Brief History
The political history of the town dates back to the1850s when the
Spaniards established their government under a Spanish Gobernadorcillo.
The Masbateños’ vassalage to Spain ended sometime in the early part of
1898 as an offshoot of the libertarian campaign waged by General Emilio
Aguinaldo.
Sometime after General Aguinaldo inaugurated the Philippine
Independence at Kawit, Cavite, he issued a military order to overthrow
the Spanish Government in the Visayas and Masbate. General Justo Lucban
and General Diego de Dios acted on this order with the help of Masbateño
rebels under the legendary Pedro Kipte. The defeat of the Spanish Crown
in Masbate could be largely credited to Pedro Kipte. Immediately
thereafter, the military government under the Republic of the
Philippines was established. But when the American forces reached the
Municipality of Masbate in November 1900, it took over the government of
Masbate without any resistance from the Masbateños.
After a devastating typhoon in 1908, an Executive Order was passed
annexing the Province of Masbate to the Province of Sorsogon. Masbate,
by force of circumstance, became a subprovince of Sorsogon until 1922
when its provincial status was restored. Shortly before the restoration
of Philippine Independence in 1946, the town of Masbate was established
as the provincial capital. Masbate forms part of the second
congressional district. In the mid-90s, the idea of converting the
municipality into a city was pushed by 2nd District
Geography
It is situated strategically in the center of the Philippine
archipelago between latitudes 12º 14’ north 12º 29’ north and between
123º 30’ east and 123º 39’ east, on the northern side of the island of
Masbate facing northeast towards Ticao Island.
The city domain is bounded on the northeast by Masbate Pass; on the
southwest by the municipality of Milagros and on the northwest by a
portion of Asid River and the municipalities of Milagros and Baleno.
From Manila, the city is barely 212.5 aerial miles or 362 nautical
miles. By plane, it takes more or less one hour to negotiate; by boat,
16 to 18 hours
to ply.
The city is more or less situated at the center of Masbate province,
too, taking the tip of Burias Island as its northern most part and the
tip of Esperanza municipality as the southern most part.
The city serves as the dividing line between Luzon and the rest of
the islands in the country. To the neighboring islands, Masbate City is
three hours away by boat from the nearest point in Bicol mainland; three
hours away from the nearest point in Burias; three hours away from the
nearest municipality in Ticao Island; five hours from the nearest point
in the island of Cebu and five hours from the nearest point in Panay
island.
Political Subdivision
Masbate City has a total land areas of 18,789.2811 hectares and 30
barangays.
Population
81,585 (as of August 2007)
Climate
Language/Dialect
The dialect is a blend of Bicol, Hiligaynon, Tagalog, Cebuano and
Waray.
Major Industry
- • Agriculture and Fishing
Principal Products
- • Copra
- • Fish
- • Rice
- • Livestock
Other Products
- • Corn
- • Vegetable
- • Fruits
Transportation
- By Air
Asian Spirit flies from Manila to Masbate andvice versa daily
- By Land
- By Sea
Masbate can be also be reached through the sea on board luxury
shipping lines from the port of Manila for eighteen hours. Other sea trips are via Dalahican, Lucena,
Pilar and Bulan, Sorsogon.
Communication Facilities
- • Telephone Lines
- • Cellular Phones
- • Internet Cafes
- • Postal Stations
