Football Capital of the Philippines

Barotac Nuevo: “Football Capital of the Philippines.”

Football is the most preferred sport of the town, contrast to other places in the country who would always prefer basketball. Standing its title, International Football Competitions are also held in this small town. Kleiff Ian Pasquin, a member of the 2005 Philippine Football Team, a true Barotacnon narrated his experience in playing outside the country. He and his colleagues first played in Cambodia. He was the only Barotacnon who was chosen to play. In his experience in their training in Ateneo de Manila, “Majority of their players there are Barotacnons. Coach even said that in other schools, there were also a lot of Ilonggo football players,” he stated.

The football field is situated just beside the plaza and it is visited by a lot of football enthusiasts. The Philippines once attempted to get the title of the Guinness Longest Football Game Played and it was held in Barotac Nuevo. The players were all from there. They played straight for two days breaking Australia’s record.

The town is conducting trainings for children, boys and girls who are interested in the said sport. They are supporting these youth who are soon to be the next generation who will continue the legacy of the town in the sports who gave it so much fame and prominence.

(Towns Background)
Barotac Nuevo is a third-class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It is approximately 75minutes jeepney trip from the City of Iloilo. The town proper is a junction to the town of Pototan, Anilao, Dingle, and Dumanggas. It is composed of 29 Baranggays and the primary spoken language here is Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a.

Just like any other towns, Barotac Nuevo has its own history. The word Barotac is from a Spanish word baro which means mud as well as the last syllable tac, from lutac. The second word Nuevo is from the word new. According to its natives, there was once a horse called Tamasak, a pure white stallion known for its strength, in the stead of one Don Simon, and who was offered much if he could sell it to Manuel Gonzales de Aguilar, the Governor General of the country at that time. Don Simon eventually sold Tamasak. But not for money, but for title, and separation from the town of Dumangas, which it was just a smaller section thereof. The barrio once known as Mulatac now stands the town of Barotac Nuevo.

References: www.wikipedia.com