Gandara, Samar

Gandara
Municipality
Seal
Map of Samar with Gandara highlighted
Gandara Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°01′N 124°49′E / 12.017°N 124.817°E / 12.017; 124.817Coordinates: 12°01′N 124°49′E / 12.017°N 124.817°E / 12.017; 124.817
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province	Samar
Congr. district	1st district of Samar
Barangays	69
Government[1]
• Mayor	Antonieto T. Cabueños
Area[2]
• Total	573.49 km2 (221.43 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	31,943
• Density	56/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6706
Dialing code	55

Gandara is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 31,943.^[3] The town was formerly named Bangahon, but its population was resettled to its current location on September 29, 1902. After settling in its new location, the name Gandara was given to it in commemoration of the former Governor General José de la Gándara y Navarro.

History

Gandara's colonial past is evident from the solitary watchtower, the relics of the church and fragmented artworks. These are remants from the old Gandara, named Bangahon due to its geographical location in the forked of the Gandara River. "Guin babanga han wala ug too nga salug". The book Conquestas de las Islas Filipinas by San Agustin the Bangahon states it was already a Pueblo or town in 1729, and was made a parish by the Spanish Jesuits Missionaries with St. Michael the Archangel as patron saint.

The Eighteenth Century ended with Bangahon at the height of abundance and prosperity being a trading center complemented with its fertile soil producing plentiful and ample harvest every year. However, when the American battleships landed at Calbayog on February 9, 1900, the municipal officials of Bangahon burned their town to avoid capture by American soldiers. The problem of where to build a new town was solved during a conference of July 25, 1901, at barrio San Pelayo wherein Dumalo-ong was unanimously chosen due to its ideal location being at the center and midway of the left river, right river and downstreams barrios. Furthermore, the site was located almost halfway between Calbayog City and Catbalogan City. Gandara's foundation anniversary is February the 29th.

Established in 1902 and named after the surname of Spanish Governor General José de la Gándara y Navarro, the first captain was Jose Dionesio Mendiola, who died during the year's cholera epidemic and replaced by Jose Piczon on June 15, 1902, serving until June 15, 1903. Succeeded by Ramon Mendiola (1903–1906) who was remembered for celebrating the first Gandara town fiesta on September 29, 1903. From the year 1907, town executives were called Presidents.

The town's new poblacion was built on some six hectares of farmland donated by Martino Reyes. The donation was executed on January 12, 1909. The school site covered by certificate of title no. 95 dated July 20, 1912, and that of the parish under lot no. 146-CAD-444-D dated August 31, 1976, further supported by an extra judicial donation dated March 20, 1908.

Article 960 dated October 23, 1903, transferred the jurisdiction of barangays Bangon, Buenas Aires, Calanyugan, Cambaye, San Luis, Pangi and Pagsanghan to the Municipality of Tarangnan.

In 1979, Pagsanghan and San Jorge were created as a new municipalities out of Gandara.

Geography

Land use:

• Agricultural
  • Cultivated: 7,356.15 Hectares (14.8%)
  • Uncultivated: 16,193.33 Hectares (32.75%)
• Built-Up Area: 1,607.06 Hectares (3.25%)
• Grass Land: 4,142.00 Hectares (8.38%)
• Reservation: 19,129.59 Hectares (38.69%)
• Wetland: 1,013.87 Hectares (2.05%)

The Gandara River is the major river flowing through the municipality.

Barangays

Barangays of Gandara

Gandara is politically subdivided into 69 barangays, listed here with its Philippine Standard Geographic Code.^[2]

Demographics

As of 2006 survey, the total population was 32,508, consisting of 16,658 males and 15,850 females. The number of households was 6,283, with an average household size of 5.17 persons and a density of 66 people per km².

Economy

Income:

• Maximum Household Income: Php 22,552.16/month
• Minimum Household Income: Php 1,436.50/month
• Average Household Income: Php 5,366.25/month
• Average Farm Household Income: Php 2,159.30/month
• Poverty Threshold: Php 8,484.68/month
• Poverty Incidence: 94.21%

Employment:

• Employment Rate: 470 per 1,000 Population
• Major Fields of Employment
  • Agriculture and Forestry: 21.06%
  • Mining and Quarrying: 0.06%
  • Manufacturing: 2.47%
  • Construction: 1.10%
  • Electrical, Gas and Water: 0.07%
  • Transportation, Etc.: 1.24%
  • Trade: 12.05%
  • Finance, Dwelling and Real Estate: 0.07%
  • Community, Social and Personal: 4.97%
  • Other not adequately defined: 4.92%

The Internal Revenue Allotment for Gandara was PHP 28,202,218 as of 2006.

Agriculture

Kiseyo

Arts and Festival

The town of Gandara is noted for its Kiseo, Kalinayan, Tableya, Pulahanes, Lingganay, Bangahon Church Ruins, the Wacthtower.

Gandara's Carabao Festival is a colorful festival that includes street dancing and celebrates the varied usefulness of the carabao in the farming activities of Gandareno peasants. It is also a homage to St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of the townspeople.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gandara, Samar.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• More photos and information on Gandara, Samar

	Calbayog	Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar	Matuguinao
	Santa Margarita		San Jose de Buan
	Gandara
	Samar Sea	Pagsanghan / Tarangnan	San Jorge

v t e Province of Samar Municipalities Almagro Basey Calbiga Daram Gandara Hinabangan Jiabong Marabut Matuguinao Motiong Pagsanghan Paranas Pinabacdao San Jorge San Jose de Buan San Sebastian Santa Margarita Santa Rita Santo Niño Tagapul-an Talalora Tarangnan Villareal Zumarraga Component cities Catbalogan Calbayog