Janiuay

Santo Tomas approximate population is 500-800. Santo Tomas (Pakol to locals) is bounded by Madong in the east, Mangil in the north-east and Danao in the south west. It is accessible by three class C feeder roads in the east, south-west and south-east. Agriculture centers around rice, corn, coffee, beans, sugar cane, and copra. Traces of sweet mango farms are starting to gain roots especially close by the public elementary school. General topography is flat rice fields on the east and hill-valley-hill dotted by bamboos, coffee, mango, banana, coconuts and other fruit tree crops in the remaining areas. Water source are via deepwells and rice produce is primarily dependent on rainfall.

Motorbike and tricycle are the easiest mode of transportation and also four-wheels during festive events. Ride is some 30 minutes from the town proper. Electricity is subscribed by 15-25% of the population. Wireless cellphone carrier SMART covers the area and is generally available in 20-25% of the population. English language is generally understood and spoken fairly by locals in certain situation with foreigners.

Danao-Santo Tomas Elementary School established during the 1950s is located on the highest hill of the surrounding barangays and view of rice fields in the east is impressive especially in the morning. An old artesian well stands within the school grounds - part of an effort to secure deep water for the school in the 1960s (WVA).

Pueblo Danao has a history. It was established by Fr. Eugenio Moya in 1766. It lasted for eight years until Fr. Moya was forced to move to adjacent Pueblo Yabon for fear on his life on errant moros and the locales. The moros and the locales set camp in the forest of Danao away from forced labor edict from Spanish Principalia and administered by priests of Poblacion Janiuay. The moros and the locales raised in arms against Catholic conversion and had attempted to poison and kill Fr. Moya. Pueblo Danao became a prized possession disputed by Pueblo Quipot and Principalia Masin (now Maasin) because of its rich farmland in the west bounded by the Suage river and the rumor about rich mineral deposits in the hills of Kantong (now Danao Gantong). When Pueblo Quipot was moved to Poblacion Janiuay in 1769, Pueblo Danao was downgraded to a barrio and became part of Janiuay.

Danao is divided into three mini locales (mini-barrangay), Danao I, Danao 2 and Danao Gantong. Each mini barangay has about a population of 300- 400. Danao is bounded by Santo Tomas (North-West), Mangil (North), Madong (East), Tambal (South-West),Calmay (West), Caraudan (West) and Aguingay (South-West).

It is accessible by two class C feeder roads from Poblacion Janiuay in the east, south-west and south-east. Agriculture centers around rice, corn, coffee, beans, sugar cane, and copra. Traces of sweet mango farms are starting to gain roots especially close by the public elementary school. General topography is flat rice fields on the east and hill-valley-hill dotted by bamboos, coffee, mango, banana, coconuts and other fruit tree crops in the remaining areas. Water source are Suage river in the south-west and via deepwells and seasonal rainfall in the east.

Four wheels are a means of transportation including motorbike and tricycle. Ride is some 30 minutes from the town proper. Electricity is subscribed by 15-25% of the population. Wireless cellphone carrier SMART covers the area and is generally available in 20-25% of the population. English language is generally understood and spoken fairly by locals in certain situation with foreigners.

Danao-Santo Tomas Elementary School established during the 1950s straddles Sto- Tomas and Danao Gantong. An old artesian well stands north of the school grounds - part of an effort to secure deep water for the school in the 1960s (WVA). It is believed that the well was an exploratory bore hole to determine and analyze the mineral content of the sub-surface of the surrounding area. Bore hole samples including sediment samples from surrounding open wells (Rapo, Brasileno, Casiple) were collected and sent for analysis. No new samples are requested by the Bureau of Mines. lorenzo arillo is the longest brgy. captain of brgy. danao (1960-2003).

Matag-ub was formerly Pueblo Binogsukan in 1766. Aetas set camp in these areas helping the Moros raid and fight wars with the Augustinian priests Marin, Carvajal, Gorrosari and Llorente of Poblacion Janiuay for forced labor erecting the churches and cemetery of Poblacion Janiuay.

Janiuay prides itself on two heritage infrastructure dating back from 1760.

The Janiuay Catholic Church was built of sandstone, limestone and layered bricks and was completed in February 1770. Its belfry used to carry three magnificent bells, the largest weighing close to a ton. World War II damaged the belfry, and the bells were lowered to ground after the war. The largest bell crashed down during the relocation and suffered a crack 18 inches (460 mm) in length from its lip upwards. When sounded it gives a distinct baritone rattling sound that can be heard for miles. It is now mounted in the new church's belfry built in the late 60s.

Another heritage infrastructure is the Janiuay Cemetery. It was built much later, in 1870, and is also walled with ancient sandstone and bricks brought from distant locale some 30 km away in what is now known as the town of Dingle. Spanish Fr. Llorente directed the construction of this cemetery in the Gothic design of his time. The Janiuay town cemetery is located a kilometer east of Janiuay Catholic Church.

Janiuay is also home to several heritage mini sugar mills owned by landed Spanish mestizos and Swiss descent. These mini sugar mills have seen their own time and once produces brown sugar. Wrought steel rotary crushers driven by water buffaloes or carabaos extract sugar from canes and cooked in large vat until brown and solid.

• Janiuay Old Prison and Town Hall - Post Hispanic infrastructure with 24-inch-thick (610 mm) walls and wrought iron bars.
• Janiuay Pilot Elementary School - established before World War II
• Janiuay National Vocational School - (Now West Visayas State University - Janiuay Campus) - established before World War II.
• Janiuay Protestant Church - First outside of Iloilo City
• Iglesia ni Cristo Church in Barangay Jibolo
• Janiuay Public Market
• Janiuay Cattle Market - the only in Iloilo Province.
• Janiuay Town Hall and Plaza
• Janiuay Public Library
• St. Elizabeth Academy (Now St. Julian Academy) established in the 1960s
• Janiuay Emergency Hospital. Back in operation after Suage river overflow caused by heavy rain and typhoon in June 2008.
• Don Juan Wuthrich Estate in Barangay Jibolo
• Don Jose Marin Estate and house in Santa Rita
• Lutero Estate in Barangay Tambal and Barangay Kinambud
• Locsin Estate in Barangay Guadalupe
• Camarista House in San Julian St.
• Suage River Breakwater - A kilometer long concrete breakwater from Esperanza St. to Aquino Nobleza St.
• Calmay Elementary and High School - biggest public school outside and west of Poblacion Janiuay.
• Barangay Ubian, Yabon and Quipot - seat of pre-Spanish Janiuay in 1578 to 1760. Moved to its current location on or before 1760 by the Spanish Principalia. About 22 km. west of Janiuay.
• Quipot Wier - A natural wier located at sito Punong. These are two big massive land mass blocking entry of downstream Suage river to the Janiuay Poblacion and beyond. About 22 km west of Poblacion Janiuay. WVA Post Note: The two massive land mass is now covered with sand, soil and debris after the June 2008 heavy rain and typhoon. Two opposing stone boulders seen today are a trace of once the beautiful Quipot Weir playing with the graceful flow of Suage River which can cast its angry might at any moments notice.
• Barasalon Falls - located in sitio Igbiating. Up inland and about 15 km from Barangay Yabon. WVA Post Note: Baby falls at both sides started to appear.