Bago, Negros Occidental

Bago
Component City
City of Bago
From top, left to right: Public Plaza, Museum, Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, Tan Juan Monument, Kipot Twin Falls.

Flag
Seal

Nickname(s):

  • "Home of Historical and Natural Treasures"
  • "Boxing Capital of the Philippines"


Map of Negros Occidental with Bago highlighted
Bago

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 10°32′N 122°50′E / 10.533°N 122.833°E / 10.533; 122.833Coordinates: 10°32′N 122°50′E / 10.533°N 122.833°E / 10.533; 122.833
Country  Philippines
Region Negros Island Region (NIR/Region XVIII)
Province Negros Occidental
District 4th District of Negros Occidental
Founded June 24, 1575
Cityhood February 19, 1966
Barangays 24
Government[1]
 • Mayor Ramon D. Torres
 • Vice Mayor Nicholas M. Yulo
Area[2]
 • Total 401.20 km2 (154.90 sq mi)
Elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 163,045
 • Density 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)
  • Bagonhon
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6101
Dialing code (+64) 34
Income class 2nd class city
Website www.bagocity.gov.ph

Bago, officially City of Bago, is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines, some 21 kilometres (13 mi) south of the provincial capital Bacolod. With a total of 163,045 people based on the 2010 census, Bago City comprises the 6.63% of the population of the entire Province of Negros Occidental. It sets a land area of 389 square kilometres, which is 5% of the entire Negros Occidental and 10% of the total land area of component cities.

It is also tagged as the “Home of Historical and Natural Treasures”, owing to its contribution in the colourful history of the province of Negros Occidental and country, and its beautiful scenery and abundance in flora and fauna making it a good eco-tourism destination as well as the “Boxing Capital of the Philippines” title, owing to the great names it produced in boxing.[3]

Etymology

The community was named after a large tree called “Bágo” under which a native prince Mapagic died according to the writings of a Spanish historian, Diego de Povedano. Another version, however, noted that the name came from the shrub, bago-bago that grew abundantly in the riverbanks. Around the 17th and 18th Centuries, settlers from Molo, Iloilo formed a little village at the mouth of Bago River, presently a rich source of sand and gravel. The village grew into a large settlement prompting its elders to pass a petition for its conversion into a town or pueblo, which was granted in 1800.[4]

History

Spanish Era

Its history has its beginning on September 6, 1571 when the Spanish Adelantado, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, allotted the community to a Spaniard named Juan Gutierrez Cortes as his "encomienda". At that time, the community was still composed of small clusters of settlements along the banks of a big river which later became known as the Bago River. The "encomiendero", since then, administered to the spiritual and socio-economic needs of the natives in the settlements until June, 1578; however, a year before that, this community was placed under the evangelical visitations of Father Geronimo Marin, an Augustinian priest who had taken charge of the Christianization of the natives of Binalbagan since the year 1572. Father Matin, upon his arrival in the community, celebrated the feast of St. John the Baptist, who would later be accepted as the patron saint of the place. Following the traditions and practices of the Spanish missionaries and historians in recording the founding of a "pueblo" or town that usually coincides with the feast day of a saint and since the feast day of St. John the Baptist, falls on June 24 of each year, it follows thereof that Bago was founded on June 24, 1575. History only records 1575 as the year when Bago was founded so that the exact month and day can only be deduced from such traditional practices of the Spaniards. Manila, Cebu and Binalbagan also predicted the dates of their founding on the same historical situations; hence, the logical conclusion is that Bago City was officially founded on the month, day and year heretofore mentioned.[5]

As regards on how the community acquired its name, according to the manuscript of a Spanish historian, Diego Lope de Povedano, which is available in the library of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, the community was named after a large tree called "Bago" under which, a native prince by the name of Mapagic died.

Another historical version is that the place got its name from a shrub called "bago-bago" which was then growing luxuriantly along the river banks.

17th Century

From the year 1575 up to the close of the 16th century, no historical account was written about the community. Bago came into the historical scene again when, at early part of the 17th century, a group of settlers settled along the banks of Bago River. The arrival of these settlers merged into a sizable village capable of self- governance. In later years, the descendants of these settlers petitioned the Spanish authorities to declare their village a "pueblo" or town and to name it "Bago". Among the petitioners were Manuel Sitchon, Grenorio Varela, Paulino Torres, Jacinto Araneta, Clemente Celis, Mariano Gonzaga and Fernando Villanueva, whose forebears hailed from the town of Molo, lloilo. The said petition was finally granted by the Spanish authorities in the year 1800; thus, Bago officially attained the status of a "pueblo" or town in that same year.

19th Century

Between the years 1800 and 1898, the inhabitants of Bago are among those who suffered tremendously under the Spanish tyranny, injustice and oppression. This social condition finally led to a great revolt on November 5, 1898 when on this day, General Juan Anacleto Araneta rallied his people in the struggle for freedom. This historic event was chronicled in a historical marker found in the city public plaza of Bago which bears the following inscriptions:

Republica de Negros
“ In this plaza of Bago was proclaimed the

Republica de Negros by the Revolutionary

Forces led by General Juan Anacleto Araneta,

5 of November, 1898. Witnessed by Ananias

Diokno, representative of the Central

Revolutionary Government. This Republic

acknowledged the authority of the First

Philippine Republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.

 ”

Together with General Aniceto Lacson who led the forces in Talisay, he was able to force the capitulation of the Spanish garrison at Bacolod thus putting an end to the Spanish sovereignty in the province. Forthwith, a revolutionary government was established with General Juan A. Araneta as the Acting Governor. The Municipality of Bago, an election was held and Ramon del Castillo became the first elected municipal president who served in such capacity from the year 1898 up to the year 1900.

20th Century

In April, 1901, the Americans came and established a civil government in the province of Negros Occidental which completely abolished the revolutionary government of General Araneta. Bago as one of the towns that were placed under the control of the Americans; however, they allowed the municipality to be governed by Filipino officials.

When the Japanese Forces invaded the Philippines, the civil government of Bago was dissolved. The Japanese occupation forces tried to establish a provisional government but the local people refused to cooperate. When the joint American and Filipino forces including recognized guerrillas liberated the town on March 29, 1945, it was completely destroyed but rehabilitation work was immediately started.

Bago City was finally granted its cityhood on February 19, 1966, by virtue of Republic Act. No. 4382 with Hon. Manuel Y. Torres as the hold-over City Mayor until 1998.

Legal limitations on the number of successive terms disqualified Mayor Manuel Y. Torres in running again as City Mayor and in the 1998 local elections, his wife, Janet e.Torres run as candidate for Mayor and won. Mayor Janet served Bago City as City Mayor for three (3) consecutive terms.

Presently, the City of Bago is Under the leadership of Mayor Ramon D. Torres who is currently serving in his second term as the Local Chief Executive.[5]

Geography

Bago City has a total land area of 38, 941 hectares, 3,651.7150 ha. of which belongs to Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park. It is composed of 24 barangays, 16 of which are rural and 8 are urban. Based on NSO 2000 Census, urban barangays include Abuanan, Atipuluan, Caridad, Balingasag, Don Jorge Araneta, Ma-ao, Poblacion and Taloc. Brgy. Ilijan, however, with a distance of 30.50 km from the city proper is the farthest barangay. Brgy. Bacong has the biggest land area with 4,827.0350 hectares while Brgy Poblacion, as the smallest, has 311.5044 hectares. The city has 1,100 has-water area and 15 km coastline. Bago City is traversed by the widest river in the province, the Bago River, which starts from the northeast slope of Mt. Kanla-on and drains into Guimaras Strait.

It has moderately slopping to rolling lands. Slopes are raging from 0 to 3% comprises 22.911.42 has. 3 to 8% comprises 5,783.92 has. 8 to 18% comprises 4, 682.22 has, 18.1 to 30% comprises 1,514.84 has, 30 to 50% steep hills and rolling comprises 1,735.18 has. and a very steep and mountainous 50% above comprises 2,313.57 has.

Normally, the city is wet from May to December and dry from January to April with a temperature level of 24.40 degrees Celsius. Average rainfall recorded is 5.68 mm for 89 rainy days within a year while average humidity level is at 76.17%.

99.6% of the residents speak Hiligaynon while 0.4% speak other languages such as Tagalog, Cebuano, Aklanon and llocano. When it comes to religion, 82% are Roman Catholic, 2% are Convention of the Philippines Baptist Church, 6% are Aglipayan, 3% are Iglesia ni Kristo and the remaining are either Jehova’s Witnesses, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventists, Evangelicals, etc.[6]

Barangays

Bago City is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

  • Abuanan
  • Alianza
  • Atipuluan
  • Bacong-Montilla
  • Bagroy
  • Balingasag
  • Binubuhan
  • Busay
  • Calumangan
  • Caridad
  • Don Jorge L. Araneta
  • Dulao
  • Ilijan
  • Lag-Asan
  • Ma-ao
  • Mailum
  • Malingin
  • Napoles
  • Pacol
  • Poblacion
  • Sagasa
  • Tabunan
  • Taloc
  • Sampinit

Demographics

Population census of Bago
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 122,863—    
1995 132,338+1.40%
2000 141,721+1.48%
2007 159,933+1.68%
2010 163,045+0.70%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][7]

Local government

City Hall of Bago City

Ramón D. Torres was elected as Mayor of Bago City in 2007, replacing Janet E. Torres, whose husband served as mayor for almost 40 years.[8] The coliseum located in the heart of the city is named after him.

List of former mayors of Bago

The following were the succeeding municipal presidents and mayors of Bago until the outbreak of the Second World War on December 7, 1941:

  • Hon. Eustracio Torres
 1901-1903 (elected)
  • Hon. Sofronio Yulo
 1904-1906 (elected)
  • Hon. Mariano Villanueva
 1906-1907 (appointed)
  • Hon. Rufino Advincula
 1907-1908 (elected)
  • Hon. Mariano Villanueva
 1908-1909 (appointed)
  • Hon. Carlos Dreyfus
 1910-1912 (elected)
  • Hon. Mariano Araneta
 1912-1918 (elected)
  • Hon. Angel Salas
 1919-1921 (elected)
  • Hon. Aguedo Gonzaga, Sr.
 1922-1929 (elected)
  • Hon. Hilario D. Yulo
 1930-1932 (elected)
  • Hon. Aguedo Gonzaga, Sr.
 1933-1935 (elected)
  • Hon. Luis Matti
 1936-1941 (elected)

The leadership since World War II:

  • Hon. Basilio Lopez
 1945-1946 (appointed)
  • Hon. Humberto V. Javellana
 1946 (appointed)
  • Hon. Carlos Dreyfus
 1947 (appointed)
  • Hon. Jose T. Yulo
 1947 (appointed)
  • Hon. Luis Matti
 1948-1951 (elected)
  • Hon. Carlos Dreyfus
 1951-1955 (elected)
  • Hon.Teodoro A. Araneta
 1956-1959 (elected)
  • Hon. Manuel Y. Torres
 1959-1986 (elected)
  • Hon. Enrique J. Araneta
 1986-1987 (appointed OIC Mayor)
  • Hon. Roberto Matti
 Dec. 1, 1987 -Jan. 31, 1988 (appointed OIC Mayor)
  • Hon. Rosemary Caunca
 Feb 1, 1988 (appointed OIC Mayor)
  • Hon. Manuel Y. Torres
 Feb 2, 1988-1998 (elected)
  • Hon. Janet E. Torres
 1998-2007 (elected)
  • Hon. Ramon D. Torres
 2007–present (elected)

Notable natives or residents

References

  1. ↑ "Cities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Province: Negros Occidental". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.bagocity.gov.ph/about-bago-city/
  5. 1 2 "The Birth of a City… | City of Bago". www.bagocity.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  6. ↑ "Geographical Features | City of Bago". www.bagocity.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  7. ↑ "Province of Negros Occidental". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "The Birth of a City…". About Bago City. City of Bago. Retrieved 7 March 2013.

Sources

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bago (Philippines).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bago, Negros Occidental.
 Guimaras Strait Bacolod / Murcia San Carlos
  Bago  
Pulupandan Valladolid / La Carlota Canlaon, Negros Oriental
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