Banga, Aklan
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| Banga | |
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| — Municipality — | |
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| Nickname(s): The Beautiful | |
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 Banga
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| Coordinates: 11°42′22″N 122°23′54″E / 11.70611°N 122.39833°ECoordinates: 11°42′22″N 122°23′54″E / 11.70611°N 122.39833°E | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Region | Western Visayas Region (Region VI) |
| Province | Aklan |
| District | Lone District |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Barangays | 16 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Antonio Maming |
| Area | |
| • Total | 84.53 km2 (32.64 sq mi) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 34,276 |
| • Density | 405/km2 (1,050/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | |
| Income class | 3rd class; urban/rural |
Banga is a fourth-class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. This small town has repeatedly won national competitions for the "Most Beautiful Town" contests in the country. It is the site of the Aklan State University. As of 2007[update] the mayor was Antonio T. Maming and the Vice Mayor was Joseph Pierre Raz Teodosio.
At the religious sanctuary of Manduyog Hill an annual pilgrimage is conducted on Good Friday visiting the 14 Stations of the Cross, praying the rosary, and placing candles at each stop while climbing towards the peak where a 40m cross, sometimes lighted, is visible from due North to Kalibo and the sea beyond.
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[edit] History
The history of Banga dates back to the 15th century upon arrival in Panay Island of the ten datus from Borneo. While some skeptics considered this information a legend, still, Banganhons believed that Datu Manduyog ruled over the place with his seat of government located in Bakan, the ancient name of Banga. The site was at the foot of the Manduyog Hill that was named after Datu Manduyog. Being a legitimate successor to Datu Dangandanan who ruled what was called Akean in the late 1390s, Datu Manduyog became the ruler of Akean in 1437 and made Bakan the capital of Akean.
Another version of Banga's history from Panublion cited that Banga's ancient site was the present location of the Municipality of Malinao. In 1792 the town site was transferred across the Aklan River at the foot of Manduyog Hill. Several prominent families decided to remain in the “old town” which became a barrio and named Malinao after a placid tributary of the Aklan River.
The families of Bernabe Teodosio, Diego Eulalio Teodosio, Esteban Masigon and the Muntuyas established a settlement in 1676 in what is now Sitio Opong-opong of Barrio Cupang. However, these families moved to a higher ground due to its closeness to the Aklan River that overflowed annually. In 1781 they settled in sitio Agbueakan in Barrio Tabayon.
Due to the clayish soil conditions of the sitio, they again decided to resettle in 1783 in what is now the location of Banga poblacion. They named the place Banga after the Banga palm trees that were in abundance. Because of their growing families they had to cut down most of the trees to give way to their layout plans to establish a town close to their farmlands for residential purposes.
American sovereignty over the country started in August 13, 1898. With the natives resisting foreign domination, a revolutionary association was organized. Hostilities between the natives and the Americans began but did not take long since the natives were ill equipped.
The American hostilities ended upon the signing on March 29, 1901 of the “Pas de Aklan”, a historical document in the Aklan Section of the Province of Capiz. The signing was done at the present municipal park at the corner of Rizal and San Jose Streets.
From January 1, 1904 to December 31, 1911 Banga was merged with Numancia and Lezo to form an “arabal” of the Municipality of Kalibo. Through the efforts of Don Baltazar Teodosio, Banga was separated from Kalibo on January 1, 1912.
A year after, Francisco Lachica was elected the first Municipal President. The following were the leaders of the town from 1912 to 1945:
- 1912 - 1913 Baltazar Teodosio
- 1913 - 1916 Francisco Lachica
- 1916 - 1919 Jacinto Repiedad
- 1919 - 1925 Edecio Venturanza
- 1925 - 1931 Baltazar Teodosio
- 1931 - 1937 Pedro Recto
- 1937 - 1943 Lorenzo Duran
- 1943 - 1945 Ereneo Icotanim
On April 17, 1942 at 2:00 a.m., the Japanese Imperial Forces landed at Culasi, Capiz. An hour later the 5th Capiz Cadre at Libas, Banga, Aklan (now Camp Jizmundo) was burned down by the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Six hours later the Banga Rural High School, Banga Elementary School Building and Home Economics Building were likewise burned. About 95% of all the permanent structures in the Municipality of Banga were burned down both by the USAFFE and the Filipino guerrillas to prevent the Japanese forces from occupying the buildings.
There was a surprising and infamous incident in Banga during the Japanese occupation. Civilians were massacred at 10:00 on October 21, 1943 at the junction of Rizal and Mabini Streets - now the Rotunda - and at the national road fronting the 5th Capiz Cadre at Libas, Banga. It was in these two places where civilians, who merely desired to please and welcome the Japanese forces, were ordered to squat and haplessly massacred. About 70 persons were killed. The Japanese soldiers conducted a further four-day operation killing about 200 more in order to paralyze the increasing guerrilla activities.
On March 18, 1945, after the landing of the American Liberation Forces in Panay, the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit appointed Dr. Boanerjes Venturanza as the first Municipal Mayor. The first elected Mayor after the Liberation was Mr. Jose Urquiola. He served from 1945 to 1951 and was succeeded by the following:
- 1951 – 1959 Atty. Vicente Teodosio
- 1959 - 1963 Dr. Napoleon Macahilig
- 1963 - 1971 Atty. Tomas Raz
- 1971 - 1986 Atty Sergio Rigodon
- 1986 - 1995 Mr. Jose Urquiola, Jr.
- 1995 - 2004 Dr. Stevens Fuentes
- 2004 - 2007 Atty. Jeremy Fuentes
- 2007 - Present Mr. Antonio Maming
[edit] Historical Events
1812 - During this year there was a flood, 7 feet high reaching the top of the young coconuts and bananas.
1823 - During this year an order came from higher authority that the governadorcillos shall be called constitutional alcaldes there were two in every town every year these was the first and second alcalde. These governed the town helped by other officials called regidores or ministers.
1825 - The governadorcillos were gained resume.
1835 - During this year there was a strong typhoon which they called "Oguis".
1857 - During this year there was a scarcity of palay because of the long drought. The natives in and out of the poblacion lived on roots.
1863 - The practice of ruling by the office of the governadorcillos was for two years.
1871 - On the 7th of December the Parish Church was burned due to the carelessness of the caretakers. The fire was started in the scarcity and burned down all the houses in the Sto. Niño St. in the southern part of the town.
1875 - The town was occupied by the 5th and 6th Infantry, the 5th commanded by Seña Osis and the 6th by Marcelino Oru-a.
1880 - Guillermo Ricaforte assumed office after accusing the incumbent to the court of the first instance of Capiz and during the election Dalmacio Ricaforte was again installed.
1881 - During this year the Guardia Civil arrived headed by the chief Forestal.
1883 - Braulio Lachica died at T.B. and his teniente was appointed governadorcillos.
1887 - During this year Señor Torres died and Francisco Ricaforte succeeded him. There was an election during this year and Catalino Macahilig was elected by majority.
1888 - During this year the church was constructed and the old cemetery with the chapel was destroyed by the storm with all its walls.
1889 - During this year all burials were transferred to the new cemetery.
1890 - During this year all the 58 groups of cabezas de Barangay was reorganized to only 38 cabezas.
1892 - During this year the commission (?) headed by Ignacio Recio, by order of the governor, to confiscate all the properties of the cabezas who were without personal cedulas.
1893 - Pedro Cerrudo committed suicide.
1895 - A reform was introduced that the governadorcillo be called Capitan Municipal and was good four years.
1896 - During this year the revels arrived commanded by Rafael Maraingan in the same year the work on the Parish Church was stopped.
1897 - During this year the rebels stayed overnight in town, commanded by Francisco Castillo and left an March 19 for Kalibo.
1898 - During this year the cazadores (government force) arrived hunting the rebels, who fled to the hills of Nag-utad and in the town, volunteers were recruited healed by Alejandro Isturis, Ambrosio Pastrana and Luis Masangya, to defend the Poblacion. During this year Juan Alba resigned due to differences between the Spanish authorities and the Philippines Government and was succeeded by Catalino Macahilig elected by majority for the remaining months.
[edit] Barangays
Banga is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.
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[edit] External links
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
- Aklan State University
- Angelfire
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