Masbate Province History
Profile of Masbate Province (Geography)
Location –> Bicol Region, Philippines (See map below)
Capital –> Masbate City
Area –> 4,151.78 km2 (1,603.01 sq mi)
Population –> 892,393 (2015 census)
Terrain –> Mountainous, rolling hills and coastal plains
Industries –> Agriculture, Tourism
Major Products –> Rice, livestock, and Gold
People/Language –> Bicolano, Cebuano, Aklanon, Tagalog, English
Cities –> Masbate
Municipalities (Towns) –> Aroroy, Baleno, Balud, Batuan, Cataingan, Cawayan, Claveria, Dimasalang, Esperanza, Mandaon, Milagros, Mobo, Monreal, Palanas, Pio V. Corpuz, Placer, San Fernando, San Jacinto, San Pascual, Uson
Government Officials
Governor –> Antonio T. Kho
Vice Governor –> Ara Kho
Predecessor –> Jo Kristine C. Revil
Representative (1st District) –> Narciso “Bong” Bravo, Jr.
Predecessor –> Ma. Vida V. Espinosa-Bravo
Representative (2nd District) –> Elisa T. Kho
Representative (3rd District) –> Wilton “Tonton” Kho
Predecessor –> Scott Davies S. Lanete
Provincial Board Members (Sangguniang Panlalawigan or SP):
Diosdado Alim – 1st District
Emilio Marc Barsaga
Teddy Danao Jr. – 2nd District
Jamon Espares
Kristoffer Paul Espinosa
Allan Cos
Jason Arevalo – 3rd District
Rudy Alvarez Jr.
George Gonzales Jr.
Angela Lanete
Masbate Province History
Archaeological finds such as polished stone adzes from Mt. Batungan in Mandaon Municipality have been carbon-dated to be around 3,000 years old. Therefore, it is believed that people settled in the area long before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines.
It is not known how the name Masbate came to be. However, Spanish records referred to a place called Masbad where gold abound.
In 1569, The Spaniards led by Augustinian Fray Alonzo Jimenez landed in Burias and baptized its chieftain Buaya. From then on, they christianized the local population, built churches and forts and established parishes.These parishes were under the jurisdiction of Nueva Caceres based in Naga, Camarines.
Masbate used to be part of Albay and later Sorsogon. On December 15, 1920, it finally gained its status as a regular province by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 2934. Pablo de la Rosa was elected as its first representative at the 6th Philippine Legislature (1922-1925).
Go here to see all the famous people from Masbate Province.
Go here to see all the candidates and results of the 2019 election in Masbate Province
Read the history of Masbate Province here.
Economy of Masbate
Farming and fishing are the main source of livelihood in the province of Masbate. It is the country’s foremost producer of commercially raised cattle. Large scale mining has declined in importance. Tourism is now being promoted as alternative source of income.
RELATED: Profile of Palawan Province
See also: List of Philippine Provinces and Capital by Region