Masbate City - Facts and Figures - Barangays - Barangay Description

Barangay Description

• Anas

Anas came from the word “Dangas” which literally means bald. A native whose hair had seriously thinned out at the pate lived in this place. “Dangas” later on became “Angas” and finally “Angas” became “Anas”. Anas was established as a barangay in 1880 by the following persons: Vicente Lerit, Lorenzo Verano, Pedro Bello, Juan Cortes and Cornelio Bello. The tenientes who served the barangay in early times were Pedro Bello, Tomas Cortes, Antonio Suplito, Pedro Badillo, Timoteo Asne, Andres Verano, Epifanio Buhion, Felipe Zaragoza, Constantino Zaragoza, Casiano Lerit, Lucio Lerit, Bernabe Asne, Carmelito Cortes and Serapio Serrano. The sitios of Anas are Purang, Cabanatihan, Can-anab and Libas.

• Ibingay

Barangay Ibingay was originally called Punta Ibingay the name came from the word “Bingcay” or assorted seashells, which children played with, while their mothers were busy with the entre cuatro or card playing. In 1973, it was renamed “Balo” or swordfish, the kind of fish often caught by fishermen in Ibingay waters. However, “Balo” did not stick. People continued to refer to the place as “Ibingay”. So, today, Ibingay remains as its official name.

• Asid

Asid, according to the legend, was formerly called “Asin”. Asid River separates Masbate City from Milagros Municipality. This barangay is known for its bamboo craft. Incidentally, Asid is also the name for the gulf which is a rich fishing ground in the vicinity of Milagros town.

• B. Titong

Barangay B. Titong was named after Benigno Titong, Jr. who donated the barangay site of B. Titong. His father, Benigno Sr. was a German national who came to Masbate as a trader of lumber. He settled in what is now B. Titong. Formerly the place was called “Bugsayon”. The barangay was established in 1890. The original families of Bugsayon were the Veranos, Tumambacs and the Titongs. The first Teniente del Barrio was Bernaldo Verano followed by Eulogio Verano, Isidro Verano, Felipe Verano and Mario Verano.

• Bagumbayan

Bagumbayan was formerly called “goma”. In time, the place was used by laborers as a temporary corral for cattle while the shippers were waiting for the vessel that would transport the animals to Manila. Later, the laborers called the place Bagumbayan or New Town when transients built their homes near the shore and a community was created. The name “goma” was forgotten due to disuse. Today, Bagumbayan is bursting at the seams so to speak, because of the influx of people.

• Bantigue

Bantigue, a barangay across the sea facing the city poblacion is a fishing village founded by the Boholano fishermen who migrated to Masbate sometime in the 50s. Its name was derived from the Borobantigue tree, a specie of mangrove abundantly growing in the Bantigue mudflats in the olden days. Bantigue barangay is better known as the place where the native dance “Lapay Bantigue” originated.

• Bapor

Barangay Bapor in earlier times was called “Puerto de San Antonio”, then it was named Muelle later on, and then renamed “Eldorado”, because this was the name of the Corporation which bought copra, the bodega of which was called El Dorado. In 1973, it was named bapor because of the ships that dock at Masbate wharf, which is found in the barangay. An incident tells that in 1973, when the barangay officials were deliberating and mulling on the proper name for their barangay, an incoming boat sounded its horn. Then, someone in the group said, “Why don’t we call this place “Bapor” and everyone nodded in approval.

• Batuhan

Barangay Batuhan came from “Kabatuhan” meaning, where rocks or boulders abound. The locality of this barangay has a large deposit of marble rocks or “kabatuhan”. It is unfortunate that up to this writing, no effort has been exerted to quarry the deposit of marbles or to exploit the “guano” (bat droppings) and the edible birds nest from the caves of this barangay. Some of the noted settlers of Batuhan were Lucas Zurbito, Felipe Danao, Pedro Rosero, Venancio Natural, Ambrosio Brioso, Nicolas Danao, Francisco Malunes, Apolinario Ebona and Aproniano Torres. The sitios of Batuhan are Ed-idan, Makalangkag, Kampoon, Bukana, Ilawod, Iraya, Pacil, Kabagohan, and Ubo. The barangay was founded in 1882. With Lucas Zurbito as the first Cabeza de Barangay. The Tenientes del Barrio who were selected by the people through the years were Mariano Cervantes, Toribio Brioso, Onofre Danao, Epifanio Torres, Rufino Cebu, Jose Espinosa, and Agaton Espinosa.

• Bayombon

Bayombon originated from the term Bayong and Bong. Bayong is a large buri bag, where farmers place the things they bought from Malinta during the market days. Bong is a nickname of endearment for a boy. “Daraha tabi an bayong, Bong”, or please bring the bag, Bong. Later it evolved into “Bayongbong” and then “Bayombon”. Another legend about the name Bayombon tells that it was named “baybay sa bobon” which refers to the sand in the well. The sitios of Bayombon are Mapugahan and Macawayan. The barangay was established in 1895 by the following families: Bacar, Torres, Guadayo, Andaya, Danao, Recto, Nerza, Francisco and Manlapaz. The Tenientes del Barrio were: Fructuoso Candidato, Eulalio Ramos, Ciriaco Bevantucios, Bibrano Manlapaz, Prudencio Nerza, Heracleo Fermin, Saturnino Tupas, Gaudencio Natural and Cresencio Bacar.

• Biyong

Biyong came from the native term “lambiyong”, meaning whirlwind. Biyong is a level land below Igang Mountain. During foul weather, the wind tends to form into a whirlwind, which usually destroys houses and crops. In the course of time “lambiyong” shortened to “Biyong”. This is a farming barangay.

• Bolo

Nipa and Pagbato-on are sitios of Bolo. The barangay was established in 1926 by the following families: Daniel Fernandez, Mateo Fernandez, Julian Antonio, Timoteo Valladores, Emiliano Gutierrez, Hilario Dometita. The barangay captains were Fortunato Flores, Mateo Fernandez, Andres Buhion, Cesario Natural, Enrique Ragaza, Venancio Azuto, and Bino Gutierrez.

• Cagay

Cagay got its name from the common vine plant called “cagay”. The vine was used for ropes of carabaos because it is stronger than rattan. The sitios of Cagay are Caly, Tagbon, and Burabod. The barangay was established in 1897 by Telesforo Rejuso, and the families of Dalanon, Espares, Malunes, delos Reyes, Saldivar and Robles.

• Cawayan Exterior

Cawayanis a Masbateño name for bamboo. Barangay Cawayan Exterior was established in the 1900s. The sitios are: Danao, Bil-at, Lab-ogan and Pocdol. The original families of Cawayan were: Hermogenes Verano, Domingo Bajar, Pedro Cabug, Dionisio Celebre, Basilio Floresta, Pedro Cornal, Pio Cebu, Timoteo Valladores, Regacio Verano, Alberto Cabug and Florencio Fernandez Sr., the father of the governor of Masbate, Jolly T. Fernandez.

• Cawayan Interior

The barangay is called Cawayan Interior because the place were bounded from coastal to upland west was situated in between Bolo, Batuhan, and Cawayan exterior. Since Cawayan upland is a sitio of Cawayan coastal (Cawayan Exterior), there happened to be an agreement of splitting into two Cawayans. This was them the idea of a certain leader Mr. Florencio Fernandez Sr. soon the official separation was made on October 1966 initiative of them Mayor Juan P. Sanchez Sr. according to sources the barangay was organized sometimes in 1971:kind hearted individuals donated the lot to be the barangay site it was Mr. Leopoldo Brioso who solicited from the late Lope Buncaras Sr. and Antonio Luzanta Sr. to donate. Folks main sources of income were farming left coastal community and settled fishing remained in the coast to fish for a decent living.

• Centro

Barangay Centro is situated at the center of the City. The first Barangay Chairman was Mr. Agapito Guadayo, Sr. followed by Dr. Antonio Chang and Dr. Ricardo Lazaga.

• Espinosa

Barangay Talahib, formerly known as Lomboy got its name sometime in 1972, when the late Tito R. Espinosa became the Municipal Mayor of Masbate Town. Talahib was the former Mayor’s moniker when addressed by his close associates. Later, Talahib became Barangay Espinosa when an assassin gunned down Tito who died in Quezon City in 1995.

• F. Magallanes

Barangay Magallanes was formerly called “Upa”. It was a soggy swampy place but because of the Veloso Rice Mill, which deposits rice hull, the swamp was reclaimed from the sea in the course of time. Eventually, homeless settlers occupied and named the place Barangay F. Magallanes in honor of the late Francisco Magallanes the Mayor of Masbate in 1931, and the father of former Mayor of Masbate Benjamin M. Magallanes who served the town for 25 years.

• Igang

Igang was named after the sharp stones that litter the area or kaigangan. The sitios of Igang are Cacia, Cabulu-an, Manticaun. Casili, Tuminobo and Buyog. The barangay was established in 1890. The original families of Igang were: Marcos, Pusing, Amaro, Andaya, Dela Peña, Gamgam, Esquillo and Arciete. The barangay tenientes were: Zoilo Amaro, Nicolas Lupango, Benito Marcos, Macario Senede, and Rencio Presado. Bolo is an Ilongo word which means a small variety of bamboo called Bolo Bagacay which grew abundantly in Bolo before.

• J. T. Fernandez

JT Fernandez is a poblacion barangay. This barangay was known as barangay Kalipay since the 1973 when the City poblacion was divided into barangays. Kalipay was renamed into JT Fernandez to honor the former OIC Governor and former Assemblyman Jolly T. Fernandez through Resolution No.113-94 by motion of Hon. Esteban G. Almero on December 20, 1994.

• Kinamaligan

Kinamaligan was an old name. It literally means a “camalig” or a nipa hut built in the area. Today, Kinamaligan is being urbanized. However, because of the narrow strip between the sea and the roadside, houses are overcrowded. For its expansion, it has to reclaim a generous portion of the sea nearby.

• Malinta

Barangay Malinta. The name “Malinta” originated from the root word “Linta” which means leech – a small (about one inch in length and ¼ inch in width) blood sucking worm that inhabit the dark but warm forest corridor. When engorged with blood, the worm swells to about two inches in length and a half inch in width. “Malinta” literally means the place where linta is plentiful. This must have started in the later part of the 1800s when Malinta was still forested. A highland barangay, Malinta is a growing community with 500 households according to the latest Census. During saudan or tiangge (marketdays) Malinta is a center of trade for various goods such as farm products, livestock, fish and assorted commercial commodities. It is a meeting place for minor entrepreneurs and farmers. Juan Villamor was the first Teniente del Barrio of Malinta.

• Mapiña

Mapiña may have gotten its name from the piña or pineapple grove planted in the area. Mapiña means the place where pineapple is plentiful.

• Maingaran

Maingaran probably came about in the 30s when Pio V. Corpuz was a Congressman for Masbate. His residential house was built one hundred meters away from the road. In order to inform his visitors, the name “Don Pio V. Corpuz” was printed and placed right at the roadside. Since then, the people refer to the place “May ngaran” which literally means – the site where the name was printed. May Ngaran eventually evolved into Maingaran. The sitios of Maingaran are Calpi, Buyog, Pukdol, Bagalihog, Daan-Lungsod, and Panangdangan. The original families were: Julian Casadangan, Antonio Malunes, Lorenzo Malunes, Jorge Malunes, Lutz Radaza, Leoncio Cabatingan, Isidro Villaraiz, Macario Cristobal, Juan Dioquino and Gregorio Sampaga.

• Nursery

Barangay Nursery, was the original name of the place. Sometime in the 50s, the area was occupied by the Masbate Provincial Nursery under Mr. Romeo Escuadra, Provincial Agriculturist. In the course of time, at the periphery of Nursery, the population grew. In 1973, the place was renamed “Acacia”, but like “Balo” the name was not popular. The residents continued to call their place Nursery. So Nursery remains as the official name of the barangay.

• Pating

Barangay Pating, formerly called ubos elected Natividad Cervantes whose alias was “Pating”, the first Barangay Chairman.

• Pawa

Pawa is a Masbateño term for clearing. In the olden days, the place was heavily forested with mangrove trees. The residents decided to cut the trees and created a clearing. They built a cluster of houses and then in the course of time, Pawa community was formed. Boat building and fishing are the major industries of Pawa barangay.

• Sinalongan

Pawa is a Masbateño term for clearing. In the olden days, the place was heavily forested with mangrove trees. The residents decided to cut the trees and created a clearing. They built a cluster of houses and then in the course of time, Pawa community was formed. Boat building and fishing are the major industries of Pawa barangay.

• Tugbo

Tugbo Barangay is situated some four kilometers south of Masbate City proper. The legend of the place tells that its name originated from “tigbe” a kind of wild plant which thrived abundantly in olden days. Tugbo is a fishing community, no wonder then that the Badjaos who came in droves some two years ago had chosen the shoreline of Tugbo as their dwelling place.

• Ubongan Dacu

Ubongan, on the other hand was named after the portion of the river where residents wade especially during the rainy season when the river swells. Originally, it was “ubogan”, meaning, where one wades, from the root word “ubog” or wade.

• Usab

Usab evolved from the Cebuano word “usab” which literally means repeat. When the American Liberation Army came in 1945, it is said that a Cebuano farmer had crossed the street and was almost run over by a large army truck. Later, he told the people that he will not cross the street again if there is a vehicle around by saying “Dili na ako mo usab paglakaw sa kalsada ug na-ay sakyahan nga mo-agi.” The people named the place where the incident happened, “Usab”. The Barangay is a farming community.