About The Philippines Getting Here Hubs and Spokes Our Partners
 

Friday, November 21, 2008

Home

Things to do &  See

Gallery

How to Get There

Useful Phrases

Emergency Services


 

 

 

Origin

The name Caramoan has been officially adapted since 1619, the year it was founded by a zealous missionary, the venerable Spanish friar Francisco De La Cruz Y Oropesa. This 60-year old priest penetrated the thick virgin forest of the Caramoan Peninsula and found a small settlement in a place called Baluarte. Later on, this settlement was turned over to the administration of the Holy Bishopric in 1696.

The small town of Caramoan was then located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the North and East and Lagonoy Gulf on the South.

It was determined that the first name given to this place was Guta de Leche by the Dutch traders who operated a gold mine in Lahuy Island and frequented the area to trade with the natives, prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The name was perhaps derived from the milkdrop stalagmites found among the rocks of Guta Port. But upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place came to be called "Carahan" for the sea turtle, which was at that time to be found in great number along the shores of the Peninsula.

. . . o0O0o . . .

Vignette from History

The year was 1818. That summer the Moros had once again sacked and burned the towns of Sagñay and Indan. The Bikolanos had had enough. On October 26, in Tabgon Bay, off the Caramoan Peninsula, the provincial armadilla of Albay, led by 80-year old Pedro Estevan defeated a large Muslim fleet led by Prince Nune, son of the Sultan of Maguindanao. After this loss, the Muslims were not able to successfully attack a Bicol peninsular town ever again.

. . . o0O0o . . .

Location and Political Subdivisions

Caramoan is one of the thirty-five municipalities of the Province of Camarines Sur and is situated at the heart of the Caramoan Peninsula at the southernmost tip of Luzon. It occupies the lower eastern portion of the Province of Camarines Sur. It is bounded on the north by the town of Garchitorena and the Pacific Ocean; on the northeast by the island province of Catanduanes; on the south by Lagonoy Gulf; on the east by the Maqueda Channel and on the west by the municipality of Presentacion.

The municipality is situated between east longitude 124o59" and 13o46" north latitude. It covers approximately 27,741 square kilometers with approximately 71 kilometers of irregular coastline surrounded by the vast ocean, bay, seas and swamps. It is approximately 501 kilometers away from Metro Manila; 95 kilometers from the municipality of Pili, where the seat of the provincial government and the Pili Domestic Airport are located; and 110 kilometers away from Naga City, the heart of Bicol.

Composed of 49 barangays, the municipality has a total of 134 sitios.

 

 

 

Postal Codes

 

Climate

Caramoan has no definite dry season and a very pronounced wet season often characterized by several days of torrential rains. With its geographical location, almost 90% of the typhoons, which enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, affect the area.

 

 

Major Industries

The municipality is generally hilly and moderately mountainous. Of its total land area, 44% is utilized for the planting of coconut, which is the source of livelihood of 55% of the populace. Fishing placed second. Other industries are mining and tourism.

 

 



© 2002 Ateneo de Naga University