Abuyog, Leyte

Abuyog
Municipality
Municipality of Abuyog
Downtown area
Nickname(s): Home of the Buyogan Festival
Map of Leyte with Abuyog highlighted
Abuyog Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°44′N 125°01′E / 10.73°N 125.02°E / 10.73; 125.02Coordinates: 10°44′N 125°01′E / 10.73°N 125.02°E / 10.73; 125.02
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province	Leyte
District	5th district of Leyte
Barangays	63 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Lemuel Gin Traya
• Vice Mayor	Octavio Traya Jr.
• Electorate	32,835 voters (2016)
Area [2]
• Total	688.25 km2 (265.73 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	59,571
• Density	87/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Abuyognon
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6510
PSGC	083701000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)53
Climate type	Tropical rainforest climate
Income class	1st municipal income class
Revenue (₱)	213,700,662.57 (2016)
Native languages	Waray Tagalog
Website	abuyogleyte.gov.ph

Abuyog, officially the Municipality of Abuyog, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 59,571 people.^[3]

Facing Leyte Gulf out into the Philippine Sea, it is the largest town of the island of Leyte in terms of land area. It is bordered to the north by Javier, to the east by Mahaplag and Baybay City and to the south by Silago in Southern Leyte.

Abuyog got its name when Spanish sailors came ashore in an early settlement at the mouth of the Abuyog River to replenish their supplies. Swarms of bees were all over the shore. The Spaniards asked the natives "¿Cómo se llama el pueblo?", not knowing that the Spaniards asked for the town's name, the natives answered "Buyog". Repeating after the natives, the sailors muttered, "Ah! Buyog". Eventually the town came to be known as "Abuyog" to which some Spanish chroniclers often used in reference to the whole island of Leyte. But Abuyog in the early annals, though grown prosperous, remained obscure because of the absence of a powerful chieftain. It was Datu Bangcao, who had his seat of government in Carigara, who ruled Abuyog.

People mostly from Samar migrated to Abuyog because of the many opportunities the immigrants got from its rich soil. The language of this town which acquired the name "melting pot" became Waray-Waray language from the Samar immigrants.

Barangays

Abuyog is politically subdivided into 63 barangays.

History

In 1588, presumably on account of mal-administration of the incumbent encomendero, the inhabitants revolted. Capitan Juan Esguerra had to send a punitive force to chastise the assassins of the encomendero. In 1613, Sanguiles and Caragas plundered and marauded the town.

In 1655 the Jesuits made Abuyog their second post, with Dagami as the center. The year 1716 saw the founding of the town and parish under the patronage of St. Francis Xavier, the apostle of the Indies. The Augustinians took over in 1768 and continued the work of Frs. Jose Herrera and Cipriano Barbasan. The people of this era, according to Fr. Augustin Maria de Castro, were very rich though extremely belligerent; the continually defied the Moros. In 1843 the town was given to the Franciscan Order with Fr. Santiago Malonda as the first Franciscan parish priest. A horse path was opened between Abuyog and Dulag in 1851.

The early captains were Galza, Foran, Nicolas Mandia, Faustino Remanes, Prudencio Remanes, Felipe Costin, Ciriaco Costin, Eulalio Brillo, and Vicente Tiaoson. Eulalio Brillo became president in 1896-1899 while Nazario Tupa took office in 1900. Eugenio Villote finished Tupa's term.

The period 1901 to 1906 was notable for the notorious pulahanes or bolero attacks, the most infamous leader of which was Faustino Ablen. The municipal building was razed. Ex-Capitan Eugenio Villote, Pedro Gonazaga, and two other policemen were killed in the encounter.

In the electoral division made by the Philippine Assembly, Abuyog was placed in the third district of Leyte. During the Commonwealth regime, Abuyog was transferred to the fourth district. During these periods, the town prospered under the administration of Arturo Brillo, Vicente Brillante, Basilio Adolfo (two terms), Antero Brillo and Ricardo Collantes (three terms). In 1940, Pedro Gallego was elected mayor and served until July 3, 1946, Mayor Pedro Remanes Gallego was the only mayor in Leyte that did not surrender to the Japanese forces . On July 4, 1946, Catalino Landia was appointed mayor. He was re-elected for three terms.

Abuyog's progress took greater strides with the inauguration of the first passenger bus service in 1925. In 1936, the vice-president Sergio Osmeña inaugurated the Baybay-Abuyog road, thus linking for the first time, by good road, the eastern and western coasts of Leyte.

At the outbreak of World War II, Abuyog became a Japanese occupied area. But on October 13, 1942, the Japanese abandoned the town due to guerrilla pressure. They came back on November 26, 1943, much stronger this time, yet they suffered heavy losses in the hands of the guerrillas.

On July 14, 1944, the submarine "Nautilus" landed in Barangay San Roque to unload 72 tons of much-needed weapons and ammunition, food and propaganda materials for Leyte and Samar guerrillas. When the American Armada was sighted off Leyte Gulf, the Japanese forces deserted the town of Abuyog before the American landing and entered to the Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary military units. After liberation, elementary school education was resumed on December 4, 1944, under the supervision of the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU). From then on, Abuyog's development went on steadily under the consistent leadership of Mayor Catalino T. Landia.

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Abuyog, Leyte, was 59,571 people,^[3] with a density of 87 inhabitants per square kilometre or 230 inhabitants per square mile.

Daughter towns

Javier used to be Barangay Bugho, MacArthur used to be Barangay Taraguna and Mahaplag used to be Barangay Mahaplag.

Places of interest

St. Francis Xavier Parish Church

• The Church of St. Francis Xavier was first built with nipa, wood and bamboo in 1718 by the Jesuits. Fr. José Herrera and Cipriano Barbasan restored the church and convent, as well as, the school and Casa Real. The Augustinians took over the church’s supervision in 1768 after it was rebuilt. The church’s design was changed in 1781 to conform with the architecture of Roman Renaissance. A more durable church and convent of masonry was later built, with a galvanized iron roof and wooden floor. In 1965, the church was renovated when an extension was built at the center of the church through the effort of Msgr. Luis D. Caintic who also facilitated in the construction of the new bell tower.
• Kuapnit Balinsasayao National Park, along the Mahaplag-Baybay Rd., is a 364-hectare campsite located between Abuyog and Baybay. It offers a wide panorama of primeval forests, rolling hills with many attractive picnic spots, caves and a view of Mt. Lobi.
• The 7-m. high, 10-tiered Malaguicay Falls, in Brgy. Malaguicay, has a 3-m. deep pool. From Tab-ok Port, take a 20-min. motorized boat ride to Brgy. Malaguicay along the Higasaan River and then a 20-min. hike to the waterfalls.
• Caves are found in Brgys. Balocawehay (along the highway), Nebga (Higasaan) and Tib-o (Dagat Area).
• Waterfalls are located in Brgys. Malaguicay, Balinsasayao, Katipunan and Nebga.
• The 0.5-hectare Cagbolo Hot Spring (Brgy. Cagbolo)
• Danghol Hill (Brgy. San Isidro)
• Layog River (Brgy.Balinsasayao)
• Lake Bito The main source of Leyte Metropolitan Water Service, it covers almost all municipalities in Leyte
• Cold Spring (Castanas Spring Resort) along the Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Balinsasayao

Education

• Abuyog Community College
• Visayas Christian Institute of Technology Inc.

Secondary

Primary

• Maitum Elementary School
• Capili an Elementary School
• Odiongan Elementary School
• Katipunan Elementary School

Healthcare

• Abuyog District Hospital
• Abuyog Rural Health Unit
• Balocawehay Rural Health Unit

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abuyog, Leyte.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Abuyog.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System