Leading Filipino Women: Magdalena Jalandoni

Magdalena G. Jalandoni 

Prolific Ilongga Woman Writer and Artist 

(1891 - 1978) 

Magdalena Jalandoni was known as Western Visayas first woman writer. She is now remembered as one of the most prolific Filipino writer in the Hiligaynon language. She was the first recipient of the Republic Culture Heritage Award for Literature in 1969 by President Ferdinand Marcos. She also wrote poems and novels in Filipino and English language. She did 36 novels, 122 short stories, 231 short lyrics, 8 narrative poems, 7 novelettes, 5 corridos, 7 long plays, a number of sculptures and hundreds of paintings throughout her lifetime. Her works are said to have left permanent and significant milestones in Philippine literature. 


Birth and Early Years 

She was born on May 27, 1891 in Calle Alvarez in the old city of Salog (now Jaro, a district of Iloilo City) to the pious, devout Catholic couple Gregorio Jalandoni y Jopson from Jaro and Francisca Gonzaga who hails from the town of Pavia. Magdalena had an only younger brother Luis who later married Amelia Benedicto Ledesma , also of Jaro. 

Her formal schooling started in the school of Clemente Gonzales and his wife Donata. In June 1902 she studied at the Colegio de San Jose where she was a day boarder, and in 1904 she entered the same school as an enterna. She wrote her fist corrido “Padre Juan and Beata Maria’ at the age of ten, and “Don Juan Gonzaga” also a corrido at the age of twelve. Later on she wrote “Lucibar and Portivillar”, “Principe Recaredo” and Heneral Manfredo.” Her mother brought these corridos at the La Editorial Publishing House where these were printed and sold to the public. 

On November 6, 1906 she entered the Iloilo High School. She stopped her studies after the first year because her mother did not approve of co-education and just stayed at their home where she wrote in her native tongue. 

 
Childhood and Early Works 

She began writing at a young age wherein she already had her poems published at the age of 12. At the age of sixteen, she published her first novel in Hiligaynon, "Ang Mga Tunoc Sang Isa Ca Bulac" (The Thorns of a Flower) which she finished in December of 1907, which was later followed by many novels, compilations of poems and short stories. Jalandoni only wrote for publication purposes due to the male-dominated society at the time. Back then, female voices in literature were not taken seriously by the general public. Although her mother strictly forbade her to take literature seriously, she refused to do so and devoted her life entirely to literature. 

In her childhood autobiography Ang Matam-is Kong Pagkabata (My Sweet Childhood), she cites: "I will be forced to write when I feel that my nose is being assaulted by the scent of flowers, when my sight is filled with the promises of the sun and when my soul is lifted by winged dreams to the blue heavens." 


Significant Works 

Her famous poem Ang Guitara (The Guitar) is read in classrooms all over the country today. Literary critics and historians claim that she has mastered a special talent for poetry and description as well as dramatic evocations of landscapes and events in her novels and short stories. Her works span from the coming of Malay settlers in the Middle Ages up to the Spanish and American colonial era as well as the Japanese occupation of World War II, all portraying the history of Panay and the evolution of the Ilonggo culture. According to Riitta Varitti of the Finnish-Philippine Society in Helsinki, "Jalandoni was the most productive Philippine writer of all time." 

Other famous works include Anabella, Sa Kapaang Sang Inaway (In the Heat of War), Ang Dalaga sa Tindahan (The Young Woman in the Market) and Ang Kahapon ng Panay (The Past of Panay). Throughout her turbulent and displaced life, she still managed to publish 36 novels, 122 short stories, 7 novelettes, 7 long plays, 24 short plays and dialogos in verse complied in two volumes, seven volumes of personally compiled essays including some translations from Spanish and two autobiographies. She has been displaced from her hometown twice and has survived the Philippine Revolution, the Filipino-American War and the Japanese Occupation. In 1977, she received the prestigious Republic Cultural Heritage Award for her literary achievements from the government, about one year before her death. 

Her works are kept in the University of the Philippines in Diliman and in the Visayas, the Ateneo de Manila, the Universities of Iloilo and San Agustin, the Universities of Syracuse and Yale in the United States and in the National Library. 


Death Of A Great Writer

She died on September 14, 1978 at the age of 87. At the time of her death she had written a total of 66 volumes composed of 24 novels, long poems, dramas, historical epics, translations, meditations, poems, her autobiography, a bibliography of her works and many other literary pieces. The author lost twenty novels during the Second World War when these were burned inside the Archbishop’s Palace in Jaro where she kept them. 

During her lifetime she had received many awards recognizing her contribution to the enrichment of Hiligaynon, her native tongue and the genius that made her such a prolific writer. She never married. She is now survived by a few nieces as well as several other close relatives. Magdalena Jalandoni's birth place and ancestral house still stands today as a historical landmark and a museum not far from the cathedral of Jaro and is frequented by students. A street at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City, Philippines is named in her honor. 



Sources: 

Magdalena Jalandoni Wikipedia entry, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_Jalandoni 

First Thoughts: Magdalena G. Jalandoni blog, http://andyesperancilla2.blogspot.com/2010/09/magdalena-jalandoni.html 

Magdalena Jalandoni Blog, http://magdalenajalandoni.blogspot.com/ 



Photo Sources: 

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/9/80/5396/

Today In Philippines History, The Kahimyang Project May 26, 2012, http://kahimyang.info/kauswagan/articles/1150/today-in-philippine-history-may-27-1893-magdalena-jalandoni-was-born-in-jaro-iloilo-city 

Heroines, News Today December 13, 2007, http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/12/13/heroines.html 

Magdalena G. Jalandoni Ancestral House Facade, ExploreIloilo.com, http://imgarcade.com/1/magdalena-jalandoni/

 

Leading Filipino Women: Nazaria Lagos

Nazaria Lagos 

Florence Nightingale of Panay 

(1851 - 1945) 

Nazaria Lagos is known as the Florence Nightingale of Panay. She was a pioneer Red Cross leader in the Visayas region. She was a strong woman, compassionate mother and has a deep and deathless love for God and country. She was born not only to become a mother of her own children but of the many wounded Filipino soldiers, sick civilians and of the sick children during the war. 


Born From A Wealthy Family 

Nazaria L. Lagos was born on August 28, 1851 in Barrio Burongan (now Jaguimit), Laglag town (now Dueñas), Iloilo. Her parents were Don Juan de la Cruz Lagos and Doña Saturnina Labrillaso. As an only child, she was well taken cared of and brought up in comfort but she was not a spoiled girl. When she was six, her mother hired Maestro Gregorio "Oyong" Tingzon as her teacher. She was a beautiful, brilliant young girl who could speak Spanish well and talk to the Spanish officials. 


Married Life 

At a very young age of 12, she married her second cousin Segundo Lagos, a son of a wealthy land owner, Don Bartolome Lagos whose ancestors were the founders of Dueñas town and the religion. During her years in marriage life, Nazaria faced lots of challenges of home life with patience. She possessed good qualities of being a wife and a mother and was equipped with proper knowledge on nursing and medical care by Dr. Cuadra, a family friend and doctor, who often visited the family and stayed in the vast family hacienda. 


Red Cross and Revolutionary Work 

Through the order of Military Governor Don Ricardo Monet with the support of parish priest Father Lorenzo Suarez, Nazaria was appointed as President of the first local unit of Red Cross in the province of Iloilo. 

During the revolution under the general supervision of Gen. Martin Delgado, Nazaria Lagos was chosen as secretary and Segundo (her husband) as the adviser of the Revolutionary Volunteers to go against the Spanish Government. Her house in Barrio Burongan (now Jaguimit) was made as a secret meeting place of the high-ranking officers of the revolution in the whole province of Iloilo. Nazaria and Segundo built a secret Army Hospital in their Hacienda in Jaguimit and which Nazaria was appointed as Chief of the Army Hospital and Manager of the Army Food Supply Depot for the Filipino soldiers. This is for the preparation of the revolutionists for the war against the Spaniards. The building of the hospital came from Nazaria and Segundo's own money. The supplies of the food came from the production of their farm. She gave an all out support for the welfare of the Filipinos. Nazaria Lagos and her family together with their "obreros" or workers began to work secretly in Hacienda Jaguimit. She personally supervised the construction of the hospital made from local materials. They made bamboos as beds, chairs and tables and cabinets for the wounded Filipino soldiers. 

The war started. Many Filipino soldiers were sick and wounded, and they were brought to the hospital in Jaguimit. The hospital was not only for the Filipino soldiers but as well as the sick and wounded civilians. Since the hospital is certainly located between the North and South revolutionary groups, supply almost ran out. For such a gigantic tack for a woman to bear, the Red Cross helped her in asking donations like food, clothing and medicine. Her tenants had contributed their time and efforts to help in caring for the wounded soldiers. Her knowledge in herbal medicine played an important role in this extraordinary task during the Revolution. Spending almost all her time, effort and fortune for the brother Filipinos, she even was able to bear the death of her two children when the smallpox epidemic struck the country during the years of the turmoil. 


Role In Philippine Independence Day Celebration 

In Dueñas Nazaria Lagos and her two daughters together with the Red Cross members, sew the Philippine flag. In spite of the scarcity of the clothes, sewing needles and threads, they made improvised needles out of umbrella wire and abaca fibers as the threads. The flag was hoisted at 9 o' clock in the morning of June 12, 1899 in the Dueñas town plaza. Nazaria and the people of Dueñas knelled down with tears rolling down their cheeks and prayed for their safety and independence while the National Hymn was played. 


Her Last Years 

Nazaria Lagos reserved a legacy not in wealth but as a model mother, leader and a great woman in history.  Unfortunately, she became blind and on January 27, 1945, at the age of 93, silently passed away at Sitio Amuyao, Jaguimit, Dueñas, Iloilo. She had served her country and family with love and devotion. 

Nazaria and Segundo Lagos will long be remembered from generation to generation. Their service to their fellowmen is worth emulating and their names will be written in Bold Letters in the minds and hearts of all Filipinos, patriots, nationalist and lover of democracy. 


Sources: 

Wikipilipinas: Nazaria Lagos, http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Nazaria_Lagos 

Nazaria Lagos, A Great Woman In History, Newstoday 2007, http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/02/05/nazaria.l.lagos.a.great.woman.of.history.html 


Photo Source: 

ChoosePhilippines.com, http://www.choosephilippines.com/specials/people/1515/florence-nightingale-panay/

Mayor Salvador Altura Administration

Alimodian Municipal Officials 1980 - 1986
     

        If history has to record the events of the immediate present, the administration of Mayor Salvador Altura as the incumbent head of the town is phenomenal in several aspects.

The Years Before the Mayoralty
      How Salvador Algabre Altura became the sixth head of the Municipality of Alimodian after the war is quite a history in itself that is deserving of a passing look back.
       In the annals of history of a society, or a small town like Alimodian, there comes a time when a person is born, prepared and obsessed to serve the town’s people through the intriguing and delicate field of politics. And this obsession was made manifest not immediately by the magnitude of his town-oriented accomplishments, but primarily with the struggle, the petty successes and the discouraging failures, he had to experience before he is finally given that opportunity to display the altruism he purports and preaches to practice.
       Salvador Altura had not a less arduous path to the coveted title of the Town Mayor. Handicapped with want of affluence and landlord-influence, he entered the contest in the political arena armed only with an obstinate sincerity and grim determination which, in the intricacy of the modern political scenario, are obviously not sufficient to surmount the advantage of the so-called electoral bread and butter.
       As a neophyte in the field of politics, he was first elected to the Municipal Council of Alimodian in November 1959. He served for the full duration of his term and again in November 1963 as an incumbent official, he was elected for another term as municipal councilor which lasted until 1967.

First Attempt and First Defeat
      Having reaped diverse experience and enough know-how in the conduct of municipal affairs during his stint as a municipal councilor, when the 1967 local elections was called, Salvador Altura stretched his ambition and filed his certificate of candidacy for the office of the municipal mayor. As the forsaken party candidate during the Nacionalista Party pre-election convention, he stubbornly opted to run as an independent Nacionalista candidate with Dr. Alejandro Nery Cruz as his running mate. In that election, running against three other protagonists, Miguel Anas of the Nacionalista Party, Santiago Anam of the Liberal Party, and Manuel Alegrado, an independent candidate, Salvador Altura and his running mate were miserably beaten, ranking third only with Miguel Anas and his running mate Gabriel Alingasa coming out as the clear victors. For Salvador Altura, in his first bid for mayoralty, he suffered his first major political setback.

Second Attempt and Second Defeat
       Maintaining an untainted rapport with his townmates, Salvador Altura’s second attempt at mayoralty came in November 1971 local elections. Joining camps with his erstwhile fellow protagonist Manuel Alegrado, and this time bearing the banner of the Liberal Party, he again ran for the office of the mayor with Mr. Alegrado as his running mate. Again, as if the right time had not yet arrived for either of them, Salvador Altura and Manuel Alegrado were nipped in the elections by the incumbent Mayor Miguel Anas and his running mate Antonio Anibigno. The lack of logistics and political machinery to offset that of their rivals was not even a reason as then they were campaigning against candidates backed by the ruling Nacionalista Party through its powerful patrons.
        That second defeat, however, spelled more than just another political setback in the career of Salvador Altura. Long before he had recovered from the throes of his second consecutive frustrated attempt at mayoralty, Martial Law was declared over the whole Philippines, thereby making the holding of future elections unpredictable and subject to the uncertainty awaiting the country under the new social order. And so suddenly for Salvador Altura, the dream to be a mayor became so distant and seemingly impossible.

1980 Local Elections: Victory for Mayor Altura
        The first local election since the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972 was held on January 30, 1980. Undaunted by his past defeats and his desire to serve burning as ever, Salvador Altura, against the advice of his kin resolved to attempt the third time to get at that elusive mayoralty. Even his former political non-adherents were persuaded and convinced of his resolve so that even they readily gave him their support and precious subjects.
        He and his party cunning under the Independent Party banner lacked the necessary party support and faced the handicap of having as their protagonist the succession Mayor Antonio Anibigno of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), and Retired Colonel Sergio Alcubilla of the Nacionalista Party. Moreover, because they belonged to an independent and un-accredited political party, they were not afforded the privilege of block-voting (i.e. party voting) which the candidates of the other two camps readily enjoyed as a telling advantage.
        Despite the apparently insurmountable odds, Salvador Altura and his running mate Silverio Amantillo launched their campaign, displaying their charisma and seasoning in the political arena. As he did in his attempts at mayoralty, Salvador Altura decided to visit again all the barangays of the municipality personally, thus reaffirming to the people in the hinterlands his commitment to serve them. The people in turn responded favorably to their appeal. Because the town was eager for a new administration and the communal atmosphere was ripe for the assumption of a man who has not much but a magnanimous obsession to serve his town’s people, Salvador Altura was elected mayor on his third attempt. And as if a fitting reward for all his past political setbacks, he garnered against his closest rival the margin of 1122 votes, the highest ever recorded in the more recent local polls in the town.

The Composition of the Incumbent Sangguniang Bayan
         In the 1980 local elections, elected with Mayor Salvador Altura were his running mate Silverio Amantillo, vice-mayor; Geronimo Balolot (Independent), Cornelio Alejo (KBL), Rene Loredo (KBL), Ernesto Alejado (KBL), Juanita Alinsao (KBL), Angelo S.C. Aninao (Independent), Cirilo Caparanga (KBL), and Emmanuel Adricula (Independent), Sangguniang Bayan members. Later, they were joined in the sanggunian by presidential appointee Encarnacion Anas in April 1980 as the president and representative of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) of Alimodian, who in turn was succeeded by Rodolfo Anas in April 1982. By virtue of his appointment by the President of the Philippines and pursuant to his position as the president of the Municipal Federation of the Kabataang Barangay (KB), Salvador Altura Jr. was also inducted member of the Sangguniang Bayan in September 1980. Mr. Cecilio Alli continued to serve as the Secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan.
        Mayor Salvador Altura and his fellow elected town officials were inducted into office by Governor Conrado J. Norada. They assumed office on March 3, 1980 amidst lavish and sentiment-evoking ceremonies at the Alimodian Public Market. The traditional “rigodon de honor” participated in by the cream of the town was performed as the finale.
        Mayor Altura’s administration is characterized by cooperation, politically non-partisan public relations, sincerity, hard work initiative, and a conspicuous compassion for the plight of the poor.

The Sangguniang Bayan and the Local Government
         Complement by cooperative Sangguniang Bayan members, Mayor Altura presides over the august body with an open ear to the manifold suggestions and advice of his confreres. Shedding off the political differences occasioned by the election he maintains a non-partisan attitude towards all the members of the sanggunian, thereby creating a common sense of involvement in the community affairs among them. Through this, various resolutions have been passed that proved beneficial to the community.
         Majority of these resolutions pertains to appropriations for infrastructure projects.
         One of the first projects undertaken by Mayor Altura upon his assumption of office was the lighting of the streets with fluorescent fixtures. Taking into consideration the fact that when Mayor Altura assumed office Alimodian was already considered a critical area by reason of the operations of dissident forces in its mountainous portions, the lighting of the streets reduced the town people’s apprehension in travelling about the poblacion, especially at night time and considerably curbed criminality in the town. The intermittent lack of electric power supply, however, remains an inconvenience that even Mayor Altura himself is not capacitated to resolve.
         During the rainy months of the year, the Aganan River often overflows its banks, thus endangering the lives and property of people residing along its banks, and the pumping station of the source of the local potable water supply. Floods were most frequent and destructive in 1980 so that Mayor Altura was prompted to make negotiations with the Ministry of Public Works and Highways for the deepening and rechanelling of the river course. Because of this, the flow of the current to the eastern portion of the town was considerably reduced kaing it temporarily safe to reside therein. Considering, however, that the course of the river is unpredictable is yet the need to construct a permanent embankment along the river side nearest the poblacion.
         Appropriations from the local treasury have also financed many projects in the poblacion and the barangays.

The 1983 SISA Meet
         The Southern Iloilo Sports Association (SISA), of which Alimodian is one of the component municipalities, had for its 1983 district competitions Alimodian as the venue. The competition was participated in by the different delegations from town members of the association: Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miagao, San Joaquin, Igbaras, Leon, San Miguel, Alimodian and Iloilo National High School. Because of the big number of delegates that trooped to the town, these delegates were housed in the Alimodian Central School, Alibango Elementary School, and Alimodian National Comprehensive High School, the venue of the athletic games.
         Because of the importance and the responsibility attached to the conduct of this event, the town the local government and the local teaching force, especially, had to make major plans and necessary adjustments.
         The athletic field in the ANCHS compound had to be widened and leveled to meet the standard dimensions. To avoid the almost a million peso cost estimate for this gargantuan task, which, after all, the municipal coffer could not afford to defray, Mayor Altura made arrangements with the FF Cruz and the Company which was then hauling sand and gravel in the Aganan River to avail of the services of its machinery. The project was undertaken under the supervision of Mayor Altura himself and was completed in time for the SISA meet with least expense.
        The athletic field now lies expansively at the slope of the hilly back portion of the ANCHS compound.

The Alimodian Water District
        When Mayor Altura assumed office, one of the dominant problems that fronted the municipality was the fact that the people in the poblacion were not provided with better water supply despite the fact that the local government was spending much for the maintenance of the local water system. People whose houses are far from the water source or else are situated on the higher portions of the poblacion were prone to complain that they were deprived of the beneficial use of the potable water.
         Responding to the clamor of the populace, the local government made a feasibility study on the possibility of improving the local water system.
         The feasibility study led to the holding of a public hearing at the public market wherein, pursuant to a resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan, the townspeople were asked whether they were amenable to the local government’s plan to transfer the management and operation of the local water supply from the local government to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). This is a special government agency given charge of the organization of the local water districts.
         The townspeople finally convinced of the benefits offered by and economy of the proposal, voted for the plan so that the Sangguniang Bayan, by virtue of Resolution No. 82 series of 1981, transferred ownership, management and operation of the local water supply to the Alimodian Water District (AWD), which was organized on November 9, 1981 as required by the LWUA procedures. The formal turn-over responsibility was on December 6, 1981.
        The local water supply now being owned and operated by a cooperative composed of the consumer/members themselves, and managed by their own officers, therefore spared the local government from the expensive maintenance of the water system and they are now properly served.
Although it still occasionally asks for minimal financial subsidy from the local government, the Alimodian Water District is now operating as a cooperative endeavor.

The Term of Mayor Antonio Anibigno

Mayor Antonio Anibigno ( Mayor January 10, 1974 – March 3, 1980)



The Energization of Alimodian

         On May 5, 1975 Alimodian was energized by ILECO I with its main office in Tigbauan, Iloilo. Three-hundred and fifty households in the poblacion and 42 in the barangays of Buhay, Bancal, Lanot, Binalud and Balabago, were the first recipients of electrification. At present thousands of households avail of the power from the ILECO.
        The electrification was a boon to the municipality. Since light was available, people could do jobs in the evening which were normally done at daytime. Students could study as long as they want to, not in the flickering glow of the kerosene lamp, but under the blazing light of the fluorescent fixtures.
        As a result of the electrification, the people started buying appliances powered by electricity. Thus, the number of households owning TV sets, refrigerators, cassettes, stereos, bed lamps, and etc. increased considerably, thus affording the people more convenience and recreation. Electrification is a great help to other institutions like the schools, the Municipal Hall, the Aleosan District Hospital and other buildings in the community.
       On January 10, 1974 upon the resignation of Mayor Miguel Anas, Vice Mayor Antonio Anibigno automatically held the reins of the local government. Mayor Anibigno was technically trained in the Iloilo School of Arts and Trades and he was very much interested in pushing through the various projects of the town.

Roads and Bridges
       Since the road in the southern end of Freedom Highway was in danger of being washed away by the floods of the Aganan River, a flood control was constructed there. The same control was made at the end of V. Salarda Street which was also in danger of being destroyed by the flood.
      Mayor Anibigno also had the damaged roads repaired. Aside from this, he had Magallanes and Legaspi Streets made concrete. He also worked for the cementing of the road in the corner of Almacen and Alvior Street and a portion of Magtanong Street.
      He put up the Poblacion-Bulod-Ban-ag farm to market feeder road this lessening the problem of transporting products for sale at the market.
      The Balua Bridge, which posed hazard to both pedestrians and vehicles, was repaired and railings were put up to make it safe. Besides this, the Ubodan Bridge was also made safe for vehicles to drive over. The Bagumbayan-Cagay farm to market road was also repaired to facilitate the transport of products from the northern barrios to the poblacion and to the city.

Schools and Public Buildings
       Mayor Anibigno also facilitated the improvement of the barrio schools of Alibango, Ugbo, Sulong, Coline, Dalid, Pajo, Ingwan, Quinaspan, Gines and Cabacanan and the Home Economics building of Bancal Elementary School.

The Agony Hill
       The Agony Hill, the place of pilgrimage during the Holy Week in the town, was constructed when Fr. Nicolas Caberoy was the assistant priest in Alimodian. After it was finished and blessed, it attracted many pilgrims not only from the town proper and from the neighboring towns of Leon and San Miguel but also in the city and other towns in the Province of Iloilo.
       Because of its popularity as a religious shrine, the Municipal Council passed a resolution declaring the Agony Hill a tourist spot. This was beneficial to both church and state. Truckloads of pilgrims ascend Agony Hill every Holy Week especially on Good Friday. This is a way how people can recall the passion and agony of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the municipality becomes the center of worship and business becomes brisk, hence, there is an added revenue for the town.

Day Care Center Service
      Mayor Anibigno was able to implement the order of the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda Marcos to organize the Day Care Center services which was an integrated Social Welfare project. It is beneficial on the part of working mothers as they can just leave their children at the Day Care Center and help earn a living for the family. On the other hand, children are benefitted as they earn to sing, recite, dance and socialize with children of their age. In addition the nutritional needs of the children are also supplemented by the feeding which is given free.

The Public Market
      The public market had also its share of the improvement. The dilapidated portion was repaired and the space around the market stalls was made concrete. A basketball court was also constructed at the public market with mercury lights to facilitate games at night time especially during the Summer Sports fest. The permanent stage at the market was renovated and made bigger to provide space for the program especially during the fiesta. It was also repainted. Mayor Anibigno also had the Municipal Hall repainted to make it look clean and attractive.

The Alimodian National Comprehensive High School
      The ANCHS had also its share of the improvement as it was given P15,000 for the construction of the grandstand in time for the WISA meet in November 1976. This grandstand is still proudly standing at the hillside of the ANCHS.

Increased Revenue
      In terms of revenue, Mayor Anibigno worked for the tax mapping of the whole poblacion and barrios. With the loan from the provincial government, the Provincial Assessor’s Office was able to conduct the tax mapping which means the reassessment of taxation and an added revenue of the town.

The Ordination of Msgr. Ireneo Amantillo
     The town is very proud to have one of her sons ordained bishop on March 15, 1976 at St. Clements Church, La Paz, Iloilo City. A thanksgiving mass was offered by Bishop Amantillo followed by a banquet in his honor at the Alimodian National Comprehensive High School Social Hall. Bishop Amantillo is an alumnus of the ANCHS. He is now the bishop of Tandag, Surigao del Norte.

The Death of the Five Policemen
     A tragic incident happened on August 20, 1978 which caused the death of five policemen who were on mission to Brgy. Tarug a day before. Nothing untoward happened while they were performing their mission in that barangay. But while they were on the way back to town the following day, they were ambushed by the anti-government forces while they were about to cross the river in Brgy. Ugbo. All of the five policemen, Patrolmen Silvio Amaguin, Bernardo Alinday, Agustin Alitre, Romeo Alipat and Florencio Aligor were all slain on the spot. The townspeople felt their great loss to the police force and all mourned for their untimely demise.

His Bid for Reelection
     Mayor Antonio Anibigno ran for reelection after his term under the banner of the KBL but was defeated by an independent candidate, Salvador Altura, who had a margin of thousands of votes.

The Term Of Atty. Miguel A. Anas

          
Atty. Miguel A. Anas  (Mayor  - 1968 – 1971; 1972 – January 9, 1974)




             Miguel A. Anas was born to the couple, Tiburcio Anas and Maria Alli in Barangay Buhay, Alimodian, Iloilo on May 8, 1921. He took up his primary education in San Antonio Primary School and his intermediate grades in Alimodian Central Elementary School.
            His parents at first wanted him to enroll at the Iloilo School of Arts and Trades but the young Miguel enrolled at the Iloilo High School.
            When the war broke out, Miguel was in the third year. After graduation from high school, he enrolled at Panay College for his Associate in Arts for it has been his ambition to be a lawyer.
             In 1948, Miguel was in the first year law proper at the Colegio de San Agustin when he showed keen interest in politics by campaigning for the candidacy of Patricio Confesor for congressman in the third district of Iloilo. After the victory of Confesor, Miguel Anas became the special clerk of Congressman Confesor.
            While he was working as a clerk in congress, he continued his studies at the Philippine Law School, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1952. He took the Bar Examination and passed it on January 25, 1954 with the rating of 80.41.
            On May 6, 1954 Atty. Anas married Lydia Ajeno of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. He was appointed Election Registrar of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on November 2, 1954 and stayed in that position until December 19, 1965. President Macapagal appointed him Justice of the Peace Court of Badiangan, Iloilo and served in that position until January 22, 1966. Later he resigned and returned to his private practice. Later, he was again appointed Election Registrar of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo a position which he held until January 30, 1966. From July 1, 1966 to December 31, 1966, he was again on his private practice of law.
           On January 1, 1967 he was legal counsel of some seven operators of passenger trucks in the province of Iloilo.
           On November 14, 1967 he won as mayor of Alimodian and was sworn to office on January 1, 1968.

The Term of Mayor Simeon Salarda

 Mayor Simeon Salarda  (Mayor - 1964 – 1965)        


Mayor Salarda y Alingasa is the second of a dozen children of the spouses Vicente Salarda and Camila Alingasa. He graduated from the Alimodian Central Elementary School in 1926 as a salutatorian, but due to poverty, he enrolled in the Iloilo Normal School in 1930 only as a self-supporitng student by playing saxophone and clarinet with the then famous BUTTERFLY ORCHESTRA. For further education, he attended evening class in college after WWII as a veteran while working with the Police Department at day time. After he was appointed Instrumental Music Teacher in the Iloilo City High School, he attended summer classes. He taught Grades III-IV in Alibango Primary School and taught intermediate music in Iloilo City.


Pre-Mayoralty Days
        As a clerk, he worked in the Office of the Division Superintendent of Schools, in the Law Office of Atty. P.M. Miguel and in the Provincial Auditor’s Office. Lastly, he was the Auditing Aide of the Alimodian National Comprehensive High School, where he resigned to run for mayor in the 1963 elections under the Liberal Party.
        He won together with his Vice Mayor Gabriel Alingasa and Councilors Patrocinio Canonero, Natalia Amparado, Felix Anas, Jose Anico, Antonio Anibigno and Aquiles Cabaluna. Geronimo Balolot and Salvador Altura of the Nacionalista Party were also elected councilors. Mayor Salarda was opposed by Mr. Manuel Alegrado, a retired school teacher, Atty. Miguel Anas and the incumbent mayor David Alfeche. In his first attempt in 1955, he lost against the ten year incumbent Mayor Simeon Canonero. After the end of his term, he reinstated in the Office of the Provincial Auditor as Assistant Chief of Section where he retired in January 1973.
        As a Mayor, his most valuable and lasting accomplishments was the DEFEAT of the Municipality of Cabatuan of their almost half century old claim over a large area of land belonging to and within the territorial boundary of the Municipality of Alimodian. Taxes from the recovered parcels of land will boost the yearly income of Alimodian for eternity.

Cabatuan – Alimodian Boundary Dispute
       One of the greatest achievements of the Salarda administration was the follow up of the territorial boundary between Cabatuan and Alimodian which started way back in 1919.
       The case was activated again when Cabatuan passed Resolution No. 282, Series 1964 requesting the Provincial Assessor of the Province of Iloilo to transfer the tax declarations of the lots referred to in Resolutions No. 281, Series of 1964 from the Municipality of Alimodian to the Municipality of Cabatuan.
       On January 17, 1965, in reply to Resolution No. 282, Series 1964 dated November 8, 1964 of Cabatuan, Alimodian passed Resolution No. 2, Series 1965 requesting the Provincial Assessor that the Municipal Council of Alimodian is strongly opposed to the said resolution of Cabatuan.
       On February 14, 1965 Alimodian passed Resolution No. 7, Series 1965 requesting the Provincial Board to settle the boundary case and Resolution No. 8, Series 1965 requesting the Municipal Council of Cabatuan to leave the area status quo.
       On March 10, 1965 the Provincial Board called both the Municipal Councils of Alimodian and Cabatuan to a conference at the Provincial Board Session Hall for an amicable settlement but no agreement had been reached as to the matter requested in Resolutions Nos. 7 and 8, Series 1965 of Alimodian.
       The Provincial Board then created a committee of three composed of Atty. Ricardo Gerochi, secretary of the Provincial Board as Chairman; Atty. Jose Robles, Legislative Aide and Atty. Gregorio Guadalupe, assistant secretary of the Provincial Board as members, to hear the dispute and through a letter of even date, the secretary of the Provincial Board requested all parties concerned to appear on the hearing of the boundary dispute set for April 28, 1965 and for them to be ready to adduce on their respective claim.
       On April 4, 1965 the Municipal Council of Alimodian passed Resolution No. 17 Series 1965 officially designating Atty. Rafael L. Almacen as Chief Counsel for Alimodian on the above entitled boundary case.
       Various hearings were conducted before the above mentioned committee created by the Provincial Board. As a result of the hearings and the ocular investigation conducted by the committee, recommendations were submitted to the Provincial Board. Acting upon the result of the hearings, report and recommendation of the committee, on October 15, 1966 in its regular session resolved the boundary case.
       On November 9, 1966 the Provincial Board handed down its decision on the boundary case, sustaining the theory of Alimodian and rejecting that of the Municipality of Cabatuan and thereby fixing the boundary between the two municipalities to start from MBM No. 26 at Mt. Igcaratong straight towards MBM No. 22 at Mt. Daigon.
       Provincial Assessor advised the SB Secretary to secure a certification from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary to the effect that the decision of November 9, 1966 rendered by the defunct Provincial Board of Iloilo is final and executory.
      Acting upon the advice of the Provincial Assessor, the Sangguniang Bayan of Alimodian on February 7, 1982 passed Resolution No. 7, Series 1982 requesting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary to issue a certification to the effect that the decision handed by the defunct Provincial Board dated November 9, 1966 is final and executory. Upon receipt of this resolution, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary referred by the Provincial Attorney to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for resolution. The same was favorably resolved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and returned to the Provincial Attorney for its opinion. The Provincial Attorney advised the Sangguaniang Panlalawigan Secretary to issue a certification as requested for in Resolution No. 7, Series 1982 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Alimodian.
     On a follow up made by the Sangguniang Bayan Secretary of Alimodian with the office of the Provincial Attorney he was verbally informed by Atty. Romeo Suelan that he has already sent proper indorsement to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary with the advise that the latter shall issue the requested certification in favor of the Municipality of Alimodian.
     Up to now the said certification was not issued by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as they are still looking for the records of the case. Mr. Cecilio Alli, Sangguniang Bayan Secretary of Alimodian was advised to wait until such time that the records could be recovered.
     More than two years have passed yet the Sangguniang Bayan of Alimodian has not received the long awaited certification.
     The Boundary case between Cabatuan and Alimodian was defended by Atty. Rafael, Almacen, the first lawyer of Alimodian. In a resolution the Municipal Council of Alimodian awarded Atty. Almacen a gold medal with this inscription:

“EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE TO THE BELOVED SON OF ALIMODIAN, OUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL LT. COL. RAFAEL L. ALMACEN Y JUAREZ IN RECOGNITION OF HIS VALUABLE AND VICTORIOUS SERVICES RENDERED IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORY BY CABATUAN SINCE 1919 UP TO 1966. “

     Upon the receipt of the award Atty. Almacen wrote a lengthy letter which he read to the members of the Municipal Council, which part reads:
     “The most delicate mission you, all of you, have given me is now finally and successfully obtained. In one word, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. No further question is asked how I got it. Your diligent and simpatico mayor, Simeon Salarda, can now tell you the hardships, difficulties we have had to undergo to prepare for the real fight against the unfounded claim of Cabatuan over a certain territory consisting of the barrios of Mambawi, Ban-ag and Coline.”

Other Achievements
      Mayor Salarda’s other accomplishments were: the cementing of Alegria, Inocencio, Rizal, G. Allones and San Juan Streets; construction of rural road to Barrio Coline, the chapel in the cemetery, the Lunch Counter in the Central School, the reconstruction of the old school building at the plaza to house the Municipal Library; the opening of schools in barrios Cunsad , Bugang and Umingan. He put up the temporary ALEOSAN Emergency Hospital in the abandoned Home Economics building, the forerunner of the now ALEOSAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL in Bancal. The policy then was for the government to appropriate funds for emergency hospitals then existing, so, thru the advice of Congresswoman Gloria Tabiana, said emergency hospital was put up in the poblacion to meet the basic requirement. As an affiliate of the Provincial Hospital, a team of doctors and nurses from the Provincial Hospital came to Alimodian every Tuesday and Friday to examine and treat patients with minor ailments, while serious cases were brought to the Provincial Hospital. For more than a year, Mayor Salarda served lunch prepared from his own personal funds to the visiting team when they were in Alimodian. After Director of Hospital Pedro Mayuga in company with Congresswoman Tabiana verified the existence of the hospital, the appropriation for the construction of the hospital was approved in Congress. However, for lack of the required site in the poblacion, the hospital was built in Bancal.
       His most worthwhile memories were: (1) When he was gathering land tax declarations and land tax receipts from residents bordering the old boundary between Alimodian and Cabatuan; (2) Tracing on foot with Atty. Almacen the old and new boundaries from Mt. Daigon in Hanawhanaw to Mt. Igcaratong in Mambawi; (3) Tracing on foot with Atty. Rafael Almacen and then Councilor Antonio Anibigno the old and new boundaries between Alimodian and Maasin from Mambawi to Barrio Punong. (4) His travel on foot to the farthest, highest and mountainous barrio of Umingan, the first mayor to reach the place, such that the following year, school was opened there. His footsteps were followed by Parish Priest Ismael Castano with a team of Cursillistas including Atty. Mariano Toledo to Christianize the native “bukidnons” as they were formerly called; and (5) When implanting the huge wooden cross on top of Igcaras Hill now known as the “AGONY HILL”. Without the use of any modern mechanical devices, but only with ropes and bamboo poles the Cursillitas did the job perfectly. At the time, Mayor Salarda was the chairman of Cursillo Movement in Alimodian.
        Mayor Salarda is happily married to Jovita Aligaen, daughter of the spouses Anacleto Aligaen and Consolacion Aguillon. The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Salarda:

(1) Judge Simeonito married to Midwife Remedios Tolentino
(2) Nurse Cecilia S. Datu, formerly Senior Nursing Consultant, Operation Brotherhood, Laos, now Asst. Supervisor, OR, West Covina, Los Angeles, California married to Civil Engr. Orlando D. Datu, Asst. Vice President, Construction Control Department, Great Western Savings and Loan Association, LA, California;
(3) Nurse Ma. Luz S. Alcudia married to Col. Quintin A. Alcudia
(4) Chem. Engr. Nicolas Salarda, Production Manager, Fil-Hispano Tiles, Manila married to Nurse Lina Altura, Asst. Dean, College of Nursing, MCU;
(5) Nurse Violeta Salarda died in line of duty as Nurse of Operation Brotherhood, Laos;
(6) BSEED Rodolfo, Agriculture and Industrial Arts Teacher, Sinamay Elementary School, married to BSEED Julie Anas, Head Teacher, Sinamay Elementary School;
(7) Rev. Fr. Patricio, Former Parish Priest of Igbaras, Iloilo

       Mayor Salarda believes that someday, Alimodian will experience another boundary disputeand the best solution, he said, is to take the case of the proper agencies of the government.
       The Agony Hill project was conceived and initiated by the Cursillistas under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Nicolas Caberoy, assistant parish priest of the town. It was started in November 1966. Their first move was to raise funds for the project. A raffle was held and they were able to have a margin which was enough to finance the erection of the big wooden cross.
       The big cross was hewn out of mulawon tree found at the foot of Igcaras Hill. Aided by carabaos, men carried the hewn cross to the summit of the Hill. The erection of the cross was the climax of execution of the project of the Cursillistas on February 19, 1967. It was such a big cross as it weighed almost two tons. It was planted on its foundation by some 50 men with the use of bamboos and ropes.
      The cross stands as an inspiration for the residents to recall the sorrows and passion of our Lord especially during the Lenten season.
      Before the end of the Lenten season, thousands of Catholics ascend the Agony Hill to pray “The Way of the Cross”.
      When the fourteen stations and the big wooden cross wore finished, the Agony Hill was blessed and inaugurated by then Auxiliary Bishop, most Reverend Jaime L. Sin, D.D. on May 3, 1967 at 3:30 in the afternoon.
      Never to be forgotten in the construction of this project is Rev. Fr. Nicolas Caberoy, who devoted his time and efforts so that the project could be materialized.

Mayor David Alfeche Administration

Mayor David Alfeche
Vice Mayor Marcelo Tolentino


Introduction

          The administration of Simeon Canonero which was quite a long stretch of time ended with the victory of Mayor David Alfeche in the November 1959 election. Alimodian was under the leadership of Mayor Canonero for 14 years, the period that was immediately after the liberation to 1959.

The term of Mayor David Alfeche
          Mayor David Alfeche was known for his affable manners before, during and after his incumbency. He is a light-hearted man and a friend to all. He was born on May 19, 1910 and was married to Estrella Alfeche with whom he has two children, Herminia Alfeche Nieves and David Jr.

Pre-Mayoralty Days
          Before Mayor Alfeche ascended the mayoralty, he held various positions both in the government and private firms. Before the outbreak of the war, he was assistant local civil registrar and stenographer of Judge Cipriano Cabaluna, Sr. This position he held for several years until he became the secretary of President Justo Puga.
          Later, he left that job and sought greener pastures in the city. He landed a job as the stenographer of the Philippine Engineering Corporation. After a couple of years, he was promoted as manager of the same firm, but was transferred to Bacolod City.
          In 1940 he returned to his native town and worked as municipal secretary of Mayor Felix Altura, the position he held until the outbreak of the war. During the Japanese occupation, Mayor Alfeche joined the Civil Resistance Movement as stenographer of Gov. Tomas Confesor in the mountains of Panay.
         After the war he landed a government job as stenographer in the Court of First Instance, 17th Judicial District, Iloilo. He again transferred to a private company, the South Negros Lumber Company in Asia, (now Hibao-an) Negros Occidental. While working there he became popular with the townspeople so that he was first elected as vice mayor and in the next election he was elected mayor. Aside from holding the highest post in that municipality, he was also the manager of that firm.

His Political Career
         Mayor Alfeche started his political career when he launched his candidacy and won as councilor during the second term of Mayor Canonero in 1951 – 1954. Then in the third bid for mayoralty of Canonero, Mayor Alfeche ran for vice mayor and won over his opponent, Atty. Miguel Anas under the Canonero banner.
         Quite confident of his political bailiwick, Mayor Alfeche threw his hat in the political ring in the November 1959 election and defeated his opponents, Atty. Miguel Anas and the incumbent Mayor Canonero, who was an aspirant for mayoralty in his fourth bid. His running mate, Marcelo Tolentino, also won as vice mayor. His councilors were Teodosia Amarra, Jose Anico, Gabriel Alingasa, Silverio Amantillo, Salvador Altura, Aquiles Cabaluna, Felix Anas and Gerardo Pinuela.
         As mayor of the town, he tried his best to do everything for the benefit of both the town and its constituents. As the chief executive of the town, Mayor Alfeche took care of every detail in his administration and his first concern was the economic uplift of the citizens. It was during his administration that the credit union was organized in the community. This organization has helped much in the economic life of the people.

The Alimodian National Comprehensive High School

Alimodian High School Founders


Alimodian High School pioneer teachers


Introduction
               Immediately after the war, school houses were burned and it was a great undertaking of both the local and national government to rehabilitate them. The War Damage Claim of the Alimodian Central Elementary School helped a lot in reconstructing it. But it was a different case for the secondary education in the community because before the war only cities and capital towns had high schools.
               If the greatest accomplishment of Mayor Simeon Canonero would be singled out, it would be most probably the founding of the Alimodian High School, now, the Alimodian National Comprehensive High School in 1947.
               Right after the end of the Second World War, schools were opened so that students whose studies were interrupted by four years of fighting could finish their respective courses. Since there was no secondary school in town, high school students enrolled either in Oton High School or in the Iloilo Provincial High School. The sad thing about the situation was that transportation facilities were so limited, or at times completely lacking that young people who were earnest enough to obtain an education, had to contend with searing heat of the sun and the heavy rain as they went on foot to their school 25 kilometers away.

Establishment of the Alimodian High School
               Cognizant to the deplorable conditions of the students, municipal officials deemed it wise to put up a regional high school in this town. Mayor Canonero called a session of the Municipal Council and barrio tenientes to ready plans for the founding of an educational institution.
               The main problem by those who attended the meeting was the site of the proposed school. Since the center of the poblacion was already relatively populated and many families would be displaced should the school be built there, it was decided that the school be built in the town’s outskirts like Alibango Street. The main factor in choosing this site was that a wide portion of the school site was owned by the Alderete family. With a big heart, the mayor led the owners of the lots adjacent to the family lot to donate their land. Many donors gave their lots gratis, but some were given lots in Anino Street in exchange for those they donated.
              The major donors of the school site were Mr. Wenceslao Anino, Mrs. Patrocinio Canonero, Mrs. Matilde Alipala, Mrs. Paula Amonoy Calantas, Mrs. Teodosia Amarra, Mrs. Natalia Amparado, Mr. Gregorio Angelitud, Mr. Mauricio Canuto, Mr. Jose Andeo, Mr. Tiburcio Alfiscar, and Mr. Hugo Alfiscar.
              The founders of the school were Mayor Simeon Canonero, Vice Mayor Anacleto Amparo, councilors Wenceslao Anino, Ignacio Amparado, Pablo Albeza, Gabriel Alingasa and Teodosia Amarra.
             Nipa and bamboo were the chief materials used for the construction of the classrooms and the Home Economics building. Mr. Ignacio Amparado, a councilor at that time, lent his personal money for the procurement of the necessary materials. Labor was supplied free by the barrio tenientes and their men and other civic-spirited people in the community.

Mayor Simeon Cañonero Third Term

Canonero’s Third Term 1956-1959

           The people of Alimodian did not have enough of the good works of Mayor Simeon Canonero during the ten years of his incumbency, so they elected him again for the third term beginning in 1956. And he did not disappoint his people because during his last years in office he initiated several endeavors which made the people regard him as one of the best of all mayors ever to serve Alimodian.


Other Projects
            The Puericulture Center that stands to safeguard the health of the residents came into being from the pork barrel allotment of Sen. Quintin Paredes and most of all Cong. Ramon Tabiana, who gave a lot of improvements in the municipality. The prime mover for the project was the mayor’s lady, Mrs. Patrocinio Canonero, the president of the Puericulture Center during the long term of her husband. She was even given an award by the Bureau of Health in Manila as an outstanding puericulture center president.
            During the rainy season, the Aganan River overflowed its banks causing damage to life and property. The administration of Canonero made a plan to deviate its course. However, the people soon realized that redirecting the river bed was not enough as the pressure of the onrushing current often lapped on the bank and diverted the river back to its former course. Therefore, in 1959, a river control was constructed to buffer the impact of the river’s flow. P30,000 from the municipal fund was spent for this project.

Other Improvements
             Several other improvements of the Canonero administration deserve mention. Among these was the repair of the HE Building of the local high school.
            Mayor Canonero was able to improve the town plaza from the amount given by Sen. Mariano Cuenco and Sen. Soc Rodrigo. To complete the Alibango Elementary School, the local government acquired P10,000 funding from the Provincial Board.
            Other notable projects included the repair of roads and bridges, especially in San Sixto, San Modesto and Almacen Streets. Sadly though, these construction works yielded to the test of time and today had been rehabilitated, repaired for a long term use.
             If the most outstanding achievement of Mayor Simeon Canonero would be singled out, it would most probably be the Alimodian National Comprehensive High School which up to this time has sent out alumni who have shone brightly in practically all fields of endeavor. This will be discussed in detail in my next blog.

Mayor Simeon Cañonero Second Term

The Second Term of Mayor Canonero
            Because of exemplary leadership and capability he demonstrated, Canonero gained the people’s confidence. This was manifested when they voted him again mayor in 1951 for the second term of four years. This incumbency proved to be very fruitful just like his first.


The Construction of the Municipal Hall
             The hallmark of the second term of Mayor Canonero is the construction of a permanent municipal hall. Before the war, the municipal building was a modest structure of wood and galvanized iron and it presented vestiges of Spanish rule in the town.
             The total cost of construction reached P65,000, quite a sizeable amount, consider the buying power of the peso during that time. Of this amount P55,000 came from the War Damage Claims. The remaining P10,000 was contributed by Hon. Jose Zulueta from his pork barrel. Today, the Municipal Hall stands proudly by the town plaza.

Infrastructures
               It was also during the time of Canonero when a grandstand was constructed at the Alimodian Central Elementary School costing P15,000 which housed the spectators of the different delegations during the Southern Iloilo Public School Athletic League (SIPSAL). However, age took its toll on the grandstand and it was demolished to give way to the Home Economics building.

Street Lighting
               Alimodian had its first taste of electricity after the war when the street lighting system was put up in the poblacion. Providing the power was the Alimodian Electric Light Service of Mrs. Natalia Amparado, a prominent citizen of Alimodian.

Land Titles were Facilitated by Mayor Canonero
               Even before the outbreak of the war, the land in Alimodian did not have titles, unlike in other towns. To enable the people to contract loans from the bank, there was a felt need for land titles. Mayor Canonero authorized the Certeza Surveying Company to survey the lands in Alimodian. After the owners were given titles, the people could enter into loan agreement with any bank.

Other Improvements
                Another achievement during the second term of Mayor Canonero was the construction of the Home Economics Building at the Alimodian High School. Although, the building is now destroyed and has been replaced by a new one, it served its purpose during its time.

Service to the Barrio
                 While improvements were being undertaken in the poblacion, the barrios were not neglected by Mayor Canonero. One of the projects being undertaken by him was the irrigation canals from a stream to the ricefields in Barrio Coline. The irrigation was a great help to the people in that barrio because before they depended wholly on the blessings of the skies before they could plant their crops.
                 To transport the products from Sulong and Sinamay, the mayor had a feeder road constructed in the amount of P5,000 from the pork barrel of San Quintin Paredes.
                 Because of scarcity of water in the barrios, artesian wells were constructed in Barrio Bancal, Buhay and Alegria Street.

Mayor Simeon Cañonero First Term

1948 Municipal Officials

First Term

The tenure of the officials appointed by the military government was only temporary as the local officials were to be elected by the people in the election of November 1947. Mayor Simeon Canonero and Vice Mayor Anacleto Amparo won in that election.

The councilors who were elected were Ignacio Amparado, Pablo Albeza, Salvador Tolentino, Teodosia Amarra, Wenceslao Anino and Jose Aligaen. The mayor’s secretary was Federico Ambata.

Rehabilitation of Life in the Poblacion

Two years after the Japanese invaders have left, the life of the people was still fraught with vestiges of the war. The routinary life in the community was jolted into wild disarray by the rampaging Japs and the defending Filipino-American combined forces. Because the people had been physically and psychologically fatigued by the war, the government of Mayor Simeon Canonero thought it wise to bring back a semblance of normalcy in the aftermath of the war.

To realize this end, the local government tried its best to request the Treasurer of the Philippines to expedite the redemption of emergency notes so that it would help rehabilitate the people. The redemption of the emergency notes benefitted the populace who were little by little picking up the pieces of their shattered life.

Although, agriculture was the main source of livelihood of the people, production was very low in the late 1940’s. At the same time, capital for production was not available, thus lowering the net yield. There was an acute rice shortage throughout the country and Alimodian suffered the same fate. In this state of crisis Mayor Canonero requisitioned for rice from the NARIC.

To improve the economic life of the people, the Municipal Council passed a resolution requiring owners of vacant lots in the Poblacion to transform them into home gardens. Poultry and swine raising was also encouraged so as to mitigate the lack of livestock for the people’s consumption. The campaign for food production through self-help was successful that in no time Alimodian came to be regarded as the egg basket of Iloilo.

Infrastructure Project

Many of the public structures in the poblacion and barrios became helpless victims of Japanese artillery attacks and arson attempts of the Filipinos forces retaliating maneuvers and the looting sprees of the economically-deprived Alimodiananons and evacuees. During Mayor Canonero’s tenure of office, roads, bridges, schools and other infrastructure destroyed during the war were rebuilt and made functional.

From the Philippine War Damage Claim, school buildings in the poblacion and barrios were reconstructed. The rehabilitation of school buildings was given priority because of the surge of enrolment figures after the war and the acceleration program in the elementary schools so that deserving students might be promoted to higher levels and make up for the years wasted during the war. Many of the rooms constructed through the war damage claims still house classes today.

Since roads became virtually impassable, Mayor Canonero requested P10,000 pesos each from the pork barrel of Hons. Camilo Osias, Jose Zulueta, Jose Laurel and Gil Puyat for the asphalting of the provincial road connecting Alimodian to San Miguel. The reconstruction made mobility of people and produce info and out of Alimodian more convenient.