Carmen, Bohol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carmen
Municipality
Map of Bohol showing the location of Carmen
Carmen
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 09°49′N 124°12′E / 9.817°N 124.200°E / 9.817; 124.200Coordinates: 09°49′N 124°12′E / 9.817°N 124.200°E / 9.817; 124.200
Country Philippines
Region Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province Bohol
District 3rd district of Bohol
Incorporated March 1, 1869, by the final order from Governor General Jose de la Gandara
Barangays 29
Government[1]
 • Type Strong Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Ricardo Francisco Toribio
Area[1]
 • Land 248.04 km2 (95.77 sq mi)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 43,579
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6319
Dialing code 38
Website carmen-bohol.gov.ph

Carmen is a second class municipality located in the heart of the province of Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of 29 barangays with an area of 248.04 square kilometres (95.77 sq mi). It was founded in 1869. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 43,579 people.

The Chocolate Hills is the main tourist attraction of this town with 1,776 hills. Aside from the world-famous Chocolate Hills, there are forests, caves and waterfalls to discover.

History

Carmen was originally part of the Municipality of Bilar and called Imbaya, after the name of a stream in the settlement. During the Spanish time, it was inhabited by not more than fifty families. In 1868, the people of Carmen petitioned for its independence since its population grew to an unprecedented number. The town of Carmen was founded on March 1, 1869 by the final order from Governor General Jose de la Gandara and renamed at the same time in honor of the Lady of Carmel of Spain. In 1874, the town of Carmen had its separate parish with Father Pedro Nolasco San Juan as the first parish priest.

Being influenced by Spanish culture and tradition, all barangays of Carmen have a patron saint as well as a Spanish name that celebrate an annual barangay fiesta.

In World War II, Carmen served as the stronghold of the Guerrilla Resistance Movement and the local civil government because of its strategic location. Even at present, the municipality still serves the same purpose of being the provincial center of dynamic activities.

On October 15, 2013, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Central Visayas region with Carmen as its epicenter.[3]

Political subdivisions

Carmen is politically subdivided into 29 barangays.

  • Alegria
  • Bicao
  • Buenavista
  • Buenos Aires
  • Calatrava
  • El Progreso
  • El Salvador
  • Guadalupe
  • Katipunan
  • La Libertad
  • La Paz
  • La Salvacion
  • La Victoria
  • Matin-ao
  • Montehermoso
  • Montesuerte
  • Montesunting
  • Montevideo
  • Nueva Fuerza
  • Nueva Vida Este
  • Nueva Vida Sur
  • Nueva Vida Norte
  • Poblacion Norte
  • Poblacion Sur
  • Tambo-an
  • Vallehermoso
  • Villaflor
  • Villafuerte
  • Villarcayo

Demographics

Population census of Carmen
Year Pop.  ±% p.a.  
1990 34,573—    
1995 36,797+1.25%
2000 40,713+2.04%
2007 43,153+0.83%
2010 43,579+0.33%
Source: National Statistics Office[2][4]

The Chocolate Hills

Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol

The Chocolate Hills is considered one of the natural Wonders of the World, composed of 1,776 cone-shaped hills. The origin of its name comes from the fact that the hills turns brown in the hot summer days that they look like Hersheys Chocolate Kisses.

The Chocolate Hills Complex is the main destination for best viewing of the Chocolate Hills. It located in Barangay Buenos Aires, Carmen, Bohol. The complex is composed of two chocolate hills developed years and years ago and has been transformed into a complex complete with a cemented road going up, restaurant, conference room, swimming pool, activity area with water fountain, 200+ steps with covered deck rest stops along the way and metal railing to aide your climb way up to the 360-degree Observation Deck, Virgin Mary Grotto, beautiful and tall pine trees to shade the steps. The Chocolate Hills Complex also developed new building structures with different accommodations to cater to visitors that wish to stay overnight in the middle of the Chocolate Hills.

The origin and myths

Carmen, Bohol

There are several myths and beliefs that has been spreading around as to how the Chocolate Hills came into existence. One myth is that of two giants fighting, throwing dirt balls against each other, that is why the chocolate hills are uniformly shaped that transformed into cone-shape hills after several rains. Another myth is that of a giant sobbing tears into the ground creating the hills formation. The accepted scientific explanation is that the Chocolate Hills where formed from the seabed and coral reefs which gradually rose up and were drained. Rain then washed away the softer areas creating the hills which are mainly composed of limestone.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Municipality of Carmen". Province of Bohol. Retrieved 2012-09-11. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - Region VII - Central Visayas: 1990, 2000, and 2010". National Statistics Office. 
  3. ↑ http://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/2013_Earthquake_Bulletins/October/2013_1015_0012_B2F.html
  4. ↑ National Statistics Office - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City and Municipality: Central Visayas: 1995, 2000 and 2007

Online resource

External links

 Sagbayan Danao Dagohoy
Batuan Sierra Bullones
   Carmen  
Valencia
Province of Bohol
Municipalities
Component city
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.