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Labo, Camarines Norte

Labo is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 81,388 people in 15,786 households.

The surface of the municipality is generally rugged, rolling hills and mountainous terrain with relative small rollings and flat terrain. Mt. Cadig (736 m above sea level), Mt. Labo(943 m above sea level), Mt. Bagacay (786 m above sea level) and Mt. Nalisbitan (265 m above sea level) form the Southern Cordillera. Boundaries of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Quezon provinces converge on Mt. Labo, which is the highest peak in the province. Mt. Bagacay serves as a boundary between municipalities of Paracale and Labo and it as well guards the municipality from strong north winds especially during typhoons. Mt. Labo, Mt. Bagacay, and Mt. Cadig are the three major known dormant volcanoes in the municipality. The northwest portion of the municipality is greatly affected by 2 major fault and earthquake lines accruing in the province, while other trends affect north-northwest along Mt. Cadig passing through the barangays of Guisican and Bayabas.

History

Before the name of "Labo" was known, its former name was "BUSIG-ON", a place of native inhabitants under the leadership of TARIK-KUDOOG" that is was said discovered by a former soldier of Capt. Juan de Salcedo in 1586 when they returned to the Bicol Peninsula during those time. BUSOG_ON from where the name BUSIGON (river), the largest and upper part of Labo river got its name.

Labo became a royal encomienda in 1591 owned by the King of Spain due to its abundant natural resources having 2992 persons or 648 whole tributes. The villages of this encomienda were closed together including a place known as "AGUETTE" except six villages having 70 tributes which were up the river four or five leagues from the capital. One priest furnished the instruction in this encomienda, namely the canon PAZ; but he made the following visits.

In 1600, there was a period of darkness in the history of Labo when encomienda system was abolished by Spain through Royal Order issued by the King due to some abuses by the encomienda system. In 1603, the Labo encomienda became an original Spanish pueblo but new group of Spanish conquistadores was released to Labo as per ordered from Alcadia Nueva Caceres who took over in 1615 and made Labo a barrio and annexed to Indan (now Vinzons) where missionaries established its parish in 1581. In 1654 the place nearby what is now Labo river was known to the community as center of trade and commerce aside from religious festivities being conducted by Spanish missionaries for the cause of Christianity.

As early historians would write, the name LABO did not come from any legal decree nor was there a public clamor for a name. It was actually a product of clashing languages that resulted in bumbling misinterpretation. It was said that a native was asked by coming Spaniards after a flood (under the leadership of Sgt. Manuel Gonzalo de Villaceran, a missionary) a man with a boat came sailing across. The Spanish sergeant asked "QUE PUEBLO ESO ESTE" thinking that the sergeant was referring to the flooded Labo river, the native replied "MALABO PO ANG TUBIG" (the water is murky). The first word stuck since then.

In 1800, Labo was already included in the book of Agustin dela Cavada, Vol. 1 page 237 entitled CAVADA HISTORICAL DE FILIPINAS as one of the towns in the complete lists of all municipalities in the Philippines.

The Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution #177-97, Ordinance #108 declaring September 8, 1800 as the creation of the municipality of Labo and approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution #325-97 dated September 19, 1997 and by the Governor dated September 29, 1997.

Geography

The town of Labo is geographically located relatively at the center of the province of Camarines Norte. It is approximately 335 kilometers south of Manila and 15 kilometers away from Daet, the capital town of the province. It is situated at the coordinates between 14°01'06" and 14°11" North latitudes and 122°21'00" and 122°52'20" East longitudes. On the North, it is bounded by the municipalities of Paracale, Jose Panganiban, and Capalonga, on the South, by the province of Quezon, adjoining province of Camarines Sur, on the East by the municipalities of Vinzons and San Vicente, and on the West by the municipality of Sta. Elena. The Maharlika highway links this municipality to provinces and cities of the Bicol Region and the Calabarzon (Region IV-A) region. Its aggregate land area of 648.84 km² occupies more than 25% of the total land area of the province. Its 52 component barangays represent 18.44% of the total barangays of the province. There are ten (10) classified as urban barangays namely Bagacay, Cabusay, Fundado, Anahaw, Bagong Silang I, Dalas, Gumamela, Kalamunding, Malasugui, Pinya, San Francisco, Talobatib and Tulay na Lupa, and the remaining thirty-nine are considered as rural barangays.

Climate

There is no pronounced dry season and maximum rain period from December to January.

Culture, tradition and folklore

Social traditions and beliefs - It is typical Filipino to be religious and fanatic. They believe on spirits that affects the daily lives. These beliefs and traditions are passed through generations.
Conception and Giving Birth - A pregnant woman is prohibited to frown or laugh at despicable things for the baby will acquire properties of the despised thing. She is also prohibited to go to isolated places because when a bad spirit sees her, she may give birth too soon.
Baptism - It is important that a baby should be baptized on time. Unbaptized babies are closer to the devil because they are not holy to protect themselves. It is also important that the Godparents of the baby are good individuals because the baby will get such behavior from them.
Courting and Engagement - There are instances that marriage is agreed by the parents while the boy and the girl are still babies. Unknowingly, a woman may have been agreed to be married to a specific man. Most of the time, a man who likes a lady, talks to the lady's parent's to win their approval. The man, helps with the household chores and avoids to do things perfectly, any mistake may mean failure.

These traditions and beliefs are still widely practiced. Despite the growth of modern technologies, almost everybody still believes in luck.

Economy

Labo being located at the center of the province and the most populous town serves as the agricultural center as well as potential investment destination and promotion center for business, trades, and secondary industrial growth center. It is abundant with natural resources such as gold, nickel, iron, magnetite sand, copper, lead and manganese. Most of the provincial water supplies are located at barangay Tulay na Lupa and Lugui which serves seven out of the 12 municipalities. Agriculture is the leading livelihood of the residents of Labo. Due to abundant forest products such as rattan and bamboo, local folks tend to manufacture and market handicrafts.

An area of 390.39 km² (65.17% of municipal's land area) is devoted to agricultural crop production, 343.46 km² of which are coconut plantations. On the other hand, 18.47 km² is used for rice production. Banana production is also popular in the province, followed by Pineapple and Pili.

Tourism is also a good source of income for Labo, being surrounded by freshwater and mountains suitable for hikings.

Other community livelihood follows: pineapple and coco-based processing and preservation, pineapple weaving (Barong), jewelry making and accessories, foods manufacturing and beverages processing, other tourism related industries and wood and bamboo furniture making.

Tourism

Waterfalls

Palanas Falls - brgy. Pag-asa
Maligaya Falls - brgy. Submakin
Binuan Falls - brgy. Daguit
Malatap Falls - brgy. Malatap
Burok-Busok Falls - brgy. Bagong Silang II
Turayog Falls - brgy. Fundado

Caves

Mt. Cadig Cave - Located at Mt. Cadig, brgy. Bayabas. Along the highway it is 52 km drive from the town proper. From Maharlika highway it can be hiked via brgy. Bayabas or brgy. Guisican. Hills, trees and rocky slopes hide this cave from view. The cave is composed of several dark compartments of stalactites and stalagmites. This cave is getting attention to become town's priority tourist attraction.
Mambuaya Cave - brgy. Fundado
Pintong Gubat

Rivers