Masbate

Template:Infobox Philippine province Masbate is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. Its capital is Masbate City and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

The island of Masbate lies at the center of the Philippine archipelago between latitudes 11o43’ north and 123o09’ east and 124o5’ east. It is bounded on the north by Burias and Ticao Pass, east by San Bernardino Strait, south by the Visayan Sea, and west by the Sibuyan Sea. Relative to mainland Bicol, the province faces the southwestern coasts of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.

The general surface configuration of the province ranges from slightly undulating to rolling and from hilly to mountainous. In each island, the rugged topography is concentrated in the northeastern portion and gradually recedes to blunt hills and rolling areas in the south, southeast, and southwest.

Masbate City is the capital town. The province is composed of 21 municipalities which are politically subdivided into three districts: First District – San Pascual, Claveria, Montreal, San Jacnto, San Fernando, and Batua; Second District – Masbate, Mobo, Milagros, Aroroy, Baleno, Balud, and Mandaon; Third District – Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, and Cawayan.

Demographics

Literature

The Province of Masbate's literacy rate is 95.90%. It consists of effective public and private schools like the Masbate National Comprehensive High School in Masbate City that has three campuses- (MNCHS-Bolo Campus, MNCHS-Main Campus, MNCHS-Annex Campus) and the famous Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and technolgy, Osmeña Collges

Languages

The people speak predominantly [Masbateño or Minasbate th unique dialect of the province)some[Visayan]] with a unique mixture of Tagalog and some shades of Ilonggo. In Burias island, they speak Bicol similarly as the people of Camarines Sur, due to the island’s close proximity to the Bicol mainland. The people generally speak fluent English and Pilipino.

Religion

The Diocese of Masbate was created on March 23, 1968, separating it from the Diocese of Sorsogon. It comprises then, and now, the civil province of Masbate with its 121 islands including the two larger ones Burias and Ticao. It is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Caceres. Its titular patron is St. Anthony of Padua.

Masbate's land area of 7000 square kilometers holds a population of 598,813 of which 85 per cent are Catholics. Devotional practices such as the rosary, novenas to saints, and other religious manifestations as processions, the misa de gallo and Holy Week traditional activities are still very much part of the way of life of most parishioners.

The Diocese of Masbate cannot truly boast, at this point, of great achievements in terms of programs and projects. But it has started to initiate various church programs spearheaded by the Diocesan Commissions on Religious Formation, Social Action and Liturgy, to start on its mission to steer its parishioners towards maturity in the Christian faith. This is done through catechesis, spiritual retreats, seminars, youth encounters, and the like.

There are a total 22 parishes in the Diocese of Masbate, ministered to by 43 priests and 11 religious sisters. It has 1 minor seminary, 4 pastoral centers, 3 elementary schools, 6 high schools, 1 college and 7 kindergarten schools. And among its faith communities are 20 BEC's 46 neo-catechumenal communities. 11 mandated organizations and 3 charismatic groups.

Population

The Province of Masbate has a population of 768,939 in the 2007 Census of Population with 397,524 registered voters (as of 2004). It consists of 20 municipalities, 1 component city and 550 barangays.

History

History of the Province of Masbate

When Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman anchored on the shores of Masbate in 1569, he found tiny settlements spread along the coasts engaged in flourishing trade with China. Chinese traders visited Masbate and founded small settlements during the Shri-Vijayan and Madjapahit periods. Ruins of cave-like dwellings resembling "kiva" (possibly built by Indians who accompanied the Chinese traders), were found along the coasts of Aroroy, Palanas, and Masbate. Porcelain jars dating back to the 10th century were excavated at Kalanay (Aroroy) in the 1930s.

Historical accounts show that the Christianization of the Bicol Region actually began in Masbate in 1569:

Father Alonso Jimenez was the first missionary to the islands of Masbate, Burias, Leyte and Samar. Then he went to Ibalon (Bicol) in the province of Camarines, where he resided many years, and made many religious incursions into Albay and Sorsogon. Fray Jimenez is considered the apostle of the island of Masbate

In December 1600 Dutch Commander Admiral Oliver van Noorth, sought refuge at San Jacinto Harbor after his fleet lost to the Spanish Armada in Manila. He was later engaged in a fierce clash with Limahong's fleet at Canlibas-Matabao passage.

At the hieght of the Galleon Trade, Mobo contributed first class lumber for the construction of galleons, making it the center of trade in the province and was the capital of the province in the early part of the Spanish occupation

In 1864, Masbate was declared a separate province from Albay. Guiom was made the capital while Ticao became a commandancia-politicio-militar. Shortly before the declarateion of Philippine independence by President Emilio Aguinaldo, the town of Masbate was established as the provincial capital.

The Americans came to Masbate in 1900 to extend their pacification campaign. In December 1908, Masbate was annexed to theprovince of Sorsogon. A bill declaring Masbate as independent province was approved on February 1, 1922.

As early as 1906, the Masbate representative made the proposal to the United States Congress to grant the Philippines her independence.

The first Japanese elements arrived in Masbate the dawn of January 7, 1942 from Legazpi. They landed in several places without facing opposition- the province was too stunned to mount any resistance.

The Japanese occupation reduced Masbate to total economic shambles. Economic activities were limited to fishing, buying/selling, or stealing. Food production ground to a halt. Camote, pakol, banana blossoms, pith, and even such obscure fruits like barobo were used as food substitutes. Lakad-bulan served as cigarette, tea or coffee. Barter transaction prevailed. For lack of nutrition and sanitation, many people succumbed to beri-beri or malaria. Lice and ticks infestations spared only a lucky few.

Dr. Mateo S. Pecson, who was governor of the province, having refused to cooperate with the Japanese, evacuated the provincial government to Guiom, a command post used by the guerrillas. Pecson was eventually arrested by the Japanese and incarcerated in Cavite. He managed to escape; he later joined the guerrilla movement in Central Luzon.

In 1944, Provincial Board Member Atty. Jose L. Almario was conscripted by the Japanese to govern the province. During the Liberation, he was arrested by the guerrillias and charged with collaboration. He was exonerated and saved from set execution by a letter from General MacArthur.

Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, the lone house representative of Masbate, fought against a congressional bill authorizing the conscription of Filipinos into the service of Imperial Japan and for this he was detained in Fort Santiago.

When Masbate was formally liberated on April 3, 1945, Pecson was sent to Masbate by President Osmeña to organize the civil government, Pecson took the reins of government on May 11, 1945.

Infrastructure

Being an agricultural province, Masbate remains a net importer of consumer and industrial products. The supply of goods came from Metro Manila, Cebu, Panay and Bicol Provinces. Construction materials, particularly cement are sometimes sourced as a far as Iligan City in Mindanao.

To meet the needs of growth and expansion of the industries, the infrastructure in most part of the province is continually being upgraded. These include the road and its network, transportation, communication facilities, seaports, airport and other support services.

The road and road network, particularly in Mainland Masbate, has kept on improving annually. Road structure is mostly cemented and/or asphalted and timber bridges have been concreted.

As a result, transportation sector has been a growing industry. Aircon minibuses and jeepneys are regularly plying in the two road sections of Mainland Masbate, which made transportation available round-the-clock for the need of the people and industries.

Economy

The Province of Masbate is classified as a first class province.

Masbate is endowed with rich natural resources. In line with its agriculture are other industries such as large farming, livestock and poultry raising. Along its coastal areas, fishing industry predominates. Agricultural lands are planted with rice, corn, rootcrops and coconut.

Masbate ranks second only to Bukidnon in raising cattle. Abouth 70% of these are sold to Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon.Farming is the main source of livelihood. Copra is the leading product, followed by corn, rice and rootcrops. Fishing is a major industry along the coast. The province is one of the richest in the country in terms of mineral resources that include copper, silver, iron, manganese and chromite. Manufacturing firms are in the copra indsutry, handicrafts, furnituremaking and fish processing.

The province is surrounded with rich fishing areas where all kinds of commercial species of fish teemed in great abundance.

Rich minerals are found in the province. Masbate is described by geologists as a province sitting on a "pot of gold". Other minerals found in the area are manganese, copper, silver, iron, chromite, limestone, guano, and carbon.

Cottage industry is likewise another source of livelihood. They are: furniture and cabinet making, ceramics, garments, handicrafts and metalcrafts.

Education

Major institutions of higher learning in the province include the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) in Mandaon and in Masbate City, Osmeña Colleges, Masbate Colleges, Liceo de Masbate and Southern Bicol College.

Political

Masbate is subdivided into 20 municipalities and 1 city.

Masbate Representatives

1st District	2nd District	3rd District
Narciso Bravo Jr. (KAMPI)	Antonio Kho (Lakas-NUCD)	Rizalina Lanete (NPC)

City/Municipality		No. of Barangays	Area (km²)	Population (2007)	Mayor (2007-2010)
	Aroroy	41		62,635	Enrico Capinig
	Baleno	24		21,639	Gracia Mingoy-Llamado
	Balud	32		31,484	Clemente A. Arguelles, Jr
	Batuan	14		12,585	Charlie Yuson III
	Cataingan	36		48,827	Wilton Kho
	Cawayan	37		59,658	Ramon B. Abinuman
	Claveria	22		40,336	Henedina V. Andueza
	Dimasalang	20		22,723	Demphna Du-Naga
	Esperanza	20		16,834	Mac John C. Seachon
	Mandaon	26		34,401	Emily Estipona Hao
File:Masbateseal.png	Masbate City	30		81,585	Socrates M. Tuazon
	Milagros	27		48,185	Dr. Natividad Magbalon
	Mobo	29		32,740	Atty. Percival D. Castillo
	Monreal	11		21,693	Ben G. Espiloy
	Palanas	24		24,830	Silvestre L. Alvarez, Sr.
	Pio V. Corpuz	18		22,102	Diomedes C. Amaroto
	Placer	35		48,469	Joshur Judd S. Lanete II
	San Fernando	26		19,179	Helen Letada-Bunan
	San Jacinto	21		26,508	Hon. Leny Arcenas
	San Pascual	22		41,736	Zacarina A. Lazaro
	Uson	36		43,825	Felepe U. Sanchez

See also

• Masbate City

External links

• Masbate Province Official Site
• Masbate City Official Site
• Masbate City, Islands Philippines