Santa Barbara, Iloilo

Santa Barbara
Municipality
Municipality of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent
Nickname(s): Heritage center of Western Visayas
Map of Iloilo with Santa Barbara highlighted
Santa Barbara Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°50′N 122°32′E / 10.83°N 122.53°E / 10.83; 122.53Coordinates: 10°50′N 122°32′E / 10.83°N 122.53°E / 10.83; 122.53
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas (Region VI)
Province	Iloilo
District	2nd district of Iloilo
Barangays	60 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Dennis S. Superficial
• Vice Mayor	Rema B. Somo
• Electorate	34,842 voters (2016)
Area [2]
• Total	131.96 km2 (50.95 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	60,215
• Density	460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5002
PSGC	063043000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Climate type	Tropical climate
Income class	2nd class
Revenue (₱)	148,077,052.95 (2016)
Native languages	Kinaray-a language Hiligaynon Ati Tagalog
Website	www.geocities.com/santa_barbara_iloilo/

Santa Barbara, officially the Municipality of Santa Barbara, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 60,215 people.^[3]

Geography

Santa Barbara has a land area of 13,196 hectares (32,610 acres), ranks 29th as to size among the 42 municipalities of the province and occupies 1.5% of all lands in the Province of Iloilo. Almost 100% of Santa Barbara’s land is cultivated and alienable or disposable.^[4] It is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Iloilo City.

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 north-west to the southeast and the Aganan River in the southern section.

History

The Agustinian Archives, Vol. 17-18, which recorded the missionary achievements of the Agustinian missionaries, mentions that in 1617 the missionaries ministered a community then known as Catmon, a name derived from a fruit tree which was an imposing landmark, which sat on a rich and fertile plain traversed by the Salug (now Tigum) and Aganan rivers, producing rice, corn, sugar, mongo and tobacco. Then Catmon was only a “Visita Catmon” of Jaro vicariate.

In 1760, Catmon was established as an independent parish, whose patron saint was Santa Barbara and the settlement became a “pueblo” named after her. Its total population at the time was 15,094.

In 1845, its population was 19,719 and it covered an area which are now the Municipalities of Maasin, Janiuay, Cabatuan, Alimodian, San Miguel, Zarraga, New Lucena and parts of Leganes and Pavia.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out on 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 Teofilo Delgado was appointed commander of the “voluntaries” in Santa Barbara.

Unknown to the Spaniards, however, Delgado had already become a “revolucionario”. On October 28, 1898 he publicly declared himself for the Revolution and seized 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 hailing from many places across Iloilo gathered for the historic occasion. The Philippine flag was raised for the first time outside of Luzon.

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 headquarters of the Revolutionary Forces and from here, 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 as the Philippine–American War followed. Gen. Delgado led the same army against Americans from 1899 to 1901. 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 soon began to progress.

In 1948, Barangay Tuburan-Solbud was transferred to Zarraga, Iloilo.^[5]

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Santa Barbara, Iloilo, was 60,215 people,^[3] with a density of 460 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,200 inhabitants per square mile.

Majority of the people or about 73.25% of the population are Kinaray-a speaking, a dialect that originated in the province of Antique. The remaining population speaks in Hiligaynon, Filipino, and English.

Transportation

The total road network is 159.60 kilometres (99.17 mi); 117.20 kilometres (72.82 mi) of which are barangay roads, 25.49 kilometres (15.84 mi) provincial roads, 9.06 kilometres (5.63 mi) municipal streets and 7.85 kilometres (4.88 mi) national highways.

In July 2007, the new Iloilo International Airport, located in Cabatuan and Santa Barbara, Iloilo 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 the town started progressing economically more and more every year.

Landmarks

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. The church was dedicated to the towns patron saint, Santa Barbara last December 3, 2015. It was also declared as a National Historical Landmark in 1991, National Museum in 2015, and Philippine National Treasure also in 2015 because of the importance of the church and convent in the history of the Philippines.

Cry of Santa Barbara Marker

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.

Santa Barbara Plaza Victory plaza

Nestled in the heart of the town and landscaped in time for the 1998 Philippine Centennial, this 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.

The Santa Barbara plaza is one of the finest, and most beautiful plazas in the Philippines. It is also where the Seat of the Republic of the Visayas was declared in November 17, 1898, headed by president Roque Lopez. The plaza was also the site where the first Philippine flag was raised outside Luzon in December 25, 1898 followed by the plaza libertad in Metro Iloilo also in the same date. The plaza was also declared as a Historical Landmark in 2015.

General Martin Delgado Monument

A bronze statue, facing the Municipal Hall Building in the north-western 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 Railways system, it distinguishes itself from other clubs as not only a place for recreation but a 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.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

• Santa Barbara, Iloilo
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System