Miagao is best known for its beautiful fortress-church (declared as a World Heritage Site in 1973) built more than 200 years ago. It is also known for being the seat of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas,the symbol of academic excellence and growth in the region, and the hometown of many successful professionals and overseas Filipino workers , whose elegant mansions characterize the Miagao coastline and inland areas. Miag-ao is a must see when visiting the city and province of Iloilo.
How it derived its name has several versions. Firstly, it was believed that the word Miagao came from the name of a plant that grew abundantly in the place called "Miagos". Secondly, it was derived from the name of an old Negrito called Miyagaw who when asked of the name of the place by the Spaniards, gave his name instead. The Spaniards mistook with the answer as the response to their query. There is a third version, which relates that the name Miagao came from the love story of two young lovers Maya and Gao.
[Tourism] Miagao in Focus
- Miagao Church
- constructed more than two hundred years ago in the year 1797, the Miagao Church stands as a living legacy of the culture and way of life of the people of Miagao centuries ago, anchored in a strong foundation of Christian faith.
- Salakayan Festival - First festival born outside of the City of
- Sinuhutan Cave
- A magnificent cave located in Barangay Onop, an upland barangay in the municipality.
- Tinagong Dagat
- A wonderful and mysterious lake located at the peak of the hill.
- Kuta Watch Stone
- A watchtower constructed with the same material as of the Miagao Roman Catholic Church located at Barangay Baybay Norte, Poblacion.
- Old Taytay Boni Stone Bridge
- Constructed with the same material as of the Miagao Roman Catholic Church located at Barangay Igtuba.
- Bugsukan Cave
- Accessible and unspoiled waterfalls with fresh and clear running water located in Barangay Dalije.
- It is situated 40 kilometers Southwest of Iloilo City and 58 kilometers from San Jose, the capital town of Antique. Overlooking the island of Negroes towards South China Sea, Miag-ao is bounded by the towns of Igbaras to the Northeast, by Guimbal to the East, by San Joaquin to the West and by Sibalom, Antique to the Northwest.
- Located at the First Congressional District of Iloilo
- Miagao is politically subdivided into 119 barangays.
- Land Area - 15,722 hectares or 157.22 square kilometers
- Land Use
- Agriculture - 52.3%
- Built-up / mixed-used - 21.3%
- Forest Land - 20.3%
- Open Grassland - 6.1%
- Population - 57,092 (2000 Census)
- Households - 10,898
- Dominant Religion - Roman Catholic (90%)
- Dialect - Kiniray-a, Hiligaynon
- Miagao became an independent Municipality in 1716. It used to be a part or arrabal of four (4) different towns. Record shows that before Miagao became a town, it was an arrabal of Oton until 1580; of Tigbauan until 1952; of Suaraga or Suaragan (now San Joaquin) until 1703; and of Guimbal until 1716 when it became an independent town. It was until 1731, however, when Miagao had its own head. (Full Version)
- Income Classification - 3rd Class
- Income - P51 M (FY2003)
- Agriculture
- Miag-ao is basically an agricultural town with rice production as the primary crop. Yellow and White corn are considered as secondary crops while mongo, peanuts, bulbs, onions, tomatoes, eggplants, and root crops are also produced as alternate crops.
- Fishery - Bangus and other species fry, varied speciesof adult fishes.
- Livestock - Cattles, Carabaos, Hogs and Swines, Goats and Poultry.
- Major Industries
- Aside from agriculture, many are also engaged in salt making, bamboo craft, pottery making, loom weaving, candy making, fish preservation, peanut products processing and fishing.
- Literacy Rate - 96%
- University - 1
- University of the Philippines in the Visayas [UPV] Miagao Campus
- The Miagao campus of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) lies on a sprawling 12 km² of gentle sloping hills. This is the main campus of UPV and includes the UP College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences which focuses on aquaculture, fish processing, natural products development, and post-harvest/food science majors. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Thailand and Cambodia sent exchange students to the school to study fish and rice production, and after graduating returned home where they began out-producing and out-exporting the Philippines in these commodities.
- College- 1
- Western Visayas College of Science and Technology Miagao Campus
- High School
- Public – 5
- Kirayan National High School ,WVCST Miagao Campus/SIPC Laboratory High School, Alejandro Firmeza Memorial National High School, Palaca-Damilisan National High School, San Rafael National High School and Miagao National High School [MNHS]
- Private – 1
- St. Louise de Marillac School of Miagao
- Elementary
- Private - 1
- Public - 30
- Pre-Elementary
- Private - 2
- Public -22