Tabaco

According to native stories, the "Legend of Tabaco" was about a lost foreigner who asked the locals what the name of the place is. However a confused and frightened native whom the lost foreigner asked did not understand what the latter was asking. The native screamed "Tabak ko!" meaning "My bolo" insinuating a person to get his tabak (presumably for defense). The lost foreigner assumed that the native understood what he asked, then thought the name of the place is Tabaco.

The Official Seal of the city was still conceived from the "Tabak Ko" legend and was officially adopted through Municipal Council Resolution No. 29 on February 23, 1966.

Spanish period

According to the Estado Geografico Estadistico Historico written in 1805 by Father De Huerta, the recorded history of the city began in 1587 through the missionary work of the first Franciscan Fathers. In 1616, Fr. Pedro De Alcareso became the first permanent parish priest and established a church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the city.

The first inhabitants settled along the seashore and engaged in fishing and crude farming. Due to the continuous attacks by the Moro raiders, the natives migrated to San Vicente and San Carlos, and started the foundation of the first poblacion in 1703, while the fishermen of the town transferred to the shores of the bay of what is now known as Barangay Cormidal. Under the administration of the first town executive, a church was built in Cormidal in 1731. Records on the elected Capitan municipal (town mayor) started only in 1731 with Martin Aguirre listed as the first mayor of Tabaco.

In 1811, a terrible typhoon called Baguiong Oguis or White Typhoon brought havoc to the town. This was followed in 1814 by the most destructive eruption of the Mayon Volcano, which showered the areas with ashes and stone. These two events rendered many residents homeless and left the fields unproductive for many years after. It took a full decade for the people to recover, at which time they built a cemetery and laid the foundation of the present church which was completed in 17 years. The 1818 census showed 3,347 native families paying tribute and they were coexisting with 225 Spanish-Filipino families.

American period and independence

The Americans landed at Tabaco on February 9, 1900, under the command of Col. Walter Howe. Despite the well-documented courage and patriotism of the Tabaqueños, the residents of Tabaco, the superior armaments and well-trained soldiers of the American army hastened its conquest of Tabaco and adjoining towns, starting the American rule in the area.

With the restoration of peace after World War II, the Tabaqueños started rebuilding their lives and their land. By the time the Philippines gained independence in 1946, Tabaco was once again a thriving town.

Other catastrophic events

Another catastrophe to hit the town was Typhoon Trix in 1952, which completely submerged Natunawan Island. A 1964 fire razed the commercial center, and in 1970, another destructive storm, Typhoon Sening, slashed through the town.

Cityhood

Then Representative Krisel Lagman-Luistro introduced House Bill No. 7851, upgrading the municipality of Tabaco into a component city of the province of Albay. Senate Bill No. 2244 was sponsored by Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Franklin Drilon as its counterpart in the Senate. The Republic Act No. 9020 converted the Municipality of Tabaco into a component city of the province of Albay. It was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 5, 2001. The municipality was finally converted into a city after the plebiscite conducted on March 24, 2001.

Elected officials

Past municipal administrators

The City of Tabaco is located on the eastern coast of Albay province with an area of 117.14 km² (45.23 sq mi). The terrain in the poblacion or town center of Tabaco is generally flat with the highest elevation at around 5 m (16 ft). The northwestern portion reaches 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level. The city's southwest boundary reaches all the way to the top of Mayon at an elevation of 2,462 m (8,077 ft).

Tabaco is one of the three component cities of the province, along with Legazpi and Ligao. The mainland part of the city is bordered by the town of Malinao to the north, the towns of Polangui and Oas to the west, Ligao to the southwest, Malilipot town to the southeast, and Lagonoy Gulf to the east. The symmetric Mayon Volcano, the most active volcano in the Philippines, lies south of the city. Tabaco is one of the eight towns and cities that share jurisdiction on the volcano, dividing the peak like slices of a pie when viewed from above. It is 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Legazpi City and 552 kilometres (343 mi) from Manila.

The island of San Miguel, the westernmost of the four main islands in Lagonoy Gulf, falls under the jurisdiction of Tabaco. Five of the barangays of the city are located on the island for a total of 47 barangays composing the city.

Total forest area in Tabaco is 2,572 ha (6,360 acres).

Climate

The City of Tabaco belongs to the Type II climate of the Philippines. It is characterized by no distinct dry season but with a very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January.

The area has pronounced warmness and humidity throughout the year with a mean temperature of 26.0 °C (78.8 °F) and a humidity range up to 80%. February is the coldest month with a low of 21.0 °C (69.8 °F). The warmest temperature is experienced during May with a mean temperature of 27.0 °C (80.6 °F).

Barangays

Tabaco City is politically subdivided into 47 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

There are sixteen coastal barangays, five on the island of San Miguel and eleven in the mainland of the city. San Pedro became a barrio in 1952.

• Agnas (San Miguel Island)
• Bacolod
• Bangkilingan
• Bantayan
• Baranghawon
• Basagan
• Basud (Barangay 1 Poblacion)
• Bogñabong
• Bombon (Barangay 2 Poblacion)
• Bonot
• Buang
• Buhian
• Cabagñan
• Cobo
• Comon
• Cormidal
• Divino Rostro (Barangay 3 Poblacion)
• Fatima
• Guinobat
• Hacienda (San Miguel Island)
• Magapo
• Mariroc
• Matagbac
• Oras
• Oson
• Panal
• Pawa
• Pinagbobong
• Quinale Cabasan (Barangay 4 Poblacion)
• Quinastillojan
• Rawis (San Miguel Island)
• Sagurong (San Miguel Island)
• Salvacion
• San Antonio
• San Carlos
• San Isidro
• San Juan (Barangay 5 Poblacion)
• San Lorenzo
• San Ramon
• San Roque
• San Vicente
• Santo Cristo (Barangay 6 Poblacion)
• Sua-Igot
• Tabiguian
• Tagas
• Tayhi (Barangay 7 Poblacion)
• Visita (San Miguel Island)

Language and dialect

Bicolano is the primary language in Tabaco and the region. The majority of people speak the Tabaqueño Dialect derived from Coastal Bicol. Although Bicolano Viejo is also spoken, it has fallen out of mainstream use and has since been reduced to the status of sociolect as only very few members of Tabaco's oldest and more affluent families still use it. As in most parts of the Philippines, Filipino and English are spoken and afforded official language status. Spanish, Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Arabic, Cantonese, Hokkien and Mandarin are also spoken owing to Tabaco's significant migrant and mestizo populations.

Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion with Roman Catholicism with the most number of practitioners. Other Christian denominations are also present in the city like Protestants, Baptist, Philippine Independent Church, United Pentecostal Church, Evangelical Christian and Iglesia ni Cristo. Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism, Jainism, Wicca, Modern Paganism and Buddhism also have followers in the city.

Poverty incidence of Tabaco (%)

10 20 30 40 50 2000
45.87 2003
21.65 2006
33.30 2009
35.13 2012
23.78 2015
22.38 2018
19.83 2021
20.21 2023
22.30

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Agriculture

Its economy is still heavily dependent on agriculture. Major crops include rice, corn, cacao, pili, root crops, vegetables, coconuts and abacá. Poultry and livestock raising as well as aquaculture and fishing are very much alive.

International seaport

Tabaco is growing and has a commercial center and port area. The city has the sole International Seaport in the region.

Local fishport

Situated in Barangay Fatima and San Roque. Which serves as the trading area of products (fisheries, livestock, variety of fruits and vegetables, woods and charcoals), from neighboring islands in San Miguel, Bacacay, and Rapu-Rapu.

Other industries

• Woodcraft. Wood furniture and accessories manufacturing.
• Metal Craft. Tabak (bolo knife) manufacturing or cutlery, scissors, razors, farm implements, window grills, iron gates and tricycle sidecars
• Rattan Craft. Furniture and fixtures made from rattan.
• Ceramics Industry. Hollow blocks, toilet bowls, floor tiles, and reinforced concrete pipes.
• Hat & Mat weaving from Paraguay leaves.
• Ship Repair and Building. Dry dock facility is available in Barangay Salvacion.
• Padyak (pedicab), Trucks, Bus and AUV Manufacturing (body building)

Places of interest

The Church of San Juan Bautista in San Juan, Tabaco City, is one of the most impressive religious structures in the province of Albay. The construction of the present church started in 1750. It was designated a National Historic Landmark by PD. 260 on August 1, 1973.

Beaches and resorts:

• Dhio Endheka Spring Resort in Mayon Crossing, Buang
• Hacienda Long Beach Resort in Barangay Hacienda in San Miguel Island
• Jennifer's Garden and Resort in Barangay Bantayan
• Natunawan Cove
• Punta Island Beach Resort in Barangay Rawis in San Miguel Island
• San Lorenzo Beach in Barangay San Lorenzo
• Borcels Nature Springs in Barangay Marriroc
• Cassandra Spring Resort in Barangay Pinagbobong (near Borcels Nature Springs)
• Villa Azon in Barangay Matagbac
• KC Land Park in Cabangan

Historical:

• Angela Manalang Gloria Ancestral House at Quinale

Educational:

• Mayon Planetarium and Science Park in Buang is a planetarium with library, the virtual room, a mini-museum and an audiovisual hall.
• San Miguel Island Marine Fishery Reserve located in Sagurong, San Miguel Island.

Institutions:

• Tabaco Port (International Port of Entry)
• Mayon Skyline Hotel and Convention Center in Buang. Formerly known as Mayon Resthouse, it is located on the northern slope of Mayon Volcano.

Events and festival

• Charter Day or the Founding Anniversary of Tabaco as a city is celebrated yearly on March 24.
• Tabak Festival is a week-long celebration showcasing the city's cutlery industry. It is held the third week of March culminating with the founding anniversary of Tabaco.
• City Fiesta. In honor of the patron saint of Tabaco, St. John the Baptist, the city Fiesta is celebrated on June 24.

Roads

Roads in Tabaco are classified as follows:

• National roads, 20 kilometres (12 mi)
• Provincial roads, 48.47 kilometres (30.12 mi)
• Municipal roads, 10.7855 kilometres (6.7018 mi)
• Barangay roads, 74.826 kilometres (46.495 mi)

Airport

The nearest airport is in Daraga, Bicol International Airport, about 41.7 kilometres (25.9 mi) from Tabaco City.

Seaport

The Port of Tabaco City is one of the ports of entry open to overseas shipping in the province of Albay. It also serves as a passenger and cargo movement facility to the islands of San Miguel, Cagraray, Batan and Rapu-Rapu as well as the provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur. The main Sea Transportation operators in the port are:

• M/V Eugenia
• M/V Regina Calixta 2, 3 and 4

Buses

There is regular transportation to and from Manila and to the other main cities in the Bicol Region.

Others

• There are 632 Registered motorized tricycles with routes to different barangays and neighboring municipalities.
• There are over 2,000 Pedicabs for transportation within the poblacion.
• There are several jeepney routes around the city or anywhere in the province.

Secondary school

• Bantayan National High School
• Bogñabong National High School
• Comon National High School
• Daniel B. Peña Memorial College Foundation
• Hacienda National High School
• Mariroc National High School
• San Antonio National High School
• San Isidro National High School
• San Miguel National High School
• San Lorenzo National High School
• St. Gregory the Great Seminary
• Catholic Central School (CCS)
• Tabaco National High School
• Tabaco Pei Ching School

Tertiary, vocational, technical schools

• Amando Cope College, School of Nursing in Baranghawon
• Bicol Maritime Technical Colleges Foundation on Rizal St.
• Bicol University Tabaco Campus in Tayhi
• Carolyn Institute of Technology Incorporated in San Roque
• Computer Communication Development Institute on Gen. Luna St.
• Daniel B. Peña Memorial College Foundation on Ziga Ave.
• Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College, Inc. / Casaul Technological College, Inc. in Tomas Cabiles Ave.
• Informatics Computer Institute is on the corner of Ziga Ave. and Karangahan Blvd.,
• Pacific Technical Institute in Tagas
• Perpetual Help Paramedical College in Tagas
• Polytechnic Institute of Tabaco in Panal
• Tabaco College on Tomas Cabiles Ave.

Waste disposal

In dealing with solid waste management, the City of Tabaco has adopted the usual means of dumping garbage in an open-pit landfill. Garbage is collected from each barangay in the Poblacion daily. The city has four garbage trucks and four compactors to ensure that the garbage is collected and disposed of in the waste disposal site located at Pinagbobong, about 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) distance from the central business district.

Fire protection

• The Tabaco City Fire Station, Bureau of Fire Protection is located on Ziga Ave. A total of fifteen fire officers serve in the local fire department, including the City Fire Marshall.
• The local mall (LCC) has its volunteer fire brigade that helps the fire department in extending its services to the residents of Tabaco.
• Tabaco Chinese-Filipino Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Police and law enforcement

Tabaco Police Force

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Tabaco City Station is staffed by five police officers and seventy-five police NCOs (non-commissioned officers), located at Llorente St., at the back of the City Hall, headed by Police Chief Superintendent Jose Lipa Capinpin. Police headquarters is now located in front of the Central Terminal, Pawa, Tabaco City

PNP CID Regional Office

Assisting the city police in its drive against criminality is the PNP Criminal Investigation & Detection Group Tabaco Regional Sub-Office. The station is under the direct command of the Provincial Officer and serves the first district of Albay.

Tabaco City Jail

The Tabaco City District Jail is situated at Burac St., San Lorenzo, Tabaco City, 3 km (1.9 mi) away from the city proper. The jail structure is composed of six (6) operation cells, staffed by two BJMP officers and twenty non-officer ranks.

Utilities

Power

Two power companies provide electricity to the city.

• Albay Power Electric Cooperative inc (ALECO) in Matagbac, Tabaco City serves 35 of the 47 barangays of the town or 74% of the city.
• ASCO-Tabaco, located in A.A. Berces Street, San Juan, Tabaco City serves the rest of the city.
• The office of Albay Power Electric Cooperative in Tabaco City is Located in J.B Berces street/Rizal street, Bacolod/Tayhi Tabaco City.

Water

Water supply is managed by the Tabaco Water District (TAWAD) located in Karangahan Blvd. Tabaco City. Its present service area encompasses the Poblacion and 21 other barangays, serving about 25,000 people in 2,933 households presently connected to the system.

• Henry Omaga-Diaz, journalist
• Thomas Franco Rodriguez or Tomás, member of Filipino pop boy band, Alamat and finalist, Pinoy Big Brother: 737 teen edition
• Blissanda James Marites, singer
• Lian Espartinez, Football Player
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• Liam Tang, Basketball Player