Alimodian: Embracing Mother Nature

By Wein P. Gadian

Sprawling in the verdant hills of Southwest Central Iloilo is the town of Alimodian, a 4 th class municipality that prides on its natural resources and productive lands. This 25 kilometers town away from the city of Iloilo is surrounded by towns; Maasin and Cabatuan on its East, San Miguel on its South and Leon on its West and the Province of Antique on its North. It is traversed by the rippling Aganan River with a land area of 14,482 hectares and composed of 51 barangays.

The town has different soil types which are the clay loam, Luciana loam, Alimodian loam and Umingan fine sandy. Other than these it has various lands classified as vegetative, agricultural, residential, commercial, institutional and agro-industrial lands, with a river, roads, open grassland and open space. All of which has helped in the progress of the town especially in its economy. With its stable climate, the town produces one of the best vegetables like cabbages and broccolis. Farming as a main source of livelihood, the town grows rice, corn, root crops, mango, banana, bamboo, legumes and industrial crops like tobacco, cotton, abaca and others.

Alimodian's uniqueness can also be traced in its belief in the importance of education. Every household sends the children to school to learn so in return they can serve their community more with their capabilities.

This “Excellence in Education” is provided in the various schools of the town. It has forty-one Day Care Centers (including five ECD Pilot Center), three preparatory schools and Kinder Schools, eight Primary Public Schools, twenty-two Elementary Public Schools and three Secondary Public High Schools. One of its schools, the Alimodian National Comprehansive High School serves a tertiary education offering two basic courses on applied electricity. Its belief in education has brought progress to the town with its successful Alimodianons. With their education, they have built concrete houses for their families, help in renovating the old church, the town plaza, built roads, bridges among others.

TOURIST ATTRACTION

The town's rich natural resources made it a tourist destination. The Aganan River that brings livelihood to the people, the mountains of Taruc and Balogo, with its forests brought more serenity and security. It also has unexplored natural beauty located on the upland clustered barangays of the town called “Seven Cities”. It has various spots like the Agua Colognia, Tinagong Dagat, Bubon ni Ibo, Taruc Hill, Umingan Plateau, Rice Terraces, Manipuron Creek, Baraiton Skyline, Terated Cave, Bato Batiya, Bato Duko, Mount Colomo, waterfalls among others. All of which is a perfect venue for hiking, bird watching, photography, nature tripping, mountain biking, climbing and rainforest trekking. Another is the Agony Hill which emerged from a combo of human appreciation of nature's beauty and the amazing landscape designed by the hills slope and topography. It also shows the Alimodianons strong Christian spirit, that they build the fourteen Stations of the Cross that end upon the three crosses emulating Christ's way to Calvary. The place is frequented by Christians especially during the Holy Week Celebration.

If you want to experience warmth and kindness from the Alimodianons, find time to visit their town. They celebrate their feast every September 22 in honor of St. Thomas Villanova.