.

Martin Delgado

On April 25, 1898, America declared war on Spain. Theodore
Roosevelt, the Secretary of the Navy ordered Commodore George Dewey, commander of  the U.S. Asiatic fleet to attack the Spanish fleet in the Philippines. Dewey fought an undefeated the Spanish fleet under General Patrocinio Montojo in the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898.

1898 - Shortly after Commodore George Dewey had smashed the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay on May 1, 1898 and blockaded the capital, the hard-pressed Spanish colonial government organized Filipino volunteer militia in the different regions of the Philippines. General Ricardo Monet, the politico-military governor of Iloilo province appointed Martin Delgado as captain and commander of the 125-strong Voluntarios in Sta. Barbara. Martin Teofilo Delgado (Photo above)

Gen. Pablo Araneta appointed Martin Delgado as "General en Jefe de los Tropas del Ejercito Libertador de Visayas y Governador Politico-Militar."

On 28 October 1898, Delgado marched into Santa Barbara and took control of the municipal building.

He was born on Nov. 11, 1858 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo the second child of a rich and aristocratic Spanish mestizo family. He finished his early schooling at Sta. Barbara Parochial School. Later, he  enrolled at the Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer in Jaro. For further  studies, he enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal in Manila and obtained his  diploma as a school teacher. After finishing his studies in Manila he returned  to his hometown and taught in a public school for some time.

Spain sold Philippines and Spare Iloilo as its Spanish Kingdom but...

Stage Play in Manila Bay for Tagalog Audience herald Spain wish to settle in Iloilo

1898- August 13 -  America had already bought Manila, Philippines and agreed to spare Iloilo to Spain. Negotiations between America and Spain was finished. They made a scripted drama that American vessel will fire Spain on Manila Bay then they will surrender to America not to loose-platoon of Aguinaldo  in Intramuros. Americans occupied Manila and raised their flag in Intramuros. Spain's dream is to establish a Spanish kingdom in Iloilo its loyal and devoted province and totally relinquish its right in the entire Philippines.

Iloilo City became Spanish Capital

Spain Restructuring of Government in Iloilo
Meanwhile, Spanish governor-general Diego de los Ríos left  Manila and sailed to Iloilo and established the last Spanish capital in the Orient in Iloilo City. General de los Rios asked Spain to grant some reforms demanded by the representative citizens of Iloilo. He issued in Iloilo a proclamation to the people of the  Visayas calling on them to establish a "Council of Reforms" to be
made up of 24 leading citizens, 12 of whom would be selected by popular vote, another 12 to be  appointed by the general himself. (The San Francisco Call, 3 October 1898)

General  de los Rios was obviously sincere in bringing about the reforms people asked  for. The granted reforms, however, satisfied only a few ilustrado leaders. Things did not turn out the way it should be . There was widespread oppositions of their offer. The  flame of rebellion was already swept Iloilo towns, Panay and Negros under Comite Conspirador.  Their swift decision is to forego more battle  and  to peacefully grant sovereignty to Iloilo to vacate the place and let Americans finished the job. If Ilonggos would have remained loyal to Spain it would have not  encountered the canons of the Americans.



Iloilo Towns were captured and liberated

1898 - October 28, 1898. With a glimpse of hope that Iloilo will acquire independence due to weakening Spanish infantry, Martin  Delgado had joined patriotic Ilonggos and publicly declared himself a revolutionario. He joined the "comite." Pablo Araneta who was the general of the Panay Revolutionary Forces and engaged several fierce battles in Santa Barbara, San Miguel, Pavia and in the outskirt of Jaro more notably the battle from Oton to Arevalo. Municipal buildings were seized. Along with General Angel Corteza and General Leandro  Locsin Fullon of Antique who fired the first shot they crushed the Spanish garrisons. On this day onward the interior towns of the province were liberated from Spanish control.



Plan to attack the last Spanish Colonial capital - Iloilo City

1898  - November 17 –  The  comite  convened in Sta. Barbara and organized the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas.

The following were the elected officials of the Visayas Revolutionary Government: 

Roque Lopez, president;
Vicente Franco, vice president and secretary of the interior; Venancio Concepcion, secretary of finance; 
Ramon Avanceňa, secretary of state; 
Jovito Yusay, secretary of justice; 
Julio Hernandez, secretary of war;  
Fernando Salas, secretary general. 

General Martin T. Delgado was chosen General–in-Chief of the Revolutionary Forces. He has been leader in defeating Aguinaldo troops in Cavite in 1896 and recent battle in Manila in May 1898 as the Ejercito Libertador of the Visayas and  Mindanao. They finally made a plan to conquer Iloilo City.



1898- November 17 - Flag was raised in Santa Barbara

Patrocinio Gamboa, a 33 year-old woman of Jaro (a masculine name of) decided to do the risky task of transporting the flag bravely from courier in Iloilo City. Acquiring the flag replica sent by Emilio Aguinaldo was difficult because it has to pass the guardia civil (Spanish Army). Along with Lt. Honorio Solinap they smuggled the flag all the way to Santa Barbara rode in carriage full of hay. The flag was hidden under her waist. Successfully outwitting the many Spanish outposts.

A large crowd gathered in plaza of Santa Barbara for inauguration of  “Comite de Central Revolucionario Visayas “.  When the flag was raised, the band played the ''Marcha Ejercito  Libertador  (Liberation Army March). The eight rays represent the first 8 provinces that revolted that was under martial law of Spanish government. The declaration narrates the three stars represents the three principal islands at the time – Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay

"the white triangle signifying the distinctive emblem of the famous Society of  the Katipunan, which by means of its blood-compact inspired the masses to rise  in revolution; the three stars, signifying the three principal islands of this Archipelago -Luzon, Mindanao and Panay where this revolutionary movement  started."

A newly designed Philippine flag was  raised for the first time outside of Luzon (above photo is a replica of the original flag of Aguinaldo).



Treaty of Paris of Spain and America crushed Iloilo Morale

1898 - By the first week of November only Jaro, Molo and Iloilo City remained in the  hands of the Spaniards. On November 21, Jaro and Lapaz was delivered by the Spanish government to the Ilonggo revolucionarios of the Federal Republic of the Visayas since they did not want to recognize the supremacy of Aguinaldo and the Tagalogs. By the end of November the revolucionarios had taken over Jaro and La Paz. Spanish smell defeat.


On December 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed between American Peace Commission and the Spanish Diplomats who was been in Paris, France since October 1 for discussion. The Spanish-American War have ended then. Spain ceded  the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico (Cuba was granted its independence); in return the US paid Spain the sum of US$20 million for the Philippines.

A  historian Leon Wolff said  "it was . . . a gift. Spain accepted it. Quite irrelevantly she handed us the Philippines. No question of honor or conquest was involved. The Filipino people had nothing to say about it, although their rebellion was thrown in (so to speak) free of charge."

La Independencia (Independence), a newspaper published in Manila by a revolutionary,  General Antonio Luna, stated that "people are not to be bought and sold like horses and houses. If the aim has been to abolish the traffic in Negroes because it meant the sale of persons, why is there still  maintained the sale of countries with inhabitants?"

Tension and ill  feelings were growing in Manila and Iloilo .The treaty is confirmation in the U.S. Senate, which required a two-thirds majority  vote. When the U.S. Congress the pro-annexationist faction held a clear  majority, but were one or two votes shy of the 2/3 majority  requirement. Voting was scheduled for February 6, 1899. To observers the McKinley Administration did not have enough votes which  placed the American retention of the Philippines in jeopardy.

Source: U.S. Library of Congress



     
Merchants & Bankers seeks help for protection

December 13, 1898
General Rios plan was to leave Iloilo and go to Zamboanga. Merchants and bankers mostly foreigners learning that the treaty have already been signed seek security amidst the uprising Ilonggos by asking help from American soldiers in Manila for protection through a petition in December 13, 1898. General Otis forwarded the message to the Secretary of War in United States to approve Admiral Dewey war vessel convoy troops to Iloilo. After 10 days, action was taken.

December 23 , 1898
General E. S.  Otis's cablegram received from Washington DC, a response to request of businessmen in Iloilo

" Appreciating the great desirability of securing possession of this city , the second of the Philippines in importance ......"    the President directs that you send troops to Iloilo ".

Source: Philippine Information Society, Boston, Mass., February 8, 1901.


Soon, American warships sailed toward the direction of Iloilo.



Spanish  Total Defeat – Christmas Eve

December 24, 1898

Ilonggo troops in marching formation under the command of Gen. Martin Delgado of Santa Barbara entered the City of  Iloilo. While the revolucionarios under Gen. Roque Lopez of Jaro, Gen. Quintin  Salas of Dumangas, Gen. Teresa Magbanua (Photo Above) of Pototan, Gen. Adriano Hernandez of  Dingle, Gen. Angel Corteza of Molo and others had already encircled the whole city of Iloilo.

Teresa Magbanua joined her two brothers in the revolutionary movement under General Emilio Aguinaldo’s army.



Troops march into vicinity Ciudad de Iloilo

A large contingent of bolomen after defeating the Spanish garrison in Molo and then paraded through Calle Real. On the way, people were shouting, "Viva la libertad!", "Viva Filipinas!"



Christmas day of 1898- Victorious Ilongo

1898-  December 25  - the revolucionarios staged a victory
parade from across what is now Forbes Bridge down what is now Bonifacio Drive. They stopped in front of the old capitol or the Casa Real where they hauled down the Spanish flag and raised the Filipino flag up the flagpole standing at what is now the Arroyo
Fountain. After the flag raising the parade went on down Calle Real to Plaza Alfonso XII where they again raised the Philippine flag in front of the Ayuntamiento of Iloilo. Plaza Alfonso XII is now Plaza Libertad Don Diego de los Ríos learning that  the Queen is already aware that the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, he opened up negotiations. The Spaniards, through Mayor Vicente Gay and Governor Jose  Maria Romero surrendered Iloilo City to the Ilongo troops. The surrender pact  was witnessed by Ramon Avanceña, Jovito Yusay, Francisco de Leon, and Juan de Leon, Brig. General and Military Provincial Governor Ricardo Monet, together with Lt. Col. Agustín Solís.

The  Ilonggos reorganized the local government of Iloilo City and Juan de Leon was  chosen the local president or city mayor Raymundo Melliza was named local president of Molo.



New Problem is coming ahead
Americans and their ferocious weapons.

A new nation  was born in Iloilo and in Negros Occidental both led by Ilonggo affluent families in support of many others unsung Ilonggo heroes.

Yet a new problem is coming. A more powerful than Spain is coming ahead with their ships and heavily armed infantry that can annihilate effectively against the crude weapon of Martin Delgado and his troops .

Photo Source: The San Francisco Call, 25 January 1899 


American Question " To colonize or not to colonize"

How American view Filipinos in early 1900's

Many Americans did not even know where the Philippines is located including President McKinley but all-American notion is that the Philippines is composed of "primitive savages" and needs to be educated and civilized. American society have long arguments about extending territory to South Pacific. The politician Carl Schurz warned the expense of maintaining an American Empire outweighs its benefits. Mark Twain have similar view saying " Shall we go conferring our civilization upon the people that sit in darkness or shall we give those poor things a rest? ( To the person sitting in darkness). William Bryan " It is not necessary to own people to trade with them".

Top 3 Reasons why Americans proceed to colonize Philippines

1. Trade Relation
William McKinley favored imperialism policy with great achievement on US exports. Among Great Britain, Cuba, China and the Philippines, Philippines saw the dramatic export so far a thriving market and strong economic purchasing power. Obviously, Philippines is 2nd in Asian economy.

US Exports                        1895                       1900
Philippines                    98 Million             195 Million
Cuba                                8 Million              13 Million
China                               5 Million              10 Million

2. The  Filipinos were weren't ready to govern themselves which is prelude to disaster.

3. If the United States will not take control of the islands, another power (such as Germany or Japan) seemed likely would annex the country. In  particular, the US was afraid Germany might invade especially after the German fleet's ominous attempts to intimidate Dewey.

Americans Proceeded to Iloilo
Americans have set eye on Iloilo, their plan is to prevent Iloilo to turn into a troublesome in coming years that is why it needs to be pacified once and for all. Moreover, Iloilo being the second in shipping industry in Philippines as being circulated in newspapers in America advantageous to America's demand for sugar.

Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 7 - Foundation of Towns

Chapter 7
3rd wave - foundation of town

* highlighted in violet is the timeline or date


1837- Banate turned into a town

 - It was a visita of Dumangas. Appointment of Felix Babiera as the first gobernadorcillo in 1837 that Banate had been referred to as a town. Included within the territorial jurisdiction of the town of Banate were Barotac Viejo and Anilao

1843 - Banate was re-annexed to Dumangas then became a visita  of Barotac Nuevo until 1843 when it was declared  again as  independent parish with St. John the Baptist as its titular  patron. Seven years later, governor-general Antonio Blanco without doubt forgetting the earlier decree declared Banate as an independent parish on April 15, 1850 at the same time as that of Anilao


                                 Foundation of Estancia

1847 - The first settlers were the families of Latinu Rodriguez and his family as well as his brother-in-law and Juan Magbanua alias “Juan Daguil”, who was reputed to be an expert hunter. These first settlers engaged in kaingin eventually clearing the whole forest where they settled by becoming sedentary farmers and fishermen.  Policarpio Mosqueda alias “Capoy” later came and married “Bandang”,the daughter of Latino. They were joined by several other families from Pilar (Capiz), Balasan and Sara which settled in Botongon, a jutting outlying hill. The early town site was first established in “Da-an Banwa”meaning old town. Years later, the population grew in Da-an Banwa so that some of the settlers began to move to the northern portion of the town near the seashore.  They called this place “Lanubo”which means young .

A rich Spaniard by the name of Don Felipe Aguilar bought vast tract of land in Panay the area of which stretches from Punta Bacay in Dumangas, Iloilo up to Tuang-tuang Kambang Bato between Ibajay and Kalibo. Covering the whole of Northern Iloil and almost half of the old Capiz, Don Felipe Aguilar converted the area into an “estancia."

1862 - Governor Esteban Pavon of Concepcion sub-province established there a rancheria while Fray Ricardo Sanchez built a Church. Its name came from the Spanish word "estancia" (ranch) because it was a part of the wide ranch of Don Felipe Aguilar a Spanish governor.

1852 – Pueblo of San  Miguel.
Due to this happening, the place was tentatively named San Miguel instead of town of Angoy until in 1852 where it was officially named San Miguel under its first Capitan Tiburcio Montaño.


1840 - Casa Real of Spanish Governor

Picture of Casa Real de Iloilo or the Iloilo Provincial Capitol circa 1910

Iloilo Provincial Capitol or Casa Real was built in 1840 as government center of Spanish Chief of Iloilo.




1848 - Pavia split from Jaro and form a new town

1848 - Pavia although only 8 Km from Jaro did not stop the inhabitants to form into a new town. It was established in 1848 by the Spanish as a town  of the district of Jaro, 13 landowners decided to shape the future of the former camping place decisively  noted as “biya-biya”, meaning neglected or abandoned.


> 1849 - Iloilo acquired Surnames

1849 -  Gov. Gen. Narciso Claveria y Zaldua have sent a copy of catalog of surnames to the chiefs of province of Iloilo and its towns a decree by assigning surnames whose first letters corresponded to the first letters of the names of the pueblos. Molo was assigned surnames beginning with letter  M. The nationalistic natives did not take Spanish surnames but instead adopted  native surnames like Magahum, Mabilog, Malabanjot, Mabunay, Maprangala, Macatiag, Malabor, Magbanua and Macatual.

Jaro  got J’es , Santa Barbara got S’es , Guimbal got G’es , Pototan got P’es , Maasin got M’es , Cabatuan got C’es , Dumangas got G’es , Duenas got the L's ,



1853 Zaraga split from Santa Barbara and form a new town

An immense swamp land and deep Jalaur river was been a great barrier that posed the people of  Dumangas to have a difficult movement to the next land beyond the Jalaur Iloilo. Thus, the  inhabited sleepy hollow favored some families of Santa Barbara (stretching Lucena which borders Pototan) on 1700's to spread
into that place with abundance of big trees, cogon  and wild tall grasses. (This is the very reason why people of Zarraga speaks Karay-a. They begun to reside the area and cultivate the land with easy access to river perfect for their agricultural needs. The inhabitants grew in number by 1853 large enough that Spanish government qualify the village into township.

On one fine day Marcelino Poblador, Fulgencio Pinuela, Eugenio Pedro Zarraga and Marcelino Pinuela formed the town in 1853. The town of Zarraga was named after Pedro Zarraga, the alcalde mayor of Irong-Irong (now  Iloilo City).



1855 - Election in Iloilo

Election of gobernadorcillos, a leader of a town or pueblo was conducted in Iloilo principalía of Dumangas, Ajuy, Banate, and Anilao.

1858 - Leganes was born

Leganes principalia

An unknown families of Salog settled 11 kilometers eastward. Because the place was not inhabited by people, wild boars lived and thrived the place and was conveniently called Guihaman meaning a wild boar place. Soon the boar got extinct due to hunting for food. Communities  increased in population  that it became obvious. Learning of the settlement, Don Ysidro A. Brudit, the Spanish governor of Iloilo have to incorporate the place. He decreed sometime  in 1856 that it will be registered as a pueblo otherwise a fine of P 600 pesos will be levied on its inhabitants. In compliance with the decree, the place was registered as a pueblo in 1858 called " Valencia "in honor of its patron saint, San Vicente Ferrer of Valencia. After its establishment as a township, there was an influx of new settlers, merchants and government workers.

Photo Source: Felix Laureano , Madrid Spain - Principalia de Leganes de Iloilo (Upper Class of Leganes 1880)



1862 - Pueblo of Carles and Balasan

1846 - Francisco Ariola, son of the datu from Jolo, together with his men settled in the shores at the tip of Panay, 150 kilometer north of the province of Iloilo claimed by pueblo of Pilar, Capiz. It was called Punta Bulakawe as seen in the Spanish map of 1834. Because its very thinly inhabited, the settlers extended their clearing up the jungles and virgin lands for development. Don Juan Silverio,  the military governor of Capiz commissioned Ariola to facilitate transportation of families recruited from Antique and Aklan fifty families from Navas. The land was not adequate to yield for agricultural cultivation to sustain the growing demand for subsistence for settlers who grow in number.

Balasan in the latter part of 1852. Ariola commissioned Vicente Navales to look for a place with a better food supply. As Vicente Navales moved southward, he came upon a vast fertile plain near the bank of the river where the Barangay of Maya is located.
Towards 1856 as the general clearing progressed, Francisco transferred Bulakawe to the lowland south of the settlement. The settlement was named " Badiang", which means “wild giant gabi variety” because of the abundance of this plant in the vicinity of the new site. As streets were laid out, Ariola, caused the equal distribution of the home lots to settlers along side the new created streets. Some settlers however built their homes near farms. This later led to the formation of other barrio settlements.

On January 1860, the leaders of the Barrio Badiang headed by Francisco Ariola went to Capiz to petition the provincial government to make Barrio Badiang a municipality.  The governor denied the petition on the ground that Barrio Badiang was only newly created and was not yet capable of becoming a pueblo. Not discouraged by their first failure, the petitioners traveled for days to Iloilo to bring this petition to Spanish governor Jose Maria Carles.  Governor Carles approved the petition. In gratitude to Governor Carles for his approval of this petition presented another petition to change the name Badiang to Carles in honor of the governor. Barrio Badiang became a “pueblo”. Alejandro Buaya was chose the first gobernadorcillo del pueblo and the place was called Carles, a new town of Iloilo Province.


1870 - A town of Mina was born

The barrio was founded through the efforts of Capitan Antonio Poblacion known as Kapitan Roa who banded together and persuaded a group of families to settle down on the chosen site reportedly owned by a certain Kapitan Patricio Ubalde or
Kapitan Ato. To attract settlers, Kapitan Roa offered to give free home lots to those who decide to settle there. Families attracted by such offer flocked to the site and became the first barrio residents.

A  civil decree issued by General La Torre in 1870 lawfully created the civil town of Montogawe. The decree provided that the residents of the area of the newly founded town should build a church, a municipal building and a schoolhouse. The church was built through the concerted efforts of Kapitan Antonio Poblacion, the locals and Spanish officials, and the residents.

Montogawe was elevated to a parish in 1872 but no parish priest was assigned. The Spanish Government has forgotten or overlooked the conditions of the 1870 Civil Decree of General La Torre. So, on July 30, 1873 it issued another decree declaring Montogawe a parish.


1872 - Comandancia de Concepcion

Legendary football star Paulino Alcantara with his mother and sibling

Bacjawan - Mangrove Forest


1855 -  Bacjawan was formally founded as a pueblo with Felizardo Azucena as its first capitan basal or gobernadorcillo. Later, the local cabesas de barangay petitioned the Spanish comandante Enrique Garcia to change the name of the town from “Bacjawan” to “Concepcion”, in honor of the first born daughter of Capitan Azucena. The Pope of Rome has newly define Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception in 1854.



Spanish whose stationed in Iloilo takes sea when travelling to Concepcion and the rest of ancient coastal villages of Iloilo del Norte.

Sugar farming extended in Bakhawan through Muelley Loney
1860's - people of Jaro were encouraged to go the vast land of  "Norte"  to start the sugarcane plantation. The agricultural ventures was successful and the Spanish government and hacienderos were gaining profit. Ajuy, Sara, Lakdayan, Estancia, Balasan and Carles.

Vice-consul Loney and Iloilo governor Emilio de Carles visited Concepcion to find out its potential for sugar production. They took a Manila-bound ship in Iloilo and disembarked in the port of Concepcion while the ship proceeded to Manila. Loney and Carles spent 12 days surveying Concepcion and the surrounding areas
before going back to Iloilo by the overland route. In his report, Loney said the area was so fertile that “it is capable of raising anything producible in the tropics.”


Concepcion turned into Spanish headquarters

1872 - Its strategic location of Bakjawan as ideal and natural harbor for boats for Spanish galleons, Chinese junks, and ships of other countries called in to trade, make repairs or seek shelter from storms turned into commandancia or  headquarters on an east-side hill overlooking the strait separating the mainland from the nearby  Opaw island (now called San Vicente), so-named after its bald hilltops.

The Comandancia became notorious as the site where Filipino prisoners were imprisoned, tortured and executed. It is said that many condemned prisoners were hanged to death from a big Talisay tree which still stands today within the compounds of the Concepcion Polytechnic College, a living testament to the Spanish brutality. However, the last comandante who served in Concepcion, a Spaniard by the name of Carlos Paoli, was noted for his sympathy and kindness, and was well-liked by the local inhabitants.

Today two adjoining barangay west of Poblacion still carry Bacjawan as its name.

Bacjawan bears the names assigned to its ancient Malay villages : They are Aglosong, Agnaga, Bacjawan Norte, Bacjawan Sur, Bagongon, Batiti, Botlog, Calamigan, Dungon, Igbon, Jamul-awon, Lo-ong, Macalbang, Macatunao, Malangabang, Maliogliog, Nińo, Nipa, Plandico, Poblacion, Polopińa, Salvacion, Talotu-an, Tambaliza and Tamis-ac

Birthplace of Alcantara

Victoriana Camilan Riestra married a Spanish military officer  Eduardo Alcantara of Barcelona who was assigned in Spanish Commandancia in Concepcion, Iloilo. Their child Paulino Alcantara y Riestra was born in Concepcion, Iloilo on October 7, 1897.

He was the first Filipino and Asian player to play for a European football club and was hailed by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as “the best Asian player of all time” in 2007.

Alcantara's of Sara  married Achurra (Spanish Basque stock from northern Spain called Biscay) some families spread to Lemery.



Sara and Lakdayan  secede from  Concepcion


1877- the Spaniards who have traveled  northward coast of Iloilo had discovered natives who with their  houses built near the seashore called this “Lakdayan”. The Spaniards established  a seat of government in Concepcion. Its surrounding barrios are San Dionisio, Ajuy and Sara. The head of the local government of Concepcion was called Kapitan while the subordinate leaders in San Dionisio were called Tenientes and Cabezas  de Barangay .

Barangay of San Dionisio includes
1. Odiongan
2. Capinang
3. Cudionan
4. Bagacay
5. Nipa

1877 - A village of San Juan separated from Concepcion and became a town. San Dionisio and Lemery were attached to  San Juan. The Augustinians fathers founded Sara into a  “pueblo” under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist whose feast is celebrated on June 24th. Formerly it’s just barrio San Juan that includes much of Ajuy. It became a regular parish in 1895 with father Paulino  Diaz as curate.

Barangay of Sara
Ilongbukid, Maremhon, Lawa-an, Bai-ran, Batuan, Agsinapot, Maligayligay, Samponongbolo, Alabidhan, Ambolong, Busay, Caburra, Asue Pabriaga, Balabago, Alawehao, Quinasop-an, Bolod , Aglahog, Madarag, Serruco, Salvacion, Ajuz, Talisay, Masonson, Quipot, Quipot, Damasco.



Lucena converted into a Town

1877 – Lucena - lead by Bartolome Valenzuela, a prominent resident of the barrio (Jimanban) the residents organized themselves and petitioned to the Governor General that they be granted independence by putting up a church, convent, and a casa real (Municipal Building ). With the help of the provincial officials and captain municipal of the municipalities of Sta. Barbara , Cabatuan and Pototan, Lucena was separated from Sta. Barbara on October 9, 1877 in accordance with the Direction General De Administration Civil. The first municipal officials were elected and the first captain municipal was Bartolome Valenzuela known as Tan Abe, the grandfather of the late senator Tomas Confessor and Representative Patricio Confessor