Gandara, Samar

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Gandara
Municipality of Gandara
Gandara Poblacion.jpg
Aerial view of the Poblacion
Flag of Gandara, Samar.png
Emblem of the Municipality of Gandara (Samar, Philippines).jpg
Etymology: Bangahon
Motto(s): 
An ungod nga Gandareño nahigugma ha bungto; ha sulod ha gawas permi malimpyo.
Ph locator samar gandara.png
Map of Samar with Gandara highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Gandara, Samar
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Gandara
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°00′47″N124°48′42″E / 12.013°N 124.8118°E / 12.013; 124.8118
Country Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas
Province Samar
District 1st district
Named for José de la Gándara y Navarro
Barangays 69 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Warren Tan Aguilar
   Vice Mayor Elias Correche Delector
   Representative Stephen James Tan
  Councilors
List
   Electorate 26,753 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
  Total573.49 km2 (221.43 sq mi)
Elevation
120 m (390 ft)
Highest elevation
830 m (2,720 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census) [3]
  Total35,242
  Density61/km2 (160/sq mi)
   Households
7,834
Economy
   Income class 2nd municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
35.15
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 214.7 million (2020)
   Assets 403.2 million (2020)
   Expenditure 198.6 million (2020)
Service provider
  ElectricitySamar 1 Electric Cooperative (SAMELCO 1)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6706
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)55
Native languages Waray
Tagalog
Website www.lgugandarasamar.gov.ph

Gandara, officially the Municipality of Gandara(Waray: Bungto han Gandara), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 35,242 people. [3]

Contents

History

The town was formerly named Bangahon, but its population was resettled to its current location on September 29, 1902. After settling in its new location, the name Gandara was given to it in commemoration of the former Governor-General José de la Gándara y Navarro.

By virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 11 approved in 1978, 29 barangays were separated to create the new municipality of San Jorge. [5]

Geography

Barangays

Gandara is politicaly subdivided into 70 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Adela Heights
  • Arong 1
  • Arong 2 (1998)
  • Balocawe
  • Bangahon
  • Beslig
  • Buao
  • Bunyagan
  • Burabod I
  • Burabod II
  • Calirocan
  • Canhumawid
  • Caparangasan
  • Caranas
  • Carmona
  • Casab-ahan
  • Casandig
  • Catorse de Agosto
  • Caugbusan
  • Concepcion
  • Diaz
  • Dumalo-ong
  • Elcano
  • Gerali
  • Gereganan
  • Giaboc
  • Hampton
  • Hetebac
  • Himamaloto
  • Hinayagan
  • Hinugacan
  • Hiparayan
  • Jasminez
  • Lungib
  • Mabuhay
  • Macugo
  • Malayog
  • Marcos
  • Minda
  • Nacube
  • Nalihugan
  • Napalisan
  • Natimonan
  • Ngoso
  • Palambrag
  • Palanas
  • Piñaplata
  • Pizarro
  • Pologon
  • Purog
  • Rawis
  • Rizal
  • Samoyao
  • San Agustin
  • San Antonio
  • San Enrique
  • San Francisco
  • San Isidro
  • San Jose
  • San Miguel
  • San Pelayo
  • San Ramon
  • Santa Elena
  • Santo Niño
  • Senibaran
  • Sidmon
  • Tagnao
  • Tambongan
  • Tawiran
  • Tigbawon

Geo-Political Boundaries

  • Gomezville (Home Owners Association)

Climate

Climate data for Gandara, Samar
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28
(82)
29
(84)
29
(84)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)21
(70)
21
(70)
21
(70)
22
(72)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
22
(72)
23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)72
(2.8)
52
(2.0)
65
(2.6)
62
(2.4)
87
(3.4)
129
(5.1)
153
(6.0)
124
(4.9)
147
(5.8)
157
(6.2)
139
(5.5)
117
(4.6)
1,304
(51.3)
Average rainy days17.413.416.818.022.025.326.224.224.926.023.320.8258.3
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) [6]

Demographics

Downdown Gandara Gandara, Samar.jpg
Downdown Gandara
Population census of Gandara
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 12,014    
1918 14,320+1.18%
1939 18,507+1.23%
1948 25,048+3.42%
1960 24,883−0.06%
1970 28,307+1.30%
1975 30,600+1.57%
1980 24,764−4.14%
1990 23,673−0.45%
1995 27,263+2.68%
2000 28,866+1.23%
2007 31,222+1.09%
2010 31,943+0.83%
2015 34,434+1.44%
2020 35,242+0.46%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [7] [8] [9] [10]

Based on latest 2014 survey, the total population was 33,264, consisting of 17,046 males and 16,218 females. The number of households was 6,653, with an average household size of 4.87 persons and a density of 68/km2. Built-up Area population density at town proper 6,652 along Carline Area is 4,992, Coastal Area is 5,751 and Rural Area is 5,748.

Economy

Queseo, native cheese delicacy of Gandara Kiseyo.jpg
Queseo, native cheese delicacy of Gandara

The municipality of Gandara is known for its products such as queseo (kesong puti), [11] tablea, tinapa (smoked fish), [12] kalinayan rice, rootcrops and peanuts exported in the entire region of Eastern Visayas and to any point of the Philippine archipelago. Queseo is one of its tourism and livelihood assets. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Tourism

Maria Diana's Chapel located in the Gandara Public Cemetery Ma. Diana's Chapel in Gandara, Samar (Home of the miraculous corpse of Maria Diana Alvarez).jpg
Maria Diana’s Chapel located in the Gandara Public Cemetery
Miraculous cadaver of Maria Diana Miraculous cadaver of Maria Diana Alvarez in Gandara, Samar, Philippines.jpg
Miraculous cadaver of Maria Diana
Maria Diana’s Chapel
Gandara is the home also of the well-known corpse of Maria Diana Alvarez believed to be miraculous by the Gandareños. [17]
Karabaw Festival
A festival which pays tribute to the draft animal that helps people till their farms and provides milk for Gandara’s local white cheese delicacy called “Queseo”. The festival itself has proven a lot in terms of creativity and uniqueness. In fact, it has already won 7 times in the Samar Day Celebration observed every August 11 where all municipalities and cities in Samar gather at the provincial capitol in Catbalogan to perform and compete. [18] [19] [20]
Annual Fluvial Parade
The traditional fluvial procession along the river of Gandara held every month of September is a significant and mainstay event of the yearly fiesta celebration. [21]
Fluvial procession along the river of Gandara passing under Gandara bridge Annual fluvial parade every month of September in Gandara, Samar.jpg
Fluvial procession along the river of Gandara passing under Gandara bridge
Bangahon Church Ruins
The Ruins of Bangahon is a historical landmark near the right fork of Gandara river. It was once a town during the revolutionary period, but was abandoned by the old residents who later found the present town of Gandara. [22] The site was the original homage to St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of the townspeople, located in Brgy. Bangahon, Gandara, Samar. [23] [24] The said place of worship was ruined during the Pulajanes-American war. [25] The American used Field Guns destroying the said church. It was noted for its Bangahon Bell (Lingganay). This bell was sequestered by the Americans on September 29, 1901, at Balangiga. The bell of Bangahon church is believed to be one of those Balangiga bells. [26]
Great Fire of Gandara
Old Church (Poblacion) and the Harvardian Schools memorabilia Photographies were lost on this fire, the Town Library (Harvardian School) were also damaged by this fire. The Fire started somewhere at an Electric Utility Post near Aguilar Residence and spread by a radius to the Second street.
San Jose Rapids
The Rapids are geolocated near Matuguinao, actually it is the Gandara River and Matuguinao River (river source) formed by rock formation, the word (Panaog) in local folks.

Education

Elementary and Kinder School

Gandara Central Elementary School

Gandara Central Elementary School started with the construction of Gabaldon School Buildings. The Gabaldon School Buildings or simply known as the Gabaldons is a term used to refer to heritage school buildings in the Philippines built during the American Colonial Era. They are noted for the architecture inspired from the bahay kubo and bahay na bato. As of about 2024, there are 2,045 Gabaldon School Buildings throughout the Philippines.

The Gabaldon School Buildings, also referred to as the Gabaldons, originated from Act No. 1801 or the Gabaldon Law, a legislation written by Isauro Gabaldón of the Philippine Assembly in 1907. The law provided for the funding of ₱1 million for the construction of modern public schools across the Philippine Islands from 1908 to 1915.

Like Gabaldon, first educators are from other Countries with earlier Educational System, the Old Katon Cristiana and the University of Santo Tomas system to 'pass-on' the Education learned.

By the turn of 20th Century, pupils/students populations are increasing, some are migrants and other from within the town, the former (DECS) - Ministry/Department of Education Culture and Sports now DepEd (Department of Education) decided to create partition on the interior Barrios Schools and along the Road Schools.

Secondary education

From 1663 to 1768, Bangajon was administered by a priest from the Catbalogan Cabeccera Residencia who had the multiple duties of administering also the Tinago (Tarangnan) and sometimes the Hibatang (now Calbayog) visitas. In 1663, Moro pirates reached the village of Bangajon. After ransacking the village, they burned it. But the Jesuits missionaries were undaunted. They rebuilt the village and built a church made of stone and roofed with zinc and partly with nipa. It measured “26 fathoms (stones) in length wall thickness, 9 fathoms (stones) in width , 4 ½ fathoms (stones) in height” (about 48 meters in length, 16.5 m. in width and 4.5 m. in height). The church was dedicated to St. Michael de Archangel. They also built a convento of the same materials and two parochial schools (one for boys and another for girls) and a casa real of wood.

After the fire in 1876, a tribunal and an escuela were also constructed under the direction of Fr. Geronimo Asenjo. They also continued with the education of the people, especially the children. The older residents of Gandara remember that the first book they used in the school was the Katon Cristiana. Graduation from school was simple. Any pupil who could recite the contents of the whole book from memory was graduated. Then they writer sent to the barrios to teach the Katon Christiana.

In 1901, the town principalia held a session extraordinaria on April 14, 1901 and passed an Act to build a new town and to transfer its location to the sitio of Dumalo-ong (present-day site of Gandara). When peace finally came to Samar in 1902, the people went about the reconstruction of the town and the church. Religious activities were resumed. Gandaranhons celebrated their first fiesta with their new Mayor on September 29, 1903 after years of war.

Franciscan missionaries returned to Gandara in 1910 after the new Diocese of Calbayog was established. Franciscan priests assigned to Gandara from 1910 to 1926 were Fr. Juan Vicente Carmona, O.F.M., Fr. Roman Perez, O.F.M. and Fr. Victoriano Ranera. O.F.M. Early in the sixties, Msgr. Ponciano Figueroa, then parish priest of Gandara, together with the mayor, Mayor Ramon Tan Diaz, established the St. Michael High School, the first and only Catholic school in the town.


List of parish priests assigned to Bangajon/Gandara

Franciscan Administration (1768-1898)

Transition Period (1898-1910)

Diocese of Calbayog

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References

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