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General Info
About Guimaras
CAPITAL: JORDAN
AREA: 604 sq km
DIALECT: Hiligaynon
NO. OF TOWNS: 3 (Buenavista, Jordan and Nueva
Valencia)
Between the islands of Panay and Negros and
accessible by pumpboat from Iloilo is the
small island of Guimaras, known to Visayans as
the site of the much-admired Roca Encantada
(Enchanted Rock), summer house of the
distinguished Lopez family of Iloilo. The
house is perched on a promontory overlooking
Guimaras Strait. Across the promontory is a
picturesque group of coral islets called Siete
Pecados (Isles of the Seven Sins), a curious
counterpoint to the attractions of spiritual
value in Guimaras. Near the capital town of
Jordan is a Trappist Monastery, the only one
in the Philippines; and Bala-an Bukid (Holy
Mountain), a favorite Catholic pilgrimage site
where a 30-minute climb up a stairway leads to
a huge cross and chapel at the top. The town
of Nueva Valencia, 20 kilometers south of
Jordan, is host to Catilaran Cave, from where
Ming jars have been unearthed and where on
Good Friday the pangalap ritual is held.
Hundreds of devotees recite prayers in Latin
while crawling through the half-kilometer-long
cave in the belief that they shall acquire
supernatural powers, particularly for use
against evil spirits.
A brief history:
Archaeologists and geologists believe that
Guimaras was once connected to the Pany
mainland. As far as historical documents can
attest, Guimaras was known as "Himal-us"
during the pre-Spanish period. Guimaras was an
integral part of the Iloilo province
established by the Spaniards. During the
Filipino-American War, the US Army maintained
a military reservation, known as Camp Jossman,
in Buenavista as headquarters of the American
forces in Panay. During this period, General
Douglas MacArthur, then a first lieutenant,
built the wharf at Buenavista. Guimaras was
created a separate province on May 11, 1992.
The people:
"Hiligaynon" is widely spoken among the
inhabitants. Residents of some barangay´s in
Jordan and Nueva Valencia speak "Kinaray-a", a
Hiligaynon variant.
Commerce and industry:
The economy is largely agricultural and the
major crops are rice, coconut and fruits,
especially cashew nuts, mango and kalamansi (a
variety of Citrus). In the country only
Trappist Monastery located outside Jordan, the
monks grow kalamansi. A plant Jordan processes
mango into juice, jam and preserves. The town
is also the site of a sugar refinery and
bulk-loading sugar and molasses terminal.
Limestone also abounds, used by a cement plant
in Buenavista. Other industries include
fishing, charcoal- and basket-making, and hat,
mat-weaving from pandan and buri palms.
Getting there and away:
The 25 minutes ferry ride to Jordan departs
from close to Iloilo post office ca. every 30
minutes |
