THE MOLO OF LONG AGO

THE MOLO OF LONG AGO

(By DinggolAranetaDivinagracia- IlonggoNationMovement)

Prologue: (July 26, 2019)

"A tribute to the good people of  "Parian" now MOLO in Iloilo City, Philippines on the occassion of their Annual Fiesta today the 26th of July in honor of their Patroness Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana.

Santa Ana was the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose name is modernized as "Mama Mary". Mary or Maria is the favorite name emulated and perpetuated by parents for their newly born female babies in Christendom. While by the names of "Maryam and Meriam" in the Muslim world." --dinggol.d~~~

 Molo dubbed as the "Athens of the Philippines" had produced many illustrious sons and daughters who excelled in their respective field of endeavors.

Military Generals during the 1898 Revolution: Pablo S. Araneta, Angel Corteza, Don Raymundo Angulo Melliza; the Molo born Juan Anacleto T. Araneta, Marciano S. Araneta, and Aniceto Ledesma Lacson --who initially fought in Bago, in La Carlota and in Talisay respectively in the Island of Negros.

In the annals of history, only the Araneta family of Molo have three brothers who had served in the upper echelons of three (3) revolutionary government at the same time; Gen. Pablo (Estado Federal de Bisayas), Gen. Marciano (Negros Republic) and Don Gregorio. (Photo of Don Gregorio Soriano Araneta as Secretary General of the Malolos Congress)

 (Photo: Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña of Molo)

In the Judiciary: Ramon Avanceña became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Gregorio S. Araneta was Secretary General of the Malolos Congress, the first Secretary of Justice and the first Solicitor General, Raymundo A. Melliza and Felicisimo Feria.

In the Philippine Senate: Jose Ma. Arroyo, Esteban de la Rama, Franklin Drilon, Rodolfo Ganzon, Esperidion Guanco, Potenciano Treñas, Francisco Villanueva, Francisco Zulueta, and Jose C. Zulueta.

(Photo:Senator Franklin M. Drilon)

Among the congressmen were: Amando Avanceña, Rodolfo T. Ganzon, Fernando Salas, Jose Locsin Sian, and Jerry Treñas; the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were Manuel Locsin and Efrain Treñas.

The "Parianons"who served as governor of Iloilo Province were: Mariano P. Arroyo, Amando Avanceña, Timoteo Consing, Sr. , Raymundo A. Melliza, Jose Yulo-Regalado, Gregorio Yulo, Mariano Yulo, and Jose C. Zulueta.

Serving as Iloilo City Mayor from Molo were: Leopoldo Ganzon and his son Rodolfo "Roding" T. Ganzon. Likewise, Mansueto "Mansing" Malabor, Jed Patrick Locsin Escalante Mabilog and Jerry P. Treñas.

(Photo: Incumbent Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Perez Treñas)

In the field of Journalism, famous vernacular writers were: Jimeno Damaso, Angel Magahum, Sr. , Rosendo Mejica and Hernando Locsin Siscar, Sr.

 

(Photo: Professor Hernando Locsin Siscar, Sr. PhD.)

The first Miss Philippines and first national suffragette Pura Garcia Villanueva-Kalaw, was an avid "Women's rights advocate". She was a weekly contributor to the "El Tiempo" -Iloilo's most popular newspaper in Western Visayas and she was also a contributor to Metropolitan periodicals with articles, which mostly dwelt on feminine rights.

Institutions for Learning:

During the Spanish era Molo was known as the educational center of the Philippines, thus; the monicker "Athens of the Philippines".

It was perhaps, because it was the only town in the country which had four (4) Colleges -- Colegio de Santa Ana of the Avanceña sisters (Jovita and Ramona), The Centro Escolar de Molo of the Salas brothers (Perfecto and Fernando), the Instituto Ensenanza Libre de Molo of Manuel Locsin and Escuela Publica.

(Photo: Don Rosendo Mejica statue fronting the Baluarte Elementary School in Molo.)

In 1905, during the American regime, Don Rosendo Mejica founded Baluarte Elementary School by constructing a nipa building in front of his own home across Baluarte Street near Batiano river in Molo. This became the first known public elementary school in the country. Don Rosendo was also the owner, operator and editor of "Makinaugalingon" --the first and longest vernacular daily in Western Visayas that was popular among Hiligaynon or Ilonggo readers since 1913 until 1946 after world war II. Baluarte Elementary School has already produced a lot of famous and distinguished people, foremost among them is former Senate President and now Minority Floor Leader Franklin M. Drilon and also the late Iloilo City Mayor, Congressman and Senator Rodolfo “Roding” Ganzon.

(Photo: Sen. Rodolfo T. Ganzon statue near the Iloilo City High School in Molo.)

In 1941, the Iloilo City High School (ICHS) was opened in Molo; and which eventually, became the first "free" public high school in the whole Philippines inclusive of books and school supplies during the time of the "Timawa" Iloilo City Mayor Rodolfo "Roding" Ganzon.

In the 1960s, the first college of medicine in Panay was opened by the Iloilo Doctor's College along Infante Avenue, the boundary of Molo and City proper. Along M.H. del Pilar Street also in Molo is the main site of the pioneer private maritime school in the whole Philippines -- the John B. Lacson Maritime University Foundation, Inc. (originally Iloilo Maritime Academy) which was declared a few years ago as one of the best maritime schools in the whole world. St. Therese-MTC Colleges, Inc. and St. Anne College of Iloilo were added in later years.

Molo has also three first-class hotels with reasonable rates, the Hotel del Rio, La Fiesta Hotel and the most modern the Urban Sands Hotel, all along M.H.del Pilar Street in Molo.

Charitable and Religious Institutions:

Along Calle Avanceña in Molo going to Villa Arevalo still stand the Asilo de Molo (photo), the only orphanage in WestVisayas founded in 1934 by Vincentian Fr. German Villazan together with Doña Pilar Advincula de Javellana and Doña Adela Liza vda. de Mapa and being manage by the Daughters of Charity. It is located on the lot generously donated by the family of Don Ignacio Arroyo.

(Photo: Don Ignacio and Dona Maria Pidal-Arroyo with their children; Dr. Mariano Arroyo (married to Dolores Vasquez), Atty Jose Ma. (married Jesusa Araneta Lacson) and Beatriz Rosario who became a Nun).

It is within this area where the mother houses of religious congregations in the Philippines -- Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary founded in 1925 by the first Ilonggo Nun Mother Rosario Arroyo. And of the Mill Hill Missionaries since 1906. Molo also housed the Carmelite Sisters in the Philippines before it transferred to Sambag, in the District of Jaro.

(Photo: The altar of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Calumpang, Molo)

Presently, there are three (3) Catholic parishes in Molo; the original St. Anne's parish, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Calumpang and the San Jose Obrero in Fundidor, Molo.

The Peaceful Chinese Invasion of Molo.

Earlier in Manila, immigrants from China were herded to stay in the Chinese Trading Center called "Parian". After the Sangley Revolt of 1603, this was destroyed and burned to the ground by the Spanish authorities. Three (3) decades later, Chinese Traders built a new and much bigger Parian near Intramuros.

In July 17, 1679, a royal decree was issued during the administration of Gov. Juan de Vargas that compelled all local unmarried Chinese to live in the Parian and all married Chinese to stay in Binondo.

Similar Chinese enclaves or Parian were later established in Camarines Sur, Cebu, and Iloilo.

Many Chinese who fled Southern China during the reign of the despotic Qing dynasty(1644-1912)in the 18th century and arrived in Maynilad; finally, decided to sail farther south and landed at the port of Batiano river to settle in “Parian” permanently --near La Villa Rica de Arevalo in Iloilo. They intermarried with the locals, some with Spanish mestizos and became the progenitors of the Locsin, Lacson, Sayson, Pison, Ditching, Layson, Ganzon, Sanson, Quimsing, Yulo, Consing, Yusay, Tinsay, Jocson, Jason and other Chilonggo families.

Many descendants of these Sino-Ilonggo would later build their magnificent mansions as ancestral homes at Molo in Iloilo City.

(Photo: This popular tourist destination is “The Molo Mansion” that was originally built as ancestral home of the Lacson's”.

(Photo: This Antonio & Manolita Fuentes-Pison mansion now house the Absorbent- Mind Montessori Pre- school of Irwin & Ling Araneta-Corteza.)

 

 

(Photo) Built by spouses Don Roque Locsin Sanson and Doña Isabel Soriano Araneta de Sanson.

 

 

Gourmet Delight: Molo is famous for "Pancit Molo" the nationally-known soup delicacy, favorite in restaurants even in Manila and abroad. The brick-oven baked quality cookies and pastries of the Molo County Bake Shop, and the century-old recipe of Panadera de Molo is favorite “Pasalubong” among travelers.

How Molo got it’s nameMany believe that during frequent raids by Moro pirates in the past, the Chinese in Parian, who found difficulty in pronouncing the letter "R", shouted Molo! Molo! Molo!... instead of Moro; hence, the place came to be called Molo.

Epilogue:

“The Ilonggos claim that Molo is the hometown of the most Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a catechist who died a martyr at Guam on April, 1672 and beatified recently by Pope John Paul. This is borne by the fact that even today many of the Calungsod family who is “Tumandok” or natives of Molo abound in Molo, especially along the Compania Street area.

Incidentally, many Filipinos are eagerly awaiting the impending canonization of another Saint from Molo, the first Ilonggo nun -Mother Rosario Arroyo, O.P. (Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo y Pidal).” --dinggol.d

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