The Founding of Calivo
The Ati Atihan town of Kalibo was 434 years old. Its first ever foundation day was celebrated by the Kalibonhons led by their youthful Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo on November 3, 2005.
The 1st Foundation Day Celebration was the culmination of a very intensive research Mayor Rebaldo himself initiated and with the strong support of the Kalibo Council For Culture and the Arts. Professor John E. Barrios who hails from Lezo, Aklan and now teaching in the UP Visayas, Iloilo City wholeheartedly conducted the review of documentary evidences and related studies. With all the facts available, Prof. Barrios strongly concluded that Kalibo was founded on November 3, 1571. No one differed from his findings.
The 1st Foundation Day Celebration started with the Eucharistic Celebration at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Opening Program and Symposium on The Foundation Day of Kalibo followed which was held at the Museo it Akean and the Mural Painting Competition at Magsaysay Park sponsored by the Aklan Visual Artists Association.
In the evening, there were dances and music at Pastrana Park. It featured live acoustic music at Glorieta with Sunday Shivers, cultural shows, social dances, grand binayle and fireworks.
Celebrating a foundation day of a town like Kalibo is tracing its identity, looking back from where it came from and chartering the future. It is honoring the past. It is like celebrating a loved one’s birthday because that person is highly adored. We love Kalibo, we celebrated its Foundation Day. Everybody is happy because he is born. We are happy because Kalibo was founded.
For their love of Kalibo, its Municipal Government enacted Ordinance No. 2005 – 049 on October 6, 2005, “An Ordinance Declaring November 3, 1571 as Foundation Day of the Municipality of Kalibo and Instituting The Celebration of Kalibo Day Every November 3”.
In his message, Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores of Aklan stressed, “the 1st Foundation day of Kalibo is truly a very significant occasion, for it serves as a constant reminder of our heritage and humble beginning.”
Governor Carlito S. Marquez of Aklan pointed out to the strategic tourism and economic importance of Kalibo to Aklan as a “lead player with its internationally famous Ati Atihan festival, Kahayag, Kabuhi it Kalibonhon, the Feast of Saint John the Baptist with its Food Festival Sa Kalye, Manggad it Kalibo, Piña Village”. Kalibo stands at the forefront of the development of Aklan province”, Marquez stressed.
In the symposium, Professor John E. Barrios discussed the methods used in his research, his findings, analysis, conclusion and recommendation. His conclusion that November 3, 1571 is the actual foundation of Aklan contradicted the earlier conclusion that Kalibo was founded on April 22, 1581. However, November 3, 1571 prevailed. This is the date which “appeared in the notarized Spanish document dated June 2, 1576…the first written date relating to the Spanish colonial administration in Acean/Calivo under the encomienda system instituted by the first governor and captain general of the islands of the Philippines Miguel Lopez de Legaspi”.
With this new date of the Kalibo foundation day, several documents on the matter will be adjusted. One example is the official seal of the Municipality of Kalibo which stated “founded in 1581”.
One of the questions asked during the symposium on November 3 was about the spelling. Since its foundation day until after the World War II in 1946, Kalibo was spelled “CALIVO” and Aklan – Acean.
It must be recalled that the teaching of the “Pilipino” was instituted in 1946 after Independence was returned by the Americans. The Pilipino alphabet then did not include letters “C” and “V”, hence “C” became “K” and “V” became B. Therefore from “Calivo” to “Kalibo” and “Acean” to Aklan. To ease pronunciation as “ea” is hard to pronounce for non – Aklanons, the “E” was unconsciously changed to “L” therefore “AKLAN”.
For the communities which foundation days are not yet certain, search for it. For knowing its origin is loving it, caring for it, developing it. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
The Ati Atihan town of Kalibo was 434 years old. Its first ever foundation day was celebrated by the Kalibonhons led by their youthful Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo on November 3, 2005.
The 1st Foundation Day Celebration was the culmination of a very intensive research Mayor Rebaldo himself initiated and with the strong support of the Kalibo Council For Culture and the Arts. Professor John E. Barrios who hails from Lezo, Aklan and now teaching in the UP Visayas, Iloilo City wholeheartedly conducted the review of documentary evidences and related studies. With all the facts available, Prof. Barrios strongly concluded that Kalibo was founded on November 3, 1571. No one differed from his findings.
The 1st Foundation Day Celebration started with the Eucharistic Celebration at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Opening Program and Symposium on The Foundation Day of Kalibo followed which was held at the Museo it Akean and the Mural Painting Competition at Magsaysay Park sponsored by the Aklan Visual Artists Association.
In the evening, there were dances and music at Pastrana Park. It featured live acoustic music at Glorieta with Sunday Shivers, cultural shows, social dances, grand binayle and fireworks.
Celebrating a foundation day of a town like Kalibo is tracing its identity, looking back from where it came from and chartering the future. It is honoring the past. It is like celebrating a loved one’s birthday because that person is highly adored. We love Kalibo, we celebrated its Foundation Day. Everybody is happy because he is born. We are happy because Kalibo was founded.
For their love of Kalibo, its Municipal Government enacted Ordinance No. 2005 – 049 on October 6, 2005, “An Ordinance Declaring November 3, 1571 as Foundation Day of the Municipality of Kalibo and Instituting The Celebration of Kalibo Day Every November 3”.
In his message, Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores of Aklan stressed, “the 1st Foundation day of Kalibo is truly a very significant occasion, for it serves as a constant reminder of our heritage and humble beginning.”
Governor Carlito S. Marquez of Aklan pointed out to the strategic tourism and economic importance of Kalibo to Aklan as a “lead player with its internationally famous Ati Atihan festival, Kahayag, Kabuhi it Kalibonhon, the Feast of Saint John the Baptist with its Food Festival Sa Kalye, Manggad it Kalibo, Piña Village”. Kalibo stands at the forefront of the development of Aklan province”, Marquez stressed.
In the symposium, Professor John E. Barrios discussed the methods used in his research, his findings, analysis, conclusion and recommendation. His conclusion that November 3, 1571 is the actual foundation of Aklan contradicted the earlier conclusion that Kalibo was founded on April 22, 1581. However, November 3, 1571 prevailed. This is the date which “appeared in the notarized Spanish document dated June 2, 1576…the first written date relating to the Spanish colonial administration in Acean/Calivo under the encomienda system instituted by the first governor and captain general of the islands of the Philippines Miguel Lopez de Legaspi”.
With this new date of the Kalibo foundation day, several documents on the matter will be adjusted. One example is the official seal of the Municipality of Kalibo which stated “founded in 1581”.
One of the questions asked during the symposium on November 3 was about the spelling. Since its foundation day until after the World War II in 1946, Kalibo was spelled “CALIVO” and Aklan – Acean.
It must be recalled that the teaching of the “Pilipino” was instituted in 1946 after Independence was returned by the Americans. The Pilipino alphabet then did not include letters “C” and “V”, hence “C” became “K” and “V” became B. Therefore from “Calivo” to “Kalibo” and “Acean” to Aklan. To ease pronunciation as “ea” is hard to pronounce for non – Aklanons, the “E” was unconsciously changed to “L” therefore “AKLAN”.
For the communities which foundation days are not yet certain, search for it. For knowing its origin is loving it, caring for it, developing it. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment