History of The Municipality of Dumalag
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The history of Dumalag dates as far back as the early years of the christianizationof the island of Panay. Since the time the Augustinians set foot in the island and founded the Christian settlements of Dumangas and Panay in 1563, the child of Saint Augutin - Juan de Alva and Martin de Dada, looked as this Visayan land with care and loved towards its Pentados people, and soon their apostolic zeal reached as far as the towns of Tigbauan, Hamtic, Aklan, Ibajay, and Otong (Oton) in Iloilo. Actually, some historians have placed the foundation of the Christian community of Dumalag in the year 1596.
Administered for some time by the Augustinians of Ibajay or Hamtic, the new settlement was handled over to the bishop of Cebu, Father Prdro Agurto, in 1597, for the benefit of the secular clergy. A few years later, however, it was given back to the Augustinians. It was Father Juan de Medina, one of the most outstanding apostles of the Visayas and the first historian of Panay who said that such a return was mainly due to the efforts of Father Alonzo de Baraona while being minister of Sarog (Jaro) in 1611 and of Aklan in 1613. The fearless hair crossed the seas to Cebu and to Manila, with evident dangerto his own life on several occasions, to obtain by entreaty from the Bishop and the Governor General,the mission at Dumalag for the Augustinians. In fact Dumalag was exchanged for the ministry of Ibajay, and the Provincial Chapter celebrated in Manila by the Augustinians on May 17, 1614, accepted officially the exchange and proclaimed Dumalag an Augustinians Convent.
Administered for some time by the Augustinians of Ibajay or Hamtic, the new settlement was handled over to the bishop of Cebu, Father Prdro Agurto, in 1597, for the benefit of the secular clergy. A few years later, however, it was given back to the Augustinians. It was Father Juan de Medina, one of the most outstanding apostles of the Visayas and the first historian of Panay who said that such a return was mainly due to the efforts of Father Alonzo de Baraona while being minister of Sarog (Jaro) in 1611 and of Aklan in 1613. The fearless hair crossed the seas to Cebu and to Manila, with evident dangerto his own life on several occasions, to obtain by entreaty from the Bishop and the Governor General,the mission at Dumalag for the Augustinians. In fact Dumalag was exchanged for the ministry of Ibajay, and the Provincial Chapter celebrated in Manila by the Augustinians on May 17, 1614, accepted officially the exchange and proclaimed Dumalag an Augustinians Convent.