Hilongos

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Hilongos
Lungsod sa Hilongos (Cebuano)
Bayan ng Hilongos (Tagalog)
Municipality
Official seal of Hilongos
Seal
Map of Leyte showing the location of Hilongos
Map of Leyte showing the location of Hilongos
Country Philippines
RegionEastern Visayas (Region VIII)
ProvinceLeyte
District5th district of Leyte
Established1737
Barangays51
Government
 • MayorJose Emery F. Roble
 • Vice mayorPanfilo O. Go
Area
[1]
 • Total192.92 km2 (74.49 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total56,803
 • Density290/km2 (760/sq mi)
DemonymHilongosnon
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6524
Dialing code053
Income class2nd class

Hilongos is a second class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It borders with the municipality of Hindang in the north, the municipalities of Sogod (Southern Leyte) and Bontoc (Southern Leyte) in the east, the municipality of Bato in the south and the Camotes Sea in the west. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 56,803 people.[2] Hilongos is a center for commerce, culture, education, health services, rice production, sports, shipping and telecommunications in the southwestern part of Leyte.

Barangays

Hilongos is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.[3]

3

History

The Altar.
The church bell tower.

Lore has it that in the 12th century, Amahawin, an Ilonggo from Iloilo, conquered neighboring barangays on Leyte’s western shore and extended his territory to the present limits of Inopacan, Hindang, Bato, and Matalom. He formed a settlement and named it Hilongos, because its inha­bi­tants were Ilonggos.

In 1710, the Jesuits created a residence there. In 1737, according to Redondo (1886, 207), Hilongos was already a parish before this year. However, Braganza (table 5) claims that Hilongos became a parish only in 1737. This date corresponded to the establishment of the town (Tantuico, 41).

1754 was the date of the oldest parish books (deaths) as of 1884.

In 1768, the Jesuits ceded Hilongos to the Augustinians. In 1774–79, the Augustinians established schools in Hilongos. In 1784, Palompon, a Hilongos visita, became an independent parish.

In 1862, Manicar led a revolt at Barrio Sta. Margarita.

In 1873, Leovio Magia led a revolt. Unlike the towns of eastern Leyte, which were ceded to the Franciscans in 1843, the towns along Leyte’s western coast fell one by one under the seculars.

Demographics

Population census of Hilongos
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 48,617—    
1995 50,744+0.81%
2000 51,462+0.30%
2007 53,911+0.64%
2010 56,803+1.92%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

Heritage sites

Church complex—The present church’s bell tower is attributed by Redondo to a secular Don Leonardo Celis-Díaz, a native of Cebu. The building of the church fabric itself is disputed. Did Celis-Díaz build it or did he merely repair an older structure left by the Jesuits? Oral lore claims that the church and the ruined convento behind it are from the Jesuits; but Repetti reports otherwise. Certainly, there must have been some permanent structures when Hilongos became a residence.

It is quite clear that the church complex underwent major renovations over the centuries. The original church, now incorporated as a transept, was a single-nave structure whose main door was also the gate to a bastioned fortification. Some bastions and walls of that fortification still remain. The main nave of the church is a modern construction, and the bell tower build by Fr. Celis-Diaz is an independent multi story structure, now plastered over with Portland cement.

The church interior is completely new in contrast to the convento which may have been completed in the 19th century. The convento guards many of the church’s antiques including silver vessels from the 18th century.

Local government

  • Mayor: ALBERT R. VILLAHERMOSA
  • Vice Mayor: MANUEL M. GABISAN
  • Municipal Councilors:
  1. ATTY. LEMUEL JAN M. NERVES
  2. ATTY. JOSEPH FULACHE
  3. ATTY. JOSENILO REOMA
  4. RENE ROSE R. SUICO
  5. JESUS MODESTO
  6. GIOVANNI OLO
  7. CRISTUTO F. ONG
  8. TOTI ZARATE

Transportation

Shipping companies operating in Hilongos:

  • Roble Shipping Inc.: Ro-Ro/Passenger/Cargo service, day & night trips to Cebu City and vice versa
  • Gabisan Shipping Lines Inc.: Passenger/Cargo service, day & night trips to Cebu City and vice versa
  • Leopards Motorboat Service: daily trips to Ubay, Bohol and vice versa trip to Talibon, Bohol and vice versa is also available

Education

Tertiary

  • MLG College of Learning (MLGCL)

Secondary

  • Hilongos National Vocational School (HNVS)
  • Saint Teresa School of Hilongos (STSH)
  • Grelina Osmeña Christian College (GOCC)
  • MLG College of Learning (MLGCL)
  • Naval National High School
  • Bung-aw National High School
  • Sta. Margarita National High School
  • Concepcion National High School
  • Hitudpan National High School

Health Care

  • Hilongos District Hospital
  • RHU I
  • RHU II
  • Leyte Baptist Hospital
  • Villaflor's Clinic and Hospital
  • Sto. Nino Clinic
  • Klinika Zamoras
  • Other Medical and Dental Clinics

References

  1. ^ "Province: Leyte". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  3. ^ Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for Hilongos - National Statistical Coordination Board

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hilongos.
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