The Float of the Province of Iloilo
The Iloilo float honors the Cry of Santa Barbara, a defining moment in Philippine history that marked the inauguration of the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas on November 17, 1898, with Roque Lopez as president and Martin Delgado as general-in-chief.
It was the first time the Philippine flag was raised outside Luzon, symbolizing Visayan unity in the struggle for independence.
Santa Barbara served as Delgado’s headquarters, from where he led military campaigns that culminated in the December 24, 1898 surrender of Don Diego de los Rios, Spain’s last Governor-General, at Plaza Libertad, Iloilo City – marking the end of Spanish rule in the Philippines.
The float features the hoisting of the Philippine flag at the house of Vicente Bermejo, following a mass at Santa Barbara Church, where Delgado convened the junta that launched Iloilo’s revolution. The church, a national landmark and cultural treasure, is represented at the float’s rear.
On the right side, a life-size diorama depicts the daring smuggling of the flag by Patrocinio Gamboa and Honorio Solinap. Gamboa wrapped the flag around her waist, concealing it within her garments, while the two posed as a married couple delivering hay in a carriage. A saber, a gift from General Aguinaldo to General Delgado, lay hidden beneath the hay.
At a Spanish checkpoint, they faced danger. To divert suspicion, Gamboa staged a dramatic quarrel, playing the role of a domineering wife berating her weak husband. She shouted, cursed, and pinched, bit, and boxed the subdued man. Their convincing act sent the guards into fits of laughter, allowing them to pass. They delivered the flag just in time for the inaugural ceremonies.
Both sides of the float feature bas-reliefs of Ilonggo heroes, including Delgado, Gamboa, Lopez, Venancio Concepcion, Pascual Magbanua, Adriano Hernandez, Angel Corteza, Perfecto Poblador, Quintin Salas, Nicolas Roces, and Agustin Solis.
The float celebrates unity, sacrifice, and the enduring struggle for freedom. As it moves through the parade, it brings history to life, reminding all of the Ilonggos’ pivotal role in the nation’s independence and inspiring future generations to uphold their legacy.
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