Borongan City

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Borongan
other_name = "Lungsod ng Borongan"
native_name = "Siyudad han Borongan"
nickname = The Sunshine City of the Philippines
settlement_type =
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image_caption = Scenic View of BayBay Boulevard in Borongan


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map_caption = Map of Samar showing the location of Borongan City
Coordinates: 11°36′N, 125°26′E


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Philippines
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name2 = Eastern Samar (capital)
subdivision_type3 =
subdivision_name3 =
subdivision_type4 = Barangays
subdivision_name4 = 61
government_type = City Government
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Fidel V. Anacta Jr.
leader_title1 =
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established_title2 = Incorporated (town)
established_date2 = 1619
established_title3 =
established_date3 = September 8, 1619
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area_total_km2 =587.92
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 55,141
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timezone = PST
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postal_code =6800
area_code =055
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website = [http://www.borongan-esamar.gov.ph/ www.borongan-esamar.gov.ph]
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The City of Borongan (Waray: "Siyudad han Borongan", Tagalog: "Lungsod ng Borongan",) is a fifth class city in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. It is the capital and the largest city in both land area and population of the Philippine province of Eastern Samar. It is popularly called as the Sunshine City of the Philippines. [ [http://www.borongan-esamar.gov.ph/ Borongan City's Official Website] ]

Location

Borongan City is found in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII) in Eastern Samar, Philippines.

History

Its development into a municipality is traced back since the early 1600 from the scattered hamlets settled on the banks of Guiborongani (Borongan or Sabang) River and Loom River. Guiborongani was the bigger settlement and was later on called Borongan because of heavy fogs that covered the place. The name Borongan was taken from the word "Borong", the local term for fog, which in the Waray-Waray language means 'fog'. The people along the eastern coast of Samar were called "Ibabao" during the pre-Spanish period. 75 years after Ferdinand Magellan's landing in Homonhon, Eastern Samar, Spanish Jesuit missionary priests began to evangelize the whole island of Samar. The first missions were first established in Tinago, Western Samar and gradually occupied Palapag, a town in the eastern coast of the island.

The development of Borongan was greatly influenced by the religious missions of the Jesuits during the period 1604–1768, and the Franciscans from 1768–1868. Borongan was established as a pueblo on September 8, 1619. On this date, the Commandancia and the Very Reverend Father Superior of the Jesuits from Palapag, which is now a town of Northern Samar, went to Ibabao to install the first priest of Borongan, Fr. Manuel Martinez, who served up to 1627.

At the outbreak of revolution in 1898, Borongan was the site of uprising led by the pulahans. The first public officials were Sr. Magno Abenis, President, and Andres Hipe, Vice-President, who held office in 1899 to 1903. After the Japanese occupation, the place was led by a mayor and a vice-mayor. Hilarion Basada and Ignacio Brozas were the first mayor and vice-mayor, respectively in 1945 to 1947.

Borongan was legally made as a capital town when Eastern Samar was created as a province under Republic Act No. 4221 which was enacted on June 19, 1965.

On June 21, 2007, Borongan finally became the first city in Eastern Samar.

Geography

Demographics

According to the 2000 census, Borongan has a total population of 55,141 people in 10,699 households [ [http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html National Statistics Office] ] . Their common language is Waray-Waray, and a huge majority are also literate in both English and Tagalog. Boronganons are predominantly Roman Catholic. There are also Protestant minorities in the city.

Government

Borongan City is a component city of the province of Eastern Samar and is under its administrative supervision. Borongan is subdivided in 61 Barangays

Barangays

Transportation

Borongan City can be reached from Manila or Tacloban City by Land, Air or Sea.

AIR

* Currently, there are few commercial flights to Borongan City that are available, notably the South East Asian Airlines coming from Manila twice weekly. Borongan Airport is located on Brgy. Punta Maria. [ [http://www.flyseair.com/ South East Asian Airlines] ]

SEA

* The Port of Borongan is classified as a national port. It is a major seaport that can handle passengers and cargoes to and from Manila, Cebu and other cities.

LAND

* Bus transit is the dominant public land transport to Borongan City from Manila passing through the Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway). There are also chartered vans or jeepneys from Tacloban City going to the City of Borongan. The public mode of transport in the city are motor tricycles and multicabs.

Economy

Livelihood

Borongan produces copra and exports timber. Local agriculture includes maize, rice, sugarcane, and various other vegetables.

hopping Center

Borongan has the biggest shopping mall in Eastern Visayas, the Wilsam Uptown Mall, located in Brgy. Songco. It opened last 2005 and currently managed by the Wilsam Group of Companies. [ [http://hoteldonavicenta.evis.net.ph/ Wilsam Group of Companies] ]

Education

Borongan City has many schools, high schools, colleges and a university. Borongan has the highest literacy rate in the region.

Elementary Schools

*Campesao Elementary School
*Sabang Elementary School
*Ladders for Tomorrow Academy
*Eugenio S. Daza Pilot Elementary School
*MSH Sisters Academy
*Eastern Visayas International Montessori School

econdary Schools

*Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School
*Lalawigan National High School
*Maypangdan National High School
*Calingatngan National High School
*Benowangan National High School
*San Jose National High School
*Sta. Fe National High School
*Supt. Fidel Anacta Sr. Memorial High School

Colleges

*Saint Mary's College
*Our Lady of Mercy College

University

*Eastern Samar State University

Tourism

Beaches

Borongan has fine beaches, the most notable being Divinubo Island which boasts fine white sand beaches and sparkling blue waters. Ando Island likewise boasts white sand beaches. Cabong beach is a favorite destination of the locals due to the cleanliness of the area.

Island Beaches

* Ando Island White Sand Beach
* Dibinobo Island White Sand Beach
* Monbon Island Beach

Caves

Sohutan Cave found in Sohutan is one of the finest caves in the Philippines.

Rivers

*Guiborongani also called as Borongan or Sabang River
*Loom River
**Salog River in Brgy.Cangkaligdas
**Palanas River

References

External links

* [http://www.borongan-esamar.gov.ph/ Borongan City Official Website]
* [http://www.boronganon.com/forum/ Boronganon Online Community]
* [http://www.iborongan.com/ Borongan Community Website]
* [http://easternsamartime.blogspot.com/ Photos and information on staying, hiking, caving and rivers around Borongan City]