HISTORY

Foundation

The Municipality of Panay is one of the oldest towns in the Philippines. It was founded by the Spanish Augustinian Friars in 1581 and it became the second Spanish settlement in the country next to Cebu.

Tales How Panay Got its Name

There are three myths on how Panay got its name. The first story tells that when the Spaniards came, they brought with them some bread to be offered to the natives. A Spaniard upon meeting with one o the natives handed the bread to him and said, “pan” but unluckily it fell to the ground and the native exclaimed “ay”, hence, Panay.

The second, was given by Datu Bankaya, a Malayan who left Aklan to explore the eastern part of the region. Finding a vast plain and suitable for rice farming, he called it “Pan Hay” a local term for “plains”.

The third and widely accepted came from a Spanish term “Hay Pan” which means “there is food”. With all these tales no one is really sure which the real etymology of the name is.

Panay as the second Spanish Settlement

After food shortages and attacks of the Portuguese, Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi leaves Cebu and chose to settle in Panay because of its strategic location and abundance of food.

The earliest settlements on this town were located along the banks of the Panay River.

Meeting the People

The people of Panay headed by their chiefs Datu Madidong and Datu Macabaog welcomed the Spanish settlers. According to an Augustinian priest, “the inhabitants spoke sweetly and their pronunciation resembles that of the Andalucía’s.” Legazpi lived in Panay from the latter part of 1569 to the early part of 1571 when he sailed for Manila to pursue the conquest and Christianization of the island of Luzon.

The Font of Christianity in Panay Island

Panay became the center of Catholicism in the entire Island. The Santa Monica Parish was first established in 1580 with Bartolome de Alcantara as its first curate. “Visitas” or annexes were built in the towns of Roxas City, Pontevedra, Pilar, Dao and Carles in Iloilo. Panay’s Sta. Monica was completed in 1771. The thick walls are made of coral blocks and the flooring is made of marbles and Spanish red tiles. It has three towering altars that display antique images.

The Biggest Catholic Church Bell in Asia

The Biggest Catholic Church Bell in Asia

Atop the five-storey belfry is a gigantic bell whose booming sound can be heard within eight-kilometer radius. It is seven feet in height and diameter and weighs 10.4 metric tons. The Spanish curate from 1844 to 1886, Father Jose Beloso, cast the bell using 70 sacks of coins collected from the townspeople. The bell was completed on December 12, 1878.

Inscription on the Bell

“Soy la voz de Dios que llevare y ensalzare desde el principio hasta el fin de este pueblo de Panay para que los fieles de Jesucristo vengan a esta casa de Dios a recibir las gracias celestiales”.

“I am the voice of God which shall echo and praise from the beginning till the end of this town of Panay, so that the faithful of Jesus Christ may come to this house of God to receive heavenly graces.” (English translation by: Msgr. Vicente F. Hilata)