Oas, Albay

Oas
Municipality
Municipality of Oas
Flag
Map of Albay with Oas highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Oas Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°15′32″N123°29′43″E / 13.2589°N 123.4953°E / 13.2589; 123.4953
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Albay
District	3rd district
Barangays	53 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Domingo R. Escoto Jr.
•  Vice Mayor	Hector R. Loyola
•  Representative	Fernando T. Cabredo
•  Municipal Council	Members Atty. Sharon R. Escoto Henry R. Raposon Gader B. Rellama Leopoldo R. Zaragoza Arvin Gregg R. Ricarte Noel B. Briuega Jesus R. Reario Robert N. Arevalo
•  Electorate	43,206 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	263.61 km2 (101.78 sq mi)
Elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Highest elevation	319 m (1,047 ft)
Lowest elevation	17 m (56 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	66,084
• Density	250/km2 (650/sq mi)
•  Households	15,198
Economy
•  Income class	1st municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	31.38 % (2021) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 241.8 million (2020)
•  Assets	₱ 668.6 million (2020)
•  Expenditure	₱ 159.9 million (2020)
•  Liabilities	₱ 87.26 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4504
PSGC	050512000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)52
Native languages	Tagalog

Oas, officially the Municipality of Oas (Central Bikol : Banwaan kan Oas; Filipino : Bayan ng Oas), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,084 people. ^[3]

Etymology

There are two stories that purport to tell the origin of the name of Oas:

a) There is a dam across the narrowest portion of a local river. This dam solely irrigates the vast fields of the place including those of the nearby town of Libon and results in a good harvest. People are wary of any cracks or leaks on the dam walls during months of heavy rains. A crier would shout nawaswas, giving the call to the people (in times of this kind of emergency) for immediate action in groups. From then on, the natives coined this name for the place and later shortened it to present form.

b) Early Spanish colonizers reaching this particular section of the Bicol Peninsula asked the name of the place from the about 600 natives living there, "Como se llama este sitio?" The natives mistakenly thought the question to be "Onan kading lugar kadi, maiwas?" ("What place is this, it's very big?") in their native language. In response, the natives answered, "Si, señores. Labi nikading iwas. Labi nikading iwas." ("Yes, sirs, this is grand and spacious".) From then on the early Spanish colonizers adopted in their official census the existence of "a rich fertile valley with verdant fields of grain" which is the little town of Oas in Bicol.

History

Foundation

Oas was founded during the early Spanish colonization of the Bicol Peninsula. In 1605, Father Baltazar de los Reyes converted 12 leading natives of the area to Christianity in one day, forming the foundation of the community now known as Oas.

During the Marcos dictatorship

Main article: Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship

The town was one of the localities particularly harmed by the Dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos; in the waning days of the dictatorship, Oas was hit by a series of political killings targeting those who dared to speak out against the abuses of the Military and against Ferdinand Marcos. ^[5]

The most prominent of the victims was Clemente Ragragio, the municipal sanitation inspector of Ligao who was later also assigned to Oas. Known for his effectiveness, he had been awarded the 1983 Best Sanitary Inspector for Albay. ^[6] However, this led the dictatorship's local administrators suspecting him of being a rebel sympathizer, because his close relationship with locals in far-flung barangays allowed him to move around fearlessly, and because he expressed disagreements with the dictatorship's governance. A killer shot him three times in front of his house in the early evening of August 21, 1985, and the government did not investigate his murder. He was later honored by having his name inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani (lit. Monument of Heroes), which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought to restore democracy in the wake of the Marcos dictatorship. ^[5]

Recent history

Oas has been in the news several times in recent years due to the achievements of its outstanding citizens, notably chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano who topped the under-10 age category at the 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok in 2022, ^[7] and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray whose maternal lineage has its roots in Oas. ^[8]

Geography

Oas is located at 13°15′32″N123°29′43″E / 13.2589°N 123.4953°E / 13.2589; 123.4953 .

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 263.61 square kilometres (101.78 sq mi)  ^[9] constituting 10.23% of the 2,575.77-square-kilometre- (994.51 sq mi) total area of Albay.

Oas is 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Legazpi City and 495 kilometres (308 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Oas is politically subdivided into 53 barangays. ^[10] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020 [3]		2010 [11]
050512001	Badbad	0.9%	622	583	▴	0.65%
050512002	Badian	4.1%	2,681	2,348	▴	1.33%
050512003	Bagsa	1.3%	862	764	▴	1.21%
050512004	Bagumbayan	1.3%	879	1,018	▾	−1.46%
050512005	Balogo	7.9%	5,236	3,897	▴	3.00%
050512008	Banao	0.7%	470	562	▾	−1.77%
050512009	Bangiawon	1.4%	910	785	▴	1.49%
050512011	Bogtong	0.6%	367	351	▴	0.45%
050512010	Bongoran	2.7%	1,816	1,741	▴	0.42%
050512012	Busac	3.1%	2,079	1,939	▴	0.70%
050512013	Cadawag	0.7%	485	427	▴	1.28%
050512014	Cagmanaba	5.0%	3,305	3,039	▴	0.84%
050512015	Calaguimit	1.3%	867	865	▴	0.02%
050512016	Calpi	2.0%	1,335	1,224	▴	0.87%
050512017	Calzada	1.4%	911	1,029	▾	−1.21%
050512018	Camagong	1.8%	1,167	1,146	▴	0.18%
050512019	Casinagan	0.9%	617	530	▴	1.53%
050512020	Centro Poblacion	0.3%	225	277	▾	−2.06%
050512021	Coliat	1.1%	723	717	▴	0.08%
050512022	Del Rosario	1.1%	733	624	▴	1.62%
050512023	Gumabao	1.2%	793	865	▾	−0.87%
050512024	Ilaor Norte	2.3%	1,495	1,525	▾	−0.20%
050512025	Ilaor Sur	3.3%	2,202	2,275	▾	−0.33%
050512026	Iraya Norte	3.0%	1,982	1,909	▴	0.38%
050512027	Iraya Sur	1.2%	779	711	▴	0.92%
050512028	Manga	3.5%	2,322	2,146	▴	0.79%
050512029	Maporong	1.8%	1,184	1,107	▴	0.67%
050512030	Maramba	5.0%	3,301	3,114	▴	0.58%
050512032	Matambo	0.7%	489	435	▴	1.18%
050512033	Mayag	0.7%	452	507	▾	−1.14%
050512034	Mayao	2.4%	1,618	1,514	▴	0.67%
050512031	Moroponros	0.5%	357	283	▴	2.35%
050512035	Nagas	2.5%	1,631	1,665	▾	−0.21%
050512037	Obaliw-Rinas	2.3%	1,504	1,401	▴	0.71%
050512038	Pistola	1.7%	1,135	1,101	▴	0.30%
050512039	Ramay	1.1%	734	724	▴	0.14%
050512040	Rizal	1.3%	864	892	▾	−0.32%
050512041	Saban	2.9%	1,908	1,875	▴	0.17%
050512042	San Agustin	1.9%	1,285	1,240	▴	0.36%
050512043	San Antonio	1.4%	939	938	▴	0.01%
050512044	San Isidro	2.3%	1,529	1,400	▴	0.89%
050512045	San Jose	1.1%	744	759	▾	−0.20%
050512046	San Juan	2.3%	1,503	1,390	▴	0.78%
050512047	San Miguel	1.2%	772	792	▾	−0.26%
050512036	San Pascual (Nale)	1.3%	841	743	▴	1.25%
050512049	San Ramon	2.6%	1,710	1,657	▴	0.32%
050512050	San Vicente (Suca)	1.4%	938	1,046	▾	−1.08%
050512056	Tablon	1.4%	940	903	▴	0.40%
050512051	Talisay	1.2%	777	693	▴	1.15%
050512052	Talongog	1.8%	1,198	1,144	▴	0.46%
050512053	Tapel	2.7%	1,810	1,371	▴	2.82%
050512054	Tobgon	2.5%	1,649	1,517	▴	0.84%
050512055	Tobog	2.0%	1,313	1,277	▴	0.28%
	Total		66,084	64,785	▴	0.20%

Climate

Climate data for Oas, Albay
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27 (81)	28 (82)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	55 (2.2)	36 (1.4)	45 (1.8)	42 (1.7)	114 (4.5)	184 (7.2)	245 (9.6)	224 (8.8)	238 (9.4)	171 (6.7)	130 (5.1)	94 (3.7)	1,578 (62.1)
Average rainy days	13.0	9.5	11.8	12.7	21.3	25.3	28.3	26.5	26.4	24.2	19.9	16.1	235
Source: Meteoblue [12]

Demographics

Population census of Oas

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	11,393	—
1918	16,488	+2.49%
1939	23,131	+1.63%
1948	27,824	+2.07%
1960	36,095	+2.19%
1970	47,952	+2.88%
1975	50,293	+0.96%
1980	52,269	+0.77%
1990	53,061	+0.15%
1995	56,536	+1.20%
2000	62,063	+2.02%
2007	63,888	+0.40%
2010	64,785	+0.51%
2015	67,960	+0.92%
2020	66,084	−0.55%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [13] [11] [14] [15]

In the 2020 census, Oas had a population of 66,084. ^[3] The population density was 250 inhabitants per square kilometre (650/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Oas

10 20 30 40 50 2006 48.40 2009 42.93 2012 36.30 2015 31.79 2018 34.21 2021 31.38 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Government

Elected officials

2022–2025 Oas Municipal Officials

Position	Name	Party
Mayor	Domingo R. Escoto, Jr. ‹›		PDP
Vice Mayor	Hector R. Loyola +		PDP
Councilors	Atty. Sharon R. Escoto +		PDP
	Arvin Gregg R. Ricarte +		Independent
	Leopoldo R. Zaragoza ‹›		PDP
	Jesus “Boy” R. Reario, II ‹›		Aksyon
	Noel D. Brijuega +		PDP
	Henry R. Raposon ‹›		Aksyon
	Gader B. Rellama ‹›		PDP
	Robert N. Arevalo +		PDP
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC President	Joseph Rentosa (San Isidro)		Nonpartisan
SK Federation President	Kyle Escalada (Rizal)		Nonpartisan

Legend

1. A + indicates that the official is elected for the first term
2. A ♯ indicates that the official is re-elected to a higher position
3. A ‹› indicates that the official is re-elected to the same position

Past Municipal Administrators

Spanish Era (1734–1898) Inclusive years Gobernadorcillo 1734 Don Roque Samco 1735 Don Juan Rendor 1736 Don Francisco Sanglitan 1737 Don Pedro Lagñitnon 1738 Don Juan Rendor 1739 Don Jose de Villafuerte 1740 Don Gregorio Aguilar 1741 Don Jose de Villafuerte 1742 Don Domingo Martinez 1743 Don Francisco Roque 1744 Don Bernardo Torog 1745 Don Francisco Romba 1746 Don Manuel Montañez 1747-1748 Don Diego Langcauon 1749-1751 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1752 Don Francisco Roque 1753 Don Pascual Sumba 1754 Don Antonio Mariano 1755 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1756 Don Domingo de la Cruz 1757 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1758 Don Pascual de la Cruz 1759 Don Manuel de Sacramento 1760 Don Ambrocio Doynog 1761 Don Teodoro de S. Lucas 1762 Don Atilano de S. Miguel 1763 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1764 Don Manuel de S. Esteban 1765 Don Gaspar Triquero 1766 Don Francisco Javier 1767 Don Manuel de Espiritu Sto. 1768 Don Gregorio de la Presentacion 1769 Don Alonso Daiton 1770 Don Juan Bagamasbad 1771 Don Andres Tuason 1772 Don Manuel Salvador 1773 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1774 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1775-1777 Don Francisco Javier 1778 Don Alejandro de S. Buenaventura 1779 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1780 Don Juan Rafael de los Reyes 1781 Don Domingo Bruno 1782 Don Francisco Javier 1783 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1784 Don Francisco Bagamasbad 1785 Don Jose de la Cruz 1786 Don Pedro S. Juan 1787 Don Domingo Langcauon 1788 Don Pascual de la Navidad 1789 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1790 Don Miguel S. Pedro 1791 Don Juan Sto. Domingo 1792 Don Antonio de la Cruz 1793 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1794 Don Juan Sto. Domingo 1795 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1796 Don Francisco Ferrer 1797 Don Juan Sto. Domingo 1798 Don Andres S. Fernando 1799 Don Juan Pinpin de Vera 1800 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1801 Don Francisco S. Buenaventura 1802 Don Pedro S. Casimiro 1803 Don Tomas de Jesus 1804 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1805 Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo 1806 Don Fernando de la Resurreccion 1807 Don Antonio Florentino 1808 Don Juan de la Soledad 1809 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1810 Don Gaspar Florencio 1811 Don Juan de los Santos 1812 Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo 1813 Don Mariano S. Nicomedes 1814 Don Pascual S. Antonio 1815 Don Ludovico S. Bailo 1816 Don Serrano Marquez 1817 Don Bernardo Nicolas 1818 Don Pascual Conrade 1819 Don Juan de la Navidad 1820 Don Francisco Langcauon 1821 Don Juan Portacio 1822 Don Francisco Langcauon 1823 Don Juan Abad 1824 Don Fabiano Crisostomo 1825-1826 Don Francisco Langcauon 1827 Don Pedro Rafael 1828 Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo 1829 Don Exeario Domingo Nepomuceno 1830 Don Juan Perez 1831 Don Juan Langcauon 1832 Don Vicente Rendor 1833 Don Mariano Benequillo 1834 Don Pascual S. Lazaro 1835 Don Bernardo S. Francisco 1836 Don Santiago Andaya 1837 Don Juan Espinosa 1838 Don Pedro Lorenzo S. Miguel 1839 Don Andres del Espiritu Sto. 1840 Don Santiago Bernardo 1841 Don Exeario Domingo Nepomuceno 1842 Don Bernardo S. Juan 1843 Don Clemente Azanza 1844 Don Vicente S. Fernando 1845 Don Pascual Silvestre 1846 Don Pedro Bagol 1847 Don Manuel Mancera 1848 Don Alejandro Pagdato 1849 Don Rufino Raña 1850 Don Francisco Bonifacio Sang 1851 Don Jose Ralla S. Ramon 1852 Don Leocadio Rafael 1853 Don Antonio Real S. Fernando 1854 Don Geronimo Andaya 1855 Don Cornelio Gumba 1856 Don Antonio Real S. Fernando 1857 Don Estanislao Rafael 1858 Don Mariano Realco 1859 Don Camilo Romualdo 1860 Don Pascual Bustamante 1861 Don Cayetano Real S. Fernando 1862 Don Pedro Radorez 1863-1864 Don Francisco Rellante 1865-1866 Don Romualdo Azanza 1867 Don Juan Rebusi 1868-1869 Don Francisco Rellante 1870-1871 Don Manuel Realista 1872-1873 Don Guido Recato 1874-1875 Don Margarito Ragos 1876-1877 Don Juan Rebusi 1878-1879 Don Ambrosio R.S. Ramon 1880-1882 Don Ciriaco Damian 1883-1884 Don Jose G. Camposano 1885-1888 Don Mariano Romero 1889-1890 Don Bartolome Roa 1891 Don Mariano Austero 1892 Don Crispin Q. Roa 1893-1894 Don Mariano Rebueno 1895-1898 Don Jose Ribaya

Republica Filipina (1898-1900) Inclusive years Municipal president 1898-1899 Guido Recato (Appointed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo) 1899-1900 Bartolome Roa (Appointed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo)

American rule (1900–1941) Inclusive years Municipal president 1900–1901 Mariano Rebueno 1901–1903 A. Austero 1904-1905 A. Redillas 1906-1909 R. Realista 1910-1912 Luis Romano 1913-1916 Juan Rayala II 1917-1919 Crispin Rayala 1920-1922 Manuel Bustamante 1923-1925 Crispin Rayala 1926-1928 Dalmacio Ras 1929-1931 Alfredo Q. Roa 1932-1938 Marcial R. Ras 1938-1941 Virgilio Rempillo 1941 Alfredo Q. Roa (Elected but did not assume office, due to Japanese Invasion in December 12, 1941)

Japanese Occupation (1942–1947) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor 1941-1942 Reginaldo Torres (Japanese Appointed) 1943-1945 Pedro Eva (Japanese Appointed)

Post-War Period (1945-date) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor Municipal Vice Mayor SK Federation President ABC President Remarks September 29, 1945-December 11, 1945 Amando Ramin Acting Mayor, Appointed by Pres. Sergio Osmeña December 11, 1945-June 28, 1946 Pedro Eva Appointed by Pres. Sergio Osmeña June 28, 1946-December 31, 1947 Temistocles Raguero Appointed by Pres. Manuel Roxas January 01, 1948-1951 Temistocles Raguero 1952-1955 Pedro Eva 1956-1959 Temistocles Raguero 1960-1971 Jose R. Ricarte 1971-1986 Marcial R. Bustamante 1986–1992 Jose R. Ricarte Appointed Mayor by Pres. Corazon Aquino 1992-1995 Dr. Jesus Rances 1995 Salvador R. Rendor Gader Rellama Died in Office 1995-2001 Gader B. Rellama Assume the office of Mayor, after the death of Mayor Rendor (1995), Established the Oas Community College 2001–2007 Jesus R. Reario, II 2007-2016 Gregorio H. Ricarte 2016-2022 Domingo R. Escoto, Jr Incumbent Mayor

Notable personalities

• David Nepomuceno - 1924 Olympian, first Filipino to compete in the Olympics
• Catriona Gray - Miss Universe 2018

References

1.   Municipality of Oas | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. Census of Population (2020). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved July 8, 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
5. "Martyrs & Heroes: Clemente Ragragio". Bantayog ng mga Bayani. June 26, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
6. Abergos, Althea (November 2, 2016). "Ode to the Faceless". The Pillars: The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Naga University. Vol. LV, no. 2. p. 12.
7. "House fetes 9-year-old Bicol chess wizard Bince Rafael Operiano". Manila Bulletin .
8. Kaewjinda, Kaweewit (December 17, 2018). "Catriona Gray of the Philippines crowned Miss Universe 2018". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
9. "Province: Albay". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved November 12, 2016.
10. "Municipal: Oas, Albay". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved January 8, 2016.
11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved June 29, 2016.
12. "Oas, Albay : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
13. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved June 20, 2016.
14. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
15. "Province of Albay". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
16. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
17. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
18. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
19. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
20. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
21. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
22. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
23. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Municipality of Oas