Dumalag Tourism 3.55

The Municipality of Dumalag is strategically located at the southern interior portion of the Province of Capiz. It is a 4th class Municipality composed of 19 Barangays with a total land area close to 11,000 hectares. Its peace and order situation is generally normal. It has an abundant water supply and accessible to all kinds of land vehicles to and from Roxas City and Iloilo City. Communication is not a problem because of the advent of cellular phones and the existence of cell sites. Dumalagnons are sports enthusiasts particularly in basketball and lawn tennis.
Dumalag is endowed with various natural attractions which some are now being developed and promoted because of its natural beauty. And the most popular of which is the Suhot Cave and Spring located at the foot of Mt. Panginra-on in Brgy. Dolores, a good one and a half kilometer distance or a five minute drive from the Poblacion. For years, Suhot which means "to go under" is a haven to visitors from neighboring municipalities and provinces because of the spring near the cave's entrance whose water is very cold and clear and because of its primitive scenic surroundings. Its free flowing water is rich in sulfur that originates from Panginra-on Mountain and passing through a subterranean stream, flow out of a bowl-like aperture. In addition, several caves can be located within the area that are very good venue for spelunkers because of its numerous tunnels and cathedral-like chambers. During weekends and especially during summer, visitors from different places swarm Suhot and so partial development was undertaken by the Local Government Unit of Dumalag to accommodate the increasing number of excursionists and to enhance the attractiveness of the place.
Aside from Suhot Cave and Spring, Dumalag has many other potential tourists attractions, and among them is the amazing twin tunnels of Lahab and Jordan believed to be the longest cave in the entire Panay Island. It is approximately 3 kilometers away from Suhot Cave.

Other potential Tourists Spots are the following:

1. St. Martin of Tours Parish Church built in 1874 and located at the heart of the town plaza
2. Dumalag Roman Catholic Cemetery constructed in 1880s
3. Grino Ancestral House located at Concolacion St. was used by Japanese Soldiers as garrison during the war
4. Mt. Panginra-on Peak, famous of its horse like rock formation and site of various caves and crevices located in Brgy. Dolores
5. Langub Cave, a churchlike cave with abundant guano deposits found in Mt. Panginra-on, Brgy. Dolores
6. Naulan Falls in Brgy. Concepcion
7. Luho Cave in Brgy. Sta. Carmen
8. Liktinon Falls in Brgy. Duran
9. Tuwang-Tuwangon Falls in Brgy. Duran
10. Nabaye Falls in Brgy. Duran



History of Dumalag

Dumalag was founded by the Augustinian as early as 1590 as a Christian Community. It was first administered for some time by the Augustinian until the year 1597 when it was handed over by the bishop of Cebu. However, due to the effort of Father Alonzo de Baraona while serving as minister of Sarog (Jaro) in 1611 and of Aklan in 1613, the town was given back to the Augustinians and by official proclamation on May 17, 1614 in Manila, Dumalag became an Augustinian Convent. In the later part of the year the General in Rome granted the parish the rank of vicariate, meaning that it could already be totally Christian. Under that category the vicar of Dumalag, administered the towns of Mambusao, Malinao, Tapaz, Maasin, Maranglet, and Agupanga. Its total population was estimated around four thousand. From the time it was founded as a town and parish until the outbreak of the Visayas Revolution against Spain, the parish of Dumalag was constantly administered by the Augustinian missionaries. Before the founding of the Diocese of Capiz, it was administered by the Diocese of Jaro (Iloilo). Place under the patronage of St. Martin of Tours, the parish is considered one of the most active parish in propagation of the Holy Faith.



How Dumalag Got Its Name?

There were actually several versions regarding the origin of the name of the town, but the most authentic was the incident arising from the misunderstanding between a native fisherman and a Spanish Conquistador whose duty was to inquire about the name of every place he was able to reach.
On the Northern part of the present site of the Poblacion, there was a creek (now called Agtabas) where thick trees grew along its banks. It was a rich fishing ground for freshwater fish. During summer, the dead leaves of the trees that fell on the water made the water yellow ("dalag" in dialect). One morning, while a fisherman was fishing, his wife arrived to pry. Her husband had caught only few. She asked why, and the husband reasoned out that he could not very well locate the hiding place of the fish because the water had turned yellow ("dumalag" in dialect). Just then the Spanish Conquistador arrived at the place, and thinking of his mission, asked for the name of the place in Spanish: "Como se llama este sitio?" The fisherman believing that the stranger asked the same question that his wife had earlier asked answered "Dumalag". And so, the conquistador named this town "Dumalag" and this name was later given official recognition by the government.




Municipal Officials

Municipal Mayor : Amado Eriberto V. Castro, Jr.
Municipal Vice Mayor : Lilia H. Castro

Sangguniang Bayan Members :

1. Victorio L. Faduga
2. Cecelio F. Fecundo
3. Mercedita F. Diaz
4. Henry F. Etchen
5. Oscar F. Farenas
6. Gilbert F. Derramas
7. Arnold F. Fajardo
8. Lina F. Fuerte

ABC President : Leodoro Faderugao, Jr.
SKMF President : Renz Anzorandia