Captivating – Capiz

Captivating Roxas City, Capiz September 17, 2008

 “Captivating Capiz” is a Mini SEO contest that shows the overall history of Roxas City, Capiz. The Filamerian students join this contest as part of thier achievements of thier studies.

HISTORY OF ROXAS CITY

              Roxas City is te The provicial Capital of Capiz, one of the four provinces he Phillipines, the existence of a progressive Malayan Settlement in Capiz had been know far and wide. This settlement has extensive commercial relations with the islands of Luzon, Masbate, Cebu, mMindanao and even Borneo (Burnay). Products of the people of Capiz, such as rice,pina cloth and wine(nipa wine) and minerals were traded for articles brought from these islands.

              A sagacoius man, Legaspi employed the policy of attraction in Capiz – he would not use force if he could get what he wanted by peaceful means. After one year, The befriended the natives and converted many of them to Christianity.

            With the establishment of the Spanish settlement in Capiz , the stone bridge at Banquerohan was constructed and several houses of stone were built. In these  construction, Chinese labor was used.

            In 1590, he navy of Acapulco from Mexico made Capiz port its arsenal (navalyard. Here, the spanish Armada took shelter from strong winds and from the Portuguese enemy.

            The port of Capiz was made  a poblacion separate from the capital of the province, Pan-ay, in 1716 with Gubaton as its first capitan. Capitan Gubaton constructed a port in thepoblacion at the mouth of Panay River and armed it with cannons and lantakas. In 1757, Capiz town was officially separated from Pan-ay and was made the Capital of the province of Capiz.

           The town of Capiz, as the seat of provicial government, had its own official headed by gobernadorcillo. Available recodrs show that the first gobernadorcillo of this town was  Don Ignacio Quintin (in 1772) and the last was Don Juan M. Albar (in 1892), Don Eleno Villaruz was named capitan municipal government of Capiz was again Don Juan M. Albar.

           During the American Regime, several sons of the town of Capiz rose to greatness, Foremost among them was the late Manuel A. Roxas, the last President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the first president of the Republic of the Philippines. Other famous sons and daugther of Capiz were Jose Altavas, Antonio Belo, and Jovita Fuentes.

          On April 11, 1951, President Elpidio Quirino signed into law, Republic Act No.603, creating the capital town of Capiz into a city and May 2,1951, it became a chatered City named “Roxas City” in honor of the first president of the Republic of the Philippines, President Manuel Acuña Roxas. Honorable Lorenzo Arnaldo was appointed the first City Mayor. He was succeeded by Mayor Dorado who was later on suceeded by Mayor Juliano A. Alba. By legislation, the office of the Mayor became elective in 1959. Honorable Lorenzo Arnaldo took the reigns of the city government as the first selected and held the position until his death on May,1969. He was suceeded by Vice-Mayor Teodoro A. Arcenas was elected as City Mayor in the 1971 electionsand served the city as such up to May,1986.

TOURISM

               The City is endowed with sites of natural beuty which can be developed into potential tourist for local as well as foreign.

               These are the beaches found at Barangay Baybay and Olotayan island. The beach at Barangay Baybay  is 3.4 kilometers away from the city plaza is frequently visisted by picnic-goers especially during weekends and holidays. It offers a panoramic view of the Visayan Sea

             On the other hand, the beach located at the island barangay of Olotayan is of white sand similar to that found at Boraracay Island, a major tourist attraction of Aklan province. Aside from its white beach, it has several coral reefs which can be seen fom above the water. The island is an ideal place for scuba diving.

              Aside from the beaches, there are Moro Towers which can be reconstructed into its original structure and can be another attraction in the city.

             The house where the first President of the Philippines Republic, President Manuel A. Roxas was born is now being considered as a national shrine.

              “Roxas City” has existing facilities like hotels and first-class restaurant that can meet the demands of both local and foreign tourist.

              The festival are celebrated every year in the City which also attracts visitors. These are the Halaran which is celebrated every first week of October and the Religios Fiest of the City held in first week of December.

INDUSTRY

                The city industrial area occupies an area of 36,8649 hectares or .3% of the city’s land area and located in the differnt places in the city.

                At present, there are 199 establishments which are classified as manufacturing establishment, like 1.) food manufacturing which has a total of 84;garment manufacturing with 37; furniture with 10; footware with only 2 shops; 7 of ceramics making; 6 on metal and other metal products; 5 on paper products(printing); 4 on mining and quarrying; contruction is 10;transport and utilities is 25; and other manufacturing not elsewhere classified is 9, (refer to Table 90 o the Industry Sector)