Magarao

13°39′43″N 123°11′25″E / 13.6619°N 123.1903°E / 13.6619; 123.1903CountryPhilippinesRegionBicol RegionProvinceCamarines SurDistrict 3rd districtFounded1570Barangays15 (see Barangays)Government • TypeSangguniang Bayan • MayorPhilip Salvador A. Señar • Vice MayorRandy P. Villaralbo • RepresentativeGabriel H. Bordado Jr. • Municipal Council • Electorate20,478 voters (2022)Area • Total44.97 km² (17.36 sq mi)Elevation9.0 m (29.5 ft)Highest elevation46 m (151 ft)Lowest elevation−2 m (−7 ft)Population • Total26,742 • Density590/km² (1,500/sq mi) • Households5,884Economy • Income class3rd municipal income class • Poverty incidence% (2018)^[4] • Revenue₱ 105.9 million (2020) • Assets₱ 192.2 million (2020) • Expenditure₱ 87.76 million (2020) • Liabilities₱ 50.11 million (2020)Service provider • ElectricityCamarines Sur 2 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 2)Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)ZIP codePSGCIDD : area code +63 (0)54Native languagesCentral Bikol
Tagalog

Magarao, officially the Municipality of Magarao (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Magarao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Magarao), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,742 people.^[3]

Magarao is part of the Metro Naga Urban Area.

History

Magarao derived its name from a species of thorny wild bush locally known as garao-garao, which abundantly grows in the area. This type of plant no longer exists today as it was believed that the inhabitants of Magarao hindered its growth and propagation because of its thorny appearance.

It was a group of missionaries from the Order of Friars Minor who founded the town in 1570, although missionary work continued only in the year 1690.

How Magarao became a municipality

Magarao was first founded in 1570 and was named Garaoon from 1570 until 1800 when it was renamed Magarao. In 1802 the municipality was absorbed by Quipayo and was downgraded into a "visita.

Calabangueños, Bomboneños, Magaraoeños fought for independence in 1897 until 1899 when the United States colonized the Philippines. Magarao was merged with Barangay Bombon in Calabanga and became a city in 1901 and was known as Magarao-Bombon shortly until 1903 when it was downgraded into a municipality.

In 1949 Magarao Bombon ceased to exist as both municipalities separate.

Geography

Barangays

Magarao is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Magarao

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 4,374 —     1918 5,717 +1.80% 1939 8,556 +1.94% 1948 10,411 +2.20% 1960 8,501 −1.67% 1970 10,938 +2.55% 1975 11,846 +1.61% 1980 13,414 +2.52%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 16,623 +2.17% 1995 18,264 +1.78% 2000 20,964 +3.00% 2007 22,515 +0.99% 2010 24,274 +2.78% 2015 25,694 +1.09% 2020 26,742 +0.79%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8][9]

In the 2020 census, the population of Magarao was 26,742 people,^[3] with a density of 590 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,500 inhabitants per square mile.

Languages

Bicol is widely spoken in the town, while Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Bisaya, and Ilocano are used immigrants. Tagalog is being used by locals as lingua franca when communicating with non-Bicolanos.

Religion

Residents of Magarao are predominantly Roman Catholic.

Barangay Santa Lucia holds an annual novena to its patron saint, Lucy of Syracuse, nine days before her feast on 13 December. Villagers bring the saint's image in procession every morning of the novena at the poblacion, a celebration that attracts devotees from other parts of the Bicol Region. Hymns to the saint, known as the Gozos, as well as the Spanish version of the Ave Maria, are chanted during the dawn procession, which is followed by a Mass.

Economy

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