Tucked in the center of Aklan Province, the Municipality of Lezo is evidence of tenacity and rich past. Though Lezo is the smallest of Aklan’s 17 towns, her narrative is far from small. From its modest beginnings as a flood-resistant community to its hard-earned independence, this town’s path weaves together cultural pride, colonial influences, and the resiliency of its people.
Etymology and Early Roots
Lezo was a little barrio known as Guicod long before it became a municipality; the name derives from the local term “Guicab,” meaning a creek full with eels. Now behind Lezo Elementary School, this area was also known as “Tierra Alta,” or “High Land,” because of its elevation topography, which kept it free from catastrophic floods that dogged the area in the early 1800s. Early colonists found this natural advantage to be both safe and strategic.
Lezo’s independence began to germinate in 1865 when local leaders Don Juan Legaspi and Benedicta Geronimo assembled powerful citizens to ask Spanish officials to separate Kalibo. Their efforts paid off when the Spanish government granted the request and called the new town “Lezo,” in honor of a brave naval commander on hand during discussions. A ordinance formally established it on March 21, 1865; on July 6 of that year, Lezo became a separate municipality. Under changing colonial governments, first commander Don Anacleto Ramos adopted the title Capitan Basal, which later changed to Captain Municipal and then Presidente Municipal.
Colonial Challenges and Changing Alliances
Early years for Lezo were turbulent. The village developed as a setting for reconciliation during the Philippine-American War. A historic peace pact was made between American soldiers under Captain Charles Gould Morton and Filipino insurgents under General Ananias Diokno on September 26, 1900. Mediated by Lezo native Simeon Mobo Reyes, this accord represented a precarious unity with representatives from all Aklan taking witness.
Under American control, Lezo saw administrative instability. Under military-appointed Felix Kimpo, first teamed with Kalibo and Numancia, it struggled financially. To save money, the Philippine Commission’s Act No. 720 dissolved Lezo’s independence and remerged it back into Kalibo. Still, there was grassroots pride that survived. Executive Order No. 58 restored Lezo’s position on July 31, 1909, therefore briefly establishing Lezo as the seat of authority over Numancia. Once Numancia became well-known, this arrangement changed in 1920 and Lezo was once more reduced to a barrio.
The struggle for permanence
Lezo’s fortitude came most clearly in the 20th century. President Manuel L. Quezon at last granted its permanent freedom on August 28, 1941, Executive Order No. 364 following decades of requests. However, World War II postponed its official start until January 1, 1945, when guerilla commander Captain Prudencio Fernandez led a quiet inauguration amid military anarchy.
The only lawyer in the town, Atty. Moises F. Morado, was chosen as first mayor following conflict. Under his direction, Lezo entered a new age, guided toward recovery, and prepared the foundation for its modern character.
Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Identity
Lezo’s past is carved on its monuments and customs today. Still a source of pride for the community, the original Tierra Alta site represents their ongoing strength. Though small, annual events recognize its founding by combining Catholic fests with honors to local heroes like Legaspi and Geronimo.
Although agriculture—especially rice and coconut farming—anchors its economy, Lezo’s clos proximity to Kalibo (Aklan’s capital) has encouraged slow development. The small town encourages close-knit communities where generations of people carry on oral tales of Spanish-era hardships and military resistance.
Lezo Today: Not small but rather powerful
Lezo, with a population hovering about 15,000, is a peaceful but culturally active area of Aklan. Living museums are its streets, which honor historical individuals and sites like the Lezo Elementary School (built above the legendary Guicod cavern). From undulating farms to secret creeks previously teeming with eels, recent initiatives to encourage ecotourism emphasize their untouched settings.
Lezo’s narrative reminds us that depth of one’s roots defines greatness rather than stature. This municipality provides a glimpse into Aklan’s past—a past molded by bravery, adaptation, and an unbroken feeling of community—for both visitors and locals.