Roxas City
| Location | |
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| Government | |
| Region | Western Visayas (Region VI) |
|---|---|
| Province | Capiz |
| District | First District of Capiz |
| Barangays | 47 |
| Income class: | 2nd class city |
| Mayor | Vicente Bermejo |
| Founded | 1693 |
| Cityhood | May 12, 1951 |
| Official Website | http://www.roxascity.gov.ph |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Population | |
| Total (2007) | {{{pop2007}}} |
| Coordinates | 11°35' N, 122°45' E |
Roxas City is a medium-sized city in the province of Capiz, Philippines. It is the capital and component city of Capiz. The current city mayor is former provincial governor Vicente Bermejo who was elected during the 2007 election.
It is a center of copra and aquaculture production. The surrounding area grows sugarcane, rice, coconut, fruit, hemp, and tobacco. The language spoken in Roxas City is Hiligaynon, otherwise known as Ilonggo.
According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 126,352 people in 25,126 households.
The abundance of marine life makes Roxas City the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines." This environment-friendly city is home to one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. Roxas City's Baybay Beach is 16 miles long, one mile wide and is the 15th largest natural bay in the world.[1] The tallest sea cliffs in Western Visayas can be found on the city's north side. Roxas City has been a three-time recipient of the Regional Cleanest and Greenest Component City in Western Visayas Award of the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Program of the national government.
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History
Originally founded as the town of Capis in 1693, Roxas City is the site of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi's settlement when he arrived from Cebu. Panay used to be the capital of the province. Capiz, the name of the province, was the old name of Roxas City. The settlement was accepted as a visita of the town of Panay. The settlement was originally named El Puerto de Capiz. It is a former seat of a royal kingdom during the Indo-Malay era. According to a 1732 census, there were 327 inhabitants. In 1746, Capiz was made the seat of the military government, although it was still theoretically controlled by the Bishopric of Cebu. According to a 1760 census, there were 17,683 inhabitants. On May 31, 1847, a Royal Decree turned the province into an alcadia.
Roxas City was once known as the "Municipality of Capiz" and it became a city on May 12, 1951 with the issuance of the city charter, Republic Act No. 603, with Lorenzo Arnaldo as its first mayor. This city was named Roxas City in honor of President Manuel Roxas.
Location
Roxas City is situated at the northeastern tip of the island of Panay within the geographical coordinates of 11°35' N, 122°45' E. Its boundaries are: the Visayan Sea to the north, the municipality of Panitan to the south, the municipality of Ivisan to the west, and the municipality of Panay to the East. It is located 250 nautical miles (460 km) southeast of Manila, 135 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City, and 86 kilometers east of Kalibo, Aklan. Travel time to Manila is 45 minutes by air and 18 hours by sea.
Notable people
- Manuel Roxas, first President of the independent Republic of the Philippines.
- Josefa Abiertas, first woman bar topnotcher and proponent of the Women's Suffrage Bill.
- General Esteban Contreras, revolutionary leader during the Philippine-American War.
- Gerardo Roxas, Philippine Senator and son of President Manuel Roxas.
- Manuel Roxas II, Philippine Senator and grandson of President Manuel Roxas.
Festivals
Sinadya Sa Halaran
The Sinadya sa Halaran Festival is celebrated every first week of December in commemoration of the founding of the city followed by the Diwal Festival signifying the city's importance as the country's "Seafood Capital" along with the Aswang Festival that symbolizes the rich heritage of myth and folklore in the province. There used to be two separate and distinct festivals, the Halaran ("Offering") and the Sinadya ("Celebration"), the latter celebrated by the Province of Capiz and the other by the City of Roxas. The Halaran used to be held at the same time as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was celebrated by the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral. However, considering the huge costs of holding two festivals in a year, the two festivals were merged, with both the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas contributing to the expenses.
Diwal Festival
The Roxas City Seafood Festival is held to commemorate and promote the resurgence of the Angel wing clam or diwal, which neared extinction until protected and cultivated in Roxas City.
Barangays
Roxas City is politically subdivided into 47 barangays.
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References
- ↑ "Welcome to San Antonio Resort Village". Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
External links
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