Ma-ayon, officially the Municipality of Ma-ayon (Capiznon/Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Ma-ayon; ), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 41,226 people. It has a total land area of 142.32 km2 (54.95).
Sometimes spelled Ma-ayon, it is from Roxas City, the seat of the provincial government.
Etymology
As to the origin of the name of Maayon not much has been written about it, but folks speak of several versions and one among those considered most popular was when a group of Spanish soldiers while pursuing the insurgents, discovered a settlement near the bank of the river. Finding the people to be hospitable and nice, they asked for the name of the place. Since the natives did not understand the Spanish language, they assumed that what the Spaniards were asking for what is the status of the harvest, for them it was harvest time. The natives answered "Maayo man". So the Spaniards named the settlement "El Pueblo de Maayon". Thus, the name Maayon was derived from that word and to this very day, it is known as such.
History
Maayon first became a town during the early American era. However, during the Cadastral Survey, it was reverted to a barrio status under the Municipality of Pontevedra. For nearly half a century, the residents fought hard and long for its restoration to a separate and distinct entity. Their untiring efforts were empty rewarded when in 1955, Carmen Dinglasan Consing, representative of the first District the Province of Capiz field House Bill No. 2098 in the lower chamber of Congress. Senator Justinano S. Montaño sponsored and steered the bill until its approval. Finally on March 30, 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill re-creating the Municipality of Maayon, Capiz in a ceremony held in Malacañan.
The "New Municipality" included eight barrios then, namely, Maayon, Fernandez, Piña, Balighot, Batabat, Guia, Tuburan and Canapian Sur. Now it has thirty two (32) barangays.
The ceremony was attended by a large delegation from Capiz. The President also signed the appointment of the following officials of the new town: For Mayor, Rafael M. Declaro Sr.; For Vice Mayor, Ernesto Diaz; For Councilors, Marcelo Diaz, Felomino Comoro, Damaso Deocampo, Ambrosio Dumagpi, Agustin Barruela and Marcelo Delfin. These officials, have gone back to their maker.
Also present during the historic signing of Republic Act No. 1203 were Representative Judge Godofredo and Mr. Rafael Dinglasan Sr., Judge Antonio J. Beldia, Romeo Arceño, Gabriel Borres and his two sons Roberto and Athos, Mamerto Dadula. Most of the wives of the officials of the town also witnessed the memorable occasion.
Among the town's first officials were: Uldarico Dieta, Secretary: Amado S. Almalbis, Treasurer: Ponciano Declaro, Judge: and Diosdado Borres, Chief of Police; While Dr. Manuel Buenvenida, who was then Rural Health Physician for Pontevedra, took temporary charge of the rural health services of the new town until his transfer to Pres. Roxas which Dr. Ricardo A. Dasal replaced him until 1956 when Dr. Alejandro Orosco was appointed and took over as the regular Rural Health Physician. Rev. Fr. Crisogono Dequiña was then parish priest.
Rafael M. Declaro Sr. who was also the first elected mayor of the town during its first election in November 1955 won with less than 200 majority over Atty. Artagnan D. Roxas. He relinquished the mayorship to his running mate, Prudencio L. Alovera, when he assumed the position of municipal judge of the same town. The late Mayor Alovera served from 1957 to 1971, the longest term in the 25-year existence of the municipality. Alovera did not seek re-election in 1971. Bertile D. Comoro, fresh from college, ran and won against the late Jose B. Diaz III. Comoro serves as the third executive of the town until February 1986 when President Corazon C. Aquino, who won through People's Power, appointed Jose B. Diaz Jr. as officer-in-charge of the Office of the Mayor which the latter assumed the post but relinquished it a month later after receiving his appointment as Board Member of the Province of Capiz. Rolando L. Eleazar then took charge of the Office of the Mayor.
The following are the past and present Municipal Mayors of Maayon:
1. Rafael M. Declaro Sr. (1955-1957), 2. Prudencio L. Alovera (1957-1971), 3. Bertile D. Comoro Sr. (1972-1986), 4. Jose B. Diaz Jr. (1986) - OIC, 5. Rolando L. Eleazar (1986-1988) - OIC, 6. Honorio B. Diaz Sr. (1988-1998), 7. Miguel Dillera (1998-2001), 8. Billy D. Dueñas (2001-2010), 9. Wilfredo E. Borres Sr. (2010-2019), and 10. Raymond D. Malapajo (2019–Present)