Tagbilaran

Tagbilaran
City

Aerial view of Tagbilaran

Seal
Nickname(s): City of Peace and Friendship

Map of Bohol with Tagbilaran highlighted
Tagbilaran

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: PH 9°39′N 123°51′E / 9.65°N 123.85°E / 9.65; 123.85Coordinates: PH 9°39′N 123°51′E / 9.65°N 123.85°E / 9.65; 123.85
Country Philippines
Region Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province Bohol (capital)
District 1st district of Bohol
Incorporated
Town
City

9 February 1742
1 July 1966
Barangays 15 (see § Barangays)
Government[1]
  Type Sangguniang Panlungsod
  Mayor John Yap II (NUP)
  Vice mayor Jose Veloso (LP)
  City Council
Area[2]
  Total 36.50 km2 (14.09 sq mi)
  Land 32.70 km2 (12.63 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)[3]
  Total 96,792
  Density 2,700/km2 (6,900/sq mi)
  Voter(2013) [4] 51,462
Demonym(s) Tagbilaranon
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
Zip code 6300
IDD:area code +63 (0)38
Income class 3rd class
PSGC 071242000
Website tagbilaran.gov.ph

Tagbilaran is a third income class component city in the island province of Bohol, Philippines,[2] serving as its capital. Its income classification has an annual income of 240-320 million. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 96,792.[3] In the 2013 election, it had 51,462 registered voters.[4]

Tagbilaran lies in the southwestern part of the province, and has a total land area of 32.7 km2 (12.6 sq mi), with a coastline of 13 km (8.1 mi). The city shares its boundaries with the towns of Cortes, Corella, and Baclayon. It is 630 km (390 mi) southeast of the national capital of Manila and 72 km (45 mi) south of the regional capital, Cebu City.

It is the principal gateway to Bohol and is known as the "City of Friendship". Tagbilaran is considered by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia as one of the eight Philippine Dream Cities. It was also recognized as one of the 20 "Most Competitive Cities in the Philippines" and "Pinoy Cities on the Rise" in 2005 and 2007, and first in the Quality of Life Category for the same two years, awarded by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.

History

St.Joseph the Worker Cathedral

A hundred years before Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, the settlement which eventually became Tagbilaran was already involved in trading with China and Malaya. This early settlement had contact with the Spaniards in 1565, when the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi and the native chieftain Datu Sikatuna pledged peace and cooperation through the famous blood compact.

(San Jose de) Tagbilaran was established as a town on February 9, 1742, by General Don Francisco Antonio Calderon de la Barca, Governor of the Visayas, who separated it from the town of Baclayon. The town was dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker. Since then it was part of the province of Bohol until it became a chartered city on July 1, 1966, by virtue of Republic Act No. 4660.

The city was occupied by the United States during the Philippine-American War and by Imperial Japan during World War II.

Sitio Ubos (Lower Town) is Tagbilaran's former harbor site and is considered to be the city's oldest portion, having been a busy trading center since the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century. As such, the place houses the oldest and largest number of heritage houses in Bohol. Sitio Ubos declined as a major port towards the end of the Spanish era when the causeway to Panglao Island was constructed. Since then, the area lost its former glory and its old houses were either demolished or neglected.[5]

In 2002, in recognition of its cultural and historic significance, Sitio Ubos was declared a "Cultural Heritage Area". Some of the surviving heritage houses to this day include the Rocha–Suarez House, Rocha House, Hontanosas House, Beldia House, and Yap House.[5]

Historic events

One of the most important events in Philippine history (immortalized on canvas by the famous Filipino painter Juan Luna) was the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna, a local native chieftain, and Captain Miguel López de Legazpi, the Spanish explorer and colonizer. It took place in the coast of Bool, now a district of Tagbilaran, on March 16, 1565, a day after Legazpi and his crew of conquistadores on four ships chanced upon the shores of Bool during their trip to the province of Butuan from Camiguin Island because of strong southwest monsoon winds and low tide.

On that day, March 16, 1565, Legazpi with Fray Andres de Urdaneta and some of his crew set foot on land for an audience with the local chieftain Sikatuna. The two bands of different race and creed met a few hundred meters from the beach and, after a few pleasantries, the Basque seafarer and the chieftain of Bohol sealed and strengthened their treaty of friendship in a historic blood compact. Sikatuna and Legazpi each made a cut on the left arm and collected the drop of blood into a single vessel mixed with wine. To honor this treaty of friendship, the late President Elpidio Quirino established the "Order of Sikatuna", a presidential award and decoration conferred upon visiting dignitaries. A marker now stands on the spot where Sikatuna and Legaspi allegedly sealed that famous compact.[lower-alpha 1]

Another significant event that took place during the Japanese Occupation was the Battle of Ubujan wherein a guerrilla unit under the command of Captain Francisco Salazar (a.k.a. Vicente Cubello) engaged Japanese troops against overwhelming odds. It was a display of Boholano bravery against the well-equipped, well-trained Japanese soldiers.[6]

2013 Earthquake

An earthquake with magnitude 7.2, with an epicenter near Sagbayan, Bohol, struck Bohol on 15 October 2013, causing casualties and damage in Tagbilaran. There were 4 fatalities and 21 injuries, with damage to buildings, including the seaport, airport, and city hall.

Demographics

Population census of Tagbilaran
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 56,363    
1995 66,683+3.20%
2000 77,700+3.33%
2007 92,297+2.40%
2010 96,792+1.75%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][7]

In the 2013 election, it had 51,462 registered voters, meaning that 53% of the population are aged 18 and over.[4]

Local government

Symbols of the City of Tagbilaran
Flag Tagbilaran flag
Hymn Tagbilaran Hymn
Dance Kuradang
Bird Tailor bird (Tamsi)
Fish Rabbitfish (Danggit)
Flower Bougainvillea
Tree Acacia
Plant Golden Duranta
City Hall of Tagbilaran

Chief Executives since 1742

The city is governed locally by a mayor, although historically by a Gobernadorcillo and Presidente Municipal afterwards.

Barangays

There are 15 barangays comprising Tagbilaran, with a population of 96,792 for the year 2010 census census,[3] and an annual growth rate of 1.75%. However, 44% of the city's population reside in the four urban districts where trade and commerce are also concentrated.

Cogon: 17,114 (17.5%) Booy: 8,800 (9.0%) Dampas: 8,440 (8.6%) Dao: 8,227 (8.4%) Manga: 6,460 (6.6%) Taloto: 6,376 (6.5%) Mansasa: 6,156 (6.3%) Poblacion III: 6,051 (6.2%) Bool: 5,221 (5.3%) Ubujan: 5,134 (5.2%) Poblacion II: 6,051 (6.2%) San Isidro: 4,821 (4.9%) Tiptip: 4,360 (4.5%) Poblacion I: 3,072 (3.1%) Cabawan: 1,531 (1.6%)Circle frame.svg
  •   Cogon: 17,114 (17.5%)
  •   Booy: 8,800 (9.0%)
  •   Dampas: 8,440 (8.6%)
  •   Dao: 8,227 (8.4%)
  •   Manga: 6,460 (6.6%)
  •   Taloto: 6,376 (6.5%)
  •   Mansasa: 6,156 (6.3%)
  •   Poblacion III: 6,051 (6.2%)
  •   Bool: 5,221 (5.3%)
  •   Ubujan: 5,134 (5.2%)
  •   Poblacion II: 6,051 (6.2%)
  •   San Isidro: 4,821 (4.9%)
  •   Tiptip: 4,360 (4.5%)
  •   Poblacion I: 3,072 (3.1%)
  •   Cabawan: 1,531 (1.6%)
Barangay Area
(km2)
Population
(2007)[7]
Population
(2010)[3]
Pop. density
(per km2)
±% p.a.
Bool 3.488 4,929 5,221 1497 2.12%
Booy 1.464 7,896 8,800 6011 4.02%
Cabawan 2.673 1,550 1,531 573 −0.45%
Cogon 2.044 17,266 17,114 8373 −0.24%
Dampas 4.437 7,210 8,440 1902 5.90%
Dao 3.909 6,772 8,227 2105 7.34%
Manga 1.173 6,081 6,460 5507 2.22%
Mansasa 0.829 5,396 6,156 7426 4.91%
Poblacion I 0.259 3,323 3,072 11861 −2.82%
Poblacion II 0.702 5,856 5,029 7164 −5.39%
Poblacion III 0.707 6,511 6,051 8559 −2.63%
San Isidro 4.294 4,500 4,821 1123 1.72%
Taloto 2.445 6,176 6,376 2608 1.17%
Tiptip 2.821 3,956 4,360 1546 3.60%
Ubujan 1.456 4,875 5,134 3526 1.90%
TOTAL 32.701 92,297 96,792 2960 1.75%

Economy

Island City Mall (usually known as 'ICM')

The city has the advantage of being the province's main business capital and center of governance, education and transportation. Local and international visitors to Bohol pass through the city via the Port of Tagbilaran and Tagbilaran Airport.

Alturas Group, Bohol Quality Corporation and Alvarez Group are some of the notable locally owned companies based in the city.

Tourism

Bohol Tropics Resort Club

The city is a start-off point to Bohol province's attractions: the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, white sandy beaches, dive spots, heritage sites and old stone churches. Home to several hotels, resorts, and restaurants, the city has recently become a venue for national conventions and gatherings.

Festivals

Saulog-Tagbilaran Festival is a religious and cultural celebration in the city in honor to St. Joseph the worker the city's patron saint every April 20- May 2. Tagbilaranons give thanks to San Jose with street-dancing, fluvial procession, nightly activities, novena masses and beauty pageant. Tagbilaranon families invite relatives and friends in neighboring towns and provinces for a lunch or dinner during desperas (visper) and katumanan (grand feast day May 1).

The Sandugo Festival is an annual celebration in Tagbilaran in commemoration of the blood compact between Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna in March 1565. The festival is celebrated every July to coincide with the month-long activities celebrating the city's Charter Day on July 1 and the Province's (Bohol) Day on July 22.

Transportation

Tagbilaran sea port
Tagbilaran Airport terminal building

Tagbilaran's land network consists of sealed and unsealed roads. Local transport plying the routes within the city are tricycles, multicabs, taxis, and jeepneys. Buses, taxis and vans are usually hired for out-of-town travel. The Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) located in the city district of Dao serves as the terminal point for public transport vehicles serving the inter-city routes within the province and also serves as the embarkation point for passengers taking the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26) bus route from Tagbilaran to Metro Manila. There is also a long-distance bus station within Cogon market.

The city is linked by sea to the major port cities in the Visayas Islands and Mindanao, which of major commercial importance is its link to the regional capital of Cebu City. A fastcraft ferry ride to Cebu City takes approximately 2 hours depending on weather and sea conditions. The route is served by Ocean Jet, Weesam Express and SuperCat several times daily.

Tagbilaran Airport serves as the principal gateway airport to the city and to the rest of the province. Airlines using the airport serve only the Tagbilaran-Manila route. The route is served by Cebu Pacific Air, PAL Express, AirAsia Zest and Tigerair Philippines using Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 planes. Travel time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Climate

Climate data for Tagbilaran
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.4
(86.7)
30.8
(87.4)
31.7
(89.1)
32.7
(90.9)
33.1
(91.6)
32.5
(90.5)
32.3
(90.1)
32.6
(90.7)
32.3
(90.1)
32.1
(89.8)
31.8
(89.2)
31.2
(88.2)
32.0
(89.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8)
26.1
(79)
26.7
(80.1)
27.6
(81.7)
28.3
(82.9)
28.1
(82.6)
28.0
(82.4)
28.2
(82.8)
28.0
(82.4)
27.6
(81.7)
27.3
(81.1)
26.8
(80.2)
27.4
(81.3)
Average low °C (°F) 21.7
(71.1)
21.5
(70.7)
21.8
(71.2)
22.6
(72.7)
23.5
(74.3)
23.7
(74.7)
23.7
(74.7)
23.9
(75)
23.7
(74.7)
23.3
(73.9)
22.8
(73)
22.5
(72.5)
22.9
(73.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 105.0
(4.134)
78.5
(3.091)
71.8
(2.827)
57.8
(2.276)
80.3
(3.161)
131.0
(5.157)
134.8
(5.307)
107.8
(4.244)
136.0
(5.354)
212.8
(8.378)
190.5
(7.5)
117.2
(4.614)
1,423.5
(56.043)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.10 mm) 14 11 10 9 10 15 14 13 15 17 17 16 161
Average relative humidity (%) 83 81 80 77 80 82 81 79 82 84 85 84 82
Source: PAGASA[8]

Health

Center of Tagbilaran with Borja Family Hospital on the right

The city is served with a mix of public and private health care institutions that also cater to the health needs of the rest of the province. Complex major cases and services are sent to nearby Cebu City due to lack of facilities.

Education

Holy Name University (Lessage Street)
University of Bohol (Maria Clara Street)

As the capital of Bohol, Tagbilaran is the main center for education in the province. All of the province's universities are located in the city as well as other well-known institutions of learning.

Colleges and universities

Notable Tagbilaranons

Notes

  1. In fact there are several claimants: less than 100 metres away is another claimant, and there is a further one in Loay municipality about 17 km (11 mi) along the coast.

References

  1. "City". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Municipal: Tagbilaran". PSA. Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "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. 1 2 3 "2013 National and Local Elections Statistics" (PDF). Commission on Elections. 2015.
  5. 1 2 Akpenodu, Erik and Czarina Saloma (2011). Casa Boholana: Vintage Houses of Bohol. Ateneo de Manila University Press.
  6. History of Tagbilaran http://www.tagbilaran.gov.ph Retrieved December 6, 2009.
  7. 1 2 "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.
  8. "Climatological Normals of the Philippines (1951-1985) (PAGASA 1987)" (PDF). PAGASA. Retrieved 18 April 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tagbilaran.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tagbilaran.
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