Brgy.

Ortiz: Through the Years

Amidst the sound of the busy crowd and the cries of the ocean waves, a thriving community
shouts with a still voice in great pride and honor to tell the world of its fruits.

Situated in the southern area of Iloilo City, Brgy. Ortiz holds a story untold for many years. She
holds secrets to her fame and reasons for her royalty. Much is yet to be known. This is our land.
This is our heritage. This is, Brgy. Ortiz.

Time tells us the rich past of the people of Panay. Being the home to the Ati royalty, Panay also
became to be the home of the Datus of Borneo, one of which is Datu Paiburong who ruled the
area of Irong-irong or Iloilo. The island gained the fame as the seat of the very first national
government.

Years passed and this island was occupied by Spanish people thereby establishing the City of
Iloilo. Spain gave Iloilo City the title "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo" and became its last
colony in the country being home to the Spanish Ilustrados.

Thus became the name of Ortiz St. Ortiz, being one of the noble families in Spain; this also
became the surname of Filipino-Spanish descents. Ortiz is derived from the Latin word
"fortunato" which means "fortunate".

Ortiz is truly fortunate for the natural surroundings and for the sea that she adheres to. Once
surrounded only by mangroves and coconut trees, one area was called as 'Kalubihan' and there
were only few houses and inhabitants.

In the 1950s, the areas we know to be Ortiz, Gomez, and Burgos was like how it is outside the
modern Metro Iloilo area. It has lush vegetation and a rural lifestyle.

Then the opportunity to transport the people from Iloilo to Guimaras was seen. Add to that the
vicinity of Ortiz to the University of Iloilo, then the Iloilo City College, drew people to flock the
area for residence.

Ortiz was filled with the shouting of, "Balaan!" and "Jordan!" People will then be transported by
a paraw-like boat, led by the seafarers in a "tibong-tibong" style with a 25-centavo fare. Brgy.
Ortiz then came to cater not only the passengers to Jordan Guimaras but also exchanging trade
with Brgy. Montpiller, Buenavista, Guimaras, and with tradesmen from Palawan.

As the trade continued, people from the Barangay joined to have a livelihood as porters from
the shoreline delivered to the Iloilo Terminal Market. Trade products expanded now
transporting livestock, copra, and adobe.

Then came the putting of the large rocks in the present wharf area in the mid-1960s which
eventually contributed to a much better avenue for travellers. The late Hon. Rodolfo T. Ganzon
paved way for the construction of the wharf and of the "Arriba Timawa". Around this time,
much better types of banca were introduced to cater more passengers.

The earliest leader to be remembered by the present community was Mr. Felix Secretaria, a City
Hall employee, appointed Teniente del Barrio. during this time, one part of the Barangay's
namesake, the Ortiz family, resides in the area one of which is Hon. Antonio Ortiz, a pioneer
leader in the Guimaras sub-province.

then came the first Barangay elections. Ortiz gained her first Barangay Captain, June Rivera in
1966. through her mother, Mrs. Conchita Rivera, the community earned a patron because of her
devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. the Rivera family also pioneered the Brgy. chapel
at their home.

a venerated image of the Virgin was placed in the chapel yet there were no special activities to
mark the feast, every 27th of November.

the nest election gave the position to Capt. Carlos Ebro, Jr. in 1974, the very first holy mass was
held during his reign. there was a celebration the day before the feast, November 26, where the
people started to celebrate and prepare for the yearly fiesta. the Sagrado del Corazon de Jesus
donated another image of the Virgin to be used for processions.

Capt. Ebro was replaced by her sister Capt. Angelina Ebro-Cabungcal after his term. Capt
Angeling, as she was called, was appointed by Mayor Garganera in absence of a proper election.

Capt. Angeling decided to step down in 1981 for an important travel to Negros Occidental. He
left the position to Capt. Maximo Estomo amidst the Martial Law. he was able to lead his people
throughout these times which led to his re-elections thereby giving him the distinction as the
longest-termer for ten years. after this period, he continued to serve his people as Brgy.
Councillor and later as the lay minister of the community.

a new official was then elected, Brgy. Chairman Eduardo Bacas. it was during his time that a
tragedy befell upon Ortiz. in 1992, over 150 households were destroyed by fire. thanks to the
devotion and persistence of the Ortizanons, they recovered immediately.

Brgy. Chairman Leodivico Castellano replaced Capt. Bacas and led the people throughout his
three terms. he faced the demand of modernization and the challenge of the new millennium.

an election in 2007 placed Brgy. Chairman Rene Obregon to the position. he had an
administration directed towards the ideal. during his time, the motor banca association held
special relations with the Barangay and, now known as the Jordan Motor Banca Cooperative,
operates the motor bancas utilized in the Ortiz wharf.

now came the reign of Brgy. Chairman Evangeline Granada. Fondly called "Nene Vangie", she
started with her tag, "Inupdanay sa Pagbag-o" which encouraged the people to help her in
changing the image of the Barangay government in order to deliver the right service to the
people.

with so many projects and plans directed to the betterment of Ortiz, we are really on the right
track. together with her councillors, they have developed the Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
project of the president. also, with the coordination with Congressman Jerry P. Treas and
Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, she strives to make her administration put Ortiz to where the
Ortizanons deserve.

amidst the Ledesma house, the urban populace, and the beach-dwelling folks lies the beautiful
history of our Barangay. all administrations contributed to our success. here dwells the over
1500 people that has so much to be proud of. we have the skills, we have the bloodline, we
have the perfect environment, and we have the talent. We nurtured those who came to be
Jennifer Garcia, Jose Mari Chan, and Nikki Coseteng. we are more than just what we know we
are.

we give honor to the ADORIAS, ARAGON, AUJERO, BARIL, BERAME, BIAS, CALVO, CANJA,
CARILLO, CASTELLANO, CASTILLON, CATANDONG, CELIZ, CHAN, COSETENG, DAJAY, DE LA TORRE,
DE LA VEGA, DEFENSOR, DESLATE, DIAZ, EBRO, ESPAOLA, ESPELITA, ESTAUB, ESTEMERA,
ESTOMO, FRANCO, GABINETE, GANDECELA, GANGE, GENIT, HO, KIOK, LEDESMA, LIM, LO,
LORBES, MALOTO, MAQUEZ, MARTIN, MERCADO, MILITANTE, NAVA, OBREGON, OLIGO, ONG,
OROSCO, ORTIZ, PEAREDONDO, QUEROBEN, REGONIEL, RIVERA, RUBIN, SALGADO,
SECRETARIA, SEGOVIA, SUBIDA, SY, TAN, TSAO, UY, UY DE ONG, VELASCO, VILLANUEVA, YIU, and
YTURIAGA, those who pioneered the life here as we know it.

Barangay Ortiz, City Proper, Iloilo City

2011