Catanduanes is an island province located in the Bicol Region of Luzon in the Philippines.
It is
the 12th-largest Island in the Philippines. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east
of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. It had a population of 260,964 people as registered in
the 2015 census.[2]
The province comprises Catanduanes Island (also called Virac Island), the Panay Island, Lete
Island, Palumbanes group of islands (Porongpong, Tignob and Calabagio) and a few other minor
surrounding islets and rocks. The province is also home to various mollusk fossil sites, notably for
the second oldest ammonite site in Philippine history. The sites also possess certain species
of ammonites that can't be found anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Due to the rich geologic history
and importance of the province, various scholars have stated that the province has a high chance of
being declared a UNESCO Geopark Reserve if the province initiates a nomination to UNESCO.[3]
Catanduanes was a former sub-province of Ambos Camarines in the early 1900s and later of Albay.
It gained provincial autonomy when Congressman Francisco Perfecto filled House Bill No. 301 which
separated the province from Albay. It was approved on September 26, 1945 and subsequently
signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña on October 24, 1945. Remigio Socito, the last
Lieutenant Governor, was appointed as the first Provincial Governor. When elections were held in
1947, Alfonso V. Usero became the first elected Governor.
Contents
1Etymology
2History
o 2.1Pre-Spanish period
o 2.2Spanish period
o 2.3American period
o 2.4World War II
o 2.5Independence Day
3Geography
o 3.1Flora and Fauna
o 3.2Weather and climate
4Administrative divisions
5Demographics
o 5.1Religion
o 5.2Languages
o 5.3Ethnic groups
6Government
o 6.1List of then-governors
o 6.2Provincial board members
o 6.3Congressional district(s)
7Economy
o 7.1Industry
o 7.2Income
8Culture
o 8.1Festivals and celebrations
9Education
o 9.1Senior High School
10Services
o 10.1Police services
o 10.2Media/Entertainment
o 10.3Power supply
11Transportation
o 11.1Air
o 11.2Sea
o 11.3Land
12Notable people
13See also
14Notes
15References
16External links
Etymology[edit]
Isla de Cobos was Catanduanes' first name, given by Spanish conquistadores during the early part
of 1573 when came upon several tribes living in the thatched huts called cobos.
Catanduanes, is a hispanized term derived from the word tandu, a native beetle and
the samdong tree, which were both found in abundance throughout the island. Common reference
to katanduan or kasamdongan, meaning a place where the tandu or the samdong tree thrives in
abundance, led to the coining of the word Catanduanes.[4]
History[edit]
Pre-Spanish period[edit]
Bornean datus settled on the island of Panay. Their descendants then migrated throughout the
archipelago and became the first settlers in Catanduanes. The island was not spared from raids of
the Moros coming from the island of Mindanao. Because of these destructive raids, many records of
the past were destroyed and lost.
Spanish period[edit]
1573 when Juan de Salcedo arrived in Catanduanes hunting for pirates, and conquered the natives.
Three years later, a galleon expedition from Acapulco was shipwrecked near the island and the
survivors were either killed or made servants. The Batalay Church in Bato, just several kilometers
from the capital town of Virac, marks that historical event.
Evangelization[edit]
The evangelization of the island started twenty years later when the soldiers of Spain, after
subjugating the Bicol mainland, came back with Franciscan missionaries. The missionaries armed
with the cross and backed by the sword of the conquistadors evangelized the entire population
without much resistance, after initially converting the southern tribes.
Christianization[edit]
From 1600 to 1857, the colonizers were able to put up nine centers of local governments through the
establishment of
parishes: Caramoran (1601); Pandan (1650); Viga (1661); Panganiban (1663); Virac (1775); Bato (1
830); and San Andres (1853). During the early 1950s, Baras was created. Bagamanoc, a thriving
municipality during the Spanish period was reduced to a mere barrio of Viga and later
of Panganiban, during the American regime. It formally became a municipality in 1950 followed
by Gigmoto in 1951, and San Miguel in 1952. It was during this period that the island saw its
