Lavezares, Northern Samar
Encyclopedia
Lavezares is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines
. It is bounded on the west by the municipality of Allen
, on the northwest by San Bernardino Strait
, on the south and southwest by the municipality of Victoria
, on the east by the municipality of Rosario
and on the north by the municipality of Biri
. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 23,991 people in 4,637 households.
s of the old municipality.
During the Spanish period, Lavezares was controlled by secular piests. It was named in honor of the Spanish Governor-General
Guido de Lavezares
who helped them become separated from the Municipality of Allen, and be an independent municipality. Sitios of Lavezares including Caburihan, Ocad, Caragas, Cataogan and Sabang-Tabok were converted into barangays though Republic Act 2370 (the Barrio Charter Act) and Republic Act 3590 (the Revised Barrio Charter Act). And shortly, the municipality was administered by the capitanes, presidentes and municipal mayors.
s, 12 of which are considered as inland barangays and 14 coastal barangays which can be subclassified into 5 island barangays and 9 barangays situated along the coast of the mainland.
The smallest barangay is Cataogan, while the largest is Bani. According to the Provincial Physical Framework Plan of 2004–2013, the municipality is suitable for irrigated rice
, fish pond
s, tree
s and crop
s.
The mainland is attached entirely to the entire Samar Island
. Maravilla Island, San Juan Island and Bani Island are the three major islands of the municipality.
with many steep and elevated areas classified as undulating to hilly. Technically, there are only two hill
s in the area, these are located in the southernmost part of Barangays Chansvilla and Toog. No mountain
can be found in the area.
There are also no major plains but a few flat lands that not very extensive. The coastal areas of Lavezares are limited and have generally moderately terrain. Bacolods which serve as natural breakwater
on different coasts of the municipality can be found along the coasts of Barangays Balicuatro, Villa, Bani and Magsaysay among others.
Land reclamation in different parts of the municipality particularly in island barangays of San Juan, San Isdro, Magsaysay and Bani is continuously being done. The coastal barangays along the mainland are similarly reclaiming lands which include the coasts of Barangays Libas, Cataogan, Sabang-Tabok, Urdaneta and Barobaybay.
Access to Lavezares has two options: from Manila
, a fourteen to fifteen hours of bus ride with Roll-on Roll-off vessels from Matnog, Sorsogon
to the port of Allen, Northern Samar, or taking a plane to Catarman
and a jeepney ride to Lavezares both serving as the main transport facility towards this portion.
True to mention are the white sand beaches abounding among its coastal and groups of island barangays that comprises the municipality though some parts have strong underwater current not suitable for a beach resort. Current white sand beach resorts are found at barangays Urdaneta and Barobaybay and waters between Bani Island and Barobaybay. The resorts offer huts along the beachfront and for overnight stays, tourist inns are available.
The coral reefs in Bancauan Island, Bani Island, Barangay Maravilla and Barangay San Juan are good for scuba diving.
The sunsets can be viewed at Lavezares Bay and Barangay Barobaybay, but Barangay Maravilla provides the most outstanding view because of the island's north to south orientation with just the vast sea on sight.
is not a privilege. It is a right"
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 bounded on the west by the municipality of Allen
Allen, Northern Samar
Allen is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 20,066 people in 4,145 households...
, on the northwest by San Bernardino Strait
San Bernardino Strait
The 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:...
, on the south and southwest by the municipality of Victoria
Victoria, Northern Samar
Victoria is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 11,632 people in 2,354 households...
, on the east by the municipality of Rosario
Rosario, Northern Samar
Rosario is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,647 people in 1,534 households...
and on the north by the municipality of Biri
Biri, Northern Samar
Biri 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...
. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 23,991 people in 4,637 households.
Historical background
Lavezares was just a visita during the late 19th century. In this period of time, Barobaybay, Villa and MacArthur served as the oldest puebloPueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
s of the old municipality.
During the Spanish period, Lavezares was controlled by secular piests. It was named in honor of the Spanish Governor-General
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
Guido de Lavezares
Guido de Lavezaris
Guido de Lavezaris was the second Spanish Governor General of the Philippines. He succeeded Miguel López de Legazpi in 1572 as governor, and was succeeded by Francisco de Sande on August 25, 1575.-Early life:...
who helped them become separated from the Municipality of Allen, and be an independent municipality. Sitios of Lavezares including Caburihan, Ocad, Caragas, Cataogan and Sabang-Tabok were converted into barangays though Republic Act 2370 (the Barrio Charter Act) and Republic Act 3590 (the Revised Barrio Charter Act). And shortly, the municipality was administered by the capitanes, presidentes and municipal mayors.
Land Area
Lavezares has an estimated land area of 11,950 hectares according to the municipal profile. It is politically subdivided into 26 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s, 12 of which are considered as inland barangays and 14 coastal barangays which can be subclassified into 5 island barangays and 9 barangays situated along the coast of the mainland.
INLAND BARANGAYS
| COASTAL BARANGAYS
|
The smallest barangay is Cataogan, while the largest is Bani. According to the Provincial Physical Framework Plan of 2004–2013, the municipality is suitable for irrigated rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, fish pond
Fish pond
A fish pond, or fishpond, is a controlled pond, artificial lake, or reservoir that is stocked with fish and is used in aquaculture for fish farming, or is used for recreational fishing or for ornamental purposes...
s, tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s and crop
Crop
Crop may refer to:* Crop, a plant grown and harvested for agricultural use* Crop , part of the alimentary tract of some animals* Crop , a modified whip used in horseback riding or disciplining humans...
s.
The mainland is attached entirely to the entire Samar Island
Samar Island
Samar is an island in the Visayas, within the central Philippines. The island is divided into three provinces: Samar province, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. These three provinces, along with the provinces on the nearby islands of Leyte and Biliran are part of the Eastern Visayas region...
. Maravilla Island, San Juan Island and Bani Island are the three major islands of the municipality.
Land Topography
Land topography is generally composed of very rugged terrainTerrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
with many steep and elevated areas classified as undulating to hilly. Technically, there are only two hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
s in the area, these are located in the southernmost part of Barangays Chansvilla and Toog. No mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
can be found in the area.
There are also no major plains but a few flat lands that not very extensive. The coastal areas of Lavezares are limited and have generally moderately terrain. Bacolods which serve as natural breakwater
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
on different coasts of the municipality can be found along the coasts of Barangays Balicuatro, Villa, Bani and Magsaysay among others.
Land reclamation in different parts of the municipality particularly in island barangays of San Juan, San Isdro, Magsaysay and Bani is continuously being done. The coastal barangays along the mainland are similarly reclaiming lands which include the coasts of Barangays Libas, Cataogan, Sabang-Tabok, Urdaneta and Barobaybay.
Tourism
In this coastal province of Northern Samar, eco-tourism may just become an alternative income generator aside from coconuts and fishing.Access to Lavezares has two options: from Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, a fourteen to fifteen hours of bus ride with Roll-on Roll-off vessels from Matnog, Sorsogon
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...
to the port of Allen, Northern Samar, or taking a plane to Catarman
Catarman, Northern Samar
Catarman is a first class Municipality in the Philippines. It is the capital and largest town in terms of both land area and population in the province of Northern Samar. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 81,067 making it the most populous municipality in Eastern Visayas...
and a jeepney ride to Lavezares both serving as the main transport facility towards this portion.
True to mention are the white sand beaches abounding among its coastal and groups of island barangays that comprises the municipality though some parts have strong underwater current not suitable for a beach resort. Current white sand beach resorts are found at barangays Urdaneta and Barobaybay and waters between Bani Island and Barobaybay. The resorts offer huts along the beachfront and for overnight stays, tourist inns are available.
The coral reefs in Bancauan Island, Bani Island, Barangay Maravilla and Barangay San Juan are good for scuba diving.
The sunsets can be viewed at Lavezares Bay and Barangay Barobaybay, but Barangay Maravilla provides the most outstanding view because of the island's north to south orientation with just the vast sea on sight.
Education
"EducationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
is not a privilege. It is a right"
- Primary Schools - There are 26 barangay elementary school and one central school, Lavezares Central Elementary School.
- Secondary Schools - Basilio B. Chan Memorial Agricultural and Industrial School is the only public high school in the whole municipality, which is situated at Barangay Sabang-Tabok. It is the venue where the government can provide the youth of Lavezares the needed knowledge and skills that would prepare them not only for their college life but also to the challenges of real world. Nevertheless, there are 3 private schools offering secondary courses where 2 of which are operated by religious orders: The Holy Family Center of Studies at Caburihan and Barobaybay Academy Mission School at Barobaybay. Colegio de San Juan, where located at Libertad, offers secondary and tertiary education and serves as an alternative for thos who cannot afford to study outside the municipality.
Local officials
The political body of Lavezares was established in 1875 under the Spanish colonial power wherein the local executive was alluded as Capitanes. From 1903 to 1935, the persons who assumed the position were called Presidentes, and from 1936 until present where they were referred to as Municipal Mayors.| Position | Name | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|
| Silvino Flores | ||
| Justiniano Morillo | ||
| Victorio Alvanes | ||
| Evaristo Martires | ||
| Angeles de Leon | ||
| Patricio Ebron | ||
| Feliciano Adriatico | ||
| Lucio Flores | ||
| Anastacio Adriatico | ||
| Cepriano de Leon | ||
| Lasaro Cuyco | ||
| Martin Custan | ||
| Gregorio Adriatico | ||
| Elias Bogtong | ||
| Melecio Cuyuco | ||
| Juan Ymata | ||
| Eugenio Tingkingco | ||
| Antonio Martires | ||
| Pascualito Clutario | ||
| Julio Turla | ||
| Gabriel Querobines | ||
| Basilio Chan | ||
| Rodrigo Chan | ||
| Miguel Adriatico | ||
| Celedonio Saludaga, Jr | ||
| Miguel Adriatico, Jr | ||
| Quintin Saludaga, Jr | ||
| Celedonio Saludaga, Jr |