Catbalogan City is the capital city of Samar Province, Philippines with a population of 92,454 people (2007 Census). It is Samar's main commercial, trading, educational, political and financial center. It is also an important and major seaport serving inter-island vessels. Catbalogan City's central geographical location in Eastern Visayas makes it ideal as the gateway to the three Samar provinces.

History

The city of Catbalogan was founded or settled sometime in October 1596, by the priests of the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus.) Friar Francisco de Otazo, S.J., who arrived in the Philippines in 1596, founded the Catbalogan mission and was thus the first missionary to bring the Catholic faith to the people of Catbalogan. In 1627, Catbalogan was raised to the status of residencia (residence or central house.) On October 17, 1768, Catbalogan was ceded to the Franciscans who took over from the Jesuits. The first Franciscan parish priest was Fray Jose Fayo, OFM.

The original name of the city was KATBALAUGAN or KABALAUGAN. The two syllables of the name are compounds of the prefix KAT or KA and the substantive noun BALAUG of the Samar-Leyte Visayan language (Waray). “Katbalaugan or Kabalaugan” means “a place where seafarers, fishermen or sailors take shelter or protection.” The old fishing village of Katbalaugan or Kabalaugan was the refuge of people riding in small boats and sailboats when the northwest and southwest monsoons blew during the months of July, August, and September.

During the early days of Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu. Later, it was declared a separate province. In 1735, Samar and Leyte were united into one province with Carigara, in Leyte, as the capital. The union, however, did not prove satisfactory. In 1768, Samar again became a separate province from Leyte. Since then, Samar has emerged as an independent province with Catbalogan City as the capital.

On January 27, 1900, the Americans captured the city of Catbalogan in the Philippine-American War. Civil government was established on June 17, 1902 with Julio Llorente of Cebu as the first governor of Samar.

On May 24, 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces landed in Barrio Pangdan and occupied the capital. On December 18, 1945, the American and Filipino forces liberated the city from the Japanese.

On June 19, 1965, the Philippine Congress approved Republic Act No. 4221 dividing Samar into Western Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, respectively. Catbalogan thus ceased to be the capital of the whole island-province after enjoying the prestige of being the premier town of Samar for 197 years since 1768. On June 21, 1969, under Republic Act No. 5650, Western Samar was renamed Samar with Catbalogan still as the capital city.

The greatest calamities to occur in Catbalogan City were big fires. The April 1, 1957 conflagration, considered as the most destructive one, caused damage to properties in the amount of thirty million pesos. The next was on May 19, 1969, where damage was estimated at twenty million pesos and the more than century-old Saint Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church was razed to the ground. Paradoxically, like the proverbial Phoenix, each time Catbalogan City suffered under the throes of these calamities, better buildings and infrastructures emerged from the ashes.

As early as 1960, Catbalogan already agitated to become a city. In 1969, Rep. Fernando P. Veloso sponsored House Bill No. 1867 creating Catbalogan into a component city. The bill was being deliberated in the Philippine Senate, but the conflagration of 1969 unfortunately caused it to be shelved. Subsequent efforts were made by Catbalogan's and Samar's political leaders such as Mayors Jesus B. Redaja and Coefredo T. Uy, Vice Mayors Gerardo C. Teves and Manuel Van A. Torrevillas, Councilor Art Sherwin L. Gabon and Representatives Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura and Catalino V. Figueroa, respectively, to make Catbalogan's cityhood dream a reality despite strong opposition by the League of Cities of the Philippines.

On March 15, 2007, Catbalogan finally attained its cityhood. Under the sponsorship of Senator Alfredo S. Lim and by virtue of Republic Act No. 9391, Catbalogan was converted into a component city known as the CITY OF CATBALOGAN following a unanimous vote by the Philippine Senate. Senator Manuel Villar, Jr. (President of the Senate), Jose De Venecia, Jr. (Speaker of the House of Representatives), Oscar G. Yabes (Secretary of the Senate), Roberto P. Nazareno (Secretary General, House of Representatives) and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (President of the Philippines) were among its signatories. The residents of Catbalogan overwhelmingly ratified this change through a Comelec plebiscite on June 16, 2007.

Geography

The capital city of Catbalogan is strategically located in the western seacoast of the Province of Samar, Eastern Visayas region. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Tarangnan and San Jorge, to the east by the municipality of Jiabong, and to the west by the Maqueda Bay with its beautiful sunsets. The Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway) traverses the city from Barangay San Vicente in the north through the poblacion to Barangay Lagundi in the south. Catbalogan City is about 802 kilometers south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Land Area

The total land area of Catbalogan City is 274.22 km². Its city proper covers an area of 1.30 km².

There are 57 barangays in the entire city, twenty-one of which are situated in the poblacion. Another twenty-one barangays are located in the coastal areas and fifteen are in the interior or upland areas.

Topography

The topography of Catbalogan City is rough and its mountains are relatively high. Approximately 2% of the land area are plain and mostly found along the seacoast while 43% are rolling hills and 55% are mountainous.

The coastline of Catbalogan City is irregular with bays bordering the poblacion and other barangays. Its coastline has a total length of about ten miles.

Climate

The climate is classified as 4th type (Mild) where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

In Catbalogan City there is hardly a month without rainfall. Generally, there is no distinct dry season but the months of February, March, April and May comprise the short dry season. Rainfall is uniform throughout the year and heaviest during the months of November and December.

Typhoons occur during the latter months of the year. Although Samar has been known as a typhoon-prone area, the truth is, the island of Samar is used only as a reference point by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA.)

Soil Types

The soils of Catbalogan City are of two types, namely, the Catbalogan clay loam and faraon clay. The clay loam, the predominant one, is developed from shales and sandstones. It is particularly suited for agriculture especially rootcrops. The faraon clay, on the other hand, is a residual from corraline limestone and is fair with organic matter contents. Limestone rocks are sometimes found on the surface.

Barangays (Villages)

Transportation

AIR

• Currently, no commercial flights to Catbalogan City are available. However, the Catbalogan City airport Catbalogan Airport on Buri Island is accessible to private and charter jets from Manila, Cebu and other destinations.

SEA

• The Port of Catbalogan (Piers I and II) is classified as a national port. It is a major seaport that can handle passengers and cargoes to and from Manila, Cebu and other places.

LAND

• Bus transit is the dominant public land transport to Catbalogan City from Manila or Tacloban City passing through the Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway). The public mode of transportation within the city is by tricycles or pedicabs.

Notable Attractions / Landmarks

• The Obelisk - located in the heart of Catbalogan City's Samar Provincial Capitol Park, it depicts four major events in Samar's history - the 1901 Balangiga Encounter that saw local revolutionaries inflicting the "worst single defeat" of the Americans during the Philippine-American War; the 1649 Sumoroy Rebellion in Palapag against the Spaniards; the 1596 arrival of the first Jesuit missionaries to Samar; and Queen Isabella II of Spain carrying a Royal Decree of August 11, 1841 declaring Samar a province.'''
• Buri Baras Cove Beach Resort - located on Buri Island, it is 12 km from the city proper. The beach has a long coastal stretch and is ideal for swimming and diving.
• Bangon Falls - located in Barangay Bangon in the interior mountains of Catbalogan City.
• Basiao Island Beach
• Cal-apog Leopard Beach Resort - a rocky beach located in Barangay Pangdan.
• "Campo" Historical Landmark
• Igot Cove
• Mendoza Beach Resort
• Malatugawi Island Beach
• Payao Beach
• Pieta Park - located adjacent to St. Bartholomew Church, it has a memorial honoring Catbaloganons and four thousand others who perished in the December 1987 tragic collision of the passenger ship MV Doña Paz and the oil tanker MT Vector. The Doña Paz tragedy is described by historians as the worst ferry disaster and the world's worst peace-time maritime disaster in history.
• Saint Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church
• Samar Provincial Capitol
• Sunshine Beach - a prominent beach located in Barangay Guinsorongan within the city proper.
• Waray Banwa Coral Reef - located just 2 km off Guinsorongan (Sunshine) Beach.

Elementary Schools

• Catbalogan I Central Elementary School
• Catbalogan II Central Elementary School
• Catbalogan III Central Elementary School
• Catbalogan IV Central Elementary School
• Catbalogan V Central Elementary School
• Elementary School Departments (Saint Mary's College of Catbalogan, Samar College)
• Chinese Chamber School

Secondary Schools

• Samar National School (formerly Samar High School)
• High School Departments (Saint Mary's College of Catbalogan, Samar College, Samar State University)
• Catbalogan National Comprehensive High School
• Eastern Visayas Regional Science High School
• Antonio G. Tuazon Memorial National High School
• Guinsorongan Integrated School
• Silanga National High School

Colleges/Universities

• St. Mary's College of Catbalogan (formerly Sacred Heart College)
• Samar College
• Samar State University

Hospital / Health Facilities

• Samar Provincial Hospital
• Catbalogan City Puericulture Center and Maternity Hospital

Banks / Financial Institutions

• Allied Banking Corporation
• China Bank Corporation
• Development Bank of the Philippines
• Land Bank of the Philippines
• Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company
• PCI - Equitable Bank
• Philippine National Bank
• Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
• Banco De Oro

Hotels / Lodging

• Rolet Hotel
• Cell.Com Hotel
• Maqueda Bay Hotel
• Fame Hotel
• Fortune Hotel and Restaurant
• Bay View Inn
• Summer's Garden Pensionne
• Rose Scent Pensionne
• Villarin's Bed & Breakfast
• Casa Cristina Hotel
• Sto. Rosario Pensionne
• Traveler's Lodging House
• Kalinayan Inn
• Eduardo's Inn
• Samar State University (SSU) Hostel

Mall

• Centro Mall

Restaurants / Eateries

• Charito's Delights
• Eduardo's RestoBar
• Ernie's Pizza
• Fortune Hotel and Restaurant
• JC Foodspot
• Jollibee
• Taby's Place
• Tina's Garden Restaurant
• Tony's Kitchen & Restaurant

TV Networks and Cable Television / Media

• ABS-CBN Catbalogan City
• Decobeam Cable TV Services
• D'Leopards CATV
• Samar News.com - based in Catbalogan City, it is a source of news and information on Eastern Visayas.
• Samar Tambayan.net - a portal and community website for Samar, especially Catbalogan City.

Radio Stations

• DYMS
• DYRV

Telecommunications

• Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (Bayan Tel)
• Bureau of Telecommunications
• Globe Telecom
• Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart Wireless)
• Sun Cellular Network

Festivals

• The Manaragat Festival - Held during Catbalogan City's Charter Day Celebration (1st-2nd Weeks of June), it is one of the most colorful and vivid rituals in Catbalogan City and is a tribute to the fishermen with festive dance and original music.
• Kaadlawan Han Samar (Samar Day) - August 11 - Festivities held in Catbalogan City, it marks the celebration of Samar's Foundation Day. The festival is participated by the province's two cities and twenty-four municipalities and includes cultural dance competitions, agro-fisheries trade fair and civic-military parade.

Government

City Mayor: Hon. Coefredo T. Uy

City Vice Mayor: Hon. Manuel Van A. Torevillas

City Councilors:

• Hon. Arthur Vaughn Zosa
• Hon. Rodrigo C. Perez, Jr.
• Hon. Manuel F. Correche
• Hon. Perfecta Sabenecio
• Hon. Herminia S. Cabral
• Hon. Rodolfo T. Aquino
• Hon. Teodoro V. Ilagan
• Hon. Art Sherwin L. Gabon
• Hon. Calixtro H. Rosales
• Hon. Michelle Rose Arseño

External links

• http://www.catbalogan.gov.ph/ Official Website of the City of Catbalogan
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code