The First-Class town of Pototan north of Iloilo is located 30 kilometers or an hour ride from Iloilo City. It is bounded in the north and northeast by the municipality of Dingle; in the east by Barotac Nuevo; south by New Lucena; west by Mina and northwest by Badiangan. It has a total land area measuring 9,710 hectares and politically subdivided into 50 barangays.

Pototan is populated by 75, 070 (2015 Census on Population) Pototanons. Market day is every Tuesdays and Fridays. It annually celebrates its Religious Fiesta every 8th of May in honour of St, Joseph.

One can visit Pototan via jeepney, van or bus at the New Ceres Terminal in Barangay Camalig, Jaro, Iloilo City

HISTORY

Native immigrants first settled in a barangay named Naslo. The area had a luxuriant growth of trees called Putat (Barringtonia racemosa) of which the place was subsequently named Kaputatan or the place of many putat trees. However, due to its hilly terrain and the difficulty of securing a water source, the settlers decided to move nearer to the bank of the Suage River which developed into the town called Pototan.

In the 16th century, the arrival of the Chinese traders in the area was very beneficial as the natives learned the techniques of trade and commerce that continued until the middle part of the 17th century. The arrival of the Sopanish in the 16th century influenced ythe socio-economic and political life of the natives as they were eventually Christianized. It was also at this time when the name Kaputatan was Hispanized to Pototan by the colonizers.

FESTIVAL

IWAG FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS transforms Pototan into a spectacular wonderland of lights every December 16th, its opening. Its magnificent drive-through Christmas Light Show is bigger and better. Every year, the town features more light displays with sparkling lights professionally done to cover its entire plaza complex. The opening day kicks off with the Street Dancing Competition at 1 p.m. The celebration is a must-see holiday attraction for the entire family.

It was in 1997 when a group of Pototanons (IWAG) organized themselves and had since become a strong and dedicated partner of its Municipal Government in the preparation and the celebration of lights every December. Since then, the celebration of the Christmas Festival of Lights has become a tradition not only of the people of Pototan but the entire Ilonggo community that they look forward to each year. It was declared by the Department of Tourism, Regional Office as the “Christmas Capital of Western Visayas.