Larena

Larena
Municipality
Larena Town Hall
Seal
Map of Siquijor with Larena highlighted
Larena Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: PH 9°15′N 123°36′E / 9.25°N 123.6°ECoordinates: PH 9°15′N 123°36′E / 9.25°N 123.6°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province	Siquijor
District	Lone district of Siquijor
Barangay	23 (see § Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Dean S. Villa (LP)
• Vice mayor	Gold Calibo
• Town Council	Members Jucito Gom-os Haidee Lucero Clyde Omictin Leonardo Lingcay Cle Paglinawan Dindo Larat Danilo Achay Bartolome Monte Commission on Elections
Area [2]
• Total	49.81 km^2 (19.23 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)[3]
• Total	12,931
• Density	260/km^2 (670/sq mi)
• Voter  (2013) [4]	9,979
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6226
IDD : area code	+63 (0)35
Income class	5th class
PSGC	076102000

Larena is a fifth income class municipality in the province of Siquijor, Philippines and serves as its provincial capital. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 12,931.^[3] In the 2013 election, it had 9,979 registered voters.^[4]

Larena's port is the gateway to and largest port on Siquijor Island. It can accommodate ships up to 1000 tons and is serviced by five shipping companies, providing passenger and cargo service to Cebu City, Tagbilaran in Bohol, Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, and Plaridel, Misamis Occidental.^[5]

Barangays

Larena comprises 23 barangays:

• Bagacay
• Balolang
• Basac
• Bintangan
• Bontod
• Cabulihan
• Calunasan
• Candigum
• Cang-alias
• Cang-apa
• Cangbagsa
• Cangmalalag
• Canlambo
• Canlasog
• Catamboan
• Helen (Datag)
• Nonoc
• Poblacion North
• Poblacion South
• Ponong
• Sabang
• Sandugan
• Taculing

History

Can‑oan, which was how Larena was known during the Spanish period, had long been a flourishing township. It was mainly due to this fact that the Spanish authorities developed it into a headtown or cabecera for the whole island of Siquijor.^[6]

American Period

With the coming of the Americans at the turn of the century, Can‑oan still was regarded as a cabecera where lieutenant governor James Fugate, the first American governor of Siquijor, held office for sixteen years ending in 1916. In the same year, the authorities in Manila, acting on the recommendation of local authorities officially declared Canoan as a capital town. During his term which began in 1901, Governor Demetrio Larena, the first Filipino governor for Negros Oriental and Siquijor, changed the name of Can‑oan to Larena, his own name, which was duly approved by the Philippine legislature.

From then on until the declaration of martial law in 1972, several people shared the mayoral seat after every four years. Albito was followed by Restituto Calibo. Then Antonio Albito again. In the following election, he was replaced by Herbert Calibo, who in turn was followed by Soledado Lumosad. Juanito Calibo followed and stayed for most of the martial law era and again succeeded by Herbert Calibo.

The post‑EDSA Revolution saw Remedios Albito mayor until the present, having beat others in three elections since then. Thus the intertwined dynasties continue.

All through the years, spanning the time before and after the war, Larena maintained its position as the hub of business activities in the province. The small but safe port of Larena is a strategic port of call for merchant ships from major cities in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. It is home to two commercial banks and a rural bank. Nationally known commercial establishments usually set their shops here.

Demographics

Population census of Larena
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	11,010	—
1995	11,212	+0.34%
2000	12,281	+1.97%
2007	12,550	+0.30%
2010	12,931	+1.09%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][7]

In the 2013 election, it had 9,979 registered voters, meaning that 77% of the population are aged 18 and over.^[4]

Education

One of the remaining bright spots of the town of Larena is the continuous evolution of one of its educational institutions. The Larena sub-provincial High School, another landmark, evolved to become the Larena National Vocational School and then to Larena National Vocational College, drawing a great number of young people all over the province and neighboring provinces to its fold.

On March 3, 1995, LNVC was converted into a state college now known as Siquijor State College (SSC). In 2006, a second campus was named SSC-Lazi Campus in the town of Lazi.

Gallery

• 

  Larena Bay and town from Triad Hill

• 

  Sandugan Beach in Larena, Siquijor

• 

  The ferry port of Larena

References

1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. "Municipal: Larena". PSA. Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
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 1 April 2013.
4. "2013 National and Local Elections Statistics" (PDF). Commission on Elections. 2015.
5. "Infrastructure Profile". Provincial Government of Siquijor Province. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
6. "Municipality of Larena". Provincial Government of Siquijor. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
7. "Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City and Municipality: Central Visayas: 1995, 2000 and 2007" (PDF). National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2011.

External links

• Local Governance Performance Management System