Caramoan, Camarines Sur

Caramoan
Municipality
Caramoan town center
Map of Camarines Sur showing the location of Caramoan
Caramoan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°46′N 123°52′E / 13.767°N 123.867°E / 13.767; 123.867Coordinates: 13°46′N 123°52′E / 13.767°N 123.867°E / 13.767; 123.867
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Camarines Sur
District	4th district
Barangays	49
Government[1]
• Mayor	Constantino H. Cordial, Jr. (NPC)
• Vice Mayor	Irene R. Breis (NPC)
• Representative	Felix William B. Fuentebella (NPC)
• Municipal Councilors	Eduardo B. Bonita Francis R. Benemerito Juanita P. Belleza Raul F. Villarete Manolo A. Pineda, Jr. Carlos B. Chavez Getulio A. Fernando, Jr. Lydia C. Obias
Area[2]
• Total	276.00 km2 (106.56 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	44,945
• Density	160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4429
Dialing code	54
Income class	1st class

Caramoan is a first-class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines. It is located at the tip of the Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the north and east and Lagonoy Gulf on the south. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 44,945 people.^[3]

Geography

Caramoan is bounded on the north by the town of Garchitorena and the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean; on the northeast by the island province of Catanduanes; on the south by Lagonoy Gulf; on the east by the Maqueda Channel and on the west by the municipality of Presentacion.

The municipality covers approximately 277.41 square kilometres (107.11 sq mi) with approximately 71 kilometres (44 mi) of irregular coastline surrounded by the vast ocean, bay, seas and swamps. It is approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi) from Metro Manila; 95 kilometres (59 mi) from the municipality of Pili, where the seat of the provincial government and the Naga Domestic Airport are located; and 110 kilometres (68 mi) east from Naga City, the heart of Bicol.

Barangays

Caramoan is politically subdivided into 49 barangays.^[2]

Caramoan Islands

Off the coast of the peninsula are numerous small islets. The 10 principal islands of the group are:^[4]

History

The name Caramoan has been officially used since 1619, the year it was named by a Spanish missionary friar, Francisco de la Cruz Y Oropesa. Fr. Oropesa penetrated the thick virgin forest of the Caramoan Peninsula and founded a small settlement in a place called Baluarte. This settlement was subsequently turned over to the administration of the Holy Bishopric in 1696.

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, it was determined that the place was once called Guta de Leche, which was given by Dutch traders who operated a gold mine in Lahuy Island and who frequented the area to trade with the natives. The name was perhaps derived from the milkdrop stalagmites found among the rocks of Guta Port. Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place came to be called "Carahan" for the sea turtle, which was at that time to be found in great number along the shores of the Peninsula.

Demographics

Tourism

Tourist destinations include the Caramoan National Park, the Centro, and Gota Beach, where activities include diving, swimming, snorkeling and spelunking.

Matukad Island

Survivor

Caramoan has been the site for several editions of the competitive reality television show Survivor. The area has hosted the U.S. version in two consecutive seasons, the Serbian version for two consecutive seasons and the Israeli version for three consecutive seasons. Bulgarian Survivor also filmed its fourth season there in May to July 2009. Robinson 2010, the 12th season of the Swedish version of the franchise, was filmed in Caramoan from May to June 2010.

The 8th season of Koh-Lanta, the French edition of Survivor, also was shot there. TV director Corinne Vaillant stated that "the powdery sand, the coconuts on Gota beach and the neighboring islets are a 'dream' for the French people. We chose Caramoan because it’s really wild. It’s necessary that contestants don’t see anything other than nature for them to believe that they’re really lost in the wilds.”^[6]

The only season of Survivor India was shot in Caramoan, with an Indian production crew spotted in the area in March 2011.^[7]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Official Site of the Province of Camarines Sur

		Philippine Sea
	Garchitorena Presentacion		Maqueda Channel / San Andres, Catanduanes
	Caramoan
		Lagonoy Gulf

Province of Camarines Sur Pili (capital) Municipalities Baao Balatan Bato Bombon Buhi Bula Cabusao Calabanga Camaligan Canaman Caramoan Del Gallego Gainza Garchitorena Goa Lagonoy Libmanan Lupi Magarao Milaor Minalabac Nabua Ocampo Pamplona Pasacao Pili Presentacion Ragay Sagñay San Fernando San Jose Sipocot Siruma Tigaon Tinambac Component city Iriga Independent component city Naga (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Camarines Sur by the National Statistics Office)