Passi, Iloilo

According to popular legend, the name of Passi originated from a dialogue between Spanish conquistadors and an indigenous person. Conquistadors stumbled on a small hut by a riverbank where an old woman was winnowing pounded rice. One of them, not knowing the woman's native language, asked her where they were. Not knowing their language either, she assumed they were asking what was in her basket, and replied, "Ah, pasi," which meant "rice". From then on, the Spanish named the place Pasi, which later evolved into the current name of Passi. Such legends about name origins are common throughout towns and cities in the Philippines, the core plot being a Spaniard asking non-Spanish speaking natives for the name of their location, and using the native's response as the name.

It is said that the first Spanish settlement was established in the area in 1766. In the traditional story, Spanish explorers anchored in Ansig, a place located at the mouth of Lamunan River. The founding of the present poblacion of Passi was attributed to Don Martin Saligumba.

In 1957, within Passi, the sitio of Agtabo in the barrio–that is, district–of Salngan became itself a barrio.[5] In the same year, the barrio of Santa Rosa was renamed Santo Tomas.[6]

Passi experienced development over this period. Because of its strategic location, Passi became a center for trade and commerce and brought more investment to the municipality. Its high income, significant population growth, and a considerable area of land gained it recognition as the first component city in the Island of Panay. On January 30, 1998, the then President of the Philippines, Fidel V. Ramos, signed R.A. 8469, officially converting Passi into a city.

• Passi was the pre-war capital of Iloilo Province in January 1942 to April 16, 1942, until the landing of Japanese Occupation Force.
• Passi was made the quartermaster depot of United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) for the food of the army that resisted in Bataan through Capiz.
• The central school became the seat of the provincial government offices including the Agricultural and Industrial Bank and the Philippine National Bank before the Japanese landing in Panay.
• Passi has the first warehouse of the Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas in Central Panay which lately became the Roman Catholic Church and also the warehouse of the USAFE for foodstuff for Corregidor and Bataan.
• Ibajay Cave and mountain northeast of the poblacion was the seat of the Municipal Resistance Government under Mayor Filoteo Palmares and Municipal Treasurer Pedro Oro during the war years.
• Passi Central Elementary School (now Passi I Central School) had the first clean ground in the province before the war.
• One of the first regional high schools established in Iloilo was in Passi soon after liberation and one of the first to have acquired the widest site for high school of 12 hectares. Its athletic field cut from a hill and bulldozed by Mayor Palmares, leveled, and improved in time for the most lavished Unit Athletic Meet ever held in the interior in 1949–1959.
• The record of Passi in holding the First Provincial Athletic Meet in the interior before the war and in sustaining all the athletic delegations from different towns in Iloilo most abundantly and freely of which some meat uneaten were only given to them gratis et amore and some heads of cattle (surplus) sold for athletic fund ̶ still unbroken up to this day ̶ a feat that has never been or will ever be equaled in the history of athletic meets of Iloilo.
• In matters of bestowing the old Filipino traditional customs of being hospitable to individual visitor, visiting teams and districts, Passi's record is yet unsurpassed because sumptuous foods and drinks offered by truckloads and caritos flow like water without reservation of any kind.
• Passi has the biggest cattle ranch in Panay before the war because of her wide grazing land.
• Passi therefore was the biggest supplier of meat for the army during the war and also the biggest supplier of rice and corn for sustenance of the guerilla forces and the Provincial Guards of the Civil Resistance Movement of Free Panay and Romblon Gov. Tomas Confesor.
• During Spanish regime, Passi was the home of wealthy families outside Iloilo City.
• Passi became the first component city of Iloilo in 1998.

Passi, like most inland towns in Iloilo, has no pronounced maximum rain period and no distinct dry or wet seasons. Occasionally, it does experience typhoons; however, these are not events common to its area.

The city is traversed by 5 major rivers: the Jalaur, Lamunan, Hin-ayan, Asisig, and Maliao. It also has creeks and tributaries which can be tapped for irrigation purposes.

Geographically, it is relatively dominated by rolling hills and narrow valley plains. It is bordered by Mount Cañapasan and Mount Bayoso.

Passi City is politically subdivided into 51 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Currently, there are 11 urban barangays and 38 barangays are considered rural, and 2 of which are located in the city proper barangays. These are grouped into 4 geographical districts.

Barangays Poblacion Ilawod and Ilaya are the most urbanized of the barangays, composing the city proper area of Passi. The majority of the downtown area exists inside of Poblacion Ilawod. Dorillo Street divides the whole city proper area into two barangays; the western portion occupied by Poblacion Ilaya, and the eastern part occupied by Poblacion Ilawod. Barangay Poblacion Ilawod was the political center of Passi when it was a municipality; the new city hall and the government center, however, were transferred to Barangay Sablogon when Passi was proclaimed as a city in 1998.

The City of Passi belongs to the 4th District of Iloilo.

Listed below are the respective population of each barangay as of the 2010 census.

Kinaray-a is the most dominant language spoken in Passi City. English is used as the language of business and education. In addition, other local dialects such as Hiligaynon, and languages such as Capiznon and Tagalog, are used. Some Spanish words are interspersed with Kinaray-a conversation, evident mostly among older generations and some wealthy families. Descendants of families related to sugar plantations also may use a mix of Spanish and Kinaray-a.

The Passinhon people are predominantly Roman Catholic. Protestantism is also practiced in the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayan Church, as well as the Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Adventist, and Evangelical Christian churches. Other religions or Christian sects include the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses.

The physical resources of Passi consists of relatively good soil types along rolling hills and narrow valley plains with substantial surface and ground water, with no distinct dry and wet season which is suitable for a wide range of agricultural products like rice, sugarcane, and pineapple. When the sugar industry experience a slump due to falling sugar prices and quotas in the world market, farmers diversified into other agricultural products like corn, pineapple, mongo, root crops, and other farm- based products. The city has investment potentials for Agri-Industrial developments.

Passi is a 4th class component city with this year's annual income of P300,860,719-General Income, P26,732,922-Special Educational Fund, P37,287,853-Trust Fund, with a total current operating income of P364,881,424 .

Passi City has played an important role in reaching its peak of progress. Centrally situated in the province, Passi City is locally important as the District Agri-Industrial Center of Iloilo with three sugar centrals. It is rich with agriculture resources that have long formed the backbone of its economy and agricultural diversification produces crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, coconut, sugarcane and pineapple. Passi City has been an important pineapple producer for years, it has long been known for other industries including fruit processing, wallboard production, metalworking production and cut-flower propagation. Its locally produced pineapple wine, jam and fruit preserves have already established captured market with its exposure to various local trade fairs and exhibits such as the annual Fiesta in the City celebration during May; TUMANDOK in September; and WOW Philippines: the Best of the Region.

Passi, a component city (R.A. No. 8469 by Pres. Fidel Valdez Ramos last January 30, 1998.) is bounded on the north by San Enrique; Dumarao, Capiz on the south; east by Calinog; and Lemery on the west. Predominantly a mountainous area, it is politically divided into 51 barangays. It is about 50 kilometers from the city of Iloilo, 70 kilometers from the city of Roxas and has an area of 25,139 hectares or 251.39 km²---the largest in the province.

Industrial development is one of the priority concerns of the local unit being one of the five Agro-Industrial district in the Province and the site for People's Industrial Enterprise (PIE's) District Agro-Industrial Center (PAIC) in the 4th District. The PIE's / DAIC's provide intermediate processing of indigenous raw materials produced in their respective influence area for final processing at the DAIC. They also manufacture finished goods cooperative advantage for such manufacturing activities would prove viable.

Attractions in the city include the wide pineapple plantations, the cock farms, the Baroque Church of Saint William the Hermit, the old Muscovado Chimney, the Chameleon Butterfly Garden, the Amorotic caves of Barangay Magdungao, the breath-taking highway view with good sunset and the old Railway Bridge which needs some preservation and attention spanning the Jalaur River.

Recently, CCTV cameras were installed along city proper roads, national highways, public market, large establishments, hospital, bus terminal, some political subdivision boundaries, and other strategic areas due to sudden increase in crimes this 2010 to 2011.

Passi City being the center of trade and business outside Metro Iloilo, several banking institutions are presently serving in the city and the surrounding municipalities.

Being the component city of Iloilo Province, Passi serves as the major shopping destination outside the province's capital city.

Gaisano Capital Passi, so far is the first shopping mall in Passi. It has a complete line of grocery store and department store. It has also some leased spaces which are occupied by Rose Pharmacy, Ted's Lapaz Batchoy, Mister Donuts, Goldilocks Cake, Mang Inasal Restaurant, Parajan Deli Resto, Bongbong's Pasalubong, Robinsons Bank, Big Brother Party Needs, Western Union, Jed's Barbershop, Fuji Film Photo, F&C Jewelry, Nouva KTV and Amusement and other stalls.

CityMall (Philippines) Commercial Centers Inc. is now open and is located at the front of Passi City Bus Terminal at the Iloilo-Capiz New Route. It houses several retail stores and food chains. A lot of retail chain of stores had already invested in the city.

Power distribution is facilitated by Iloilo Electric Cooperative II (ILECO II), to Passi City and neighboring towns such as Dueñas, San Enrique, and Calinog.

In August 2022, MORE Power, the power distributor that serves Iloilo City, was officially granted permission to expand in Passi City and sixteen other municipalities in the province.[19]

Water distribution is facilitated by Balibago Waterworks System Inc. to Passi City proper and neighboring barangays.

Telephone services including domestic and international direct dial, mobile communications, internet, cable television, post offices and other services.

There are three telephone Service provider in Passi providing landline connections to almost several households, offices and establishments. These are: Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Globe Telecom and Panay Telephone Corporation (PANTELCO).

Cellular telephone facilities are also provided by two cellular companies namely Smart Communications, and Globe Telecom.

Kalibo Cable TV Inc. (Former Milkyway Cablevision Services, Inc. (MCSI)) provider of local cable TV to Passi, San Enrique, Duenas and Dingle. It offers 74 national and international television channels, plus one local channel (Milkyway Community Channel) showing local programming and talk shows. Talking Point is one of the major programs of this channel where a particular person or organization of an institution is interviewed regarding the particular matters or topics relevant to the City of Passi. It is also broadcast live in Facebook by the page Good Morning Passi.

Cignal HD TV is also available in the area for wireless, direct to satellite signal for watching local and international channels.

Local antenna can also receive signals of local channels like GMA7, Abs-Cbn, TV5 and PTV4.

The Passinhon Times is the official publication of the City of Passi.

The Pintados de Pasi Festival, in Passi City, central of Iloilo province, is one way of celebrating the cityhood of Passi in March 1998. This festival is perhaps one of the best known and established festivals of the Visayan region that have evolved through the years. It has played a big part in the lives of most Passinhons. It is the most popular spectator cultural event and has a large community following. Theatrical-like street dancing performances are a celebrated part of the Pintados festivity that is characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements. Here, performers adorned in traditional body tattoo with elaborate geometrical designs in their body, including their arms, legs and torso dramatizes stories in which the towns’ ancestral beings laid down every feature of the area, especially, their way of life.

Characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements, the dances seem to have developed independent of any external influences, as in the combat dances, folk plays, ritual actions, or character types. Historical or cultural sources are essential materials in sustaining a festival such as theirs.

The first inhabitants of the Island called it Aninipay, after the name of the plant that was then abundant in the area. When the Malayans came, they named it Madia-as, which was the name of the highest peak in the Island.

But unknown to many, the first batch of Spaniards that reached the island gave a different name to it. They called it “Isla de Pintados” after seeing tattooed men whom they called pintados or “painted people.” The art tattooing was practiced all throughout the island. The chronicler Miguel de Loarca, in his account in Historia Pre-Hispanica de Filipinas Sobre la Isla de Panay, described the practice.

Culturally, the inhabitants of Panay used tattoos to exhibit their record in battle. The more tattoo marks a man had on his body, the higher his status as a warrior. The elegance of the pintado practice has raised tattooing into the level of art. They do then with such order, symmetry, and coordination that they elicit admiration from those who see them.

While the men put tattoo all over their body, it was a rule in the old Panay society that women only wear tattoos on one side of their arms.

Christmas events are held in the city every middle of December until the first Sunday of January in the next year at Plaza Paloma. During its opening day it had a grand fireworks display, followed by the opening of lights, and food stalls. Trees and other structures in the plaza are designed with colorful lights. Lamp post are also illuminated with designs. Food stalls for children are also available like popcorn, cotton candy, and pancakes. Every night there are presentations held at the middle of the plaza by different institutions, sometimes including live music and entertainment.

Passi City celebrates the feast of its patron saint, San Guillermo de Ermita (St. William the Hermit) on February 10 along with the coronation of the fiesta queen. Mostly the activities are already starting 1 week before. There will be street parades in the morning. Programs are held every night in the plaza sponsored by different institutions and there will be dancing afterwards. Carnivals and rides in the plaza are available for the public and small store kiosk are open to sell different items like clothing, jewelry, home designs, etc. It is one of the most anticipated festival in the city.

The discovery of Passi, at the same time its foundation as a mission parish by the Spanish explorers for Panay Island occurred in 1584. It was placed under the patronage of St. William of Maleval whose feast had since then been celebrated every February 10. In 1593, Padre Juan Villamayor, an Augustinian friar, became its first resident priest. The first mission church was made out of light materials and located near the riverbank of Jalaur River. In 1600 the church was transferred from the old site to its present location. The foundation and the walls were made of stones, slabs and lime. The parishioners were made to carry the needed materials every time they went to the church. The construction was finished during the time of Padre Pedro Ceberio when Salvador “Badong” Panes Perfecto was the Captain of the town.

• Schism and Abaca

Around 1821 during the time of Padre Apolinario Villanueva, Schism ensued between him as Parish Priest and the Spanish Populace of the town. He transferred the seat of the Parish Church to Abaca where he constructed a chapel. When Padre Martin succeeded him, the seat of the parish church was returned to Passi.

• Aglipayon Revolution

With the concurring Filipino Revolution against the Spanish government, there was a clamor of the Filipino Clergy for reforms. Padre Rafael Murillo, the Parish Priest then was a good follower and supporter of the Aglipay. He was elevated to the rank of an Aglipayan Bishop not long brought with him his family. To support his family, he demanded tributes from the people. The Passinhons under Captain Badong Perfecto strongly objected and Padre Joaquin was removed not long after.

Padre Lorenzo Diaz, a Catholic Augustinian Priest administered the Parish. The year 1891 saw the last Spanish Augustinian Parish Priest of Passi in Padre Bravo.

• Reverend Father Amado Panes Perfecto

In 1893, after three centuries of Christianization, Passi was able to produce its first priest, Padre Amado Panes Perfecto. He studied in the University of Salamanca in Spain and graduated a Doctor of Canon Law, which at that time was a rare privilege. He was appointed the first Filipino Priest of Passi. He constructed a convent furnished with carved furniture and imported chinaware and utensils. One of his remaining masterpieces is the “Flores de Mayo Salve” which has become part of the tradition of the town.

• World War II

World War II was conflagration for the Passinhons. Fire gluttered all the Spanish built houses of the town. The guerillas burned all the buildings leaving the town empty for the occupying Japanese. Nothing was left of the wooden structure of both church and convent but the stones. The church was made the garrison of the Japanese forces and later the headquarters of the Residence Civil Government. Filipino troops under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were liberated in Passi and help the local guerrilla groups by attacking Japanese troops and ended in World War II.

• Lady Caycay earthquake

The 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake occurred on January 25, 1948, at 1:46 AM UTC+08:00 in Panay Island, Philippines. The bell tower did not survive the harshness of the earthquake. The tall tower was wrecked; making the entire bells fell down to the ground. No damage was found except for the other massive bell, which had a very slight crack on it.

• Reconstruction

The reconstruction of the church took a gradual development. The wood and nipa roofing of the church was constructed during the time of Padre Parreñas. Wooden posts were placed at the Eastern side of the church as temporary area to place the bells, since the bell tower was damaged during the 1948 earthquake. When Padre Buenaflor took over, he had the roof changed into galvanized iron. The improvement of the altar which was transferred by Padre Parreñas to the main entrance of the church was done during the time of Padre Castaño. The present church with its steel trusses, washed walls, benches, and a new but permanent belfry, together with the old parish convent already demolished, the Assumption School and the former Social Hall, were all constructed as projects of Msgr. Eligio Villavert, the 81st Parish Priest of Passi.

• Final Restoration and Renovation

It was 1997 when the Parish of St. William of Maleval was graced with another Passinhon Priest. Msgr. Felipe Dativo Palomo, P.C., fully supported by the Parish Councils and the Passinhon Parishioners both local and abroad decided to venture into ambitious but necessary projects. In the year 2000, the completion and the blessing of the Jubilee Hall, the largest and tallest parish convent in the whole Diocese was witnessed. After the completion, behind the church, the attention of the parishioners and Msgr. Palomo were directed to the uncompleted church. The main entrance is nowhere to be found, making Passi Church one of its kind. The landscaping of the Western side of the church and the installation of the statues of the saints took place. The altar was transferred to its original place, to give way to the restoration of its original main entrance. The altar has been restored according to the Augustinian's original architectural design. The ornate granite flooring, echo-proof ceiling, decorative stained glasses, a huge steel door at the main entrance and modern lighting facilities were installed. On the Eastern side, one can see the Avenida de la Virgin Maria, the Adoration Chapel, parking area, and the very huge relief map of Passi City.

On October 26, 2010, the Church of St. William of Maleval had its Solemn Dedication, an annual festivity which the Parishioners will celebrate to continue recalling the extra graciousness God has abundantly bestowed in the Christian Community of Passi.

• Typhoon Yolanda

On November 8, 2013, signal number four Typhoon Yolanda (also known internationally as Typhoon Haiyan) hit the Visayas Region, causing serious damages to the infrastructure, including the church. The church, three years after it is restored was partially damaged. The ceiling outside the church and into the altar collapsed. The church was temporarily closed and masses are temporarily held at the Jubilee Hall. However, it was opened again to the public on December 16, 2013, after the massive reconstruction and repair.

• F. Palmares Sr. Street

It is also known as the "Calle Real" of Passi since it was the busiest business hub of the city until now. This street is an old national highway when going to the Province of Capiz or Aklan. At present, it is used as an alternative national road going to Iloilo Airport.

• The New City Hall of Passi City

Built in 1995 as a new municipal hall, but in 1998, it is redesigned to become the new city hall. It is located at Corner Monfort Avenue-Casamayor Street.

• The Old Municipal Hall

The municipal hall was built in 1930 and it is one of the only surviving Pre-war infrastructures in Passi. Presently, it houses the office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Post Office, and Conference Hall. The old municipal hall is sometimes known as "Residencia Passi".

• St. William of Maleval Parish Church Convent

The largest and tallest parish convent in the whole Archdiocese has two reception halls (Jubilee Hall and Lamunan Hall) that can be used in various occasions such as wedding reception.

• Plaza Paloma

Located just in front of the old municipal hall. The large pineapple restroom is one of the most attractive feature of the said park. The park also has a multipurpose sporting court for the people who want to do recreational activities such as playing badminton, tennis and others.

• Paseo de Passi

Just few meters away from plaza paloma, is a brick floored paseo that is a perfect place for people who are fond of doing fitness exercises.

• Passi City Public Market

The new public market of Passi is the largest in the whole Iloilo Province.

• Old Jalaur Railway Bridge

Also known as Watanabe Terror Bridge, it is one of the fewest railroad bridges left in the whole Panay. It is one of the major landmarks of Passi that needs further preservation.

• Muscovado Chimney

The muscovado chimney of Passi Sugar Central is the largest and tallest in the whole Panay island.

The only province-managed district hospital in Passi City.

In October 2013, the inauguration of the extension hospital in Barangay Salngan took place. The hospital will help residents who live very far away from the city proper in giving necessary medical attentions and first aid.

Medicus Passi Fronthub Medilab and Clinics and other privately owned clinics which also offer high quality health services.

Passi City is the new Regional Operations Center of the Philippine Red Cross as well as its new logistics and disaster management training center. The center was inaugurated on April 21, 2017, by several officials of the PRC led by PRC Chairman Richard Gordon as well as the Secretary General of Korea National Red Cross Gunn-Joong Kim and the Head of Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Kari Isomaa in the presence of Arthur D. Defensor Sr., Governor of the Province of Iloilo; Jesry Palmares, Mayor of Passi City; Ferjenel Biron, Representative of the 4th District Iloilo; and Marlyn Convocar, Department of Health Regional Director.[20]

Founded in 1997 by French national Laurence Ligier, Chameleon Association, Inc (CAI), is a non- stock, non-profit and non-government organization that provides holistic and comprehensive rehabilitation to girls survivors of sexual abuse in Western Visayas. Likewise, CAI provides educational assistance to underprivileged but deserving children in our neighboring communities in Passi, San Enrique and Bingawan through its Sponsorship Program. The said organization is located in Barangay Sablogon, Passi City.

The Chameleon Association has branches in Paris, Luxembourg, and Switzerland and contacts in Belgium and Andorra.

Chameleon aims to give children and their families access to education and training; and support medically, morally, legally, and financially so as to help them have honorable and successful living conditions in the long-term. The association has also put in place a prevention program for the protection and training to reintegrate these children back into society and give them an everlasting survival strategy.

The Chameleon Association has an integrated approach and multiple programs to support and protect the children from the region. Their rehabilitation program handles young girls who are victims of sexual abuse in two stages: a three-year residential program and a post-residential program for rehabilitation. The community development program supports the studies of children who are victims of great poverty. This organization has also implemented programs for health, the defense of Children's rights, and income-generating projects.

The Chameleon Association creates long lasting relationships between the children and their sponsors through the exchange of letters, drawings, photographs, report cards, and small gifts.

Chameleon gives back to these children part of their innocence and helps them to fulfill their dreams of going to school and having a future.

Passi City College - courses offered

[21][22]

Passi Trade School (Tesda)

The area is also home to several high schools, elementary and prep schools, as well as several kinder schools.