| ANTIQUE TOWNS: PATNONGON |
| MUNICIPALITY OF PATNONGON (Reprinted from the Binirayan 2000 Souvenir Magazine) Patnońgon grew out of the various settlements, which merged and fused into one, long before the arrival of the Spaniards. Its early settlers were the Maghats and the first settlement was in Catuayan. These settlers were a little bit cultured than the Aetas. They found Catuayan an ideal place to settle because food and building materials were readily available. The sea, rivers and plains were good sources of food. The swamps provided roofing materials. Aslom, which was a few yards away, was a good source of drinking water. Myth had it that vast treasures were buried in this place but were guarded by evil spirits. Catuayan was strategically located since the Spaniards usually dock at this place. The Maghats, however, killed the crew of the Spanish boat that anchored in Catuayan. Moro
(Muslim pirates) predatory raids caused some settlers to move inland.
Settlements were established
as far East in places at the foot of the Magpungay Mountain. Other later
settlements were found in Catmon, Caritan, Badiangan, Baye, and Panacawon, a
sitio of Tamayoc. Catmon became the religious center of religion, which
included the early settlements in Patnongon. The
natives then
had their
supreme god “Bulalacao”and
Bańgotbanwa for their high priest. They had
their own government and court. Though their laws were harsh and cruel, justice was meted
out
justly and impartially. After
the Spaniards had gained firmer and greater foothold in this place, visitas
were established. The aim of the establishment of this visitas was to form a
government with a set of rules and regulations. Domingo Diano was
appointed as the first lieutenant, whose powers were the same and as absolute
as those of the “Capitanes” and
the “Gobernadorcillos”. Formerly,
the town of Belison was part of Patnongon. However during the term of Mayor
Juan Estańol on March 10, 1961 through Executive Order No. 421, Belison and
the outlying barrios became a separate entity. It
should be noted that the sitio of Belison was founded in 1810 during the term
of Gobernadorcilbo Francisco Roque. In 1921, during the term of Fernando
Cabiling, the sitio of Carit-an was established. In
1762, the first gobernadorcillo was appointed. This made Patnongon a separate
entity from that of Bugasong. The first gobernadorcillo was Don Pedro Tucoy.
On January 15, 1873, the first Spanish priest, Padre lgnacio Clemente Panganiban, came
to Patnongon. Six years later, during the term of Maximo Elio in 1879, the stone
church was finished. It was also in this year when the municipal building was
constructed. This was finished in 1895. During the Japanese occupation, this
was razed and destroyed by fire. A new municipal building was constructed to
replace the destroyed one. The
construction of the stone bridge spanning Patnongon River was one of the
accomplishments in the administration of Ramon Manzanilla in 1887. On August
30,1896, the first mass was said by Padre Legend
of Patnońgon
was named after “ongon” or torn Legend
says that one early morning, numerous Moro Vintas (sailboats) were seen
approaching from the horizons. Moro pirates came to plunder the villages and
sacked the same for food, gold and treasures. The villagers
saw an old man, bearded and with flowing rove and a wand in his hands, walking
on the beach. The presence of this old man chilled the hearts of the Moros
for they were not able to dock. They moved back instead. The
inhabitants came to believe this old man was St. Augustine, then the patron
saint of Sibalom. Thus Sta. Rita de Acacia became
the patron saint of Sibalom and St. Augustine, the patron saint of Patnongon. From
the state when
people were driven to idolatry and superstition to the present stage under the
new
Society, the history of Patnońgon is a glowing page on the inclined yardstick
of progress in spite of the setbacks and the consequences brought about by the
Philippine Revolution, the Spanish American War and the Pacific War (World War
II). The
municipality is little by little moving progressively through the able, sound
and commendable leadership of the local officials and cooperation from
fine people of the town. Geographical
Location: Patnońgon is
one of the eight municipalities situated in the central part of the
province of Antique. The municipality of Bugasong, on the northeast, bounded on
the north by Valderrama, on the southeast by San Remigio, on the south by the
municipality of Belison and on the west by Cuyo East The
town proper or Poblacion, Patnongon is exactly 25.00 kms. away from the
municipality of San Jose de Buenavista the capital town of the province of
Antique and 122 kms. away form the city of Iloilo. The
total land area of Patnongon is more or less 1 6,347.41 hectares. The
terrain of Patnongon is a diverse slope category. It is generally the coastal
plain becoming steeper going inland. The ruggedness of the interior parts is
attributed to the steep slopes of the area. Based on the Map prepared by the
Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey (BCGS), 64.08% of the total area of
Patnongon is considered upland or having a slope of more than 8%. There are 22
upland barangays, 4 lowland and 10 coastal barangay spread along an estimated
length of 15.90 km. coastline. The dominant slope categories are 0-3% and
8-18%. More than 75% of the town’s total area fall within these three slope
categories.
|
| NO
OTHER KNOWN WEB SITE LINKS. |
|
|