Bayluhay: San Joaquin's Cultural Treasures
The history of San Joaquin revolves around the mixing of numerous cultural, ethnic, and political influences. These include contributions from several major indigenous civilizations, Aeta influences, and significantly of Malay and Spanish heritage. Although researchers do not know exactly when Datu Puti and his men (facing the prospect of prolonged and intense conflict with the oppressive ruler of Borneo) fled and landed in the shores of Siwaragan, a negotiation known as the Barter of Panay between Makatunaw (one of the 10 Datus) and Marikudo (ruler of the Negritos) took place at Imbidayan, along the beach of barrio Sinogbuhan. From Suiga to Suaga, Suagan to Suarangan, the municipality finally adopted the name San Joaquin in 1801, renaming it in honor of their patron.
A third class municipality, the town was developed as a separate town in December 10, 1910. Its 23,135 hectare land area, overshadowed by a chain of mountain ranges, stretches along the southern portion of the province. Its borders are defined by the Municipality of Sibalom, Province of Antique on the north, Panay Gulf on the south, the Municipality of Miag-ao, Province of Iloilo on the east and the Municipalities of Tobias Fornier, Hamtic and Anini-y, Province of Antique on the west.
One of the oldest towns in the province, located southeast and 53 kilometers away from Iloilo City, San Joaquin is divided into 85 barangays populated by 47,826 (2000 Census on Population) residents.
Tourism has become one of the major income earners and employers of local workers in the municipality. San Joaquin attracts tourists, mostly locals from the city and nearby provinces. It has a leading industry of the town, with an attractive and varied landscape, a rich set of cultural resources, the municipality's attractions are many, from its colorful neighborhoods, famous cuisines to its prestigious cultural activity.
The most popular and the most visited tourist destination in San Joaquin is its renowned San Joaquin Church. Numerous churches around Iloilo constructed during the colonial era reflect the blending of Spanish architectural designs. The church is the only one in the Philippines sporting a bass relief depicting the historic battle between the Christians of Spain and the Moors of Morocco in Tetuan in 1859.
The San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery built from coral rocks in 1892, with a 20-step staircase flanked by stone balustrades with crowning glory, the hexagonal chapel known as "Camposanto", is another must-see attraction.
In Panay, a variety of factors are used to identify an individual as indigenous in Iloilo, including customs, language, dress and even food. San Joaquin culture is a fascinating blend of Aeta traditions and Malay and Spanish colonial influences. Long before the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, the indigenous people of the town had developed arts such as music and dances.
Seen through the lens of time, the Aeta inheritance has the more cultural glow, and the Malay retain a sentimental attachment to it. The Barter of Panay became the point of origin of San Joaquin's history and its first common culture and laid down the first lasting foundations of any significance. Without its past, Ilonggos and San Joaquin's culture would almost certainly have developed differently. Though San Joaquin has enjoyed a clear sense of its own identity in the modern period, these influences were given a tremendous boost through a cultural presentation that truly reflects the community's celebration of life's bountiful blessings. A festivity showing how grateful and proud the people of San Joaquin are with their history.
The BAYLUHAY Festival celebrated every third week of January, reflects the town's unique mixture of races and cultures. Historical and religious themes, mostly anchored from the Barter of Panay, such as efforts with the preservation of rituals are reflected mostly through their dances. Since that time, the Malays and Aetas have assimilated most important cultural trends as seen through the different rituals that are still being observed in some of the town's barangays. These rituals are authenticated by the maarams or "medicine men or healers" in the area. Common is the rites of passage that evolved from the war dance or dinapay was performed during the Malay-Aeta exchange, to ward off evil and protect them from harm.
In celebration of its 96th Municipal Fiesta with the theme "Cultural Revival for National Identity and Global Competitiveness," the Municipality of San Joaquin headed by their very supportive and dynamic Municipal Mayor, Hon. NINFA S. GARIN in cooperation with its Municipal Tourism Office headed by Mrs. Erlyn Alunan, is inviting everyone to witness their weeklong celebration of BAYLUHAY Festival on January 16-21, 2005. The gem of the festivity is the cultural presentation of the reenactment of the greatest real estate deal in history, the Barter of Panay on January 20, 2006, 10:30 a.m. at the San Joaquin Sports Stadium. Other events include the Dayang Kang Bayluhay at 1:30 p.m. and the world renowned, Pasungay at 9 a.m., both scheduled on January 21, 2005.
For many tourists to this quiet town, the obligatory souvenir is the experience one can get---rich in history, resplendent with natural wonders, the uniqueness of their culture and the wonder that is San Joaquin.