Gubat, Sorsogon
Encyclopedia
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 National Statistics Office. Gubat is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable.
This town's white-sand beaches to the east that faces the Pacific Ocean
are well-known in surrounding towns and cities.One famous beach resort here is the Rizal Beach Resort which hosts the PhilHobie Challenge. Also lots of tourists come here locally or internationally.
Gubat was in the news in November 2006 when it became the site of a scientific expedition by astronomers Dr. Armando Lee, Bamm Gabriana, and Rochelle Derilo to observe the rare Mercury
transit. Gubat was the best town in Luzon to observe the event. Results of the expedition were published in international astronomy publications such as Sky & Telescope.
and carved out of a thick forest on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Gubat is the third largest town in the province of Sorsogon.
Gubat was originally a small barrio of Bulusan, inhabited by a few Tagalogs, Visayans and Albayanons who travelled on foot to hunt wild animals. These people built their homes close to the shore and called their location Buri, which today is the barrio of Buenavista. In 1764, Gubat finally became a town with Don Pedro Manook, the first Teniente del Barrio, also becoming the first gobernadorcillo.
The word "gúbat" means forest in Tagalog. However, the name applied to the town is derived from the verb "guinobat", a term used by the natives which means "raided". In the early days when Christians and Muslims were constantly at odds, Muslim pirates would come in from the southern seas to raid the town. Because of the frequent raids, the town was referred to as "guinobat" which eventually became "Gubat". Legend has it that during one of those raids, the pastor along with the townspeople held up a statue of St. Anthony to ward off the attack, praying for a miracle. In one account, it was said that the child Jesus in St. Anthony's arms drove back the pirates. St. Anthony of Padua became the town's patron saint and his feast day is lavishly celebrated as an official parish and town holiday every13 June.
The town settlers had to move a number of times before finally deciding to settle at a place they considered safe and peaceful. Eventually, they began to expand, laying out permanent streets, the first of which are what we now know as Luna and Calderon Streets.
The main parish church itself has an interesting history. In 1768, the people decided to build a church. The locals, being poor, urged the town captain, Don Juan Bonifacio, to require all men to contribute one cubic meter of "talaksan" (coral stone) apiece. It took ten years of preparation and it was not until 1778 that construction finally started.
Although it has since undergone several renovations, the church foundation is still the original one built in 1778. The rectory is the oldest and one of the only two remaining rectories dating back that far in the entire Bicol region.
Gubat has its own credit cooperative that helps its people, the Gubat Saint Anthony Credit Cooperative, one of the outstanding cooperative in Bicol Region
and had gained recognition nationwide.
, Globe
and Smart
), Cable facility, internet cafes and internet service providers. There is also a radio station within the downtown area.
tirs elementary school
cabiguhan elementary school
dita elementary school
patag elementary school
s.
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...
. As of 1 August 2007 the town has the population of 55,501 based on National Statistics Office. Gubat is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable.
This town's white-sand beaches to the east that faces the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The 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...
are well-known in surrounding towns and cities.One famous beach resort here is the Rizal Beach Resort which hosts the PhilHobie Challenge. Also lots of tourists come here locally or internationally.
Gubat was in the news in November 2006 when it became the site of a scientific expedition by astronomers Dr. Armando Lee, Bamm Gabriana, and Rochelle Derilo to observe the rare Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
transit. Gubat was the best town in Luzon to observe the event. Results of the expedition were published in international astronomy publications such as Sky & Telescope.
History
Tucked into the south-eastern part of the island of LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and carved out of a thick forest on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Gubat is the third largest town in the province of Sorsogon.
Gubat was originally a small barrio of Bulusan, inhabited by a few Tagalogs, Visayans and Albayanons who travelled on foot to hunt wild animals. These people built their homes close to the shore and called their location Buri, which today is the barrio of Buenavista. In 1764, Gubat finally became a town with Don Pedro Manook, the first Teniente del Barrio, also becoming the first gobernadorcillo.
The word "gúbat" means forest in Tagalog. However, the name applied to the town is derived from the verb "guinobat", a term used by the natives which means "raided". In the early days when Christians and Muslims were constantly at odds, Muslim pirates would come in from the southern seas to raid the town. Because of the frequent raids, the town was referred to as "guinobat" which eventually became "Gubat". Legend has it that during one of those raids, the pastor along with the townspeople held up a statue of St. Anthony to ward off the attack, praying for a miracle. In one account, it was said that the child Jesus in St. Anthony's arms drove back the pirates. St. Anthony of Padua became the town's patron saint and his feast day is lavishly celebrated as an official parish and town holiday every13 June.
The town settlers had to move a number of times before finally deciding to settle at a place they considered safe and peaceful. Eventually, they began to expand, laying out permanent streets, the first of which are what we now know as Luna and Calderon Streets.
The main parish church itself has an interesting history. In 1768, the people decided to build a church. The locals, being poor, urged the town captain, Don Juan Bonifacio, to require all men to contribute one cubic meter of "talaksan" (coral stone) apiece. It took ten years of preparation and it was not until 1778 that construction finally started.
Although it has since undergone several renovations, the church foundation is still the original one built in 1778. The rectory is the oldest and one of the only two remaining rectories dating back that far in the entire Bicol region.
Economic activity
The main livelihoods of the people, then and now, are agriculture and fishing. Harvest times for rice crops are from April to May, and December. Fishing is year-round.Gubat has its own credit cooperative that helps its people, the Gubat Saint Anthony Credit Cooperative, one of the outstanding cooperative in Bicol Region
Bicol Region
The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Its regional center is Legazpi City...
and had gained recognition nationwide.
Transportation
Gubat can be reached mostly through land transport from Manila by bus for about 12 hours. There are about 5 bus companies operates daily from Manila to Gubat and vice versa.They are: JVH, Elavil, Raymond ,St.Jude, CUL, and Philtranco.Communications
The town has modern and efficient communications facilities including cellular mobile phone (Sun CellularSun Cellular
Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc., is a mobile telecommunication service provider in the Philippines doing business as Sun Cellular. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, or Digitel. Digitel is in turn owned by the JG Summit Group with a minority stake...
, Globe
Globe
A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of Earth or other spheroid celestial body such as a planet, star, or moon...
and Smart
Smart Communications
Smart Communications is a wholly owned mobile phone and Internet service subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company .On June 30, 2010 the company reported that it had over 45 million cellular subscribers.-Brands:...
), Cable facility, internet cafes and internet service providers. There is also a radio station within the downtown area.
Surfing
Gubat is slowly being recognized as the only beginner friendly surfing spot in the province of Sorsogon. The sand bottom beach breaks of Barangays Ariman and Buenavista produce 2 to 5 feet waves from September to May. With the formation of Gubat Bay Surfers by Bidge Villarroya and surfboards donated by the Local Government Unit under Mayor Ding Ramos, surfing is more accessible to the local population and tourists alike.Festivals
The town celebrates its Ginubat Festival annually every 13 June in honour of its patron, St. Anthony of Padua. It is also the foundation of the town.Primary education
Includes:
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tirs elementary school
cabiguhan elementary school
dita elementary school
patag elementary school
Secondary education
Includes:- Gubat National High School
- Bagacay National High School
- Bulacao National High School
- Rizal National High School
- Bentuco High School
- Jupi High School
- St. Anthony Academy
- Landmark Baptist Academy
Tertiary education
- Bicol UniversityBicol UniversityBicol University is a state university in Legazpi City, the Philippines. The administrative center of Bicol University is in the City of Legazpi while its colleges are in separated campuses of Polangui, Guinobatan, Daraga, Legazpi City and Tabaco of Albay province...
(Gubat Campus) - Data Base Technology Computer School
Barangays
Gubat is politically subdivided into 42 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s.
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External links
- Municipality of Gubat official government website
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
- Gubat best spot to observe Cosmic Event
- Profile of astronomers in Mercury Transit expedition to Gubat, Sorsogon
- Gubatnons Everywhere, Official Online Social Networking Site of Gubat, Sorsogon
- Gubatnons of Northern California