BRIEF HISTORY

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The Municipality of Leon was formerly known as Camando which was founded in the year 1730 with Mr. Bernabe Buncag as the Gobernadorcillo. In 1866, the town was transferred to Sitio Capan, a vast rice region. Two years after the town was transferred, the new town was given the name Leon.

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There were two versions how the town was named: that it derived its name from the first name of one prominent member of the principalia, Capitan Leon and the other that the name Leon was given in honor of the City of Leon in Spain, the place where the then Parish Priest of the town, Fr. Agustin Castro, came from. The latter is the officially accepted version, however, the inhabitants retained their surnames beginning with letter "C", which was given them through the order of Gov. Claveria in 1894, in lasting memory of the former town of Camando.

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In 1905, during the American Regime, the Municip[alities of Leon, Alomodian and San miguel were fuser into one municipality with Leon as the seat of government under Mr. Evaristo Capalla. In 1915, the Catholic Parocial School of Saint Catherine was establish followed by Leon Institute, another secondary in 1918.

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The period 1948-195q was a turbulent period in the history of the town when peace and order disturbed by dissidents. Despite these disturbances, the town leaders persevered and it was during this period when several public buildings were constructed. Among these were the Leon Elementary School and the Leon High School. Support infrastructure like bridges and farm to market roads were also established.

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The Municipality of 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 by the late Senator Tomas Confesor in the Bucari area on may 1947.

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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. Because of its efficient collection of taxes.

 

1902-   The first municipal election was ordered and elected Rufino Camiña popularly known as Tan Pino as first president Municipal of the town.

 

1904  -  Municipality of Alimodian, San Miguel and Leon were fused into municipality with Leon as the seat of government under Mr. Evaristo Capalla.

 

1942 -  Free government of Panay and Romblon was establish 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