Jordan, Guimaras

Jordan is a third-class municipality in the province of Guimaras, Philippines. It is the provincial capital of Guimaras. With a wharf closest to Iloilo City and a central location, Jordan is also the commercial center of the island.Jordan is bounded by the three municipalities of the province, Buenavista to the north, San Lorenzo to the east, and Sibunag to the south. Before founding of the five towns, the whole island of Guimaras was called "Himal-us". Across the Iloilo Strait from Jordan is Iloilo City on the island of Panay.BarangaysJordan is subdivided into 14 barangays.HistoryThe name of the town used to be Nagaba but was changed in 1902 to Jordan. The name Jordán, the Spanish name for the Jordan River, was chosen by the residents in honor of John the Baptist, their patron saint. According to local folklore, he saved the inhabitants from slaughter during the Moro raid in the Spanish era.In 1918, the municipality was formed when it separated from Buenavista, with Valeriano Villanueva as the first appointed Presidente Municipal. After elections in 1919, Hugo Chávez became the next mayor, followed by Licerio Segovia (1921-1923), Alberto Gonzaga (1923-1925), Feliz Ronzales (1925-1928), Hilario Nava (1929-1932), again Hugo Chávez (1932-1938), and Leodegario Galarpe (1939-1941).