Professional Documents
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HISTORY OF ILOILO CITY Ver2022
HISTORY OF ILOILO CITY Ver2022
HISTORY OF ILOILO CITY Ver2022
LEGEND OF MARAGTAS
According to oral tradition, ten Datus left the island of Borneo to escape a tryrant
ruler Datu Makatunao. They arrived in Panay in Sirawagan River where native aetas or
ati are living. The aetas are led by their Chieftain Marikudo and his wife Maniwan-tiwan.
Datu Puti, one of the datus, expressed their desire to settle in the lowlands. They
offered to barter the lowlands for a golden “Sadok” or a long-brimmed hat and a long
golden necklace. Marikudo agreed to the barter and they settled in the mountains.
The Datus divided the lowlands among themselves. Datu Paiburong was known
to have settled at a village called Irong-irong.
PRE-SPANISH
There are two ethnic groups inhabiting Panay Island before the conquest of
Spain. These are the Negritos or Atis and the Visayans. The Negritos lived in the
mountains and are nomadic. They are half-naked and wore a piece of bark to cover their
genitals. They are hunter and gatherer in nature and move from one place to another in
search of food.
The Visayans on the other hand lived along the coasts and rivers. The Boxer
Codex and other early Spanish documents, noted that Visayans adorned their bodies
with tattoos and sometime referred as Pintados. They wore cotton with colored stripes,
silk and cloth made of banana leaves. They also known decorated themselves with Gold
and other ornaments.
Initially, the Visayans only referred to the inhabitants of the Panay Island (H.
Otley Beyer) but eventually referred to other inhabitants in the nearby islands.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FORT
In 1602, a small wooden fortress was built in La Punta by Pedro Bravo de Acuñ a.
It defended the shores against raids by Moro pirates.
In September 28, 1616, Dutch again invaded and launched an attack against the
Spaniards. The Spaniards gathered in La Punta and were led by Diego Quiñ ones. He
built redoubts and trenches and covered them with sawali.
The Dutch proved to be a difficult force to reckon and fighting ensued for days.
One night, Quiñ ones stumbled upon a wooden box in a pit he fell into. When they
opened the box, they saw an image of Mary holding a Child Jesus. They took the image to
the fortress in procession and prayed for protection. On the nightfall of the 30th day, the
Dutch for some unknown reasons fled leaving their dead and injured soldiers. The
victory was considered miraculous and this started the devotion of the locals to Our
Lady of the Holy Rosary.
The Spanish officials made a bigger fortress on the same site in La Punta. It was
made of stone and improved it through the years. It continued to protect the islands
from raiding pirates. The fortification is known as Fort San Pedro.
A SPANISH CITY
In 1888, Governor Valerio Weyler recommended the establishment of
Ayuntamiento or City Halls in the provinces to better manage the progress and industry.
In October 5, 1889, Queen Regent Maria Christina elevated Iloilo to a city through a
Royal Decree. The declaration noted the growing development in industry and
commerce in the capital of Iloilo Province, the second most important after the City of
Manila.
In November 12, 1899, the overseas minister Manuel Bacerra, promulgated the
law establishing the City Hall of Iloilo which was created by a Superior Decree on
January 31, 1890. The Ayuntamiento of Iloilo was established on February 7, 1890, a
year later that of Jaro was also established. Don Tirso Lizarraga became the Mayor with
Don Sabino Ordaz and Don Isidro de la Rama as Vice Mayors. Nine others were
appointed as council members together with a treasurer.
PARTICIPATION IN THE SPANISH REVOLT
Prosperity came among Ilonggos due to the increased production and
exportation of sugar. The standard of living improved at least for the middle class and
the elite (illustrado and principalia) and they are living a comfortable life.
On the onset of revolt in Manila on August 30, 1896, the Ilonggo elite were
caught by surprise. The Ilonggos through the Ayuntamiento of Iloilo and Jaro
condemned the uprising. Nearby provinces of Antique, Capiz and Negros also followed
suit.
The Ilonggo elite also showed support to Spain by organizing volunteers to help
quell the rebellion in Manila. Five hundred Ilonggo troops volunteered and an Ilonggo
Volunteer Batallion was formed under the leadership of mostly Spanish officials. The
battalion was divided into two companies and fought the revolutionary forces of Emilio
Aguinaldo in Cavite and Pampanga in 1897. The Ilonggo Volunteers were successful in
their campaign where they had a string of victories.
The Pact of Biak na Bato was signed in April 1898 and the Ilonggo Battalion went
home. The support of Ilonggos was unnoticed by the Spanish crown. On March 1, 1898,
Queen Regent Maria Christina granted a special royal decree. It awarded the perpetual
title of La Muy Noble Ciudad or the Most Noble City.
AMERICAN TOWN
The Treaty of Paris was not accepted by the Ilonggo revolutionary government
and opposed the occupation of Iloilo by the Americans. The forces of General Martin
Delgado tried to hold Iloilo City. On February 11, 1899, the city was razed to the ground
by the bombardment of American forces and was burned by the retreating
revolutionary forces.
The hostilities continued until the establishment of the local governments in
some towns on April 11, 1901. Jose Maria N. Gay was appointed Alcalde of Iloilo, Matias
Ybiernas was Teniente Alcalde of Iloilo; Jose Yusay was President of Molo; Pablo
Borromeo was President of Arevalo; Ruperto Montinola was the lone representative of
Jaro, but was not its President. The City was also reduced to a town as the rest of the
Philipine Islands. Two years later, on April 4, 1903, Act 719 reduced the towns of Iloilo
Province from 50 to 17. The measure merged the towns of Molo, Mandurriao, Jaro and
Lapaz to the town of Iloilo. By 1908 and 1920, Jaro and Lapaz were declared separate
towns respectively.
For this 73rd anniversary, the charter day parade will take a different route
starting from La Paz Plaza to Plaza Libertad. It will pass by the streets of Huervana,
Luna, Bonifacio Drive, Caram Avenue, JM Basa to Freedom Grandstand as the review
stand and dispersal at Plaza Libertad.
It shall have four divisions as well: Division 1 to assemble along Huervana St.;
Division II at Jereos St., fronting La Paz Catholic Church; Division III by the side of
Burgos St.; and Division IV laterally gathering at Huervana Extension.
About 4,000 students, government and private employees, professionals,
military and police personnel, war veterans, barangay residents, civic leaders, and civil
society are joining the parade.
FREEDOM TO ELECT
The positions of the city government under Commonwealth Act. 158 are all
appointed position by the President of the Philippines. Congressman Rodolfo Ganzon
filed a bill that enabled the position of Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilors as elected
positions. The bill was approved as Republic Act 1209 on April 29, 1955. The law was
known as Iloilo City Freedom Law. A year later, Congressman Ganzon ran for City Mayor
and became the first elected city mayor.
NEW ADMINISTRATION
In June 30, 2019, the new administration of Jerry P. Treñ as has prepared a
program called the Iloilo City Roadmap: W.H.E.E.L.S for inclusive development and good
governance with a Vision: By 2028, Iloilo City shall be one of the three best highly
urbanized cities in terms of livability, viability and governance practice. The W.H.E.E.L.S
program stands for Welfare, Health & Sanitation, Education, Environmental
Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability.
Prepared by: