Janiuay, Iloilo

Janiuay is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 54,166 people in 10,322 households.

The municipality is located 33 kilometers north-west of Iloilo City. It was created in 1769.

History

In the summer of 1578, the natives of Tala-ugis trudged up from the coast to establish a settlement northward in the interior along Suage River. The first settlers were led by families of Gamuk, Hutikon, Uganet and Pagdakton, who settled themselves in what is currently known as barangays Matag-ub, Danao, Yabon and Quipot.

More than a century later, Spaniards came along these parts of Panay.

Early in 1738, Datu Buhawi of Yabon recognized the Spanish government, thus subjugating himself and his barangay to Spanish rule. But, Datu Dumagtol of nearby Ubian refused to follow suit. He led his subjects to the mountains to resist against the Spanish colonizers.

The Spanish governor Francisco Bayot de Ocampo recommended to the Principalía to transfer the seat of government, and in the following year (1770), the settlements were strengthened in their administration in what they called "Janiuay".

There are two legends of how the place got its name. One is that it came from the ruling Datu's sons named "Han" and "Oway". Another is that the words "hani" (whisper) and "oway" (rattan) were combined.

Janiuay

Janiuay pride itself of two heritage infrastructure dating back from 1760.

The Janiuay Catholic Church was built of sandstone, lime stone and layered bricks and was completed in February 1770. Its belfry used to carry three magnificent bells, the largest weighing close to a ton. WWII damaged the belfry and the bells were lowered to ground after the war. The largest bell crashed down during the relocation and suffered a crack 18 inches in length from its lip upwards. When sounded it gives a distinct baritonic rattling sound that can be heard for miles. It is now mounted in the new church's bellfry built in the late 60s.

Another heritage infrastructure is the Janiuay Cemetery. It was built much later in 1870 and is also walled with ancient sandstone and bricks brought from distant locale some 30 km away in what is now known as the town of Dingle. Spanish Fr. Llorente directed the construction of this cemetery in the Gothic design of his time. The Janiuay town cemetery is located a kilometer east of Janiuay Catholic Church.

Janiuay is also home to several heritage mini sugar mills owned by landed Spanish mestizos and Swiss descent. These mini sugar mills have seen their own time and once produces brown sugar. Wrought steel rotary crushers driven by water buffaloes or carabaos extract sugar from canes and cooked in large vat until brown and solid.

Two rivers coming from the north-west cuts in parallel through Janiuay. One is the Suage River and the other is the Magapa River which provide natural irrigation supporting the mainly agricultural town of Janiuay. The Suage river bridge was once witness to fierce fighting between Japanese and Filipino-Americans. The Magapa river bridge was built after WWII.

WVA Post Note:A strong typhoon followed by heavy rain this June 2008 caused Suage river to overflow damaging river bank communities and infrastructures. The flooding caused the river to be re-drawn and enroached the river banks by about 200 meters from its original. Suage bridge remains structuraly sound despite the flooding and enroachment.

Use this link for more details http://www.fallingrain.com/world/RP/30/Janiuay.html

Agriculture

Rice, corn, sugar, copra, coffee, banana, abaca fiber, fowls (and gamefowls), goat and cattle raising are main livelihood. Commerce for these products are generally brought into the town proper for market. The rainfall generally dictate the commerce of these products as the river go dry in summer months.

Most of these are coming from the west, north-west and south-west of the town.

Transportation & Telecommunications

Janiuay can be accessed from all directions with good paved concrete and asphalt road infrastructures from the east, north and south. Mode of transport can either be jeepneys, motorcycles fitted with cabs for 2-5 persons locally known as tricycles for inter barrangay transport. Intertowns are plied by buses, jeepneys and private vans. Within the town, "trysikad" - a bicycle fitted with a cab for 2 people are commonly available.

Communication is generally available with nationwide carriers Globelines and Smart competing with local and ageing analog Pantelco.

Electricity is sourced from electric coorperative Ileco II supplying 75% of the town proper and about 25% of the neighboring barangays.

Other Markers

Janiuay Old Prison and Town Hall - Post Hispanic infrastructure with 24 inch thick walls and wrought iron bars.

Janiuay Pilot Elementary School - established before WWII

Janiuay National Vocational School (Now Janiuay Polytechnic College) - established before WWII.

Janiuay Protestant Church - First outside of Iloilo City

Iglesia ni Cristo Church in Bgy. Jibolo

Janiuay Public Market

Janiuay Cattle Market - the only in Iloilo Province.

Janiuay Town Hall and Plaza

Janiuay Public Library

St. Elizabeth Academy (Now St. Julian Academy) established in the 60's

Janiuay Emergency Hospital. WVA Post Note: Back in operation after Suage river overflow caused by heavy rain and typhoon in June 2008.

Don Juan Wutrich Estate in Bgy. Jibolo

Lutero Estate in Bgy. Tambal and Bgy. Kinambud

Locsin Estate in Bgy. Guadalupe

Camarista House in San Julian St.

Marin House in Sta. Rita St.

Suage River Breakwater - A kilometer long concrete breakwater from Esperanza St. to Aquino Nobleza St.

Calmay Elementary and High School - biggest public school outside and west of Poblacion Janiuay.

Bgy. Ubian, Yabon and Quipot - seat of pre-Spanish Janiuay in 1578 to 1760. Moved to its current location on or before 1760 by the Spanish Principalia. About 22 km. west of Janiuay.

Quipot Wier - A natural wier located at sito Punong. These are two big massive land mass blocking entry of downstream Suage river to the Janiuay Poblacion and beyond. About 22 km west of Poblacion Janiuay. WVA Post Note: The two massive land mass is now covered with sand, soil and debris after the June 2008 heavy rain and typhoon. Two opposing stone boulders seen today are a trace of once the beatiful Quipot Weir playing with the graceful flow of Suage river who can cast its angry might at any moments notice.

Barasalon Falls - located in sitio Igbiating. Up inland and about 15 km from Bgy. Yabon. WVA Post Note: Baby falls at both sides started to appear.

Links: http://www.fallingrain.com/world/RP/30/Janiuay.html

Barangays

Janiuay is politically subdivided into 60 barangays.

* Abangay * Agcarope * Aglobong * Aguingay * Anhawan * Atimonan * Balanac * Barasalon * Bongol * Cabantog * Calmay * Canawili * Canawillian * Caranas * Caraudan * Carigangan * Cunsad * Dabong * Damires * Damo-ong

* Danao * Gines * Guadalupe * Jibolo * Kuyot * Madong * Manacabac * Mangil * Matag-ub * Monte-Magapa * Pangilihan * Panuran * Pararinga * Patong-patong * Quipot * Santo Tomas * Sarawag * Tambal * Tamu-an * Tiringanan

* Tolarucan * Tuburan * Ubian * Yabon * Aquino Nobleza East (Pob.) * Aquino Nobleza West (Pob.) * R. Armada (Pob.) * Concepcion Pob. (D.G. Abordo * Golgota (Pob.) * Locsin (Pob.) * Don T. Lutero Center (Pob.) * Don T. Lutero East (Pob.) * Don T. Lutero West Pob * Crispin Salazar North (Pob.) * Crispin Salazar South (Pob.) * San Julian (Pob.) * San Pedro (Pob.) * Santa Rita (Pob.) * Capt. A. Tirador (Pob.) * S. M. Villa (Pob.)

to. Tomas

Sto. Tomas approximate population is 500-800. Sto. Tomas (Pakol to locals) is bounded by Madong in the east, Mangil in the northeast and Danao in the south west. It is accessible by three class C feeder roads in the east, south-west and south-east. Agriculture centers around rice, corn, coffee, beans, sugar cane, and copra. Traces of sweet mango farms are starting to gain roots especially close by the public elementary school. General topography is flat rice fields on the east and hill-valley-hill dotted by bamboos, coffee, manggo, banana, coconuts and other fruit tree crops in the remaining areas. Water source are via deepwells and rice produce is primarily dependent on rainfall.

Motorbike and tricycle are the easiest mode of transportation and also four-wheels during festive events. Ride is some 30 minutes from the town proper. Electricity is subscribed by 15-25% of the population. Wireless cellphone carrier SMART covers the area and is generally available in 20-25% of the population. English language is generally understood and spoken fairly by locals in certain situation with foreigners.

Danao-Sto. Tomas Elementary School established during the 50's is located on the highest hill of the surrounding barrangays and view of ricefields in the east is impressive especially in the morning. An old artesian well stands within the school grounds - part of an effort to secure deep water for the school in the 60's.

External links

* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]