Cuartero


Cuartero, officially the Municipality of Cuartero, is a municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.

Etymology

The name Cuartero was bestowed in honor of Mariano Cuartero, O.P., the first bishop of the Diocese of Jaro, who helped expand ecclesiastical administration across Panay Island during Spanish rule.

History

Early history

According to community oral traditions, the area now known as Cuartero was once called Binudhian, later Mapang, and then Fonda, meaning “founder.” Early inhabitants were mainly Ati groups who practiced subsistence farming and hunting.

Spanish colonial era

During the Spanish colonial period, the settlement was organized as a parish on November 30, 1872 and named Cuartero in honor of Bishop Mariano Cuartero, the first bishop of Jaro, Iloilo. A stone church and convent were erected under Spanish supervision, marking the start of formal administration and evangelization.

American colonial era

By the early 1900s, under American rule, schools and civil institutions were introduced. Cuartero became an arabal of Dao, where all personal and real estate taxes were paid. After many decades of effort to gain independence, leaders Manuel Funa and Pascual de la Torre traveled to Manila with complete documents for separation. Their work led President Manuel L. Quezon to approve Executive Order No. 159 on August 23, 1938, which established Cuartero as an independent municipality.
Cuartero was officially inaugurated as an independent municipality on January 1, 1939 with Manuel Funa as its first mayor. The agricultural sector centered on rice, corn, and sugarcane, which became its economic base.

Japanese occupation

brought occupation and hardship, but local resistance groups helped secure liberation in 1945. In the post-war decades, Cuartero rebuilt rapidly, expanding education, health, and infrastructure.

Contemporary

Today, Cuartero remains a third-class agricultural municipality covering 106.58 km² and home to nearly 28 thousand residents. It continues to celebrate its cultural identity through devotion to St. Anthony of Padua and community festivals.
Cuartero has since continued to grow through the work and unity of its people on Panay Island

Geography

Cuartero lies about from Roxas City. It is a landlocked town surrounded by the municipalities of Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, and Maayon.

Barangays

Cuartero is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks, and some have sitios.
  • Agcabugao
  • Agdahon
  • Agnaga
  • Angub
  • Balingasag
  • Bito-on Ilawod
  • Bito-on Ilaya
  • Bun-od
  • Carataya
  • Lunayan
  • Mahunodhunod
  • Maindang
  • Mainit
  • Malagab-i
  • Nagba
  • Poblacion Ilawod
  • Poblacion Ilaya
  • Poblacion Takas
  • Puti-an
  • San Antonio
  • Sinabsaban
  • Mahabang Sapa

    Climate

Demographics

As of the 2024 census, the population was 28,650 people, with a density of.

Culture

Agdahanay festival

The Agdahanay Festival is the official town festival of Cuartero, celebrated annually during the second week of June, culminating on June 13 in honor of the town’s patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua.
The term Agdahanay is derived from the Hiligaynon word meaning “inviting and accommodating others,” reflecting the Cuarteronhons’ tradition of hospitality and unity. The festival includes street dancing, trade fairs, sports events, and other community activities.

Foundation day

Cuartero celebrates its Foundation Day every August 23, marking its establishment as a municipality by Manuel L. Quezon through Executive Order No. 159 in 1938. The day commemorates separation of the then barrios of Cuartero, Agdajon, Angub, Bito-on, Bun-od, Carataya, Maindang, Malagab-i, Nagba, San Antonio, and Sinabsaban from Dao to form an independent municipality under the name of Cuartero that is originally consisted of territories belonging to Cuartero, Agdajon, Angub, Bito-on, Bun-od, Carataya, Maindang, Malagab-i, Nagba, San Antonio, and Sinabsaban.
The celebration features civic parades, sports and cultural programs, and recognition ceremonies for residents who contributed to the town’s progress.
The anniversary is marked by civic parades, sports and cultural programs, and recognition ceremonies honoring outstanding residents. Recent celebrations have been accompanied by the Hinugyaw sa Cuartero, a festival showcasing local achievements, industries, and traditions. The event commemorates Cuartero’s founding leaders, beginning with its first municipal mayor, Manuel Funa, and highlights the town’s continued development since its establishment.
Together, the Agdahanay Festival and Foundation Day form the twin pillars of Cuartero’s cultural calendar - one emphasizing faith and hospitality, the other civic pride and history.

Government

List of Municipal Mayors

Education

The Cuartero Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Agcabugao Elementary School
  • Agdahon Elementary School
  • Agnaga Elementary School
  • Angub Elementary School
  • Astorga Adventist Elementary School
  • Balingasag Elementary School
  • Bito-on Elementary School
  • Brighter Horizon Learning Center
  • Bun-od Elementary School
  • Carataya Elementary School
  • Christian Faith School
  • Cuartero Central Elementary School
  • Dumalag Christian School
  • Golden Field Christian Learning Center
  • Elizalde Academy
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Learning Center
  • Little Angels Montessori School
  • Lunayan Elementary School
  • Mahabang Sapa Elementary School
  • Mahunodhunod Elementary School
  • Maindang Elementary School
  • Mainit Elementary School
  • Malagab-i Elementary School
  • Nagba Elementary School
  • Our Lady of Fatima Academy
  • Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Academy
  • Our Lady of the Snows Institute
  • Parish School of St. Isidore
  • Pontevedra Christian School
  • Putian Elementary School
  • Saint Joseph Diocesan School
  • San Antonio Elementary School
  • Sinabsaban Elementary School
  • Shin Hyun Christian Academy
  • St. Anthony of Pandua Parochial School
  • St. Catherine Academy
  • St. Lawrence Parochial School
  • St. Martin Academy
  • Sta. Monica Parochial School
  • Step By Step Christian Academy
  • Vicente F. Fabuna Elementary School

    Secondary schools

  • Cuartero National High School
  • Maindang National High School
  • Our Lady of Snows Institute
  • Putian National High School
  • Saint Catherine Academy
  • Saint Martin Academy
  • Saint Joseph Diocesan School
  • San Antonio National High School
  • St. Catherine Academy