Gubat is a second class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. As of 1 August 2007 the town has the population of 55,501 based on National Statistics Office. Gubat is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable.
This town's white-sand beaches to the east that faces the Pacific Ocean are well-known in surrounding towns and cities.One famous beach resort here is the Rizal Beach Resort which hosts the PhilHobie Challenge. Also lots of tourists come here locally or internationally. Gubat was in the news in November 2006 when it became the site of a scientific expedition by astronomers Dr. Armando Lee, Bamm Gabriana, and Rochelle Derilo to observe the rare Mercury transit. Gubat was the best town in Luzon to observe the event. Results of the expedition were published in international astronomy publications such as Sky & Telescope.
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Tucked into the south-eastern part of the island of Luzon and carved out of a thick forest on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Gubat is the third largest town in the province of Sorsogon.
Gubat was originally a small barrio of Bulusan, inhabited by a few Tagalogs, Visayans and Albayanons who travelled on foot to hunt wild animals. These people built their homes close to the shore and called their location Buri, which today is the barrio of Buenavista. In 1764, Gubat finally became a town with Don Pedro Manook, the first Teniente del Barrio, also becoming the first gobernadorcillo.
The word "gúbat" means forest in Tagalog. However, the name applied to the town is derived from the verb "guinobat", a term used by the natives which means "raided". In the early days when Christians and Muslims were constantly at odds, Muslim pirates would come in from the southern seas to raid the town. Because of the frequent raids, the town was referred to as "guinobat" which eventually became "Gubat". Legend has it that during one of those raids, the pastor along with the townspeople held up a statue of St. Anthony to ward off the attack, praying for a miracle. In one account, it was said that the child Jesus in St. Anthony's arms drove back the pirates. St. Anthony of Padua became the town's patron saint and his feast day is lavishly celebrated as an official parish and town holiday every13 June.
The town settlers had to move a number of times before finally deciding to settle at a place they considered safe and peaceful. Eventually, they began to expand, laying out permanent streets, the first of which are what we now know as Luna and Calderon Streets.
The main parish church itself has an interesting history. In 1768, the people decided to build a church. The locals, being poor, urged the town captain, Don Juan Bonifacio, to require all men to contribute one cubic meter of "talaksan" (coral stone) apiece. It took ten years of preparation and it was not until 1778 that construction finally started.
Although it has since undergone several renovations, the church foundation is still the original one built in 1778. The rectory is the oldest and one of the only two remaining rectories dating back that far in the entire Bicol region.
The main livelihoods of the people, then and now, are agriculture and fishing. Harvest times for rice crops are from April to May, and December. Fishing is year-round.
Gubat has its own credit cooperative that helps its people, the Gubat Saint Anthony Credit Cooperative, one of the outstanding cooperative in Bicol Region and had gained recognition nationwide.
Gubat can be reached mostly through land transport from Manila by bus for about 12 hours. There are about 5 bus companies operates daily from Manila to Gubat and vice versa.They are: JVH, Elavil, Raymond ,St.Jude, CUL, and Philtranco.
The town has modern and efficient communications facilities including cellular mobile phone (Sun Cellular, Globe and Smart), Cable facility, internet cafes and internet service providers. There is also a radio station within the downtown area.
Gubat is slowly being recognized as the only beginner friendly surfing spot in the province of Sorsogon. The sand bottom beach breaks of Barangays Ariman and Buenavista produce 2 to 5 feet waves from September to May. With the formation of Gubat Bay Surfers by Bidge Villarroya and surfboards donated by the Local Government Unit under Mayor Ding Ramos, surfing is more accessible to the local population and tourists alike.
The town celebrates its Ginubat Festival annually every 13 June in honour of its patron, St. Anthony of Padua. It is also the foundation of the town.
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tiris elementary school cabiguhan elementary school dita elementary school patag elementary school
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Gubat is politically subdivided into 42 barangays.
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