inspiring PAST

       Scanning through the yellowed pages of a typecript written by Andrada, I was facinated with the fact that Carles, a far flung municipality and the native home of my father has a very interesting and colorful past. 

       Before the said written chronological account of past events and development of Carles, it is believed that the islands of Gigantes have been the seat of ancient civilization as manifested by the burial and ceremonial jars excavated in the area.

       

Ceremonial Jars excavated at Gigantes Islands. It wascarbon
dated to be during the metal age or 200 BC

Wooden coffin also found in Gigantes Islands. It is believed tobe the casket of the Giant of the Island.

The recorded chonological list of historical events begun in 1846.

1846     Francisco Arriola from Jolo founded Punta Bolokawe and organized the early settles known as Bolokawe settlement.

October 15, 1850     Francisco Arriola and settlers celerated their first Thanksgiving Day.  Arriola was chosen as the first Teniente del Barrio.

1855     Barrio Bolokawe settlers transferred to Barrio Badiang ( Barangay Badiang is a flat lowland where wild giant gabi variety of plant was abundant)now Barangay Poblacion. 

January 1860     Arriola and settlers petitioned the change of status of Barrio Badiang into a municipality from the Spanish Governor of Iloilo, Jose Maria Dominguez Carles.

          Carles was turned to pueblo or municipality by virtue of an executive proclaimation of the the Governor General in Manila. The people of Barrio Badiang out of their gratitude to Governor for his benevolence approved and presented another petition to change the name Badiang to Carles in honor of the Governor.  This petition was approved, thus Carles became a town of Iloilo.

July 1, 1886  Carles was inaugurated as a new Pueblo and Alejandro Buaya was the first Gobernadorcillo del Pueblo.

1892   By operation of Maura Law, Pueblo de Carles was changed into Municipio de Carles.  The first elected Municipal Captain was Luceno Golingan.

November 1898  The title of Capitan Municipal was changed to Presidente Local.

1901 - 1903    First Presidente Local was ex-Capitan Municipal Luceno Golingan.  He was the last executive of Carles before Carles was transferred to Balasan on January 1, 1904.

1904 - 1919     Demotion of Carles to a status of a barrio of Balasan municipality.  Carlesanons abandoned their town and migrated to other places.  Carles then became a "ghost" town for 16 years.

          Few energetic sons of Carles took part in its administration in Balasan led by Casimero Andrada and Numeriano Bartolome.

       Carles Separation Movement from Balasan was headed by Casimero Andrada together with other Carlesanons namely:

• Luceno Golingan
• Tiburcio Betita
• Carpio Borgonia
• Anacleto Bellosillo
• Moises Enojas
• Catalino Solis
• Liberato Guillen
• Tomas Satiago
• Venancio Zarceno
• Bartolome Dionaldo
• Fabian Deanon
• Fruto Bartolome
• Jose Abdallah
• Gerardo Josue
• Donato Solis
• Fortunato Acolentava
• Juana Golingan Villanueva
• Felix Bullo
• Filomeno Enojas

January 1, 1920       Carles was finally restored to its Municipal status. Federico Ramos was appointed as the first Municipal Preseident in Carles.