Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 1653

MANILA

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Sperry Flour Co.-San Francisco,

Cal., U.S.A.

General Food Sales Co. New

York, U.S.A.

Gebr. Junghans A.-G.-Schram

berg, Germany

Coutinho, Caro & Co.-Hamburg,

Germany

Lancashire Insurance Co.-London,

England

Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd.-

London, England

Switzerland General Insurance Co.,

Ltd.-Zurich, Switzerland

The Fire Association of Philadelp-

hia-Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Agents for

The Norddeutscher Lloyd at Iloilo

and Cebu, P.I.

ZUELLIG & VON KNOBELSDORFF, Shipping Agents-55-63, Rosario; Teleph. 2-23-24; P.O. Box 604; Cable Ad: Nordlloyd, Manila

Agents for

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The Norddeutscher Lloyd

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 immigrants 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 three districts' or sakops namely, Hamtik, Aklan, and Ilong-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 Iloilo.

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77.

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 south west 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 "Irong Irong" is equivalent to "like a nose.' Later on, when the Malays settled in the place, they changed its name to Ilong-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 lished 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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