Santa Barbara, Iloilo: Difference between revisions
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Upon the establishment of the civil government, Martin Delgado was appointed as the first provincial Governor of Iloilo and was elected to the same position in the first elections held in 1903. Santa Barbara became a town under American regime and was incorporated into a municipality by the Commonwealth Government. The town began to progress. |
Upon the establishment of the civil government, Martin Delgado was appointed as the first provincial Governor of Iloilo and was elected to the same position in the first elections held in 1903. Santa Barbara became a town under American regime and was incorporated into a municipality by the Commonwealth Government. The town began to progress. |
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In 1948, barangay Tuburan-Solbud was transferred to [[Zarraga, Iloilo|Zarraga]], [[Iloilo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawph.com/statutes/ra221.html|title=An act to transfer the barrio of Tuburan-Solbud from the municipality of Santa Barbara to the municipality of Zarraga, both of the province of Iloilo|publisher=LawPH.com|date=|accessdate=2011-04-08}}</ref> |
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==Town Features== |
==Town Features== |
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Revision as of 10:49, 8 April 2011
Santa Barbara | |
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 Map of Iloilo showing the location of Santa Barbara | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Region | Western Visayas (Region VI) |
| Province | Iloilo |
| District | Second District of Iloilo |
| Barangays | 60 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dennis S. Superficial, M.D. |
| • Vice-Mayor | Rema Somo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 131.96 km2 (50.95 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 56,822 |
| • Density | 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| Income class | 3rd class |
| Website | http://www.santabarbara.gov.ph |
Santa Barbara is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 46,076 people in 8,821 households. It is strategically located at the centremost of the province. It is 15.7 kilometers away from the City of Iloilo.
Santa Barbara is also a part of the new Iloilo International Airport complex designed to serve Iloilo City and the rest of the province, where it hosts the airport entrance and access roads.
Municipal History
Santa Barbara covers four centuries. The Agustinian Archives, Vol. 17-18, which record the documents on the missionary achievements of the Agustinian missionaries, bares the historical note that as early as 1617, the missionaries attended to the spiritual ministration of a community or “pueblo” then known as Catmon. The name was derived from a fruit-bearing tree which served as an imposing landmark in the vicinity. The place was a rich and fertile plain traversed by the Salug, now Tigum and Aganan Rivers, producing rice, corn, sugar, mongo and tobacco. During that time Catmon was only a “Visita Catmon” of Jaro vicariate. Lately, in 1760, Catmon was canonically established as an independent parish, whose patroness was Santa Barbara and the settlement which was constituted into a “pueblo”was name after her. Its total population at the time wwas 15,094. In 1845, its inhabitants reached a total of 19,719 and it covered area which are now the Municipalities of Zarraga, New Lucena and a part of Leganes and Pavia.
When the Revolution broke out in Luzon in 1896, it did not spread immediately to Iloilo. The Spanish authorities thought that they could keep the Ilonggos loyal to Spain. Governador – General Basilio Agustin organized the Volunteer Militia in Iloilo to enlist Ilonggos to fight the Tagalog rebels. Being a “mestizo” and having occupied the highest office in his town, Martin T. Delgado was appointed commander of the “voluntaries” in Santa Barbara. He and his men were given firearms.
Unknown to the Spaniards, however, Delgado had already become a “revolucionario”. On October 28, 1898 he publicly declared himself for the Revolution and took the municipal building. The Revolutionary Government of the Visayas was organized and on November 17, 1898, was formally inaugurated at the town plaza of Santa Barbara. A large crowd of people gathered from many place in Iloilo for the historic occasion. The Philippine flag was raised for the first time outside in Luzon. The Revolutionary Government Officials were inducted into office and presented to the people who loudly hailed them.
The officials of the Revolutionary Government were Roque Lopez, president; Vicente Franco, vice president and secretary of the interior; Venancio Concepcion, secretary of finance; Ramon Avanceňa, secretary of state; Jovito Yusay, secretary of justice; Julio Hernandez, secretary of war; Fernando Salas, secretary general. General Martin T. Delgado was chosen General –in-Chief of the Revolutionary Forces.
Santa Barbara became the base of the Revolutionary Forces and from Gen. Delgado launched the campaign to liberate the whole province which culminated in the surrender of Iloilo City by Governor-General de los Rios on December 24, 1898.
The victory against Spain was short-lived for the Filipino – American War followed. Gen. Delgado led the same army against Americans from 1899 to 1901. Because of the superiority of the enemy, Delgado was forced to surrender on February 2, 1901.
Upon the establishment of the civil government, Martin Delgado was appointed as the first provincial Governor of Iloilo and was elected to the same position in the first elections held in 1903. Santa Barbara became a town under American regime and was incorporated into a municipality by the Commonwealth Government. The town began to progress.
In 1948, barangay Tuburan-Solbud was transferred to Zarraga, Iloilo.[1]
Town Features
Land Area
It has a land area of 13,196 hectares, ranks 29th as to size among the 43 municipalities of the province and occupies 1.5% of all lands in the Province of Iloilo. of the country and 62.5% of the province is under constant cultivation, almost 100% of Santa Barbara’s land is cultivated and alienable or disposable.
Land Use
Basically, Santa Barbara is an agricultural town with 84.751 % or 6,568.193 has. that is primarily devoted to farming. The rolling hills that are unsuitable to farming are utilized as pasture and open grassland with a total of 155.994 has. or 2.013 %. The built-up areas within the poblacion as the nucleus and the barangay areas, total 678.982 or 8.761 %. Also included in this category are the areas utilized for commercial, institutional purposes, parks and open space. Agro-industrial area is 101.928 has. or 1.315 %, industrial area is .069 % or 5.330 has., utilities or roads comprise 150.853 has. or 1.946 % . The area for the cemeteries is 4.720 has. or .061 % and bodies of water is 1.084 % or 84 hectares.
Topography
The topography of Santa Barbara varies from slightly rolling hills to almost flat or gradually inclined plains, sliced by Tigum River at its centremost, which flows from the northwest to the southeast and the Aganan River in the southern section.
Climate
There is a distinct climate in this municipality, which is deal for planting of multiple crops. It has a type “C” (moist ) rain sufficiently distributed with almost 4 ½ dry months or first –type climate with two distinct seasons of six months.
The average annual rainfall is 137.4725 mm. The average temperature is 27.9 °C. This municipality is not within the country’s typhoon belt although tropical storms and occasional typhoons pass thru it.
Road Network
The road network is 159.602 km, 117.20 km. Of which are barangay roads, 25.49 km provincial roads, 9.062 km municipal streets and 7.85 km national highways.
The by-pass road located at Barangay Duyan-Duyan serves as the entrance to the new airport of International Standard. This road measures 1.7 kilometers in length and 40 meters in width and classified as national road.
In July 2007, the New Iloilo Airport was opened to the public. As a result, access to air transportation has significantly improved. Before, the plying of taxis in the Municipality is an uncommon sight to most Sta. Barbaranhon’s but with the construction and operation of the New Iloilo Airport in the Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area, the passing of taxis and multi-cabs has been a usual sight in the Municipality.
Waste Management
In the Province of Iloilo, the Municipality of Santa Barbara is the first to create its Municipal Solid Waste Management Board in compliance with Republic Act 9003 and is also the first to formulate an Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan.
Of the 33 towns in Category B, the Municipality of Santa Barbara ranked 3rd in the Clean and Green Contest in the year 2000 evaluation. To address this, the Municipal Government formulated and implemented its Ecological Solid Waste Management Program.
Tourist attractions
Roman Catholic Church and Convent
One of the better restored and preserved churches in the province, Santa Barbara Church is an excellent example of the Filipino baroque colonial architecture. It is a neoclassical church where General Martin T. Delgado of the Visayan Revolutionary Government convened the junta that raised the first of cry revolution against Spain in Iloilo.
Cry of Santa Barbara Church
This lies in the same site where the Filipino Flag was first raised outside Luzon. The event is now popularity known as Cry of Santa Barbara, one which recognizes the heroism and bravery of General Martin T. Delgado and his Liberating Army. This marker is the anchor of the Town's important role in the Philippine History.
Roman Catholic Cemetery
One of the oldest landmarks in the town. Its facade bears the mark of the Spanish influence in the country and considered as one of the strongest structure in the town. It was constructed in 1845.
Catmon Tree
A tree with thick, green foliage and distinctly big, white flowers, this is where the town was first named after. Standing alone at the front, left side of the Municipal Hall Building, the Catmon Tree is the only one of its kind that can be found in the town now.
Flagpole
In front of the Municipal Hall building, stood a 120-feet flagpole amidst a well manicured mini-park. This was constructed in time with the 1998 Philippine Centennial Celebration and it flies the biggest Philippine Flag outside Luzon. This flag is one of the only five giant flags in the country.
General Martin Delgado Monument
A bronze statue, facing the Municipal Hall Building in the northwestern entrance of the "Victory Plaza". The monument is a tribute to the town's most distinguished son and the greatest revolutionary hero Visayas has ever produced, Gen. Martin T. Delgado. The statue which was unveiled in time with the 1998 Centennial Celebration is an unfading memorial of the gallantry and patriotism of Gen. Delgado and his revolutionary forces.
Iloilo Golf and Country Club
Carved on a 35 hectares of plain and rolling hills, the 18-hole golf course in Brgy. San Sebastian claims an undisputed pre-eminence in golfing history. Asia's largest golfing publication "Golf Digest" called Santa Barbara Golf Course as the oldest course in the Philippines and one of the oldest courses in Asia. Built in 1907 by a group of British and Scottish expatriates working on the Panay Railway System, it distinguishes itself from other clubs as not only a place for recreation historical landmark as well.
Centennial Museum and Convention Center
Constructed in 1998 as part of the Centennial Freedom Trail Site Project of the Philippine Centennial Commission, the museum houses antiques, artifacts and photos which tells the story of Santa Barbara's proud historical heritage.
Santa Barbara Irrigation Dam
Constructed in 1926, the irrigation dam is the first gravity irrigation system in the Visayas that has revolutionized farming. This is the oldest irrigation system in the country.
Victory Plaza
Nestled in the heart of the town and landscaped in time for the 1998 Philippine Centennial, its is considered as a favorite hang-out of young and old especially during afternoons and early evenings. It has two main historical features which include the Bandstand and the Rizal Monument. The Bandstand, an octagonal-shaped structure was constructed in 1925 and since then served as venue to various political gatherings and other social activities. Another prominent structure with historical value in the plaza is the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal and the Propagandist.
Kahilwayan Festival
The Cry of Santa Barbara fueled the revolution in Visayas and Mindanao. Philippine history would have not been complete without the Ilonggos' display of bravery and heroism in defiance against Spanish oppressors. So important was the role of this uprising in Philippine history that Santa Barbara was the only municipality outside Luzon that was declared as a National Trunk Site on the Centennial Freedom Trail during the Philippine Centennial Celebration in 1998.
On its 103rd celebration last 2001, the Municipal Tourism Council proposed an innovation in the telling of "Cry"history-one which will catch the attention not only of local folks but that of foreign tourists, as well Thus, Kahilwayan Festival was launched in public during the 2001 "Cry" celebration. Kahilwayan is an Ilonggo term which means freedom or liberty , or independence and Kahilwayan Festival is a cultural festival in a dance-drama form which showcased the events that led to the historic uprising of the Ilonggos against Spain leading to its ultimate victory and freedom now known as the Cry of Santa Barbara. Hundreds of students from different contesting groups parade all over the town in colorful period costumes ( e.g. rayadillo, saya, kimona and camisa chino) and revel in street dancing cum street theater to the tune of Marcha Libertador ( composed by Posidio Delgado, brother of Gen. Martin T. Delgado, is was the official march of the Ejercito Libertador). The highlight, however, is the dance-drama presentation depicting the events that led to the first "Cry of Santa Barbara".
Three major events are given emphasis in the storyline of the Kahilwayan Festival, first the bringing of saber and flag to Santa Barbara by Lt. Honorio Solinap and Tia Patron Gamboa; second is the use of Marcha Libertador as background music and the third is the hoisting of the Philippine Flag. All these shall be witnessed in the course of every contesting group's performance.
Amidst the hundreds of festivals all over the country today, Kahilwayan Festival may be considered as just one of the many. But what sets Kahilwayan Festival apart from them is its originality and uniqueness. This is the only festival all over the country, which resolves, in one, single storyline the " Cry of Santa Barbara ". It is unique for it strictly requires the contesting groups to dress-up their dancers in period costumes only. It is not only about dancing or drama but a celebration of life itself, it is about bringing back history and reintroduce them to the younger generation in manner that they can understand, they can relate, they can appreciate and enjoy. It is about looking back and giving honor to the people who fought and die for freedom that we are enjoying today.
Barangays
Santa Barbara is politically subdivided into 60 barangays.
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Radio & Television Station
- 103.9 Hot FM
External links
- Santa Barbara, Iloilo
- New Iloilo Airport Project (IloiloAirport.com)
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
 Province of Iloilo | |
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Iloilo City (capital and largest city) | |
| Municipalities |
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| Component city | |
| Highly urbanized city |
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