Calinog
Municipality
Municipality of Calinog
Flag Seal
Map of Iloilo with Calinog highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Calinog Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°08′N 122°30′E / 11.13°N 122.5°E / 11.13; 122.5
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Iloilo
District	3rd district
Founded	1763
Barangays	59 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Francisco L. Calvo
• Vice Mayor	Anthony Andrew Gustilo
• Representative	Lorenz R. Defensor
• Municipal Council	Members Julius Andrew L. Castaños Gretchel Joy C. Casono QP Gold C. Caspillo Dino C. Dizon Teodoro Y. Lao II Mayjan Paul C. Hurtada Renato B. Magpantay Hazel C. Bibit
• Electorate	41,679 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	274.55 km2 (106.00 sq mi)
Elevation	78 m (256 ft)
Highest elevation	153 m (502 ft)
Lowest elevation	44 m (144 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	62,853
• Density	230/km2 (590/sq mi)
• Households	15,413
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	27.02 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 229.5 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 530.3 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 200.8 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 146.8 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Iloilo 2 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5040
PSGC	063013000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Native languages	Karay-a Hiligaynon Capiznon Ati Tagalog
Website	www.calinog.gov.ph

Calinog, officially the Municipality of Calinog (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Calinog, Kinaray-a: Banwa kang Calinog, Tagalog: Bayan ng Calinog), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 62,853 people.^[3]

Etymology

The town got its name from the Hiligaynon word kalinong which means calm or placid. But some might say it is from linog or an earthquake given the fact that the town lies near the West Panay Fault.

History

Former flag of Calinog

Calinog, which according to legend Datu Marikudo chose to settle, is strategically located in the central part of the Island of Panay. Calinog was already a developing community when the Spaniards came between the 16th and the 17th Century. In the early 18th Century, Calinog was established as a permanent settlement following the system of town planning as prescribed by the Law of the Indies: a town plaza surrounded by the church, Municipal Tribunal, school and public market. This remains as the main town-planning feature of the poblacion until the present. The Spanish Colonial Government then declared Calinog as “Pueblo” or town in 1763.^[5]

A new colonial power, the Americans introduced important changes in the civil affairs of the municipality in the early 1900s. The most significant was annexing Calinog as part of the Municipality of Passi (now a component city of Iloilo) from 1904 to 1920. Through intense lobbying by prominent leaders, Calinog was restored to its original status as a separate Municipality in January 1921.

It was in the late 1960s when Calinog stepped on the springboard of development as a progressive Municipality bustling with business and economic opportunities. In 1969, with the sugar industry boom, the political leadership decided to split a portion of the town into a separate municipality, the Municipality of Bingawan.

Among the founders of the old communities in the uplands were the descendants of the families who fought the abusive Spanish colonizers in the settlements of Bugasong and Lawaan, Province of Antique, in the 16th Century (their colorful folklore and the oral tradition of their historical journeys became a part of the timeless epic, “Hinilawod”). Mt. Dila Dila in Barangay Alibunan is best remembered as a strong hold of Filipino guerillas and soldiers during World War II under the command of a Calinognon Major Julian C. Chaves where the fiercest battles in the annals of war in the Island of Panay were fought against the Japanese Imperial Army.

Geography

The town of Calinog nestles in the central part of Panay Island. It is the last municipality in the central part of Iloilo Province which adjourns the province of Capiz. It is located at geographical coordinates 11°15′ latitude and 122°30′ longitudes. It has a total land area of 27,446 hectares representing about 5% of the total land area (532,297) of the entire Province.

Calinog is 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Iloilo City.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Calinog, Iloilo, was 62,853 people,^[3] with a density of 230 inhabitants per square kilometre or 600 inhabitants per square mile.

Tourism

Calinog is home to the Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival. From a Visayan term for "jubilation" or "rejoicing," "Hirinugyaw" was inspired by the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City and has become a feast with success for the people Calinog through a festivity showing the town's devotion to the Child Jesus and highlighted as it turns out in celebration for the feast of Santo Niño. People make effort to perform colorful cultural dances and other festive commemorative rites in His honor. The festival has given life in their faith and has become a growing devotion in their hearts. The dances performed are usually thought to be simple dances composed of repetitive, easy-to-learn steps. However the presentation becomes highly complex with the incorporation of a Sugidanon---traditional stories on a town's history and culture narrated through chanting. It is used to highlight the dances in order to heighten the dramatic or comic effect of the presentation. As a whole, the festival functions to create or promote a sense of community as it continues to make the community feel part of a provincial or regional group to help them establish ties with their heritage.

Economy

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System