Basic Facts - Catanduanes

BRIEF HISTORY


The PROVINCE OF CATANDUANES, (opposite the Bicol Region), is bounded by the Maqueda Channel on th the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and the Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay on the south.

The Island, with a land area of 1,511.5 square kilometers and a population of 215,356 in 2000, is composed of 11 towns, with Virac as the capital. Its fertile soil was made richer by the volcanic ashes form the distant Mayon Volcano.

Catanduanes is frequently visited by storms. Showever, the vessel tha visits its ports are provided with safe enchorage by the bays and coves of Kalapalan, Giogmoto, Soboc, and Cabugao.

The important industries of the province are fishing, and cattle rising. In Pandan, "buri" hats and mats, roof shingles, and alcohol are manufactured for local consumption.

The province, formerly known as "Catanduan," "Catandognan," and finally, "Catanduanes," derived its name from the "tando" trees which then abound in the Island.

In 1573, Juan de Saceldo explored Catanduanes. Later, on January 6, 1576, Fr. Diego de herrera with nine Augustinians sailed from Acapulco to the Philippines aboard the galleon, "Espiritu Santo."

Although it was reported that the galleon was shipwrecked near the coast of Catanduanes in April 1576, the others claimed that the disaster was caused by bad weather and all the crewmembers perished. Some said that the survivors were either killed by natives or made servants of a certain "Datu" of the island.

Catanduanes was once a part of Ibalon, now Albay. The ecclesiastical mission in the province was controlled by Nueva Caceres. However, in 1582, it was allotted to four "encomendoeros.

In 1663, Fr. Francisco Colin, SJ. described the inhabitants as noted shipbuilders, without using nails or futtock timbers.

In 1755, the Muslims overran the island, defeated the "alcalde mayor," and pillaged and burned the towns including important ecclesiastical and municipal records.

During the Philippine Revolution, the Spaniards left Catanduanes on a motorboat named Josefa on September 18, 1898, before the arrival of the first Philippine revolutionary troops under Major Estanislao Legazpi.

When the Philippine-American war broke out, Brigadier General William A. Kobbe occupied Virac on January 24, 1900.

The island was governed by Japanese Imperial Forces after they occupied Legazpi in 1941. After the liberation of Bicol region in 1945, including Catanduanes, the United States Armed Forces maintained a military base in Panay island.

On September 26, 1945, Commonwealth Act. No. 687, Catanduanes (a subprovince of Albay) became a separate and independent province. Under Republic Act No. 159, dated June 26, 1947, the former municipality of Caramoan was recreated out of the Municipality of Pandan; under R.A. No. 491, dated June 12, 1950, the Municipality of Bagamanoc was also created.

In the town of Bato, Msgr. Teotimo Pacis, Bishop of Legazpi, declared the Holy Cross of Batalay as a Diocesan Shrine on April 1, 1973. The cross was said to be the place by Geronimo Galves at the burial site of Fr. Herrera in 1576.

GEOGRAPHY


Catanduanes is an island province. It lies beyond Maquenda Channel and Lagonoy Gulf off the coast of Souther Luzon. Other than the main island there are a number of smaller islands of the northeast coast. All of these comprise the white islands of the province.

Among these islands, the larges and economically important are the following islands: Panay, Palumbanes, Parongpong and Calbagio. On the northern tip of the island of Panay is a former base of the USE Coast Guard Signal Station.


POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS


Virac is the capital town of the island province. It is composed of eleven (11) municipalities. They are Bagamanoc, Baras, Caramoan, Pandan, Panganiban, San Andres, San Miguel, Viga and its capital town, Virac.

Catanduanes belongs to only one legislative district.

CLIMATE

Catanduanes geographical position has a serious drawback to the economic development of the whole province. It lies completely open and unprotected within the typhoon belt and facing directly the wide Pacific Ocean. Very often, it is overly exposed to off and on seasonal tropical storms which frequently visit the area every year.

Catanduanes belongs to the second type of climate. It has no dry season with a very pronounce maximum rainfall from November to January.

POPULATION

The 2000 Census of Population shows 215,356 inhabitants.