Calumpang River

Calumpang River (Ilog Calumpang)
River
View of the Calumpang River from the Calumpang Bridge, Batangas City
Country	Philippines
Regions	Region 4-A CALABARZON, Province of Batangas
District	2nd and 4th Districts
Tributaries
- left	Tingga River, and various streams
- right	Gabahay River, Taysan River, and various streams
Cities	Batangas City, Ibaan, Taysan, Rosario
Source	Brgy. Bulihan, Rosario, Batangas
Mouth	Calumpang river's delta region
- location	Brgy. Cuta, Malitam, and Wawa, Batangas City
- coordinates	13°45′43.37″N 121°04′28.12″E / 13.7620472°N 121.0744778°E / 13.7620472; 121.0744778
Basin	472 km2 (182 sq mi)

This article refers to a river. For the Calumpang Peninsula, see Mabini, Batangas.

Calumpang River (Filipino: Ilog Calumpang) is a perennial body of water with a catchment area of approximately 472 km² (182.2 sq. mi) situated east of the Province of Batangas, Philippines. The river itself forms the southeastern boundary of Poblacion, Batangas City as it continues to flow southward to Batangas Bay at an approximately point of 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of Batangas Port.^[1]

In March 2006 a study conducted by the University of Batangas reported some fish and shrimp species on the river itself were now at risk of heavy metal contamination showing an evidence of the worsening effect of water pollution in the Calumpang river.^[2]

There are numerous bridges situated throughout the river, some are located in Rosario, Taysan and Ibaan, Batangas. Two other bridges are situated in Batangas City: "Calumpang Bridge" and the "Bridge of Promise." However, the latter collapsed on October 31, 2009, leaving 2 dead after Typhoon Mirinae (Santi) left Southern Luzon. The collapsed of this bridge caused some public transportation vehicles to change their routes that eventually resulted to a major traffic jams in Batangas City. On late June 16, 2010, the Bridge of Promise was reopened again for service after construction for repair was finally finished.^[3]

View of the Calumpang River from the Bridge of Promise, Batangas City

In Local Culture

Legend has it that during past times huge numbers of logs, locally known as "batang" are sited floating all over the river. The word "batang" is said to be the root of "Batangan", hence the former name of the province. However, years past and Batangan eventually turned to "Batangas".^[4]

Legend also states that a statue of the Holy Infant Jesus on board a Spanish ship en route from Manila to Cebu sought shelter on the coast of Batangas City, near Calumpang River after the vessel's trip was interrupted by bad weather. It is said that the crewmen took the image of the Holy Infant onto the banks of the Calumpang River and sang the Te Deum hymns. The storm miraculously stopped and the ship managed to continue its voyage to Cebu. After reaching their destination place, the statue was reported missing until it was sighted way back in Batangas City. It was a deaf-mute boy who was playing along the banks of the Calumpang river did manage to find the statue atop on a floating log.^[5]

In memory and honor of this, a feast is annually celebrated in Batangas City every January 16 a year where devotees hold a floral procession on the Calumpang River as they the Holy Infant's image on a boat cruise. The affair wherein a "bangkarera" or boat race, jetski exhibition and other water sports are held has become a tourist attraction.^[6]

"Calumpang" is also the local name of Catharanthus pusillus, a tree common in coastal areas throughout the Philippine archipelago. ^[7]

See also

• Batangas Bay
• Batangas City
• Batangas

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Footnotes

References

External links

1. Official Website of the Local Government of Batangas City