34. LLPDCPI IN THE CITY OF NUMEROUS CATHOLIC CHURCHES

LLPDCPI IN THE CITY OF NUMEROUS CATHOLIC CHURCHES

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

22 May 2017

The League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines, Inc. (LLPDCPI) convened its 28^th Annual National Convention today here at Punta Villa, Santo Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City in Western Visayas Region with the theme “Local Economic Development: A Strategy for Up-Scaling Communities Towards Competitiveness and Globalization”. This is the second time I graced this nationwide gathering and the first time as office head of the Provincial Planning and Development Office of Isabela.

Aside from the national elections, eight sessions will be conducted which include: Local Economic Development (LED) and Good Governance: The Iloilo City Experience (Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog of Iloilo City), Building Business Friendly and Competitive LGUs (ASec Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. of DTI), LED Through Tourism (Dir. Helen J. Catalbas of DOT R6), Embracing Entrepreneurial and Transformational Leadership (Mayor Jason R. Gonzales of Lambunao, Iloilo), LED Through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development (Dir. Rebecca M. Rascon of DTI R6), LED Success Story on Agribusiness and Tourism (Engr. Eddie P. Canuto of Ephrathah Farms, Corp.), Mobilizing/Advancing Migrants for LED Presentations, Testimonies/Success Stories of OFW Entrepreneurs Who Became Drivers of LED (Atty. Golda Myra R. Roma of UNDP, Mr. Wilfredo B. Prilles, Jr. of CPDO Naga City & Ms. Rebecca C. Tubongbanua of McNester Food Products), and Embracing Sustainable LED (Dr. Dixon Q. Yasay of Xavier U, Ateneo de Cagayan).  

Everytime I’m out of town, I never fail to research and post short historical articles for Facebook netizens as part of my advocacy in uplifting historical consciousness among the youth of today. My much-loved part in recounting history is the name etymology of places. How the name Iloilo came to be is not so clear and doubtful. The popularly accepted version is that the name came from the Hiligaynon word “Ilong-Ilong” or the Kinaray-a “Irong-Irong”, meaning nose-like, which the Spaniards shortened to “Iloilo”. The word was the name applied to the islet formed by the Iloilo River, which was supposed to be nose-like in shape. Many; however, are asking how the early Ilonggos were able to know such geographical configuration since the locality is generally flat and no high peaks or airplanes can view the area and see the tongue-shaped land at that time.

Browsing the net revealed that in the year 1566, as the Spanish conquest of the Philippines was underway and moving north towards Manila, the Spaniards under Miguel  López de Legazpi, came to Panay and established a settlement in Ogtong (now Oton). In 1581, Governor General (1580-1583) Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa moved the colonial center from Ogtong to approximately 12 kilometers eastward due to recurrent raids by Moro pirates and Dutch and English privateers. He renamed this new colonial seat La Villa de Arévalo in honor of his hometown in Ávila, Spain. In 1700, due to ever-increasing attacks especially from the Dutch and the Moros, the Spaniards again moved their seat of power some 25 kilometers eastward to the village of Irong-Irong, which had natural and strategic defense against raids. At the mouth of the river that snakes through Panay, the Spaniards built Fort San Pedro to better guard against the raids which were now the only threat to their hold on the islands. Later, the natural port area quickly became the capital of the province.

On October 5, 1889, due to the economic development that was happening in Iloilo making it the most important port in the Philippine Islands next to Manila, Iloilo was raised from the status of a town to a city through a Royal Decree, and in 1890, the city government was established. In 1900, the American colonizers reverted the city’s status into a township. Iloilo regained cityhood status on July 16, 1937 through Commonwealth Act No. 158. Incorporated as part of Iloilo City were the city of Jaro and the towns of Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Villa de Arevalo and inaugurated on August 15 of the same year.

Being the cradle of Catholicism in Panay Island, numerous Catholic Churches were erected in the city which I was able to visit 15 years ago and plan to visit this next few days most especially the old religious structures of Molo and Jaro. The Churches under the Vicariate of St. Paul: St. Ann Parish (Molo), The Holy Name of Jesus Parish (Arevalo), San Jose Obrero Parish (Fundidor, Molo), Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (Bo. Obrero), San Jose Placer Parish (Plaza Libertad), Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish (Calumpang, Molo), Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church (Lapuz), Sta. Maria Parish (Gen. Blanco St.), Sta. Teresita Parish (J. De Leon St.),  and The Immaculate Concepcion Parish (Tanza).

Under the Vicariate of St. Peter: Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral & The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles (Jaro), Nuestra Sra. Del Pilar Parish (M.H. Del Pilar, Jaro), Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Alta Tierra, Jaro), Our Lady of Monserrat Parish (Gran Plains, Jaro), San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish (Caingin, La Paz), Our Lady of Peace and Von Voyage Parish (La Paz), Espousal of Our Lady Parish (Mandurriao), St. Joseph the Worker Parish (San Isidro, Jaro), Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish & St. Clement’s Church (La Paz), Spousal of Mary and Joseph Parish (Buntatala, Jaro) including the Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross - Opus Dei (Gen Luna St.). There also a number of Chapels within the compounds of the Congregations of Men and Women in the Archdiocese within the City of Iloilo. Obviously, Ilonggos are predominantly Roman Catholics. But as time pass by, other religions and structures sprouted in Iloilo City.

The Churches of Molo and Jaro never fail to amaze me. I could not imagine how the Ilonggos labored to build these magnificent edifices. But one thing is for sure, the solid foundation of these religious structures is supported by the strong faith of Roman Catholic believers which lasted for over a century.