Bulusan, Sorsogon
Encyclopedia
Bulusan is a 5th class municipality in Sorsogon Province, Philippines
. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 20,469 people in 4,218 households.
It is bordered by the towns of Barcelona in the north and going counterclockwise, the towns of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin and Santa Magdalena. The islets of San Bernardino, about 15 Km (9 miles) off the coast, falls under the jurisdiction of Bulusan.
s 8 of them are located in the Poblacion (Capital) area.
Bulusan is home to the highest peak in Sorsogon, Mt. Bulusan. This active volcano
is the centerpiece of Bulusan Volcano National Park
which covers a land area of 3,672 hectares. At the foot of the mountain is the equally popular Bulusan Lake, a scenic crater lake
surrounded by a dense green forest and encircled by a concrete pathway. The lake is about thirty minutes drive through a paved winding road from the Bulusan town proper.
and waterfall
s that originate from the mountains of the National Park.
& whatever else came to be lying around , and burning the houses afterwards. Due to these Moro-related disasters, it was certainly a wise move to locate the settlements on higher ground.
Recent excavations yielded artifacts such as platters
, jugs
, plates
, and vases made of china; and earthen burial jars in what used to be Inarado. These finds further strengthened some claims that the Chinese
and the people in this part of the country were already engaged in trade even before the Cross & Sword reached these shores.
] of the present Province of Sorsogon, was established in the year 1630. After being merely a part of Casiguran
(established in 1600), Bulusan became an independent parish following Bacon (established in 1617) and the parish of Sorsogon (established in 1628). It became a separate pueblo civil [town] in 1631. The new parish was then placed under the tutelary
of St. James, the Greater - the National Patron Saint of Spain. A certain Fr. Miguel de Sta. Ana became its first parish priest, exercising one-man authority over ecclesiastical and civil functions. The people also selected the first executive of the place, a gobernadorcillo.
In 1760, the town was transferred from Inarado to its present site at the mouth of Bulusan River. This was triggered by the need to trade with neighboring settlements. The relocation was done through the efforts of Fr. Joaquin de los Santos, the parish priest at that time. Under the friar's guidance, the people chose Bernardino Pasion as first head of the town. The natives started building a church in the place where a new one now stands. This initial development formed the nucleus of the present poblacion [town center].
Near the community of Dapdap, a bigger triangular muralla [fortification] called Punta Diamante which encloses the church and rectory of the Parish of St. James the Greater was erected. Punta Diamante has around five watchtowers with high and thick walls, making it an ideal place for refuge during Moro attacks. Unlike the other watchtowers which are cylindrical & of circular bases, the one facing the sea has a base shaped as a diamond (with 8 sides) and tapers upwards in alternating tiers, hence the name Punta Diamante. This watchtower now serves as the church's bell tower, with the old bells still intact.
, it was well-protected from the Moro pirates. As a consequence, people from other towns came to this place, earned their living, and paid tributes to the Spanish Government. In 1809, when the governor of Albay
ordered the construction of a town cemetery
outside each towns, Bulusan reported the highest construction cost (200 pesos) in a display of its considerable wealth.
Spain's control over the Buluseños - the locals of Bulusan - and the rest of the natives throughout the islands brought a significant change in their community life. They were made to embrace Catholic
faith more by force than by conviction. Polos y servicios [ Forced labor ] was widely used especially in the building of various buildings like churches and rectories with its dungeons, and the casa tribunal [town hall]. It could be presumed that a lot of forced labor were likewise employed in the construction of Punta Diamante and the other watchtowers.
The revolutionary forces in the province had been quite a success, what with the natives and the elected officials on their side. On April 25, 1900, the Americans waged a battle with the Filipino revolutionaries in Sitio Boco, San Francisco. The Americans suffered three casualties: one lieutenant was killed and two soldiers were wounded. Meanwhile, only two soldiers were wounded on the defender's side. Due to lack of ammunition, the revolutionaries were unable to make a second attack and had to flee to safety. The Americans, enraged with the loss of a comrade and the failure to capture Colonel Funes, later on burned the entire town including the church and the rectory. After two years of effective resistance, on February 21, 1901, Colonel Funes took the oath of allegiance to the United States in a ceremony done in Bulan. Knowing that the inhabitants were already getting weary of the war, and he therefore decided to end it in a peaceful manner.
Under the Americans, the first Municipal President was Braulio Ganzo. However, the first local executive elected in Bulusan by popular suffrage was Juan Fortades.
From 1900 to 1940, Bulusan experienced a major development in education, government, communication, agriculture, and public health. From the very start of the American regime, free public instruction commenced. Public schools in almost all barrios were opened. In 1927, the municipal building (now housing the post office, court room, & municipal jail) and public market (now undergoing another major renovation--this time a vertical development) were built. In the following year, 1930, the provincial road connecting Bulusan to the adjoining towns of Barcelona and Irosin was opened to traffic. Telegraph and mail services began. Qualified voters began enjoying the right to suffrage. A system of municipal government was instituted. Trade and commerce flourished. Development in agricultural methods was initiated. In terms of public health, cholera and small pox were contained. In 1939, the first municipal waterworks system was constructed.At about this period, two Buluseños rose to their respective places of prominence. Juan S. Reyes was elected governor of Sorsogon (1929-1931). His younger brother, Dr. Jose S. Reyes, who obtained his doctorate degree from Columbia University was elected delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. Referred to as a political genius, he contributed immensely in the drafting of the 1935 Constitution. He also became a member of the Philippine Independence Mission and was the Secretary of Education of both the Quirino & Osmeña administrations. In 1945, he became Executive Secretary to President Sergio Osmeña.
broke out in the Philippines on December 8, 1941. Like the rest of the islands, Bulusan was overran by the Japanese Imperial Army. This triggered nationalism once more among Buluseños with the re-emergence of organized guerilla resistance. The Japanese later on succeeded in establishing a semblance of local government to administer the town but the loyalty of those appointed to these positions remained with the resistance group.
Another Buluseño, in the person of Augusto Ortiz, rose to become provincial executive from 1968 to 1971. From the judiciary, he was tapped governor of Sorsogon anew by President Marcos (1977) but had to relinquish the post when he was elected to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978. In 1984, he was elected as Mambabatas Pambansa until 1986 when it was dissolved. During his term, the Bulusan Cultural and Sports Center was constructed in what used to be the site of the old Central School's Gabaldon building. Two municipal streets in Barangay Sabang and Madlawon were likewise constructed.
The '80s also marked the birth of Damayan Buluseño, Inc. (DBI), an organization of Buluseños living in Metro Manila. The group provides assistance to and development opportunities among Buluseños, like employment opportunities, medical assistance for the poor, scholarship, relief and financial assistance for the development of Bulusan. Starting out as a loose group out to muster support for a town mate then undergoing trial in Manila but whom they believed was wrongly accused, DBI went on to become a duly registered organization which, with its heretofore unseen zeal and popular support, became one of the province's most active organizations under the leadership of its founding president, Rogelio F. Fuentes. To date, it continues to fulfill its vision and provides an avenue for community leadership, pride in the hometown, brotherhood, and prosperity as ideals worthy of pursuit.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 20,469 people in 4,218 households.
It is bordered by the towns of Barcelona in the north and going counterclockwise, the towns of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin and Santa Magdalena. The islets of San Bernardino, about 15 Km (9 miles) off the coast, falls under the jurisdiction of Bulusan.
Barangays
Bulusan is politically subdivided into 24 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s 8 of them are located in the Poblacion (Capital) area.
|
|
Mt. Bulusan
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
is the centerpiece of Bulusan Volcano National Park
Bulusan Volcano National Park
Bulusan Volcano National Park is a 3,673 hectares rain forest surrounding Mt. Bulusan. It has been designated a National Park in 1935 as a wildlife sanctuary or a nature reserve. The area features the volcano itself, the Bulusan Lake, the two other mountains known as the Sharp Peak and Hormahan and...
which covers a land area of 3,672 hectares. At the foot of the mountain is the equally popular Bulusan Lake, a scenic crater lake
Crater lake
A crater lake is a lake that forms in a volcanic crater or caldera, such as a maar; less commonly and with lower association to the term a lake may form in an impact crater caused by a meteorite. Sometimes lakes which form inside calderas are called caldera lakes, but often this distinction is not...
surrounded by a dense green forest and encircled by a concrete pathway. The lake is about thirty minutes drive through a paved winding road from the Bulusan town proper.
Springs
Bulusan, which means where water flows, is home to several springsSpring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
and waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s that originate from the mountains of the National Park.
- Masacrot Spring. A man-made earthen swimming pool with cool waters emanating from underground springs.
- Palogtoc Falls. Also known as Palogtok Falls. A small waterfall fills this man-made earthen swimming pool which can be reached after a 20-minute leisure walk through rolling hills carpeted with green grass, under a canopy of tall coconut trees.
- Bayugin Falls. Located in Brgy. San Francisco in Bulusan and surrounded by a thick forest, the falls is the source of the Bayugin River which eventually joins Paghasaan River as it flows into Bulusan River. It can be reached by a 20-minute tricycleTricycleA tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...
ride from the town of Bulusan to Brgy. San Francisco. A 20-minute walk on a mossy and slippery path and then a steep descent to the falls, culminates the hike. - Dulipay River
Beaches
- Dancalan, Miliga-biga and Riroan Beaches are popular swimming spots in Bulusan.
Historical sites
- Punta Diamante. The muralla [stone fort] that encloses the church complex of St. James the Greater ParishParish churchA parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, remains grand in its antiquity together with the Bulusan belfry, the largest of the four watchtowersWatchtowerA watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military, and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may...
dotting the historical complex. - Buco Pass
Viewpoint
- Tan-awan is a cliff road that overlooks the town of Bulusan, San Bernardino StraitSan Bernardino StraitThe San Bernardino Strait is a strait in the Philippines. It separates the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon island from the island of Samar in the south.-Filipinos and San Bernardino Strait:...
and the expansive Pacific OceanPacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. From the vantage point, the view stretches from Tawog to the north, to barangay san antonio to the south. Glimpses of offshore islands like San Bernardino or Parola (because of its lighthouse), BiriBiri, Northern SamarBiri is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,700 people in 1,661 households...
and the main island of Samar can be seen on clear days.
Pre-Spanish period
Long before the Spaniards ever set foot on the archipelago, the natives of Bulusan were already living in organized though scattered settlements. Some lived in what used to be Inarado (now Licod or San Rafael), others in Ilihan, some in Pinayagan, and still a number lived in Capangihan - a place near the Paghasaan and Bayugin Rivers. Familiarity with the town's terrain will prove what these settlements have in common: that of being distant from the seacoast and being uplands. The reason behind this occurrence could very well be the presence of pirates (not Moro, the word Moro was introduce by the colonialist from Spain, but the time line of the account was precolonial days. Moro is word used to describe non baptized native with a slur} who used to attack the town especially the coastal areas, robbing the natives of their goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
& whatever else came to be lying around , and burning the houses afterwards. Due to these Moro-related disasters, it was certainly a wise move to locate the settlements on higher ground.
Recent excavations yielded artifacts such as platters
Platter (dishware)
A platter is a large type of dishware used for serving food. It is a tray on which food is displayed and served to people. It can have oval, round, rectangular, or square shape. It can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. Plain and ornate platters suitable for more formal settings or occasions...
, jugs
Jug (container)
A jug is a type of container used to hold liquid. It has an opening, often narrow, from which to pour or drink, and nearly always has a handle. One could imagine a jug being made from nearly any watertight material, but most jugs throughout history have been made from clay, glass, or plastic...
, plates
Plate (dishware)
A plate is a broad, concave, but mainly flat vessel on which food can be served. A plate can also be used for ceremonial or decorative purposes.-Materials:...
, and vases made of china; and earthen burial jars in what used to be Inarado. These finds further strengthened some claims that the Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
and the people in this part of the country were already engaged in trade even before the Cross & Sword reached these shores.
Spanish period
The town's foundation
Bulusan, like the rest of Sorsogon, was still a part of the province of Albay till October 17, 1894. In Inarado, the fourth parroquia [ parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
] of the present Province of Sorsogon, was established in the year 1630. After being merely a part of Casiguran
Casiguran, Sorsogon
Casiguran is a 4th class municipality in Sorsogon Province, Philippines. This town is on the coast of Sorsogon Bay. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 28,057 people in 5,381 households.-Barangays:...
(established in 1600), Bulusan became an independent parish following Bacon (established in 1617) and the parish of Sorsogon (established in 1628). It became a separate pueblo civil [town] in 1631. The new parish was then placed under the tutelary
Tutelary
A tutelary is a deity or spirit who is a guardian, patron or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture or occupation. Both tutelary and tutelar can be used as either a noun or an adjective...
of St. James, the Greater - the National Patron Saint of Spain. A certain Fr. Miguel de Sta. Ana became its first parish priest, exercising one-man authority over ecclesiastical and civil functions. The people also selected the first executive of the place, a gobernadorcillo.
In 1760, the town was transferred from Inarado to its present site at the mouth of Bulusan River. This was triggered by the need to trade with neighboring settlements. The relocation was done through the efforts of Fr. Joaquin de los Santos, the parish priest at that time. Under the friar's guidance, the people chose Bernardino Pasion as first head of the town. The natives started building a church in the place where a new one now stands. This initial development formed the nucleus of the present poblacion [town center].
The Division of Bulusan
The Bulusan parish back then encompasses all lands that includes the vicinities of Gubat, Matnog, Bulan, Barcelona and Santa Magdalena. Eventually, either new parishes were born out of the Mother parish and became a town of its own or these communities grew into separate towns of their own and in turn, established their own parishes. See table below:| Former Communities of Bulusan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Year the Parish Was Established | Year Founded as a Separate Town |
| Gubat Gubat, Sorsogon Gubat is a second class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. As of 1 August 2007 the town has the population of 55,501 based on... |
1771 | 1764 |
| Matnog Matnog, Sorsogon Matnog is a 4th class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. It lies at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon.Local elders say that the name Matnog comes from the word "matonog" - that describes to the loud sound of the waves... |
1785 | 1800 |
| Bulan Bulan, Sorsogon Bulan is a 1st class municipality in Sorsogon Province, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population 91,730 inhabitants.-Geography:... (or Gate) |
1801 | 1801 |
| Barcelona Barcelona, Sorsogon Barcelona de Sorsogon is a 5th class municipality in Sorsogon Province, Philippines. According to the 2000 Philippine census, it has a population of 19,041 people in 3,887 households. This is where Kenneth Encinares lives.-Barangays:... |
1867 | 1866 |
| Irosin Irosin, Sorsogon Irosin is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. It is the only land-locked municipality of the province. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 45,507 people in 8,639 households.-History:... (From Bulusan & Gubat) |
1873 | 1880 |
| Santa Magdalena Santa Magdalena, Sorsogon Santa Magdalena is a 5th class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,623 people in 2,894 households.-Barangays:Santa Magdalena is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.... (from Matnog) |
1890 | 1894 |
Stone watchtowers
In 1799, as a defense and warning measure against the Moro pirates, the principalias [leaders] of the different coastal towns of Albay - convened in their respective town halls and drew up plans for the building of baluartes (watchtowers) in strategic locations along the shore. On April 20, 1799, Bulusan's leaders decided to build two lanchas cañoneras [armed ships] to be commanded by actual gobernadorcillo Don Juan Macsimiano and ex-gobernadorcillo Don Juan Tomas. The town of Bulusan built the most number of baluartes de piedra [stone watchtowers]. The town erected watchtowers, one each in Macabare, Tawog and Layog (now a part of Barcelona).Near the community of Dapdap, a bigger triangular muralla [fortification] called Punta Diamante which encloses the church and rectory of the Parish of St. James the Greater was erected. Punta Diamante has around five watchtowers with high and thick walls, making it an ideal place for refuge during Moro attacks. Unlike the other watchtowers which are cylindrical & of circular bases, the one facing the sea has a base shaped as a diamond (with 8 sides) and tapers upwards in alternating tiers, hence the name Punta Diamante. This watchtower now serves as the church's bell tower, with the old bells still intact.
The Growth of Bulusan
Among the province's other towns, Bulusan then was comparatively well-off. Being a major port of armadillas [small ships patrolling the high seas - equivalent to present-day Philippine Coast GuardPhilippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines....
, it was well-protected from the Moro pirates. As a consequence, people from other towns came to this place, earned their living, and paid tributes to the Spanish Government. In 1809, when the governor of Albay
Albay
Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province borders Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagonoy Gulf....
ordered the construction of a town cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
outside each towns, Bulusan reported the highest construction cost (200 pesos) in a display of its considerable wealth.
Spain's control over the Buluseños - the locals of Bulusan - and the rest of the natives throughout the islands brought a significant change in their community life. They were made to embrace Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
faith more by force than by conviction. Polos y servicios [ Forced labor ] was widely used especially in the building of various buildings like churches and rectories with its dungeons, and the casa tribunal [town hall]. It could be presumed that a lot of forced labor were likewise employed in the construction of Punta Diamante and the other watchtowers.
American period
Bulusan had its own share of heroes in the revolution against Spain. These same individuals would later find themselves in the war against the Americans. Colonel Emeterio Funes, a Buluseño, was one of the foremost revolutionary leaders in the province. Coming home from a military service under General Miguel Malvar, he was already aware of the immediate plans of the Americans to invade the rest of the country. Upon his arrival in Bulusan, he met with the town's prominent figures with the parish priest in attendance, in the church rectory. Together, they drew up plans for a revolutionary movement in the province. In 1900, Emeterio Funes was appointed colonel of the revolutionary forces in Sorsogon by General Vito Belarmino of Albay.The revolutionary forces in the province had been quite a success, what with the natives and the elected officials on their side. On April 25, 1900, the Americans waged a battle with the Filipino revolutionaries in Sitio Boco, San Francisco. The Americans suffered three casualties: one lieutenant was killed and two soldiers were wounded. Meanwhile, only two soldiers were wounded on the defender's side. Due to lack of ammunition, the revolutionaries were unable to make a second attack and had to flee to safety. The Americans, enraged with the loss of a comrade and the failure to capture Colonel Funes, later on burned the entire town including the church and the rectory. After two years of effective resistance, on February 21, 1901, Colonel Funes took the oath of allegiance to the United States in a ceremony done in Bulan. Knowing that the inhabitants were already getting weary of the war, and he therefore decided to end it in a peaceful manner.
Under the Americans, the first Municipal President was Braulio Ganzo. However, the first local executive elected in Bulusan by popular suffrage was Juan Fortades.
From 1900 to 1940, Bulusan experienced a major development in education, government, communication, agriculture, and public health. From the very start of the American regime, free public instruction commenced. Public schools in almost all barrios were opened. In 1927, the municipal building (now housing the post office, court room, & municipal jail) and public market (now undergoing another major renovation--this time a vertical development) were built. In the following year, 1930, the provincial road connecting Bulusan to the adjoining towns of Barcelona and Irosin was opened to traffic. Telegraph and mail services began. Qualified voters began enjoying the right to suffrage. A system of municipal government was instituted. Trade and commerce flourished. Development in agricultural methods was initiated. In terms of public health, cholera and small pox were contained. In 1939, the first municipal waterworks system was constructed.At about this period, two Buluseños rose to their respective places of prominence. Juan S. Reyes was elected governor of Sorsogon (1929-1931). His younger brother, Dr. Jose S. Reyes, who obtained his doctorate degree from Columbia University was elected delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. Referred to as a political genius, he contributed immensely in the drafting of the 1935 Constitution. He also became a member of the Philippine Independence Mission and was the Secretary of Education of both the Quirino & Osmeña administrations. In 1945, he became Executive Secretary to President Sergio Osmeña.
World War II
This period of relative peace and prosperity in Bulusan, however, was disturbed when the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out in the Philippines on December 8, 1941. Like the rest of the islands, Bulusan was overran by the Japanese Imperial Army. This triggered nationalism once more among Buluseños with the re-emergence of organized guerilla resistance. The Japanese later on succeeded in establishing a semblance of local government to administer the town but the loyalty of those appointed to these positions remained with the resistance group.
From liberation to present
After the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1946, new faces came into the political scene.Municipal mayors
| Municipal Mayors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Year | Term |
| Fulgencio Sesbreno | 1926-1934 | ... |
| Leon Galarosa | 1935-1937 | ... |
| Sergio Galao | 1938-1940 | ... |
| Vicente Guysayko | 1938-1940 | Elected |
| Buenaventura Frades | 1948-1951 | Elected |
| Jaime S. Reyes | 1951-1959 | Elected |
| Dr. Rogado Halum | 1960-1963 | Elected |
| Vicente Guysayko | 1967-1969 | Died in office in March 1969 |
| Jaime S. Reyes | 1969-1971 | Succeeded Vicente Guysayko when he died in office |
| Erwin G. Guysayko | 1972-1979 | Term was extended due to imposition of martial law |
| Dr. Rogado Halum | 1979-1985 | Appointed mayor by President Marcos elected in January 1980 |
| Antonio Frades | 1985-1987 | Appointed OIC by President Corazon C. Aquino |
| Nelly G. Fortades | 1987-1992 | First elected lady mayor of Bulusan |
| Dr. Oscar S. Halum | 1992-2001 | Elected; re-elected in 1998 |
| Juan G. Guysayko | 2001-2010 | Elected; re-elected in 2004 |
| Michael G. Guysayko | 2010-present | Elected in May 2010 |
Another Buluseño, in the person of Augusto Ortiz, rose to become provincial executive from 1968 to 1971. From the judiciary, he was tapped governor of Sorsogon anew by President Marcos (1977) but had to relinquish the post when he was elected to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978. In 1984, he was elected as Mambabatas Pambansa until 1986 when it was dissolved. During his term, the Bulusan Cultural and Sports Center was constructed in what used to be the site of the old Central School's Gabaldon building. Two municipal streets in Barangay Sabang and Madlawon were likewise constructed.
The '80s also marked the birth of Damayan Buluseño, Inc. (DBI), an organization of Buluseños living in Metro Manila. The group provides assistance to and development opportunities among Buluseños, like employment opportunities, medical assistance for the poor, scholarship, relief and financial assistance for the development of Bulusan. Starting out as a loose group out to muster support for a town mate then undergoing trial in Manila but whom they believed was wrongly accused, DBI went on to become a duly registered organization which, with its heretofore unseen zeal and popular support, became one of the province's most active organizations under the leadership of its founding president, Rogelio F. Fuentes. To date, it continues to fulfill its vision and provides an avenue for community leadership, pride in the hometown, brotherhood, and prosperity as ideals worthy of pursuit.