Travel and Places

Balasan was the once big town in Northern Hloilo In 1847, Govemor Silverio of Capiz permitted Francisco Arriola of the pueblo of Navas, Capiz (now town of Aklan), to settle on the unpopulated eastern part of Capiz. With 50 families, Arriola sailed and settled at what they called Bolokawe. Later, […]

The beautiful coastal town which is now known as Banate has a historical background dimmed in obscurity. In fact, according to Victorio Vargas, one time Municipal President and one of the oldest living patriarchs (1935), the town has no recorded history prior to 1805 when Andres Maningo became the first […]

“A vigorous nationalism requires a return to the generation grassroots the source of our personality.” History repeats its tale. Stories about the past are retold by Sara and are handed down from generation to generation. Historical annals that Sara was founded in 1877 amidst the chaos and confusion of the […]

There are different stories and versions, more of a legend, each claiming to be a real legend of the town’s name. First Story Lemery was a corrupt word from the Spanish word, Laminaria, the luminescent lamp. It is referred to a very tall tree, a pale Maria, a variety of […]

Established in Iloilo as Ynchausti the early part of the 19th century, Ynchausti y Co. opened Compania. In a small store in lloilo as ship chandlers. Later, it engaged in importing foodstuffs from Spain and operating a shipping company, with boats plying from Manila to lloilo. In 1934, when the […]

San José Church began as a small Jesuit chapel in 1607. When the Jesuits were expelled from the islands in 1768, San José was handed over to the Dominicans, but only until 1775, when the church fell under secular administration. In 1868, the Augustinian-held Jaro Church became the seat of […]

Eusebio Villanueva Mansion is formerly known as Don Julio Ledesma House. Its location is along Bonifacio Drive in Iloilo City. Very near the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. It was built in 1928 and the original owner was Don Julio Ledesma. Eusebio Villanueva House History The house’s materials are narra wood, concrete […]

During the early days in Panay, a group of Spanish Conquistadores under Legazpi managed to find their way into the mouth of what is known as Jalaur River at Talaugis near Barotac Nuevo on a mission of exploring the hinterlands in Iloilo. They rode on a unique flatboat known as […]

In the early part of the 16th century, our country was a famous hideout of the seahawks due to its numerous and scattered islands. The mountain ranges invited the attention of foreign ships especially seahawks to land for recreation and protection from strong winds, or defeat of sea battles. The […]

According to the legend, the name Badiangan was derived from the Ilonggo vernacular badiang a wild plant belonging to the gabi family. When the Spaniards first set foot in Badiangan, which was then a thriving settlement, they passed by the natives bathing and washing in the spring. The Spaniards asked […]