Sibalom


Sibalom, officially the Municipality of Sibalom,, is a municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people. Thus, making it a suburb of San Jose, the second most populous municipality in the province of Antique and fifth largest municipality in terms of land area, with a total area of 201.30 square kilometers.

History

Pre-Colonial and Spanish Era

Long before Spanish contact, the area of Sibalom was inhabited by settled agricultural communities that had moved away from primitive nomadic lifestyles. Local tradition traces the town's roots to Malay settlers from Borneo under the leadership of Datu Sumakwel. The settlement was originally known as Barabanua, located at the foot of Bari Hill. During this period, the Sibalom River flowed through what is now the municipal plaza, emptying into the sea at Malandog, Hamtic. However, in the mid-17th century, a geographical shift occurred when Bari Hill was breached, causing the river to redirect its course toward San Pedro, San Jose.
The formal foundation of Sibalom under Spanish domination occurred in the middle of the 17th century. It was established as a visita of Hamtic in 1737 and achieved status as an independent parish between 1740 and 1745. By 1751, Sibalom was organized as a pueblo, with Don Pedro Antang serving as the first Capitan and Gobernadorcillo. The late 18th century saw the construction of the Roman Catholic Church between 1792 and 1793 under Governadorcillo Santiago Damaceno, a project completed through forced labor. During this era, Sibalom was noted for its fierce cultural and spiritual independence; in 1797, Spanish records noted a gathering of 180 female babaylanes who challenged the colonial religious order.
The 19th century was marked by both environmental challenges and civil unrest. The town suffered through a major pestilence in 1802, a destructive typhoon in 1814, and a severe two-year famine starting in 1878. Politically, the era was defined by resistance to Spanish authority. Notable figures like Agustín Baladjay were imprisoned for resisting colonial abuses, only to be freed by mountain-dwelling supporters. In 1888, a significant revolt broke out led by Gregorio Palermo, famously known as "King Ario," who established a revolutionary headquarters in the mountains of Igbaong. Spanish sovereignty eventually ended in November 1898 when revolutionary forces under General Leandro Fullon and Colonel Angel Salazar liberated the province.

World War II and the Japanese Occupation

The declaration of war on December 8, 1941, abruptly ended the peaceful life of Sibalom’s residents. Following the landing of Japanese forces in San Jose on April 17, 1942, the town became a deserted landscape as the population evacuated to the nearby mountains. During the occupation, the Japanese military focused on the Bongbongan Copper Mines, which were managed by the Ishihara Mining Co. The mining area grew so rapidly that it was nicknamed "Bongbongan City," housing a population of 18,000 that included prisoners of war used as forced laborers. Despite the occupation, Japanese authorities attempted to maintain a facade of normalcy by reopening the Sibalom Elementary School in 1943, where Nipponggo was added to the curriculum.
A dual government system emerged during the war years. In the occupied town, a "puppet" municipal government was maintained to assist the Japanese with food procurement and civil order. Simultaneously, a "Free Area" government was organized in October 1942 in the mountains to support the resistance movement led by Colonel Macario Peralta. This period was marred by violence, including the January 1944 massacre of 40 civilians in Barrio Salvacion by patrolling Japanese soldiers. Among the fallen was Petronila Petiaoco, a teacher serving as a food administrator, who is remembered locally for her heroic sacrifice.

Post-War Reconstruction and Modern Era

Liberation began in April 1945 as Japanese forces fled to the mountains, pursued by guerrilla units. A transitional government under the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit was established before the Commonwealth authorities were fully restored in September 1945. Under the leadership of officials like Santiago Lotilla and later Tiburcio Tubianosa, who was elected in the first post-war elections in 1947, the town began the long process of reconstruction. Although the prices of goods remained high in the immediate aftermath of the war, the community successfully transitioned back to a normal civic life by the late 1940s.
In the mid-20th century, Sibalom solidified its role as an agricultural hub through significant infrastructure projects. The San Jose-Sibalom Irrigation System, which had been in development since 1925, became a cornerstone of the local economy. The town’s importance was further highlighted in 1952 when it hosted a reception for President Elpidio Quirino during his visit to the province. Through the centuries, Sibalom evolved from a small riverine settlement into a primary municipality of Antique, balancing its deep-rooted Malay heritage with the historical scars and triumphs of the colonial and war eras.

Geography

Sibalom is located at. It is from the provincial capital, San Jose de Buenavista.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Antique.
Sibalom's geography is defined by its rolling and mountainous terrain, with about 83% of its land being elevated, making it a landlocked municipality within the coastal province of Antique. Key geographical features include the Sibalom River, the longest in Antique, and the Sibalom Natural Park, a protected area centered around the Tipulu-an and Mao-it river watershed. This mountainous and river-rich environment supports its nickname, the "rice bowl of Antique," due to its significant agricultural activity.

Barangays

Sibalom is politically subdivided into 76 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
From 1953 to 1955, Barangay Catmon was known as Barangay Pajarito.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Sibalom had a population of 67,155 people. The population density was.

Tourism

Sibalom's tourism industry dawned after the proclamation of the Sibalom Natural Park.

Sibalom Natural Park

Sibalom Natural Park, one of the last patches of lowland forest on Panay Island and the first protected area in the island, harbors many unique species of plants and animals, some of which are on the brink of extinction. About of forest in Sibalom from Mount Porras extending to Mount Igmatindog, covering Sibalom river and its main tributaries Mao-it river and Tipulu-an river, was declared a natural park on April 23, 2000. Of this forest, are undisturbed by any human activity while about constitutes the 50-year-old reforestation site. One highlight is the Rafflesia speciosa, discovered in Mount Porras and surrounding Barangays in 2002. Dubbed the biggest bloom in the world, its discovery put Sibalom in the map of tourist stopovers in the Philippines. Sibalom also has century-old industries and structures, as well as boulders of gemstones and treacherous mountain trails.

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the:
  • Sibalom North Schools District
  • Sibalom South Schools District

Primary and elementary schools

  • Adventist Elementary School
  • Alangan-Bungsod Cubay Elementary School
  • Apong Elementary School
  • Bari Elementary School
  • Barley Learning Center
  • Berean Sibalom Christian Academy
  • Bongbongan I Elementary School
  • Bongbongan II Elementary School
  • Bontol Elementary School
  • Buga Elementary School
  • Bululacao Elementary School
  • Cabariuan Elementary School
  • Cabladan-Cabanbanan Elementary School
  • Cadoldolan-Igdagmay Elementary School
  • Calooy Elementary School
  • Catmon Elementary School
  • Catungan 3rd & 4th Elementary School
  • Egaña Elementary School
  • Egaña Sacred Heart Parochial School
  • Esperanza Elementary School
  • Fornier Elementary School
  • Happy Kids Character Building and Learning Center
  • Igcocok Elementary School
  • Iglanot Elementary School
  • Igpanolong Elementary School
  • Igsuming Elementary School
  • Ilabas Elementary School
  • Imparayan Elementary School
  • Inabasan Elementary School
  • Indag-an Elementary School
  • Initan Elementary School
  • Insarayan Elementary School
  • Juan Vego Elementary School
  • Lagdo Elementary School
  • Lambayagan Elementary School
  • Lotilla Elementary School
  • LSD Child Study Center
  • Luyang Elementary School
  • Maasin Elementary School
  • Mabini Elementary School
  • Nagdayao Elementary School
  • Nazareth Elementary School
  • Odiong Elementary School
  • Pangpang Elementary School
  • Panlagangan Elementary School
  • Pis-anan Central School
  • Salvacion Elementary School
  • Sibalom Central Elementary School
  • Sido-San Juan Elementary School
  • Sta. Rita Academy
  • Tabong-Tabong Elementary School
  • Tig-ohot Elementary School
  • Tigbalua Elementary School
  • Tinubuan Primary School
  • Tordesillas Elementary School
  • Tulatula Elementary School
  • V. Grasparil Elementary School
  • Villafont Elementary School
  • Villar Elementary School
  • Valentine Saydoquis Memorial School

Secondary schools

  • Dr. Luis E. Baraquia National High School
  • Egaña National High School
  • Lacaron lntegrated School
  • LSD Child Study Center
  • Pangpang National High School
  • Pis-anan National High Sshool
  • Sibalom National High School
  • Sido-San Juan National High School
  • University of Antique
  • Wright Technological College

Higher educational institutions

  • University of Antique
  • Wright Technological College