Caluya
Municipality
Municipality of Caluya
Caluya islands satellite image captured by Sentinel-2 in 2016
Flag
Map of Antique with Caluya highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Caluya Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°55′55″N 121°32′53″E / 11.932°N 121.548°E / 11.932; 121.548
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Antique
District	Lone district
Barangays	18 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Rigil Kent G. Lim
• Vice Mayor	Genevive L. Reyes
• Representative	Loren Legarda
• Municipal Council	Members Belfe S. Duran Diosdado L. Egina Efren S. Contreras Jr. Siegfred T. Cipres Rea C. Domingo Elvero A. de San Jose Ruben P. Janairo Ricky M. Lavega
• Electorate	23,998 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	132.13 km2 (51.02 sq mi)
Elevation	5.0 m (16.4 ft)
Highest elevation (Mount Caluya)	170 m (560 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	38,908
• Density	290/km2 (760/sq mi)
• Households	9,044
Demonym	Caluyanon
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	30.27 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 1,011 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 3,502 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 521.2 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 761.6 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5711
PSGC	060605000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)36
Native languages	Caluyanon Karay-a Hiligaynon Tagalog

Caluya, officially the Municipality of Caluya (Kinaray-a: Banwa kang Caluya; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Caluya; Tagalog: Bayan ng Caluya), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,908 people,^[3] making it the sixth most populous municipality in the province.

Semirara Island has an area of 55 km² (21 sq mi), and is home to the Panian Mine, a vast open-pit coal mine in operation since 1999, and the Unong Mine, which was active from 1984 to 2000.^[5]

History

The Island of Caluya was once called Polo Pandan by Moro pirates searching for commercial ships as target victims. These pirates with their pillager vintas called salipsipan utilized the place for haven and rest after divesting ships of valuable belongings. In fear of the pirates, only few fishermen dared to fish in the area. The Moro pirates called the place Polo Pandan because the entire coastal area was covered by pandan screw pines.

Several years later, fishermen from other islands, who were catching turtles for Chinese traders using their fish gears called panalog, accidentally landed in Polo Pandan in search of drinking water. They were surprised to see footprints of humans in the sand but no houses could be seen. They found a potable spring coming from the roots of a dankalan tree. They brought the good news to other fishermen and settled by the shore near that spring. They made huts (barong-barong) for their families and continued with their fishing activities. Eventually, the Moro pirates landed at the other side of the island. The settlers feared for the safety of their families, so they transferred their huts to the hilltop and called the place "Minoro or Barabanwa."

One day, while all the male settlers were out looking for food and fishing, the Moro pirates surfaced and an amazon named Merin gathered all women to defend their settlement. The Moro leader, upon seeing the amazons, ordered his men to retreat for according to him, the women were weak or maluya in vernacular. Thus the name Polo Pandan was changed to Maluya in honor of famous hero Merin. The island soon became Caluya.

Spanish settlement

The Spanish settlement in Caluya was established around 1850. Spanish friars came to the island to propagate their colonization of the archipelago. The settlement was called Barangay and the first cabeza de barangay was Balbino Alojado (later changed his surname to Ysug) succeeded by Luciano Boctot and then by Surato Bunga-Bunga. All other cabezas de barangay was not recorded.

Later on, the cabeza de barangay became capitan de barangay. The first capitan de barangay was Lozaro Decena succeeded by Luciano Tabangay and then by Mariano Escultor.

In the year 1893, believed to be in the month of May, Barangay was changed to Pueblo or town by the Spanish Government, hence the founding of the Municipality of Caluya.

American regime

The American Government started in 1901. Caluya was run by the people from Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro and became its town. The first officials were appointed by Americans but later, the officials were elected by the people. The head of the local government was the Town President or Presidente del Pueblo. Appointed President from 1901 to 1910 was Feliciano Erodias. Next was Valentin Escultor in 1911. Then they held the first election in 1913 and the first elected president was Moises Lucena. In 1916, the President was Elias Tameta; 1919, Luis Erodias; 1922, Agustin Madarcos; 1925, Pedro Janairo; and 1928, Ruperto Tabinas.

In 1934, the head of the town was changed to a town Mayor. The 1st town Mayor was Claro Erodias who served up to 1938. Ruperto Tabinas was the town Mayor when the World War II broke out.

Japanese occupation

In 1943, the Japanese landed in Caluya by means of motorboat and spread their propaganda about the government. No battle had been fought for there were no soldiers in the island. The Japanese commandeered pigs, carabaos, cows, chickens and other foods for consumption.

The only battle fought was in Semirara. It was between the five Japanese battle ships and the U.S. Air force. War ships were sunk and an airplane from the Allied Force was drowned. About 200 Japanese marines fled to Capiz Island led by Commander Tanaka. There was no known Mayor at that time.

Post-liberation period

In, 1945, Mr. Joven Janairo was appointed Mayor, and in the 1948 election, he was elected to the position. He was succeeded by Romulo Lumawig in 1953 but was re-elected in 1958. Romulo Lumawig was re-elected in 1964 and Oscar Lim was elected in 1972. Soon, Martial law was proclaimed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

In 1987, Douglas Egina was appointed as OIC-Mayor. Then in 1988, Oscar Lim was re-elected And in the year 1992, when election was again conducted, the first woman Mayor Nikita L. Frangue was elected and succeeded by her husband Domingo G. Frangue,Jr. who served from July 1, 2001, up to June 30, 2007. Reynante J. Lim,Sr. was the Municipal Mayor from July 1, 2007, until his death on February 28, 2010. Diosdado L. Egina acted as Mayor from March 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010. Genevive G. Lim-Reyes is the present Municipal Mayor of Caluya.

Geography

Caluya is located at 11°55′55″N 121°32′53″E / 11.932°N 121.548°E / 11.932; 121.548.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 132.13 square kilometres (51.02 sq mi) ^[6] constituting 4.84% of the 2,729.17-square-kilometre- (1,053.74 sq mi) total area of Antique.

List of islands in Caluya by land area:^{[citation needed]} Semirara Island 55 km² (21 sq mi) Sibay Island 41.3 km² (15.9 sq mi) Caluya Island 24.4 km² (9.4 sq mi) Sibolo Island 1.78 km² (0.69 sq mi) Sibato Island 1.61 km² (0.62 sq mi).

Climate

Barangays

Caluya is politically subdivided into 18 barangays.^[8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, Caluya had a population of 38,908.^[3] The population density was 290 inhabitants per square kilometre (750/sq mi).

Economy