“Some go down there for what it is famous for the delicious “Talaba” or the pyrotechnics.
During the Yuletide season and in summer, the town of Hinigaran is one of the busiest municipalities in the province.
This is home to the finest of pyrotechnics makers. “Talaba” which become more palatable during summer are in bounty. And so for talaba eaters and pyrotechnics enthusiast all roads lead to Hinigaran. For those who love the sun, Hinigaran can still boast of beautiful and clean beaches fringed by graceful coconut trees.
Located in the southwestern coast of Negros and just 54 kilometers south of Bacolod, it is bounded in the northeast by the towns of Pontevedra and La Castellana, in the east by Isabela, in the south of Binalbagan and Tanulo river, and in the west by the Guimaras Strait.
Hinigaran is the second class municipality with the population of 74,997 (2000 census) distributed in its 24 barangays and with it total area of 15,492 hectares.
Just like any town in Negros Occidental, Hinigaran is basically agricultural, though fishing is still the source of income of many, especially those living along coastal barangays.
Based on available records, the town of Hinigaran was first settled by the Mondos and the Ambaks, semi-premitive people. When the Malay traders from Panay came, they drove the Mondos to the Interior and these Malay settlers occupied the area beside the sea. The Mondos and the Ambaks, then called the new settlers “Taga-Higad “, meaning those living beside the sea. When the Spaniards arrived, the town was called “Ginigaran” derived from the Latin word “Higad”.
Legend however, says that the Hinigaran derived it name from the Bisayan word “Linigaran”, meaning was “bypassed”, or “skirted”. The accounts say that when Canla-on Volcano erupted, a big snake retreated to the sea taking the route of what is now Binalbagan River. As the big snake move into the sea, it skirted or bypassed Hinigaran (Linigaran) and got stranded at the mouth of the river and blocked the “Binalabagan” from which the present municipality of Binalbagan, derived it name. Among the first family that settled in Hinigaran were families of Mongcal, Danao-og, Curio, Sarrosa, David, Pido, Pabalinas, Luntayao, and Grijaldo. They came from Miag-ao and Guimbal. The migration from Panay increased the population, and in 1768 the Spaniards officials made Hinigaran a Pueblo. It was only in 1806 in the presence of Augustinian priest, that Basilio Mongcal was elected by the Principalis as the first Gobernadorcillo.
The demand for sugar by foreign firms stirred the interest of the people of Panay to acquire more land for cultivation of sugar. The elite of Molo chose Hinigaran as the place for their haciendas. Two prominent families, the Siguenza and the Guanco constructed the Magdalena sugar factory in the 1912, one of the first sugar centrals in Negros Occidental.
When the Philippine revolution broke out, Bibiano Gelvosa and his followers fought bravely against the Spaniards. Among the active leaders of the Revolution in Hinigaran, were Antipaz Vasquez and Severino Rivas, who treated the friars with cruelty. The rest like Joaquin Villadelgado, who took notice of the anti clerical tendencies of local revolutionary leaders decided to have nothing to do with it. The Spaniards left Negros on the first week of January 1899.
Hinigaran was occupied by the American under Captain Forbes. Few days of their stay at the convent, they attacked by the Filipino revolutionaries led by the man name “Felipin”. The resistance to the American occupation ended with the caption of Filipin and his several followers at Cabirad. After putting down the resistance, the America organized the local government with Bibiano Gelvosa as the municipal president and Leon Cuison as the chief of Police. Capitan Bibiano Gelvosa was the last Capitan municipal and the first municipal President. Among the Capitanes Municipales were Baldomero Grijaldo, Esteban Vasquez, Joaquin Villadelgado, Juan Vasquez, and Victoriano Siguenza.
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The 1920’s were the golden years in the history of Hinigaran. There was a boast in the sugar industry. Progress in education communication and transportation were evident. The efficient of Public School System of the American contributed to the opening of various schools in the barrios. Hinigaran Institute, one of the first private secondary schools in the province was founded in 1922 by Don Segundo Monteblanco to educate poor ambitious youths of Hinigaran. Postal and telegraphic services on the otherhand were noted for their fast and reliable delivery of information. Progress in infrastructure, like roads and bridges was attained. The present Municipal Hall, a massive structure dominating the landscape of the poblacion was constructed in 1936 under the administration of Mayor Ricardo Lagtapon.
In 1920, cholera-eltor epidemic struck Hinigaran causing a great loss of human lives. Doctor were few of medicines were scarce. It is reported that cartloads of the victims of cholera hauled to the cemetery and buried in a common grave without the benefit of decent burials. The advent of sugar industry in Negros occidental gave rise to the formation of labor unions. In 1925, a worker’s union called “ Kusog sang Imol “ (Strength of the Poor) was organized Negros Occidental by Felix Severino, a Bacolod journalist and politician to protect the workers from exploitation and abuses and to work for the benefits of the working class.
The planters, on the otherhand, also organized a mutual and society known as “Mainawaon “(The Compassionate) to fight back against the “Kusog sang Imol”.
The “Kusog sang Imol“ was led by Felipe C. Lagtapon Sr., while the “Mainawaon was led by Salvador Maglalona.
A strong rivalry ensued between the two groups leading to incidence of physical violence, the Mainawaon provoking the Kusog sang Imol in to a fight, resulting to death of a certain Vargas. The Mainawaon eventually disbanded with the collapse of Kusog sang Imol after the departure of Severino from leadership of “Kusog sang Imol”
The boom of sugar industry in the decades of fifties and sixties led to the resurgence of the unions. Maximo Peralta organized the Allied Workers Association (AWA) in 1947, while Pascual Espinosa organized the Consolidated Labor Union of the Philippines (CLUP). Due to the intense rivalry of local labor leaders, the CLUP was split in two groups – one headed by Cenen Magallona and the other group is headed by Laureano Laurel. Bag loading of sugar from the BISCOM Dock to Vistranco barges was done HWA workers while the shores loading from the barges to the foreign vessels was done by the members of the CLUP. The installation of bulk sugar conveyor at BISCOM Dock spelled the death of the labor unions. Hundreds of workers of the AWA and the CLUP were displaced and many became jobless.
When the Pacific War broke out, Hinigaranons took to the hills when organized resistance collapsed. They regrouped and organized into guerilla units. Under Captain Camagon, Captain Jose Ramos, and Lt. Lacson, they ambushed a Japanese patrol on September 21, 1943 at Sitio Camatio, Brgy. Aranda and inflicted heavy casualties to the enemies.
Another encounter took place in Brgy. Narauis on March 14, 1944 when the guerillas under Lt. Eddie Bauman, a PMA cadet at the outbreak of the war, and later became the Hero Officer at the Battle Knob Hill ambushed unit and killed and undetermined number of enemies.
During the early days of Japanese occupation, the seat of the civil government under Mayor Gonzaga in 1942 was transferred in Sitio Dungca-an, Brgy. Nanunga. Then Maximo Mombay became acting Mayor and transferred to seat of government to Brgy. Himaya.
When the civil government of Negros Occidental was organized by Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Sr., former mayor Ricardo Lagtapon was appointed Mayor of free Hinigaran. He transferred the seat of government to Brgy. Candumarao until the liberation of Negros. Adolfo Ramos was name Mayor of the Japanese Sponsored Puppet Government and he was later succeeded by Segundo Monteblanco, who remain mayor until the American Liberation.
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Immediately after the liberation, former mayor Ricardo Lagtapon was appointed Acting Mayor of Hinigaran. When he was appointed administrator of the PRATRA, he was replaced by Agustin Efraim S. Guanco.
In 1947 election, Mrs. Maria Gonzaga vda. De Yulo was elected Mayor of Hinigaran. In 1955, Atty. Carlos N. Agustin was appointed acting Mayor, he was later succeeded by Mayor Cesar S. Aguilar, who won his mayoralty seat in 1957. He ran for another term unopposed and was succeeded by former Mayor Mariano M. Yulo, who served from 1964 to 1980. In 1980 local elections, the incumbent Mayor Hermilo L. Aguilar running as independent candidate was elected and assumed office on March 1, 1980. The victory of Mayor Hermilo L. Aguilar was considered by many as political phenomenon.
After the EDSA Revolution, Mayor Hermilo L. Aguilar was replaced by an OIC Mayor. When the elections for local officials were held in 1987 Mayor Hermilo L. Aguilar won. He was again re-elected in 1990 local elections for the third term, and re-elected in 1990 local election for the third term, and re-elected for 1995 for his fourth term. He was succeeded by his Vice Mayor Caroll Y. Guanco who won his mayoralty seat in 1998 local elections.
Destructive typhoon struck Hinigaran frequently. Typhoon Amy which hit the town in 1949 brought widespread havoc on crops and infrastructures. In 1968, Typhoon Senyang with its torrential rain inundated low-lying barangay sans causing enormous damage to property. Senyang was followed by another typhoon Nitang in 1984 which left considerable damage in crops and infrastructure. In 1990, typhoon Ruping, dubbed by many as “Killer Typhoon” battered Hinigaran with heavy rain and cyclonic wind. For the first time in the history of Hinigaran, the public plaza and the low-lying barangay with under water for many days. Four (4) death and six (6) injured were reported by the DSWD. Hundreds of houses were destroyed. Damage on infrastructure and agricultural crops run into million of pesos.
Hinigaran has attained remarkable progress in the recent years. The local government unit has reclaimed three hectares of swampland, which is now the site of the Fish Wharf and Fish Market and relocation of squatters area for squatters. Municipal street had already concreted funded by the country wide by the Countrywid3e Development Fund of Congressman Mariano M.Yulo and the local government’s Internal Revenue Allotment. Multi Purpose pavements, school buildings, library and Senior Citizens Center and farm-to-market roads were constructed funded by the CDF and local government unit (LGU). Eight (8) kilometers of Hinigaran-Isabela National Road had been concreted with the funding appropriation from Senator Nikki Coseteng’s CDF of Congressman Mariano Yulo’s and regular INFRA. Twenty four (24) barangays are now energized with the subsidy of provincial government. Peace and order health services vehicles- firetruck, a police patrol jeep, dumptrucks and four unit ambulance received from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and through the effort of Congressman Yulo and Congressman A. Lozada, Jr.,.
Fifty (50) Day Care Centers for Pre-Schoolers have been opened in different barangays. Health services and Medical Clinic have been improved with the construction of Pediatric and Maternity Wards and Emergency Room funded by the Hinigaranon as American and Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Mrs. Nieves Mombay-Ramsier. Water supply system has been improved with the additional source in Barangay Paticui funded by the loan from the World Bank. Sports also received a boost with the improvement of the covered court funded from the CDF of Senator Nikki Coseteng and Senator Franklin Drilon.
The Municipal Hall constructed in 1936, had been renovated with the construction of the second floor, housing the session hall, offices of the Budget Officer, Municipal Engineer, and the Municipal Accountant and the Sangguniang Bayan.
Hinigaran has the potential of progressive town. What needed is the enlightened leadership and vision and unity of purpose of it political leaders and the involvement of concerned citizens in any government programs. Because of its location and rich natural resources, Hinigaran can look forward to become a trade and industrial center in the Southern Negros.