History

SAN ENRIQUE, ILOILO: DIGGING UP ITS PAST, MAKING ITS PRESENT, AND SHAPING ITS FUTURE By: Frannie Saturos Palabrica and Eugene Canogoran Andiano “History is the witness of the times, the torch of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.” – Cicero (106-43 BC) De Oratore I. INTRODUCTION Historiography writing is difficult in so many factors. First, we are too young to remember a town’s past, hence, we cannot be considered firsthand information channel. What we hear and know about one town’s history is but a mere hearsay if we do not have any document to prove or even substantiate such a claim. Secondly, regarding those documents a historian needs, we certainly lack proper documentation. Our history has become a continually verbal process, transferring from generation to generation simply by the power of word of mouth. However, we seem to acknowledge our human frailty, that this process could not be relied heavily as we tend to add or exaggerate some facts, or subtract and delete some unwanted or ugly information to the truthful facts, just to make them sound original or convincing perhaps. It even differs to whom the information comes from. Facts become distorted leaning to the narrator or its relatives. We can clearly see the bias of a historian now. As Filipinos, possessed with multi-cultural differences, we still have the attitude of being regionalistic, favoring our roots or the place where we came from. We only say good things about our own, and reject the flaws that goes with it. Thirdly, if we do have some documents available, the problem is we could hardly decipher the same as those were made century ago and possibly done in a language used in those era, which is probably so different from the ones we are using in this present modern world. If we intend to extract more information from the people of the town, we may still encounter wide gaps as the population of the old (those ranging from 80 and above), who could provide some needed information, are but a handful only. Amidst the mentioned obstacles, the authors really did try to be impartial and present the facts as they were presented to them, and for the love of history, wish to enlighten many minds regarding the history of the town San Enrique. II. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY A. Significance of the Study The authors, Frannie Saturos Palabrica and Eugene Canogoran Andiano chose to feature the history of San Enrique as part of the fulfillments required for Historiography under the professorship of Prof. Ma. Cecilia Suarez. The primary reason of this study is that Frannie Palabrica hailed from the said town, which he sometimes describe as an isolated, forsaken town, yet finds it still mysterious beneath. So who could better deliver the history of the said town but a person who knows it from heart, since it is the place where his parents, Francisco Panizales Palabrica, truly a son of San Enrique, and Nena Buladaco Saturos, a lass from Madaum, Tagum, Davao del Norte established a home, it is where Frannie was born, the place where he weave his dreams. As we go on reading this text, we can see that some Palabricas are mentioned in the history of the town. Needless to say, the family name Palabrica can be considered as “natives” or “tumandok” of this town. Frannie’s father, Francisco Panizales Palabrica is a native of Angeles St., Brgy. Poblacion Ilawod, San Enrique, Iloilo. The Palabricas mentioned in the history of San Enrique were third cousins of Frannie’s grandfather Agustin Villalobos Palabrica, a World War II veteran who unfortunately passed away last 1995. B. Problem San Enrique, which is a fourth-class municipality, is a town of little known facts. Ask someone about San Enrique and they may even doubt where that place is. Try surfing the web and you will just be disgusted as we are, finding only some basic information about this little town, where typically, everybody knows everybody. But from people outside of that town, they may just know it by its name, and never have come to that place or worse, never really knew that such place existed. It is but a timely and opportune time for us authors to finally bring something good for this town, since the power of information nowadays is a boost for knowledge. The depth of knowledge of Mr. Frannie Palabrica of the details of the town as he was a product of this municipality is one edge that he may be able to bring justice and passion to this work, and finally introduce to the world, that there is really, a town named San Enrique in the province of Iloilo. C. Content The authors gathered their information from the facts supplied by the Municipal Hall. The internet supplemented some basic information while the previous written articles of Erlinda G. Pador and Rodrigo P. Ponte were also quoted. As Mr. Frannie Palabrica is from the said town, he was able to capture interesting pictures that would make us mumble a thousand words about the said town. Guide questions that the authors tried to answer were the following: 1. What can you say about the topography of San Enrique? 2. Were the features of its topography have any impact to its History? 3. What can you say about early San Enriquenhons? 4. How was the Pueblo and Ecclesia of San Enrique Founded? 5. What was the condition/situation of San Enrique during the American Era? 6. How was the restoration or recreating an independent municipality? Can you elaborate what happened? 7. What is contemporary San Enrique nowadays? What is the impact of San Enrique election incident to contemporary San Enriquenhons? SAN ENRIQUE’S PROFILE San Enrique is a 4th class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 28,655 people in 5,417 households. Barangays San Enrique is politically subdivided into 28 barangays. And these are the following: • Abaca • Asisig • Bantayan • Braulan • Cabugao Nuevo • Cabugao Viejo • Camiri • Compo • Catan-Agan • Cubay • Dacal • Dumiles • Garita • Gines Nuevo • Imbang Pequeño • Imbesad-an • Iprog • Lip-ac • Madarag • Mapili • Paga • Palje • Poblacion Ilawod • Poblacion Ilaya • Quinolpan • Rumagayray • San Antonio • Tambunac Brief history The Powerful Jala-ud River, first time in the history, submerged South Eastern Barangays including the Poblacion, Town Plaza and Town Hall, during typhoon Frank which happened June of 2008. San Enrique’s history had been largely set-up by geography, as most places were. High-rise mountains gave origins to the rivers Asisig and Agutayan whose water met in confluence with the water of powerful Jala-ud which marked the south eastern boundaries of the town. Torrential rains in the past, brought about by itinerant atmospheric changes caused heavy floodings that rendered roads impassable and left Bontoc isolated for days and even a week from the Pueblo of Passi, depriving the inhabitants of the much needed civil and ecclesiastical services. this situation promoted the leaders of Bontoc to send a seven-page petition, “Expediante de 1877”, urging the politico-military Governor, Don Enrique Fajardo y Garcia to support their bid to establish an independent pueblo from the matrix town. After twenty two endorsements from several colonial offices the petition was approved by the “Ministerio de Ultramar” and later confirmed by a Royal Order from the Spanish King. The founding of the parish did not lack, either the aura of conflict and drama. Like the pueblo, the parish was born out of protest against the creeping anti-clericalism of liberal Spaniards coming from Spain who were festering the parishes like flies during the summer months. To defend his flock an equally zealous friar curate rallied them under the protective mantle of catholic tradition and moved his church to Abaca, 1 ½ league away from the town of Passi. With reconciliation coming after, the church in Abaca remained as a chaplaincy of the matrix parish of Passi. But when the pueblo de San Enrique was established by the virtue of a “Real Orden” from the King Alfonso XII (1874-1885) in 1897, the church at Abaca was fused with the town in pursuance to the requisite of one town and one church policy during the colonial times. During the American Era, San Enrique was fused with Passi along with Dueñas and Calinog. However the creation of an all Filipino legislature as provided by the Jones law of 1916, gave way for individual towns, to break away from fusion and regain their original townhood. Dueñas regained her independence in 1916 and Calinog followed in 1921. San Enrique, whether for lack of hindsight or mere complacency remained contented with its status of being an arrabal or suburb of Passi for more than five decades in anticipation of a new leader who would provide the stuff of writing another chapter of its history. San Enrique was known by its name on May 24, 1881. Popularly called Bo. Bontok before this date, it was organized as a pueblo through the relentless of the rich influential residents namely: Capitanes Modesto Palabrica, Manuel Pama, and Apolinario Palabrica, together with an exbarrio teniente Simon Padios. It stood as a pueblo with its own streets and church, these roughly done in infrastructures was all solely done the Tawili System. Through the people’s cooperation, the rapid transportation of a once awkward barrio into a progressive and attractive poblacion was done overnight. Now, the changing of the name Bontok to San Enrique carried again another story. It was once the old folk’s tradition to have a patron saint in every pueblo. Hearsays are quite uniform in stating that the act of choosing San Enrique to be the town’s patron saint was intentionally done; that is in honor of the incumbent Spanish Provincial Governor of Iloilo named San Enrique. However, it was found out that the act of making San Enrique as to town’s patron saint could not be pushed through because of financial problems. The town was understood to have no fund yet to buy the image of the saint with its own expense. Hence, when a fellow named Simon Padios, offered the image of Virgo Maria, Auxilium Christianorum, the people gladly accepted the offer. When the priest of Passi heard of the incident that Virgo Maria, Auxilium Christianorum would replace San Enrique as the patron saint of Bontok, he admonished the people by saying that the spirit of San Enrique would be displeased. The priest thus suggested that in order to appease the spirit of the saint, they should name pueblo Bontok as pueblo San Enrique. That put on record that the Municipality of San Enrique was first established in 1881 capable of self-government and determination. There were eighteen (18) barrios that were included under the jurisdiction of San Enrique namely; Camiri, Paga, Compo, Rumagayray, Palje, Cabas-an, Tambunac, Garita, Mapili, Dumiles, Bantayan, Gines, Quinolpan, Abaca, San Antonio, Madarag, Dawatan and Catan-agan. From 1881 to 1904 San Enrique enjoyed its independence as a municipality. When William Howard Taft however, became the first Civil American Governor General of the Philippines Island, he ordered the merging of the neighboring towns into one municipality, this was done for economic and political reasons. Passi was made the seat of the municipal government. That made San Enrique together with Dueñas and Calinog an "Arrabal of Passi". After the Second World War, same prominent citizens of San Enrique, notably Jesus Prudente, Cenon Pama, Exequiel Garrido and Romulo Von Lallab prepared a petition for San Enrique’s petition from Passi. The petition duly signed by the people was forwarded to the President on July 1, 1957 through Mariano E. Peñaflorida of Iloilo and hand carried by Congressman Jose Aldeguer. Executive Order No. 259, duly signed by his Excellency Carlos P. Garcia on July 12, 1957 recreated the Municipality of San Enrique in the province of Iloilo. THE EMANCIPATION OF SAN ENRIQUE More than half a century ago, San Enrique was under the sovereignty of the Municipality of Passi. It was a very lonely, serene, an almost forsaken place with a few, scattered houses within the Poblacion. Though this may seem like a forsaken land, its people numbering to more than eight thousand were already crying for freedom and independence, with a heightened spirit of nationalism trying to break free from the bondage of the Passinhons. The creation of Municipality of San Enrique followed from the undying and ardent desire for freedom. Hence, January 20, 1957 was the day the heavens behold, after the first mass, some patriotic citizens of the town, together with the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Primitivo Garcera, discussed the separation of San Enrique from Passi. The emotions overflowing on that day engendered those few patriots to request councilor Jesus P. Prudente to invite Mayor Filoteo Palmares of Passi to attend the popular meeting to be called for that purpose on January 25, 1957. In fact, in that conference, it was unanimously agreed by the people present with the expressed approval of the good mayor that San Enrique be separated from Passi. With the blessing of Mayor Palmares, the work for the formal separation begun. This was spearheaded by Mr. Exequiel D. Garrido, Sr. It was through his efforts that the data needed for the working papers, which included the petition of the people, data of probable income of the Municipality, real properties of the inhabitants, certification of the corresponding officials to vouchsafe the separation, map of the territory, and the like, were all put into writing. The preparation went on smoothly because of the assistance of then Councilor Jesus P. Prudente, later to become Mayor of San Enrique, Engr. Von Lallab and Mr. Crispin Lademora, Judge Manuel A. Pama Sr., Mr. Marino Panes Sr. of Passi, Fr. Primitivo Garcera, the Fernandezes, the Dorillos, provided moral and spiritual support. When the separation papers were almost completed, Congressman Jose M. Aldeguer, in the wake of an inspection trip in his district, came to the house of Mr. Garrido in San Enrique on June 1, 1957. Mr. Garrido readily presented to the Congressman the most cherished and noble aspiration of the San Enriquenhons to separate from Passi. After reading the petition and finding out that it was a unanimous decision for the San Enriquenhons to gain their freedom, the congressman assured Mr. Garrido that he would work hard to materialize the separation. He even made a vow that he would fly to manila and never to return to Iloilo without the bacon on his hands. “The Charter of Emancipation”. Governor Mariano Peñaflorida, who understood the sad plight of the people of San Enrique, strongly endorsed the petition to the then President of the Philippines Carlos P. Garcia for appropriate action. By virtue of Executive Order No. 259, duly signed by President Carlos P. Garcia, San Enrique became a separate town. It was done in the 12th day of July, on the year 1957. As soon as the said order was released, Judge Manuel A. Pama Sr., wrote Mr. Garrido. “Now comes to a complete realization our long cherished dream. We had been eagerly waiting, longing, and hungering for it. We can say and shout Hurrah, Hurrah and hurrah! The battle is won and we are now free as bees in the bushes.” “Because of the document, you can RELEASE NOW THE BOMB AND BREAK THE BELL.” “Hail San Enrique! Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah! Hail all San Enriquenhons!” So the bomb was released and the Church bell was rung for a very, very long time. The people of San Enrique not knowing what it was, were surprised and everybody gathered on the streets. When they knew that the noise and all the joyous uproar was because of the emancipation of their beloved town, everybody danced in jubilation. San Enrique was separated from Passi through the efforts of the man who had no filial ties with anyone in the Municipality except by his official connection with them as their representative. Congressman Aldeguer moved heaven and earth to free the lands of the Palabricas, Paezes, Pamas, Paclibars, and Garridos from the bondage of colonialism, and rededicated once again to the proposition that all men are created free and equal. Congressman Aldeguer was the “Simon Bolivar”, in the emancipation of the municipality of San Enrique, to whom the people of the said town are forever indebted to. Upon the appointment and qualification of Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilors, and other officials, the Municipality of San Enrique begun to exist with the old police station serving as the Municipal Hall. Now, the Municipal Hall looks like this: The Town hall was constructed last January 1972, under the incumbency of Mayor Cenon Pama. It is a two-storey building located at Corner Garrido St. and Palabrica Street, facing the Town Plaza. The first appointed Municipal Officials were: Mayor-Hon. Jesus P. Prudente; Vice Mayor-Hon. Manuel P. Pama, Sr.; Councilors-Hon. Concepcion L. Fernandez, Hon. Vicente Lallen, Hon. Genaro Aguilar, Hon. Orlando Pama; Municipal Sec.-Mr. Salvador P. Garrido, Sr.; Mun. Treasurer-Mr. Jose Lacsao, Chief of Police-Mr. Perfecto Lademora. In 1959 there was a local election. The first elected Municipal officials of the town were: Mayor- Hon. Jesus P. Prudente; Vice Mayor-Hon. Carlos D. Poblador; Councilors-Hon. Rodrigo P. Ponte, Hon. Francisco Oro, Hon. Erlinda P. Garrido, Hon. Melicio Aricaya, Hon. Clemente Palmes, Hon. Luis A. Barredo. Presently, the Municipal Hall is home to the incumbent officials: Mayor- Hon. Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez; S.B. Members: Hon. Remie Conte, Hon. Kristofer Pamposa, Hon. Thadeus Cordero, Hon. Elpedio Anerdis, Hon. Carlos Sumagpao, Hon. Policarpio Dapat, Hon. Reymundo Palomado, and Hon. Alex Panes. During the first ten years of its existence as a Municipality, San Enrique faced heartbreaking problems. They were beset by financial crisis, but the San Enriquenhons were able to survive the dilemma. They were ups and downs as they move along, but the establishment of the Passi Sugar Central paved the way to improving their economy, which was situated at Imbang Pequeño, San Enrique, Iloilo. Old folks say that San Enrique used to be a town far from civilization years back. The fact that it was almost impossible to avail secondary and tertiary education in the said town is one reason for it. However, in order to develop, one must acquire the necessary tools for it; hence San Enriquenhons bear all the odds that come with it in acquiring secondary education in the nearby town of Passi. Soon, with their fervent prayers and pleas, San Enrique Community High School started to operate in 1967 by virtue of a law authored by then Congressman Aldeguer, once again, in 1965, and producing its first graduates in 1971. In addition to that, since San Enrique is basically an agricultural community, Vocational High School operated in 1972 to hone the skills needed to boost agricultural production of the said town. Sharing a similar vision, the two secondary schools were fused, becoming San Enrique Agricultural College in June 10, 1983 under the Batas Pambansa Bilang 496. Along with the development and progress, the educative concern of the school also expanded to technology/technical courses. And on April 5, 1990, then President Corazon C. Aquino signed Republic Act 6944 converting the former San Enrique Agricultural College into san Enrique Polytechnic College. Its official function as a Polytechnic College began in June 10, 1991. Now, college education is no longer a thing only for the rich in San Enrique. When SEPC was integrated to Iloilo State College of Fisheries in June 2000, the institution has catered tertiary education not only to the constituents of San Enrique but served the neighboring towns as well. It is now called ISCOF- San Enrique Campus. Resource profile Territorial area Land Area The Municipality of San Enrique has a total land area of 8,772 hectares. Land Use / Cover Out of the total land area of 8,772 hectares; 7572 hectares is devoted to Agriculture; 33.34 hectares in Industrial; 12 hectares in Commercial; 86 hectares in residential; 25 hectares in Institutional and 1,043.66 hectares in forest, rivers, marsh and swamps. Topography The Majestic Panoramic View of Mt. Puti-an There are six mountains range that landmark the topography of this municipality to wit: • Mt. Cañapasan • Mt. Bayoso • Mt. Gepiz • Mt. Mt. Cararapan • Mt. Cabas-an • Mt. Puti-an Located in the central part of the province of Iloilo, is San Enrique, bounded by the scenic Mts. Bayoso, Mt. Cañapasan, Agcacorpe and Puti-an, where crystal clear water coming from natural springsprovide the population with an abundant source of drinking water. The town is noted for its fertile valleys, green and verdant meadows now filled with luxuriant sugarcane plantations. Standing on their own right, the queen of these mountains is Mount Cañapasan, which is noted for its panoramic surrounding area. Its highest skyline makes vertical lift of 569 meters sea level. Second highest mountain is Mt. Bayoso with 405 meters above sea level. Located in the eastern part of the Poblacion, the grandeur and splendor of its crest is the seat of the towering RCPI, SMART, PLDT and other relay stations. Besides from the small mountain ranges mentioned above, hilly to rolling is the several slope of the land. With slightly rolling and marginal flat land that blighted its landscape, this is utilized for lowland farming. Soil types Generally, the soil type distribution in this area regardless of the land classification is clay and loam. This is dominant in any topographic area. Mineral reserves San Enrique has non-metallic mineral resources located at Bgy. Camiri and Rumagayray. So its resource potentials have no mineral reserves, mineral production and claimed mine land. Mineral production Despite the presence of non-metallic minerals like limestone in Rumagayray, some private individual is engaged in processing and a production of limestone. Yearly production of hydrated lime is very small in volume because limes produced only by using the crude of "Tutod" method and cannot compete with the others like in Guimaras Island. In Brgy. Camiri there’s also a non-metallic mineral resource for use in the making of pots, jars, etc. They used clay soil. Demographic profile Population: As of 1995 the National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO) has registered a total household population of 25,572 from the municipality of San Enrique, this indicated an increase of 875 over the 1990 total population of 24,697. Ethnic / cultural minority groups Aside from the prevailing inhabitants of this municipality, the transient ethnic groups that frequent this place belong to the cultural minority, the betas or Nitrites. They are seasonally around during planting and harvesting of sugarcane. Economic profile Major industry The municipality of San Enrique is largely agricultural and majority of the population is engaged in farming. Social and economic undertaking of the town is centered on agriculture. Interesting places / events Festivals and fiestas Every 24th of May, the Municipality of San Enrique celebrates its Municipal Patronal Fiesta and Corn Festival on the Second week of August. Man-made attractions The transmitters of RCPI, PLDT, SMART and other relay stations located at the peak of Mount Cañapasan. The Passi Sugar (ILOILO) Sugar Central, Inc. in Brgy. Imbang Pequeño, San Enrique, Iloilo. Mini Park in Poblacion Existing tourism - related projects Mount Puti-an, known with caves which is located at Brgy. Rumagayray and Bulabog National Park situated at the boundary of Dingle and San Enrique. Proposed tourism development projects Mount Cañapasan, which has a panoramic surrounding area and the Talinab Spring at Brgy. Lip-ac, which is the source of water, supply in the Poblacion. Infrastructure and utilities Road and bridges The type of existing roads in the municipality is the National Roads, Provincial Roads and the Municipal Roads. The National Roads are the San Enrique-San Rafael Road, the San Enrique-Garita Road and the San Enrique-Dingle Road, the San Enrique-Dueñas Road and the KABASAKA Road. The Municipal Roads consist of Municipal Streets and the Barangay Roads. There are six major bridges and considerable meterage of overflows and box culverts. The different concrete bridges are located in different barangays. Asisig bridge at Brgy. Asisig with a total length of 45 LM. The bridge located in Imbesad-an is measured approximately 30 LM in length. Lictinon bridge at Brgy. Catan-agan is approximately 39 LM. Rumagayray Bridge is measured roughly about 30 LM in length and Paga Bridge with a length of 25 LM. Since numerous shallow creeks in addition to bridges traverse the land surface of the town, overflows are constructed to supplement the road network. These overflows are usually a fill-up of boulders amalgamated with concrete and supplemented with reinforced concrete pipes serving as water under passage. During floods, water just overflow, since flooding of this creeks or rivers is usually of short duration, suspension of traffic during floods along these overflows is very temporary. Some of the overflows can be found at Brgy. Abaca, Brgy. Cubay and Brgy. Lip-ac-Palje. To take a route to San Enrique from Iloilo City: From Tagbak Terminal, you have 2 options: First, You may take a bus going to Passi-Calinog, Passi-Roxas, Passi-Kalibo or Caticlan. Second: You may take a van going to Passi City. The Final destination of these 2 options is the Passi CITY terminal. From Tagbak Terminal you will be passing the town of Leganes, Zarraga, Pototan, Dingle, Dueñas, and Passi. From Passi CITY terminal take a tricycle going to San Enrique which is 4 kilometers away from Passi CITY and a 10-15 minutes drive through. Services Medical facilities • Health Clinics - 2 • Barangay Health Stations - 6 Schools • 1 college • 3 high school extensions • 12 elementary schools • 7 primary schools The present secondary schools in the town are San Enrique National Comprehensive High School (SENCHS) (Garrido St., Pob. Ilaya), Dominador Abang Memorial National High School (DAMNHS) Brgy. Garita, San Enrique Manuel Palu-ay Sr. Memorial National High School (SEMPSMNHS), Brgy. Madarag, San Enrique. Landmarks of San Enrique The entrance of the town plaza of San Enrique The monument occupying the town plaza belongs to the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, a clear indication that San Enriquenhons believe that freedom can be acquired even by most peaceful means. The Monfort Agro-Botanical Garden The children’s playground The public market The Municipal Health Office The Mary Help of Christians Parish “The Parish in the modern World” (Mary Help of Christians Parish) was established in the year 1937. It celebrates its feast day every 24th day of May. Statue of Mary Help of Christians in Cambodia. As a little background, Mary Help of Christians (Latin: Sancta Maria Auxilium Christianorum), is a Roman Catholic Marian devotion with a feast day celebrated on May 24. John Chrysostom was the first person to use this title in 345 as a devotion to the Virgin Mary. The devotion became popular in Europe during the pontificate of Pope Pius V and the fights against the Ottoman Empire. It was definitely established due to the great appreciation of Don Bosco for this Marian title and the development of the Salesian works in several countries since the second half of the 19th century. Although it is commonly associated with the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church has also known the devotion since 1030 in Ukraine, when the country was defended from a barbarian invasion. The title of Mary Help of Christians is associated with the defense of Christian Europe (Latin and Greek), the north of Africa and the Middle East from non-Christian peoples during the Middle Age. In 1572, the Islamic Ottoman Empire intended to invade Christian Europe. Pope Pius V called Christian armies from all over Europe to defend the continent and asked the believers to pray to Mary in order to help the Christians. The defeat of the Muslim Turks was attributed to the intercession of Mary under this title. The lot where the parish stands in San Enrique was donated by Mrs. Guillerma Padilla while Rev. Msgr. Felipe Dativo Palomo – spearheaded the construction of the modern church. Rev. Fr. Manuel G. Sevilla- regarded as architect of the modern Parish Church, started the construction at his incumbency, touch the hearts of generous parishioners and San Enriquenhons and abroad. Dr. Ricardo Palabrica Pama and his wife Mrs. Minda Javier Pama- major sponsor, made an initial donation of one million pesos for the kick off start of the construction. The design of the church is one that is considered elegant which harmoniously blends the past and the present with the cross radiating from atop a gothic iron rib, symbolic of a glorious history and an eternal mission. Town Fiesta: May 24 Market Day: Sunday San Enrique election incident Unfortunately, a town so small and so far like this, may not be so serene all the time. An exception to the routinary tranquility of the said town is the election incident of 2010. The 2010 elections in the municipality of San Enrique has been so famous because of the captured goons of Mayor Trixie Fernandez. A total of 17 persons on board three vehicles filled with assorted firearms will face charges for violations of the gun ban and illegal possession of firearms, according to Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, S/Supt. Rolando Gumban. The incident happened around 5 p.m. Monday in San Enrique, Iloilo where the convoy of San Enrique mayoral candidate Rolando Cordero and a group of vehicles composed of a Safari, Urvan and a pick-up met and had a deadlock at Barangay Garita of the said town. Gumban said the supporters of Cordero surrounded the vehicles, demanding that the vehicles be opened because they are carrying assorted firearms. The incident ended around 8:30 p.m. upon the arrival of Gumban who ordered that the vehicles escorted by police patrol cars be brought to the San Enrique Police Station. While at the police station, some 5,000 supporters of Cordero again encircled the three vehicles and demanded the same. Gumban said the vehicles were opened and the 17 persons on board were escorted to the police station while the police found assorted firearms inside said vehicles. An inventory of the recoveries revealed two standard Armalites; two baby Armalites; two fragmentation grenades; two caliber .38 revolvers; four homemade shotguns; one rife grenade; seven Molotov bombs and assorted ammunition. Those arrested were identified as: • Hon. Carlos Sumagpao, SB Member, San Enrique, Iloilo • Virgilio Osano III, San Enrique • Andy Casanova, San Enrique • Elmer Carillo, Municipal Employee (formerly assigned at COMELEC-San Enrique) • Lina Savillano, San Enrique • Charles Paca-oncis, San Enrique • Dionisio Dayaday, San Enrique • Rolly Delatina, Barotac Viejo • Jesus Maximo Jr., Barotac Viejo • Reynaldo Palmes, Barotac Viejo • Gelbert Lara, Barotac Viejo, Barotac Viejo • Joebert Cornella, Barotac Viejo • Larry Cala-or, Ajuy • Antonio Sainz Jr., Dao, Antique • Rolly Fegarido, Passi City • Primitivo Alaro Jr., Passi City • Ruben Asupadro, Passi City After two weeks, they were released by a bail of 1.5 million pesos. San Enriquenhons learned a lot from this incident that justice will always prevail. Now, the town is back to its normal pace, and can still be considered peaceful after all. Bibliography: Erlinda G. Pador, San Enrique,The Emancipated Municipality www.webcitation.org www.thenewstoday.info www.Ilonggos.net www.wikipedia.com