Looc, Romblon

Looc, Romblon

Looc is a 4th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 19,898 people in 4,262 household.

Onhan / Taga-onhan or Inunhan (Loocnon Style) is the native language of the municipality's inhabitants.

History

The municipality we now call Looc was formerly part of Encomienda de Mahalud or Maharlu, a river settlement along the banks of the river with the same name located in Panay Island which included the islands of Tablas and Cibuyan (Sibuyan) belonging to Don Alvaro de Angulo, an encomiendero, established on November 2, 1571. Presently, this is the modern barangay of Majanlud, a coastal barangay of Sapian, Capiz as one of the earliest settlement in the country. Around year 1730, migrant Onhan (Taga-uma) and Nayon (Taga-Banwa) people who were Onhan language speakers, a variant or corrupted western Visayan language derived from the Kinaray-a language family from Nabas, Capiz (now part of Aklan) in Panay Island settled in the westernside of Looc river which was then a virgin forested land for their cultivation and settlement.

In Philippine Map published on August 25, 1734 showed the settlement of Looc as part of Pueblo de Cabolutan located north of Tablas Island, around 4.5 kilometers north of the present town of San Agustin that existed until 1790 when its population was almost wiped-out by small-pox epidemic. Due to its abolition, the settlement's administration was transferred to Pueblo de Banton. In early 1800s, the second wave migrants of Taga-onhan and Taga-Nayon settlers from Panay Island settled in the area and as far as Odiongan and San Andres. Their settlements expanded northward and eastward occupying the whole extent of the present municipality. The settlement continued to progress and in the course of time, Visita Looc was converted into a Pueblo or Parish in 1844 to become Capiz 23rd municipality, taken from pueblo de Banton, as shown on Capiz province's annual report submitted by the Discalced priests to his majesty, the king of Spain and the fourth pueblo or parish under the Destacamento (Detachment) de Romblon under Capiz.

The new pueblo included all territories south of Tablas Island including visitas de La Lauan, Catolog, Sabang, Guinbirayan, Cabalian and the island of Carabao or Hambil which decided to join the new town taken from pueblo Nabas, Capiz province (now part of Aklan province) when Looc was organized into a separate pueblo. On March 19, 1853, the Politico Militar Commandancia del Distrito de Romblon was organized taken from Capiz, with its four existing pueblos, namely: Romblon, Banton, Looc and Sibuyan (Although officially renamed Cajidiocan on July 23, 1848, Cajidiocan continued to be referred as pueblo de Sibuyan, even to-date). Romblon pueblo was its Cabezera or Capital Town. In 1855, all visitas of Looc were organized into separate independent pueblos or municipalities. Namely: Lauan (Alcantara), Guinbirayan, Sabang (abolished later in 1868 and presently it is a sitio in Danao Norte, Sta. Fe), Cabalian (now it is a sitio in barangay Agmanic, Sta. Fe) and Catolog (Sta. Fe). Isla de Carabao was annexed to pueblo de Cabalian as its integral territory.

In 1861, Pueblo Cabalian due to its declining population was abolished and incorporated into Pueblo de Catolog. Similarly, Isla de Carabaos or Hambil, previously part of Cabalian returned back to Pueblo Nabas of Capiz province until 1897 when it joined-back Pueblo Looc. In January 11, 1868, the PMC del Distrito de Romblon was converted into full-pledge province known as Politico Militar Commandancia dela Provincia de Romblon. However, as a consequence, only 7 pueblos were retained including Looc, while it abolished 15 of its former existing pueblos or municipios. In 1897, Carabao Island with its two barrios of Agcogon and Lanas, including adjacent Semirara and Caluya Islands were annexed to Looc. However, Caluya and Semirara islands bolted-out from Looc and joined back Antique Province on March 16, 1901 which also marked Romblon's organization into regular province sponsored by the American government. On this historic moment, there were 11 existing municipalities in the province of Romblon and Looc was one of them, Santa Fe, one of the original 11 towns existing which comprised Romblon when it became a regular province was abolished in 1916 due to insufficient income and annexed back to Looc together with its 5 barrios. Two of these are located in Carabao Island, while the rest are in Tablas mainland.

The Special municipality of Tablas was organized in January 8, 1940 with its seat at Odiongan. Looc was abolished as a municipality and was represented only by one special municipal councilor at its municipal council in Odiongan. Alcantara, a barrio of Looc before World War 2 was organized into an emergency municipality on June 4, 1942, sponsored by the guerilla movement regime of the Revolutionary Republic of the Philippines until May 26, 1946 when Looc was liberated from the enemies of World War 2 and its status restored back as independent municipality. Likewise, the former emergency municipality of Alcantara ceased to exist on that same historic date and fused-back to Looc while Sta. Fe, previously part of Looc during the war, was granted-back its independent municipal status.

On March 21, 1961, Looc's territory was further reduced with the recreation of Alcantara as Romblon's 13th municipality. A municipal hospital was established in Looc on February 24, 1990 known as Saint Joseph Municipal Hospital through the passage of R.A. No. 06852. Today, Looc is composed of 12 barrios or barangays to date.

Population of Looc at Various Time

/a - Barrio Looc or Rio Looc, the present-day sitio Carolina located at the western part of the Poblacion. /b - 2007 NCSO Census

Development of Looc's Barrios / Barangays:

In 1894 census of the province there were 19 barrios in Looc, 6 of these were in what is now Alcantara municipality, the rest are in Looc, namely: (1) Poblacion, (2) Pili, (3) Lunas (abolished in 1916 and annexed to Limon, now part of Limon Sur), (4) Looc (dissolved in 1901 renamed sitio Carolina, now part of brgy. Poblacion), (5) Limon was split into two barrios (barangays) of Limon Norte and Limon Sur in June 18, 1961 through the passage of R.A. No. 3359 sponsored by Congressman Jose D. Moreno, the sitio Centro of old barrio Limon is located in Limon Sur together with sitios of: Bongan-bongan Sur, Lumbia, Baiyan, Grande, Silagon, Canduroy, Pusdan and Ambolong while sitios assigned to Limon Norte were: Cogon, Polacon, Guintiguian, Lumandong, Bongan-bongan, Mainit, Bongoran Norte, Bagacota, Narontan, Cayhagan and Agbay-ang (6) Bagolinao (location unknown, abolished in 1901), (7) Camandag (abolished in 1901 and annexed to Balatucan, Balatucan abolished in 1916 and fused to barrio Pili, while its former territory that belongs to former barrio Camandag was annexed to the newly created barrio of Buenavista in 1916, thus Camandag became sitio of Buenavista. Camandag restored to barrio status in June 21, 1959 taken from Buenavista), together with barrio Balatucan. (8) Balatucan and the 3 former barrios of (9) Guba, (10) Cabugao and (11) Bagto (all abolished in 1901 and were integrated into barrio Punta), (12) Punta, (13) Agojo and Alcantara's 6 barrios (14)-(19) (please check Alcantara's webpage).

Looc's population in 1894 was 4,257 including Alcantara and in 1897 was 6,508 which included Alcantara, then a barrio of Looc. The American civil government, from 1899-1901, reduced the number of barrio to facilitate the military policy of concentrating the civilian population of the poblaciones. Thus in 1901, Looc lost 10 barrios. Six of which were located in Looc proper while the remaining four were located in Alcantara district. The abolished barrios were: Bagolinao, Bagto, Cabugao, Camandag, Guba and Looc (Carolina) while in Alcantara side, these were the barrios of Bonlao, Comod-om, Lauan and Nipa. In 1903 census, Looc registered a total population of 6,056. The actual population of Looc excluding Alcantara's 2,021 population in 1903 was 4,035. Alcantara was part of Looc municipality from 1885 until 1961. (Development of its barrios are explained in Alcantara municipality's write-ups, please refer to it for more information).

Santa Fe including San Jose, became part of Looc town from 1917 to 1947. (Development of Sta. Fe's and San Jose's barangays were included in their respective municipalites, please refer to these for further information).

Embarcacion or it refers to the maritime population engaged in shipping and maritime activities was separetly enumerated by census officers and considered separate and distinct barrio in 1918. In June 21, 1959, 3 new barrios were created taken from barrio Punta; these were: Guinhayaan, Manhac and Tuguis, 2 more were created taken from Buenavista, these were Camandag and Balatucan, while the future town of Alcantara yielded 2 more barrios out of its vast territory by the creation of barrio San Isidro (Icogan) and Comod-om. Tugdan detached a portion of its territory to form the barrio of Bonlao and Calagonsao. The later was originally part of barrio Concepcion, San Agustin (now Santa Maria). There were a total of 9 new barrios created through the passage of this law known as R.A. No. 2500 sponsored by Congressman Jose D. Moreno. Today. Looc has 12 barrios or barangays, namely:

Barangays

Looc is politically subdivided into 12 barangays.

* Agojo
* Balatucan
* Buenavista
* Camandag
* Guinhayaan
* Limon Norte
* Limon Sur
* Manhac
* Pili
* Poblacion
* Punta
* Tugis

Most Outstanding Loocnons

1. Atty. Ismael J. Andres, 1st Placer, 1960 Bar Examination

2. Atty. Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice-President, and Member, GSIS Board of Trustees

3. Johnny F. Ang, First placer, Board Examination for Accountancy

4. Dr. Ma. Linda G. Buhat, Assistand Director of Nursing Services, Philippine Heart Center

5. Atty. Cyril del Callar, President of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR)

10. Edna F. Formilleza, Former Undersecretary for Administration, Department of Education

11. Ambasador Willy C. Gaa, Then-Philippine Ambassador to China, Now Ambassador to the United States of America

12. Engr. Bernardo Y. Verdin, Jr., First placer, 1993 Civil Engineering Board Exam

13. General Dominador C. Resos, Jr., Retired Police General

14. General Orville Gabuna, Retired Police General

15. Dorothy Joy, born in 1955 in Looc, Romblon. Real name was Dorothy Joy Conanan. She was the first Loocnon to try the movie industry. She became very popular during her days as teenage matinee idol together with her contemporary youngstars Vilma Santos and other cast in the weekly Sunday show 'The Sensation'. Dorothy later became a regular cast of the weekly 'Eskuwelahang Munti' in early 1970s. She died young at her prime career due to cancer. She married Manny Cruz, also a Filipino actor.

16. Florante Condes born 20 May, 1980 in Looc, Romblon, is a professional boxer. Currently the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight world champion.

17. Roilo Golez born in January 9, 1947 in Camandag, Looc is on his fifth term as Member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the Legislative districts of Parañaque City (2nd District), one of the most industrialized districts of the Philippines. A veteran legislator, he was elected in the 1992, 1995, 1998, 2004, and 2007 all by landslide victories and has served as Congressman for four terms: in the 9th Congress of the Philippines, 10th Congress of the Philippines, 11th Congress of the Philippines and 13th Congress of the Philippines.

External links

* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]


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