Hilongos

Hilongos (IPA: [hɪ'lɔŋos]), officially the Municipality of Hilongos (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Hilongos; Waray: Bungto han Hilongos; Tagalog: Bayan ng Hilongos), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 64,514 people.[3]

Hilongos
Municipality of Hilongos
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Flag of Hilongos
Official seal of Hilongos
Map of Leyte with Hilongos highlighted
Map of Leyte with Hilongos highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Hilongos is located in Philippines
Hilongos
Hilongos
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°22′N 124°45′E
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceLeyte
District 5th district
Founded1590 (Pueblo de los Hilongos)
Barangays51 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  TypeSangguniang Bayan
  MayorManuel R. Villahermosa
  Vice MayorAlbert R. Villahermosa
  RepresentativeCarl Nicolas C. Cari
  Councilors
List
  Electorate43,424 voters (2022)
Area
  Total192.92 km2 (74.49 sq mi)
Elevation
88 m (289 ft)
Highest elevation
1,133 m (3,717 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
  Total64,514
  Density330/km2 (870/sq mi)
  Households
15,918
Economy
  Income class2nd municipal income class
  Poverty incidence
26.05
% (2018)[4]
  Revenue215.5 million (2020)
  Assets812.4 million (2020)
  Expenditure269.9 million (2020)
  Liabilities110.5 million (2020)
Service provider
  ElectricityLeyte 4 Electric Cooperative (LEYECO 4)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6524
PSGC
IDD:area code+63(0)53
Native languagesCebuano
Tagalog

Hilongos is the biggest municipality in terms of income, population and land area in the southwestern part of Leyte. A string of five equidistant municipalities, namely Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato and Matalom comprises the southwestern part of Leyte. Hilongos, being at the geographical center, is also the center for government, religion, shipping, rice production, commerce, banking, finance, telecommunications, health services, education, sports and socio-cultural activities.

The Port of Hilongos is one of the biggest and busiest in Eastern Visayas (Region 8), well known for its good passenger and cargo services to Cebu City and vice versa. Due to its strategic location and close proximity to the city of Cebu, Hilongos Port caters quite a number of day and night trips to and from the city and is the primary choice for travelers especially from the southern part of Leyte. Also, Hilongos has an airport, which can be more helpful and useful if improved (for so many years, travelers from the southern part of Leyte need to go as far as Tacloban and or Cebu just to avail the services of commercial airlines). Hilongos has 2 public markets and two 2 transport terminals. The municipality is composed of 51 barangays with vast coastal plains used mainly in the production of rice.

History

Church Sanctuary

Lore has it that in the 12th century, Amahawin, an Ilonggo from Iloilo, conquered neighboring barangays on Leyte's western shore and extended his territory to the present limits of Inopacan, Hindang, Bato, and Matalom. He formed a settlement and named it Hilongos, because its inhabitants were Ilonggos.

In 1710, the Jesuits created a residence there. In 1737, according to Redondo 1886:207, Hilongos was already a parish before this year. However, Braganza (1965) claims that Hilongos became a parish only in 1737. This date corresponded to the establishment of the town.(Tantuico 1964:41)

1754 was the date of the oldest parish books (deaths) as of 1884.

In 1768, the Jesuits ceded Hilongos to the Augustinians. In 1774–79, the Augustinians established schools in Hilongos. In 1784, Palompon, a Hilongos visita, became an independent parish.

In 1862, Manicar led a revolt at Barrio Santa Margarita.

In 1873, Leovio Magia led a revolt. Unlike the towns of eastern Leyte, which were ceded to the Franciscans in 1843, the towns along Leyte's western coast fell one by one under the seculars.

In late 1992, an unrecognized municipal government ran by the New People's Army from within Barangay San Antonio, Hilongos collapsed upon being taken over by the Philippine National Police (PNP).[5]

On December 28, 2016, two explosions rocked the small town during the town fiesta. The explosion occurred in Barangay Central Poblacion were a boxing match was being held. At least 34 people residents were injured and brought to the Hilongos District Hospital and other nearby hospitals.[6] Officials said an IED was used in the attack. No suspects were identified.[7]

Geography

Hilongos shares borders with the municipalities of Hindang to the north, Mahaplag to the northeast, Sogod (Southern Leyte) and Bontoc (Southern Leyte) to the east, Bato to the south and to the west lies the Camotes Sea.

Barangays

Hilongos is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.[8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Agutayan
  • Atabay
  • Baas
  • Bagong Lipunan (BLISS)
  • Bagumbayan
  • Baliw
  • Bantigue
  • Bon-ot
  • Bung-aw
  • Cacao
  • Campina
  • Cantandog 1
  • Cantandog 2
  • Concepcion (Makinhas)
  • Hampangan
  • Himo-aw
  • Hitudpan
  • Imelda Marcos (Pong-on)
  • Kang-iras
  • Kanghaas
  • Lamak
  • Libertad
  • Liberty
  • Lunang
  • Magnangoy
  • Manaul
  • Marangog
  • Matapay
  • Naval
  • Owak
  • Pa-a
  • Central Poblacion
  • Eastern Poblacion
  • Western Poblacion
  • Pontod
  • Proteccion
  • San Agustin
  • San Antonio
  • San Isidro
  • San Juan
  • San Roque (Taganas)
  • Santa Cruz
  • Santa Margarita
  • Santo Niño
  • Tabunok
  • Tagnate
  • Talisay
  • Kanghaas
  • Tambis
  • Tejero
  • Tuguipa
  • Utanan

Climate

Climate data for Hilongos, Leyte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
Average low °C (°F) 22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 78
(3.1)
57
(2.2)
84
(3.3)
79
(3.1)
118
(4.6)
181
(7.1)
178
(7.0)
169
(6.7)
172
(6.8)
180
(7.1)
174
(6.9)
128
(5.0)
1,598
(62.9)
Average rainy days 16.7 13.8 17.3 18.5 23.2 26.5 27.1 26.0 26.4 27.5 24.6 21.0 268.6
Source: Meteoblue[9]

Economy

Demographics

Population census of Hilongos
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 12,478    
1918 19,758+3.11%
1939 25,920+1.30%
1948 27,310+0.58%
1960 27,472+0.05%
1970 34,625+2.34%
1975 38,530+2.17%
1980 43,744+2.57%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 48,617+1.06%
1995 50,744+0.81%
2000 51,462+0.30%
2007 53,911+0.64%
2010 56,803+1.92%
2015 63,431+2.12%
2020 64,514+0.33%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [17][18][19][20]

In the 2020 census, the population of Hilongos, Leyte, was 64,514 people,[3] with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.

Culture

Heritage sites

Church Bell Tower

Church complex—The present church's bell tower is attributed by Redondo to a secular Don Leonardo Celis-Díaz, a native of Cebu. The building of the church fabric itself is disputed.[21]

The church complex underwent major renovations over the centuries. The original church, now incorporated as a transept, was a single-nave structure whose main door was also the gate to a bastioned fortification. Some bastions and walls of that fortification still remain. The main nave of the church is a modern construction, and the bell tower build by Fr. Celis-Diaz is an independent multi story structure, now plastered over with Portland cement.

The church interior is completely new in contrast to the convento which may have been completed in the 19th century. The convento guards many of the church's antiques including silver vessels from the 18th century.

Transportation

Shipping

Port of Hilongos
  • Roble Shipping Inc.: Ro-Ro/Passenger/Cargo service, day & night trips to Cebu City and vice versa
  • Gabisan Shipping Lines Inc.: Ro-Ro/Passenger/Cargo service, day & night trips to Cebu City and vice versa
  • Peñafrancia/Santa Clara Shipping Corporation: Ro-Ro/Passenger/Cargo service, daily trips to Ubay, Bohol and vice versa
  • Seacat (Grand Ferries): Fastcraft to Cebu City and vice versa
  • Leopards Motorboat Service: daily trips to Ubay, Bohol and vice versa
  • Also, a number of cargo vessels are making calls at the port of Hilongos for cement, copra and other cargoes/products

Land

  • Main Type of Transportation: Bus/Mini-Bus/Van/Jeep/Multicab
  • Routes: Hilongos-Pasay/Cubao (vice versa), Hilongos-Tacloban (vice versa), Hilongos-Ormoc/Baybay (vice versa), Hilongos-Maasin (vice versa), Hilongos-Sogod (vice versa), Hilongos-Davao (vice versa)
  • Other Types of Land Transport Facilities: Electronic Tricycles (RACAL), Sidecars (Tricycles), "Trisikad/Padyak" (locally known as "Pot-pot") and also "Habal-habal" (specialized motorcycles that are used as the mode of transport for the mountainous parts of Interior Hilongos).

Air

Hilongos Airport
Type of AirportEmergency
LocationEastern Poblacion, Hilongos, Leyte
Total Area17 hectares (42 acres)
Distance from Town Center1 kilometre (3,280 ft)
Airport Apron2,400 m2 (25,830 sq ft) MAC (Macadam)
Airport Runway1,000 m × 30 m (3,280 ft × 100 ft) (Macadam)
Airport ClassificationFeeder

Education

Tertiary

  • MLG College of Learning (MLGCL)
  • Virginia Institute of Technology (VIT)

Secondary

  • Hilongos National Vocational School (HNVS)
  • Saint Teresa School of Hilongos (STSH)
  • Grelina Osmeña Christian College (GOCC)
  • MLG College of Learning (MLGCL)
  • Naval National High School
  • Bung-aw National High School
  • Santa Margarita National High School
  • Concepcion National High School
  • Hitudpan National High School
  • Talisay National High School
  • Hampangan National High School

Elementary

  • Hilongos South Central School (Hilongos South District)
  • Lamak Central School (Hilongos North District)
  • Concepcion Central School (Hilongos East District)
  • Saint Teresa School of Hilongos (STSH)
  • Grelina Osmeña Christian College (GOCC)
  • MLG College of Learning (MLGCL)
  • Other Elementary and Primary Schools of Hilongos South, North and East Districts

See also

References

  1. Municipality of Hilongos | (DILG)
  2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. Census of Population (2020). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. Veridiano, Ben M. (December 3, 1992). "Police take NPA camp, Hq. of rebel government". Manila Standard. Tacloban City: Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 5. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  6. "Town fiesta blast injures at least 35 in Leyte".
  7. "Town fiesta blast injures at least 35 in Leyte".
  8. Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for Hilongos - National Statistical Coordination Board
  9. "Hilongos: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  10. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  11. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  12. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  13. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  14. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  15. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  16. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  17. Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  18. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  19. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  20. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  21. "Hilongos Fortification". muog.wordpress.com. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  • Braganza, José Vicente (1965). Story of Leyte. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Sendino y Redondo, Felipe (1886). Breve reseña de lo que fue y de lo que es la Diócesis de Cebú en las Islas Filipinas (in Spanish). Manila: Colegio de Santo Tomas.
  • Tantuico, Francisco Sypaco (1964). Leyte : the historic islands. prefaced by Carlos P. Romulo. Tacloban: Leyte Pub. Corp.
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