Lamitan, Basilan
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Lamitan, officially the City of Lamitan (
Chavacano Chavacano or Chabacano () is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of spea ...
: ''Ciudad de Lamitan''; Yakan: ''Siyudad Lamitanin''; Tausūg: ''Dāira sin Lamitan''; ), is a
component city A city ( or ) is one of the units of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities (Filipino: ), whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific municipal charters in a ...
and ''
de jure In law and government, ''de jure'' (; ; ) describes practices that are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. The phrase is often used in contrast with '' de facto'' ('from fa ...
'' capital of 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 ...
of
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...
,
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 100,150 people. The city is bounded on the east by the municipality of Tuburan, on the south by Tipo-Tipo, on the west by Isabela and on the north by Basilan Strait.


Etymology

''Lamitan'' is derived from the word ''Lami-Lamihan'', which signifies a combination of Merrymaking and Conference. The town was named after the first
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...
from Isabela who blew up the area. When the
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...
arrived, the Yakans were celebrating their national holiday. The explorers asked for the name of the place; the Yakans assumed they were asking about the merrymaking and explained that it was the ''Lami-Lamihan'' celebration; the
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...
misunderstood their response and later referred to the location as ''Lamitan''.


History


Early history

According to the city's earliest recorded historical source, the ''Tagihamas'', also known as the ''Land Dyaks of Sarawak'', were the first known settlers to
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...
, later evolving into the Yakan group. Yakan's home base was in the area that would become known as Lamitan.


Colonization era

During the
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 ...
, American, and
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
occupations, the town was designated as one of
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...
's municipal districts, which were then part of Zamboanga. Pedro "''Datu Kalun''" Javier Cuevas is regarded as the founding father of Lamitan. His parents, Sebastian Cuevas and Gregoria Javier, gave birth to him on May 6, 1845, in
Bacoor Bacoor (), officially the City of Bacoor (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 664,625 ...
,
Cavite Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite (; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region. On the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest of Manila, i ...
. Pedro was a passionate young man who cherished his hometown and was pious. He was sentenced to death at the age of 27 for his anti-Spanish efforts during the Cavite Uprising of 1872, along with two other comrades. They were accused of causing the death of a Spanish Guardia Civil officer. His sentence was reduced to life in prison due to his indirect involvement in the killing. In June 1886, a man named Pedro Javier Cuevas, also known as ''Datu Kalun'' in
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...
history, took over leadership from the native chieftains and founded the settlement of Lamitan. The settlement grew into a town with political boundaries that included the Guiong River in the southeast and the Balagtasan River in the northwest. With the passage of time, an influx of Christian settlers arrived, who, along with their Muslim neighbors, paved the path for agricultural development in the region. In 1937, Lamitan became part of
Zamboanga City Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (; ; Subanen languages, Subanen: ''Bagbenwa Sembwangan''; Sama–Bajaw languages, Sama: ''Lungsud Samboangan''; ; ; ) is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city i ...
.
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...
became a chartered city on July 1, 1948, as a result of ''Republic Act No. 288'', which was sponsored by Congressman Juan S. Alano.


Establishment

On December 27, 1973, His Excellency President
Ferdinand E. Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the country under ...
signed ''Presidential Decree No. 356'', which established
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...
Province out of Basilan City and included three municipalities: Lamitan, Isabela and
Maluso Maluso, officially the Municipality of Maluso ( Tausūg: ''Dai'rah Lupah Maluso''; Chavacano: ''Municipalidad de Maluso''; ), is a municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,730 ...
. The decree reduced Basilan City's territory to less than a square kilometer. On December 2, 1974, ''Presidential No. 593'' revised 356 to increase the territory of Basilan City to nearly three square kilometers and divide the province into ten municipalities: Lamitan, Isabela,
Maluso Maluso, officially the Municipality of Maluso ( Tausūg: ''Dai'rah Lupah Maluso''; Chavacano: ''Municipalidad de Maluso''; ), is a municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,730 ...
,
Sumisip Sumisip, officially the Municipality of Sumisip ( Yakan: ''Bulak Sumisip''; Chavacano: ''Municipalidad de Sumisip''; ), is a municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 47,345 people. ...
,
Lantawan Lantawan, officially the Municipality of Lantawan ( Tausūg: ''Lupah Lantawan''; Chavacano: ''Municipalidad de Lantawan''; ), is a municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 31,040 ...
, Tuburan, Tipo-Tipo, Tapiantana, Malamawi, and Pilas. Col. Tomas G. Naquil, commander of the 2/1 Brigade stationed in Basilan at the time, was named the first Military Governor. After nearly two years, Rear Admiral Romulo Espaldon, commander of the South West Command (SOWESCOM), took over as Military Governor, but the affairs of government were managed by a military caretaker, Col. Florencio E. Magsino, who was succeeded by Col. Alfeo Rillera, all Brigade Commanders. This was the situation before His Excellency President Marcos appointed Hon. Asan Camlian, the then-vice governor, was appointed Governor of Basilan Province. Basilan City was disbanded on December 11, 1975, by virtue of the ''Presidential Decree No. 840'' reduced the number of municipalities of Basilan Province from ten to seven, removing Tapiantana, Pilas, and Malamawi. Pedro C. Pamaran, a member of the provincial board was appointed in 1975, as Municipal Mayor of Lamitan. Furigay succeeded Pamaran in 1980. Wilfredo C. Furigay was considered the first elected mayor of the municipality of Lamitan. In 1986, during the
EDSA Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
, Ramon F. Garcia Jr. was appointed as Mayor during the interim government. By 1988, Wilfredo C. Furigay had taken the position of mayor by way of election and was succeeded by Inocente J. Ramos in 1995 for three consecutive terms.


Cityhood

In 2004, Roderick H. Furigay, a youthful visionary and dynamic entrepreneur, is the nephew of former mayor Wilfredo C. Furigay. Roderick H. Furigay was elected as the Local Chief Executive and served for two terms. He revived the Lamiteños' desire of converting the municipality into a component city. On June 18, 2007, electorates in Lamitan ratified ''Republic Act No. 9393'' which seeks to convert the town into a component city. There were a total of 26,636 votes voted ''yes'' while only 177 voted against the move. The
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
declared the cityhood law of Lamitan and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Lamitan and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Lamitan and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, Lamitan becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements. After six years of legal battle, in its board resolution, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Lamitan and 15 other cities.


Contemporary

In July 2016, the Basilan provincial government broke ground for the construction of the new provincial capitol inside the defunct
University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; ) is a Higher education in the Philippines#State universities and colleges, state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by List of Philippine laws, Re ...
(UP) Land Grant in Barangay Santa Clara. In July 2022, Lamitan gained national attention when former mayor Rose Furigay, who had served as the city's mayor from 2013 to June 2022, was
assassinated Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a personespecially if prominent or important. It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, financial, or military motives. Assassinations are orde ...
in a
mass shooting A mass shooting is a violent crime in which one or more attackers use a firearm to Gun violence, kill or injure multiple individuals in rapid succession. There is no widely accepted specific definition, and different organizations tracking su ...
at the Ateneo de Manila University where two others were killed. On June 18, 2024, during the celebration of the city's 17th anniversary, mayor Roderick Furigay highlighted and declared the city free from the dreaded
Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; , ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, was a Jihadist militant and piracy, pirate group that followed the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It was based in and around Jolo and B ...
in his State of the City Report (SOCR). However, several hours after the declaration, a bomb explosion occurred at a gas station located in
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 ...
Matibay.


Geography

The terrain is relatively plain along the coastal areas and hilly in some areas. The urban area is above sea level and gently sloping to toward the hinterlands.


Barangays

Lamitan is politically subdivided into 45
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 while 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 ...
. * Arco * Ba-as * Baimbing * Balagtasan * Balas * Balobo * Bato * Baungos * Bohebessey * Boheibu * Bohenange * Bohesapa * Boheyakan * Boheyawas * Buahan * Bulanting * Bulingan * Cabobo * Calugusan * Campo Uno * Colonia * Danit-Puntocan * Kulay Bato * Lebbuh * Limo-ok * Lo-ok * Luksumbang * Lumuton * Maganda (Poblacion) * Malakas (Poblacion) * Maligaya (Poblacion) * Malinis (Poblacion) * Malo-ong Canal * Malo-ong San Jose * Matatag (Poblacion) * Matibay (Poblacion) * Parangbasak * Sabong * Santa Clara * Sengal * Tandong Ahas * Tumakid * Ubit * Ulame


Climate

The climatic condition is the same with other areas in the entire Basilan Island. It has a "D" type of climate and rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.


Demographics


Economy

Poverty Incidence of


Historical sites

*Datu Kalun Shrine – Built as a tribute to a famous Yakan leader and founder of Lamitan. His descendants are the Antonio-Cuevas-Pamaran-Flores clan. *Museum of Lamitan – Showcases the color and highlights of the Lami-lamihan festival. It also serves as the information center for the development of this town.


Education


Tertiary

Lamitan is home to one state college and three private colleges. The Basilan State College is an extension college of the main SUC in Isabela. The three HEIs are the Mindanao Autonomous College, the Mariam School of Nursing and Furigay Colleges, Inc. (FCI). The Mariam School of Nursing was established in 2004 as part of its Chairwoman's educational outreach program and was named Mariam or Mother Mary - a unifying and guiding figure among the Christians and Muslims. Also offers 11 Tesda Qualifications for National Certificates.


Secondary

Lamitan has Seven Secondary Schools: one Private Secondary School; The Claret School of Lamitan, one Laboratory School of Basilan State College and five National High Schools i.e. Lamitan National High School, Look National High School,Colony National High School,Ubit National High School and Parangbasak National High School.


Elementary

There are five districts that composed of thirty nine elementary schools namely; Lamitan East District, South District, Central District, West I District and West II District. There are four private elementary schools.


References


External links


Lamitan Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
*
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 ...

Philippine Census Information


{{Authority control Cities in Basilan Cities in Bangsamoro Provincial capitals of the Philippines Populated places established in 1886 1886 establishments in the Philippines Component cities in the Philippines