La Libertad, Negros Oriental
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La Libertad is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 35,122 people in 7,024 households.
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[edit] Municipal Officials
[edit] BarangaysLa Libertad is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. BTIVJ d
[edit] History"The history of a nation is often interwoven with persons who in one way or another have been instrumental in its progress-political, educational, economic,social and to some extnt religious. Such is the history of a small barrio turned into a beautiful town. This is a brief history of La Libertad, a town 105 kilometers north of Dumaguete City." "Hugging closely the coasts of Tanon Strait, and nesting cozily in the wide and fertile valley swept by the Hinoba-an River lines, La liBertad against a backdrop of a sylvan scenery. It bears a Castillan name which connotes "freedom" and whose yesteryears are filled with tender memories." "Barrio Hinoba-an During the Spanish Regime. The place was then inhabited by the primitive tribes who were mostly Negritos. Several enterprising families from neighboring towns and distant provinces came to settle in this barrio. Among the first pioneers was a certain Pedro Absin. He came from the distant province of Camarines Sur with the Spanish friars, who spread the Christian religion to this part of Negros. He married a lovely lass who later was baptized as Mauricia. This was the beginning of the large and progressive Francisco Acar Absin clan." "The other families were the Facturans from Jimalalud, the Carinals from Tayasan, and the de Paduas form Ilo-ilo. These people were the leading pioneer families of the "old" Hinoba-an. Most of them were engaged in farming and fishing." "The fertile valleys of Hinoba-an were so enticing that several families immigrated to this barrio in the later part of the Spanish period. One of the prominent families that moved in was the Libo-on family. The head of this family was an Ilonggo. However, he did not come directly to Hinoba-an. A certain Maestro Tomas Libo-on of Miag-ao, Iloilo, arrived at the barrio of Jimalalud where he was employed as a private tutor by some families. He was a widower when he came but he brought with him his only son, Luciano, and a niece, Romana Libo-on. They lived in the barrio for several years. Later, Luciano was married to Bernabela Facturan, a native of the place. However, they were attracted by the richness of the soil of the neighboring barrio of Hinoba-an. They bought a pave of land at the mouth of the Hinoba-an River and built their first house there. "Another family worthy of mention is the Banogon family. The head of this clan was Pio Banogon. Born on May 5, 1876 in Tanjay, another town of this province, Pio grew to be a promising young man. After he finished grade school, his parents sent him to Manila to study at San Juan de Letran for two years. When he returned home, he was so moved by his adventurous spirit that he decided to go northward. In 1896, he arrived at Jimalalud. It was in this barrio where he found his life's mate, one Petra Sevilla, a scion of the Facturans of Jimalalud. Like the others, the Banogons were also magnetized by the richness of the farmland of Hinoba-an. They bought some parcels of land at Canlaro in the barrio of San Jose and at Binatangan in Martilo." "The other prominent families that moved to Hinoba-an were the Dionaldos from Moalboal, Cebu; the Somozas from Bais; the Emperados from Ayungon; and the Villaesters from Toledo, Cebu." (lifted from "Souvenir Program 50th Anniversary of the creation of La Libertad as a Municipality of Negros Oriental, Dec 30, 31, 1968; Jan 1, 1969) [edit] How it got its nameFor then it was a typical barrio, named Hinoba-an—from the vernacular meaning an opening of a river—under the political jurisdiction of the municipality of Tayasan. Like any other barrio, it was administered by Francisco Absin, a Teniente del Barrio. To maintain peace and order, one Luciano Libo-on was designated as Chief of a Corps of Volunteers. The fumes of the revolution permeated Hinoba-an. A certain Dionisio Papa organized a group of dissidents with hide-outs at the mountain fastnesses of the barrio. Some of his trusted men were Feliz Betonga and his two sons, Cesario and Victor. This bunch of renegades too advantage of the fear which gripped the people over the involvement in the national struggle. Those dissidents swooped down at Hinoba-an to pillage. They grouped themselves near the Barrio Hall which was situated in the place where Aniano Absin's house now stands (1969). Teniente Francisco Absin called his trusted men like Alfonso Facturan, Luciano Libo-on, Alejandro de Padua, Mateo Carinal and others. The last to come was Luciano Libo-on. While crossing the bridge from North Poblacion on his favorite white horse, he saw the dissidents already assembled. Libo-on drove them away single-handedly with his tooting gun. The fame of Libo-on's bravery in defending the barrio sounded through the length and breadth of the barrio and travelled far and wide in the neighboring places. He was then enshrined in the hearts of the grateful barrio folks as their staunch defender. Prominent men like Pio Banogon suggested the words La Libertad as a fitting change of the name of the barrio to keep them and their posterity reminded of the freedom attained by the leader of the defenders of their lives and their property from the dissidents. In a nutshell, the initial "LL" have two meanings: La Libertad (in English "The Liberty") of the depender Luciano Libo-on. This was how Hinoba-an got its present name La Libertad, the place of the free, although it was still a barrio of Tayasan then. LA LIBERTAD IN RETROSPECT. Following President Woodrow Wilson's liberal policy, new towns were formed. Pio Banogon, together with the Manabas, Vidals, Facturans, and several others from Jimalalud requested the Civil Government of Manila tohave Jimalalud separated from Tayasan as a town. Sometime between 1908 and 1912, Jimalalud, also a barrio of Tayasan was officially organized into a municipality. Pio Banogon was appointed Presidente Municipal of the young town. After a while, Pio with his family, left Jimalaludand moved to La Libertad. His brother-in-law , Francisco Sevilla, succeeded him as Presidente of the municipality of Jimalalud. The formation of Jimalalud into a municipality sparked the emotions and desire of the people of La Libertad to move as one into action in requesting the proper authorities to convert their barrio into a municipality. Sensing that such a move would affect the income of the new municipality of Jimalalud, Franciso Sevilla, the Acting Presidente Municipal Pio Banogon, together with the other leaders of La Libertad were allowed to proceed with their request for separation. A committee was organized and Pio Banogon was chosen as Chairman with Francisco Absin , Isaac Dionaldo, and Luciano Libo-on as members. They sent petitions to the Provincial Governor, Honorable Enrique Villanueva, his Secretary, Don Demetrio Larena, and the Secretary of Interior, Honorable Enage. Sensing the ardor and sincerity of the desire of the people of La Libertad, the GOvernor General, through Secretary Enage, advised Governor Villanueva that La Libertad was to be made into a town. Concurrently, the Provincial Board of Negros Oriental on July 11, 1916, passed Resolution No. 368 quoted hereunder:
RESOLUTION NO. 368
(lifted from "Souvenir Program 50th Anniversary of the creation of La Libertad as a Municipality of Negros Oriental, Dec 30, 31, 1968; Jan 1, 1969) and the Gallarde from Cebu. [edit] TourismThe construction of swimming pool at La Limar had already been completed and it is now operational. Presently La Limar is now catering seminars, wedding, family reunion and other services which is being handled by the Local Government. Our Local Government is now actively participating in the promotion of local tourism and we are showcasing our La Li Mar beach Resort located at San Jose, La Libertad. The project was initiated by Congresswoman Jocelyn S. Limkaichong was also the former mayor of the town. Coordinates: 10°1′N 123°14′E / 10.017°N 123.233°E [edit] Chronology of Elective Officials
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