Nabua, Camarines Sur

Nabua
Municipality

Seal

Map of Camarines Sur showing the location of Nabua
Nabua

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 13°24′30″N 123°22′30″E / 13.4083°N 123.375°E / 13.4083; 123.375Coordinates: 13°24′30″N 123°22′30″E / 13.4083°N 123.375°E / 13.4083; 123.375
Country Philippines
Region Bicol (Region V)
Province Camarines Sur
District 4th district
Founded July 25, 1569
Barangays 42
Government[1]
 • Mayor Delia C. Simbulan (Liberal Party)
Area[2]
 • Total 96.2 km2 (37.1 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 83,874
 • Density 870/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 4434
IDD : area code  +63 (0)54
Income class 1st class; partially urban

Nabua (Rinconada Bikol: Banwāan ka Nabua; English: Municipality of Nabua; Filipino: Bayan ng Nabua) is a first class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines.[2] According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 83,874 people.[3]

Nabua is the mother town of Iriga City, Buhi, Bato, Balatan, Bula and Baao in Camarines Sur. Nabua has five districts: Antacudos, Binoyoan, Caobnan, Lupa and Sabang.

Nabua is home of the modern kuntaw,[4] and jota rojana.[5]

History

Early Map showing the town of "Nava" and surrounding towns of present-day Rinconada area

The Municipality of Nabua traces the historical origin of its name way back during the Spanish Colonization. It was said that in 1571, an Augustinian Friar named Fray Alonzo Gimenez reached one of the rancherias called Lupa which was then under Datu Panga from Borneo. The good friar found persons inside the said rancheria cutting coconuts. He was offered to partake the inside shoot of coconut which the natives called “BOA”. Immediately, the good friar tagged the place as “NABUA” pronounced with his Spanish Accent. From that time onwards this place become popularly known as NABUA.

In another version, a historian named Fray Felix Huerta claimed that the name came from the story that the original sitio of the town is in the shape of the “BOA”, young embryo of the coconut which was surrounded by five rancherias named Lupa, Antacodos, Sabang, Caobnan and Binoyoan. Other believe otherwise and said it was centrally located in the middle of said rancherias thus closely resembling a delicious “BOA” which children loved to eat. For a time, the town was called “NABOBOWA” but years of long usage shortened and corrupted it to the present name of NABUA.

In 1578, a group of Franciscan missionaries headed by Fray Pablo de Jesus and Fray Bartolome Ruiz put up a church in a place known as Antacodos and there they placed a big cross. These missionaries soon merged the villages of Lupa, Antacodos, Sabang and Binoyoan into one place, which at present is known as the town of Nabua. The name Nabua was originally a longer one, Naboboa, from boa, the word for a young coconut embryo.

In a research mission to Spain funded by the municipality, it was learned that Nabua was officially established as a municipality on July 25, 1569.

Based on the 1734 Murillo-Velarde map, one of the earliest cartographical maps of the Philippine archipelago, the town is identified as NAVA - a Spanish name indicating a "level piece of ground". This is probably the apt description of the place at that time, and until the present time, a flat terrain stretching from the shores of the lakes of Bato and Baao and nestled in the plains between Mt. Iriga and the mountains of Bula (which is on the other side of the map) and the then Pantao, as shown in the map.

Geography

The municipality of Nabua ranges approximately 123.25–123.39° east longitude and 13.35–13.42° north latitude. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Baao and Bula; on the south by the municipality of Bato; on the east by Iriga City; and on the west by the municipality of Balatan. The municipality is an established growth center in the southeast part of Camarines Sur Province or the midsection of Bicol River Basin Area. Along the Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-Daet Growth Corridor or LINDGC, the municipality is located about 53 kilometers from Legazpi City which is the Regional Center; 37.0 kilometers from Naga City which is a major urban center; 135 kilometers from Daet which is a secondary Urban Center and only 2.0 kilometers from Iriga City which is a minor urban center.

Climate

The municipality of Nabua possesses a climate belonging to the 4th type wherein rainfalls are more or less evenly distributed throughout the years. Its rainfall is classified as TYPE B or HUMID characterized by rains well or evenly distributed throughout the year with at most three dry months. General wind direction prevailing the municipality is from northeast to southwest at an average velocity of eight knots.

The municipality has a dry, a cold, and a wet season. From June to November, the town experiences heavy rains. The cold season comes every December to February. Then, from March to May, the dry season commences.

Land

The municipality of Nabua is one land mass containing a total land area of 8,854.4193 hectares. This total land area distributed among the 42 barangays, nine of which are considered as urban barangays; namely, San Antonio (Poblacion), San Esteban, San Francisco, San Juan, San Luis, San Isidro, San Miguel, San Nicolas, San Roque (Poblacion) and 33 are considered as rural barangays. Among the urban barangays, San Antonio (Poblacion) has the biggest land area of 234.1798 hectares while San Luis has the least land area of 2.1746 hectares. In the rural barangays, La Purisima has the largest land area as well as in the entire municipality of 428.1501 hectares while San Roque Madawon has the smallest land area of 76.3228 hectares.

The municipality of Nabua given its land mass is entirely classified as alienable and disposable lands. Previous land classification has its slight share of forestlands but was absorbed by the adjacent municipality of Balatan which requires political solution.

Elevation and slope

The municipality of Nabua has about 8,803.0600 hectares or 99.42% very low elevation or less than 100 meters elevation and remaining 51.3593 hectares or 0.58% of low elevation or between 100–300 meters elevation. Its slope covers about 7,927.3616 hectares or 89.53% which are level to nearly level (0-3%) while the remaining 927.0577 hectares or 10.47% are rolling to moderately steep (18-30%)

As the dominantly alluvial plain, the municipality of Nabua has the prevalent soil types classified as either clay loam or sandy loam having silty texture. These soil types are very favorable for agricultural usage.

The geological characteristics for the municipality of Nabua consists of: Upper Pleistocene (Sandstone and shale), Pliocene Pleistocene (Volcanoclast alluvial fans), and Recent (Alluvium or rice terraces).

The natural drainage tributaries for the municipality of Nabua consist of numerous creeks interconnected with the three major rivers namely: Bicol River, Waras River, and Barit River.

Barangays

Nabua is politically subdivided into 42 barangays.[2]

Barangays Area
(km²)		 Population
(2007)		 Population
(2010)[6]		 Barangay Captain
1 Angustia (Inapatan) 1,699 1,945 Salvador Rabeje Y Nuñez
2 Antipolo Old 1,822 1,996 Samuel Soltes Y Escuro
3 Antipolo Young 737 809 Francisco Olivares Jr Y Salcedo
4 Aro-Aldao 928 962 Marvic Domagsang Y Revilla
5 Bustrac 1,152 1,243 Clarito Atian Y Dilla
6 Dolorosa (Inapatan) 1,889 1,776 Antonio Lorzano Y Martirez
7 Duran 926 1,077 Reynold Llagas Y Tana
8 Inapatan (Del Rosario) 2,612 2,688 Nenita Buenaflor Y Olleres
9 La Opinion 4,625 4,895 Nieves Bongalos Y Olino
10 La Purisima (Agupit) 8,165 8,401 Sancho Benico Y Grecia
11 Lourdes Old 1,020 1,035 Alex Uvero Y Penolio
12 Lourdes Young 2,915 3,364 Ethzel Portugal Y Lopez
13 Malawag (San Jose) 2,955 2,996 Virgilio Nilo Y Sernal
14 Paloyon Oriental 643 815 Jaime Brila Y Pactoranan
15 Paloyon Proper (Sagrada) 2,735 2,932 Ernesto Almazan Y Nagrampa
16 Salvacion Que Gatos 523 611 Fredirick Gamban Y Morada
17 San Antonio (Poblacion) 2,363 2,794 Ruben Pasion Y Dinero
18 San Antonio Ogbon 2,484 2,826 Dolores Lanuzo Y Tabornal
19 San Esteban (Poblacion) 1,818 2,041 Adela Olaso Y Dacillo
20 San Francisco (Poblacion) 645 506 Gastillo Victor Y Taburnal
21 San Isidro (Inapatan) 627 729 Aileen Toledo Y Rull
22 San Isidro (Poblacion) 744 668 Loreto Simbulan Y Dichoso
23 San Jose (Pangaraon) 1,509 1,590 Nenita Fortuna Y Olos
24 San Juan (Poblacion) 887 947 Ramiro Basillo III Fortuna Y Lazarte
25 San Luis (Poblacion) 358 351 Sulieto Murillo Sr Y Parale
26 San Miguel (Poblacion) 1,678 1,484 Alneil Hernan Hernandez Y Goleta
27 San Nicolas (Poblacion) 746 697 Pierre Israel Y Relieve
28 San Roque (Madawon) 594 684 Atanacio Balindan Y Gabarda
29 San Roque (Poblacion) 854 930 Imelda Bolivar Y Valdez
30 San Roque (Sagumay) 1,002 1,019 Catalina Reginales Y Babol
31 San Vicente (Gorong-Gorong) 1,085 1,173 Diosdado Docot Y Balbuena
32 San Vicente (Ogbon) 2,609 2,450 Orlando Parañal Y Prades
33 Santa Barbara (Maliban) 1,077 1,299 Julian Tataro Y Baesa
34 Santa Cruz 1,594 1,770 Nelson Tolete Sr Y Taniog
35 Santa Elena (Baras) 1,981 1,966 Aproniano Abala Jr Y Veras
36 Santa Lucia (Baras) 1,750 1,811 Jesus Tabornal Y Astibe
37 Santiago Old 2,120 2,053 Rizaldy Palenzuela Y Bernal
38 Santiago Young 2,190 2,272 Romulo Agnas Y Abanil
39 Santo Domingo 4,981 5,234 Marlo Delos Santos Y Salazar
40 Tandaay 1,473 1,711 Eufemio Aguila Y Sernal
41 Topas Proper 1,836 2,274 Cesar Petalio Y Fortuno
42 Topas Sogod 1,073 1,287 Salve Hosana Y Estallo

Demographics

Population census of Nabua
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 60,885—    
1995 65,988+1.52%
2000 70,909+1.55%
2007 75,422+0.85%
2010 80,111+2.22%
2015 83,874+0.88%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][6][7]

In the 2015 census, the population of Nabua, Camarines Sur, was 83,874 people,[3] with a density of 870 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,300 inhabitants per square mile.

The municipality’s total population accounts for 4.3% of the total provincial population of Camarines Sur, ranked fifth behind much larger population sizes of Naga City, Iriga City, Libmanan and Pili.

Historically, the municipal population has experienced positive growth rate, beginning in Censal Year 1903 up to 1999. Municipal population records show only one exception in Censal Year 1970 where the municipal population decreased. This population shift in number can be attributed to migration patterns due to socio-economic reasons. Thus, from a mere population size of 18,893 in 1903, the current municipal population more than tripled in size for 1999.

Spread out among the 42 barangays of Nabua, there are 10,093 persons living in the urban barangays while 65,329 persons live in the rural barangays. Among urban barangays, San Antonio Poblacion has the largest population with 2,363 persons while San Luis has the smallest with 358 persons. For rural barangays, La Purisima has the largest population with 8,165 persons while Salvacion Que Gatos has the lowest with a population of 523 persons.

Religion

Parish of the Holy Cross Church

Many Nabueños are followers of Catholicism which is very apparent to the names of several barangays which bear the names of Catholic patron saints. However, culture, festivals and practices are of mixed Catholic and local beliefs of Bicolanos of pre-Spanish period. Iglesia ni Cristo on the other hand is the largest minority religion with several local congregations in the municipality and is growing rapidly.

Language

The Nabua-Balatan variant under lowland dialect (sinaranəw) of Rinconada Bikol can be considered having its base from the Bikol languages. However, there are other smaller social groups within the Bicol region where Nabua derives the foundation of its variant. The Rinconada area composed of Baao, Buhi, Bula, Balatan, Bato, Nabua and Iriga shares the same Rinconada Bikol language that the local folks are still enriching up to this day. The Nabua-Balatan variant can be easily recognized by the way they enunciate words or phrases when they talk or use the language. For being the mother town of all the municipalities and city in Rinconada area, the Nabua-Balatan variant is considered by linguistics as one of the foundation variants of Rinconada Bikol language.

Additionally, Spanish influences are frequently encountered in the languages of Nabuenos. Some examples of Spanish words embedded in the local dialect are: “Abreyā raw iton puertan.” This is a command statement, meaning “Open the door” in English or “Buksan ang pintuan” in the Filipino language. The word “abreyā” is an inflection of the Spanish verb “abrir” (to open), and “puertan” is a shorten word of "puertāhan" which is from the Spanish word “puerta”.

Other variations of Spanish words being used in the Nabua-Balatan variant can be found, but many of these words or terms due to usage over time do not follow proper Spanish language conjugations and grammar.

Customs and practices

Nabua has a rich array of customs and colorful practices that are found up to the present day.

Pangarana
This is the Nabua version of “serenading”. When a man wants to show his intent to court a woman, the man (sometimes accompanied by his friends) armed with a guitar or possibly a karaoke machine shows up on the woman’s doorsteps unannounced late at night. The woman or her family have either the option to turn on the lights and acknowledge the serenaders or just ignore them. In some cases, the event turns into an unforgettable event as the woman’s family may come up with some unique ways to get the serenaders out of their property, such as throwing a bucketful of hot water or unleashing “bantay”, the household watch dog.
Pa-aurora
The local folks are religious in nature so it is common for them to make a religious promise or ‘panata’ expressing their exultation to God because of a bountiful harvest or they have a petition that they wish would be granted. This is manifested through the local practice of “Aurora”. On nine consecutive nights, they would decorate an improvised "carroza" for their local patron saint and then visit the households in the neighborhood with singing and prayers.
Pista sa mga Kalag
On November 1, nearly all citizens take a trip down to the cemetery. This is their practice of honoring and remembering departed loved ones. They would offer flowers and light candles in their tombstones, sarcophagus, or decorate the family mausoleum with flowers and food. The local cemetery comes alive the night of November 1 to commemorate All Saints Day until the early morning of November 2 for All Souls Day. Masses at the cemetery are often offered on both days.
Tang-gal kin Cuaresma
During the season of Lent, some of the prominent families in Nabua will sponsor a “Tang-gal”. Tang-gal is the re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s Passion and Death on the cross. After the passion of Christ is re-enacted, the “tang-gal” is concluded with “Ire-Helena”, the story of Helene and Constantine in search of the True Cross.
Pag-li-li
When a family member or loved one dies, the family, friends and relatives of the dead offer nine days of prayers. This is the nine days of mourning where they go to the local church to attend Mass and then continue their novena prayers at the house of the deceased. Prayers are offered to help the soul of the deceased rest in peace and at the same time to console the grieving family.
Katapusan
After forty days of mourning, the family, friends and relatives of the dead celebrate the passage by hosting a feast and invite all those who consoled them in their time of grief. Once everyone invited are gathered, they say the litanies and pray the Rosary of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Local folks believe that the soul of their dead have now passed the stage of “roaming” and ready to rest in eternal peace. This is the time to let go and as a symbolism, they can now wear other colors of clothing instead of the traditional all black or all white.
Dotoc
Before the baranggay fiesta, "Dotoc" is a custom of nabueñans in honoring their patron saint through nine nights of thanksgiving.

Economy

LCC Nabua is the largest commercial establishment in the municipality
Macagang offers accommodation and recreational facilities

Primary Products

Agriculture contributes a major role to the economy of the municipality of Nabua given its vast alluvial plains. Its agricultural contribution consists of crop production, livestock, and fishery. Crop production is more intense rather than livestock and fishery.

Rice production, both irrigated and non-irrigated occupies about 87.26% of the total agricultural land devoted to crop production while corn and other types of crops occupies merely 7.96% and 4.78% respectively. However, crop production in the entire municipality represents only about 36.94% of the total municipal land area. Livestock production can be described as one merely that of backyard raising style despite the presence of at least two farms located at Inapatan with aggregate of only 1.00 hectare and only 22,000 animal heads. Likewise, inland fishing can hardly produce much-needed agricultural revenues both for the inland fishermen as well as for the benefit of the local government.

Trade

The Poblacion of the municipality of Nabua is strategic area for commercial development. Presently, its commercial area can be classified as a minor central business district which is reflective of being a tertiary urban growth corridor along the Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-Daet growth corridor.[8] It services the commercial needs of the neighboring municipalities of Bato and Balatan secondary only to Iriga City. Among the commercial establishments to be found within the Poblacion are wholesale trade, general merchandise, auto and motor supplies, school supplies, funeral parlor, groceries, insurance companies, banks, lending investors, pawnshops, drugstores, restaurant and sari-sari stores.

Several barangays outside of the Poblacion functions as neighborhood centers. Those rural barangays include Sto. Domingo, Malawag, La Purisima, La Opinion, Dolorosa and San Jose. Most common in about 30 rural barangays are the mushrooming of sari-sari stores.

Industry

The municipality of Nabua remains predominantly agriculturally-related in terms of industrial activities at present. The existing industrial establishment within Nabua consists mainly of rice mills with total industrial of about 3,000 square meters. Cottage industries generating household employment and incoe proliferate in rural barangays. Nabua has a potential for agro-industrial development. This is manifested by its: (1) proximity to both Balatan Port and Pantao Port (2) Inherent vast agricultural lands (3) As an urban growth center and, (4) suitable agro-industrial site.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Maharlika Highway

For the municipality of Nabua, transportation is very much important because of (1) its strategic location and membership in the Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-Daet growth corridor; and (2) preferred development strategy of agro-industrial commerce and tourism. Thus, enhancement of the municipal transport system would play crucial role in the attainment of the desired development.

Land transportation available are the various road systems and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) track facilities traversing the municipalities. Generally, the municipality has adequate road lengths based on the standards of 1.5 km. per 100 hectares of arable land.

Utitlities

The strategic location of Nabua along the Luzon grid makes it an ample recipient of power supply from NAPOCOR. Within the municipality itself, the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative (CASURECO) 3 as the exclusive provider retails supply of electricity. All barangays within the municipality are already energized both in urban and rural barangays.

Water resources

There are three existing Level 3 water supply systems that provide potable water, namely: Nabua Water District, Duran Water System and Sagumay Water System.

Communication

Existing communication services and facilities includes cable television, telephone services, telegraph services and telegraphic transfer, cellphones, and postal services.

Tourism

The town of Nabua is known for having a large contingent of active and retired United States Navy servicemen. That makes Nabua a veritable destination for tourists, retirees, and balikbayans from the United States. Oftentimes, coyly and with a tinge of amusement, the town is usually referred to as the Town of the Green Bucks (U.S. Dollars). Most of the families of these servicemen reside in Southern California, particularly in the San Diego area. During religious and special holidays, these U.S. based Nabuenos plus a growing number of Nabua natives now residing in other parts of the world would unfailingly return to their beloved Nabua, tagging along their friends, and freely spending their hard-earned foreign currency which definitely boosts the local economy and tourism.

Boa-boahan Monument

Among the celebrations and local sites in the town includes:

Education

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges
Nabua National High School

Nabua boasts of a high literacy rate of 96.54% within the municipality. The people of Nabua put a premium on higher education as their key to social and economic mobility. The present level of educational services within the municipality covers a number of teachers and classrooms vis-a-vis current and projected enrollments.

For elementary level, there are a total of 33 elementary schools divided into East and West Districts with a total current enrollment of 11,947 pupils. The secondary level of education is currently provided by Nabua National High School, La Purisima National High School, Malawag Nationalized High School, Sto. Domingo Institute, and Saint Jude Agro-Industrial College.

The Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, a public school located in San Miguel, offers tertiary, post-graduate, as well as short–term courses, technical or vocational in nature.

Nabua is the site of large state-run and private educational institutions in Rinconada. Some of the leading schools in Nabua are:

  • Angustia Elementary School
  • Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges
  • St. Jude Agro-Industrial College
  • Sto. Domingo Institute
  • Ryden Technological Institute
  • Nabua National High School
  • La Purisima National High School
  • Malawag High School
  • Victor Bernal High School
  • Tandaay High School
  • Holy Cross Parochial School
  • Good Start Learning Academy, Inc.
  • Nabua Central Pilot School
  • Nabua Educational Learning Center
  • Nabua Music Learning Center
  • St. Jude Thaddeus Learning Center
  • Montessori House of Learning
  • Santiago Elementary School
  • Don Telesforo Llorin Elementary School
  • Baras Elementary School
  • Antipolo Young Elementary School

References

  1. ↑ "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Province: CAMARINES SUR". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Region V (BICOL REGION)". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kuntaw History- Nabua". Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  5. ↑ "Jota Dances of the Philippines" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  6. 1 2 "Region V (BICOL REGION)". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Province of Camarines Sur". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  8. ↑ http://www.neda5.net/rdc/lindgcp/proj_background.htm
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nabua, Camarines Sur.
 Bula Baao
Balatan Iriga
   Nabua  
Bato
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.