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Cabatuan Cabatuan , as one of Iloilo Province ' most prosperous municipality and home of great cultural wealth, will celebrate the heroism anniversary of a local hero this coming March 2, 2005 . According to the records of the national Commission under Chairman Esteban A. de Ocampo , Cabatuan was founded in the year 1732. This founding year is justified by the engraving “1732” on a huge cross made of hard thick “ murawon ” ( molave ), the base of which still stands on Pamul-ogan Hill. Old residents recall that the cross was more than four metres high, lording the Tigum River and the plains towards the town. It is presumed that the early founding Spaniards, following their procedure of establishing new towns which is first to dedicate the place to Christ, had made the cross and carved the date on it. This cross was officially re-venerated on April 9, 1972 during the municipality's celebration of its 239 th Foundation Year.
Cabatuan was believed to have been originally planned by Tono , its conceded tribal leader with two other leaders, Gomoc and Amihan . The site of early settlements was on a level track of land near the northern bank of the Tigum River where the Poblacion is now located. In 1733, Cabatuan was officially organized upon the installation of Rev. Father Antonio Lopez as first priest and Tan Tono as its Gobernadorcillo or “Capitan. The Town Hall and the Catholic Church were simultaneously built in the locality. The town was placed by the priest under the spiritual protection of Saint Nicolas de Tolentino whom Cabatuananons still venerated today as their Patron Saint on September 10 of every year.
Streets were constructed and the number of homes increased with rapid rate. However, it was not until more than one hundred and fifty years later that the giving of official names to the streets was made . The name Cabatuan is suggestive of the character of its people and the nature of the locality. It may be derived from the Hiligaynon word “ Kabatuhan ” meaning full of stones or bato , from batuan meaning against, contrary, to resist oppose, challenge, defy fight or contest- a monument of greatness.
The towns also celebrate its lavish festival called “ Hirinugyaw ” which means “merry-making” in local dialect during the fiesta week every September 5-10. The festival's title and concept was coined by a group of youth and was presented to the Local Government Officials in 1995. This was adopted as the opening salvo presentation in that year and this was participated in by different government agencies, non-government and private organizations of the town . Hirinugyaw aims to promote the tourism potential of Cabatuan especially now that it will become the home of the New Iloilo Airport of International Standard. The town's dynamic Mayor Ramon Yee continue to lead the Cabatuananons into the horizon of progress and prosperity through their various achievements. On March 2 Cabatuan will celebrate the heroism of Thomas Confessor as their local hero that replicates the Cabatuananon's bravery and valor for the sake of freedom. (Immortalize history and culture! E-mail the writer at rslphoenix@yahoo.com) |
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