Guimaras
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Guimaras is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. To the northwest is the province of Iloilo and to the southeast is Negros Occidental.
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Image:Ph_seal_guimaras.png
2000 census—141,450 (7th smallest)
Density—234 per km² (33rd highest)
Highly urbanized cities—0
Component cities—0
Municipalities—5
Barangays—98
Congressional districts—1
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Image:Ph_locator_map_guimaras.png
Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 11, 1992.
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People and Culture
The people of Guimaras is considered as Ilonggo or Hiligaynon as it was once a sub-provice of Iloilo. Hiligaynon is the major dialect spoken although the people can understand and speak Tagalog and English.
Economy
The province is basically agricultural with palay, coconut, mango, vegetables, livestock, poultry and fishing as major products. Its major industries are tourism, fruit processing, coconut processing, handicrafts making, mining, quarrying and lime production.
Guimaras is well-known for its agricultural crops, particularly mangoes, where some 50,000 of these trees are planted. The Guimaras Island is famous for producing the sweetest mangoes in the world. Guimaras mangos are reportedly served at the White House. Guimaras' largest event of the year is the Mango Festival. The variety of mangoes produced are also best for making dried mangoes.
Geography
Political
Guimaras is subdivided into 5 municipalities.
Municipalities
Physical
Located southwest of Panay, Guimaras is separated physically from Iloilo by a narrow channel, which takes about ten minutes to cross by pumpboat from the Ortiz landing on Iloilo to Jordan. There are two other ways to get there, the Parola warf in Iloilo to the municipality of Buenavista. The Parola warf is used exclusively when ever the the water is rough. There also is a roll on roll off (RORO) ferry that travels around five times a day and is used by the Iloilo bicycle clubs on Sunday to travel to Guimaras. Geologists opine that the island formed one landmass with Panay in the past. Guimaras was formerly known as Himal-us.
History
Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa, a Spanish leader, established the Spanish settlement in Guimaras for the purpose of the Christianization of the natives of the island. He and his subordinates organized the pueblicitos or villages of Nayup, with San Pedro Apostol as the patron saint, and Igang, with Sta. Ana as the patroness.
Evangelization of Guimaras occurred around the same time the friars were making inroads in Panay. The Augustinians established the visitas of Nayup and Igang dependent on Oton, Iloilo. Gov. Gen. Dasmariñas 20 June 1551 report to the king noted that the friars of Oton made regular visits to the island.
In 1742, the island fell under the jurisdiction of Dumangas - now known as Iloilo, until 1751 when the Augustinian Order was replaced by the Jesuits, after which the Dominican order took over Guimaras. The Jesuits, who had established a school in Iloilo and had missions in Molo and Arevalo, charge of the island. By 1755, it was organized into a regular parish. When the population increased considerably, the island was given its municipal status with a seat of government at Tilad (now known as Buenavista). In 1908, during the American period, the Guimarasnons were given the oppurtunity to elect their municipal president.
Douglas McArthur, a fresh graduate from West Point as a Second Lieutenant at the age of 23, came to Iloilo as the head of the company of Corps of Engineers. They constructed roads and the Sto. Rosario Wharf, presently named McArthur's Wharf, which are still in use today.
Guimaras first gained its status as a sub-province of Iloilo by virtue of R.A. 4667, which was enacted by Congress on 18 June 1966. It was proclaimed as a regular and full-fledged province on 22 May 1992 after a plebiscite was conducted to ratify the approval of its conversion pursuant to Section 462 of R.A. 7160.
Shortly after Guimaras acquired its provincial status, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Emily Relucio-Lopez as its first Governor.
The province of Guimaras was originally composed up of 3 municipalities. In 1995, by virtue of Republic Act No. 7896 and Republic Act No. 7897, the municipalities of Sibunag and San Lorenzo were created in the province of Guimaras. The two new municipalities officially acquired their municipal status after the May 8, 1995 plebiscite held simultaneously with the local election.
Mayor Ernesto L. Gedalanga was the first appointed mayor of Sibunag and Mayor Arsenio Zambarrano was also appointed mayor of San Lorenzo. The temporary seat of government of the Municipality of Sibunag is at Brgy. Sabang while the temporary seat of Government of the Municipality of San Lorenzo is at Brgy. M. Chavez.
External links
- Provincial Government of Guimaras (http://www.guimaras.gov.ph)
| Regions and Provinces of Visayas | |
| Western Visayas: | Aklan | Antique | Capiz | Guimaras | Iloilo | Negros Occidental |
| Central Visayas: | Bohol | Cebu | Negros Oriental | Siquijor |
| Eastern Visayas: | Biliran | Eastern Samar | Leyte | Northern Samar | Samar | Southern Leyte |