Himamaylan City
Encyclopedia
Himamaylan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines
. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 88,684 people in 16,878 households. Himamaylan is 83 kilometers south of Bacolod City
, the provincial capital. Due to its coastal location, it is a rich source of fish
, oyster
s and mussel
s.
Himamaylan became a city on March 5, 2001 through a proclamation by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under Republic Act No. 9028. It is the only city in the 5th District of Negros Occidental.
raids is one of the historical attractions found in the city.
words hima and babaylan
. It is alleged that the settlement's early Malay inhabitants suffered from a foot malady called hima, and their employment of witch doctor
s called babaylan caused the Spanish occupiers to call them Himamaylan.
on the coastline of the island of Negros. Himamaylan has a natural harbor characterized by deep water favorable to access by marine vessels.
Located in the center of Negros island, with Negros central to Luzon
, the Visayas
and Mindanao
, the city is conducive to operations reaching all parts of the country and the rest of the world from a strategic point. Most portions of the city are plains and generally have fertile soil, conducive for agriculture. The city's rivers are 12 feet or deeper, providing drainage for farmland.
Governor Valeriano Gatuslao served for thirteen years. He started his political career in Murcia as councilor, then was elected as provincial board member. He won almost every election by landslide and was one of the island's most popular politicians of the time. Gatuslao Street in Bacolod City and the district hospital in Himamaylan are named in his honor.
Governor Miguel Gatuslao led the resistance against the Japanese in southern Negros during World War II
, where he was appointed one of the deputy Governors of the island. After the war he was elected Vice-Governor and served until the early 1980s However, he was best known for his enthusiastic promotion of the Boy Scouts
.
Agustin Ramos was also a long-serving politician. He served as mayor of Himamaylan, then as Congressman, and Governor.
Congressman Agustin Gatuslao is remembered as the "builder of the third district", due to the numerous infrastructure projects he undertook during his terms. He represented then the 3rd District of Negros Occidental which encompassed most of southern Negros. The stadium in Himamaylan City was named in his honor.
Mayor Jose Gatuslao was the longest serving mayor of Himamaylan. Having served for more than two decades.
These four Gatuslaos were brothers and for a while served at the same time. This unprecedented record has yet to be matched by any other family in Negros.
In 1980, Roberto Gatuslao, son of Jose, won a seat in the Interim Batasang Pambansa. Four years later his first cousin Antonio Gatuslao, son of Agustin, won election to the same body. Roberto ran under the KBL
banner while Antonio was an independent candidate.
The current city mayor is Agustin Bascon under the term of 2010-2013. He is the son of former mayor, now vice mayor, Carminia Bascon who is a relative of the Gatuslaos.
s.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 88,684 people in 16,878 households. Himamaylan is 83 kilometers south of Bacolod City
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
, the provincial capital. Due to its coastal location, it is a rich source of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s and mussel
Mussel
The common name mussel is used for members of several families of clams or bivalvia mollusca, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.The...
s.
Himamaylan became a city on March 5, 2001 through a proclamation by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under Republic Act No. 9028. It is the only city in the 5th District of Negros Occidental.
History
In 1795, Himamaylan became the capital of Negros. At that time, the city served as a garrison for occupying Spanish forces. Today, the old Spanish-built fort constructed as a lookout point for frequent MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
raids is one of the historical attractions found in the city.
Etymology
The term "Himamaylan" is a portmanteau of the HiligaynonHiligaynon language
Hiligaynon, often referred to as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian language spoken in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.Hiligaynon is concentrated in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Capiz but is also spoken in the other provinces of the Panay Island group, including Antique,...
words hima and babaylan
Babaylan
Babaylan is a Visayan term identifying an indigenous Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a shaman, a seer and a community "miracle-worker"...
. It is alleged that the settlement's early Malay inhabitants suffered from a foot malady called hima, and their employment of witch doctor
Witch doctor
A witch doctor originally referred to a type of healer who treated ailments believed to be caused by witchcraft. It is currently used to refer to healers in some third world regions, who use traditional healing rather than contemporary medicine...
s called babaylan caused the Spanish occupiers to call them Himamaylan.
Geography
Himamaylan is located at the center-most coveCove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often inside a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves...
on the coastline of the island of Negros. Himamaylan has a natural harbor characterized by deep water favorable to access by marine vessels.
Located in the center of Negros island, with Negros central to Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, the city is conducive to operations reaching all parts of the country and the rest of the world from a strategic point. Most portions of the city are plains and generally have fertile soil, conducive for agriculture. The city's rivers are 12 feet or deeper, providing drainage for farmland.
Economy
The city's main sources of livelihood include fishery, sugar production, rice production, mango cultivation, and ethanol exports.Politics
The city has gained prominence in politics over the years. Three provincial governors trace their roots from Himamaylan–Valeriano Gatuslao, Miguel Gatuslao, and Agustin Ramos.Governor Valeriano Gatuslao served for thirteen years. He started his political career in Murcia as councilor, then was elected as provincial board member. He won almost every election by landslide and was one of the island's most popular politicians of the time. Gatuslao Street in Bacolod City and the district hospital in Himamaylan are named in his honor.
Governor Miguel Gatuslao led the resistance against the Japanese in southern Negros during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he was appointed one of the deputy Governors of the island. After the war he was elected Vice-Governor and served until the early 1980s However, he was best known for his enthusiastic promotion of the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of the Philippines
The Boy Scouts of the Philippines is the national Scout organization of the Philippines. Its mission is to imbue in the youth the love of God, country, and fellow men; to train young people to become responsible leaders; and to contribute in nation-building.The BSP was chartered under...
.
Agustin Ramos was also a long-serving politician. He served as mayor of Himamaylan, then as Congressman, and Governor.
Congressman Agustin Gatuslao is remembered as the "builder of the third district", due to the numerous infrastructure projects he undertook during his terms. He represented then the 3rd District of Negros Occidental which encompassed most of southern Negros. The stadium in Himamaylan City was named in his honor.
Mayor Jose Gatuslao was the longest serving mayor of Himamaylan. Having served for more than two decades.
These four Gatuslaos were brothers and for a while served at the same time. This unprecedented record has yet to be matched by any other family in Negros.
In 1980, Roberto Gatuslao, son of Jose, won a seat in the Interim Batasang Pambansa. Four years later his first cousin Antonio Gatuslao, son of Agustin, won election to the same body. Roberto ran under the KBL
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan , formerly the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista, Liberal, at iba pa, , is a political party in the Philippines...
banner while Antonio was an independent candidate.
The current city mayor is Agustin Bascon under the term of 2010-2013. He is the son of former mayor, now vice mayor, Carminia Bascon who is a relative of the Gatuslaos.
Barangays
Himamaylan City is politically subdivided into 19 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s.
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