kasadyahan sa capiz (pilar)

History of Pilar

The coastal town sprang out from an Austronesian settlement in the early 16th century when indio natives managed to escape oppression from Spanish colonial authorities. The settlement was then known as Sibala, named after the river that ran through the coastal village. In 1570, however, the settlement was seized by Spanish forces and the guardia civil took full control of the village fortifying it with a military garrison. It later flourished into a bigger town and was renamed after its designated patron La Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar). In the 18th century, it adopted the (Holy Trinity) La Santisima Trinidad as its municipal patron after a wooden image of the Holy Trinity from the wreckage of a Spanish galleon ship en route from Mexico was found in the town's coastline. Augustinian friars were initially assigned to preach in the town since then until it would later receive its permanent parish priest and Roman Catholic Church.

In 1887, there had been an armed insurgency known as the Battle of Balisong during the Philippine Revolution in an attempt to overthrow Spanish authorities in the municipality led by local revolutionaries with the support of other resistance groups in Capiz, namely from the neighboring towns of Pan-ay and Pontevedra.

In 1949, the sitios and barrios of Aranguel, Culilang, Pandan, Pinamihagan, Cadoulan, Quiajo, Sangcal, Pondol, Marita, Madulano, Jabuyana, Bo-ac, Cabugcabug, Goce Badiangon, Bayuyan, Agbobolo, Cubay, Ibaca, and the sitio of Lotudlotud, which was converted into a barrio of Elizalde, were separated from the municipal jurisdiction of Pilar to form a separate town, namely President Roxas, by virtue of Republic Act No. 374.

Tourist Attraction

Agtalin Shrine

The 85-feet tall statue of Miraculous Medal is considered as the highest Marian statue in Asia. Thousands of devotees flocks every 1st Saturday of the month to Agtalin Hill located at Brgy Dulangan, Pilar, Capiz. You can appreciate the fresh air on top. There are 185 steps of stairs before you could reach the top.

Thousands of devotees flocks every 1st Saturday of the month to Agtalin Hill. It is a religious and solemn place which is suitable for praying and hearing mass.

Lola Ibe

“Lola Ibe” is the remains of Maria de Juan Basañes.  It has been existing for 8 decades. After 10 years of her death, her grave was dug up to be replaced by her dead “apo”, it was then discovered that her body had not yet fully decayed. She is said to be a saint by the locals.

Stunning Cave and Hill formation

 Balisong Hill

The Balisong Hill is one of the tourist attractionof Pilar because of ots historical contribution. It is where the famous Battle of Balisong in 1887 happened, between the Casadores-Spanish soldiers and the Pilareño took place. It is located in Brgy. Natividad.

It has a  natural beauty because of the forest and white color of rocks. The place is great for hiking, trekking and rock climbing.

Balisong cave

Balisong cave is the graveyard of Balisong Heroes. It is also known as the Butete Cave. The cave has also an archaeological and environmental significance and value. It is untouched with beautiful rock formations. According to a cave expert, its karsts formation and wild-life are unique and its limestones is one of the oldest in Panay Island. The cave is perfect for activities like spelunking.

Puting Bato Cave

Puting Bato Cave is abundant if granite and marbles. Its environmental value is preserved because it is privately owned. Mythically, people believed that the cave is inhabited by spirits that could cause illness and bad luck once it is bothered and destroyed. Inside the cave is an altar formation of rocks and stalacite.

Falls

Hinulugan Falls

The Hinulugan Falls is located in Brgy. Tabunacan. It is one of the most breath-taking tourist attraction in the municipality of Pilar. Enjoy the refreshing and cold water that would revive and invigorate your spirit.. It is surrounded with the natural beauty of nature. For adventurers, hiking could be done going to its final top that takes 20-30 mins.

Lalawgon Falls 

Lalawgon Falls is unique because of its S-shaped structure. It is located in Brgy. Yating. It takes 1 kilometer to reach the place perfect for those people who enjoy trekking and adventure. The water from the falls is clean. The area is surrounded witha virgin forest with a beautiful scenery and learn to appreciate nature.

Kawawa Falls

Kawawa Falls is located at Barangay San Silvestre, Pilar, capiz. It is called “Kawakawa”because of its natural formation is shape like a big frying fan. It has falls above it with clear waters flowing down the kawa with 15 feet deep. it has a diameter of round 10 meters and surrounded by “dalipe” or solid rocks. it has a distance of 1.5 kilometers from the Barangay proper and is located near the boundary of San Silvestre & Tabun-acan.

Beach and Reef

Pilar Bay

Pilar Bay covers 10 barangays of the municipality fom Brgy. Dulungan to Brgy. Casanayan and is considered the longest bay in the entire Province. The beach is clean and not over- crowded. It is the main source of fishing industry in the area and nearby municipalities. It is a perfect spot to witness the sunrise and sunset. Pilar municipality waters are also a sanctuary of different marine life.

Tukad Reef

Tukad Reef is a coral reef formation located in the northern part of the municipality. It is a submarine islet of shelled mollusk and corals with layers of sand on top. It is 10 kilometers away from the shoreline of Pilar Bay with an area of 4 hectares. It is seen during low-tide and could only be reached by a boat or raft. 

kasadyahan sa capiz (panitan)

History of Panitan

The Panit-ananons inherent their genetic appearance from their Malay ancestors particularly from the brothers DALHOG and DANAO who were supposed to be the founders of the Municipality of Panitan in the year 1621.

Danao got married to Masiid and Dalhog to married Capanang. These family names are still present in the Municipality of Panitan, however not carried by their offspring but have turn into names of three sitios and a lagoon close to the Poblacion center.

The original settlement of Panitan is located at Sitio Capul-an, near the Danao Lake. It was merely behind the coming of the Spanish colonizers that the municipality center was then transferred to where it is currently located.

Traditions notify how the town got its name. The majority acknowledged traditions that tell of a crowd of Spaniards passed by a group of locals peeling the barks off the tree apparently to be dried up for firewood. The Spaniards asked, “Como se llama este lugar? Believing that they were asked what they were doing, they answered back with no hesitations, P A N I T A N, that means to peel off. From then on, PANITAN became the official name of the community as listed by the Spanish overlords.

But for historians like Fr. Juan Fernandez, O.S.A. in his “Monografias De Los Pueblos De La Isla De Pan-ay”, the word “Panitan” comes from a local fish called “Apnit” (Annona rufa), which is plenty in the town like in the usual discussion: “Pacain ca? Paapnitan ako” (are you going to serve a meal? I want Apnit). By the passing of word Paapnitan had become by word and at all period it has been said by the group so that when the Spaniards came they adopted it and make it Panitan due to the intricacy on their part to say the word Paapnitan.

Today Panitan is one of municipality serving its constituents to the fullest. With our Vision , “ A self- reliant, progressive community capable of giving opportunities to its people in unleashing their full potential towards empowerment, dedicated to the preservation of its culture and the promotion of a balanced ecology through complimentary people government partnership” , we believe that we are trekking the right path towards total improvement of the Municipality of Panitan.

Tourist Attractions

St. Lawrence the Deacon

The St. Lawrence the Deacon church is the symbol of Panitan as being one of the religious  town in the Province of Capiz.

Most People in Panitan were Catholic and they respect each others beliefs.

Every Holy Week  you can see different people from other places come to witness the yearly holy week celebrated in the Panitan because the people who hear masses really feel the Presence of God and even they different but they are united in praising God as their saviour.

Dadivas Civic Center

The Dadivas Civic Center is located at Pob. Ilawod, Panitan, Capiz.

It is donated by the former congressman of the province of Capiz Hon. Roging Dadivas.

It is the venue of some special events in Panitan like programs, parties, reunions, basketball games and many other because it can occupy a large amount of people within the civic center.

Public Tourism Park

The Public Tourism Park were formerly known as Dingoy Roxas Park in tribute to the late Congressman Dingoy Roxas.

The Tourism Park is the perfect place for everbody. You can rest, play with your childrens, hangout with your friends, eat with your family and date with your special someone.

It was designed to suit everybody needs in terms of comfortability and peacefulness.

It is located at the center of Panitan in between the Public Plaza and Panitan Bridge.

Panitan Public Plaza

The Panitan Public Plaza is within the heart of Panitan.

It is where the church, fountain, bandstand and municipal hall is located.

People enjoy playing because of some paying equipments that are present in the plaza like swing, see saw and slide.

Some people also practice in the plaza because of the wide area and the comfortability of the players.

The Panitan Public Plaza is open to all visitors who want to visit and promise them to enjoy the ambiance of the plaza.


by: Kasadyahan sa Capiz

kasadyahan sa capiz (Panay)

Panay or Pan-ay is a third class municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 43,449 people. It used to be the Capital of Capiz Province. 

Pan-ay is the site of the famous coral-stone Sta. Monica Church, home to the largest Catholic Church bell in Asia. The bell was made from 70 sacks of gold and silver coins donated by the townsfolk. Measuring seven feet in diameter, five feet in height and weighing 10,400 kilograms or just over 10 metric tons, the Pan-ay bell is popular among tourists visiting Capiz.

An inscription on the bell reads:
“Soy la voz de Diosquellevare y ensalzaredesde el principio hasta el fin de este Pueblo de Panay para que los fieles de Jesus vengan a esta casa de Dios a recibirlas gracias celestials.”Translated to English, this means:
“I am God’s voice which I shall echo and praise from one end to the other of the town of Panay, so that the faithful followers of Christ may come to this house of God to receive the heavenly graces.”

History

The town originally called Bamban was changed by the early Spaniards to Panay, a word which means “mouth of the river.” This is also the location of a fortress built by Juan de la Isla in late 1570. The Paseo de Evangelizacion 1566 can be found in the town plaza and was erected through the efforts of Rev. Msgr. Benjamin F. Advincula. 1566 was the year the Spaniards arrived in the island of Panay and became the second Spanish settlement in the country next to Cebu.

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi transferred the Spanish settlement from Cebu to Panay in 1569 due to the lack of food. The town was formally founded in 1572 (1581 according to Jorde), although by that time Legazpi had moved the capital of the Philippines, further north, to Manila. Fr. Bartolome de Alcantara was named the prior of the town with Fr. Agustin Camacho as assistant. A prosperous town due to trade, Pan-ay became capital of captivating Capiz for two centuries, until Capiz was named capital. The town name was eventually given to whole island. After 1607, Fr. Alonso de Méntrida, noted for his linguistic studies and Visayan dictionary became prior. In the 18th century, Pan-ay was famous for its textile industry which produced a cloth called suerte and exported to Europe. In the 19th century, Don Antonio Roxas, grandfather of Pres. Manuel Roxas, opened one of the largest rum and wine distilleries in the town. The Augustinians held the parish until 1898, when administration transferred to the seculars.

The first church was built before 1698 when it is reported that a typhoon had ruined it. In 1774, Fr. Miguel Murguía rebuilt the church, but it was later damaged by a typhoon on 15 January 1875. Fr. Jose Beloso restored the church in 1884. The church is best known for its 10.4 ton bell popularly called dakong lingganay (big bell). The bell was cast by Don Juan Reina who settled in Iloilo in 1868. Reina who was town dentist was also noted as a metal caster and smith. The bell was cast at Pan-ay from 70 sacks of coins donated by the townspeople. The bell was completed in 1878. It bears an inspiring inscription which translated reads: “I am God’s voice which shall echo praise from one end of the town of Pan-ay to the other, so that Christ’s faithful followers may enter this house of God to receive heavenly graces.”

Heritage Features

Sta. Monica Church

the structure was first built during the 1690s but was completely destroyed by a fierce typhoon in January 1768. The current church was re-built in 1774 through the efforts of Fr Miguel Murgia only to be severely damaged during typhoons in 1874 and 1875. the church was built by Fr. Miguel Murguia in 1774 and it was heavily damaged by a typhoon on January 17, 1875. Under the supervision of Fr. Jose Beloso, the current church was built rebuilt in 1884. By virtue of the National Historical Institute Resolution No. 3, the church was declared as a national historical landmark in 1997. The church is built in the Filipino Colonial Baroque style with Neo-Classical influence, is a grand structure of coral stone that is 70 meters long, 25 meters wide and 18 meters high. The walls are 3 meters (or about 10 feet) thick and the floor is covered with marble.. The pediment cascades gracefully down. The façade is ornamented with swags of flowers, niches and statuary. The bell tower to the left of the façade is simple in contrast to the façade. It base is planned as a quadrilateral but its upper stories are octagonal with the two sides longer than the other. To the church was attached an L-shaped convento, which had been ruined. Remnants of the covento have been incorporated into the present modern convento. Behind the church are remnants of a wall, which according to town lore was once a fortification. Attached to the sacristy is a large storage room, now converted into a Blessed Sacrament chapel.The interior was formerly divided into a central nave with flanking aisles, but in recent years, the wooden posts that marked the divisions were removed to improve sight lines to the altar. The wooden choir loft was also removed because it was damaged by termites, so were the wooden floors of the bell tower. In place the tower has an independent steel stairway that leads to the topmost floor. This floor has been reconstructed in reinforced concrete with coral stone facing. The roof of the church, already damaged by a storm in 1984 and subsequently repaired, was already in a dilapidated condition in 2000. Its wood work was rotten and was in danger of collapsing. The woodwork and roof have been replaced by a steel and galvanized iron structure. The church retains much of its original floor: terra cotta tiles, white marble and black slate as accents and for the sanctuary. The church has three altars in Baroque style. The retablo of the central altar has been painted over in silver and gold enamel, however, the side altars have hardly been touched and probably represent the original colors of the woodwork—primaries of blue, red, green, orange with gold leaf accents. These altars are unique for Latin inscriptions carved on roundels set in its reed thin columns. Behind Gospel side altar are remnants of decorative painting, also done in brilliant primaries.

Dako nga Lingganay (Big Bell)

 holds the record as the biggest Christian Bell in Asia. It was cast from seventy (70) sacks of gold coins donated by the townspeople. The bell measuring 7 feet in diameter, 5 feet in height and over 10 metric tons was completed in 1878 by Doc Juan Reina, a town dentist and noted blacksmith.

Calle Revolución

the second oldest street in the Philippines after Calle Colon in Cebu City.

Paseo de Evangelizacion 1566

can be found in the town plaza and was erected through the efforts of Rev. Msgr. Benjamin F. Advincula. 1566 was the year the Spaniards arrived in the island of Panay and became the second Spanish settlement in the country next to Cebu.

Fuente de Vida

 is an old Spanish well that was restored and is now one of the major places to visit in Panay. The well is made of coral stones just like the church and was a source of water during the Spanish era. 

by: Kasadyahan sa Capiz