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Historical Background
(From Gibalong to Ibalon: The First Mass in Luzon Island)
by: Mr. Reynaldo T. Jamoralin
When the Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who was then based in Panay Island in the Visayas, dispatched, sometime between 1565 to 1570, to this part of the islands an expeditionary force headed by Capitan Luis Enriquez de Guzman, together with their chaplain, the Augustinian friar, Fray Alonso Jimenez, primarily to gather provisions for the starving Spanish force in Panay, and at the same time, evangelize whatever native villages they might come upon in the course of their foray, the group stumbled upon a small
fishing village at the mouth of the Ginangra River, in what is now the Municipality of Magallanes.
This was the village of Gibalong, the very first Christian settlement in the island of Luzon.
It was here where the first mass in Luzon was celebrated by the Augustinian friar, Fray Alonso Jimenez.
Thus, the name Ibalong, to refer to the whole of Bikol Region, really came from this small fishing village, Gibalong, which is now a mere sitio of Barangay Siuton, in Magallanes town, where the local parish constructed sometime in the 1970s a small wooden chapel and a concrete historical marker on the site. In some old Spanish maps, the Spanish cartographers even retained the original spelling by identifying, either the whole Bikol Region or parts of it – Tierra de Gibalong. In his book, From Ibalon to Sorsogon: A Historical Survey of Sorsogon Province to 1905 (New Day Pub. QC, Philippines, 1991), Dr. Luis C. Dery writes, “Historical records showed that the Spaniards started using the name Ibalon as early as 1567 to refer variously to a pre-Spanish native settlement in Sorsogon Gulf, to the entire Bicol Region, and sometimes to the entire island of Luzon. The Spaniards’ indiscriminate use of this name was due to their inadequate knowledge of Bicol geography at the outset of their exploration and conquest of the region. Gradually, they were able to delimit Ibalon and the rest of Kabikolan’s territory.”
Sorsogon became a province, separate from the Province of Albay to which it was formerly attached, in 1894. This is the reason why, in 1994 the centennial foundation anniversary of the Province started to be commemorated and celebrated with a festival – the Kasanggayahan Festival – every October of each year.
How Sorsogon got to be Sorsogon?
The name Sorsogon was originally spelled “solsogon” in most old Spanish maps. Solsogon is an old Bikol word, meaning, “to trace a river going upstream”. The rootword “solsog” is Bikol for “going against the current”. It is also variously pronounced and spelled as “sogsogon” or “sosogon”, which all really mean the same thing – “to trace a river, a trail, or a pathway”.
As the old folks story goes, after establishing a settlement in Gibalong, in what is now the town of Magallanes, the Spaniards fanned out to explore the area and one group soon came upon a small river emptying itself into what is now Sorsogon Bay. Tired and lost and not knowing where they were, the Spaniards asked a native about the name of the place. Ignorant of the Iberian tongue, and fearful of the white men with the funny hats and bushy countenances, the native, thinking that the strangers were asking for directions, simply pointed at the river and said, “Solsogon”, meaning, trace the river upstream to a native village beyond. And the name stuck.
From Solsogon to Sorsogon. The people of Sorsogon invites everyone, from whichever corner of the world they are, to trace the path towards the beautiful and most hospitable Province of Sorsogon.
Geography
Sorsogon, at the southeastern
part of the Bicol Peninsula, is bounded on the north by the province
of Albay, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the
San Bernardino Strait, and on the west and northwest by the Ticao
and Burias Passes. It has a total land area of 2,141.4 sq. kms.
It is characterized by an irregularly
topography, except for landlocked Irosin, all the towns lie along
the coast. They are all connected by concrete and asphalt roads.
Mountains sprawl over the northeast, southeast and west portions.
Mt. Bulusan, the tallest peak rises 1,560 meters above sea level.
Except for its overland link
with the province of Albay to the north, it is completely surrounded
by water. Sorsogon is the gateway of Luzon to the Visayas and
Mindanao through its roll-on, roll-off ferry terminal facilities
located in the municipalities of Matnog and Bulan.
Political Subdivision
| MUNICIPALITY |
INCOME
CLASS |
| FIRST
DISTRICT |
|
| Casiguran |
5th |
| Castilla |
4th |
| Donsol |
4th |
| Magallanes |
4th |
| Pilar |
3rd |
| City
of Sorsogon |
1st |
| SECOND
DISTRICT |
|
| Barcelona |
5th |
| Bulan |
2nd |
| Bulusan |
5th |
| Gubat |
3rd |
| Irosin |
4th |
| Juban |
5th |
| Matnog |
5th |
| Prieto
Diaz |
5th |
| Santa
Magdalena |
5th |
| Source:
NSCB |
It has a total of 15 municipalities
which are politically subdivided into 2 districts, namely: first
district - Sorsogon, Pilar, Donsol, Castilla, Bacon, Casiguran
and Magallanes; second district - Barcelona, Prieto Diaz, Juban,
Gubat, Bulusan, Irosin, Sta. Magdalena and Bulan.
Sorsogon City was created (infusing
municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon) respectively.
Climate
Generally, the climate is pleasant
the whole year round with only 2 pronounced seasons: rainy -
(July to December) and dry - (January to June).
Major Industries
The major crops are abaca and
coconut. The province boasts of producing the best hemp in the
Bicol Region.;
Fishing industry ranks next.
Freshwater and offshore fishing resources are not yet fully developed.
They are plenty of raw materials
for cottage industries. It has untouched deposits of sulfur,
kaolin, limestone and coal.
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