History
Spanish Colonial Period
The history of San Joaquin, Iloilo, can be traced back to the late 17th century, with significant developments in its religious and civic structure. According to historical records, the town’s foundation is marked by a series of key events related to its missionary history.
In 1687, San Joaquin was assigned its own minister, which signified the town’s initial formal recognition by the church. However, the minister only stayed for a year before the settlement became a Visita—a mission station that lacked a permanent parish priest. The town remained as a Visita until 1692, when it was officially established as a parish. During this period, San Joaquin was under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Miagao.
The 1692 date is widely considered the certain foundation date of San Joaquin as a parish, according to sources like Juan Fernandez's Monografías de los pueblos de la isla de Pan-ay and Elviro Jorde's Catálogo bio bibliográfico.
Fr. Felipe Alfaraz, a notable Augustinian missionary, played a significant role in the town’s religious history. According to Jorde’s Misión 65 (1788), Fr. Alfaraz was assigned as parish priest to several towns, including San Joaquin in 1794, having previously served in Lambunao (1790) and Guimbal (1801). One enduring legacy of this era is the San Joaquin Roman Catholic Church, which was completed in 1869 and declared a national shrine in September 1977.
American Colonial Period
After the Spanish-American War and the establishment of American rule in the Philippines, significant changes were introduced in the governance and administrative structures of towns in Iloilo, including San Joaquin. The American colonization introduced new administrative systems that aimed to streamline governance and adapt the region to Western-style municipal structures. The consolidation of municipalities became a key aspect of this process.
On April 11, 1901, the American colonial government officially organized the civil government of Iloilo Province, which initially included 50 municipalities. These municipalities were placed under the supervision of the new American administration, with a goal of bringing order and structure to the region. San Joaquin was one of the towns included in the initial organization of municipalities, albeit a relatively smaller and less economically developed town compared to others in the province.
In a move to further streamline governance, the American government passed Act No. 719 on April 4, 1903, which aimed to reduce the number of municipalities in Iloilo from 50 to just 17. The law officially read: "AN ACT REDUCING THE FIFTY-ONE MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO TO SEVENTEEN." This consolidation resulted in the merging of smaller and economically less prosperous towns, including San Joaquin, which was incorporated into the larger and more affluent Miagao.
As a result of this act, many smaller towns were relegated to being suburbs (arrabals) of larger municipalities. Although San Joaquin was now part of Miagao, its identity remained intact, and it continued to serve as an important part of the region’s cultural and historical fabric.
Despite its inclusion in Miagao, the town of San Joaquin did not lose its drive for independence. In 1908, Eliseo J. Sanglap, a prominent native of San Joaquin, was elected Municipal President of Miagao. Sanglap advocated strongly for the restoration of San Joaquin’s autonomy, leading to the passage of Executive Order No. 21 by the American Military Governor General on December 10, 1910. This order officially restored San Joaquin as an independent municipality.
The restoration of San Joaquin was a significant victory for the local people and marked the town’s reclamation of its municipal status after being absorbed into Miagao. With this newfound independence, San Joaquin was able to re-establish its local governance and continue developing under the American colonial system.
Separation of Lawigan and Reversion
On July 10, 1961, President Carlos P. Garcia issued Executive Order No. 436, which created the municipality of Lawigan in the province of Iloilo, carving it out of several barrios and sitios from San Joaquin. The newly-formed municipality of Lawigan was composed of the following areas: Lawigan, Sinogbuhan, Cataan, Igcundao, Langwanan, San Luis, San Gregorio, Igbangcal, Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Igcoris, Igbaje, Balabago, Amboyuan, Dacdacanan, Igcabotong, San Mateo, Talagutac, Nagquirisan, Gumawan, and Igdumingding.
The boundary between the two municipalities was defined by the Tiolas River, with the separation starting at its mouth and continuing along the river’s course upstream, passing through the Quianan bridge in Pitogo and along the Iloilo-Antique inter-provincial road up to the provincial boundary at Dawis.
However, the legality of Executive Order No. 436 was challenged by the Municipality of San Joaquin, which argued that the creation of Lawigan was an undue delegation of legislative powers, rendering the order unconstitutional. In G.R. No. L-19870, on March 18, 1967, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of San Joaquin, declaring Executive Order No. 436 null and void ab initio (from the beginning). The Court reasoned that the creation of municipalities is an essentially legislative function, not an administrative one, and that the law violated constitutional principles.
As a result of the ruling, the barrios and sitios that had been part of Lawigan were reverted back to San Joaquin, and Lawigan once again became a part of San Joaquin, Iloilo. The people of Lawigan, however, continued to thrive as part of San Joaquin, with the area remaining a prosperous village and the site of the Our Lady of Salvation Parish.
Currently, San Joaquin is subdivided into 85 barangays, with Lawigan being one of the most prominent, contributing to the town's cultural, religious, and economic life.
Tourism
The Talisayan Beach Resort is a privately owned beach resort located in the Poblacion. The Cata-an Cove and Tobog Beach Resort in Barangay Cata-an, about 10 kilometers from the Poblacion, is a place perfect for scuba diving and weekend outings. Garin Farm, a 15 hectare privately owned farm resort in Purok 2, Poblacion which showcases agriculture, leisure and pilgrimage theme. Practical and intelligent farming are imparted to the visitors through the agricultural techniques and innovative technologies applied in the demo farm. The resort leisure amenities include a swimming pool, a 5,000 sq.m man-made lagoon located on a hilltop, with fishes and lilies which offers fishing, boating and kayaking, and a 300 meters zip line which goes over the lagoon and through the trees. On the top of the hill sits the 101 Feet Divine Mercy Cross, which can be accessed by a 456 step stairway. Along the stairway are life-size and lifelike statues depicting the Creation, Noah's Ark, Ten Commandments, and the 9 Major Events of the Life of Jesus Christ.
Infrastructure
Healthcare
The San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital (SJMCH), is a publicly managed, district-level hospital located in Barangay Baybay, San Joaquin, Iloilo. It operates 24 hours daily under the leadership of Dr. Rodel G. Gedalanga, MD, FPCP, who serves as Chief of Hospital I. [25]
It was inaugurated in April 2013 and initially operated under the supervision of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) and the municipal government. In 2019, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. signed Provincial Ordinance No. 2018‑191 converting SJMCH into the 13th district hospital under the Iloilo Provincial Government’s Hospital Management Office. [26]
The hospital is a primary-care facility with a 10‑bed capacity, serving maternal, neonatal, pediatric, and basic outpatient needs of residents in San Joaquin and neighboring municipalities. [27] [28] The provincial government allocated PHP 43 million in 2019 for its full integration into the district hospital network, covering operations, staffing, and equipment. [29]
In June 2023, the Iloilo Provincial Board passed a resolution urging the Department of Health to upgrade SJMCH’s license from a 10-bed infirmary to a 25-bed Level I General Hospital. This upgrade reflects the hospital’s expanded services, which now include an emergency room, clinical laboratory, imaging facilities, pharmacy, and an operating room. [27]
Additionally, in mid‑2024, a joint legislative committee confirmed that the land on which the hospital stands is government‑owned, ensuring uninterrupted operations and preventing any claims of donation revocation being enforced. [30]
In June 2025, a formal inter‑LGU partnership was approved between Iloilo Province and the Municipality of Anini-y, Antique to accept referrals for maternal and child health services at SJMCH, in line with Section 16 and Section 465 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991. [31]
