HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Irong-Irong appears in the 'Maragtas'legend of the coming of ten Bornean datus (Chieftains)
to Panay who bartered gold for the plains and valleys of the island from a local Ati chieftain. One datu, Paiburong by name,
was given the territory of Irong-Irong.
In 1572, the Spaniards under Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, came to Panay and established a settlement in Ogtong
(now the town of Oton).
In 1581, the seat of Spanish power was moved from Oton to La Villa de Arevalo by Legazpi's deputy escomiendero
- Gonzalo Ronquillo.
By 1700, due to recurrent raids by both moro pirates and Dutch and English privateers, the Spaniards moved
to the village of Irong-Irong close to the mouth of the river where they built Fort San Pedro (now an open-air restaurant).
Irong-Irong shortened to "ILOILO" by the Spaniards, eventually became the capital of the province of Iloilo.
