Guinobatan

Nickname: 13°11′N 123°36′E / 13.18°N 123.6°E / 13.18; 123.6CountryPhilippinesRegionBicol RegionProvinceAlbayDistrict 3rd districtFounded1688Founded byDon Francisco BagamasbadBarangays44 (see Barangays)Government • TypeSangguniang Bayan • MayorPaul "Chino" N. Garcia "PDP-LBN" • Vice MayorAnn "Gemma" Y. Ongjoco "NUP" • RepresentativeFernando T. Cabredo • Municipal Council • Electorate58,205 voters (2022)Area • Total244.43 km² (94.37 sq mi)Elevation169 m (554 ft)Highest elevation474 m (1,555 ft)Lowest elevation59 m (194 ft)Population • Total85,786 • Density350/km² (910/sq mi) • Households20,327DemonymGuinobateño GuinobatanonEconomy • Income class1st municipal income class • Poverty incidence% (2021)^[4] • Revenue₱ 273.4 million (2020) • Assets₱ 814.1 million (2020) • Expenditure₱ 263.6 million (2020) • Liabilities₱ 249.1 million (2020)Service provider • ElectricityAlbay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) • WaterGuinobatan Water DistrictTime zoneUTC+8 (PST)ZIP codePSGCIDD : area code +63 (0)52Native languagesTagalog, East Miraya BikolFeast dateAugust 15Catholic dioceseDiocese of LegazpiPatron saintNuestra Señora de la AsuncionWebsitewww.guinobatan.gov.ph

Guinobatan, officially the Municipality of Guinobatan (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Guinobatan; East Miraya Bikol: Banwa ning Guinobatan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Guinobatan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,786 people.^[3]

The town is the birthplace of General Simeón Ola, the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans after the Philippine–American War.

In the research work "Guinobatan Through the Times," the following version of the legend is stated:

• In a region on Mayon's slopes lay a village. It was dotted with huts whose roofs were made of nipa, as well as with a number of stone houses. In the village was a church, and inside the belfry was a Golden Bell. So great was the bell that when rung, the sound could be heard from miles away. The sound could even reach the land of the Moros. The Moros, made curious by the sound of the bell, sent spies so that they would know what kind of bell was producing so loud and peculiar a sound. The spies were amazed and surprised to find out that the townspeople rang was made of pure gold. They went back to the land of the Moros eager to report their findings to their superiors. Motivated by greed, the Moros assembled a squad to plunder the bell. When they arrived at the village, they pillaged the community and torched houses. They attempted to force the people to tell them where the Golden Bell was. Their attempts failed. Many were still able to flee. The fleeing townsfolk knew where the bell was, and they hid the bell underneath the roots of trees. However, an old man was left in the village. As he was the only person left in the town; Moros tortured him so that he would tell the raiders where the Golden Bell was. The old man, however, did not know. Finding no use for the old man, the Moros killed him. They tried to pursue the townspeople, but they were too far away to be captured. Instead, they went to the woods in search of the Golden Bell. They uprooted every tree underneath which they believed the Golden Bell was hidden. Their efforts proved futile. Hence, with empty hands the Moros went back to their land, while the townspeople went back to the village to rebuild their lives, which had always been under threat from Moro pillagers and natural calamities; from bad harvests and oppressive encomienderos. The townspeople also kept the valued Golden Bell safe from anyone who tried to steal it. Seeing the uprooted trees, the townsfolk named their area “Guinobatan” meaning “a place where trees were uprooted.” So ends the legend.^[5]

Some versions also state that the town's name is derived from Ginabutan, meaning "a place where trees or plants were uprooted."^[6]

Luis Née, a botanist, reached Bicol in January 1792, accompanying the expedition of Capt. Alejandro Malaspina. Née explored towns near Mayon and including the area now known as Guinobatan. He noted that "trees grew in exuberance making the foothills impenetrable in many parts."^[7]

Dr. Leonilo R. Palacio of Guinobatan's Republic Colleges mentioned in an essay entitled "Guinobatan and its Church" that "in 1672, the Parish of Guinobatan was already mentioned in books as a visita of the Municipality of Camalig."^[8]

In 1890, the title of the gobernadorcillo was changed to Capitan Municipal. The Municipal Law of 1894 guaranteed that the term of the local executive would be extended from two years to four years. Also among the salient provisions of the law was the election of 12 vocales, equivalent to today's councilors. In 1895, the Colegio de San Buenaventura was also built, making Guinobatan the centre for higher education in Albay.^[5]

Cabezas and principales elected the gobernadorcillo until 1863. Until 1847, Guinobatan belonged to Camarines. During the said year, the towns of Quipia, Camalig and Donsol (now in Sorsogon) were ceded to Albay, in exchange for the towns of the Partido de Lagonoy. From 1730 to 1818, the town transferred from one place to another. In 1730, it was on a site now called Binanuahan. From there, it was the relocated to Bubulusan. During the eruption of 1814, citizens opted to evacuate to higher ground, in Mauraro.

During the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War (1898-1911), most of the schoolhouses built by the Spaniards were destroyed by constant artillery fire, most of which came from the Americans. As part of the "pacification" campaign of the Americans, engineers and architects were sent to the Philippines to oversee the construction of public works. Engr. Edward K. Bourne and famed urban planner Daniel Burnham, among other American architects and engineers, were instructed to go to Manila. In response, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 268 which created the Bureau of Architecture and Construction of Public Buildings. Mr. Bourne was appointed as its head. In 1907, the Philippine Assembly was formed. Angel Roco of Mauraro, Guinobatan represented Albay in the Assembly. The same year, Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon of Nueva Ecija authored an act which appropriated ₱ 1 million between 1907 and 1915 for "construction of schoolhouses of strong materials in barrios with guaranteed daily attendance of not less than sixty pupils…" Passing into law as Act No. 1801, the act became known as the "Gabaldon Act". Among the salient provisions was that no school could receive more than ₱ 4,000 unless the municipality to which the school belonged contributed at least 50% of the total amount granted to the school by the Gabaldon Act. The Gabaldon Act stipulated that only on land owned by the municipality could schools be constructed. Fifty-one "Gabaldons" were completed by 1911, and by 1916, four hundred five more were constructed. Among those completed between 1911 and 1916 was Guinobatan Central School blg. 1 or the Guinobatan East Central School's Gabaldon Building.

Potenciano Gregorio's Bikol language musical composition "Sarung Banggi" premiered at the town fiesta in Guinobatan in August 1910.^[9]

Presently, there are almost 45 Day Care Centers, 3 private pre-schools, 33 public elementary schools, 5 private elementary schools, 6 public high schools, 4 private high schools and 4 tertiary schools in the municipality.

The municipality has four tertiary schools:

• The Colegio de San Buenaventura (1895-1900) it is located at the present site of St. Benedict's Academy, it is considered as the first tertiary institution in the Province of Albay. It first opened in January 7, 1895 with a population of 297 students and 14 instructors. During the Philippine-American war, Col. Ignacio Paua, set the instutition to ablaze due to the advancement of the American forces.
• The Bicol University Guinobatan Campus (BU Guinobatan) is located in Barangay Ilawod, Morera and Mauraro, it was first established as the Guinobatan Rural High School by Dr. Felipe Cevallos as its founder and held its first classes on June 3, 1912 . It was renamed as Guinobatan Agricultural School in 1927; Roxas Memorial Agricultural School in 1950; Bicol University College of Agriculture (BUCA) in 1969 through RA 5521 and now known as Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF) because of the offering of Bachelor of Science in Forestry which started in 1991, and in 2022 it was renamed as the Bicol University Guinobatan Campus.
• The Republic Colleges of Guinobatan, Inc. (RCGI) is a Non-sectarian institutions and is located at G. Alban st., Iraya, it was first established as the Republic Academy in 1947. It offers the following programs: MA in Education G.R. No. 74 s. 1979 – DCO, MA in Public Administration G.R. No. NA s. NA – NA, Bachelor in Elementary Education G.R. No. 165 s. 1970 – DCO, Bachelor in Secondary Education G.R. No. 194 s. 1966 – DCO, BS in Business Administration G.R. No. 195 s. 1966 – DCO, BS in Computer Science G.R. No. H-0008 s. 1996 - CRO
• The PLT Colleges of Guinobatan, Inc. (PLTC), which offers technical and vocational, and criminology courses. It is located at Barangay San Francisco, Guinobatan, Albay.
• The Guinobatan Community College (GComC), which will open in 2024, it will cater tertiary education to the underpriveledged and rural areas of the Municipalities of Guinobatan, Jovellar and Camalig, Albay.
• The TESDA - Provincial Training Center (TESDA-PTC-Guinobatan) is a vocational institution located at San Francisco, Guinobatan, Albay.

• Albay High School (1902) is a defunct institution, the American first opened the AHS at Guinobatan with a population of 52 students and 3 American Teachers, due to the cholera outbreak the institution shut down and was transferred to another municipality.
• The Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School (MORMS) is located at Maharlika Highway, San Francsco, Guinobatan, and started as Albay High School Guinobatan (AHSG) in September, 1945 through the initiatives of Hon. Marcial O. Rañola, and Mayor Carlos Pardo. Mr. Jose Ramirez was the inaugural holder of school principal with 12 teachers for the 400 pioneer students. In 1948, the P.T.A. with Mr. Lorenzo Oliver, President purchased the 8 hectare lot which is the present site. In 1954, Hon. Pio Duran espoused the construction of the pre-fabricated buildings under Mr. Pacifico Y. Garcia, Principal. A.H.S.G. became an ICA-NEC pilot school and recipient of equipment, tools and appliances for Science and Technology subjects in 1959. In 1963, the school was nationalized by R.A. No. 3161 sponsored by Hon. Josefina Belmonte–Duran R.A. 3723 was also passed by her naming the school Pio Duran Memorial School in honor of the late Hon. Pio Duran, her predecessor in Congress and school benefactor. On June 17, 1967, R.A. No. 5055 sponsored by Hon. Belmonte-Duran named the school Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School to commemorate the precursor of this institution.
• Masarawag National High School
• Malipo National High School
• Lower Binogsacan National High School
• Mauraro High School
• Bat-Bat National High School
• Balite High School – Proposed new High School

• St. Benedict’s Academy came into existence on May 22, 1958, through the combined efforts of Rt. Msgr. Demetrio Valeza and a few militant ladies of the Catholic Women's League, Guinobatan Unit who were bent on having a Catholic school in the town for the cultural and moral upliftment of the youth. The Benedictine Sisters were requested to administer the school. On June 1, 1958, the new school was blessed by Bishop Ariola of Legazpi. Classes began the next day. After two weeks, there were 25 little boys and girls in Kindergarten and 36 girls in the first year high school. Such were the auspicious beginnings of SBA. When the burgeoning school population could no longer be accommodated in two-room cabin, a modern concrete building was built in 1961. In that same year the High School Department began to include boys. In 1972, the foundation of two-story building for Elementary School was laid. Improvements were undertaken as the school continued to grow.
• Republic Colleges of Guinobatan, Inc at G. Alban st. Iraya
• Fide Christian Academy at Rizal st. Iraya
• PLT Colleges of Guinobatan, Inc – SHS at Barangay San Francisco

2022–2025 Guinobatan Municipal Officials

Position	Name	Party
Mayor	Paul N. Garcia ♯		PDP
Vice Mayor	Ann Y. Ongjoco +		NUP
Councilors	Kathleen Mae O. Padua +		PDP
	Julio S. Tingzon, IV ‹›		NUP
	Primo M. Pintor +		NUP
	Mary Ann G. Amano ‹›		PDP
	Marelen G. Flores +		PDP
	Robert M. Bañaga ‹›		NUP
	Ricky S. Matza +		NUP
	Rolando P. Palabrica ‹›		PDP
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC President	Reynaldo Namia (San Francisco)		Nonpartisan
SK Federation President	Keith John M. Pacardo (Inamnan Grande)		Nonpartisan

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 244.43 square kilometres (94.37 sq mi) ^[10] constituting 9.49% of the 2,575.77-square-kilometre- (994.51 sq mi) total area of Albay.

The town of Guinobatan is located at 13°11′N 123°36′E / 13.18°N 123.6°E / 13.18; 123.6. The territory of Guinobatan is bordered by a number of municipalities: Camalig on the east, Jovellar on the south, Pio Duran on the south-west, Ligao on the north-west. On the north-east, the town shares with Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Daraga, Tabaco and Legazpi, a common point in the crater of Mayon Volcano.^[5] Guinobatan is 17 kilometres (11 mi) from Legazpi City and 510 kilometres (320 mi) from Manila.

Guinobatan is politically subdivided into 44 barangays.^[11] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[3]		2010[12]
050504001	Agpay	0.6%	482	451	▴	0.67%
050504002	Balite	0.7%	585	524	▴	1.11%
050504003	Banao	1.3%	1,074	1,018	▴	0.54%
050504004	Batbat	1.6%	1,373	1,314	▴	0.44%
050504005	Binogsacan Lower	2.2%	1,889	1,716	▴	0.96%
050504049	Binogsacan Upper	1.3%	1,131	1,067	▴	0.58%
050504006	Bololo	1.7%	1,442	1,363	▴	0.56%
050504007	Bubulusan	1.6%	1,399	1,189	▴	1.64%
050504009	Calzada	3.2%	2,787	2,662	▴	0.46%
050504010	Catomag	0.9%	796	713	▴	1.11%
050504011	Doña Mercedes	1.6%	1,411	1,472	▾	−0.42%
050504012	Doña Tomasa (Magatol)	1.6%	1,352	1,197	▴	1.22%
050504013	Ilawod	2.6%	2,209	2,101	▴	0.50%
050504015	Inamnan Grande	2.5%	2,177	1,986	▴	0.92%
050504014	Inamnan Pequeño	2.0%	1,756	1,636	▴	0.71%
050504016	Inascan	1.7%	1,481	1,359	▴	0.86%
050504017	Iraya	2.1%	1,771	2,006	▾	−1.24%
050504018	Lomacao	2.4%	2,096	2,002	▴	0.46%
050504021	Maguiron	2.5%	2,118	2,110	▴	0.04%
050504022	Maipon	4.6%	3,944	2,214	▴	5.94%
050504023	Malabnig	1.3%	1,145	1,117	▴	0.25%
050504024	Malipo	2.1%	1,760	1,690	▴	0.41%
050504025	Malobago	2.2%	1,867	1,818	▴	0.27%
050504026	Maninila	1.7%	1,482	1,437	▴	0.31%
050504027	Mapaco	1.7%	1,460	1,463	▾	−0.02%
050504008	Marcial O. Rañola (Cabaloaon)	0.6%	537	633	▾	−1.63%
050504029	Masarawag	4.4%	3,760	3,553	▴	0.57%
050504030	Mauraro	7.0%	5,980	5,145	▴	1.52%
050504031	Minto	2.0%	1,726	1,707	▴	0.11%
050504032	Morera	3.0%	2,602	1,878	▴	3.31%
050504034	Muladbucad Grande	2.4%	2,079	2,010	▴	0.34%
050504033	Muladbucad Pequeño	2.4%	2,051	1,920	▴	0.66%
050504035	Ongo	1.1%	942	930	▴	0.13%
050504036	Palanas	0.5%	427	736	▾	−5.30%
050504038	Poblacion	1.6%	1,336	1,352	▾	−0.12%
050504040	Pood	0.7%	583	287	▴	7.34%
050504042	Quibongbongan	3.0%	2,595	2,286	▴	1.28%
050504041	Quitago	2.6%	2,236	1,760	▴	2.42%
050504043	San Francisco	3.8%	3,302	2,909	▴	1.28%
050504044	San Jose (Ogsong)	1.0%	853	721	▴	1.70%
050504045	San Rafael	4.5%	3,884	3,880	▴	0.01%
050504046	Sinungtan	1.5%	1,312	1,398	▾	−0.63%
050504047	Tandarora	1.5%	1,291	1,399	▾	−0.80%
050504048	Travesia	4.5%	3,878	3,838	▴	0.10%
	Total		85,786	75,967	▴	1.22%

Population census of Guinobatan

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	20,027	—
1918	25,113	+1.52%
1939	26,419	+0.24%
1948	32,280	+2.25%
1960	48,157	+3.39%
1970	47,190	−0.20%
1975	49,724	+1.05%
1980	53,639	+1.53%
1990	59,187	+0.99%
1995	65,512	+1.92%
2000	71,071	+1.76%
2007	74,386	+0.63%
2010	75,967	+0.77%
2015	82,361	+1.55%
2020	85,786	+0.80%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][12][15][16]

In the 2020 census, Guinobatan had a population of 85,786.^[3] The population density was 350 inhabitants per square kilometre (910/sq mi).

Poverty incidence of Guinobatan

10 20 30 40 2006 39.10 2009 37.19 2012 26.85 2015 23.36 2018 25.61 2021 21.90 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Guinobatan hosts an annual festival in the celebration of Our Lady of Assumption, its patron saint. Until 2013, the town festival was called "Arandurugan Festival." In August 2013, Guinobatan celebrated Longganisa Festival, named after the local product which is listed under the Department of Trade and Industry's "One Town, One Product" program.

• Francis Tolentino, former MMDA Chairmanship
• Elizabeth Oropesa, an Actress
• Mura, an actor and Comedian
• Simeon Ola, considered as the Last General to Surrender
• Marcial O. Rañola, former representative of the 3rd District of Albay
• Pio S. Duran, former representative of the 3rd District of Albay
• Dr. Felipe Cevallos, founder of the Guinobatan Rural High School
• Ramon Paje, 19th DENR Secretary
• Arpie Patriarca, singer, comedian and founder of Feed Hungry Minds.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code