Mapping our heritage, charting our future.
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TRIBO ATA-ATIHAN ITUMAN

TRIBO ATA-ATIHAN ITUMAN

CMPG

The Tribu Ata-Atihan Ituman is an Indigenous community located in Sitio Manara, Barangay Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, known for their rich cultural heritage and traditional practices such as uway (rattan) weaving, subsistence farming, and forest based livelihoods. Historically, it was believed that the Ata or Itoman people migrated from Panay Island and lived in isolated mountainous areas, which made access to education, healthcare, and basic services extremely limited. Starting in the 2010s, local government support and grassroots initiatives improved their living conditions, providing education, health services, and exposure to city events like the Dinagsa Festival. Significant milestones include ...
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ATTY. MARIA ROWENA AMELIA VILLENA GUANZON

CMPG

Atty. Ma. Rowena Amalia Guanzon, born in Cadiz City in 1957, is a lawyer, professor, and public servant known for her work in public service. Coming from a prominent family, she studied economics and law at the University of the Philippines and earned a master’s degree from Harvard. At age 28, she was appointed mayor of Cadiz City after the 1986 People Power Revolution, becoming one of the youngest mayors in the country. She later served as Commissioner for both the Commission on Audit and the Commission on Elections, where she gained national attention during the 2022 presidential elections. Guanzon ...
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DINAGSA FESTIVAL

CMPG

The Dinagsa Festival is a vibrant annual celebration held every January in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, honoring Señor Sto. Niño as a way of giving thanks and fostering community unity. It began in 1972 after the supposed appearance of the Sto. Niño image on the city’s shores and was later renamed “Dinagsa” in 2002 after whales were seen landing on the coastline, which locals saw as a sign of blessing. A key feature of the festival is “Lamhitanay sa Dalan”, where people smear each other with water-based paint in a joyful display of togetherness, along with tribal dances, fluvial parades, ...
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