Bontoc, Southern Leyte

Bontoc
Municipality
Municipality of Bontoc

Seal

Map of Southern Leyte with Bontoc highlighted
Bontoc
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°21′N 124°58′E / 10.35°N 124.97°E / 10.35; 124.97Coordinates: 10°21′N 124°58′E / 10.35°N 124.97°E / 10.35; 124.97
Country  Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province Southern Leyte
District Lone District
Founded June 15, 1950
Barangays 40 (see Barangays)
Government[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
  Mayor Matias Mervyn Cretecio Ruales
  Vice Mayor Pedro Valdez Fustanes Jr.
  Electorate 17,856 voters (2016)
Area[2]
  Total 102.10 km2 (39.42 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
  Total 28,905
  Density 280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 6604
PSGC 086402000
IDD:area code +63(0)53
Climate type Tropical rainforest climate
Income class 4th municipal income class
Revenue (₱) 82,029,763.94 (2016)
Native languages Boholano dialect
Cebuano
Tagalog

Bontoc, officially the Municipality of Bontoc, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 28,905 people.[3]

The town is home to the Bontoc Campus of the Southern Leyte State University, which offers agricultural and industrial courses.

The town celebrates their fiesta in honor of the Holy Child Jesus. The Ulang Festival, held annually on January 15, is celebrated by colorful participants dancing in honor of the icon of the Señor Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). Some devotees to the Señor Santo Niño said that it can performed miracles that can heal sickness of those who touches the said icon.

Geography

The town is situated on a long stretch of rich alluvial plain, which considered as the greatest farming region in the entire Sogod Bay District, and is drained by the Salog and Divisoria Rivers. Because of its rich soil, there is much rice farming. The town is also the producer of abaca, copra and tobacco in the Bay District.

Barangays

Bontoc is politically subdivided into 40 barangays.

  • Anahao
  • Banahao
  • Baugo
  • Beniton
  • Buenavista
  • Bunga
  • Casao
  • Catmon
  • Catoogan
  • Cawayanan
  • Dao
  • Divisoria
  • Esperanza
  • Guinsangaan
  • Hibagwan
  • Hilaan
  • Himakilo
  • Hitawos
  • Lanao
  • Lawgawan
  • Mahayahay
  • Malbago
  • Mauylab
  • Olisihan
  • Paku
  • Pamahawan
  • Pamigsian
  • Pangi
  • Poblacion
  • Pong-on
  • Sampongon
  • San Ramon
  • San Vicente
  • Santa Cruz
  • Santo Niño
  • Taa
  • Talisay
  • Taytagan
  • Tuburan
  • Union

History

The name “Bontoc” is derived from an old creek called Bontoc creek near the present Roman Catholic Cemetery where old “pueblo” called Daan Lungsod existed during the early Spanish regime.

Before the coming of the Spaniards, Bontoc was a wilderness where few natives lived and wild animals roamed. When the Spaniards came, they found scattered warring tribes of primitive Malays who settled in prosperous villages near the mouth and along the fertile plains of the historic Salog river basin. They then successfully subjugated these warring tribes and immigrants and founded a cluster of villages which later on formed the nucleus of the Barrio of Bontoc.

As far as history could recall the most popular among the ancient warring chiefs, was Mariano Barcelon who was nicknamed as “Tahug”. He was acclaimed to be the bravest of the braves. His name was a terror to the Moro pirates that swarmed Philippine waters during the 16th century.

During the Spanish time up to the early part of the American regime, Bontoc was ruled by a succession of native “Cabezas de barangay”, a unit government organization during that time. Bontoc was at that time a tributary “pueblo” belonging to the old town of Libagon which governed the people for many years both in civil and religious matter by a line of “capitanes or gobernadocillos.

The cabezas de barangay who governed this little pueblo also earned for themselves the honor of being called “capitan” by their own people. The church wielded tremendous power at that time in the affairs of the government. Any person who offends the clergy or disobeys religious order is severely punished.

Among the well-known capitanes who controlled the reins of the local administration of this barrio were: Hilario Barcelon, Manuel Leyes, Romualdo Tubia, Florentino Flores, Felipe Aguilar and the last well-known cabeza or capitan was Gerardo Faelnar popularly known among the people as Capitan Dadoy whose administration lasted up to the early days of American occupation.

Shortly after the coming of the Americans, Bontoc became a unit barrio of Sogod.

During the Japanese occupation, the town served as the seat of resistance movement against the Japanese with its general headquarters in sitio Mamingaw, Barangay Banahaw and under the command of Colonel Ruperto K. Kangleon. In one notable raid, an entire truckload of Japanese soldiers on patrol was completely annihilated at Sitio Trece, Barangay Santo Niño. A small monument stands in front of Bontoc motor pool at Sitio Trece commemorates this event.

On June 15, 1950, it became a regular municipality by the operative provisions of Republic Act No. 522.

Demographics

Population census of Bontoc
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 15,835    
1970 17,325+0.90%
1975 20,452+3.38%
1980 22,655+2.07%
1990 24,818+0.92%
1995 24,047−0.59%
2000 27,592+2.99%
2007 28,535+0.46%
2010 28,079−0.58%
2015 28,905+0.55%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [4] [5] [6]

References

  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Southern Leyte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  5. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  6. "Province of Southern Leyte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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