Capiz is a province located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Known as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines,” Capiz boasts of abundant marine resources and is home to various shellfish species. It is also a culturally rich province, with a long history and a unique blend of Spanish and local traditions.
In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the history of Capiz province.
Maragtas sang Capiz.
The history of Capiz is fascinating and diverse but I won’t be giving out a lengthy write-up about it. Instead, I will give some of the highlights that you might want to know.
Capiz province has a rich history that dates back to the pre-colonial era. The region was originally inhabited by the Austronesian-speaking people, who were later followed by the Malay and Chinese traders.
According to some records which a lot of scholars do not consider a reliable source of history, Some parts of the Philippines which include Panay island and of course Capiz were part of the Majapahit Empire, which ruled over most of Southeast Asia in the 13th century.
Capiz was part of Aklan in pre-colonial times and one of the early settlements of the Malays who came from Borneo. They named their land Akean, which means “where there is a river”
The province became the second Spanish settlement after Cebu when Panay town became the capital of the province in 1569. The Spaniards renamed Akean to Capiz, which means “twin” or “double” because they thought that Panay Island was composed of two islands.
Its capital, Capiz (now Roxas City), became a center of trade and commerce. The Spaniards introduced Christianity to the region, and many churches and other religious structures were built during their occupation.
Capiz was transformed into a politico-military unit in 1716 and became a separate province from Iloilo. It was also where the first printing press in the Visayas was established by Fr. Tomas de San Agustin in 1734. He printed several religious books such as Doctrina Christiana and Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya.
Capiz became a civil province under American rule on April 15, 1901, by virtue of Act 115. It was also where Manuel Roxas, the first president of the Philippine Republic was born on January 1 1892 in Roxas City.
The province of Capiz was occupied by Japanese troops during World War II in 1942. It was liberated by Filipino-American forces and local guerrillas in 1945 with the help of Capt. Jesus Villamor is a hero pilot from Dao town.
Capiz lost its northern part when Aklan became a new province on November 8 1956 by virtue of Republic Act No. 1414. Capiz remained a third-class province based on income until it improved its economy through agriculture fisheries and tourism.
Here are some notable highlights of the province of Capiz.
- The Santa Monica Parish Church (Panay Church) is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was built in 1774 and houses the largest church bell in Asia, which weighs 10.4 tons and was made from 70 sacks of coins donated by the townspeople
- The Immaculate Conception Cathedral is a historical landmark that serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Capiz. It was built in 1876 and has a neoclassical architecture with stained glass windows and paintings
- The St. Martin of Tours Parish Church is another old church that dates back to 1625. It has a baroque style with coral stone walls and wooden altars. It also has a belfry that houses four bells, one of which was donated by Queen Isabela II of Spain
- The Moro Tower is an ancient watchtower that was built by Spanish friars in 1814 to protect Panay town from Moro pirates who raided coastal villages. It has four levels and offers a panoramic view of Panay River and Capiz Bay.
Hopefully, this article can help us understand the origin and history of the beautiful province of Capiz. You might want to research more about the history of the province for more learned and more detailed facts about its history.
Important Note:
There might be mistakes or inconsistencies in the above information and I, as the author takes all responsibility for the mistakes. Having said that, I would like to enjoin those who might want to send in their corrections if there are any or even suggestions so as to make this short article more truthful and reliable.
Vicente F. Gonzales III is a professional SEO specialist and a digital marketer. He also happens to be an accomplished content writer, website designer and digital strategist. Vicente's clients love him for his unwavering dedication to their success, as well as his witty, intelligent demeanor. When he's not helping businesses achieve their online marketing goals, Vicente can be found reading up on the latest SEO trends or spending time with his wife and two young children.
