ILOILO CITY: The Venice of the Philippines

Iloilo City is blessed with a wonderful gift – the Iloilo River. This river is the catalyst for the changes in Iloilo especially its marine industry. This river will truly makes Iloilo the beautiful city.

ILOILO CITY: The City of Love

Being a regional Center of Western Visayas, Iloilo's night life is very much active. With the presence of different bars, restaurants and hotels, this city has been delivering one of a kind experienced every night time.

ILOILO CITY: The Queen City of the South

Iloilo City has been making noise in terms of creating pursuing it dreams to become a modern city. High-raised building is now on its way to invade the city, as its tag-line says “My City My Pride”..

ILOILO CITY: The Center of Western Visayas

Welcoming growth and being highly-urbanized city, Iloilo's business growth is fast and becoming enormous. The presence of different intuitions in the city is an indication of being one of the economic centers in the Philippines.

ILOILO CITY: The City with Finest Festival

Paraw Regatta is one of Iloilo's finest festivals. Aside from this festivity Iloilo is also well-known for its Dinagyang which dubbed as the best Festival in the Country.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

History of Zarraga


    Zarraga was once a nameless jungle or a no man’s land with an abundance of big trees, talahib, cogon and wild grasses so tall and thick, it was a place good only for hunters. Luckily, the pioneers who first discovered Zarraga, headed by Marcelino Poblador, Fulgencio Pinuela, Eugenio Pedro Zarraga and Marcelino Pinuela formed the town in 1853. The town of Zarraga was named after Pedro Zarraga, then Alcalde Mayor of Irong-Irong (now Iloilo City). He served for eight years until his death in August 26, 1882. When the Americans finally allowed the Filipinos to establish their own civil government, Fruto Gregorios and Petre Gustilo ran for the position of Presidente Municipal but came out in deadlock. Instead, the elected Vice President, Calixto Gustilo, became the Presidente Municipal of Zarraga.  

    Like many other municipalities established during Spanish era, Zarraga had undergone the days of trial and humiliation. In the early part of 1904, it became the arrabal of the municipality of Sta. Barbara, much to the chagrin of its people. It remained as such up to the year 1940. When by virtue of Executive Order No. 295, by them President Manuel L. Quezon, it again became a municipality. Emelio Gregorius became its first municipal mayor. Mayor Porferio Pinuela was the first elected mayor, followed by Jovito Arimas. Following the death of Arimas, his vice-mayor, Emiliano Lacson succeeded him as municipal mayor.  
    During the next election, Mayor Silveo Jr. was elected mayor and remained as such until the EDSA revolution in 1986 when he had to relinquish his post following the orders of the Aquino administration. Mayor Orlando replaced him. In the 1995 elections, Mayor Silveo was elected mayor and remains as such to the present.