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Guimaras

Coordinates:10°34′N122°35′E/ 10.57°N 122.58°E/10.57; 122.58
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"Guimaras Island" redirects here. For other uses, seeGuimaras (disambiguation).

Guimaras
Province
Province of Guimaras
(clockwise from top) Guimaras island satellite image in 2016,Guisi Beach,Guisi Lighthouse ruins,Balaan Bukid way of the Cross,and Navalas Church
Flag of Guimaras
Flag
Official seal of Guimaras
Seal
Nickname:
Mango Capital of the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Map
Coordinates:10°34′N122°35′E/ 10.57°N 122.58°E/10.57; 122.58
CountryPhilippines
RegionWestern Visayas
Spanish Settlement1581
FoundedMay 22, 1992
CapitalJordan
Largest MunicipalityBuenavista
Government
• TypeSangguniang Panlalawigan
•GovernorJoaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava(NUP)
•Vice GovernorJohn Edward G. Gando (PDP-Laban)
•RepresentativeMaria Lucille L. Nava (LP)
• LegislatureGuimaras Provincial Board
Area
[1]
• Total604.57 km2(233.43 sq mi)
• Rank77th out of 81
Highest elevation
(Mount Bontoc)
272 m (892 ft)
Population
(2020 census)[2]
• Total187,842
• Rank74th out of 81
• Density310/km2(800/sq mi)
• Rank28th out of 81
DemonymGuimarasnon
Divisions
•Independent cities0
•Component cities0
•Municipalities
5
•Barangays98
•DistrictsLegislative district of Guimaras
Time zoneUTC+8(PHT)
ZIP code
5044–5048
IDD : area code +63 (0)33
ISO 3166 codePH-GUI
Spoken languages
Income classification4th class
GDP(2022)₱16.13 billion
$275.2 million[3]
Growth rateIncrease9%
Websiteguimaras.gov.ph

Guimaras([ɡimaˈɾas]), officially theProvince of Guimaras(Hiligaynon:Kapuoran sang Guimaras;Tagalog:Lalawigan ng Guimaras), is an island province in thePhilippineslocated in theWestern Visayasregion.The capital isJordan,while the largestlocal government unitis the municipality ofBuenavista.The province is situated inPanay Gulf,between the islands ofPanayandNegros.To the northwest is thecityandprovince of Iloiloand to the southeast isNegros Occidental.The whole island is part of theMetro Iloilo–Guimaras,one of the twelvemetropolitan areas of the Philippines.

The province consists primarily of Guimaras Island, and also includesInampulugan,Guiwanon (or Guiuanon), Panobolon, Natunga, Nadulao, and many surrounding islets.[4]

Guimaras, formerly known asHimal-os,was asub-provinceof Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22, 1992.

History[edit]

Spanish colonial era[edit]

About 1581,Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa,Spanish governor and Captain-General of the Philippine Islands, established a settlement in Guimaras for the purpose of Christianizing the island's natives. He and his subordinates organized thepueblicitosor villages of Nayup under thepatronageof SaintPeter the Apostle,and Igang withSaint Anneas patroness.

Evangelization of Guimaras occurred around the same time the friars were making inroads in Panay. TheAugustiniansestablished thevisitas(chapelries) of Nayup and Igang as subordinate toOton, Iloilo.Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas,the 7thSpanishGovernor-General,noted in a June 20, 1591, report to KingPhilip IIthat the friars of Oton made regular visits to the island.

In 1742, the island came under the jurisdiction of Dumangas – now known asIloilo,until 1751 when the Augustinian Order was replaced by theJesuits,after which theDominican ordertook over Guimaras. The Jesuits, who had established a school in Iloilo and had missions in Molo and Arevalo, took 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 (todayBuenavista).

American invasion era[edit]

UnderAmerican rule,the Guimarasnons were given the opportunity to elect their municipal president in 1908.[5]

Douglas MacArthur,a fresh graduate fromWest Pointas aSecond Lieutenantat the age of 23, came to Iloilo as the head of the company ofU.S. Army Corps of Engineers.They constructed roads and the Santo Rosario Wharf, presently named MacArthur's Wharf, which are still in use today. In November 1903, while working on Guimaras, he was ambushed by a pair of Filipino brigands or guerrillas; he shot and killed both with his pistol.[6]

Japanese occupation era[edit]

In 1942,Japanese Imperial forceslanded on Guimaras Island as theEmpire of Japanbegan itsoccupationof the country during theSecond World War.The Japanese controlled almost every island between the Philippines and Hawaii. The U.S. Forces needed these islands to run aircraft to and from the Philippines, while denying Japan usage. The U.S. Army and Navy planned indirect attacks that would eventually lead them toLuzon.[7]

In 1945, 10 U.S. divisions and 5 independent regiments would battle for Luzon, making it the largest campaign of the war and involving more troops than the United States had used in North Africa, Italy or southern France. The combinedUnited StatesandPhilippine Commonwealthforces landed on Guimaras Island, attacking the Japanese and defeating them in the Battle of Guimaras, which led to the liberation of the island.[8][7]

Philippine independence[edit]

Provincial status[edit]

Guimaras gained its status as a sub-province of Iloilo throughRepublic Act4667,[9]which was enacted byCongresson June 18, 1966. It was proclaimed as a regular and full-fledged province on May 22, 1992, after aplebiscitewas conducted to ratify the approval of its conversion pursuant to Section 462 ofR.A. 7160.[10]

Shortly after Guimaras acquired its provincial status,PresidentFidel V. Ramosappointed Emily Relucio-López as its first Governor.

The province of Guimaras was originally composed of three municipalities: Buenavista, Jordan, andNueva Valencia.In 1995, throughRepublic Act No. 7896andRepublic Act No. 7897,[11][12]the municipalities of Sibunag andSan Lorenzowere created. The two new municipalities officially acquired their municipal status after the May 8, 1995,plebisciteheld simultaneously with the local election.

Ernesto L. Gedalanga was the first appointed mayor of Sibunag and Arsenio Zambarrano was also appointed mayor of San Lorenzo. The temporary seat of government of the Municipality of Sibunag is at Barangay Dasal while the temporary seat of Government of the Municipality of San Lorenzo is at Barangay Cabano.

Contemporary[edit]

Guimaras oil spill[edit]

In August 2006, theGuimaras oil spilloccurred. The 998-ton MTSolar 1,charteredbyPetron(the Philippines' largest oil refiner), carrying 2.4 million litres ofbunker fuel,sank 17 kilometres (11 mi) off the island's southern coast, contaminating 24 square kilometres (9.3 sq mi). ThePhilippine Coast Guardcalled this the worst oil spill in the country's history. According to officials, 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) ofmangroveswere affected, including parts of theTaklong Island National Marine Reserve.[13]

Geography[edit]

Guimaras comprises primarily of Guimaras Island, and numerous minor islets, prominent among which are Inampulugan, Guiwanon (orGuiuanon), Panobolon, Natunga and Nadulao. The province covers a total area of 604.57 square kilometres (233.43 sq mi)[14]occupying the southeastern section of theWestern Visayasregion.

Sibunag Riveris the longest river in Guimaras with a total length of 28.8 km (17.9 mi) in municipality ofSibunag,followed byCabano River23.7 km (14.7 mi) long inSan Lorenzo,Mantangingi River17.4 km inBuenavista.

Mount Bontocis the highest point in the province of Guimaras with an elevation of 892 ft (272 m) above sea level, located in municipality of Sibunag.Mount Dinulmanis the second highest mountain with an elevation of 879 ft (268 m) also located in Sibunag.

The province has 5 municipalities. There is only onelegislative district of Guimaraswhich encompasses all five towns.

Demographics[edit]

New Guimaras Capitol Building under construction
Population census of Guimaras
YearPop.±% p.a.
190321,467—
191827,170+1.58%
193938,547+1.68%
194840,697+0.60%
196057,560+2.93%
197073,014+2.40%
197584,515+2.98%
198092,382+1.80%
1990117,990+2.48%
1995126,470+1.31%
2000141,450+2.43%
2007151,238+0.93%
2010162,943+2.75%
2015174,613+1.33%
2020187,842+1.45%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][16]

The population of Guimaras in the 2020 census was 187,842 people, with a density of 310 inhabitants per square kilometre or 800 inhabitants per square mile.[5]

The people of the province, calledGuimarasnon,speakHiligaynonas the primary language, as it was once a sub-province ofIloilo.FilipinoandEnglishare widely spoken and understood.

Religion[edit]

Main article:Religion in the Philippines

Catholicism[edit]

The two predominant religions in the municipality are theRoman Catholic Churchand theIglesia Filipina Independiente(Philippine Independent Church). The St. Paul's Theological Seminary (SPTS) in Jordan is the regional seminary of the Philippine Independent Church serving its Visayas and Mindanao dioceses.

Economy[edit]

Poverty incidence of Guimaras

5
10
15
20
25
30
2006
25.30
2009
20.73
2012
25.20
2015
5.22
2018
9.49
2021
7.30

Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Mangoes galore in the Guimaras Manggahan Festival

The sectors having the most potential to support Guimaras' economic development are mangoes, tourism, cashew cultivation, and food processing. Another expanding sector is fishery, which includes growing seaweed. Infrastructure, capacity-building initiatives, more favorable legislation, and higher investments are just a few examples of local variables that have boosted the potential growth of these industries.

Guimaras greenery

Guimaras is well known for its agricultural crops, particularly themangoes,half of all exported mangoes come from this island. The island province is famous for producing one of the sweetest mangoes in the world, thus earning the nickname "Mango Capital of the Philippines"from local and foreign tourists. Guimaras mangoes are reportedly served at theWhite HouseandBuckingham Palace.[25][26][27]Guimaras' largest event of the year is theManggahan Festival(the Mango Festival).[28]The variety of mangoes produced are also best for making dried mangoes, jam and other special delicacies. They also produce other fruits and vegetables such as bananas, tomatoes, and eggplants among others.[29]

Transportation[edit]

Mango monument in Jordan Wharf

Steel or Fiberglass Ferry boatsply regularly from Iloilo-Guimaras Ferry Terminal inIloilo City Properto Jordan, Guimaras and Buenavista, Guimaras, taking about 15 to 20 minutes per journey. RORO orroll-on/roll-offvessels sail fromLapuz, Iloilo Cityto Jordan Port in Jordan, Guimaras, every 30 minutes to one hour starting at 4:30AM to 6:30PM, taking about 30mins per way.

There is also a Ferry plying from Sibunag Port toPulupandanin Negros Occidental.

Government[edit]

The Governor of Guimaras is Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava, a member of theNational Unity Party.The province's Vice Governor is John Edward G. Gando, a member ofPDP–Laban.Guimaras is represented in the Philippine House of Representatives by Lucille Nava, also a member ofPDP–Laban.

Tourism[edit]

Hubon Guimarasnon ofManggahan Festival,declared champion inKasadyahan Festival2018 in Iloilo City

Guimaras attracts tourists particularly in May, when theManggahan Festivaltakes place. In the festival, locals wear mango-inspired costumes and design mango-themed floats in a parade that makes its way around the island. Pastries and confectionery with mango ingredients, as well unprepared mangoes, are also sold in relatively large quantities. Tourism also includes visits to agricultural areas across the island, such as the Oro Verde Mango Plantation.

Taklong Island Beach

The island is also a growing destination forecotourism.Talkong Island,off Guimaras' south coast, is a area of natural beauty recognized by the Philippine government. Tourists frequently visit areas such as the Guisi, Alubihod, Tatlong Pulo, and Natago beaches.Ave Maria Islandis another ecological destination near Jordan. Some tourists also choose to visit the San Lorenzo Wind Farm, a series of turbines located near the island's eastern coast.

Guimaras is also a site forreligious tourism.TheBalaan BukidShrine hosts twelve markers of theWay of the Crossas individuals make an ascent towards a hilltop where the main shrine rests. Navalas Church, built between 1880 and 1885, bears one of the few remaining sites ofRoman CatholicSpanishheritage on the island. TheTrappist Monasteryis located near the center of the island, providing aretreat centerfor visitors in addition to selling various mango-based foodstuffs to help support the monks of the monastery.[29]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"List of Provinces".PSGC Interactive.Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  2. ^abCensus of Population (2020)."Region VI (Western Visayas)".Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay.Philippine Statistics Authority.RetrievedJuly 8,2021.
  3. ^"2021 to 2023 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)".openstat.psa.gov.ph.Philippine Statistics Authority.RetrievedApril 26,2024.
  4. ^Official map of provinceArchivedMay 11, 2011, at theWayback Machine.Province of Guimaras
  5. ^ab"Guimaras History".Islands Philippines. Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2017.RetrievedJune 2,2012.
  6. ^Clayton, James, D. (1970)."Volume 1, 1880–1941", The Years of MacArthur.Boston: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 87–89.ISBN0-395-10948-5.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ab"U.S. Forces Began Main Battle For Philippines 75 Years Ago".U.S. Department of Defense.RetrievedMarch 17,2023.
  8. ^"US Army in WW II".Robert Ross Smith.
  9. ^"Republic Act No. 4667 - An Act Creating the Subprovince of Guimaras in the Province of Iloilo".Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.RetrievedDecember 20,2015.
  10. ^"An Act Providing for a Local Government Code of 1991".The LawPhil Project.
  11. ^"Republic Act No. 7896; An Act Creating the Municipality of Sibunag in the Province of Guimaras".Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.February 20, 1995.RetrievedDecember 20,2015.
  12. ^"Republic Act No. 7897 - An Act Creating the Municipality of San Lorenzo in the Province of Guimaras".Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.RetrievedDecember 20,2015.
  13. ^Ombion, Karl G.; Lachica, Ryan B. (2006)."Guimaras Oil Spill Ship Found Unfit for Sailing".Bulatlat.Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2007.RetrievedApril 15,2016.As of press time, the ship's sinking has already caused an oil spill contaminating 200 kilometers of the coastline of Nueva Valencia, Sibunag and San Lorenzo towns. This has reportedly affected more than 20 sq. km of coral reefs, 1,100 has. of the Taclong national marine reserve in Nueva Valencia, at least 4,000 fishermen and 17,000 households in several coastal villages.
  14. ^ab"Province: Guimaras".PSGC Interactive.Quezon City, Philippines:Philippine Statistics Authority.RetrievedJanuary 8,2016.
  15. ^abCensus of Population (2015)."Region VI (Western Visayas)".Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay.Philippine Statistics Authority.RetrievedJune 20,2016.
  16. ^abCensus of Population and Housing (2010)."Region VI (Western Visayas)"(PDF).Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay.National Statistics Office.RetrievedJune 29,2016.
  17. ^"Poverty incidence (PI):".Philippine Statistics Authority.RetrievedDecember 28,2020.
  18. ^"Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines"(PDF).Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  19. ^"2009 Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines"(PDF).Philippine Statistics Authority. February 8, 2011.
  20. ^"Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015".Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  21. ^"Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015".Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  22. ^"Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015".Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  23. ^"Updated Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2015 and 2018".Philippine Statistics Authority. June 4, 2020.
  24. ^"2021 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines"(PDF).Philippine Statistics Authority. August 15, 2022.RetrievedApril 28,2024.
  25. ^Alexander R. Bautista."The hidden jewel that is Guimaras".Manila Standard Today. Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2013.
  26. ^Stefanie (October 4, 2010)."Journey of a lifetime".blogspot.
  27. ^"Philippine Mangoes Naihain na sa White House at Buckingham Palace".GMA News.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2021.
  28. ^"Manggahan Festival".guimaras.gov. Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2012.
  29. ^ab"Beyond Guimaras Mango: What is the Economy of Guimaras? - Streamtech".September 25, 2021.RetrievedMarch 17,2023.

External links[edit]

Map all coordinates usingOpenStreetMap

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