ILOILO
According to tradition, the first Malay settlers of Iloilo came from Borneo. Ten datus with their followers and slaves landed in Panay Island at a place then called Sinogbuhan, near the present site of Miagao, Iloilo. The Bornean inimigrants found the place inhabited by Negritos living under the rule of a brave chief by the name of Marikudo. From this chief the Bornean datus bought the entire Island of Panay for one gold necklace and one Sadok of gold, They then divided it into tliree districts or sakops namely, Hamtik, Aklan, and long-Ilong. In later times, Hamtik became" Antique, Aklan became Capiz, and Ilong-Ilong Iloilo.
Hamtik was placed under the rule of a datu named Samaquel, who became the founder of Malandong, the first Malay settlement in Antique. Aklan was placed under the rule of Bankaya, who became the founder of the first Malay settlement in what is now Capiz. And Ilong-Ilong was placed under the rule of a datu named Paiburong who became the founder of the first settlement of Malays in Iloile,
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How Iloilo came to have its present name is very interesting. Before the coming of the Malays the inhabitants of the place were Negritos. These people named Iloilo Irong-Irong because the southwest coast of Panay Island is shaped into a nose and a chin and because the Iloilo River meanders in a nose-shaped line. "Irong" means literally "nose" in English, and "Trong Trong" is equivalent to "like a nose.' Later on, when the Malays settled in the place, they changed its name to long Ilong. for the simple reason that the Malays can pronounce the letter "1" better than the letter "r." And still later, when the Spaniards came to the place, they further changed the name to Ilo-Ilo to suit the convenience of the Spanish tongue. The Americans adopted the name Iloilo.
The Spaniards began to enter Iloilo as early as the time of Legaspi. Finding themselves harassed by the natives of Cebu, they sailed westward to Panay and estab- lislied settlement in the town now called Oton. The Spanish power really asserted itself when Governor Ronquillo in 1580-1583, founded the villa de Arevalo. The town of Iloilo became the capital of the province in 1688. It was opened to the commerce of the world in 1855.
With the revolution of 1898 and the coming of the Americans, Spanish power immediately melted away. On Dec, 23, 1898, the Spanish Governor resident of Iloilo resigned, giving over the care of the provincial capital to the Mayor Alcalde of the city. The Spanish forces subsequently evacuated Iloilo on Dec. 25.
On Dec. 28, 1898, the U. S. forces, composed of the s.s. Baltimore and three tran- sports with 3,800 troops under the command of Brigadier General Miller, arrived at Iloilo and demanded its surrender. The revolutionary forces, awaiting general orders from Aguinaldo, declined. Thereupon, Gen. Miller advised the foreign consulates on the city that hostilities would commence at 5.00 p.m. on Feb. 12th.
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The revolutionary forces having no means to hold their positions, set fire to the city and retired to the mountainous interior of Panay. The city was thereupon oc cupied by the Americans. After some guerilla warfare, the revolutionary forces sur- rendered. On April 11, 1901, civil government was established in the Province of Iloilo.
According to the present ranking of Philippine Provinces, Iloilo is classified as a first class province. The provincial capital, Iloilo is now a chartered city of the Philippine Islands.
LOCATION AND IMPORTANCE
The City of Iloilo, 340 miles from Manila, 175 miles from Cebu, and 234 miles from Zamboanga, is situated on the southeast of the Island of Panay, just at the mouth of Iloilo River. It is the capital of the Province of Iloilo, and being safely protected from the adjoining seas by the island of Guimaras, it naturally became the leading Visayan port of the Philippines.