New Lucena, Iloilo has a historic spot that will let you relive some of the provinces’ most important Historical scenes. Pay homage to the valiant heroes who fought for our freedom by visiting Jelicuon on October 25 as the town commemorates the First Cry of Independence outside of Luzon through the re-enactment of the historic Cry of Jelicuon at 5 p.m. at the Municipal Auditorium.

The silent undertaking led by General Martin Delgado and his company of voluntarios swore the price of their lives to revolt against the Spanish government. 

The Spanish colonial policy was designed not only to keep the Philippine archipelago under control but also to exploit her rich natural resources. The onerous system of taxation where Filipinos pay a tribute in recognition to the Spanish sovereignty; the arbitrary and unjust forced labor were all men, healthy and physically able and within the ages 16-60 to render service for forty days, and the monopolistic Galleon Trade and the stringent trade and agricultural policies brought a distorted and unbalanced Philippine economy.

With cruelties and injustices brought about by colonizers, series of revolts took place in different parts of the country.

In Iloilo, unknown to Spanish authorities, a secret group of Voluntarios coming from the different towns swore the price of their lives to revolt against the Spanish government. They were preparing to revolt under the leadership of General Martin Delgado, a native of Sta. Barbara. The general along with his voluntaries headed to Barrio Hilicuon situated at the boundary of the towns of Santa Barbara, Cabatuan and Lucena, where they gathered in an open field, took out their cedulas and with intense emotion tore them and tossed them to the air while uttering a thunderous “Long live independence!”

Historical re-enactments such as the Cry of Jelicuon provide an incredible window into how men and women lived in historical times, providing the community and sometimes the public, a glimpse into what life was like during the conflicts that shaped the town’s local history. 

If you want to experience a beautiful piece of history in the town, do not forget that New Lucena also has a serene spot where you can escape the frenzy and stress of your daily city life, like Mila’s Hill Inland Resort.

The Fourth-Class municipality of New Lucena is a 45-minute jeepney ride from Ungka Transport Terminal (fronting Christ the King Memorial Park) in Barangay Ungka-II, Pavia, Iloilo. It has a land area of 4, 412 hectares that are politically subdivided into 21 barangays with a population of 23, 240 (2015 Census on Population).

The town shares border on the northeast with the municipality of Pototan; on the southeast with the municipality of Zarraga; on the southwest with the municipality of Sta. Barbara; and on the northwest with the municipality of Cabatuan and a little portion of the town of Mina.

The town proper of New Lucena could be traversed by land either way via Dawis-Zarraga or via Sta. Barbara. It is 9.8 kilometers away from Sta. Barbara, 15 kilometers away from Cabatuan, 6 kilometers away from Pototan, 6.6 kilometers away from Zarraga and 11 kilometers away from Mina. New Lucena is crisscrossed by the roads from the north to south and east to west thus providing roads for easy means of transportation.

For more information, please contact Kenneth Sobremisana – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09197856167.