Tapaz, Capiz

Submitted by:
Diestro, Tanya
Guyod, Maria Louisa Belle
Pacheco, Diadem Anne
Quirao, Roevel Paul

March 7, 2014

Submitted to:
Prof. Cristabel Parcon
Socio 114 Philippine Social Institutions
Instructor

DEMOGRAPHY OF TAPAZ, CAPIZ

Capiz is one of the four provinces of Panay Island in Western Visayas and it is well known to be
the seafood capital of the Philippines. It is located 375 miles southwest of Manila, 136 kilometers
northwest of Iloilo City and 86 kilometers east of Kalibo, Aklan, once a part of the early Malay settlement
known as Aklan. Capiz is composed of 16 municipalities, 1 component city (Roxas City), and 473
barangays. The 16 municipalities is divided into two districts. The first district includes Panay,
Pontevedra, Panitan, Maayon, President Roxas, and Pilar. The second district, on the other hand, includes
Ivisan, Sigma, Mambusao, Sapian, Jamindan, Tapaz, Dumalag, Dumarao, Cuartero, and Dao.
Tapaz is one of the many municipalities in the province of Capiz in Region VI Western
Visayas. Tapaz belongs in the second district and is seated about 42 kilometers southwest of Roxas City
and about 450 km southeast of Manila. By the end of 2007, Tapaz was the home of 47, 059 residents. It is
marked as a 1st class municipality and is classified as partly urban. Tapaz occupies an area of 517.18 km2.
Tapaz is politically subdivided into 58 barangays, which are: Abangay, Acua, Agcococ, Aglinab,
Aglupacan, Agpalali, Apero, Artuz, Bag-Ong Barrio, Bato-bato, Buri, Camburanan, Candelaria, Caria,
Cristina, Da-an Banwa, Da-an Norte, Da-an Sur, Garcia, Gebio-an, Hilwan, Initan, Katipunan,
Lagdungan, Lahug, Libertad, Mabini, Maliao, Malitbog, Minan, Nayawan, Poblacion, Rizal Norte, Rizal
Sur, Roosevelt, Roxas, Salong, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Jose, San Julian, San Miguel Ilawod,
San Miguel Ilaya, San Nicolas, San Pedro, San Roque, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Santa Petronila, Senonod,
Siya, Switch, Tabon, Tacayan, Taft, Taganghin, Taslan, and Wright.

Tapaz celebrates Patabang Festival every September 21-30 wherein participating groups join in
the celebration resulting into a contest complete with costumes and musical instruments particularly
drums. Sirinadya sa Tapaz became a yearly celebration centered on the Bayanihan Spirit called
Patabang. As the celebration prospered, schools began to participate, adding colour and excitement to
the event.

HISTORY
Tapaz was founded in 1835 but it continued being a part of Dumalag for many years. In 1862 and
1863, two letters were made to declare parish under the patronage of St. Jerome. Governor General
Lemery signed both, but they were never executed. In 1874, Jaro Bishop, Mariano Cuartero, finally
declared Tapaz an independent parish.

The populace of the Barangays, mentioned in the demography, claim that they were established
long before the municipality of Tapaz, but the political boundary was unknown. Jamindan is not
contesting the area, instead they claim the area due to establishment of political boundary on the map,
even in the absence of the technical description. The municipality of Tapaz is contesting the area of
8,025.88 hectares more or less with the municipality of Jamindan and this dispute was already sent to the
Regional and Center Office of the DENR for proper action and assistance to the LGUs concerned.

ECONOMY

We are all aware that Capiz in general is a coastal province best known for its seafood all
over the country. It is considered as the seafood capital of the Philippines but not all
municipalities in Capiz rely their living on seafood industry. Municipality like Tapaz is away
from coastal lines therefore one of their livelihood is farming and tourism.
Recently Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala of Capiz Department of Agriculture lead
the symbolic turnover of the tramline project that will facilitate the fast, easy and cheap transport
of produce from farms on the mountains of Tapaz to the nearest road to the poblacion. This
agricultural project will be expected to serve about 150 hectares of agricultural area in Brgy.
Daan Sur and Daan Norte in Tapaz planted with cassava, camote, banana, special rice (aromatic)
and other high value commercial crops. According to the secretary this tramline will also be one
of the livelihood and income-generating project of the municipality of Tapaz wherein they will
implement an ordinance regarding the per kilo of crops will be charged in the transportation of
the products.
Government is doing something to help the people of Tapaz especially the Indigenous
People of the municipality. Last year, around the month of September 2013 the Department of
Labor and employment released a P950, 000 livelihood grant to 321 IPs of Tapaz, Capiz. This

livelihood is about Abaca Production Project that aims to develop the existing abaca production
in Barangays Hilwan and Maliao which were identified by the Fiber Industry Development
Authority as major abaca-producing barangays in Capiz, as well as to enhance the lives of the
indigenous people in these areas.
Since the land of Tapaz, Capiz is rich and favour for agriculture, the Philippine Coconut
Authority (PCA), provincial government of Capiz, and the local government unit (LGU) of
Tapaz also took part in helping the economy of the said municipality. They handed over 12,400
seed nuts to the farmers that will help in their livelihood. Not only is their agriculture rich but
also their tourism that calls many tourists attention because of its closure to nature. There are lots
of dams, falls and rivers that surround the municipality and continuous to amaze the tourists and
even the locals. Tourism of Tapaz, Capiz will be further discussed in later portion.

POLITICS
The reigning names in Tapaz, Capizs politics are the family of Gardose and Exmundo. It
is subdivided into 58 barangays and Hon. Rose Gardose is the reigning mayor of the
municipality defeating Boy Exmundo.
Here is the result of the last years election.
Mayor
GARDOSE, ROSE

NUP

9,972

EXMUNDO, BOY

LP

6,464

Vice-Mayor
GARDOSE, BOB

LP

8,398

GIMENO, NET

NUP

7,395

Member, Sangguniang Bayan - Lone Dist

GABUCAY, INDAY

NUP

9,428

FARINAS, IBONG

NUP

8,803

GARDOSE, MA. FE

LP

8,251

GLORIA, TOTO ARTHUR

NUP

7,995

GLUMALID, MEDYO

LP

7,827

PIO, ENAN

LP

7,640

FALSIS, RUSKIN

NUP

7,333

BELLO, TATA

NUP

7,050

GARBO, TEOD

NUP

6,245

JIMENEZ, BONG BONG

LP

6,225

GADONG, LORETO

LP

6,218

GIMENO, JOEMARIE

NUP

5,419

GIALOGO, EDGARDO

LP

5,150

GERVERO, SANDRA

LP

4,604

CARTAGENA, RODEL

NUP

2,949

Source: Comelec Rappler Mirror Server

On the other hand let us take a look at the set of elected officials of Tapaz for the term of
2010-2013 in Table 1. It can be observed that there is a family dynasty that is taking over in
Tapaz. The Gardose family is the one dominating in the politics of the municipality.
Mayor of Tapaz: Rosemarie Fecara Gardose
Vice-Mayor of Tapaz: Bob Galicto Gardose
Councilors of Tapaz:
Arturo Palomar Gloria II
Ruskin Bias Falsis
Ma. Jeala Gicole Gimeno
Teodulfo Garde Garbo
James Ganzon Glumalid
Karen Artuz Palomar
Diosdedit Gallenero Jimenez Jr.
Jelly Gano Farinas

Table 1 - Tapaz Officials 2010-2013

ARTS AND CULTURE

The barangay of Tapaz has strange practices that tackled on the mystical. They kept their
most beautiful female offspring hidden from sunlight until the day of her betrothal. Folks
believed that this will give her the magical powers of a babaylan. Whenever planting season
arrives, the young sunlight-deprived lady is taken out to dance and chant in the fields under the
moonlight. They believe that it will ensure an abundant harvest. The entire tribe became known
for this practice of hiding their beautiful females from sunlight, locally known as 'bukot', and
hence, the word 'binukot' which means 'to hide' or to 'keep'. This epic is reenacted by a dancedrama portrayed by selected individuals in school events and cultural heritage appreciation
events.
Tapaz also showcases their native dance. Binanog is a courthisp dance of the mountain
tribes. They are the vanishing remnants of pre-Malayan Indonesian immigrants to Panay. This is
performed by the local tribe and its choreography is patterned after a bird, Banog or a hawk.
Today, they still perform this dance to the tune of their very own musical instruments like the
agong or gong, the tambur or a drum made of deerskin, and the subing which resembles a
bamboo wind instrument. The original choreography arranged around ancient Indonesian fertility
rites is retained.
The barangay celebrates their version of Ati-atihan. They call it Sirinadya sa Tapaz and
it has become a yearly celebration. The festival is centered on the Bayanihan Spirit they call
patabang (cooperation). Schools participated in tribal dance competitions to increase the
festivity spirit and excitement of Tapaznon. The tribal dance usually re-enacts the life and
struggles of the Sulodnon and how they refused to submit to Spanish authorities.
They used to celebrate May flower festival but it was removed in 2012 by Archbishop
Jose F. Advincola. It was removed because it was held simultaneously with Flores de Mayo. He
was insulted that the organizers still pursued to hold the event even they knew it would create a
conflict with the celebration of Flores de Mayo.
The people of the interior most town of Tapaz, Capiz, home of the mountain people,
speak Kinaray-a with the few older folks retaining some Ligbok words.

LIFE IN TAPAZ

Life in Tapaz is not really the typical rural lifestyle. In the poblacion, people go to work
in the municipal hall and children go to school, this also the same as in the barangays near the
poblacion. In the far flung barrios however as in the mountainous barangays, life basically is the
usual way of life depicted in movies and/or documentaries. People in these barangays do not
place much importance on education, firstly, because they are far from good schools and that
they would rather have their children work.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Tapaz is also known for its closeness to nature. Local and non-local tourists come and go
to relax, find adventure and peace of mind. Tapaz is best known to its Marugo Dam Resort and
Pangilatan Falls.

Marugo Dam Resort

Marugo Dam Resort located just three kilometers away from the town proper of Tapaz. It is
a lake known as Marugo and this is actually a dam. This dam was created last September 2008
and it has a peaceful ambiance and a picturesque green hilly mountain of Tapaz, Capiz. It is
owned and managed by Mr. Roberto Palomar.
The floating nipa cottage that can accommodate up to 15 persons are one the main reasons
why people keep coming back. You could find time for yourself, family and friends to relax and
enjoy the beauty of nature. The place is breath-taking with its enticing beauty and the travel is
worth it especially when you get to submerge yourself in a pool at the top of the mountain
viewing the whole scenery of the place.

Pangilatan Falls Ecotourism Park

The best waterfalls in Western Visayas can be found in Tapaz, Capiz and it t is known as the
Pangilatan Falls Ecotourism Park.
The Pangilatan Waterfalls Ecotourism Park is composed of a main waterfalls which has a
water drop off of about 81 ft., countless mini-falls whose water drop offs are between less than a
foot to as high as 7 ft., the total length of which is at least 3.5 kms and could go as far as 8 kms
and a viewing area on the highest point of Barangay Artuz. From here, one could see the rolling
hills and mountains of Tapaz and neighboring towns as far as Calinog, Iloilo in the south and
Libacao, Aklan in the north.
Residents used to call it Pangilat-kilatan based on the Visayan root word kilat, which
means lightning. It is said that lightning used to strike the place whenever somebody tries to fish
in the falls even during summer of sunny days. The name was later modified to Pangilatan.
The Park has several cottages which visitors could rent during their stay. Visitors could tour
the Park by following the trails and hanging bridges, or simply frolic along the streams and enjoy
their cool and soothing caress. Everyone could also enjoy horseback riding and should not miss
the main falls with its 81-foot water drop by going down through a 140-step stairway.

HOW TO GET THERE

Ungka Terminal serves jeepneys and commuter vans bound for Central Iloilo towns and
Tapaz, Capiz. The terminal is located at the boundary of Jaro, Iloilo City and Pavia town.
To get to Ungka Terminal, ride a Jaro CPU Ungka from Jaro Plaza or along Iznart Street in
downtown Iloilo City.

Travel from Iloilo City to Tapaz

You travel a distance of 74 Km travelled in 1 day(s).
You spend a total of 67 Minutes - 1 hour(s) 7 minutes(s) travelling in 1 day(s).
Day 1
(74 Km)

Day's Travel Plan: Iloilo City --> Tapaz

Travelled Distance: 74 Km
Time spent in Traveling: 67 Minutes - 1 hour(s) 7 minutes(s)
* The above is an approximate. Current Road Conditions, Weather, Traffic, Time of day, Other
local factors, etc. might affect travel plans.

Sources:

Bigcas, V. (2013). Tapaz Farmers To Get Tramline Project. My Capiz Gazette. Retrieved from
http://mycapiz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=511&Itemid=1 on
March 4, 2014.
http://www.localphilippines.com/destinations/tapaz
Retrieved on March 4, 2014.
http://wikimapia.org/1270848/Tapaz-Capiz
Retrieved on March 4, 2014.
http://www.capiz.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=72
Retrieved on March 4, 2014.
http://www.philippine-islands.ph/en/tapaz-capiz-philippines.html
Retrieved on March 4, 2014.