Igbaras, Iloilo

Igbaras
Municipality
Seal
Map of Iloilo showing the location of Igbaras
Igbaras Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°43′N 122°16′E / 10.717°N 122.267°ECoordinates: 10°43′N 122°16′E / 10.717°N 122.267°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas (Region VI)
Province	Iloilo
District	1st district of Iloilo
Founded	1919
Barangays	46
Government[1]
• Mayor	Vicente E. Escorpion Jr.
• Vice Mayor	Romeo E. Espinosa
Area[2]
• Total	148.72 km^2 (57.42 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	31,347
• Density	210/km^2 (550/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	5029
Dialing code	33
Income class	3rd class; partially urban
Website	www.igbaras.gov.ph

Igbaras is a third class^[4] municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 31,347 people.^[3]

Igbaras celebrates its town fiesta annually on May 22 in honor of Sta. Rita de Cascia. The town has many points of interest including the ruins of the church belfry, Mount Napulak, Bahi-Bahi, Nadsadjan Falls, Lagsakan Falls, Timapok Falls, Guiritsan Falls, Sampanan Falls, Bat Cave, Igcabugao Cave, Bais Cave and the Pakuyang sa Tangyan Festival. A species of Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, can also be found here.

Etymology

The name Igbaras comes from a combination of two words, "ig" or "tig" which means "plenty of" or "season of", and "baras" which means "sand". Thus Igbaras means "plenty of sand" which alludes to the nearby sandy river. Igbaras is most commonly mistaken with the similar-sounding and more widely known province of Guimaras.

Geography

Igbaras is located at the south-western part of Iloilo. It is situated between the coordinates of 122.2650’ longitude, and 10.7167’ latitude. It is 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Iloilo City and 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Iloilo International Airport.

Boundaries:

• North East: Municipality of Tubungan
• South East: Municipality of Guimbal
• South West: Municipality of Miag-ao
• North West: Municipality of Sibalom (Province of Antique)

Barangays

Igbaras is politically subdivided into 46 barangays.^[4] Alameda was formerly known as Bukaw.^[5]

• Alameda
• Amorogtong
• Anilawan
• Bagacay
• Bagacayan
• Bagay
• Balibagan
• Barasan
• Binanua-an
• Boclod
• Buenavista
• Buga
• Bugnay
• Calampitao
• Cale
• Corucuan
• Catiringan
• Igcabugao
• Igpigus
• Igtalongon
• Indaluyon
• Jovellar
• Kinagdan
• Lab-on
• Lacay Dol-Dol
• Lumangan
• Lutungan
• Mantangon
• Mulangan
• Pasong
• Passi
• Pinaopawan
• Barangay 1 Poblacion
• Barangay 2 Poblacion
• Barangay 3 Poblacion
• Barangay 4 Poblacion
• Barangay 5 Poblacion
• Barangay 6 Poblacion
• Riro-an
• San Ambrosio
• Santa Barbara
• Signe
• Tabiac
• Talayatay
• Taytay
• Tigbanaba

History

As a result of the implementation of Spanish Governor-General Narciso Claveria's decree on giving Filipinos with Spanish surnames in 1849, inhabitants of Igbaras during that time were interestingly apportioned with surnames starting mostly with the letter E.

Igbaras was fused with Guimbal in 1902 until the American regime made it a separate town on January 1, 1919. Don Flor Evidente became the first municipal mayor.

American soldiers water tortured Igbaras leaders then burned the village to the ground during the Philippine-American War^[6]

Igbaras has the distinction of having the first congressman elected to Congress in 1925-1928 in the person of Don Eugenio Ealdama, and the delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention, Don Mariano Ezpeleta who later served as Consul-General and ambassador to several countries.

Demographics

Population census of Igbaras
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	25,274	—
1995	25,960	+0.50%
2000	27,878	+1.54%
2007	29,417	+0.74%
2010	31,347	+2.34%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

People from Igbaras speak Kinaray-a, a language associated with Antique province. However, Hiligaynon is understood by everyone and widely spoken in the town proper.

Schools

Secondary:

• Igbaras National High School
• Igtalongon National High School

Elementary (public and private):

• Amorogtong Elementary School
• Bagay Elementary School
• Balibagan Private School
• Barasan Elementary School
• Buga Elementary School
• Calampitao Elementary School
• Cale Indaluyon Elementary School
• Catiringan Private School
• Igbaras Central Elementary School
• Igcabugao Elementary School
• Igpigus Elementary School
• Igtalongon Elementary School
• Jovellar Elementary School
• Lumangan Elementary School
• Lutungan Primary School
• Mulangan Elementary School
• Sta. Barbara Elementary School
• Tabiac Elementary School
• Tano-ong Private School
• Tigbanaba Elementary School

Municipal Mayors

• Don Flor Evidente (1919–1922)
• Lucas Gentica (1922–1925)
• Julian Bucoy Saavedra (1925–1931)
• Justo Estrella (1931–1938)
• Gerardo Escala (1938–1941)
• Toribio Melliza (1941–1945, 1961–1964)
• Perfecto Saavedra (1945–1955)
• Ricardo Ealdama (1955–1961)
• Atty. Daniel Esmeralda (1964–1977)
• Vicente E. Perez (1977–1985)
• Wilfredo C. Uy (1986–1992)
• Fruto J. Saavedra (1992–2001)
• Jaime Esmeralda, MD (2001–2010)
• Atty. Vicente E. Escorpion Jr. (2010–present)

References

1. "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
2. "Province: Iloilo". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
3. "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
4. Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for Igbaras - National Statistical Coordination Board
5. "An Act Changing the Name of the Barrio of Bukaw in the Municipality of Igbaras, Province of Iloilo, to That of Alameda". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
6. Testimony of Charles S. Riley during the 1902 Lodge Committee

External links

• Igbaras Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System