Heritage | Sulu Garden Foundation

History & Heritage

We aim to preserve heritage through community engagement and sustainable practices, focusing on safeguarding and promoting local tapestries and traditions.

History of Miagao

Each town of each province bordering the Sulu Sea is rich in its history. Yet much has been lost over centuries and younger people barely know about their history because of the lack of reading resources, distractions from daily life’s struggles and social media. The town of Miag-ao is Sulu Garden Foundation’s test case on how to re-stimulate awareness and concern about local history and heritage preservation.

We are accomplishing this through social media, conferences, and the collection of important documents and books where Miag-ao is mentioned. Records in Spanish and Kinaray-a languages are translated into English and added to the Miag-ao History Library in Sulu Garden.

Through social media, we have created a Facebook group called ‘Historic Miagao @ Sulu Garden‘, which enables public access to historic topics that relate to the people of this town.

About Miagao

Our hometown, Miag-ao, was founded in 1716 with its most visible structure, a UNESCO Heritage Miag-ao Church.

Maragtas

As an example, work is being undertaken to preserve the 1907 book called “Maragtas”, written by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro, Miag-ao’s revolutionary leader, first municipal mayor, a writer of songs, and the town’s true ‘Renaissance Man.’ It is the legendary story of the arrival of the Ten Datus of Borneo, who settled on this island of Panay in the 12th century.

History of Miag-ao

An example is the digitization program for the 1979 book by Elias N. Failagao entitled “History of Miag-ao.” The book is the main reference guide to local history but since then has become rare. Now, residents and students can access the story and the digitized link to download this book.

War Stories

The war stories of Miagao reflect its rich history of struggle and resilience. A significant event is the 1754 Battle of Miagao, where local Christianized Visayan tribes joined forces with Spanish troops to repel the Muslim Moro warriors. To honor this historical milestone, this eight-part novella tells tales of bravery, strategic alliances, and the intricate interplay between various cultural and ethnic groups that transpired on that fateful day. These narratives not only recount the battles but also emphasize the town’s enduring spirit and cultural heritage.

Salakayan Novella

An eight-part series historical fiction featuring the 1754 Battle of Salakayan in Miagao, Iloilo

Indigenous Technologies

Mountain and coastal villages develop unique ways to cope with the adversities and needs over the centuries. We are documenting methods and processes that are still in use today before it becomes entirely lost from the memories as the elders pass away. We have documented the unique salt farming technology dating back centuries that fisher folks still used today. However, with the influx of cheaper commercial salt and a more educated younger generation who find better-paying jobs, this salt-making technology will soon become extinct along the shores of Miag-ao.

To know more, read the three-part series below.

Part 1: Asinderos de Miagao

Part 2: The Art of Farming Budbud Salt

Part 3: Searching for the Mystery Vines of the Aetas in the Uplands of Miagao

Miagao Heritage Sites

Modernization of an emerging economy such as the Philippines often sacrifices the old with the new. Most often, heritage buildings are lost through demolition or neglect. More and more, the heritage of rural towns is lost to a lack of awareness or appreciation. This program aims to identify and push for the preservation of such heritage before they are lost forever.

In Miag-ao, we have explored existing sites, such as watchtowers used during the Moro Wars, and have identified crumbling sites that need restoration. Old bridges built during the Spanish Period and the American Period are unique parts of the town’s heritage. We have restored and continue to maintain the Spanish stone bridge over the National Highway like the one shown above, on the left side.

This ongoing project is to identify pre-Hispanic man-made fortifications called ‘ijang.’ These fortifications use existing rock structures extended upwards to create a fortress, such as those found in Batanes Island and Cebu. Above, on the right side, is an example of an ijang in Batanes, which we believe also exists in Miag-ao and nearby towns.