Cuartero

The name Cuartero was bestowed in honor of Mariano Cuartero, O.P. (1851–1884), the first bishop of the Diocese of Jaro, who helped expand ecclesiastical administration across Panay Island during Spanish rule.^[2]

According to community oral traditions, the area now known as Cuartero was once called Binudhian, later Mapang (after a nearby creek), and then Fonda, meaning “founder.” Early inhabitants were mainly Ati (Negrito) groups who practiced subsistence farming and hunting.

During the Spanish colonial period, the settlement was organized as a parish on November 30, 1872 and named Cuartero in honor of Bishop Mariano Cuartero, the first bishop of Jaro, Iloilo. A stone church and convent were erected under Spanish supervision, marking the start of formal administration and evangelization.

By the early 1900s, under American rule, schools and civil institutions were introduced. Cuartero became an arabal of Dao, where all personal and real estate taxes were paid. After many decades of effort to gain independence, leaders Manuel Funa and Pascual de la Torre traveled to Manila with complete documents for separation. Their work led President Manuel L. Quezon to approve Executive Order No. 159 on August 23, 1938, which established Cuartero as an independent municipality.^[3]

Cuartero was officially inaugurated as an independent municipality on January 1, 1939 with Manuel Funa as its first mayor. The agricultural sector centered on rice, corn, and sugarcane, which became its economic base.

World War II brought occupation and hardship, but local resistance groups helped secure liberation in 1945. In the post-war decades, Cuartero rebuilt rapidly, expanding education, health, and infrastructure.

Today, Cuartero remains a third-class agricultural municipality covering 106.58 km² and home to nearly 28 thousand residents. It continues to celebrate its cultural identity through devotion to St. Anthony of Padua and community festivals.^[4]

Cuartero has since continued to grow through the work and unity of its people on Panay Island

Cuartero lies about 37 kilometres (23 mi) from Roxas City. It is a landlocked town surrounded by the municipalities of Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, and Maayon.

Cuartero is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks, and some have sitios.

As of the 2024 census, the population was 28,650 people,^[6] with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 inhabitants per square mile.

The Agdahanay Festival is the official town festival of Cuartero, celebrated annually during the second week of June, culminating on June 13 in honor of the town’s patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua (San Antonio de Padua).

The term Agdahanay is derived from the Hiligaynon word meaning “inviting and accommodating others,” reflecting the Cuarteronhons’ tradition of hospitality and unity. The festival includes street dancing, trade fairs, sports events, and other community activities.^[7]

Cuartero celebrates its Foundation Day every August 23, marking its establishment as a municipality by Manuel L. Quezon through Executive Order No. 159 in 1938. The day commemorates separation of the then barrios of Cuartero, Agdajon, Angub, Bito-on, Bun-od, Carataya, Maindang, Malagab-i, Nagba, San Antonio, and Sinabsaban from Dao to form an independent municipality under the name of Cuartero that is originally consisted of territories belonging to Cuartero, Agdajon, Angub, Bito-on, Bun-od, Carataya, Maindang, Malagab-i, Nagba, San Antonio, and Sinabsaban.^[8]

The celebration features civic parades, sports and cultural programs, and recognition ceremonies for residents who contributed to the town’s progress.

The anniversary is marked by civic parades, sports and cultural programs, and recognition ceremonies honoring outstanding residents. Recent celebrations have been accompanied by the Hinugyaw sa Cuartero, a festival showcasing local achievements, industries, and traditions. The event commemorates the founding leaders of the municipality, beginning with its first municipal mayor, Manuel Funa, and highlights the town’s continued development since its establishment.^[9]

Together, the Agdahanay Festival and Foundation Day form the municipality pillars of cultural calendar - one emphasizing faith and hospitality, the other civic pride and history.

The Cuartero Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[15]