Cabatuan Iloilo Tourism

Pamul-ogan Hill, a Historical Shrine of Faith

2007-06-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

Pamul-ogan Hill, a Historical Shrine of Faith
From Iloilo On Foot. By Giancarlo Alvarez

According to early documents, the discovery of Cabatuan in the heart of the province was initiated when a Molave Cross was planted on the highest peak of the locale. A year after the cross was planted, a town was established in the northern bank of Tigum river near the foot of the hill.

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Capilla de Cabatuan: Uniquely Baroque

2007-06-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Capilla de Cabatuan: Uniquely Baroque
From Iloilo On Foot. By Giancarlo Alvarez

Capilla de Cabatuan is an ornate chapel located in the heart of the town's romanesque cemetery. The Chapel is built out of gray stones in Gothic, Roman, Byzantine, Baroque and Tuscan Architectures.

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The Tree of Bondage

2007-04-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

Again, Cabatuan proves that she is a place thriving with rich history. Aside from the town's Spanish Church(1734-1864), Spanish Town Hall(1734), Spanish Pilgrim Cross(1732) and Spanish-Filipino Cemetery(1886), another heritage site lies in one of the corners of the town's public square, the Tree of Bondage which is believed to be as old as the Town's Brick Church and town Hall. It is belived that when the Town Hall and the Church were being built, those who refuse to work, or those who escaped from forced labor were tied on this crooked calachuchi tree and whipped. Today, this strange tree exists like its gasping for life though it's blessedly living and for centuries, it has been there, lying on its nook like holding a mysterious tale.

Cabatuan Church: The Model of Temples

2006-12-17T01:16:00.000-08:00

Cabatuan Church is one the most popular tourist destination in Iloilo. It is Tuscanic in style with baroque and neoclassic elements. Perhaps one might feel the Italian essence with Cabatuan Church's architectural design.

Worthy of its title, 'The Model of Churches' Cabatuan is a grand church that was built to satisty the European taste.

Why did El Eco de Panay gave the church the title 'Model of Temples'?
According to accounts, Cabatuan Church, one the best representation of European Architecture in the Philippines was built with six belfries and three facades, its design is a complex structure which may be associated with majestic European Basilicas. In the early 1900's, Cabatuan Church was included in an international guidebook. In the 1948 earthquake, the church lost four belfries, the central dome and the pediments of the eastern and western facades.

The church of Cabatuan is the only extant church in the Island of Panay which has Three Facades. Much has been restored in the early 1990's. Today, Cabatuan church is one of the picturesque churches in the Philippines.

This is a legacy that we Cabatuananon can be proud of. We should be proud that Cabatuan Church is the Philippines' Model of Temples.

for more information please visit: Cabatuan Roman Catholic Church Website

Help Revive the Romanesque Cemetery of Cabatuan

2006-11-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

The cemetery of Cabatuan, Iloilo, is one of the fewest cemeteries in the Philippines with Historic significance and an extant Hispanic Artistry. Perhaps, compared to other cemteries in Iloilo, this cemetery is a model of zoning and layout. Thus, we Cabatuananons have the previlege to boast such historic site, but first, we should make this cemetery a must see place that will mark a page on Iloilo's tourism guidebooks, and perhaps we could make it into National publications.

The cemetery though obviously, a colonial structure is plain and boring to the uncritical eye. Viewers might not notice the yellowish brick limestone which now turned into greenish-gray or the rosettes carved on the cemetery arches. Constant cleaning will help the cemetery restore it's colonial appeal. Much of the Finials which crown the gate pilars were removed, or destroyed, the best replacement though are concrete angel statuaries which will lift the cemetery's simple neoclassic appearance to a much adorned Baroque view.

A Photomanipulation: Cabatuan Cemetery with Kneeling angel statuaries

The arch entrances of Cabatuan Cemetery, though similar with the retablos in Cabatuan Church are plain and simple. The best installment are angelic statuaries which will crown and enlighten the massive byzantine arches.

A photomanipulation: Cabatuan Cemetery with limestone angel statues on beside the arch pediment.

The main motiff of Cabatuan Cemetery is simplicity. any restoration should not exceed from the Cemetery's architectural scope. Cabatuan cemetery is a place worth seeing, here is a place of history and artistry, a place of magnificence that could capture any eye.

Cabatuan cemetrey: Walled City of Souls.

For more details about cabatuan cemetery visit:

EXPLORE ILOILO

Cabatuan Catholic Church Website

note: The photos shown above are edited versions of the original structure, statuaries and angels do not exist on the real cemetery gates, these will only give ideas on what the cemetery would look life after a possible restoration.

New Iloilo airport to open on March 2007

2006-10-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

Panay News. October 14, 2006

ILOILO City – The New Iloilo Airport Development Project will become operational in March 2007 while the Negros Occidental airport is set for completion in the second quarter of 2007, revealed Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Last October 9, the Senate Finance committee chaired by Drilon approved a P5.5-billion infrastructure fund that will pave the way for the operation next year of these two biggest airport projects in Region 6.

"The bombing of the Negros airport is certainly a setback, but the move of the committee to provide funding for this airport sends the signal that we are determined to push through with the project that will bring the region economic progress," Drilon said

Drilon called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement appropriate security measures to ensure the safety of the New Iloilo Airport Development Project so as not to delay its opening amidst the bombing of the Silay airport project.

New People's Army rebels numbering at least 30 and disguised as policemen raided the Silay airport project before dawn of Sunday, bombing structures and torching construction equipment.

In the wake of this development, the government urges the public to cooperate because such terror acts will only affect the economy negatively and embolden political destabilization that will hurt the country and destroy the gains that has already been achieved. It also continues to press on with measures to secure vital projects and infrastructures in the country and to further intensify the counter- terrorism campaign in all fronts.

The allocation for the New Iloilo Airport of international standard in Iloilo amounting to P2.712 billion and P2.788 billion for the Negros Occidental airport was declared by Drilon during the committee hearing on the P17.6 billion budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for 2007 submitted for Senate approval.

"The rise of a first-rate airport in Western Visayas that is compliant with international standards is crucial to the development of the country. This will boost our air transportation services, making the Philippines more accessible to the rest of the world," said Drilon.

Panay News. October 14, 2006

2006-10-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

21 join Western Visayas' 'Parade of Festivals'

Sunstar Iloilo. 10/5/2006
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A TOTAL of 21 festivals in the region are joining the Parade of Festivals in Iloilo City this coming October 27.

The "Parade of Festivals" is one of the activities lined up for this year's celebration of Western Visayas Tourism Assembly, which will start on October 23 to 29 with Iloilo City as the host city.

From Iloilo City are the world famous Dinagyang Festival and Paraw Regatta; Pintados de Pasi of Passi City; Carabao-Carroza Festival of Pavia; Pandayan Festival of Badiangan; Tinu-om Festival of Cabatuan; Binanog Festival of Lambunao; Pakuyang sa Tangyan of Igbaras, Tultugan Festival of Maasin; Kahilwayan Festival of Sta. Barbara and Cry of Jelicuon Festival of New Lucena.

The parade of festivals will start at 8 a.m. from the Provincial Capitol grounds to Iznart Street and then towards Solis Street, which will be the first performance area for the parading groups. The festivals will then march to the second and final performance area at the Freedom Grandstand before ending at Robinson's Place after passing Ortiz, Rizal, Iznart and De Leon Streets.

Jimena said the parade will not be a competition among participating festivals, although special awards will be given during the closing ceremony of this year's celebration of Western Visayas Tourism Assembly. (Jo Agudo, PIO)

Sunstar Iloilo. 10/5/2006
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2006-09-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Tinuom Festival of Cabatuan

The News Today. 9/6/2006
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By Bombette G. Marin

Much of the plantation wealth in the towns of Iloilo Province was used to adorn its areas with imposing structures, ornate squares, and above all, churches. Today, Iloilo is highly urbanized, but significant chunks of it are still recognizably colonial. Taken as a whole, it doesn't have the unsullied calm of, say, Cebu or Bohol but many of its individual colonial structures are magnificent, one of the finest anywhere in the Philippines.

Cabatuan, 24.2 kilometers from the city of Iloilo gets to having a near complete colonial town, is one excellent place to break your journey. Located in the west central part of the province, Cabatuan is one of that select band of municipalities which has an electricity you feel from the moment you arrive.

In 1732, Spanish missionaries established a mission station by planting a wooden cross (made from hard thick murawon or molave) said to have been four meters high, on a gently undulating hill now known as Pamul-ogan in a quest to bring Christianity to the town. Remains of that historic cross with the date 1773 engraved at its base, still stands on the same hill reminding everyone how vitally important religion is in defining a certain society and its state organization.

The proximity to a level track of land near the northern bank of the Tigum River paved the way for its early settlement, the site where the Poblacion of Cabatuan is presently located.

The name Cabatuan is believed to have derived from the word "Kabatuhan" means "full of stone or bato" in the Hiligaynon dialect.

One of the nine municipal towns that make up the third district of the Province of Iloilo, Cabatuan, a third class municipality in the west central part of the province, claims a total of 11,653 hectares, bordering Maasin to the east, the towns of Alimodian and San Miguel to the south, Janiuay to the north, and the towns of Sta. Barbara and New Lucena to the northwest. The territory of the town includes 68 barangays with the majority of its 45,935 (2000 Census on Population) residents contained in its urban areas.

Cabatuan life blends traditions from the past with new activities. For the most part, Cabatuan is a stable town with a considerable degree of domestic tranquility. Historically, most Cabatuan people lived in agricultural villages. Cultural imports started with agriculture and the use of metals marking the beginning of a rich cutlery-making tradition that has continued to the present day. Seasoned craftsmen from the First Cabatuan Metalcraft Association found in Brgy. Maraguit fashioned scrap irons into fine cutleries.

But with the construction of the multi-billion Iloilo Airport of International Standards, the town is slowly acquiring a tremendous momentum and is at present entering a new era marked by remarkable transformations--slowly becoming modernized and urbanized, life in this town has evolved new patterns adding additional diversity to Cabatuan life.

Spanish influence is evident in the large religious structures in Iloilo and the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church is the Cabatuan's most famous tourist attraction. Built simultaneously with its town hall in 1733, the church is known for its Neo-classical architecture where each side is a facade in itself and walls are overlaid with red bricks.

The local government seeks to make Cabatuan more competitive by working closely with industry in order to identify new opportunities for growth. The town's very dynamic and ever-supportive Municipal Mayor, Hon. Ramon C. Yee has created programs to assist key industry sectors, and have included future enhancement for some established industries.

Cabatuan have made many contributions to the tourism industry for the province over the years. Tourism contributes substantially to the town's progress. In the recent years, the sector has been given a high priority in the town's economic development strategy. Cabatuan promotes a growing tourism industry with the municipal mayor administering a number of assistance programs in promoting the town.

The town has a marvelous local cuisine called Tinuom, most popular is at Leah's Tinuom, is much imitated in other parts of the province, based on local ingredients like tomatoes, onions, tanglad and native chicken. Known for its exotic taste, Cabatuan will strike this year by incorporating its popular cuisine with a brand new festival concept, Tinuom Festival.

The municipality wanted to deviate from the conventional tribe competition and decided to incorporate the ingredients of the dish in its cultural performance concept, where guests can enjoy the sight and sound of this newly conceptualized festival. The mayor says that the inspiration for the festival came from its famous Tinu-om dish. Performed to foster identity and to promote tourism, the TINUOM Festival dance is some sort of a trance dance that bring about ritual purification of the community. Re-established this year, performers will portray the movement of the chicken blending it with theatrical and musical forms. Energetic and demonstrative, dancers move swiftly to the accompaniment of the drums.

The town's incoming festivity will be as rich and innovative as ever, and it will burst out this coming Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 9 o'clock in the morning, in a cultural celebration that many think is best for Cabatuan. Other events include the opening of its Agro-Industrial Fair, a lecture on chicken advocacy by the Western Visayas State University Extension Program, Food Festival, Tinuom cooking contest and the Festival Queen Presentation and talent Night.

The News Today. 9/6/2006
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