All about Masbate

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

House Representative Luz Cleta Reyes Bakunawa. Her successor, Congressman Emilio Espinosa, Jr., together with the Municipal Mayor Juan P. Sanchez, Sr. and some local officials and employees took over where she left off. On August 16, 2000, President Joseph E. Estrada signed RA 8807 converting the Municipality of Masbate into a component city. In a plebiscite held later that year, Masbateños voted 7,800-3,200 in favor of cityhood, and on September 30, 2000, the Commission on Elections Regional Office in Region 5 officially proclaimed Masbate as a component city.

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 

Dry from March to June and rainy fromSeptember to Februrary.

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

Masbate can be reached from Manila by land through the Maharlika Highway to the port of Pilar, Sorsogon. From there, fast craft can take you for two hours to the port of Masbate or motorized banca for a three-hour ride.

• 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