Camiguin

This article is about the Philippine province. For other uses, see Camiguin (disambiguation).
Camiguin
Province
Province of Camiguin


Flag
Seal
Motto: The Island Born of Fire[1]

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°10′N 124°43′E / 9.17°N 124.72°E / 9.17; 124.72Coordinates: 9°10′N 124°43′E / 9.17°N 124.72°E / 9.17; 124.72
Country Philippines
Region Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Founded 1565
Provincehood June 18, 1966
Capital Mambajao
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo (NPC)
 • Vice Governor James Ederango (NPC)
Area[2]
 • Total 237.95 km2 (91.87 sq mi)
Area rank 80th out of 81
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 88,478
 • Rank 80th out of 81
 • Density 370/km2 (960/sq mi)
 • Density rank 17th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 0
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 58
 • Districts Lone district of Camiguin
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP Code 9100–9104
IDD : area code  +63 (0)88
ISO 3166 code PH-CAM
Spoken language
Website www.camiguin.gov.ph

Camiguin (Tagalog pronunciation: [kamiˈɡin]), (Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Camiguin; Hiligaynon: Kapuoran sang Camiguin; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Camiguin) is an island province in the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) off the northern coast of Mindanao. It is politically part of the Northern Mindanao Region of the country and formerly a part of Misamis Oriental province.

Camiguin is the second-smallest province in the country in both population and land area after Batanes.[4] The provincial capital is Mambajao, which is also the province's largest municipality in both area and population.[5]

History

Etymology

The name Camiguin is derived from the native word Kamagong, a species of the ebony tree that thrives near Lake Mainit in the province of Surigao del Norte, the region from which the earlier inhabitants of the islands, the Manobos, came. Kinamigin, the local language of Camiguin, is closely related to the Manobo language.[6]

An earlier Spanish geography book writes the island as Camiguing. There is reason to suppose the Spaniards dropped the final g.[7]

Spanish colonial era

Old Spanish documents indicate that the renowned explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi landed in Camiguin in 1521 and 1565, respectively. The first Spanish settlement was established in 1598 in what is now Guinsiliban. Guinsiliban which comes from the old Kinamiguin word Ginsil-ipan which means “to look out for pirates from a watchtower” has an old Spanish watchtower where the Camiguinons kept watch for Moro pirates.[8]

The first major Spanish settlement established in 1679 was called Katagman or Katadman (known as Catarman). The settlement grew and prospered but was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vulcan in 1871. The former location is what is now Barangay Bonbon of Catarman.[8]

Sagay, located south of Catarman, was formally established as a town in 1848. The word Sagay is derived from the name of poisonous fruit tree that grow in the area. Mambajao became a town in 1855. The name was coined from the Visayan terms mamahaw, meaning to usher breakfast, and bajao, which is leftover boiled rice. In the early 1900s, Mambajao prospered to become the busiest port in Northern Mindanao. Mahinog was established as a municipality in 1860. The name Mahinog comes from a Visayan word meaning "to ripen" or "to become ripe". Although Guinsiliban was the oldest settlement in the island, it was only in 1950 when it became a municipality. Mahinog was formerly governed by Mambajao while Guinsiliban was formally governed from Sagay.[8]

American colonial era

In 1901, in the middle of the Philippine-American War, American soldiers landed in Camiguin to assume political control over the island. A group of Camiguinons, armed with bolos and spears, led by Valero Camaro, fought them in a short battle in Catarman. Valero Camaro was killed by a bullet on the forehead and became one of the Camiguin patriots of the early independence movement.[8]

In 1903, the first public school in Camiguin was built in Mambajao and in 1904 the first public water system was installed.[8]

World War II

On June 18, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army landed in Camiguin and set up a government in Mambajao. They gutted central Mambajao in reprisal to guerrilla activities in the area. The remains of some of these buildings still exist today.[8]

Independence

On July 4, 1946, the Philippines gained independence from the US. Camiguin was then part of Misamis Oriental. In 1958, it became a sub-province.[9] It was made into a separate province on June 18, 1966, and formally inaugurated in 1968.[8]

Geography

The province consists primarily of Camiguin Island, as well as a few other surrounding minor islets including:

Physical

Camiguin Island is a pearl-shaped island with an area of approximately 238 km2 (92 sq mi).[4] The island measures about 23 kilometres (14 mi) at its longest and 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) at its widest breadth.[10] The island is mountainous with the highest elevation reaching over 5,000 ft (1,500 m). It is encircled by a national road with a total length of about 64 kilometres (40 mi). As of the August 1, 2007 census, the province has a 5th class income classification with a population of 81,293.[11]

Administrative divisions

Camiguin comprises five municipalities, which are further subdivided into a total of 58 barangays.[4]

Municipality [lower-roman 1] Population ±% p.a. Area[5] Density Brgy.
(2015)[3] (2010)[12] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
9°07′29″N 124°40′33″E / 9.1246°N 124.6757°E / 9.1246; 124.6757 (Catarman) Catarman 19.0% 16,798 16,388 +0.47% 53.75 20.75 310 800 14
9°05′53″N 124°47′07″E / 9.0980°N 124.7854°E / 9.0980; 124.7854 (Guinsiliban) Guinsiliban 7.1% 6,281 5,580 +2.28% 18.52 7.15 340 880 7
9°09′21″N 124°47′05″E / 9.1559°N 124.7846°E / 9.1559; 124.7846 (Mahinog) Mahinog 15.9% 14,038 13,531 +0.70% 32.55 12.57 430 1,100 13
9°15′12″N 124°43′00″E / 9.2532°N 124.7168°E / 9.2532; 124.7168 (Mambajao) Mambajao † 43.8% 38,735 36,435 +1.17% 89.00 34.36 440 1,100 15
9°06′23″N 124°43′28″E / 9.1064°N 124.7244°E / 9.1064; 124.7244 (Sagay) Sagay 14.3% 12,626 11,873 +1.18% 44.13 17.04 290 750 9
Total 88,478 83,807 +1.04% 237.95 91.87 370 960 58
 †  Provincial capital      Municipality
  1. ↑ The globe 
    icon marks the town center.

Demographics

Population census
of Camiguin
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 64,247—    
1995 68,039+1.08%
2000 74,232+1.89%
2007 81,293+1.26%
2010 83,807+1.11%
2015 88,478+1.04%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][12][12]

The population of Camiguin in the 2015 census was 88,478 people,[3] with a density of 370 inhabitants per square kilometre or 960 inhabitants per square mile.

The people of Camiguin are called Camiguingnon or Camiguinon (Spanish: Camigueños (m)/Camigueñas (f)). The languages widely spoken in the province are Cebuano and Hiligaynon while only a few people still speak Kinamigin, the ancient tribal language of Camiguin. Today, Kinamigin is only predominantly spoken in the municipalities of Sagay and Guinsiliban.[13] English is also widely spoken by the local population.[14]

Religion

Camiguin is a predominantly Roman Catholic province with 95% adherence. The remaining religions are represented by various Protestant and few Islamic groups.

Economy

The economy is based upon fishing and farming, with copra providing the greatest income contribution. Lanzones, has since then, became the main agricultural product of the island province.[14] Other agricultural products are abaca, rice, mangoes and other fruit trees. The growing tourism industry have improved the economy of the province. Small cottage industries have increased in number to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Education

Camiguin has three colleges, namely: Fatima College of Camiguin (FCC), Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC), with a satellite campus and Camiguin School of Arts and Trades (CSAT) and a technical education offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). A complete secondary and elementary education is available as well, both in private and public. There are also day care centers which offer nursery and pre-school education.

The province has a total number of 68 day care centers managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and 56 public and private elementary schools. There are 13 secondary schools, 3 private institutions and the rest are government-owned. There is one special school, which accommodates to the underprivileged or special children, the Family-to-Family School and Farm. It is managed by a Non-Government Organization (NGO).

There is also the Alternative Learning System Education Sector which helps individuals through its literacy cum livelihood.[15]

Man-made attractions

Lanzones, the fruit celebrated By The Whole Island every Third Week Of October in Mambajao

Lanzones Festival

Each year in The Third Week Of October, a festival is held celebrating the Lanzones, a small grape-sized tropical fruit grown all over the island. The week-long Lanzones Festival is one of the more colorful events in the Philippines.

Churches

Several centuries-old Spanish Colonial and 20th century churches are found in various parts of the island.

Old ancestral homes

Beautiful and ornate ancestral homes that date back to the Spanish Colonial Period and American Colonial Period, are still abundant and can be found along the streets of Camiguin.

Natural attractions

Volcanoes

Hibok Hibok volcano crater

The island of Camiguin is of volcanic origin composed of four stratovolcanoes. Each volcano (except Mount Guinsiliban) is made up of several flank domes.[16] The only volcano in the island with historical eruptions is Hibok-Hibok, which last erupted in 1953. From north to south:

Islands

Located just a few kilometers off the coast are the two islands of Camiguin.

Springs

Sunken Cemetery marker

Sunken cemetery

During the volcanic birth of Mt. Vulcan that lasted from 1871 to about 1875, some areas in the town of Bonbon subsided, sinking the cemetery of the town to below sea level. The place is commemorated by a huge cross erected in 1982.[21]

Katibawasan Falls

Since then the municipality of Bonbon transferred to now the town of Catarman

Waterfalls

Protected areas

Flora and fauna

At least five vertebrate species are believed to be endemic to Camiguin:

Transportation

Ferry to Camiguin with Mount Guinsiliban in the background

Natural calamities

Volcanic activity from 1871 to 1875

On February 16, 1871, earthquakes began to be felt on the island, which increase in severity until April 30 when a volcanic fissure opened up 400 yards southwest of the village of Catarman, northwest of Hibok-Hibok Volcano. Mt. Vulcan was born and continued erupting pouring lava into the sea at the same time gaining in height and width. In 1875, the Challenger expedition visited the area and described the mountain as a dome, 1,950 ft (590 m) in height, without any crater, but still smoking and incandescent at the top.[7]

The town of Catarman was destroyed and portion of the town sank beneath the sea. The settlement moved to where the town center is presently located and today, all that remains of old Catarman are the ruins of the ancient Spanish church, a convent and a bell tower.

Eruptions from 1948 to 1951

From 1948 to 1951, Mt. Hibok-Hibok was constantly rumbling and smoking. The first minor eruption in 1948 caused little damage and loss of life, but in 1949, the larger eruption caused 79 deaths due to pyroclastic flows. The largest eruption occurred the morning of December 4, 1951. The volcano unleashed lava flows, poisonous gases, and pyroclastic flows destroying nearly 19 squares kilometers of land, particularly in Mambajao. All in all, over 3,000 people were killed. Before the eruption of Mt. Hibok-Hibok in 1951, the population of Camiguin had reach 69,000. After the eruption, the population was reduced to about 34,000 due to massive out-migration.[8] [18]

Typhoon of 2001

A disastrous typhoon hit the province in the dawn of November 7, 2001. The tropical storm named Lingling (local name Nanang) brought buhawi (torrential downpours) on the mountains causing multiple massive mudslides killing about 200 inhabitants, most were missing.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Montalvan II, Antonio J. (26 January 2015). "London travel fair gets an exciting glimpse of Camiguin, 'island born of fire'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 18 March 2016. Among the exhibitors from the Philippines this year is the island province of Camiguin in Mindanao that calls itself “the island born of fire.”
  2. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Region X (NORTHERN MINDANAO)". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "About Camiguin Province". Province of Camiguin Official Website. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
  5. 1 2 "Province: Camiguin". PSA. Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Manobo, Cinamiguin a language of the Philippines". OLAC Record. Retrieved on 2012-04-27.
  7. 1 2 Becker, George F., "Report on the Geology of the Philippine Islands",p.42. Washington Government Printing Office, 1901.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "History". Province of Camiguin Official Website. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
  9. ↑ "R.A. No. 2021, An Act Creating the Subprovince of Camiguin in the Province of Misamis Oriental". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  10. ↑ Measured with Google Earth
  11. ↑ "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Philippine Standard Geographic Code Interactive. Retrieved on 2012-04-26.
  12. 1 2 3 "Region X (NORTHERN MINDANAO)". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Yamit, Neil (2011-07-08). "Kinamigin: The Language of Camiguinons". Camiguin Guide. Retrieved on 2012-04-27.
  14. 1 2 "People". Province of Camiguin Official Website. Retrieved on 2012-04-27.
  15. ↑ Provincial Government of Camiguin (2009). "Education". Province of Camiguin Official Web Site. Retrieved on 2010-10-25.
  16. ↑ "Synonyms & Subfeatures - Camiguin". Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
  17. ↑ "Eruptive History Camiguin". Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
  18. 1 2 "Hibok-Hibok". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
  19. ↑ "Synonyms and Subfeatures". Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
  20. ↑ Tangub Hot Spring. Visayan Silent Gardens. Retrieved on 2010-06-10.
  21. ↑ "Camiguin is famous Burat Republic..." - Department of Titie Tourism
  22. ↑ "Places to See: Tuasan Falls". Retrieved on 2010-06-10.
  23. ↑ "Finding Camiguin, the Island born of Fire". Province of Camiguin Official Website. Retrieved on 2012-04-26.
  24. ↑ (2011). "Balingoan to Camiguin Ferry Schedule". Camiguin Island Tours. Retrieved on 2012-04-27.
  25. ↑ (2001-11-07). "Storm leaves 22 dead in Philippines". CNN World. Retrieved on 2012-04-25.
 Bohol
Bohol Sea
Bohol Sea Bohol Sea / Agusan del Norte
   Camiguin  
Bohol Sea
Misamis Oriental
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