Santa Barbara’s Kahilwayan Festival
Posted by on November 17, 2006
When Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippine Independence in Kawit Cavite, little did we know that the Filipinos in the island of Panay are still fighting out with the Spaniards.
It was only in November 17, 1898, a little more than five months after the Philippine Flag was first raised, that the Ilonggo people led by General Martin Delgado gained liberty in what has been known as the Cry of Santa Barbara. The surrender of the Spanish forces took place in the town of Santa Barbara, in the the Province of Iloilo.
Because of this historic past, the people of Santa Barabara re-enacts the events that led to the freedom of the Ilonggo people through the Kahilwayan Festival. Kahilwayan is an Ilonggo term, meaning Freedom. Various activities are lined up during the festivities. The highlight of the town fiesta is the street dance presentation depicting how the brave and the courageous Filipinos defeated the Spanish colonizers in this part of archipelago.
the last spanish capital of the philippines was Ilo-ilo. after the battle of manila bay, the spanish authorities transfered their offices to Ilo-ilo until the Treaty of Paris where they officially turned over everything to the Americans. Thus, from May-Dec 1898, Ilo-ilo became the capital of Spanish Philippines.
the last gov-gen to leave the Philippines was Diego de los Rios, who departed from Iloilo.
Kudos!