EXPLORE, DUMANGAS!

   

    I live in a town that everyone claims to believe that their neighbors can fly, yet they never seems to leave.” Dumangas Lupad! Good day everyone! I’m Lorenz Andre B. Solano and today I will share to you some interesting facts about my hometown, Dumangas. When you heard about Dumangas, what comes to your mind? It might be something about aswang. But Dumangas has also something to brag about.

Short History of Dumangas

 

 Dumangas was known as Araut until 1605. The town is home to one of the oldest standing churches in the Visayas. It is where the Spanish Agustinian missionaries of the Catholic Church began converting the indigenous population at the time to Christianity. (Somo, 2013)

Interesting Facts About Dumangas

    Dumangas, officially the Municipality of Dumangas (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Dumangas, Tagalog: Bayan ng Dumangas), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 69,108 people.

    

     The municipality is home to the two of the oldest standing churches in the Visayas: the Ermita Shrine, the first stone church in Panay and St Augustine Catholic Parish.

    

    

    Dumangas is considered as top bangus (milkfish) producer in Iloilo which is why it is known as the Bangus capital in the province. And it is famous for its savoury seafood dishes. 

    The town celebrates its bangus industry and at the same time showcase the abundance of other fresh seafoods through Haw-as Festival, which takes place every last week of October. It features episodes of abundant fishpond harvest and agricultural production by way of dance competition.

   

    

 The cultural values and attributes we possessed may also hook your interest. Let me share to you three not so unique traits Dumangasanon hold: Eco-friendly, Resourceful and Competitiveness.

    One value we have as a Dumangasanon is being eco-friendly. Dumangas participated in Coastal Clean-Up Drive last 2019. But do you know what made us environment-friendly?

   

     The implemented program of our beloved Mayor Onal Golez, “Basura baylo bugas” WE became friends with nature in no time because of the free rice. But thanks for that program, we are able to practice keeping our surroundings clean. 

    Another value we are taking pride in is competitiveness We Dumangasanon always do our best to keep up with others. "Lapus-Lapus Islet:The Unveiling of the Grandeur", a documentary from Dumangas wins First Prize in the National Short Documentary Contest "MUSEAKA, SEANEMA". 

                                                                 Aside from that, Joemar Gallaza and Philip Delarmino who have won Gold Medals during the 30th South East Asia Games for Muay thai event, are great pride and honor of all Dumangasanon.

    Lastly, being resourceful. We don’t want to missed any single thing. In instances like birthdays and fiestas, we always find ways to celebrate these events even though we’re in so much debt. We believe in the saying “if there’s a will there’s always a way.” Those are only some of the attributes we possess as Dumangasanon.

Some of the Tourist Spots

    Try a delicate dining experience along the coastal roads of Dumangas, Iloilo – Curvus Café. It opened on 2015 as a simple and plain bamboo restaurant situated 900 meters before the Dumangas port. People visit Curvus for their innovative food choices and warm ambiance.

Costa Buena, Dumangas, Iloilo. The best of Filipino-Spanish cuisine at the newest restaurant    and events place in Dumangas, Iloilo. 

Lapus Lapus Islet is an old building that supposedly the School of Fisheries. Not it is an islet surrounded by mangrove trees in the middle of the sea.

DUMANGAS GO BIG!