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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Just like the other two municipalities of Buenavista and Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, the history of Jordan dates back to the time when the island was Christianized by the Spaniards in 1591.

The towns then were known as pueblicitos (villages) of Nayup (Buenavsita) with San Pedro de Apostol as patron saint; Nabilhan (Jordan) with San Juan Bautista as its patron saint; and Agang (Nueva Valencia) whose patroness was Santa Ana. Although during the Spanish regime, there were separate powers between the church and the state, yet the church had much influence in the creation of pueblos (towns) and also in other affairs of the government.

Jordan was part of Buenavista when the Spaniards gave Guimaras its municipal status in 1886. When the Filipinos revolted against Spain, Guimaras was governed by Junta Local. Natives of the island took part in the fighting until the Spaniards were defeated. Spain’s dominion over the country ended in 1898.

The development of Guimaras and the steady growth of population necessitated the splitting of the island into municipalities. It was in January, 1918 during the term of Presidente Municipal Melquiades Javellana, that the progressive barrio of Nagaba was established as a municipality. Its area of jurisdiction included the barrio of then Sta. Ana (Nueva Valencia). Valeriano Villanueva was appointed as the Presidented Municipal and served the municipality until 1919.

In 1919, an election was held and Hugo Chavez was elected as the first Presidente Municipal. The municipal building was then in a site known today as Sitio Bucao in the Poblacion. Later on, it was transferred to the Poblacion (NFA building) beside the plaza and near the Roman Catholic Church. Hugo Chavez was succeeded by Licerio Segovia (1921-1923), Alberto Gonzaga (1923-1925), Feliz Ronzales (1925-1928), Hilario Nava (1929-1932) and again Hugo Chavez (1932-1935).

As preparation for its independence, the Americans established the Commonwealth government. In Jordan, Hugo Chavez was appointed as the Commonwealth Mayor from 1936-1938. He was succeeded by Leodegario Galarpe (1939-1941) who served until the invasion of the Japanese in 1941.

Guimaras, being a wooded area during that time, was made the sanctuary of people coming from Panay. In Jordan, Cirilo Galotera served as Municipal Mayor for only six months. The Japanese imposed a system of government known as KALIBAPI or Neighborhood Association headed by a Speaker.

Most of the Americans and Filipinos did not surrender to the Japanese. They continued the fight thru guerilla warfare. In Jordan, the guerillas constructed a garrison in Sitio Nagub-an, Sta. Teresa and in Ayakan in Constancia. From there, they launched raids against the Japanese in nearby areas of Panay.

Natives of Jordan distinguished themselves in the struggle against the Japanese. Among them are Lt. Col. Luis C. Herrera, Lt. Jesus Gallego, Captain Cayetano Galve and Cpl. Antonio Galanto.

ETHNIC ORIGIN OF THE PEOPLE

The people of Jordan are unfortunate in the sense that aside from legends and folklores transmitted from generation to generation by word of mouth, no one was able to record the events that transpired since Guimaras became a settlement until the present. Whatever records that existed during the Spanish and American eras were lost during the war and was ravaged by termites which destroyed the local parish records. However, it can be safely assumed that the aetas are the aborigines of the place and quite a few of them are still presently living within the municipality.

They are settled in Sitio Sablay, Ravina and Sitio Kati-Kati, Talangban and the neighboring areas, much unlike the wandering aetas of other provinces. The majority of the large families now residing in Jordan are descendants from the migrants from other municipalities of Panay, Negros and the surrounding islands of the Visayas region.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

The Municipality of Jordan is located on the western part of Guimaras which in turn is situated right in the middle of Panay and Negros in Western Visayas with Iloilo and Guimaras Strait separating it from the north island respectively. Jordan is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Buenavista, San Lorenzo to the east and Sibunag to the south. At its nearest point, it is approximately 1.5 nautical miles from Iloilo. This central location serves well its function as the provincial capital of the Province of Guimaras.

In terms of absolute location Jordan lies within latitudes 10º04′00″ N and 10º26′00″ N and the longitudes 122º30′00″ E and 122º45′00″ E.

The main point of entry into the Municipality is the Jordan Wharf located in Brgy. Rizal. It is the nearest point of access from Iloilo City allowing the Municipality better trade opportunities and development stimuli than the other municipalities. This may be the reason why Jordan is also regarded as the commercial center of the island.

LAND AREA

Before the creation of the two new municipalities, the total land area of Jordan is 30,440 hectares. It was reduced to 12,611 hectares which is 21% of the total land area of Guimaras. All barangays are classed as rural with the exception of Barangays Poblacion, Rizal, Hoskyn and San Miguel which are considered urban areas. Barangay Lawi is the farthest with a distance of 20 kilometers from Barangay Poblacion, where the Jordan Municipal Hall is located.

CLIMATE

The northeast monsoon commonly known as the “hanging amihan” occurs from November to mid-February. It is called such because prevailing winds during this period originate from the northeast. These winds are usually cool and contain little moisture due to their continental polar (cP) origin, hence, the low precipitation levels.

Furthermore, orographic barriers, specifically the Sierra Madre in eastern and southern Luzon, further minimizes the possibilities of rain bearing winds from the northeast even though the island is open to the northeast monsoon through the Guimaras Strait.

Dry Season - November to April
Wet Season - May to October
Average Monthly Temperature - 27.130C

Source: Jordan RHU, 2009

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Poblacion, Jordan, Guimaras
mo_lgu@yahoo.com
Tele/Fax: +63 33 238 1331

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