Apart from its world-class mangoes, pristine beaches and diverse
resources, the province of Guimaras has a rich history that is worth sharing.
R. Morales Maza, in his book “The Augustinians in Panay”
(1987), wrote that Spaniards who were defeated in Mactan Island fled to
Guimaras in 1521. “Spanish survivors flee from Mactan Island after their defeat
and cruise close to the southern coasts of Negros and Panay. Thus, giving the
name Guimaras to the small island lying very near to Panay, in order to
immortalize in this part of the world ‘the first capital of his (referring to
Antonio Pigafetta) country and the birth place of Portuguese nationality,” Maza
wrote.
In 1572, the island was home to highly skilled carpenters
who are masters in building all kinds of ships. At that time, Miguel Loarca was
the encomiendero of the entire island, which was later inherited by his
daughter Doña Lucia de Loarca. This is according to the book “The Oton
Diggings” by Jose B. Tiongco, 1969.
In 1609, Mindanao chiefs who attacked the town of Arevalo
(formerly in Oton) came to the island to rest. Thus, Guimaras was under the
jurisdiction of Oton in 1731.
In 1742, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Dumangas
when the Augustinian order ceded it to the Jesuits. However, Guimaras was taken
over by the Dominicans in 1768 and made the island a parish of Iloilo.
Guimaras was so beautiful that Americans fell in love with
the place. According to Felix B. Regalado and Quintin B. Franco in their book
“History of Panay” (1973), a zoology professor from the University of Michigan
and his companions stayed in Salag Daku (now Barangay Zaldivar) to regain their
health and gathered valuable materials in 1887. This man was Dean C. Worcester,
who later became a member of the Philippine Commission.
The year 1894 saw the construction of the now famous tourist
destination Guisi Lighthouse in Nueva Valencia. Made of metal and
fibreglass, it was named as Punta Luzaran Lighthouse Station (Farro de Punta
Luzaran). It became a symbol of international acknowledgement as a strategic
navigational landmark for the world’s economic sustainability and development.
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| Guisi Lighthouse |
Then came World War II and the turmoil created by war did
not spare Guimaras. In 1943, Japanese soldiers massacred 998 people, according
to the book “Guerilla Warfare in Panay Island Philippines” by Col. Gamaliel
Manikan, Ret. Armored Cavalry.
A
Full-fledged Province
In 1966, Guimaras Island was declared a sub-province of
Iloilo. But in 1992, then Governor Catalino G. Nava, MD. initiated a plebiscite
to push for the island’s provincehood.
It was in the year 1969 when Guimaras was envisioned as a
potential “Mango Island”. The vision started with the development of a mango
nursery on 8.872 has. of land donated by Romirico Chavez and late Senator Oscar
Ledesma and through the initiative of then BPI regional director Pedro M.
Asico.
Guimaras became a full-fledged province on May 22, 1992 and
its first governor was Emily Relucio-Lopez.
Then in 2006, the worst oil spill in the history of the
Philippines happened. Guimaras’ tourism came to a standstill when the 998-ton
M/T Solar 1, carrying 2.4 million liters of bunker fuel, sank 17 kilometers off
the island's southern coast and contaminated the sea and beaches. About 1,000
hectares of mangroves were affected including the Taklong Island National
Marine Reserve.
Through immediate clean-up and rehabilitation efforts, the
island regained its health back and to this day, continues to be one of the
most visited tourist destinations in the country and the source of the sweetest
mangoes in the world.
3rd
Manggahan sa Kabanwahanan
To join in the province’s celebration of its resilience and
success, Guimaras’ five municipalities namely; San Lorenzo, Sibunag, Jordan,
Nueva Valencia and Buenavista, is holding the 3rd Manggahan sa Kabanwahanan
which officially kicked off last April 1 and will run up to May 22.
The celebration was officially started on April 1 with a
grand caravan, which was also the signal for the opening of the Manggahan
Sports Festival. The sports activities will end on May 22.
Manggahan sa San Lorenzo took place on April 2-3 while
the Manggahan sa Sibunag was held last April 9 and 10. The Manggahan sa
Jordan will be on April 16-17, Manggahan sa Nueva Valencia on April 23-24
and Manggahan sa Buenavista on April 28-May 1.
The Guimaras Manggahan Festival is an annual week-long celebration that commemorates the conversion of the former sub-province of Iloilo into a full-fledged province. This year, the festivity will be held on May 11-26, with the highlight being the Manggahan Cultural Competition come May 21 wherein the Guimarasnons will showcase their creativity while telling the story of the province’s glorious history, vibrant culture and interesting way of life.
For more information about
the festival and other activities, you may visit the Guimaras Manggahan Festival on Facebook.
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