Esperanza, Masbate

Esperanza
Municipality
Gawas beach, Esperanza
Map of Masbate with Esperanza highlighted
Esperanza Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°44′N 124°03′E / 11.733°N 124.050°E / 11.733; 124.050Coordinates: 11°44′N 124°03′E / 11.733°N 124.050°E / 11.733; 124.050
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Masbate
District	3rd district
Barangays	20
Government[1]
• Mayor	Ian Peter S. Sepulveda
Area[2]
• Total	67.49 km2 (26.06 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	17,357
• Density	260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code	5407
Dialing code	56

Esperanza is a municipality in Masbate Province, the Philippines, with a population of 17,357 people in the 2010 census.^[3] About 60% of the population lives along the coastline, most of whom are fishermen. It is about 4 hours travel south of Masbate City with some roads and highways still undeveloped.

Esperanza has several beaches, among them Gamay Na Baybay Beach, Talisay (Punta) Beach and Manok Manok Beach.

Barangays

Esperanza is politically subdivided into 20 bangrays.^[2]

History

People in 1970s to early 1990s were heavily dependent on the water resources in the so-called Kapayawan, which means "deep well". It is the only safe water source for the majority of the people living in the area. In 2000, Esperanza was finally connected to the electricity grid supplied by MASELCO which benefited 80% of the households in the area.

In 2006, President Gloria Arroyo defined Esperanza to be the most accessible town in Masbate going to Samar, Leyte and Cebu. That is the primary reason why the National Government constructed the port to serve as a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) gateway.

Esperanza's former mayors include: Santos E. Conag, Heracleo Baguio, Aquino C. Conag, Nicanor A. Diamos, Ramon A. Diamos, Mac John C. Seachon.

Esperanza's current leaders: Ian Peter S. Sepulveda (Municipal Mayor) and Ramon A. Diamos (Municipal Vice Mayor)

Climate

Weather in Esperanza is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon. Amihan and Habagat seasons are generally associated respectively with the El Niño and La Niña global weather patterns. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west.

On Esperanza, the main indicator of the switch between the Amihan and Habagat seasonal patterns is the switch in wind direction. In most years this transition is abrupt and occurs overnight. In some years there is a period of perhaps a week or two where the wind will switch between Amihan and Habagat patterns several times before settling into the pattern for the new season. As a general rule of thumb, Labangtatay will be in the Habagat weather pattern from sometime in September or October to sometime in May or June and in the Amihan weather pattern for the remainder of the year. These dates can vary in individual years, though.

Daytime temperatures on Esperanza generally range from 77-90°F (25-32°C) from the beginning of the Amihan season into February or March, increase to the 82-100°F (28-38°C) range until the onset of the Habagat season, and moderate back to the 77-90°F (25-32°C) range with the return of the Amihan season.[8] During Tropical Storm periods, temperatures can fall below 68°F (20°C). Tropical Storms can impact Esperanza at any time of year, but are most likely to be seen during the Habagat season.

Demographics

Transportation

In Esperanza, the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beach front Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Esperanza, Masbate.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

	Placer	Cataingan	Pio V. Corpuz
	Esperanza
	Visayan Sea		Visayan Sea

v t e Province of Masbate Municipalities Aroroy Baleno Balud Batuan Cataingan Cawayan Claveria Dimasalang Esperanza Mandaon Milagros Mobo Monreal Palanas Pio V. Corpuz Placer San Fernando San Jacinto San Pascual Uson Component city Masbate City