Oslob, Cebu

Oslob
Municipality
Baluarte (watchtower) of Oslob
Map of Cebu with Oslob highlighted
Oslob Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 09°33′N 123°24′E / 9.550°N 123.400°E / 9.550; 123.400Coordinates: 09°33′N 123°24′E / 9.550°N 123.400°E / 9.550; 123.400
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province	Cebu
Congr. district	2nd district of Cebu
Barangays	21
Government[1]
• Mayor	Ronald L. Guaren
Area[2]
• Total	134.75 km2 (52.03 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	26,116
• Density	190/km2 (500/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6025
Dialing code	32

Oslob is a fourth class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 26,116 people.^[3]

Etymology

The name “Oslob” came from a misunderstandings between a native couple, named Umpang and Burong,^[4] and two guardia civils (civil guards) in the year 1785 at a place currently named "Nigad" in barangay Daanlungsod. While the said couple were taking a rest under the tree and were eating their boiled bananas while soaking it with vinegar and salt, the two guards asked the couple: “Como se llama esto pueblo?”, meaning ”What is the name of this town?”. The couple not knowing what the civil guards were saying, were thinking that the strangers were asking them what they were doing. Since the couple, at that time, were then soaking bananas with the vinegar and salt, the couple answered ”Toslob”, which means “soak”.

After hearing the word “Toslob”, the civil guards kept on repeating the word “Toslob” thinking that the said word was the name of the town, which was later changed to “Oslob”.

Until now, the flowing of the water at Nigad is still there quenching the thirst of the many people of the place including the nearby inhabitants specially when there is a shortage of water.^[5]

Geography

Land Classification as of (Latest Year)

• Arable Area: 5,045.00 Has.
• Residential : 220.00 Has.
• Commercial : 12.60 Has.
• Industrial : none
• Certified Alienable /Disposable Land: 1,563.00 Has.
• Classified Forest/Reservation/Timberland: 9,619.00 Has.
• Wildlife/Military Reserve Land : none
• Unclassified Forest Land/Wilderness : 65.89 Has.
• National Parks/Playgrounds : 5.75 Has.

Topography

Generally, topography of the area is hilly and rolling, dominated by open grasslands and second growth forest. There are fairly level and rolling plateaus and valleys spread throughout the interior. These are some of the most suitable areas for upland agriculture. The highest mountain peak is 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level.

Climate 

The Municipality of Oslob belongs to the third type of climate in the Philippines where in dry season comes on the months of February to September and the heaviest rains come on the month of October.

Soil Type 

Faraon clay Faraon clay steep phase Medellin clay Lugo clay

Barangays

Oslob is administratively subdivided into 21 barangays:^[2]

Demographics

Population census of Oslob
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	19,782	—
1995	21,686	+1.85%
2000	22,472	+0.71%
2007	22,732	+0.16%
2010	26,116	+4.73%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

Infrastructure and transportation

• National Road: 20.00 km.
• Provincial Road: 22.00 km.
• Municipal Road : 5.75 km.
• Barangay Road : 32.50 km.
• Ports (Domestic/International): none
• Airport (If any): none
• Transportation Services:
  • No. of Buses: 5
  • No. of Jeepneys : 8
  • No.of Tricycles: 15
  • No. of Trisicads : 0

Communications

• No. of Post Office: 1
• No. of Telephone Stations: 1
• No. of Telegraphic Stations: 1

Power

• Source of Electricity: CEBECO
• No. of Barangay Served: 17

Water

• Source of Water: Mun. Water System

Economy

Public Markets: 2

Financial intermediaries:

• No. of Commercial Banks and Money Shops: 3
• No. of Government Banks: none
• No. of Savings Banks: 1
• No. of Rural Banks: 1
• No. of Lending/Financing Institutions: 1
• No. of Cooperatives within the area: 2

Trade and industry:

• Sari-sari Stores: 135
• Restaurants & Cafeterias: 15
• Fresh Fish & Meal Retailers: 8
• General Merchandising: 23
• Service and Repair Shops: 5
• Tailoring & Dress Shops: 4
• Pawnshops & Lending Investments: 3
• Lumber and Hardwares: 4
• Pharmacies and Drug Stores: 5
• Marketing Firms (Appliances, furniture,etc.): none
• Gasoline Stations: 2
• Bakeries: 6
• Photo Shops & Beauty Parlors: 4

Education

Schools (Public & Private):

• Elementary: 13
• High Schools:6
• College: 1

Public libraries: none

Toslob Festival

The official festival of the Municipality of Oslob is Toslob Festival which is held during the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion which falls in December, every year.^[6][7][8][9]

The official was originally named Sadsad Festival and then was renamed to Sadsadayon Festival during the first term of Mayor Ronald Guaren in the year 2007. The next year, 2008, the festival's name was changed to Toslob Festival which refers to how the town of Oslob got its name. Thus, the festival has undergone 3 years already (as of 2010).^[10]

Tourist spots

Sumilon Island

Sumilon Island is a 24-hectare coral island off the coast of Bancogon, Oslob, Cebu. The island hosts the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort which developed the island into an eco-friendly haven for those who want to get away from the stress of city living.^[11]

The Island of Sumilon is located in the southeastern tip of the Municipality of Oslob in the province of Cebu. The island has an area of 24 hectares and has clear waters with varying aquamarine hues and white sand beaches in different areas of the island.

It is the first marine protected area in the Philippines and was created as a marine sanctuary in 1974 under the guidance of the Siliman University Marine Reserve of Dumaguete City in the nearby province of Negros Oriental.

The island is famous throughout the country and internationally for the exceptional beauty of its dive sites. Sumilon has four major dive sites, which are Garden Eel Plaza, Nikki’s Wall, Coral Landscape and Julie’s Rock. The island’s diving sites are famous for their superb visibility, stunning reefs and abundance of varied tropical marine species that provide an ideal and memorable dive. There are occasional sightings of black tip sharks during dives. A popular attraction in Sumilon Island is its sandbar because of its changing shapes and shifting locations around the island depending on the season. Other places of interest in the island are a natural lagoon teeming with high mangroves and natural caves used by fishermen to seek refuge during storms, and a pristine lake. On the south portion of the island, a lighthouse rests on a protected tree park and beside it is a “Baluarte”, a historical watchtower built as part of a warning system to thwart slavers and marauders in the 19th century.

Besides diving, you can also go bird watching, do beach picnics with the family, fishing, hiking, island tours, paddling and trekking. Located in the island is the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort, a private beach resort that provides excellent amenities and facilities for tourists and guests.The Island of Sumilon is located off the southeast coast of the Municipality of Oslob, Cebu, and is under the administration of Oslob. The island is about 125 kilometers from Cebu City and separated from the mainland by the Cebu Strait. It is also close to Dumaguete City in the nearby island province of Negros Oriental.

To get to Oslob, you can ride a public bus or a V-hire van from the Cebu South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. The estimated travel time from the city to Oslob is about three hours. The three-hour land trip to Oslob from Cebu City is a scenic ride through the southern coastal towns with fantastic views of the ocean.

From the port of Oslob, there are pump boats or small fast constructs that will bring you to the island. Another route to Sumilon Island is via Dumaguete City since it is also close to the island.^[12]

Cuartel

Located front-right of the church of Oslob, just outside the perimeter stone fence and near the sea, at the intersection of Calle Aeternidad and the end of Calle Aragones, an unfinished building made of coral blocks resembling a Spanish-era barracks stand. This unfinished structure was the cuartel, intended for the Spanish soldiers or guardia civil. It was started by Fray Juan Jose Aragones (1848–1854, 1859–1861) during his second term of service in this municipality. While it was not finished by Fray Aragones, work continued but remained unfinished until the end of Spanish occupation in 1898.^[13]

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Oslob was established as a visita of Boljoon in 1690 and became an independent parish in 1848 with the Immaculate Conception as its patroness. The present day church of cut coral stone was built by Fr. Julian Bermejo in May 4, 1830 following the plans of Cebu Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon and was finished 18 years later. The buttresses that would later on form part of this very massive church were added by Fr. Juan Aragones between 1848 and 1850. The adjacent bell tower was built in 1858. The church was burned during the Second World War liberating Philippine Commonwealth troops and Cebuano guerillas against the Japanese in Oslob in 1945, and 1955 but was eventually restored.

The entire church complex is surrounded by a stone wall. At the southeastern portion of the complex are the unfinished remains of a military barracks. Outside the walls are the remains of a watchtower, one of the many that line the southeastern coast of the Cebu.

The church is connected to the parish house or convento that still has its original clay-tiled roof. Across the church is the former mortuary chapel with a pediment decorated with a relief of a human skeleton. North of the complex is a small road that leads to the old cemetery.

On March 26, 2008, a fire (1:40 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.) gutted the 19th-century church's interior, including the altar and adjacent rectory, but it spared the image of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, which is inside a glass case, and the 73 other icons near the door to the bell tower.^[14]

Baluarte

The Baluarte (Spanish for watchtower) of Oslob was built in 1788. Its main purpose was to provide a safe place wherein guards can observe the surrounding area. It was a part of the defense system in dispelling the Moro raiders of the past,^[15] that included 6 other watchtowers along the coastline of Oslob.^[16] Just near the Cuartel, one can immediately see ruins of an ancient watchtower.^[17] So effective was this system that in 1815, the townspeople of Oslob were able to repel one such attack and was peaceful ever since. These prompted them to relocate the town to its present site from their fortified settlement in Daanglungsod which are now in ruins but still breathtaking.^[16]

Whale Shark Watching

Whale sharks are spotted in Tan-awan, Oslob which is 10 km away from the center of the town. It started last September 2011 and become a tourist attraction and popular all over the world. Local fishermen’s interact with the whale sharks by feeding them by hand while tourists find it entertaining.^[18][19]

Local government

Elected municipal officials as of May 2010:^[20]

• Mayor: Ronald (Dodong) Luna Guaren
• Vice-Mayor:Jose (Jun) C. Tumulak Jr.
• Councilors:
  • Leonardo S. Rendon
  • Kenneth C. Tan
  • Clementino A. Filosofo
  • Mansueto (Ete) A. Jugador
  • Teodoro D. Mirasol
  • Jesus C. Lim, Carlos S. Luzano
  • Guillermo R. Zamora

Previous municipal officials (2007)

• Mayor: Ronald L. Guaren
• Vice Mayor: Pacifica J. Letegio
• Councilors:
  • Leonardo Rendon
  • Filosofo Clementino
  • Alijandro Cabanlit
  • Vilma Zamora
  • Vicente Minao Jr.
  • Donoy Ficrencho
  • Jesus Lim
  • Kenneth Tan

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Oslob on DTI
• Toslob Festival on Department of Tourism
• Oslob Whale Sharks

	Malabuyoc	Boljoon
	Ginatilan Samboan		Bohol Sea
	Oslob
		Santander

v t e Province of Cebu Municipalities Alcantara Alcoy Alegria Aloguinsan Argao Asturias Badian Balamban Bantayan Barili Boljoon Borbon Carmen Catmon Compostela Consolacion Cordova Daanbantayan Dalaguete Dumanjug Ginatilan Liloan Madridejos Malabuyoc Medellin Minglanilla Moalboal Oslob Pilar Pinamungahan Poro Ronda Samboan San Fernando San Francisco San Remigio Santa Fe Santander Sibonga Sogod Tabogon Tabuelan Tuburan Tudela Component cities Bogo Carcar Danao Naga Talisay Toledo Highly urbanized cities Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (Except Mandaue City, all are administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Cebu by the National Statistics Office)