BRIEF HISTORY

The Municipality of Leon was formerly known as Camando which was founded in the year 1730 with Mr. Bernabe Buncag as Governadorcillo. In 1866, the town was transferred to Sitio Capan, a vast rice region. Two years after, the town was given the name Leon in honor of the City of Leon in Spain, the place where Fr. Agustin Castro, the Parish Priest came from. However, the inhabitants retained their Surnames beginning with the letter “C” which was given to them through the order of Governador Claveria in 1849, in lasting memory of the former town of Camando.

Leon has a prominent place in the annals of Ilonggo history. Records show that the only Civil Resistance movement that did not fall into the hands of the Japanese, the Free Government of Panay and Romblon was established by Senator Tomas Confessor in the Bucari on May 1942.

SIGNIFICANT EVENT

1730 – Established town called Camando under the leadership of Bernabe Buncag.
1849 – The inhabitants retained their surnames beginning with letter “C” which was given them through the order of Governor Claveria.
1862 – Gobernadorcillo, Joaquin Cambronero with his town principals and cabezas planned ang agreed to consider the suggestion of Fray Agustin Castro to transfer the town site as suggested is Linti-an, Hapangan and Capan.
1866 – Town was transferred to Sitio Capan a vast region and town was given the name Leon.
1869 – The old church is constructed under gobernadorcillo Inocencio Calle that stands as one lasting remembrance of the Spanish. The stone church was acclaimed to be the biggest stone edifice in the whole Island of Panay.
1873 – First church mass was conducted by Fray Serafio Gonzales.
1876–1877 – The stone school building was constructed west of the plaza under Gobernadorcillo Eugenio Cambronero.
1882 – Leon received a prized known as “Premio de Recuadacion” in the amount of P227,000.00 because of its efficient collection of taxes.
1902 – The first municipal election was ordered and elected Rufino Camiña popularly known as Tan Pino as the first president Municipal of the town.
1904 – Municipality of Alimodian, San Miguel, and Leon were fused into municipalities with Leon as the seat of government under Mr. Evaristo Capalla.
1942 – Free government of Panay and Romblon was established by Tomas Confessor in the Bucari area.
November 25 – Leon Town Fiesta, Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
September 1 – Handuraw Celebration
November 20-25 – Kaing Festival & Annual Patronal Town Fiesta

Camando – The Mother Town 

The origin of this place could be traced back when Camando was the former seat of the town founded in 1730 with Bernabe Buncag as Gobernadorcillo. It was located three kilometers away from the present town, a half league distant from Alimodian on the northeast and three-fourth league distant from Tigbauan on the south. Situated at the foot of the hill, bathed by the Sibalom River on the east and by Arroyo de Camando which cuts right at the very heart of the town. There was the danger of the yearly occurrence of the flood. The usual over flooding of the areas was natural process to the habitats but not with the Cura Parooco Fray Agustin Castro. He deliberated on the matter since his arrival in 1859. He proposed the transfer because the town was threatened by the rivers and its proximity to the hills gave no allowance for future expansion brought about by increased population. The idea of transfer was nurtured for a long time and it was realized after about one hundred thirty years of the existence of Camando.

In 1862, Gobernadorcillo Joaquin Cambronero with his town principales and cabezas planned and agreed to consider the suggestion of Fray Agustin Castro to transfer the town site. The suggested places in the conference were Linti-an, Hapangan and Capan. Linti-an was a sitio located far north between Gines and Igcadios, fifteen kilometres from Camando, with rough terrain and highly elevated. Hampangan was another sitio located between Lang-og and Carolina, six kilometres from Camando and called such because the bandits used to make it their playground. Capan was located just three kilometres south of the town proper, set on a slightly elevated portion, a little higher than Camando but much lower than the two alternatives. The area was wider, offered room for expansion and posed fewer problems to the municipal government with regard to the prospect of the road building.

Capan was a vast rice region owned by Don Placido Capacillo, whose ownership was passed to his son and daughters after his death. Don Melchor, the eldest child and administrator of the property owned the widest share. Negotiations were made between him and the principalia. He was unwilling to give up their property but the principalia was set on the transfer then finally Don Melchor gave up his lands including those of his brother and sisters of the whole town. Spanish law then provided that the lands be paid by the occupants. However, the whole property was later declared by the provincial government Insular Property and that the owners by virtue of the law were not paid. After the negotiation, the great exodus to the new site started and inhabitants were given only two years to transfer. Those who refused were fined. The evacuation was completed in 1866 under Gobernadorcillo Don Nicolas Camiña.

The day for the transfer was definitely set on 1865 from the first day of the month of September.

A Centennial Celebration

Proposals were made as to the name of the new town. The principalia proposed to name the town; Alexandria in honor of the Patron Saint Santa Catalina of Egypt but Fray Agustin Castro deliberately presented the name ‘‘Leon” in honor of his home province Leon in Spain. The latter was approved by the Superior Gobierno. The town thus named Leon as a remembrance of a Cura Parroco who figured in a deliberation with a desideratum which really meant survival. The choice of the present location was most ideal.