Catanduanes, a kidney- shaped island, is one of the six provinces of the Bicol region and the 12th largest island in the Philippines.
Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel.
"BEST OF EACH TOWNS IN CATANDUANES"
Virac
Monte Karlo Waterfront Inn and Resort, Amenia Beach, Twin Rock Beach Resort, Kosta Alcantara, Emmalyn Paradise Resort, Balite
Beach, Bosdak Beach Resort, Virac Cathedral
Baras
Puraran (Majestics) Surfing Spot, Puraran Beach Resort,
Surfing Competition
San Andres (Calolbon)
Luyang Cave, Batong Paluay
Panganiban (Payo)
TBA
Pandan
Dinahit Festival
Bato
Bato Church, Batalay Shrine, Maribina Falls- Marinawa
San Miguel
Sulong Falls
Viga
TBA
Caramoran
TBA
Bagamanoc
TBA
Gigmoto
TBA
Some of the many popular places in Catanduanes to visit.
Puraran's Majestic Surfing Spot -One of the country's favorite surfing spot. Most often visited by foreigners doing surf tours. It is located in
Baras, Catanduanes
(photo courtesy of Philippinecountry.com)
Bato Church- An atique–aged church of the province located within the Poblacion of Bato.
About Catanduanes - Catanduanes Island Philippines, Everything you need to know about Catanduanes Province
The Catanduanes People and Culture, Catanduanes Geography and Catanduanes History
Catanduanes People and Culture
The people of Catanduanes are Bicolanos whose dialect indicates a strong Visayan influence. The early Spanish chroniclers noted that the people of Catanduanes, not unlike the Visayans, also adorned their bodies with tattoos. Oral traditions also reveal folk legends that trace the earliest Catandunganons to the same group of settlers who allegedly peopled the Visayas.
As a result of geographical seclusion and vulnerability to storms, the Catandunganons have remained isolated from the rest of the Bicol region and the Philippines. This isolation in part accounts for the strength of religious institutions in the island. Nearly all the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church and religious fervor remains high. However, despite their isolation, the people of Catanduanes are also noted for their genial mien and hospitality.
Inhabitants speak the Bicol language with a distinctive accent.
Catanduanes Geography
Catanduanes is known to many as an island paradise. It lies east of the Bicol peninsula. The Catanduanes island province is bounded by the Maqueda Channel in the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay on the south.
It has an aggregate total area of 1,511.50 km². These include the smaller islands of Panay, Palumbanes, Parongpong, Calabagio and 23 other islets.
The general landscape of the Catanduanes island is hilly to mountainous, becoming more pronounced towards the central portion. Less than 10 percent of the land area has slope gradient under 8 percent, mostly fractured and narrow strips of plains dispersed near the coastal areas where most of the inhabitants are settled. Its coastal plains are narrow and limited, and the only widely cultivated area is in northeastern section, which is considered as the rice granary of the province.
Catanduanes is subdivided into 11 municipalities:CATANDUANES EAST DISTRICT:
Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Gigmoto, Pandan Panganiban (Payo), San Miguel and Viga
CATANDUANES WEST DISTRICT:
Caramoran, San Andres (Calolbon) and Virac (Capital City where the Monte Karlo is located)
Catanduanes History
The province, formerly known as "Catanduan, "Catandongan", and finally "Catanduanes", derived its name from the "tando" trees.
The early settlers of Catanduanes island were said to be scions of the Datus of Borneo. Juan de Salcedo arrived in this island in 1573, hunting for pirates, and conquered and Christianized the natives. Three years later, a galleon expedition from Acapulco was shipwrecked near the island and the survivors were either killed or made servants. The Batalay Church in Bato town, Catanduanes, just several kilometers from the capital town of Virac, marks that historical event.
The scions of the ten Bornean Datus who had moved on the island of Panay and then, spread out throughout the archipelago were the first settlers to have set foot in Catanduanes.
Meanwhile, the Spaniards came on Catanduanes island in 1573. Juan de Salcedo and his other conquistadores, together with some friars who were to christianize the island later, landed on the island in search for local pirates who were plying their nefarious trade between Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Western Catanduanes. As they moved along, the friars also conquered the inhabitants through the gospel.
Catanduanes was not spared from the adventurous raids of the Moros who came from the island of Mindanao. Because of these destructive raids, many records of the past were destroyed and lost. Thus, the complete details of the history of the island was cut short. The only record made to proclaim about the past was in 1755.
During the American regime, the local insurgents refused to recognize the sovereignty of the United States. Most of them fled to the mountains. The American occupation did not last long. In 1934, the Americans had ceased control of the island.
During World War II, Catanduanes was not spared by their invasion. Garrisons were erected in different parts of the Catanduanes island. The guerrilla movement was intensely active during this time of crisis.
On February 8, 1945, the liberation of the island province was proclaimed. In its place, a municipal building at Virac was constructed and also the town's Parish church.
The free atmosphere has calmed the people. The guerrilla forces with the Filipino Troops controlled the barracks vacated by the Japanese forces.
Beginning in 1945 the Philippine Commonwealth forces landed from liberation in Catanduanes attacked the Japanese Imperial forces.
On October 26, 1946, three months after the Philippine independence from the Americans, the island was finally recognized as a separate and independent province. Commonwealth Act No. 687 was enacted to create the island of Catanduanes as one of the six provinces of the Bicol Region.
Commonwealth Act No. 687 established Catanduanes as a province independent from Albay. It was approved by Congress on September 26, 1945, signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. on October 24, 1945, and took effect on October 16, 1945.
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