Bicol University

College of Education
SY:2019-20
1st Semester

Prepared by:
Alex R. Rosal Jr.
Gissa Ann E. Roque
Emmary Bargo
BEED 2-3
 Masbate, officially the Province of Masbate (Masbateño: Probinsya san
Masbate; Hiligaynon: Kapuoran sang Masbate; Central Bicolano: Probinsya kan
Masbate; Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Masbate) is an island province in the Philippines located near the
midsection of the nation's archipelago. Its provincial capital is Masbate City. The province consists of
three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

Masbate is at the crossroads of two island groups: Visayas and Luzon. It is politically part
of Bicol Region in the latter. However, from a bio-geographic and socio-ethno-linguistic perspective,
Masbate is grouped in the former.
 HISTORY
Masbate is one of the oldest settlements
in the Philippines.[5] Archaeological
records show that Batungan (in
Mandaon) and Bagumbayan (in
Palanas) were major settlement sites
during the Bronze Age (4000-1000 BC).
The development of bronze metallurgy
in South-East Asia coincided with an
increasingly hierarchical society, firmly
based on agricultural village
settlements. It was these crucial
changes, the introduction of new
technologies, new social forms, and a
new economic base, which culminated in the foundation of the proto-urban settlements of the 1st
millennium AD. A fine stone chisel from Mount Batungan is dated to the twelfth century BC. Of
the age of Philippine neoliths it is only possible to say that polished stone adzes from Masbate
have been dated from 2710 BC to AD 179.2 Kalanay (in Aroroy) was an island site from 1000
BC-AD 850 (early metal). Masbateño burial jars and a small pottery skull box found in caves dated
to the beginning of the Christian era. Exquisite goldwork represents an old Philippine wealth in
both an economic and an artistic sense: all sorts of wrought or molded ornaments and jewelry
demonstrate both the availability of the raw material and the skill of the artisan – finger rings,
earrings, head-bands, pendants and pectoral ornaments, heavy chains with interlocking serrated
edges, light filigree work, delicate necklaces of fine twisted wires, 12-millimeter beads composed
of 184 separate granules soldered together, thin hammered sheets for decorating grosser objects
like earplugs or the visages of corpses, and a charming little snail of unknown use. Productive
mines in Benguet, Butuan, Masbate, and Paracale were in operation and gold being panned in
riverbeds all over the archipelago when the Spaniards arrived.

During the Spanish regime, San Jacinto in Ticao Island was an anchorage point for the Manila-
Acapulco-Manila galleons. The course as described by the standard pilot’s guide of Cabrera
Bueno was substantially that followed by nearly all the galleons. The largest variations were in
the height at which the eastward crossing was made and in the course laid off the coast of the
Californias.

The successive stages were as follows: from Cavite on Manila Bay out through one of the bocas,
generally between Mariveles and Corregidor; thence SSW, keeping well clear of Fortun to the left
and high Ambil to the right; past Cape Santiago on the Luzon Coast, and E between Mindoro and
Maricaban; by the Punta de Escarceo, or “Tide Rip Point,” where currents run strong, and under
Isla Verde, outside Subaang Bay, within which there was a fair anchorage in case of need; SE
past the islets of Baco, with a good channel off Calapan; SE by E down the Mindoro coast by
Punta Gorda de Pola; E by SE between the Tres Reyes and the Dos Hermanas; thence by the
wide bocanabetween Marinduque and Banton, out onto the tablazo, or open water, above
Sibuyan; SE by E between Burias and Masbate; turning ENE around the Punta de San Miguel
and the Punta del Diablo; coasting around the east side of Ticao to the anchorage at San Jacinto;
clearing from thence and working out seaward with the monsoon; E right leagues, with the
dangerous Naranjos to starboard and the shoal of Calantas to port; NE by N and then ENE seven
leagues around Capul; NE with the Sorsogon coast to port and San Bernardino to starboard and
NE by E seven leagues to the Embocadero, with San Bernardino now to port and the island of
Biri to starboard. At this point, according to Cabrera, “the rapid currents require skillful pilot work.”
The galleon was now in the open sea.

From the chronicles of the early years of Spanish colonization, a relacion (report) about Masbate
first appeared in Fray Martin de Rada's letter dated July 1569 to the Viceroy of New Spain
(Mexico), Marquis de Falces. He mentioned that in a place called Masbat there were plenty of
gold mines. Other later documents such as Artieda's Relacion (1573) and Andres de Mirandaola's
letter (1574) refer to a place called Masbat or Masbad. It wasn't until 1582 that Miguel de Loarca
wrote about a place called Masbate.
 GEOGRAPHY
The province lies roughly at the center of
the Philippine archipelago, between
latitudes 11°43’ north and 123°09’ east
and 124°5’ east. It is bounded on the north
by Burias and Ticao Pass, east by San
Bernardino Strait, south by the Visayan
Sea, and west by the Sibuyan Sea.
Relative to mainland Bicol, the province
faces the southwestern coasts of
Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon
areas. Masbate covers a total area of
4,151.78 square kilometres (1,603.01 sq
mi).[6]

The general surface configuration of the

province ranges from slightly undulating to
rolling and from hilly to mountainous. In
each island, the rugged topography is
concentrated in the northeastern portion
and gradually recedes to blunt hills and
rolling areas in the south, southeast, and
southwest.

LANGUAGE

There are three Visayan languages and

one from Luzon, spoken in the province.

Masbateño or Minasbaté is a Visayan

language unique to the province. It has 75-83%
mutual intelligibility with Hiligaynon, another
Visayan language spoken in the southwestern
tip of Masbate island. Cebuano is another
Visayan language spoken in the southeastern municipalities in the island. Central Bikol is spoken in
the islands of Ticao and Burias, due to their proximity to mainland Bicol, especially to the provinces
of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.

Minasbaté is spoken in Masbate City and its neighboring municipalities. 33% of the population
speaks Hiligaynon, and it is spoken mainly in the towns of Balud, Mandaon and the southwestern part
of Milagros, while the remaining 9% speak Cebuano, mainly in the towns of Esperanza, Pio V.
Corpuz and Placer. In northeastern Burias Island, they speak Bicolano similarly as the people of
Camarines Sur and Albay, due to the island’s proximity to the Bicol mainland.

The people generally speak English and Tagalog, though is rarely used in everyday discourse.
The people only use them when conversing with tourists from Tagalog-speaking regions and foreign
nationals.

RELIGION
About 91% of the
population are members of
the Catholic
Church (Statistics by
Diocese Hierarchy, 2014).
Devotional practices such
as the rosary, novenas to
saints, and other religious
manifestations as
processions, the Misa de
Gallo and Holy
Week traditional activities
are still very much part of
the way of life of most
parishioners. The Diocese of Masbate was created on March 23, 1968, separating it from the Diocese
of Sorsogon. It comprises then, and now, the civil province of Masbate with its 121 islands including
the two larger ones Burias and Ticao. It is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Caceres. Its titular
patron is St. Anthony of Padua.

There are a total 22 parishes in the Diocese of Masbate, ministered to by 43 priests and 11
religious sisters. It has 1 minor seminary, 4 pastoral centers, 3 elementary schools, 6 high schools, 1
college and 7 kindergarten schools. And among its faith communities are 20 BEC's 46 neo-
catechumenal communities, 11 mandated organizations and 3 charismatic groups. Other
denominations include the Aglipayan Church, the Members Church of God International, popularly
called Ang Dating Daan, Jesus Miracle Crusade, Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) which also
functions many religious and social events in the province, as well as Baptist, Methodist, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist and

other Christians. Non Christians are also present which is commonly represented by Moslems.

Prior to colonization, the region had a complex religious system which involved various deities.
Among these deities include: Gugurang, the supreme god who dwells inside of Mount Mayon where
he guards and protects the sacred fire in which Aswang, his brother was trying to steal. Whenever
people disobey his orders, wishes and commit numerous sins, he would cause Mount Mayon to burst
lava as a sign of warning for people to mend their crooked ways. Ancient Bikolanos had a rite
performed for him called Atang.[10][11]; Asuang, the evil god who always try to steal the sacred fire of
Mount Mayon from his brother, Gugurang. Addressed sometimes as Aswang, he dwells mainly inside
Mount Malinao. As an evil god, he would cause the people to suffer misfortunes and commit
sins.[10][11] Enemy of Gugurang and a friend of Bulan the god of the moon; Haliya, the masked goddess
of the moonlight and the arch-enemy of Bakunawa and protector of Bulan. Her cult is composed
primarily of women. There is also a ritual dance named after her as it is performed to be a counter-
measure against Bakunawa.[12]; Bulan, the god of the pale moon, he is depicted as a pubescent boy
with uncommon comeliness that made savage beast and the vicious mermaids (Magindara) tame. He
has deep affection towards Magindang, but plays with him by running away so that Magindang would
never catch him. The reason for this is because he is shy to the man that he loves. If Magindang
manages to catch Bulan, Haliya always comes to free him from Magindang's grip; Magindang, the god
of the sea and all its creatures. He has deep affection to the lunar god Bulan and pursues him despite
never catching him. Due to this, the Bicolanos reasoned that it is to why the waves rise to reach the
moon when seen from the distant horizon. Whenever he does catch up to Bulan, Haliya comes to
rescue Bulan and free him immediately; Okot, god of forest and hunting; and Bakunawa, a gigantic
sea serpent deity who is often considered as the cause of eclipses, the devourer of the sun and the
moon, and an adversary of Haliya as Bakunawa's main aim is to swallow Bulan, who Haliya swore to
protect for all of eternity.[13]

Economy

Masbate is endowed with rich natural resources. In line with its agriculture are other industries
such as large farming, livestock and poultry raising. Along its coastal areas, fishing industry
predominates. Agricultural lands are planted with rice, corn, rootcrops and coconut.

Masbate ranks second to Bukidnon in raising cattle.[citation needed] About 70% of these are sold to Metro
Manila and other provinces in Luzon and Visayas. Farming is the main source of livelihood. Copra is
the leading product, followed by corn, rice and rootcrops. Fishing is a major industry along the coast.

Manufacturing firms are in the copra industry, handicrafts, furnituremaking and fish processing.

Rich minerals are found in the province. Masbate is described by geologists as a province
sitting on a "pot of gold". Other minerals found in the area
are manganese, copper, silver, iron, chromite, limestone, guano, and carbon.

Cottage industries such as furniture and cabinet making, ceramics, garments, handicrafts and
metalcrafts, are likewise source of livelihood.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masbate