Anything Under the Sun
Demographic movement in West Visayas (1)
Earliest settlers
The first inhabitants of West Visayas, like in any other part of the world, were most probably, the cavemen. Though so far, no cavemen evidence has been found in the region, there was one in nearby Palawan.
The second settlers were the Negritos (Ati) from southeast Asia who traveled on foot thru the ancient landbridges connecting the Asian mainland and West Visayas. At present, many Atis are still present in Panay and Negros.
The third settlers were the Indonesians who most probably also came from the Asian mainland. They were more civilized than the nomadic Negritos called bukidnon (mountain people) or sulodnon (people in the interior), they really live at present in the mountains of Panay and Negros.
The Malays
The last wave of settlers to reach West Visayas were the Malays. They were the families of the ten Bornean Malay datus led by Datu Puti who arrived in Panay during circa 13th century.
After bartering Panay with the Negritos, the Malays circumnavigated the island dropping families at the mouths of rivers. When the population of these coastal settlements increased, they spread to the interiors.
Thus, the settlers in Araut (Dumangas), went upstream the Jalaud, Suague and Abangay rivers and settled in central Iloilo in what are now Pototan, Dingle, Dueñas, Passi, Calinog, Lambunao and Janiuay. Some expanded northward in what are now the Barotac (Nuevo and Viejo), Anilao and Banate.
The settlers in Katigbauan (Tigbauan), Gibuangan (Guimbal), Miagao and Suruaga (San Joaquin), also went upstream the Sibalom and Tangyan rivers in southern Iloilo to what are now Tubungan, Igbaras, Leon, Alimodian and San Miguel.
The settlers in Buyo spread to what are now Santa Barbara, Pavia, Cabatuan, Maasin and New Lucena.