Escalante City Charter Anniversary commemorates the cityhood of Escalante, Negros Occidental, Philippines every February 28th. It was converted to a city in 2001. February 28 may also be declared as a special non-working holiday in the city.
The city also celebrates the Manlambus Festival every month of May.
History of Escalante City
Escalante is one of the component cities in Region VI, also known as Western Visayas, which is comprised of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo. It is located in the northern part of Negros Occidental facing the island of Cebu and Negros Oriental.
It was previously known as Manlambus, a word that means “to strike with a club”; according to tradition, its waters was rich in marine life that fishes could be caught by striking them.
During the Spanish conquest, Escalante was part of Silay. Later, the large estate of Silay was broken up by the order of Governor General Manuel Crespo on November 28, 1856. The order gave birth to the founding of churches in Saravia (now the town of Enrique B. Magalona) and Escalante. Its church (titular: St. Francis of Assisi) became a parish with Augustinian Recollect Fr. Cipriano Navarro installed as its first parish priest and who went on to serve between 1860 and 1867. The colonial-era St. Francis of Assisi Church, which was built by Fr. Gregorio Aperte, OAR, is in ruins in the present day.
It became a town in 1861 and its pueblo was established in the coastal village of Nueva Sevilla, which is presently called Barangay Old Poblacion.
After the war, the town was reorganized with the village of Toboso seceding and becoming an independent municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 141 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on May 19, 1948. And on May 30, 1958, the municipal government was moved from Old Poblacion to the more inland Barangay Balintawak through Executive Order No. 301 that was approved by President Carlos P. Garcia.
Escalante became a component city of Negros Occidental through Republic Act No. 9014, otherwise known as An Act Converting the Municipality of Escalante, Province of Negros Occidental into a Component City to be Known as the City of Escalante, which was approved by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 28, 2001. This is the date of the city’s charter anniversary.
Escalante City Charter Anniversary
In 2023, the calendar of Escalante City Charter Anniversary began in February 18 and culminating activities in February 28, which is the cityhood foundation date. Among the activities are sports events, job fair, competitions (such as in songwriting and cheer dance), parade, art exhibits, entertainment, and live band.
How to reach Escalante City, Negros Occidental
Escalante City is about two hours away from Bacolod-Silay International Airport. Buses are also available that ply the route from various points of the island of Negros.
References
- Republic Act No. 9014. Official Gazette. Retrieved February 20, 2023
- Holidays–Escalante City. Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved February 20, 2023
- Karl G. Ombion. 19 Years After ‘Bloody Thursday,’ Terror Still Stalks Escalante. Bulatlat. Vol IV, No 33. September 19-25, 2004. Retrieved February 20, 2023
- Romanillos, Emmanuel Luis A. Augustinian Recollect Legacy to the Church in Negros Island. Philippine Social Science Journal. December 31, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2023
- Escalante City History. Escalante City Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center. Retrieved February 21, 2023
- Executive Order No. 141, s. 1948. Official Gazette. Retrieved February 21, 2023
- Executive Order No. 301, s. 1958. Official Gazette. Retrieved February 21, 2023
Escalante City Charter Anniversary Summary
Name Escalante City Charter Anniversary Celebration Cityhood, History Contact (034) 454 0362 Country Philippines Date February 28 Email escalantetourism@gmail.com Established 2001 Facebook www.facebook.com Historical event Cityhood of Escalante Organizer City Government of Escalante
| Name | Escalante City Charter Anniversary |
|---|---|
| Celebration | Cityhood, History |
| Contact | (034) 454 0362 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Date | February 28 |
| escalantetourism@gmail.com | |
| Established | 2001 |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Historical event | Cityhood of Escalante |
| Organizer | City Government of Escalante |