Sorsogon

This article is about the Philippine province. For other uses, see Sorsogon (disambiguation).
Province of Sorsogon
Probinsya nin Sorsogon
Lalawigan ng Sorsogon
Province

Flag
Seal

Map of the Philippines with Sorsogon highlighted
Coordinates: 12°50′N 123°55′E / 12.833°N 123.917°ECoordinates: 12°50′N 123°55′E / 12.833°N 123.917°E
Country  Philippines
Region Bicol (Region V)
Founded October 17, 1894[1][2]
Capital Sorsogon City
Government
 • Governor Raul R. Lee (United Nationalist Alliance)
 • Vice Governor Antonio Escudero Jr. (Nationalist People's Coalition)
Area[3]
 • Total 2,119.01 km2 (818.15 sq mi)
Area rank 61st out of 80
Population (2010)[4]
 • Total 740,743
 • Rank 35th out of 80
 • Density 350/km2 (910/sq mi)
 • Density rank 16th out of 80
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 1
 • Municipalities 14
 • Barangays 541
 • Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Sorsogon
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code 4700 - 4715
Dialing code 56
Spoken languages Bikol, Sorsoganon, Tagalog, English

Sorsogon (Bikol: Probinsya nin Sorsogon), (Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Sorsogon), is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. It is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities (towns) and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City (formerly the towns of Sorsogon and Bacon) and borders the province of Albay to the north. Sorsogon is at the tip of the Bicol Peninsula and faces the island of Samar to the southeast across the San Bernardino Strait and Ticao Island to the southwest. Sorsogueños is how the people of Sorsogon call themselves.

History

In 1570 two Augustinian friars, Alonzon Jiménez and Juan Orta, accompanied by a certain captain, Enrique de Guzmán, reached Hibalong, a small fishing village near the mouth of Ginangra River, and planted the cross and erected the first chapel in Luzon. It was from this village that Ibalong, referring to the whole region, came to be. Moving inland with a northwesterly direction they passed by the territory now known as Pilar, before they reached Camalig, Albay. The establishment of the Abucay-Catamlangan Mission later was ample proof of this The early towns established here were: Gibalon in 1570 (now sitio of Magallanes); Casiguran -1600; Bulusan – 1631; Pilar – 1635; Donsol – 1668; Bacon – 1764; Juban and Matnog - 1800; Bulan - 1801; Castilla – 1827; Magallanes – 1860; Sorsogon – 1866 and Irosin – 1880. The province was eventually separated from Albay on October 17, 1894 and adopted the name Sorsogon. The town of Sorsogon was also selected as its capital.[1]

On 1935 Philippine Constitutional convention, Sorsogon had its own delegates. They were Adolfo Grafilo, Francisco Arellano, José S. Reyes, and Mario Guarino.

Geography

Sorsogon, at the southeastern part of the Bicol Peninsula, is bounded on the north by the province of Albay, on the east by the Philippine Sea, on the south by the San Bernardino Strait, and on the west and northwest by the Ticao and Burias Passes. It has a total land area of 2,119 km2.

It is characterized by an irregular topography, and, except for landlocked Irosin, all the towns lie along the coast. They are all connected by concrete and asphalt roads. Mountains sprawl over the northeast, southeast and west portions. Mt. Bulusan, the tallest peak, rises 1,560 meters above sea level.

Except for its overland link with the province of Albay to the north, it is completely surrounded by water. Sorsogon is the gateway of Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao through its Roll-on/Roll-off ferry terminal facilities located in the municipalities of Matnog, Pilar and Bulan.

Subdivisions

Aerial View of Sorsogon City.

Sorsogon is subdivided into 14 municipalities and 1 city. In 2000, Sorsogon City was created through the merging of the municipalities of Bacon and Sorsogon.[5]

City/
Municipality		 No. of
Barangays		 District Area
(km²)[6]		 Population
(2010)[4]		 Income class
(2007)[6]		 City class ZIP code Mayor
Barcelona 25 2 61.18 20,340 5th Municipality 4712 Manuel L. Fortes Jr.
Bulan 63 2 196.96 93,943 1st Municipality 4706 Helen C. De Castro
Bulusan 24 2 96.30 22,089 4th Municipality 4704 Michael G. Guysayko
Casiguran 25 1 87.13 30,995 4th Municipality 4702 Ma. Ester A. Hamor
Castilla 34 1 186.20 52,903 3rd Municipality 4713 Olivia M. Bermillo
Donsol 51 1 156.20 47,563 3rd Municipality 4715 Jerome F. Alcantara
Gubat 42 2 134.51 57,327 1st Municipality 4710 Roderick Co
Irosin 28 2 149.87 51,777 2nd Municipality 4707 Eduardo E. Ong Jr.
Juban 25 2 121.49 30,335 4th Municipality 4703 Jimmy J. Fragata
Magallanes 34 1 150.09 35,443 3rd Municipality 4705 Roque L. Carranza
Matnog 40 2 162.40 37,641 3rd Municipality 4708 Emilio G. Ubaldo
Pilar 49 1 248.00 68,245 1st Municipality 4714 Dennis A. Sy-Reyes
Prieto Diaz 23 2 49.07 20,478 5th Municipality 4711 Boytee Doma
Santa Magdalena 14 2 43.50 16,520 5th Municipality 4709 Alejandro E. Gamos
Sorsogon City 64 1 276.11 155,144 3rd Component City 4700 Sally A. Lee

Demographics

Population census of Sorsogon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 522,960—    
1995 591,927+2.35%
2000 650,535+2.04%
2007 709,673+1.21%
2010 740,743+1.57%
Source: National Statistics Office[7]

Population

As of 2007, the population increased by 9.1% to 709,673 from the 2000 census. The increase of population in 2007 from 2000 can be translated to an annual population growth of 1.21%.

The top 5 towns with the most number of population is Sorsogon City (151,454), Bulan (91,730), Pilar (63,539), Gubat (57,237), and Irosin (49,968). The least populated municipality both in 2000 and 2007 census is Sta. Magdalena.

Of the 704,024 household population in 2007, males accounted for 51.1% and while females compromised 48.9%.

The voting-age population of the province was 369,204 in 2007, equivalent to 52.1 percent of the household population.[8]

Languages

The Bicol dialect predominates in Sorsogon as a language used by its people. English and Tagalog-based National Language now commonly known as "Filipino" are the official languages used in education and various forms of communications. But Bicol as used in this province has some peculiarities. What is known as "Naga Bicol" is used in written communications and generally understood as a spoken language. However there are Bicol dialects peculiar to certain specific places. For example, people in Bacon, Prieto Diaz and Magallanes speak the Albay or Legaspi Bikol. In Sorsogon town, Casiguran and Juban, Bicol is slightly different for some of the terms used are similar to hiligaynon as spoken in Western Visayas. Barcelona, Gubat, Bulusan, Matnog, Irosin and Sta. Magdalena speak a dialect which uses terms and tones similar to the waray-waray of Samar Island. And again the people of Pilar and Donsol speak a dialect similar but not exactly alike to the "Miraya Bicol" or the dialect spoken by the nearby towns of Camalig and Daraga in Albay province. Castilla dialect is the same as that of Daraga.

Religion

Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Sorsogon is predominantly a Catholic Province. Spanish conquistadores gave Sorsogon its first encounter with Christianity. This was in the year 1569 when Fray Alonzo Jimenez, OSA, chaplain of the expedition under Luis Enriquez de Guzman celebrated the first Mass upon landing on the coast of sitio Gibal-ong (or Gibalon), barangay Siuton, in the town of Magallanes. Christianity, however, was formally established in Sorsogon with the planting of the Cross on the shores of Casiguran town in 1600 by the Franciscan Friars. This was a prelude to the erection of the first church building dedicated to the Holy Rosary, still revered at present as the Patroness of Casiguran. From there, the Franciscan missionaries devotedly spread the faith to the other towns in Bacon (1617), Bulusan (1630) and Donsol (1668. The other twelve towns followed suit in the course of time. In the original geographic division, the province of Sorsogon formed part of Albay province. It seceded as a separate province on Oct. 17, 1984.

The Diocese of Sorsogon was originally part of the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres. When it was made a separate diocese on June 29, 1951, it included the territory of Masbate. When the Diocese of Nueva Caceres was elevated into an archdiocese in the same year, Legazpi and Sorsogon were made suffragan dioceses of Nueva Caceres. On March 23, 1968, Masbate was made into a separate diocese. At present the Diocese of Sorsogon covers simply the civil province of Sorsogon and the City of Sorsogon.

Economy

The province's economic activity is highly concentrated in its capital city, Sorsogon City, and the towns of Bulan, Irosin, Gubat, and Matnog as well. Sorsogon Province is classified as 2nd class with an average annual income of ₱339.4M (C.Ys. 2000-2003). This is about ₱11M short for the province to attain 1st class reclassification which requires at least ₱350M average annual income.

The Province of Sorsogon indeed had a great contribution on the 97-percent growth in investments for the first quarter of 2008 and increasing tourism arrivals that buoyed the Bicol Region economy, despite the damage brought about by incessant rains and a rice shortage. This is according to the Quarterly Regional Economic Situationer (QRES) released by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office in Bicol (NRO 5).

Among the provinces, Sorsogon posted the highest growth (293% respectively) in investments from the previous year. Next to Sorsogon is Catanduanes that posted a growth of 280%. Albay contributed 39 percent to the region's investments and posted a growth of 221% from the preceding quarter.

“For the third time, Bicol Region hosted the kick-off of Asia's premier extreme sailing event, the Philippine Hobie Challenge last February 16 at Gubat, Sorsogon. This 260-mile journey from Gubat-Sambuyan-Bacsal-Marambut-Suluan to Siargao enticed both local and foreign water sports enthusiasts. It opened the opportunity for the municipality of Gubat to showcase the town's best,” the QRES stated.

Climate

Sorsogon belongs to Type 2 climate based on the Climate Map of the Philippines by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Being a Type 2, Sorsogon has No dry season with a pronounced rainfall from November to January.

Climate data for Sorsogon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 34
(93)		 34
(93)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 32.5
(90.4)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24.6
(76.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 150.8
(5.937)		 101.8
(4.008)		 82.3
(3.24)		 44.9
(1.768)		 132.5
(5.217)		 146
(5.75)		 196.9
(7.752)		 181.6
(7.15)		 168.5
(6.634)		 199.2
(7.843)		 191.2
(7.528)		 233.7
(9.201)		 1,829.4
(72.028)
Avg. rainy days 18 14 12 7 10 14 17 18 18 20 20 22 190
Source: World Weather Online

"worldweatheronline.com". World Weather Online. 2015.

Typhoon Nina (known as Sisang) the strongest typhoon that hit the Province killing at least 200 people.

The province of Sorsogon normally gets 5 to 10 typhoons every year.

The most notable typhoon is in 1987, when Sorsogon was devastated by Super Typhoon Nina named “Sisang”. It was a major disaster in the Province of Sorsogon. Damages in properties cost million of pesos, and killing 200 people. It is said that Sisang is the strongest typhoon that hit the Province, especially its capital, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon. According to PAGASA, Typhoon Nina ravaged with a wind of 180 kilometers per hour and a gustiness of 200 kph. Very true, because thousands of houses plus business establishments were destroyed by the said natural calamity. Typhoon Sisang hit the Sorsogon soil at around 7:00 pm and it last until dawn of the next day. it also caused massive storm surges particularly around the Sorsogon Bay area which contributed to the many fatalities during the battering of the typhoon.

Typhoon Xangsane(Milenyo) also battered the province in September 2006 with torrential rains and strong winds. it caused massive flooding and caused infrastructure and agricultural damages. Damages to the entire province was initially placed at P2.23 billion, of which P1.27 billion was accounted for by damaged houses. Agriculture suffered damage worth P234.21 million; school facilities, P51 million and infrastructure, P208 million.

Culture

Festivals

Most of the inhabitants of the province belong to the ethnolinguistic Bicolano and Bisakol groups. Sorsogueños are very religious and fun-loving. Being mostly Roman Catholics, they are active in every festivity celebrated throughout the year. Like any other Filipino ethnolinguistic groups, each town honors their Patron Saint with celebration on its Feast Day. In Sorsogon City, the locals celebrate the Fiesta of the Patron Saints Peter and Paul on June 28–29 of each year. Another featured attractions during town fiestas are the Traveling carnivals that sets up near the town center or its vicinities.In Gubat,Sorsogon,the feast of Gubat is celebrated in June 13.

Downtown Bulusan located East of the Province

Minorities

Minorities include Muslim immigrants from Mindanao, who engage in street vending and small shop businesses. A mosque is situated inside Sitio Bolangan on the outskirts of the city. A significant small Chinese population are owners of hardware stores and commodity shops and dwell in the business center. Indian communities are also present and are Hindus. They are typically known to engage in money lending businesses—colloquially called "five-six".

Education and language

Education is highly valued as an investment for the future, as illustrated by the many state and private schools and colleges which dot the province. Almost all people understand Tagalog and Coastal Bikol, the most widely used language in Bicol. The local language spoken by Sorsogueños varies from district to municipalities. To illustrate, the form of Bisakol (called Waray Sorsogon) spoken in Bulan, Barcelona, Gubat, Irosin, Sta. Magdalena, Matnog and Bulusan slightly differs from the form (called Masbate Sorsogon) spoken in the city of Sorsogon and the municipalities of Juban and Casiguran. North of Sorsogon City, Castilla, Pilar, Magallanes, and Bacon (merged with Sorsogon city; see History), a dialect of Coastal Bikol is spoken, called Coastal Bikol-Legazpi. A variety of Albay Bikol language of Inland Bikol group of languages called East Miraya similar to that of Daraga, Albay, is spoken in Donsol and some parts of Pilar (a language intelligible with Rinconada Bikol used in Camarines Sur). The former municipalities mentioned use words and intonations from Visayan languages such as Waray-Waray, Cebuano and Ilonggo, and Bisakol is considered a Warayan language like Waray-Waray of Samar and Leyte. English is also understood by most educated people. It is used in all government documents, schools, and in business. This language has also become increasingly important as businesses such as call centers and medical transcription require prospective applicants to be proficient in it.

Government

Sorsogon is subdivided into 2 Congressional Districts. The 1st Congressional District comprises the City of Sorsogon and towns of Pilar, Donsol, and Castilla. The Sorsogon Provinvial Capitol is located in the City of Sorsogon

Sorsogon Provincial Capitol: Seat of the provincial government of Sorsogon.

Places of Interest

Tolonggapo Beach of Bacon District, located on the eastern side of Sorsogon City.
Bulusan Lake on the slope of Bulusan Volcano National Park.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 History of Sorsogon. Official Website of the Government of Sorsogon. Retrieved on 2010-06-06
  2. ↑ Sorsogon, Where Comes the World's Largest Fish. The Philippines Agribusiness Center. Retrieved on 2010-06-06.
  3. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  5. ↑ NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created, July–December 2000.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Province: Sorsogon". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  8. ↑ 2007 Census
  9. ↑ Festivals in Sorsogon. Sorsogon Tourism Website. Retrieved on 2010-06-06.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sorsogon.
 Masbate / Burias Pass Albay
Philippine Sea
   Sorsogon  
Masbate / Ticao Pass Samar Sea San Bernardino Strait / Northern Samar