Santa Barbara: The Home of The Famous Burning Water
The Agustinian Archives, Vol. 17-18, which record the missionary achievements of the Agustinian missionaries, mentions that in 1617 the missionaries ministered of a community then known as Catmon, a name derived from a fruit tree which was an imposing landmark, which sat on a rich and fertile plain traversed by the Salug (now Tigum) and Aganan rivers, producing rice, corn, sugar, mongo and tobacco. Then Catmon was only a “Visita Catmon” of Jaro vicariate. In 1760, Catmon was established as an independent parish, whose patron saint was Santa Barbara and the settlement became a “pueblo” named after her. Its total population at the time was 15,094. In 1845, its population was 19,719 and it covered area which are now the Municipalities of Zarraga, New Lucena and parts of Leganes and Pavia.
In front of the Municipal Hall building, stands a 120-feet flagpole amidst a well manicured mini-park. Constructed in time with the 1998 Philippine Centennial Celebrations, and it flies the biggest Philippine Flag outside Luzon. This flag is one of the only five giant flags in the country measuring 30x60 feet. The giant flag is displayed on occasions like Independence Day and Kahilwayan Festival among others.
Gen. Martin T. Delgado Monument
A bronze statue, facing the Municipal Hall Building in the northwestern entrance of the “Victory” Plaza. The monument is a tribute to the town’s most distinguished son and the greatest revolutionary hero Visayas has ever produced- Gen. Martin T.Delgado. The statue which was unveiled in time with the 1998 Centennial Celebration is an unfading memorial of the gallantry and patriotism of Gen. Delgado and his revolutionary forces.
Santa Barbara Church and Convent
Unfortunately, the church was under renovation when we visited the place. In 1991, the National Heritage Institute declared the Santa Barbara Church and Convent as a National Landmark. The declaration is a testimony of the significance of the Church especially its important role in the Country’s history as the general headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary forces against Spain in the Visayas during the late 1800s.
Located just beside the church is one of the best preserved convents in Iloilo. Inside it has various shrines and gardens as well as a cemetery and a portion called "Avenue of Saints" lined with almost 20 statues of different saints.
Santa Barbara Church was built in 1845 and is of Baroque Renaissance architecture. The whole structure imposes simplicity and beauty. Its facade is neoclassic, proven by twinned neoclassic pilasters and finials. Beside it is the convent, which is reminiscent of Moorish architecture. The interior of the church is neoclassic in style. It has three altars more elaborate than the facade and an intricately designed pulpit in the left side of the wall.
This structure along with the church is up for restoration by the National Historical Institute and is being planned to be converted into a museum, among others.
A tribute to our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, is a monument dedicated to his efforts to the propaganda movement together with other porpagandists including another Ilonggo, Graciano Lopez Jaena. The monument is located at the town plaza.
Nestled in the heart of the town and landscaped in time for the 1998 Philippine Centennial is the Victory Plaza. It is considered as a favorite hang-out of young and old especially during afternoons and early evenings. Its main feature is the Bandstand which is an octagonal-shaped structure constructed in 1925. It serves as venue to various political gatherings and other social activities in town.
Being known as one of the oldest institution in this town during the American time, Santa Barbara Central Elementary School has been chosen as one of the best schools in the province for it has contributed a lot in the progress and development of the community.
In order to meet the needs of the faithful, the Santa Barbara Catholic Cemetery was constructed in 1845 at Sitio Anggasan, Barangay Duyanduyan. Its facade is one of the strongest structures built during the Spanish time that has survived the earthquakes.
What makes the Sta. Barbara bingka different from bingkas from other towns is how it looks and tastes more like a puto rather than traditional bingka. So one day, I went on a quest to discover how these bingkas are made.
Puto Manapla de Santa Barbara
Among the ways of determining an authentic "Manapla" puto, is the texture of the banana leaf it is wrapped in. It should be "sturdy" enough not to tear when the puto is unwrapped. it was the taste that really said it was a good puto manapla.
