Loon,_Bohol

Loon, Bohol

Loon, Bohol

Municipality in Bohol, Philippines


Loon, officially the Municipality of Loon (Cebuano: Munisipalidad sa Loon; Tagalog: Bayan ng Loon), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines which was established in 1753. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,224 people.[4]

Quick Facts Country, Region ...

Loon was among the hardest hit towns in the 2013 Bohol earthquake. About a third of all casualties occurred in this town, and its church, dating from the 1850s, completely razed to the ground.[6]

Geography

Map of Loon showing barangays and islands

28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Tagbilaran is the town proper of Loon, the westernmost municipality of the island province. Cabilao and Sandingan islands are part of the municipality. Lanao Lake on Cabilao island (also known as Cabilao Island Lake) is the only natural lake in Bohol province.[7]

Loon lies halfway between Tagbilaran and Tubigon, Bohol's major ports of entry, each of which is only 40 minutes away by public utility buses, jeepneys and vans-for-hire that frequently ply the north–south route. Loon has one provincial secondary port and six fishing ports. The secondary port is being converted into the Loon Bohol International Cruise Ship Port. Currently it serves the Loon—Argao (Cebu) route.[8]

Topography

Loon is composed of land mass, coastlines and natural waters and has a relatively rolling topography consisting of moderate hills, rolling plains, sparse plateaus interspersed with valleys, and some ravines.

Climate

More information Climate data for Loon, Bohol, Month ...

Barangays

Loon is politically subdivded into 67 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

More information PSGC, Barangay ...

Demographics

Municipal Building
More information Year, Pop. ...

Economy

Gross Annual Income (2014): ₱63.2 million[8]

Major industries:[8] agriculture, fishery, cottage (ready-to-wear clothes, mats, baskets), transportation, trading, tourism

Loon's public markets include two main public markets and five barangay/feeder markets.[8] There are more than 800 business establishments and entrepreneurs in Loon.

Indigenous culture and crafts

  • Processing of "binago", grated and dried cassava steamed over a perforated coconut half-shell fitted onto the mouth of an earthen pot half-filled with water; common in the barangays on Sandingan and Cabilao islands and in Ubayon.
  • Production of "tubâ" or toddy from coconut in Cantaongon and other upland barangays.
  • "Drama" or community theater in Napo, a fervently sustained local tradition that originated during the Spanish period. Local residents get involved as actors, singers, directors, stage managers and playwrights.
  • Weaving of mats from romblon palm in Cabilao; production of nypa shingles near Moalong River; and weaving of baskets and other handicrafts from bamboo, rattan, baliw, nito, sigid, sagisi and other materials in some upland barangays
  • Production of corn and cassava on the rocky slopes of Basdio. The "farm-on-the-rocks" is itself a tourist attraction because from below, the crops seem to grow not on soil but on black rocks and boulders.
  • Christmas caroling: "Daygon", "Pastores" and "Igiigi"
  • Good Friday dawn pilgrimage to Big Cross
  • Good Friday procession and Easter "Sugat/Hugos" rites in the town center
  • September "Festival of Lights" or "SidlaKasilak" in honor of the town's patroness
  • Town fiesta on 8 September and barangay fiestas throughout the year.

Tourism

Heritage and historical sites

Loon Public Plaza
  • Inang-angan (grand stairway of coral stone blocks, 212 steps): A National Cultural Treasure
  • Sombria Bridge: stone bridge with the highest elevation among colonial bridges in the province.
  • Napo Ruins: possibly the remnants of a watchtower
  • Ferandos House: ancestral house (chalet) built during the American period.
  • Gabaldon building: the main building of Loon South Central Elementary School built in 1915.
  • Loon Public Plaza
  • Big Cross: a pilgrimage site marked by a Big Cross on the slopes Cabug offers a majestic view of the Cebu Strait. A road leading to the place features replicas of the 14 Stations of the Cross.
  • Virgen de la Paz Hermitage: home of the Virgen de la Paz hermit nuns that sits on a cliff that overlooking the mangroves and marine sanctuary in Tangnan and offers an unobstructed view of the sea and the blue mountains of Cebu.
  • Solar-powered Lighthouse: located in Punta Baluarte in Pantudlan, Cabilao Island, this modern lighthouse is a donation of the Spanish government and stands beside the old one retained for its historical value.
  • Punta Baluarte Eco-Museum: a Spanish-era bulwark on Cabilao Island that has been transformed into an eco-cultural museum
  • Mesina House: the only remaining ancestral house of such design. With some families experiencing early the economic boom brought about by success in the retail business, mostly in Leyte, Samar, Negros and Mindanao, and in the practice of their professions, all the other old houses have been replaced with modern designs.

Totally destroyed by the 15 October 2013 earthquake.

  • Church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz (including old convent): A National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasure
  • Spanish-Era Mortuary Chapel: A National Cultural Treasure
  • Spanish Colonial Cemetery (1800–1860s): A National Cultural Treasure
  • Christ the King Monument: an imposing structure on the church plaza that features a figure of the Risen Christ atop a three-sided column at the center of an ornate and multi-layered circular base
  • The Grotto: depicts the scene in Lourdes, France where Mary appeared to a girl named Bernadette. It is a favorite backdrop for the annual reenactment of the Last Supper and many other photo opportunities
  • Hugosan: a four-column platform serving as main gate of the church; used during Easter Sunday rites

Natural attractions

  • Loon Coastal Geomorphic Conservation Park (417-hectare [1,030-acre] intertidal zone uplifted as a result of the 2013 earthquake)[21]
  • Loon Macaques: a mainstream tourist destination featuring the crab-eating mangrove monkeys (Cantomocad)
  • Cabilao Island
    • Dive sites
    • Cabilao Island Lake
    • Green Footprint Lagoon
    • Cabacungan Fish Sanctuary
  • Tubig-Loon Spring Park
  • White beaches and sand bars (Cabilao and Sandingan Islands)
  • Mangrove gardens (Tangnan, Pig-ot, Basdacu, Napo, Cogon Norte, Basac, Tajang Causeway, Sandingan)
  • Caves (Cantam-is Baslay and many upland barangays)
  • Mount Canmanoc
  • Mount Tan-awan: highest point of Loon
  • Moalong River and Antaeg Spring and Lagoon
  • Piong and Kabantian Falls
  • Danicop Ticugan Springs
  • Endemic animals: hammerhead shark, pygmy seahorse, monkeys, exotic birds, "mamag" (tarsier), "kagwang" (a lemur-like gliding mammal), "tinggawong" (bearcat)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road network:[8]

  • national - 24.0 kilometres (14.9 mi)
  • provincial - 12.8 kilometres (8.0 mi)
  • municipal - 8.0 kilometres (5.0 mi)
  • barangay - 145.0 kilometres (90.1 mi)

Health and safety

  • one provincial district hospital (Cong. Natalio P. Castillo, Sr. Memorial Hospital)
  • two Rural Health Units
  • 12 Barangay Health Stations
  • one private dental clinic
  • three private medical clinics
  • one LGU emergency response unit ("Alagad" Center)
  • Model Senior Citizens Center
  • Lying-in / Birthing Centers, including IMAP Lying-in Center in Calayugan Norte and Catagbacan Norte
  • Public security: one PNP station; 704th Regional Public Safety Battalion (Catagbacan Norte)

Utilities

Water is made available to more than 42 barangays principally by the Loon Waterworks System, which has about 3,000 active individual water service connections reaching the northernmost barangay of Pondol, the southernmost barangay of Song-on, all barangays on Sandingan Island, and many hinterland barangays. The rest of the upland barangays are served by Level II communal water systems.

The abundance of water in Loon has also encouraged investors to establish water-refilling stations in the town.

Education

  • Public educational institutions: Loon North District - 12 elementary schools; 8 primary schools; 3 secondary schools - Cabilao National High School, Sandingan National High School and Gov. Jacinto Borja National High School (formerly Cantaongon High School)
  • Public educational institutions: Loon South District - 10 elementary schools; 9 primary schools; 1 secondary school, Loon South National High School
  • Private secondary schools: University of Bohol–Loon Institute, Sacred Heart Academy, Saint Teresa Academy
  • Preparatory schools: 64 public preparatory schools (day-care centers); UB Loon Institute Learning Center; Trinitas Learning Center; Saint Teresa Academy Kindergarten School; Catechetical Learning Center (Cuasi)

Notable personalities


References

  1. Jose, Regalado Trota (2001). Visita Iglesia Bohol (A Guide to Historic Churches). Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. pp. 75–80. ISBN 9718140166.
  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 VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. Erik De Castro (15 October 2013). "Death toll from Philippines quake nears 100, more people missing". Reuters. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  6. Hellingman, Jeroen. "A Visit to Cabilao Island". www.bohol.ph. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  7. "Municipal Profile". Municipality of Loon, Bohol, Philippines. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  8. "Loon: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  11. "Province of Bohol". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  14. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  15. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  16. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  17. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  18. Udtohan, Leo (9 August 2015). "Bohol quake triggers a phenomenon: Land rising from bottom of the sea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Loon,_Bohol, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.