Bontoc, Southern Leyte

Bontoc
Municipality
Seal
Map of Southern Leyte showing the location of Bontoc
Bontoc Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°21′N 124°58′E / 10.350°N 124.967°ECoordinates: 10°21′N 124°58′E / 10.350°N 124.967°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province	Southern Leyte
Congr. district	Lone district of S. Leyte
Founded	June 15, 1950
Barangays	40
Government[1]
• Type	Strong Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Matias Mervyn Cretecio Ruales
• Vice mayor	Pedro Valdez Fustanes Jr.
Area[2]
• Total	102.10 km^2 (39.42 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	28,079
• Density	280/km^2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6604
Dialing code	+53
Income class	4th class

Bontoc is a fourth class municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 28,079 people.^[3]

The town is home to the Bontoc Campus of the Southern Leyte State University, which offers agricultural and industrial courses.

The town celebrates their fiesta in honor of the Holy Child Jesus. The Ulang Festival, held annually on January 15, is celebrated by colorful participants dancing in honor of the icon of the Señor Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). Some devotees to the Señor Santo Niño said that it can performed miracles that can heal sickness of those who touches the said icon.

Geography

The town is situated on a long stretch of rich alluvial plain, which considered as the greatest farming region in the entire Sogod Bay District, and is drained by the Salog and Divisoria Rivers. Because of its rich soil, there is much rice farming. The town is also the producer of abaca, copra and tobacco in the Bay District.

Barangays

Bontoc is politically subdivided into 40 barangays.^[2]

• Anahao
• Banahao
• Baugo
• Beniton
• Buenavista
• Bunga
• Casao
• Catmon
• Catoogan
• Cawayanan
• Dao
• Divisoria
• Esperanza
• Guinsangaan
• Hibagwan
• Hilaan
• Himakilo
• Hitawos
• Lanao
• Lawgawan
• Mahayahay
• Malbago
• Mauylab
• Olisihan
• Paku
• Pamahawan
• Pamigsian
• Pangi
• Poblacion
• Pong-on
• Sampongon
• San Ramon
• San Vicente
• Santa Cruz
• Santo Niño
• Taa
• Talisay
• Taytagan
• Tuburan
• Union

History

The name “Bontoc” is derived from an old creek called Bontoc creek near the present Roman Catholic Cemetery where old “pueblo” called Daan Lungsod existed during the early Spanish regime.

Before the coming of the Spaniards, Bontoc was a wilderness where few natives lived and wild animals roamed. When the Spaniards came, they found scattered warring tribes of primitive Malays who settled in prosperous villages near the mouth and along the fertile plains of the historic Salog river basin. They then successfully subjugated these warring tribes and immigrants and founded a cluster of villages which later on formed the nucleus of the Barrio of Bontoc.

As far as history could recall the most popular among the ancient warring chiefs, was Mariano Barcelon who was nicknamed as “Tahug”. He was acclaimed to be the bravest of the braves. His name was a terror to the Moro pirates that swarmed Philippine waters during the 16th century.

During the Spanish time up to the early part of the American regime, Bontoc was ruled by a succession of native “Cabezas de barangay”, a unit government organization during that time. Bontoc was at that time a tributary “pueblo” belonging to the old town of Libagon which governed the people for many years both in civil and religious matter by a line of “capitanes or gobernadocillos.

The cabezas de barangay who governed this little pueblo also earned for themselves the honor of being called “capitan” by their own people. The church wielded tremendous power at that time in the affairs of the government. Any person who offends the clergy or disobeys religious order is severely punished.

Among the well-known capitanes who controlled the reins of the local administration of this barrio were: Hilario Barcelon, Manuel Leyes, Romualdo Tubia, Florentino Flores, Felipe Aguilar and the last well-known cabeza or capitan was Gerardo Faelnar popularly known among the people as Capitan Dadoy whose administration lasted up to the early days of American occupation.

Shortly after the coming of the Americans, Bontoc became a unit barrio of Sogod.

During the Japanese occupation, the town served as the seat of resistance movement against the Japanese with its general headquarters in sitio Mamingaw, Barangay Banahaw and under the command of Colonel Ruperto K. Kangleon. In one notable raid, an entire truckload of Japanese soldiers on patrol was completely annihilated at Sitio Trece, Barangay Santo Niño. A small monument stands in front of Bontoc motor pool at Sitio Trece commemorates this event.

On June 15, 1950, it became a regular municipality by the operative provisions of Republic Act No. 522.

Demographics

Population census of Bontoc
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	24,818	—
1995	24,047	−0.59%
2000	27,592	+2.99%
2007	28,535	+0.46%
2010	28,079	−0.58%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

References

1. "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
2. "Province: Southern Leyte". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
3. "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.

External links

• Official Website of Bontoc, Southern Leyte
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System