Ormoc (IPA:
">oɾˈmok, officially the City of Ormoc ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Ormoc; war, Syudad han Ormoc; fil, Lungsod ng Ormoc), is a 1st class
independent component city
A city ( fil, lungsod/siyudad) is one of the units of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities ( fil, nakakartang lungsod), whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own ...
in the
Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas ( war, Sinirangan Kabisay-an; ceb, Sidlakang Kabisay-an; tl, Silangang Kabisayaan or ''Silangang Visayas'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands, Samar, ...
region of the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 230,998 inhabitants, making it the second most-populous city in the
province of Leyte after the provincial capital of
Tacloban
Tacloban ( ; ), officially the City of Tacloban ( war, Syudad han Tacloban; fil, Lungsod ng Tacloban), is a first class highly urbanized city in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. The city is autonomous from the province of Leyte, a ...
. Ormoc is the economic, cultural, commercial and transportation hub of western Leyte.
Ormoc is an independent component city, not subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Leyte. However, the city is part of the
4th Congressional District of Leyte together with
Albuera
La Albuera is a village southeast of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. it had a population of c. 2,000 inhabitants.
History
It was scene of the Battle of Albuera (16 May 1811) between Spanish, Portuguese and British troops under William Carr Beresf ...
,
Kananga
Kananga, formerly known as Luluabourg or Luluaburg, is the capital city of the Kasai-Central, Kasai-Central Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was the capital of the former Kasaï-Occidental , Kasaï-Occidental Province. It is ...
,
Merida,
Palompon
Palompon (IPA: ɐlom'pɔn, officially the Municipality of Palompon ( ceb, Lungsod sa Palompon; war, Bungto han Palompon; tl, Bayan ng Palompon), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, i ...
and
Isabel
Isabel is a female name of Spanish origin. Isabelle is a name that is similar, but it is of French origin. It originates as the medieval Spanish form of '' Elisabeth'' (ultimately Hebrew ''Elisheva''), Arising in the 12th century, it became popul ...
, and statistically grouped under the province by the
Philippine Statistics Authority
The Philippine Statistics Authority (Filipino: ''Pangasiwaan ng Estadistika ng Pilipinas''), abbreviated as PSA, is the central statistical authority of the Philippine government that ''collects, compiles, analyzes and publishes statistical inf ...
. On November 8, 2013, the city was extensively damaged by
Super Typhoon Yolanda
Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. On making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the ...
(Haiyan), having previously suffered severe destruction and loss of life in 1991 from torrential flooding during
Tropical Storm Thelma
Tropical Storm Thelma, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Uring, was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in Philippine history, killing at least 5,081 people. Forming out of a tropical disturbance on November 1, 1991, severa ...
(Uring).
The city's name is derived from ''ogmok'', an
archaic Visayan term for "lowland" or "depressed plain". The city also celebrates an annual thanksgiving festival called the ''Piña Festival'' in honor of the saints Peter and Paul in thanks for the bountiful pineapple harvest.
History
Early History
This place was used during the
Spanish occupation and the migration of the neighboring towns to settle in the more fertile plains of Ormoc. Much of the settler in the town were the
Malayans
Malays ( ms, Orang Melayu, Jawi alphabet, Jawi: أورڠ ملايو) are an Austronesian peoples, Austronesian ethnic group native to eastern Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and coastal Borneo, as well as the smaller islands that lie between the ...
. These people had a constant trading with the
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
,
Javans and
Indonesians
Indonesians (Indonesian: ''orang Indonesia'') are citizens or people originally from Indonesia, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. There are more than 1,300 ethnicities in Indonesia, making it a multicultural archipelagic coun ...
. Their living, however, was always threatened by the attack of the
Moro pirates
The Sulu and Celebes Seas, a semi- enclosed sea area and porous region that covers an area of space around 1 million square kilometres, have been subject to illegal maritime activities since the pre-colonial era and continue to pose a maritim ...
. It is said that the people in Ormoc developed a warning system communication through people manning watch towers to inform and warn the people of the coming of these pirates.
Spanish Period
July 16, 1595,
Jesuit missionaries
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
arrived in Leyte. On May 1507, a mission in Ormoc was established by these missionaries. That year, the locals were converted to Christianity. Their years of peace was shortly felt when in year 1634, a ruler of
Sulu
Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Wilāya sin Lupa' Sūg''; tl, Lalawigan ng Sulu), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago and part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamor ...
by the name of
Raja Bungsu captured 300 natives form Ormoc after the invasion of the notorious pirates in the town. The towns of
Sogod,
Kabalian,
Inopacan and
Baybay
Baybay (IPA: aɪ'baɪ, officially the City of Baybay ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Baybay; war, Syudad han Baybay), is a 1st class component city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It has a population of 111,848 people.
With an area of , it is the s ...
were also invaded and plundered. More locals of Ormoc still fought this Raja and his men but because they were outnumbered, they were massacred up to the last man.
Philippine Revolution
Ormoc is a hotbed of revolutionaries seeking independence from Spanish rule. The revolutionary leader Faustino Alben inspired locals to join the
Pulahan Movement.
World War II
After the
Japanese Occupation and a rule of
Second Philippine Republic
The Second Philippine Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines ( tl, Repúbliká ng Pilipinas; es, República de Filipinas; ja, フィリピン共和国, ''Firipin-kyōwakoku'') and also known as the Japanese-sponsored Phi ...
. Ormoc is a garrison of small divisions of the
Imperial Japanese Army
The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...
. With the Allies near the City. Japan begin to reinforce the city and the
Battle of Ormoc Bay
The Battle of Ormoc Bay was a series of air-sea battles between Imperial Japan and the United States in the Camotes Sea in the Philippines from 9 November-21 December 1944, at Ormoc, part of the Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World ...
begins. The city is liberated afterwards.
Cityhood
Ormoc became a city by virtue of ''Republic Act No. 179'' on October 20, 1947, becoming the fifteenth city in the Philippines and the first in the
Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas ( war, Sinirangan Kabisay-an; ceb, Sidlakang Kabisay-an; tl, Silangang Kabisayaan or ''Silangang Visayas'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands, Samar, ...
region.
Kananga
Kananga, formerly known as Luluabourg or Luluaburg, is the capital city of the Kasai-Central, Kasai-Central Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was the capital of the former Kasaï-Occidental , Kasaï-Occidental Province. It is ...
was created in 1950 from the barrios of Lonoy, Kananga, Rizal, Tugbong, Montebello, Aguiting, Tagaytay, Montealegre, Libungao, Naghalin, and Masarayao which all used to be part of Ormoc City.
1991 Flash Flood
On the morning of November 5, 1991, the Ormoc region was inundated by
Tropical Storm Uring. The city government recorded 4,922 deaths, 3,000 missing persons, 14,000 destroyed houses and more than P600 million worth of damaged property.
None of the 3,000 missing persons were ever found and are now presumed dead.
Illegal logging
Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, or from a pro ...
and ''kaingin'' (slash-and-burn farming) were blamed as the reasons of the flood.
Heavy rainfall caused water to collect upstream the Anilao and Malbasag rivers until it poured to the lowlands in Ormoc, particularly District 26, also known as Isla Verde.
On November 5, 2011, a monument by national artist Francis Cinco commemorating the 20th anniversary of the event was inaugurated.
It sits on top of the mass grave at the Ormoc City Public Cemetery where an estimated 4,900 victims are buried. The sculpture, entitled "Gift of Life", is an abstract depicting a life taken to heaven.
2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan
On November 7, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
s ever recorded, made a landfall in the Philippines. While it killed far fewer people as Tropical Storm Uring, it left widespread devastation to the city with destruction and damages in 90% of its structures.
2022 plebiscite
On January 19, 2021, the City Council enacted ''Ordinance 52 Series of 2021'' to merge the numbered
barangay
A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolitan ...
s (all in
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippines, Philippi ...
) and renaming them:
* Barangays 1–8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23 & 27 shall be merged to form a single unit to be named as Barangay ''South'';
* Brgys. 9–11, 16, 18, 25 & 28 as Brgy. ''East'';
* Brgys. 14, 19–22, 24 & 26 as Brgy. ''West''; and
* Brgy. 29 will be renamed as Brgy. ''North''.
The ordinance require a plebiscite and the determination of an affirmation will be based on the majority vote of the proposed administrative subdivision and not a majority vote per barangay. This is to avoid creation of
enclaves
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
and
exclaves
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
. Then mayor
Richard Gomez
Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, television presenter and director, politician, and épée fencing, fencer. He has been serving as the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Representative of Ley ...
approved the ordinance on January 22, 2021. On June 22, 2022, the
Commission on Elections
An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
through ''Resolution No. 10796'' set the plebiscite on October 8.
The plebiscite was held at the Ormoc City Central School, with 35 polling precincts, wherein 10,209 registered voters from 29 barangays were expected to participate. With a voter turnout of more than half, majority of them approved the reorganization.
Geography
Ormoc City is a port city and is the largest city in Leyte by land area and the second-largest in Eastern Visayas after
Calbayog City
Calbayog, officially the City of Calbayog ( war, Siyudad han Calbayog; fil, Lungsod ng Calbayog), is a 1st class component city in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 186,960 people.
It lies ...
in Samar. At the head of
Ormoc Bay
Ormoc Bay is a large bay in the island of Leyte in the Philippines. The bay is an extension of the Camotes Sea. The city of Ormoc lies at the head of the bay and exports rice, copra and sugar.
The World War II Battle of Ormoc Bay took place fr ...
, the city's terrain is mostly of gently rolling plains. It is bounded on the northwest by the towns of
Matag-ob and
Merida, in the north by
Kananga
Kananga, formerly known as Luluabourg or Luluaburg, is the capital city of the Kasai-Central, Kasai-Central Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was the capital of the former Kasaï-Occidental , Kasaï-Occidental Province. It is ...
and
Carigara
Carigara (), officially the Municipality of Carigara ( war, Bungto han Carigara; tl, Bayan ng Carigara), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 54,656 people.
The ...
, in the northeast by the towns of
Jaro,
Pastrana Pastrana may refer to:
* Pastrana (musical) is a 1989 Australian musical by Allan McFadden and Peter Northwood.
* Pastrana (surname)
* Pastrana, Spain, a medieval town and municipality in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha
* Pastrana, ...
and
Dagami
Dagami (IPA: ɐ'gami, officially the Municipality of Dagami ( war, Bungto han Dagami; tl, Bayan ng Dagami), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,178 people.
...
, and in the south by the town of
Albuera
La Albuera is a village southeast of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. it had a population of c. 2,000 inhabitants.
History
It was scene of the Battle of Albuera (16 May 1811) between Spanish, Portuguese and British troops under William Carr Beresf ...
. High mountain ranges separate Ormoc from the eastern portion of Leyte. Numerous rivers and streams traverse Ormoc. Among them are the Bao River in the north, Pagsangahan River in the west, the Bagong-bong River in the south, the Panilahan River also in the south and the Anilao and Malbasag Rivers which border the eastern and western flanks of Ormoc City Proper.
Barangays
Ormoc is politically subdivided into 85
barangay
A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolitan ...
s at present. The number had reduced from 110 upon ratification of an ordinance merging 29 of them to four.
* Airport
* Alegria
* Alta Vista
* Bagongbong
* Bagong Buhay
* Bantigue
* Batuan
* Bayog
* Biliboy
* Cabaon-an
* Cabintan
* Cabulihan
* Cagbuhangin
* Camp Downes
* Can-adieng
* Can-untog
* Catmon
* Cogon Combado
* Concepcion
* Curva
* Danhug (Lili-on)
* Dayhagan
* Dolores
* Domonar
* Don Carlos B. Rivilla Sr. (Boroc)
* Don Felipe Larrazabal
* Don Potenciano Larrazabal
* Doña Feliza Z. Mejia
* Donghol
* East (
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippines, Philippi ...
; ''consisting former Brgys. District 9–11, 16, 18, 25 (Malbasag), 28'')
* Esperanza
* Gaas
* Green Valley
* Guintigui-an
* Hibunawon
* Hugpa
* Ipil
* Juaton
* Kadaohan
* Labrador (Balion)
* Lake Danao
* Lao
* Leondoni
* Libertad
* Liberty
* Licuma
* Liloan
* Linao
* Luna
* Mabato
* Mabini
* Macabug
* Magaswi
* Mahayag
* Mahayahay
* Manlilinao
* Margen
* Mas-in
* Matica-a
* Milagro
* Monterico
* Nasunogan
* Naungan
* North (
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippines, Philippi ...
; ''consisting former Brgy. District 29 (Nadongholan)'')
* Nueva Sociedad
* Nueva Vista
* Patag
* Punta
* Quezon, Jr.
* Rufina M. Tan (Rawis)
* Sabang Bao
* Salvacion
* San Antonio
* San Isidro
* San Jose
* San Juan
* San Pablo (Simangan)
* San Vicente
* Santo Niño
* South (
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippines, Philippi ...
; ''consisting former Brgys. District 1–8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23, 27'')
* Sumangga
* Tambulilid
* Tongonan
* Valencia
* West (
Poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippines, Philippi ...
; ''consisting former Brgys. District 14, 19–22, 24, 26 (Isla Verde)'')
Climate
Demographics
![Sts](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Sts._Peter_and_Paul_Church_Ormoc.jpg)
The natives of this city are
called Ormocanons, with most being
Cebuano speakers, as with the whole western and southern parts of the island of Leyte. A definite number of
Waray speakers is also present within the city.
Like most Filipinos, Ormocanons are predominantly
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
, and the city celebrates its
annual fiesta in honour of the patron saints
Saint Peter
Saint Peter; he, שמעון בר יונה, Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; ar, سِمعَان بُطرُس, translit=Simʿa̅n Buṭrus; grc-gre, Πέτρος, Petros; cop, Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, Petros; lat, Petrus; ar, شمعون الصفـا, Sham'un ...
and
Saint Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
on June 28 and 29. Other main Catholic holy days, including the local fiestas of barangays, are observed throughout the year. There is also a visible
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
minority within the city and all over the island, evidenced by the mosques within the cityscape and most of them are
Maranao
The Maranao people (Maranao: mәranaw Filipino: ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranao, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to refer to the southern indigenous people who are the "people of the lake", a predomin ...
s from the twin provinces of
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Norte ( Cebuano: ''Amihanang Lanao''; tl, Hilagang Lanao; Maranao: ''Pangotaraan Ranao''), officially the Province of Lanao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod.
T ...
and
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur ( tl, Timog Lanao; Maranao and ilp, Pagabagatan Ranao), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital is the city of ...
in Mindanao.
Economy
![Ormoc Real St 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Ormoc_Real_St_2.jpg)
Ormoc's economic base is a mix of agriculture, aquaculture, industry, tourism, and commercial services. Sugar cane, rice and pineapple are the major agricultural production.
The city enjoys economic growth because it supplies a large part of the country's power needs with its abundant
geothermal power resources from the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Barangay Tongonan and the neighbouring
Kananga
Kananga, formerly known as Luluabourg or Luluaburg, is the capital city of the Kasai-Central, Kasai-Central Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was the capital of the former Kasaï-Occidental , Kasaï-Occidental Province. It is ...
town. Ormoc is also the gateway to the Leyte Industrial Development Estate in the nearby town of
Isabel
Isabel is a female name of Spanish origin. Isabelle is a name that is similar, but it is of French origin. It originates as the medieval Spanish form of '' Elisabeth'' (ultimately Hebrew ''Elisheva''), Arising in the 12th century, it became popul ...
, home of the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Plant, the largest fertilizer factory in Asia, and the Philippine Associated Smelter and Refining Company, the country's biggest copper processing plant, among other industries.
Tourism
![Lake Danao](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Lake_Danao.jpg)
Among sites visited by the city's tourist are:
*
Lake Danao Lake Danao may refer to lakes in the Philippines:
* Lake Danao (Cebu) in the province of Cebu
* Lake Danao (Leyte) in the province of Leyte
* Lake Danao (Negros)
Lake Danao is the smaller of the two lakes located in the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes N ...
is a violin shaped lake 3 km long at an elevation of 2,100 feet (640 m) above sea level. There are floating cottages, and boats are available for hire and a future zipline. Lake Danao was formerly called as Lake Imelda. On February 3, 1998, it was renamed and declared as Lake Danao National Park and is protected by the National Integrated Protected Area System Act of 1992.
* Tongonan Hotsprings National Park is located at an elevation of 2,000 ft. amid densely forested hills. It is a 272-hectare park at the west end of the Leyte Mountain Trail, 18 km. northeast of Ormoc City. It also has a cool climate, lush tropical vegetation and underbrush, a warm medicinal pool, a cavernous hillside geyser that spouts boiling water and steam hourly and formations exuding sulfuric vapors. It is a valley of geothermal power source that can supply electricity to the whole region. The first geothermal plant to operate in the Philippines.
* Pineapple Plantation lies in 210 hectares in rolling terrain located north of the city Barangay Hibunawon. Ormoc's Queen Pineapple is famous for its sweetness, a favourite ''
pasalubong
''Pasalubong'' ( Tagalog, " omethingfor when you welcome me") is the Filipino tradition of travellers bringing gifts from their destination to people back home. ''Pasalubong'' can be any gift or souvenir brought for family or friends after bei ...
'', and the unofficial icon of the city. The plantation is owned by the Locsins (family of the city vice mayor). Ormoc is known for its famous “Queen Pineapple."
* Centennial Park The Veteran's Park was constructed in early 1990s in honor of the Filipino soldiers who fought for the liberation of Leyte and the Philippines. The Centennial Marker was erected in 1998 to commemorate the 100th year of Philippine independence.The park is located in the city, it is a leisure and picnic ground for the young and old alike.
* Lake Kasudsuran is just one of the three beautiful lakes of Ormoc. It is located at Barangay Gaas, Ormoc City in Leyte. The 5-hectare Lake Kasudsuran is located 27 km (a 45-hr. drive) northeast of Ormoc City on the virgin forest of Barangay Ga-as and Mt. Janagdan, a plateau 1,000 m above sea level. The lake is only accessible by foot. Lake Kasudsuran is also a place to explore in Ormoc City.
* Alto Peak is known as the highest mountain in Eastern Visayas(Region VIII). The domain is also a home to farming communities that has vegetable plantations, etc. It is also known as Mt. Amindueuen and is technically part of the Municipality of
Jaro, Leyte
Jaro (IPA: haɾo, officially the Municipality of Jaro ( war, Bungto han Jaro; tl, Bayan ng Jaro), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 43,758 people.
History
In ...
but its jump off is in Barangay Cabintan, Ormoc City.
* Sayahan Falls The Sayahan Falls is a newly discovered spot that is located at Sitio Maglahug, Barangay Gaas, Ormoc City. The Sayahan Falls started gaining attention when a local tourist uploaded pictures of it in social media and was widely shared.
* Puente dela Reina is known as the oldest bridge in the city. Its cobblestones still intact, relic of an age long gone. It was built in the early 1800s but was completed in 1861. In Spanish era, the bridge was used as docking area for sailboats, vintas of Chinese, Javans and Indonesians who frequented the island to sell their produce. The bridge is still in use to this day.
* Western Leyte Guerrilla Warfare Forces Monument The Monument commemorates the Filipino resistance fighters who fought in the guerilla war against the Japanese occupiers in the Second World War
* Ruins of Cong. Dominador Tan Residence The Tan Mansion Ruins was built during the 1930s. In World War II, the mansion became a Japanese garrison in Leyte. It was destroyed during the bombing of Ormoc before liberation day, known as the “Battle of Ormoc Bay.”The Tan Mansion Ruins is like a memorial to the Japanese that visits the place. Treated like a shrine as it has a significant part of history of both countries—Japan and Philippines. It serves as a monument representing not only Dominador's young love but also as witness to Ormoc's history.
Infrastructure
Transport
![Cebu Pacific in Ormoc Airport](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Cebu_Pacific_in_Ormoc_Airport_.jpg)
The Port of Ormoc serves as the seaport of the city. For air transport,
Ormoc Airport serves the city, although no regular commercial flights fly to this airport.
Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in
Tacloban
Tacloban ( ; ), officially the City of Tacloban ( war, Syudad han Tacloban; fil, Lungsod ng Tacloban), is a first class highly urbanized city in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. The city is autonomous from the province of Leyte, a ...
is the closest airport with commercial flights.
Energy
Ormoc hosts the biggest power plant in Southeast Asia - the Tongonan Geothermal Power in Barangay Tongonan which supplies electricity not only in the
Eastern Visayas Region
Eastern Visayas ( war, Sinirangan Kabisay-an; ceb, Sidlakang Kabisay-an; tl, Silangang Kabisayaan or ''Silangang Visayas'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands, Samar, ...
but power demand in
Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
and
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
as well.
Education
![EVSU Ormoc](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/EVSU_Ormoc.JPG)
Ormoc is the educational center for western Leyte. It has a range of primary and secondary schools, both public and private. Tertiary education was originally offered by Saint Peter's College of Ormoc, a
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
-run Catholic college and the oldest, followed by Western Leyte College of Ormoc City, Inc.,
WLC-Website
/ref> a private non-sectarian college. In the 1980s-1990s, the city saw the establishment of Santo Niño College of Ormoc, Saint Paul's School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. and the STI College - Ormoc. In the 2000s, tertiary institutions founded were ACLC College of Ormoc, San Lorenzo Ruiz College of Ormoc, Ormoc City Institute of Technology (OCIT) and the Ormoc campus of the Eastern Visayas State University
The Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU; Filipino: ''Pamantasang Pampamahalaan ng Silangang Visayas''; Waray: ''Unibersidad han Sinirangan Bisayas'') is a regional state higher education institution in Tacloban City, Philippines. It is the ol ...
.
Ormoc also has their own Chinese school which is Ormoc Se San School.
Notable personalities
* Johnriel Casimero - professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...
* Monica Cuenco - singer, theater actress
*Rey Evangelista
Rey Evangelista (born December 28, 1971) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player who played for Purefoods franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association during his entire career. He was a one-time Best Player of the Conference a ...
- former professional basketball player
*Richard Gomez
Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, television presenter and director, politician, and épée fencing, fencer. He has been serving as the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Representative of Ley ...
- actor, Ormoc City mayor
*Chico Lanete
Chico A. Lanete (born August 1, 1979) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach for the Chooks-to-Go 3x3 pro circuit teams. In 5×5 full court basketball, he last played for the Bicol Volcanoes of the Mah ...
and Garvo Lanete
Garvo A. Lanete (born February 13, 1989) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He previously played in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for three teams.
College career
Lanete studied and played with San Beda Red Lion ...
- professional basketball players
*Zenaida Monsada
Zenaida Y. Monsada is a Filipino chemist who served as first woman Secretary of Department of Energy from July 2015 until July 2016. Prior to being appointed as Energy Secretary she served as DOE Officer-in-charge from May–July 2015. While serv ...
- chemist, Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-rel ...
Officer-in-Charge Secretary
*Lucy Torres Gomez
Lucy Torres-Gomez (born Lucy Marie Martinez Torres; December 11, 1974), is a Filipina actress and politician. She has served as Mayor of Ormoc and as the Representative for Leyte's 4th legislative district from June 2013 to June 2022, and pre ...
- actress, Congresswoman of 4th District, Leyte
*Robert Bolick
Robert Lee Espina Bolick Jr. (born September 13, 1995) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played college basketball for the San Beda Red Lions of the Nat ...
- Professional basketball player
*Analyn Barro
Analyn Barro Tabucanon, also known by her stage name Analyn Barro and labeled as ''“Crush ng Bayan”'' is a Filipina actress and model who became known after joining in the sixth season of GMA Network’s reality-based talent competition, S ...
- Actress
References
External links
*
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
br>Philippine Census of Population
Local Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control
Cities in Leyte (province)
Independent component cities in the Philippines
Populated places established in 1834
1834 establishments in the Philippines
Port cities and towns in the Philippines