| ANTIQUE TOWNS: SEBASTE |
| MUNICIPALITY OF SEBASTE (Reprinted from the Binirayan 2000 Souvenir Magazine) HISTORY IN CAPSULE Like
every
beginning, the birth of Sebaste as a Municipality was not without labor pains.
In various trying moments, Sebaste as last barrio to the south of its mother
town, Pandan, had to wade through the “sling and arrow” of politics. But the
determined will of the people withstood the litmus test. Doubtless
the creation of the Municipality of Sebaste in 1964 marked the triumph of
Sebastehanons in their quest to be free-to chart the course of their town’s
destiny and the future of their children. For it was on September 26, 1964 by
virtue of Executive Order 99 issued by President Diosdado Macapagal when the
Municipality of Sebaste was created. This was taken as the fruit of a dedication
and sacrifice, perseverance and wisdom of elders, like Valentine Lomugdang,
Perfecto and Honorato delos Reyes, Dionesio Peralta, Domingo Antonio and Juan
dela Cruz who did all the paper work, sustained by Manila-based Sebastehanons
like Benito Galido who later became the first appointed Mayor of Sebaste, Pablo
Azucena, Anacleto Vallehermosa, Isabelo Dionela and Salvador delos Reyes, to
mention a few. The
existence of the municipality, however, was short-lived. Barely had it started the
difficult process of organizing, when in 1965, with the changed of
Administration, Executive Order 99 was nullified. This put to a test the
determined will of Sebastehanons to regain the lost status. Thus, finally,
relentless efforts of following up, lobbying and representations with
Congressman Jose Fornier, Sebaste became a full pledge Municipality by virtue of
the law in 1966. To Sebastehanons, however the existence of Sebaste started in
1964. It is now on its thirtieth year. Sebaste
is a sixth-class municipality deriving most of its income from fishery and
agriculture. The incomes of these families are augmented by income derived from
small backyard venture like duck raising, piggery, poultry, and vegetable
raising. Most of the families, however, are sustained from support of their
children who are now working and residing abroad like Austria, Germany,
Switzerland, and London. Like
all other small municipalities, its development is limited. It, however, counts
as its many small achievements, the establishments of St. Blaise High School,
with Fr. Eugenio Daberto as the founder (who also was instrumental in getting
employment for Filipino women abroad) the establishment of Sebaste Rural Bank, a
public market, the newly renovated Town Hall, a municipal health center, a
slaughterhouse, a beautiful plaza known as Fr. Eugenio Daberto Memorial Park at
the Poblacion. This plaza was recently turned over to the foundation based in
Austria known as Fr. Eugenio Daberto Memorial Foundation (EDABEM). On its
present state, it boasts of a distinctively unique design. Given
top priority for sourcing of funds are concreting of all the streets in the
Poblacion, the development of Igpasungaw resort as a tourist spot, spring
development in the barangays, strengthening of cooperatives throughout the
municipality, sustenance of livelihood projects, strengthening of Non-government
Agencies (NGA), Non-government Organizations (NGOs), and People’s
Organizations (POs), and TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF SEBASTE Sebaste
is located in Northern Antique, about 109 kilometers from San Jose, provincial
capital, about 206 kilometers from Iloilo City, and some 69 kilometers from
Kalibo, Aklan to the north. It is bounded on the North by Pandan; on the south
by Culasi; on the west by Cuyo East Pass and on the east by the mountain ranges
of northwestern Panay. It has a land area of 76, 652 hectares, about 4% of the
total land area of the province. Of this, 9237 has.or 91% is lowland. It has a
total length of about 18 kms. Stretching from the southernmost barangay (Aguila)
to the northernmost barangay of Callan. The length of the coastline is about 20
km. There
are ten barangays: Callan, Idio, Nauhon, Poblacion, Abiera, Bacalan, Alegre,
Aras-asan, P. Javier, and Aguila. Like all municipalities, Sebaste has a pleasant weather pattern. It has two distinct seasons, the wet and dry. The dry season generally starts in December and ends in May. The rains come in June and ends in November. Other Links: Sebaste - Original Sebaste, Antique website
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