Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental
Encyclopedia
Hinoba-an is a municipality
in the province
of Negros Occidental
, Philippines
. It is the southernmost town of the province. It is bounded on the north by Sipalay City
and Candoni
; on the south by Basay, Negros Oriental
; on the east by the town of Ilog
; and on the west by the Sulu Sea
. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 53,894 people.
The total land area of Hinoba-an is 421.50 square kilometers.
came and settled in the coastal areas, the settlers began to group in the area where the town is now located. Traders visited to barter products like clothing made in Miag-ao, Tigbauan and Guimbal in Iloilo.
Spanish authorities did not occupy Hinoba-an during their time in the province since the area was still a jungle. It was visited only by people from Cauayan and the neighboring towns for hunting purposes, hence no important events were recorded about the coming of the Spaniards in the town until the early 20th century.
In the early 1900’s, Don Estanislao Bilbao, a Basque émigré and patriarch of the Bilbao clan---one of the area's prominent families, begun a decades-long process of settling an area south of where Hinoba-an would come to be. In a few short years, a significant plot of land had been rehabilitated to which thousands of germinating coconut husks were planted in precise rows. Maturing and bearing crop in under a decade, once coastal wilderness was transformed into copra producing land. Rice fields were likewise developed further inland close to irrigation sources.
The subsequent grant of landownership, along with the total absence of government due to area’s remoteness, became the basis for Don Estanislao’s provisional administration of the people and the place. He became the area’s primary, if not for a time, sole employer. As a matter of moral imperative and practical necessity, he also became the de facto Judge and Sheriff, adjudicating upon and enforcing common law.
Through his marriage to Felicidad Rivas—a patrician heiress to a similarly homesteaded parcel of land nearby, Don Estanislao doubled the size of the holding. Hand-in-hand with Dona Felicidad, they lorded over a highly productive agricultural expanse that, from points north to south, ostensibly stretched for miles on end. The couple’s life-long beneficence and philanthropy endeared them to the local populace making the Bilbao name well-respected and well-loved. Generations of offspring have since reaped the fruits of their enduring legacy. A few have gone on to build legacies of their own. Sons Joaquin and Francisco, and daughter-in-law Teresa, have each been elected town’s mayor. Today, with Mayor Teresa Locsin-Bilbao’s incumbency, the Bilbao’s have governed the municipality for a collective span of over thirty years.
When the Americans landed in Negros during World War II
, Hinoba-an became a historical point of entry by the combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth military forces. Col. Salvador Abcede, district commander of the 7th military district, established his island headquarters in this town during the Japanese occupation.
Col. Jesus Villamor, aboard submarine USS Gudgeon (SS211), landed at Ubong Point and occupied Ubong Cave as command post supply food and arms to guerillas.
After Liberation, Hinoba-an was rehabilitated by some of its pioneering residents. More settlements were established, schools were built, trails developed for the people’s convenience in going to places and in transporting their local produce to nearby towns and villages.
Ubong Cave is where the late Major Jesus Villamor, hero of World War II landed bringing firearms for the Philippine guerillas aboard the US Navy Submarine Gudgeon in 1942, establishing the first radio contact with General Douglas McArthur based in Australia at that time.
s, two of which comprise the town proper:
Municipalities of the Philippines
A municipality is a local government unit in the Philippines. Municipalities are also called towns . They are distinct from cities, which are a different category of local government unit...
in the province
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
of Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
, Philippines
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...
. It is the southernmost town of the province. It is bounded on the north by Sipalay City
Sipalay City
Sipalay City is a 4th class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 62,063 people in 11,955 households.-Barangays:Sipalay City is politically subdivided into 17 barangays....
and Candoni
Candoni, Negros Occidental
Candoni is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 19,987 people in 3,710 households.-History:...
; on the south by Basay, Negros Oriental
Basay, Negros Oriental
Basay is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,366 people in 4,220 households.-Barangays:Basay is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.* Actin* Bal-os...
; on the east by the town of Ilog
Ilog, Negros Occidental
Ilog is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.Founded by the Augustinian fathers in May 1584. It was the first capital of Negros Occidental and Siquijor Provinces in the late 19th century...
; and on the west by the Sulu Sea
Sulu Sea
The Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 53,894 people.
The total land area of Hinoba-an is 421.50 square kilometers.
History
Formerly a part of Cauayan, Hinoba-an was inhabited by natives called "Magabat". When immigrants from PanayPanay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
came and settled in the coastal areas, the settlers began to group in the area where the town is now located. Traders visited to barter products like clothing made in Miag-ao, Tigbauan and Guimbal in Iloilo.
Spanish authorities did not occupy Hinoba-an during their time in the province since the area was still a jungle. It was visited only by people from Cauayan and the neighboring towns for hunting purposes, hence no important events were recorded about the coming of the Spaniards in the town until the early 20th century.
In the early 1900’s, Don Estanislao Bilbao, a Basque émigré and patriarch of the Bilbao clan---one of the area's prominent families, begun a decades-long process of settling an area south of where Hinoba-an would come to be. In a few short years, a significant plot of land had been rehabilitated to which thousands of germinating coconut husks were planted in precise rows. Maturing and bearing crop in under a decade, once coastal wilderness was transformed into copra producing land. Rice fields were likewise developed further inland close to irrigation sources.
The subsequent grant of landownership, along with the total absence of government due to area’s remoteness, became the basis for Don Estanislao’s provisional administration of the people and the place. He became the area’s primary, if not for a time, sole employer. As a matter of moral imperative and practical necessity, he also became the de facto Judge and Sheriff, adjudicating upon and enforcing common law.
Through his marriage to Felicidad Rivas—a patrician heiress to a similarly homesteaded parcel of land nearby, Don Estanislao doubled the size of the holding. Hand-in-hand with Dona Felicidad, they lorded over a highly productive agricultural expanse that, from points north to south, ostensibly stretched for miles on end. The couple’s life-long beneficence and philanthropy endeared them to the local populace making the Bilbao name well-respected and well-loved. Generations of offspring have since reaped the fruits of their enduring legacy. A few have gone on to build legacies of their own. Sons Joaquin and Francisco, and daughter-in-law Teresa, have each been elected town’s mayor. Today, with Mayor Teresa Locsin-Bilbao’s incumbency, the Bilbao’s have governed the municipality for a collective span of over thirty years.
When the Americans landed in 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...
, Hinoba-an became a historical point of entry by the combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth military forces. Col. Salvador Abcede, district commander of the 7th military district, established his island headquarters in this town during the Japanese occupation.
Col. Jesus Villamor, aboard submarine USS Gudgeon (SS211), landed at Ubong Point and occupied Ubong Cave as command post supply food and arms to guerillas.
After Liberation, Hinoba-an was rehabilitated by some of its pioneering residents. More settlements were established, schools were built, trails developed for the people’s convenience in going to places and in transporting their local produce to nearby towns and villages.
Tourism
Salvacion Cave along the vicinity of pebbled beaches of Brgy. Talacagay has a natural covered pools ideal for bathing.Ubong Cave is where the late Major Jesus Villamor, hero of World War II landed bringing firearms for the Philippine guerillas aboard the US Navy Submarine Gudgeon in 1942, establishing the first radio contact with General Douglas McArthur based in Australia at that time.
Barangays
Hinoba-an is politically subdivided into 13 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s, two of which comprise the town proper:
- Alim
- Asia
- Bacuyangan
- Barangay I (Pob.)
- Barangay II (Pob.)
- Bulwangan
- Culipapa
- Damutan
- Daug
- Po-ok
- San Rafael
- Sangke
- Talacagay