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Iba, one of the oldest municipalities of Zambales, has a total land area of
15,338 hectares. It is b ounded by the town of Botolan on the South, Palauig
on the North, and China Sea on the West and mountain ranges on the East. It
is more or less oblong in shape. Like most of the other towns in the
province, Iba has a geographical feature of being situated between the sea
and mountains This town is easily accessible to Manila and Pangasinan by
land transportation.It can be also reached by small aircrafts using the Iba
Airport. Iba is about 200 kilometers from Manila using the roads north of
Manila. Iba has become a popular destination for summer vacationists and
tourists due to the pristine and beautiful beaches that line the shorelines
of Iba. Its pollution-free beaches due to the absence of industrial
activities in Iba, make it one of the best places in the Philippines.
Visitors enjoy the fresh marine bounties like tuna and other fish
varieties,, lobsters, seaweeds as well as the luscious fruits includng the
famous "Zambales Dinamulag Mangoes". Indeed vacationing in Iba is an
experience worth repeating. Founded by Recollect priests in 1611, the
village of Paynawen moved from one place to another until it settled
permanently along the banks of Bancal River, where a fort was built as a
defense against pirates who constantly molested the region. In 1860, the How
the town got this name became a legend, that has been told, retold and
handed down from generation to generation. The story happened during the
early days of Spanish colonization. It was told, that while most of the
Spaniards were busy establishing the pueblo, one of their men sneaked out
from the group and curiously wandered around the village of the natives.
Along the way, he saw a group of people, who incidentally were eating a
certain kind of soft fruit. This particular Spaniard, being stranger to the
place, approached them and asked the name of the place, but because of
language differences, the natives thought, he was asking the name of the
fruit they were eating, immediately, they replied “Iba . ., Iba . ., Iba . .
“ from then on, this small pueblo was named Iba. The early formation of Iba
was attributed to the Zambals, an ethnic group who belonged to the Malay
race. They originated from the Celebes. They pushed the dwarfish, kinky
haired Negritoes or Aetas eastward to the hinterlands. These Zambals
eventually established their settlements on what is now the Municipality of
Iba.Through the course of time, other ethnic groups like the Tagalog and
Ilocanos migrated, occupied and formed their settlements on the southern
portion of the province. They later on inter married with the Zambals and
became the ancestors of these present generation. At various points in
history, the capital of the province shifted from each of the three towns
earlier established by the Spanish colonizers, namely, Masinloc, Sta. Cruz
and Iba, but because of Iba’s strategic location, it finally became the
permanent seat of the provincial government. Several history milestones had
swept over the Municipality during the early days. One of which was during
the declaration of the establishment of the Zambales province on August
28,1901, by the second Philippine Commission, headed by William Howard Taft
at St. Augustine Cathedral - a church built in 1700 out of coral and
limestone. Another memorable event was when WWII broke out, the Japanese
invading forces conducted a devastating bombing ran on Dec. 08, 1941 at Iba
Airfield which resulted to the annihilation of both civilians and US forces
stationed in the area. The Japanese Imperial Army later on, established
their garrison at Poblacion, Iba. Originally, the municipality comprised of
forty- five (45) sitios, eight (8) barrios and one (1) poblacion. These
barrios were created by virtue of Republic Act 3590 on June 22, 1963. By
virtue of Presidential Decrees of then Pres. Marcos on October 1974,
Presidential Decree 86 and Presidential Decree 86-A, the poblacion were
subdivided into six (6) zonal districts, and all sitios were integrated to
their mother barangay. DIOCESE OF IBA
The faith first came to the territory of the diocese in 1607 through the
efforts of the missionaries of the Order of the Recollects of St. Augustine.
They settled in Subic, Masinloc, Sta. Cruz, Iba, and Cabangan where they
established the first centers of the faith.
The faith flourished in the region until the troubled days of the Revolution
of 1896. Leaving ruined churches and convents in its wake the revolution
rendered the region practically unattended; only some time later did secular
priests take over some of the vacated parishes. In this state of things the
territory became a fertile ground for the Aglipayan schism to gain a
foothold and prosper, so much so that almost the whole length and breadth of
the province come under Aglipayan influence.
Upon invitation of the Archbishop of Manila, Michael J. O'Doherty, the
Divine Word Fathers took over the spiritual care of Zambales some time in
1928.
Starting their missionary activities in Iba and San Narciso, they gradually
took over other towns and localities, concentrating their work in rebuilding
ruined churches, building new ones, establishing more parishes, erecting
schools and conducting catechism centers whereby they hoped to regain much
lost group through the young.
The administration of the faith in the province changed hand when the
territory was transferred to the care of the Columban Fathers in 1951.
The prelature of Iba was erected on October 18, 1955 as suffragan of the
archdiocese of Manila. The Most Rev. Henry Byrne, SSC was appointed the
first prelate ordinary and he took economical possession of concentrating on
their work.
The prelature of November 4, 1956. On November 15, 1982 Iba was elevated to
diocese. Upon the death of Bishop Byrne the Most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto,
then auxiliary bishop of Tuguegarao, was appointed second bishop of Iba. On
January 31, 1989, he was appointed archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga. The
Most Rev. Deogracias S. Yñiguez, Jr. succeeded him on December 27, 1989. |
