Carigara (), officially the Municipality of Carigara (; ), is a First Income Class

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

in the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has been ...

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 54,656 people. Established in 1571, Carigara holds the distinction of being the inaugural town founded in the expansive

Eastern Visayas Eastern Visayas (; ; ; ) is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands: Samar, Leyte, and Biliran. The region has six provinces: Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Easte ...

region. A pivotal development occurred in 1735 when Leyte and

Samar Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...

were detached from

Cebu Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...

, forming a unified provincial governance structure with Carigara serving as the premier provincial capital during this era. Carigara is renowned for its distinct offerings, including

pastillas Pastillas, also known as pastillas de leche (literally "milk pills"), refer to a type of milk-based confections that originated in the town of San Miguel in Bulacan, Philippines. From San Miguel, pastillas-making spread to other Philippine ...

, ''humba'', ''sundang'' (machete), and the ''hubhob'' delicacy. ''Hubhob'', a local delight, is crafted from grated cassava, eggs, ''

kalamay ''Kalamay'' (also spelled ''calamay'', literally "sugar") is a sticky sweet delicacy that is popular in many regions of the Philippines. It is made of coconut milk, brown sugar, and ground glutinous rice. It can also be flavored with margarine, ...

'', milk, and sugar, cooked within a ''bagacay'' (bamboo pole) over charcoal, imparting a unique and flavorful taste to this traditional specialty.

History

Carigara, originally known as ''"Kan Gara,"'' translates to "that of Gara" or simply "Gara's." Legend has it that Gara hailed from

Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...

and was among the unnamed companions of the ten datus who purchased

Panay Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and a total population of 4,542,926, as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City of Il ...

from the Ati (or Aeta) chief Marikudo. Over time, ''"Kan Gara"'' transformed into ''Kalgara'' for ease of pronunciation, and upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place was named Carigara, thus adopting its present designation. As the initial town established in

, Carigara celebrates its festival every 16 July, marking the arrival of the Spaniards on July 16, 1569. This festivity, spanning nearly the entire month of July, thus attracting tourists and visitors from nearby towns for commemorating this significant historical event.

Carigara's Attempt for a World Record

On July 14, 2018, Carigara made a bold attempt to secure the

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...

for the "''Largest Participants in Philippine Folk Dance,''" showcasing the '' Kuratsa''. This event formed a part of the town's 423rd fiesta celebration slated for July 16, instilling a sense of pride among the locals and fostering hopes for an economic and tourism upsurge. The event boasted nearly 5,000 participants, predominantly comprising students, teachers from various schools, municipal employees, representatives from the private sector, and residents. Carigara had promptly submitted its bid and eagerly awaited official confirmation.

Geography

Topography

It is a town in the northern part of Leyte province located right on the shores of

Carigara Bay Carigara Bay (; ), is a large bay in the northern part of Leyte in the Philippines. The bay is bounded by Leyte (province), Leyte to its western, southern and eastern parts. References

Bays of the Philippines Landforms of Leyte (province) ...

, and surrounded by wide rice fields fanning out towards the mountains in the distance. Carigara shares borders with Capoocan to the west,

Ormoc Ormoc (IPA: �oɾˈmok, officially the City of Ormoc (; ; ), is a independent component city in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 230,998 inhabitants, making it the second mo ...

to the south, Jaro to the southeast, Tunga to the east and Barugo to the northeast.

Flora and Fauna

''Flora''

The climatic and topographical characteristics of Carigara's expansive terrain, encompassing wide rice fields and hilly landscapes, create an optimal environment for cultivating fruit-bearing trees, vegetables, and a variety of crops. Noteworthy fruit-bearing trees suitable for cultivation include

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus '' Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing the ...

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...

jackfruit The jackfruit or ''nangka'' (''Artocarpus heterophyllus'') is a species of tree in the Common fig, fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae). The jackfruit is the largest tree fruit, reaching as much as in weight, in length, and in d ...

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

es,

guava Guava ( ), also known as the 'guava-pear', is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava '' Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), nativ ...

s, ''

rambutan Rambutan ( ; ; ''Nephelium lappaceum'') is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae. The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to Southeast Asia. It is closely related to several other ed ...

s'', '' santol'', and

star apple ''Chrysophyllum cainito'' is a tropical tree of the family Sapotaceae. It is native to the Isthmus of Panama, where it was domesticated. It has spread to the Greater Antilles and the West Indies and is now grown throughout the tropics, including ...

s. In terms of vegetables, ''

gabi Gabi or GABI may refer to: People * Gabi (born 1997), also known as Gabbriette, American model and musician * Gabi (footballer, born 1981) or Gabriel José Pinto Couto, Portuguese footballer * Gabi (footballer, born 1983) or Gabriel Fernández ...

'', '' karubasa'', '' pipino'', '' kamalunggay'', '' marigoso'', '' munggos'', '' sitaw'', and '' upo'' are extensively grown by local farmers and residents, thriving exceptionally well within the community. Additionally, root crops like '' kamote'' and '' balanghoy'' flourish alongside rice crops, constituting a substantial part of the agricultural landscape in Carigara.

''Fauna''

Carigara features vast highland forests and a diverse fauna, including domesticated animals like

carabao Carabaos () are a genetically distinct population of swamp-type water buffaloes ('' Bubalus bubalis kerabau'') from the Philippines.FAO 2013''Philippine Carabao/Philippines''In: Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Food and Agriculture ...

s, horses, cats, dogs, chickens, and pigs. In its wild population, the area is home to snakes, frogs, insects, various lizards, and a variety of birds, among other wildlife species.

Barangays

Carigara is politically subdivided into 49

barangay The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...

s. Each barangay consists of

purok A ''purok'' () is an informal division within a barangay in the Philippines. While not officially considered a local government unit (LGU), a ''purok'' often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. ''Pur ...

s and some have

sitios A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...

. *Bagong Lipunan *Balilit *Barayong *Barugohay Central *Barugohay Norte *Barugohay Sur *Baybay (

Poblacion ''Poblacion'' (from Spanish '' población'', meaning "population"), sometimes abbreviated as Pob., is a term used in the Philippines to refer to the administrative center, downtown, old town, or commercial area of a city or municipality. It ...

) *Binibihan *Bislig *Caghalo *Camansi *Canal *Candigahub *Canfabi *Canlampay *Cogon *Cutay *East Visoria *Guindapunan East *Guindapunan West *Hiluctogan *Jugaban (

) *Libo *Lower Hiraan *Lower Sogod *Macalpi *Manloy *Nauguisan *Paglaum *Pangna *Parag-um *Parena (Parina) *Piloro *Ponong (

) *Rizal (Tagak East) *Sagkahan *San Isidro *San Juan *San Mateo (

) *Santa Fe *Sawang (

) *Tagak *Tangnan *Tigbao *Tinaguban *Upper Hiraan *Upper Sogod *Uyawan *West Visoria

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Carigara, Leyte, was 54,656 people, with a density of .

Language

The predominant language in the municipality is Waray-waray, with Cebuano and

Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Tagal ...

recognized as minority languages. English functions as the official language, often interspersed with Waray in colloquial exchanges. Although

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

maintains residual relevance, its usage is limited to specific contexts and not prevalent in verbal or day-to-day communication.

Religion

Carigara is mostly

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

due to

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...

's influence but there are other religions, such as

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

due to

economic migrations Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not usual residents or where they do not possess nationality in order to settle as permanent residents. Commuters, tourists, and other short-t ...

and allowed them to establish their own businesses that provides locals with commodities, there are other people with minority religion that resides in Carigara for improved economic conditions and standard of living.

Economy

Culture

Festival

On January 25, 2019, Carigara commemorated its inaugural festival, the ''Magara'' Festival, coinciding with its 448th founding anniversary. ''Magara'' locally connotes abundance, elegance, and vibrancy. The inaugural Magara Festival primarily centered on celebrating the town's agricultural richness, local products, historical heritage, and its community.

Events

''Turugpo'' is a significant public spectacle featuring duels between two male carabaos or two male horses, occurring annually on Black Saturday. This widely attended event garners immense popularity within the town, drawing thousands of both local and international tourists eager to witness this renowned and culturally significant fight.

Tourism

Here's a list of some tourist attractions of the municipality of Carigara. Attractions include: *Lauron's Boulevard (Brgy. Baybay & Ponong) This is the place where people can buy street foods like ''

isaw ''Isaw'' is a popular street food from the Philippines, made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines. It is a type of '' inihaw''. The intestines are cleaned several times and are then either boiled, then grilled on sticks. For presentabilit ...

'', pork barbecues, and many more. *Carigara Municipal Library and Museum (Brgy. Baybay) *Cassidy Elementary School (Brgy. Ponong) A school famous for its classical-style building. *''Datu Gara'' Shrine (Brgy. Canal) *''Gawas an Harigue'' (Brgy. Baybay) An old house with exposed posts on the sides. *Heroes Shrine (Brgy. Baybay & Ponong) Located right between Carigara Boulevard and the ''Kan Gara'' Gymnasium. *''Kan Gara'' Gymnasium (Brgy. Ponong) The largest gymnasium. *Lumen Ancestral House (Brgy. Sawang) The only house in the town which serves as a shelter for '' balinsasayaos''. *''Plaza Triunfo'' (Brgy. Ponong) The largest plaza. *St. Francis Assisi Parish (Brgy. Jugaban)

Infrastructures

Transportation

Land Transport

Pedicab The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport. It is a type of tricycle designed to carry passengers on a for-hire basis. It is also known by a variety of other names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, be ...

s are the common mode of transportation within the town proper and the ''

poblacion ''Poblacion'' (from Spanish '' población'', meaning "population"), sometimes abbreviated as Pob., is a term used in the Philippines to refer to the administrative center, downtown, old town, or commercial area of a city or municipality. It ...

es''. *

Tricycle A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a Human-powered transport, human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) Three-wheeler, three-wheeled vehicle. Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for pa ...

s and '' habal-habals'' on the other hand are commonly used for travelling within the town, especially to the far-flung

s. *

Van A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. There is some variation in the scope of the word across the different English-speaking countries. The smallest vans, microvans, are used for transporting either goods or ...

jeepney A jeepney (), or simply a jeep (), is a type of Public transport, public utility vehicle (PUV) that serves as the most popular means of Transportation in the Philippines, public transportation in the Philippines. Known for its crowded seating ...

s and

bus A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...

es are the mode of transport when travelling to the cities of

Tacloban Tacloban ( ; ), officially the City of Tacloban (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city on Leyte island in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, Tacloban has a popu ...

and

or to the municipalities that are faraway from the town. There are few bus companies situated in Carigara. There are new modernized PUVs that travel from Carigara to Tacloban and vice versa issued by its local government on 24 November 2021.

Sea Transport

The municipality owns a port that is located in Barangay Baybay where local boats and ships docks.

Healthcare Service

Carigara District Hospital, commonly referred to as CDH, serves as the sole public hospital in the town. Residents from neighboring towns also visit the hospital to admit their ailing patients, seeking additional medical services and attention.

Utilities

* Electricity: The town of Carigara is served by Leyte III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO 3), providing reliable electricity to residents and businesses. * Water Supply: Water services are managed by the Metro Carigara Water District (MCWD), ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water. * Telecommunications: Carigara benefits from multiple telecommunications providers, including Bayan Telecommunications, Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Dito Telecommunity, offering a range of services such as mobile, internet, and landline connections. * Cable Television: Residents have access to cable television services through providers like G Sat, Sky Direct, Cignal, and SatLite, offering a variety of local and international channels.

Education

There are a total of 30 elementary schools, 6 high schools (''1 private, 4 public, 1 pending construction'') and 2 college institutions located on Carigara.

Grade School/Elementary School

Secondary School/High School

*Carigara National High School *Carigara National Vocational School (formerly Carigara School of Fisheries) *Jugaban National High School *Sogod National High School * Parag-um National High School (''soon'')

College/University

Eastern Visayas State University Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU; ; ; ; ) is a regional state higher education institution in Tacloban, Philippines. It is the oldest higher educational institution in the Eastern Visayas region. It is mandated to provide advanced educatio ...

(Carigara Campus) * Holy Cross College of Carigara (Formerly Holy Cross Academy) located at Brgy Ponong (Pob)

Notable personalities

*Eduardo Makabenta Sr. - Waray-language poet and translator *

Mike Hanopol Michael Abarico Hanopol (born April 10, 1946), also known as Mike Hanopol, is a Filipino rockLosorata, YugelMike Hanopol's lyrics of praise.(Entertainment)''Manila Bulletin'', Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp., March 28, 2005

- musician, singer-songwriter

Gallery

References

External links

Philippine Standard Geographic Code The Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) is a systematic classification and coding for geographic areas in the Philippines. It classifies areas based on the country's four levels of administrative divisions: regions, provinces, municipalities ...

br>Philippine Census InformationLocal Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control Municipalities of Leyte (province)