AMAZING LEMERY

It is more fun in the Lemery

In the northern part of the Iloilo province is a small town that we call today as Lemery. The place is surrounded with mountain ranges and these mountain ranges are full of verdant thick tall trees. This are a is situated along the border of Iloilo and Capiz provinces. It is surrounded with the towns of Sara, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo and San Rafael in Iloilo and the towns of Dumarao, Maayon and Pontevedra in Capiz. Lemery was created from the barrios of Agpipili, Alcantara, Almeñana, Anabo, Bankal, Buenavista, Cabantohan, Capiñahan, Dalipe, Dapdapan, Gerongan ,Imbaulan, Layogbato, Marapal, Milan, Nagsulang, Omio, Pacuan, Poblacion North West Zone, Poblacion South East Zone, Pontoc,  San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose, Sepanton, Sincua , Tabunan, Tugas, Velasco and Yawyawan. Lemerehon have a common livelihood lifestyle in order to survive. The language that is used by Lemerenhon is Hiligaynon. Agriculture was most occupation of the people there. They are also raising livestock. Because its mountainous is, they cleared the land to use it for agriculture. They planted it rice, corns and other crops. Some are selling coals as there source of income. In terms of progression of these town, there’s so many establishment was build. The public market, public plaza/ auditorium, children’s playground was fully developed by the help of local government.

During the Spanish colonial period, only a few people live in this area. Most of them lived near the foothills of the highest mountain, there is one which stood out among the rest as the tallest and the biggest tree. This is called the “Lawaan” wood. At night especially if there is no moonlight the tree is beautiful to look at seems like a huge Christmas tree that shines through darkness. The elders gathered to give a name for their place. They unanimously name for their “ Lamenaria” referring to the tallest and biggest tree of Lawaan. They call it Lamenaria because at night the lawaan tree is like a light for the locals due to the fireflies which gathered at the tree. Because of this, they call the palce Lamenaria. Through the passing of time and due to the increasing of population coming to Lamenaria the name Lamenaria became Lameri probably due to the length of the name and difficulty in pronouncing or due to wrong pronunciation. Shortly after, Lameri become Lemery which become the official name until now. Another story behind the origin of the name of the place, the word Lemery was derived from the names Le Me Re.

   

  Lemerenhons celebrated town fiesta every 28^th day if January. It was called “ Saug Festival”. “ Saug Festival” portraying what kind of livelihood they have and thanksgiving to God fof all the blessings they  received. The “bayanihan” was also practiced until now a days Lemery is one of the progressive town in “Quinto Distrito” at Iloilo Province. Saug whose cognate term in English “to haul” means to move object laid on bamboo sledge Karosa hitched on a draft animal like carabao is definitive symbol of the mode of production and cultural heritage of Lemerenhon. Saug festival is a genuine reflection of lemery historical part, an objective measure in evaluation the present and a spring of information in charting in the future of every Lemerenhon. This saug festival helps people to motivate to join in celebrating the fiesta in honor of Sr. Santo Nino. Every year the people come in the covered Gym just to witness all the program during that fiesta and some of them join in dancing just to show their unity as one community.

THE CHOSEN BARANGAY 

    Poblacion South East Zone is one of the thirty- one barangays in the Municipality of Lemery and is found at the Northern part of Iloilo. It is governed by Barangay Captain Cherryl Ventura Peniero-Olanda with her Barangay Councilors, Nelson Paja, Edgardo Elegino, Judelyn Cacho, and four others. A total of 6, 544 people live in this barangay which composes 745 households and a total land area of 252 hectares.

Poblacion South East Zone is the most progressive barangay in the Municipality of Lemery. The Municipal Hall, Municipal Gym, Municipal Auditorium, Municipal Plaza, the Public Market, the Roman Catholic Church, Espia Inland Resort, and the Lemery National High School are located at this barangay. For now, the Espia Inland Resort is the most visited place in this municipality even in the 5^th district. Poblacion South East Zone is one of the participating barangays of “Tribu Hamungaya” with the other barangays: barangay Cabantohan, Tabunan, and Dapdapan. They won as the Champion during the 115^th Saug Festival Culture Base Dance Competition.

Barangay Captain Peniero also went to Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, South Korea for a seminar together with the officers from PhilSaemaulUndong (PSMU) to make a stronger PSMU towards changing communities. The chief guest and seminar paper presenter was Professor Dr.  SO, Jin Kwang, the President of Saemaul Undong Center, Republic of  Korea. 152 participants including Faculty Members of  BARD, Upazila Officials of Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), Teachers of Comilla University, BCS Health Cader Officials, Officials Bakhrabad Gas System Ltd., Community Leaders, Cooperative Officials attended the seminar.

THE SCHOOL OF LEMERENHONS, THE LEMERY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

We know that everybody is thinking to be in a good school. Well, it’s not a big problem to us Lemerenhons. We  have our school the Lemery National High School.The LNHS was a farm before owned by Hon. Lowel T. Arban and was bought and now a school. A principal was then assigned to bring the school into success.  Maria Luisa Asong is the principal of LNHS for almost 20 years. Right when LNHS existed. The Lemery National High School is now in service for more than 20 years. It is located in Poblacion South East Zone Lemery, Iloilo. 

We have our teachers, who can teach their students well, with us. Our school is always represented by students, who are talented, and brings home the bacon in their contests. Of course, it is because they have the gift, which was knowledge, and was trained well by their teachers. As we can see, the LNHS have thousands of students, and that makes our school even look better. The students are all willing to learn and it’s a great opportunity for the school.The school have three double stories and many classrooms, which is occupied by one section each room.There’s no way that no one will be comfortable to learn and be trained well. We also have our computer room with lots of computers, where students, who were  studying electronics, can study about computers. And a bakery, where students bake for their TLE or cookery. LNHS is also surrounded by lots of plants and trees, which gives us fresh air and not carbon dioxide, to breathe. And a mango tree, which was big, at the center of the school. The school is also rich in signal, which helps the student do a research or post their projects faster, online.We also have our school canteen, where us, students, can buy safe foods, a washing area, where we perform proper hand washing, and a library, where our books are stored and read it every-time we want.There are students of Lemery National High School who are living in far barangays of Lemery but near to Milan National High School or Anabo National High School but they’d still prefer the Lemery National High School because its the best school for us . We also have our club officers, who are responsible, and participates in different activities such as tree planting activities of the school and also does their duty. Sometimes , there are seminars like preparing the disaster for the student be aware on what they have to do during earthquakes or fire.There were also graduates, who are now successful, that are former students of LNHS. Because of their Alma mater, they were able to commit success.

These are all about LNHS, a good school which will bring you to your success. A school that can help you reach your dreams, a school where you can learn a lot, and a school where happiness exists. That’s why LNHS is the best for us, Lemerenhons.

THE BEAUTY OF SAUG FESTIVAL

Saug Festival is celebrated th 28^th day of Junuary in Lemery, Iloilo. “Saug” (to haul) means to move object laid on a bamboo sledge (karosa) hiched on a draft animal like carabao or cow. As they celebrate their festival, they act the history of Lemery and how the situation of the place during 1900’s. It is also one way to thank their “Santo”, Sto. Niño whom they think believe that gives them good harvest and more blessings.

The municipality of Lemery intends three days to celebrate what they used to do every year. There are battles of the eight (8) different districts or “tribu” to be judged by the representatives coming from the different part of the Province of Iloilo and who ever wins, they are going to complete in “KASADYAHAN.” The festival also has different activities such as pageants, carnivals and such. They also have products to promote like earthenware products, woven banig, and Lemery’s native delicacies, which they use to gain money. Citizens there also enjoys the luxuries and beauty of the town to the fullest as the day of the events draws near.

And finally, for the ost spectacular vent of the festival, the coronation of the new king and queen of Lemery. Every year the municipality of Lemery commemorates this special event to show the Lemerenhon’s conviviality and believes towards this tradition. The coronation of the king and queen of the festival memorializes the native culture and values of the town Lemery.

So what are you waiting for? Why go to the other places when you can enjoy the true enjoyment and exhilaratingly fun experience here at the town of Lemery in Iloilo, the saug Festival.