[Dimasalang]

Originally Posted by nacho

The reason Balantang was prominent in both the Philippine-American War and WW2 is because of its strategic location. Balantang is in the outskirts of Jaro, the last major town of Iloilo City. There was only one bridge over the Iloilo river (another bridge was built 10 yrs ago) that links Jaro to the road that leads to the major Panay towns of Leganes and Pototan to the east. This place is also called "tabuk suba" (in English, river crossing).

So, to defend Iloilo City (in those early days, Jaro was where the illustrados lived. That's where the grand mansions of the hacienderos are clustered in), the defensive line must be held at Tabuk Suba.

Tabuk Suba is part of Barrio Balantang.

During the Philippine American war, the Americans held the positions within the city as they entered via the port of Iloilo. The Philippine forces under Delgado harrassed the enemy from the outlying towns of Santa Barbara and Leganes/Pototan.

During WW2 (when the Americans where already in Leyte but Iloilo was still in Japanese hands), the Japanese defensive line was again at Tabuk Suba. The Lizares Mansion, just across the river, was used as their principal garrisson.

Thanks Nacho for detailing and elaborating more on that area. Your post is greatly appreciated in this thread.