Virac

The actual founding of Virac as a distinct political unit is closely associated with the evangelization of its original inhabitants by the Spanish conquistadores in the middle of the 16th century. Records of the past are so fragile, inconsistent and incomplete that events presented are an admixture of facts and folklore…

San Andres

The name Calolbon, said old-timers of yesteryears, used to be “Calolbong”. They refer vaguely to its origin from the bicol expression “nacalobong” because the houses of the original community along the banks of the river up to barrio Carangag looked almost submerged when viewed from the sea…

Bato

When the Spanish conquest adores led by Juan de Salcedo set foot in 1575, Bato was relatively unexplored. Local Spanish officials assigned to the place once asked a woman who was washing clothes in the natural stone well the name of the place. She thought that the Spaniards were asking the name of…

Baras

The village town then was luxuriant and verdant with “badas” plants. As to what kind of vegetation “badas” was, is a subject of conjuncture, for some believed that it was a kind of bamboo now called “bagacay”. But one common belief is the fact that the Moro raiders and pirates agreed that “badas” was much in…

Bagamanoc

A daring and adventurous young man from the tribe forced his way across the mouth of the river to look for rattan needed for the repair of his future bride’s family home. Going westward by the shorelines, he finally turned left for the business of venture but before he cut an uphill distance, he saw what…  

Caramoran

As to how the town got its name, the old people of Caramoan in Camarines Sur theorized that since their town is only separated almost 2 kilometers by Maqueda Channel from Caramoran, the place also abound in “cara”, the turtle’s precious shell made into combs, bowls, and décor materials. Another version is…

Gigmoto

Gigmoto’s original name was “Himbutan” which was derived from the word himbut which literally means to hurry up.  Himbutan became the largest barrio when Baras became an independent municipality. As time went by, the name “Himbutan” was changed to Gigmoto… 

Pandan

PANDAN, the name of the municipality was termed from pandan shrubs, which then surrounded the poblacion to protect the inhabitants from Moro pirates who used to invade the place. The municipality lies on the northern tip province of Catanduanes, 96 kilometers from the capital town of Virac. Bounded…

Panganiban

Historians theorize that the original settlers of Payo came from settlements in the Philippine mainland and landed on the north eastern coast of Catanduanes most probably on what is now the small islet of Panay. The early settlers set up their own governing body by electing from among themselves a tribal…

San Miguel

San Miguel, according to the pioneers was a sitio known as “Aguas”, named after a fish specie. Later, in 1930’s during the celebration of the feast in honor of  Santa Cruz the Patron Saint, Aguas was changed to San Miguel in grateful recognition and commendation to the invaluable services of Don Miguel Triumfante…