Carmen, Bohol
Encyclopedia
Carmen is a 2nd class municipality located in the heart of the province of Bohol, Philippines
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...
. It is composed of 29 barangays with an area of 23,245 sq. kilometers. It was founded in the year 1869. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 43,153 people.
The Chocolate Hills
Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol province, Philippines. According to the latest accurate survey done, there are 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than . They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.The Chocolate Hills...
is the main tourist attraction of this town with 1,776 hills. Aside from the world-famous Chocolate Hills, there are forests, caves and waterfalls to discover. To those who are sociologically inclined you can visit Pedro Lomod also known as Dr. Sipsip, a famous psychic surgeon who is known for his method of sucking the inflicted parts of those patients who are suffering of cancer and other ailments.
History
Carmen was a part of the Municipality of BilarBilär
Bilär was a medieval city in Volga Bulgaria and its second capital before the Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria. It was located on the left bank of the Small Cheremshan River in modern-day Alexeyevsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan.The city was founded by the indigenous Bilyar tribe of the...
, inhabited by not more than fifty families during the Spanish time. In 1868, the people of Carmen petitioned for its independence since its population grew to an unprecedented number. The place called Ymbaya was renamed Carmen in honor of the Lady of Carmel of Spain. The town of Carmen was founded on March 1, 1869 by the final order from Governor General Jose de la Gandara. In the year 1874, the town of Carmen had its separate parish with Father Pedro Nolasco San Juan as the first parish priest.
Being influenced by Spanish culture and tradition, all barangays of Carmen have a patron saint as well as a Spanish name that celebrate an annual barangay fiesta. During the early 1900s, the people of Carmen revolted against the Spaniards and had their first taste of liberty. However, only short after, the Americans came and claimed the municipality's freedom once again.
In the last World War, Carmen served as the stronghold of the Guerrilla Resistance Movement and the local civil government because of its strategic location. Even at present, the municipality still serves the same purpose of being the provincial center of dynamic activities.
Political Subdivisions
Carmen is politically subdivided into 29 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s.
|
|
|
The Chocolate Hills
Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol province, Philippines. According to the latest accurate survey done, there are 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than . They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.The Chocolate Hills...
is considered one of the natural Wonders of the World, composed of 1,776 cone-shaped hills. The origin of its name comes from the fact that the hills turns brown in the hot summer days that they look like Hersheys Chocolate Kisses.
The Chocolate Hills Complex is the main destination for best viewing of the Chocolate Hills. It located in Barangay Buenos Aires, Carmen, Bohol. The complex is composed of two chocolate hills developed years and years ago and transformed into a complex complete with cemented road going up, restaurant, conference room, swimming pool, activity area with water fountain, 200+ steps with covered deck rest stops along the way and metal railing to aide your climb way up to the 360-degree Observation Deck, Virgin Mary Grotto, beautiful and tall pine trees to shade the steps. The Chocolate Hills Complex also developed new building structures with different accommodations to cater to visitors that wish to stay overnight in the middle of the Chocolate Hills.