CABATUAN lies at the heart of the island of Panay.  It is some 24 kilometers from Iloilo City to which it is connected with a national highway that passes through the towns of Pavia and Sta. Barbara.  Four other national raods connect Cabatuan with its neighboring towns; to Alimodian in the south, to Maasin in the west, to New Lucena in the north-east, and to Janiuay in the north where the highway continues northward to Lambunao and Calinog and then to Tapaz, Capiz.

Available historical records say that Cabatuan was founded in 1732.  The town’s founding in 1732 is further corroborated by a huge cross-made of hard thick “murawon” (molave) the base of which-still stands on Pamul-ogan Hill.  On the cross was carved “1732”.  Although what remains of the Cross now is only its base, old residents of the town recall that the Cross was more than four meters high, lording it over Tigum River and the plains towards the town.  It is presumed that the early founding Spaniards, following their procedure of establishing a new town by first dedicating the place to Christ, had made the Cross and carved the date on it.

Cabatuan was believed originally planned by Tono, its conceded tribal leader, together with two other leaders Gomoc and Amihan.  The site of the early settlement was on a level tract of land  near the northern bank of the Tigum River where the poblacion is now located.

In 1733, Cabatuan was officially organized upon the installation of Rev. Fr. Antonio Lopez as its first priest and Tono as its first “gobernadorcillo”.

The town hall and the Roman Catholic Church were simultaneously built.  The town was placed by the priest under the spiritual protection of Saint Nicolas de Tolentino whom Cabatuananons venerate as their Patron Saint whose feast is celebrated on September 10 every year.

HOW CABATUAN GOT ITS NAME

The name CABATUAN is suggestive of the character of its people and the nature of the locality.  It may be derived from the Hiligaynon word “kabatuhan,” meaning full of stones or “bato”; from “batuan”, meaning to resist, defy, oppose, fight, or challenge.  Some old folks believed that the name was derived from “batuan”, a tree whose sour fruits are used in seasoning vegetables.

An interesting version of how Cabatuan was named has been generally accepted.  There was a creek running right through the heart of the poblacion.  It was considered unique because its water flowed from the east to the west, “nagabatu”, in direct contrast to the usual course of creeks and rivers in town.  Along the bed of the creek were plenty of stones and along the banks and their vicinity were big “batuan” trees growing among clusters of stones.  When the Spaniards came to settle in town, the natives headed by Tono and other leaders suggested that the town be named CABATUAN.