The History of Pototan

 This Seal symbolizes the vital life blood of the Municipality of Pototan which are Agriculture, represented by a man behind the plough, Industry, by the wheels of progress, and Educational Enlightenment, by the knot that binds the Citizenry towards Unity and Progress.

Christmas Tree

 Pototan is a 1st class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It is a large town composed of 50 barangays. It is known as the "RICE GRANARY OF WESTERN VISAYAS" and also, the "CRISTMAS CAPITAL OF WESTERN VISAYAS". 

Lagoon

The first people of Pototan were the family of Datu Ramon, grandson of Datu Puti, a Malay from the town of Dumangas. They first settled at Barangay Naslo, which was formerly the Poblacion. In that place was found a luxuriant growth of trees called "putat", after which the place was subsequently called "Kaputatan" (Place of many Putat trees). However, due to its hilly terrain and the arduousness of securing their water supply, they decided to move nearer the bank of the Suage River, which turned later into a flourishing place; now called Pototan.

In the middle of the 16th century, the Chinese traders arrived in Pototan. Their arrival gave birth to a new horizon. The natives learned the techniques of trade and commerce, which continued to flourish until the middle part of the 17th century.




The arrival of the Spaniards in 1593 sparked new changes in the socio-economic and political life of the natives. It was the start of a new era, the natives were converted to Catholicism through the efforts of Augustinian Friars. The settlement was subsequently made into a Parish. Education, though at the onset only for the privileged few, was introduced. The name "Kaputatan", which the Spanish have difficulty pronouncing, was changed to "Pototan".

Under the Americans, the natives were granted the freedom of speech and worship. Education was liberalized; more and better roads and bridges were constructed. Improvements were also noticed in the economic, social and cultural life of the people.

WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY in Pototan was established during the post- world war period, with refresher classes under the administration of the Iloilo High School in 1945. It was ubsequently renamed from Pototan Regional High School, to Iloilo Provincial High School in 1946 and Pototan High School from 1947-1957.