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A Brief History of the Island Province
The island province of Guimaras, located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries. From its early days as a trading hub and pirate target to its present status as a growing tourism destination, Guimaras has experienced many changes over the years.
Guimaras was first mentioned in historical records in the 16th century, when Spanish explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan visited the Philippines. After Magellan’s death, the surviving Spanish sailors aboard three vessels went to Leyte for repairs. Later, they abandoned one of the vessels in Bohol and sailed towards the nearby islands of Negros and Panay. The island of Guimaras was likely discovered during this expedition, as it was mentioned in several historical accounts from the period.
The beauty and natural resources of Guimaras soon attracted attention from European and Asian traders, who sailed to the island to trade goods such as rice, corn, tobacco, and cacao. In the 18th century, the island fell under the jurisdiction of the Jesuits, who established several churches and missions on the island. During this period, Guimaras was frequently raided by pirates, and its population growth was slow.
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In the 19th century, Guimaras gained more attention from foreign visitors, including Sir John Bowring, the British Governor of Hong Kong, who noted that Guimaras was a blessing to the newly opened port of Iloilo by making it safe to navigation. Dean C. Worcester, a zoology professor at the University of Michigan who later became a member of the Philippine Commission during the American Regime, also visited Guimaras in 1887 and described it as “extremely beautiful.”
The Christianization of the people of Guimaras began in the 16th century, with the establishment of pueblocitos (villages) organized by the Spaniards. For a long time, these small villages formed a “visita” of Oton. In the 18th century, Guimaras was annexed to the parish of Iloilo, and in the 19th century, it became a municipality with its own municipal president.
The American Regime brought faster progress to Guimaras, with the construction of roads and a wharf along Muelle Loney by General Douglas MacArthur. The island also gained its own elected municipal president in 1908. During World War II, Guimaras was occupied by the Japanese, who used the island as a military outpost.
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