Registration No. 3

Sapian History; With More Improvements

            Sapian, a lovely and beautiful home. One of 16 towns in the province of Capiz, and composed of 11 Barangay’s respectively, and leaded by very functionable successive Mayors and other officials of our strong and successful town. Before these present day’s, there was at least 12 active Mayors who made our lovely town to have more progress and more improvement during their term.

            On Early 1931-1935, Mayor Nemesio Oloroso, was the first Mayor of Sapian. Mrs. Jacobina O. Saneo, 87 years old. Resident of Sapian in bilao, Sapian, Capiz, concluded: “I was very proud of my grand father that could be the first Mayor of this town, and he could ever continue the good leadership until his last term. “After him it was followed by Hon. Angel Arboleda in 1935-1939. Another Mayor was elected on year 1939. Mayor Diosdado Honrado, he has the first potential to build the Public Market of Sapian town. Six years later, Mayor Sumplicio Ochon had been elected on the next election. He finished his term on 1946. Hon. Narciso Oducado on 1947-1954. Mayor Julio P. Orillos, in 1954-1959. Mayor Zoe O. Hererra on 1960-1962, who established the Municipal Building Hall in Sapian, which is very useful for Sapianon’s these days. Under his administration, he also built the simple Band stand at the façade of Sapian Plaza.

            In year 1968-1971, Mayor Manuel Oloroso also having the unforgettable performance during his term. He donated some waiting shed’s on some areas of Barangay’s. He also supported the construction of first Elementary School in Barangay Bilao, Sapian, Capiz. “It was very grateful performance which he made us, all glad to help our young childrens” said retired Lieutenant Romaldo Olanga, former chief of Police of Sapian. After the three years term, on 1972, Hon. Ishmael Orillos was the next Mayor until 1986. Another term given to Mayor Diosdado Honrado to hold Sapian on his good hand.

            Mayor Rodel O. Obordo was one of our former Mayor during past 1972-1986. He represented Sapian in whole Region, by joining the clean and green Regional Contest. The result was made people to admired or beautiful town. Sapian had been awarded as first place in this regional contest. Residents was very proud that out little home made popular for the very first time by the hold and function of our former Mayor Obordo. Mrs. Lucrecia S. Oro, a retired teacher in Bilao, Sapian, Capiz concluded: “These reward show’s all the efforts of Sapianon’s unity and their active performace with Mayor Obordo. What a great reward!!” Another of his unforgettable steps was the renubation of Public Market. He also renubated the beautiful statue of the naked Lady, that was constructed by the former Mayor Manuel Oloroso, which can be located at the Municpal Plaza of Sapian. Although it is not beautiful like days at present, he continue the construction of Municipal Hall during his term.

            On addition, he made effort of constructing the very useful Cultural Center which is known as “Gugma Hall”. Because of his great performances, Mrs. Lucrecia S. Oro, said: “During his term, as a Mayor, No one can do these tremendous progresses among Previous Mayors. As a resident I was very proud of him!! “Mayor Obordo showed his best to the Excellence of Sapian town, together with its people.

            On same performace, after the term of Mayor Rodel O. Obordo, in year 1998, another Mayor had been elected to hold Sapian in a new civilization. More improvement had been made by Mayor Remedios-Olivera Oñas known as “Nanay “Meding” Oñas”. She continued the process and have a better honor and great name of our town in a whole country, by joining the National Contest for Clean and Green performance on all places of Philippines. In all Regions of our country, were very proud that Sapian was awarded as first place in this National contest. It also show’s the favor and efforts of all Sapianons with Mayor Oñas.

            On the other hand, she also established the building of College Institute or CAPSU in Sapian, Capiz which made the Residents glad help many to graduate and to become professionals someday although they have no much money. She also supported the construction of new building in Poblacion Sapian, Elementary, School. Mr. Julius Leonor Jr., Councilor of Bilao, Sapian, Capiz commented: “Besides of being a degree holder, still she is a good leader, that helps our town successful and helps people to walk forward”. During her time, love of Sapiannon’s was manifested when she won the Second term election and made landslide of her political opponents. She finished her three times term in year 2007 as undefeated politician.

            Later on, passed the office to her son-in-law, Mayor Arturo “ Turic” Orosco Sr. Ph.D. At these present day’s, still we can see the upending progress of Sapian when Mayor Orosco won his first time landslide election against his opponents, and for being a good productive Mayor, people got the real truth when Sapian Plaza have been beutified.

            Retired Leiutenant Romaldo Olanga, former chief of Police on Sapian, predicted that the leadership of Mayor OroscoSr., Ph.D. of Sapian will be prosperous and will result a better and much progress on our town. And our youth will be given the opportunity of important and useful knowledge.

            These day’s, Sapianon’s arfe very determined to present our productive town in whole nation. The unity together with equality which made them to stand strong towards its excellence among places and different lives. Retired Leiutenant Romaldo Olanga, retired teacher Mrs. Lucrecia Oro, Councilor Julius Leonor Jr. and Mrs. Jacobina O. Saneo, are all Sapianpns who really observes, and appreciates the upending prograss of our very own, “Sapian Town”.

            So from now on, we can see and were optimistic by this good leader, Mayor Orosco Sr. Ph.D., that  the twon of Sapian have a lot of improvements awaits ahead!!!

Registration No. 2

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SAPIAN

            Piecing together stories. Sapian was found during the 17^th century by small groups of people who settled near the seacoast on a hilltop of catadman, half kilometer east of the present, half kilometer east of the present state of Poblacion. The old site is known as “ Laging Banwa” or old town. The hilltop is convenient look out for the marauding Moros or pirates who rampantly raided settlements during those days.

            How Sapian got its name is told in a legend. It said that some Spanish Soldiers set foot on the hilltop and saw a boy sent on an errand holding a fifty centavo silver coin called “salapi”. When asked the name of the place the boy, utterly perplexed with the strange Castillian tongue and foreign looks of the soldiers, stammered “sapi”, thinking that he was asked what he had in his hand. Thus the soldiers named the settlement Sapian. Shortly afterward, the place was organized as a town of Sapian.

            Soon after the “Municipal” was organized the Spanish authorities appointed town officials led by Capitan Municipal, Teniente absolute, curra parroco, Juezde sentienciales, jefe de policia and maestro municipal.

            The first Capitan was Simeon Alayon. He was followed by Calixto Orleans, Graciano Arboleda, Ventura Oroceo, Antonio Obsequio, Jose Oloroso, Magdalino Obligacion, Celestino Obordo, Alejandro Alayon, Crisanto Ocampo, Lino Honrado, Julian Olivera, Domingo Oro, Luciano Oro, Ramon Golez, Eulanio Parohinog, Alejandro Exteves, Ventura Orario, Vicente Ledesma, Julian Alayon, Santiago Obligacion, Felipe Oñas and Andres Pajarillo.

            During the American Regime (1900-1946) the town executive was changed from “Capitan” to “Presidente” assisted by the “Vice Presidente” the other town officials were justice of peace, councilors, municipal and Chief of Police.

            The first “Presidente” and “Vice Presidente” were Elias Oro and Simon Tupaz, respectively. They were followed by Leocadio Pajarillo-Francisco Orleans, Francisco Orleans-Juan Pajarillo, Juan Pajarillo-Antonio Oñas, Benigno Olivera-Francisco Otro, Francisco Otro-apolinario Alayra, Apolinario Alayra-Luis Ocbina, Diosdado         Honrado-Hermogenes       Olaveja-Hipolito            Obligacion-Felipe Roldan, Nemesio Oloroso-Cornelio Obligacion.

            Leocadio Olivera Pajarillo was elected delegate to the First National Assembly in 1907.

            During the commonwealth regime (1935-1946) the town executive were known as “Alcalde” and Vice Alcalde”. They were Angel Arboleda-Maria Orillos, Diosdado Honrado-Serafin Obidos, Diosdado Honrado (wartime executive) and Simplicio Ochon who was appointed in 1945 by the PCAU (Philippine Civil Affairs Unit).       

After the declaration of independent on July 4, 1946 the following became municipal executive who were called mayors and vice mayors: Narciso Oducado-Manuel Oloroso, Narciso Oducado-Estanislao Nonato Julio Orillos- Estanislao Nonato, Julio Orillos-Rodolfo Odquier, Zoe Herrera-Rodolfo Odquier, Zoe Herrera Wilfredo Honrado, Manuel Oloroso- Ricardo and Ishmael  Orillos-Ricardo Flores

.           Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972. In accordance with Presidential Decree 826 where in the municipal council was changed to Sangguniang Bayan and its membership increased to include representations from the professional sector and the Kabataang Barangay Federation, the sangguniang Bayan of Sapian was organized on December 15, 1975. Mayor Ishmael Orillos was the chairman.

            The first Sangguniang Bayan officials served until replaced by the elected officials on January 30, 1980. The election was the first held after the declaration of Martial Law. Mayor Ishmael Orillos was the chairman and the Vice Mayor  Conradlou Honrado was the vice chairman.

            Months after EDSA revolution in February, 1986 the elected officials were replaced by OIC Officials Diosdado R. Honrado was appointed OIC Mayor with Rodel O. Obordo as OIC Vice Mayor.

            On January 18, 1988 the first election under the restored democracy was held Rodel O. Obordo was given mandate as town executive. Exsur Olanga was elected Vice Mayor.

            Mayor Rodel O. Obordo was re-elected on May 11,1992, serving with him as vice mayor of the town is Marianita L. Baldisimo.

            Sapian has a total Land area of 8,738,154 hectares of 8.7 square kilometers divided into ten barangays including the Poblacion. It is an agro-fishery town 27 kilometers west of Roxas City. It extends up to the boundary of Aklan. This explains the mixture of Capiz and Aklan dialects spokewn by the Sapianons. It has now a population of about 23,000.

            Sapian of pre-war vintage is a far cry from the Sapian today. The town was burned three times during the World War II. Its economic progress started from ashes and ruins and deterred by financial and technical difficulties.

            Basically, Sapian depends on agricultural products topped by rice and followed by coconut. Fishing industry was very insignificant. But after the liberation and during the latter of the nineteen forties fishpond were developed and expanded. Now bangus, shrimps and fishlike “inid” “kikilo” and “balanak”are exported to Manila.

            In 1974 Bruce French, An American Peace Corp experimented with growing of green mussel (tahong) in Sapian bay. It was a success. Thereafter, extensive tahong farms sprouted along the bay. Tahong and the Oyster which grew with the former have both enriched the aquatic resources of Sapian.   

            Sapian has flourished considerably. It boast of a purok organization through which Sapian has been reputed as the cleanest town in the province these past years. It has a vast virgin beach which is being developed into a resort. It has the Gugma Hall, an edifice which is the center of the social and cultural gatherings of Sapianons.

            Sapian educational system has greatly improved with the construction of barangay high school in 1967. it was also electrically energized in 1977.

            Yesterday and today –this is sapian, Tomorrow, by the grace of the Almighty, it will be far better because it has a rich legacy. It is abundant in potential, the best which are the people. The Sapianons are ready to serve and love their neighbors, their country and their fellowmen.