Adolescenza **** Discoteche/   Web stradivariusconcerti.com

Asia

Letteratura Inglese	Chinese Literature	Letteratura Giapponese	Buddhismo
Islam	xx	xx	xx

Filippine

Mindoro Island	Negros Island	Samar Island	Tagum
Zambales	Iba	Manila	Masbate
Mindanao	Corregidor	Davao	Dumaguete
Gebneral Santos	Bohol	Baracay	Calbayog
Cebu

Thanks to http://www.world66.com/ *********************The content is published under a creative commons licence : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 / ).

Masbate Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Balangingi Island Beach, Pio V. Corpus, Masbate Balangingi Island Beach, Pio V. Corpus, Masbate Dem Legaspi Jr. Masbate is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Masbate City and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias. This beautiful island is also known as the "Wild West" of the Philippines. _________History Edit This i When Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman anchored on the shores of Masbate in 1569, he found tiny settlements spread along the coasts engaged in flourishing trade with China. Chinese traders visited Masbate and founded small settlements during the ShriVijayan and Madjapahit periods. Ruins of cave-like dwellings resembling "kiva" (possibly built by Indians who accompanied the Chinese traders), were found along the coasts of Aroroy, Palanas, and Masbate. Porcelain jars dating back to the 10th century were excavated at Kalanay (Aroroy) in the 1930s. In December 1600, Dutch Commander Admiral Oliver van Noorth, sought refuge at San Jacinto Harbor after his fleet lost to the Spanish Armada in Manila. He was later engaged in a fierce clash with Limahong's fleet at Canlibas-Matabao passage. At the height of the Galleon Trade, Mobo contributed first class lumber for the construction of galleons, making it the center of trade in the province and was the capital of the province in the early part of the Spanish occupation. In 1864, Masbate was declared a separate province from Albay. Guiom was made the capital while Ticao became a commandancia-politico-militar. Shortly before the declaration of Philippine independence by President Emilio Aguinaldo, the town Masbate was established as the provincial capital. The Americans came to Masbate in 1900 to extend their pacification campaign. In December 1908, Masbate was annexed to the province of Sorsogon. A bill declaring Masbate as independent province was approved on February 1, 1922. As early as 1906, the Masbate representative made the proposal to the United States Congress to grant the Philippines her independence. The first Japanese elements arrived in Masbate the dawn of January 7,1942 from Legaspi. They landed in several places without facing opposition-the province was too stunned to mount any resistance. The Japanese occupation reduced Masbate to total economic shambles. Economic activities were limited to fishing, buying/selling, or stealing. Food production ground to a halt. Camote, pakol, banana blossoms, pith, and even such obscure fruits like barobo were used as food sustitutes. Lakad-bulan serve as cigarette, tea or coffe. Barter transactino prevailed. For lack of nutrition and sanitation, many people succumbed to beri-beri or malaria. Lice and ticks infestations spared only a lucky few. Dr. Mateo S. Pecson, who was governor of the province, having a refused to cooperate with the Japanese, evacuated the provincil government to Guiom, a command post used by the guerillas. Pecson was eventually arrested by the Japanese and incarcerated in Cavite. He managed to escape; he later joined the guerilla movement in Central Luzon. In 1944, Provincial Board Member Atty. Jose L. Almario was conscripted by the Japanese to govern the province. During the Liberation, he was arrested by the guerillas and charged with collaboration. He was exonerated and saved form set execution by a letter form General MacArthur. Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, the lone house representative of Masbate, fought against a congressional bill authorizing the conscription of Filipinos into the service of Imperial Japan and for this he was detained in Fort Santiago. When Masbate was formally liberated on April 3, 1945, Pecson was sent to Masbate by President Osmeña to organize the civil government. Pecson took the reins of government on May 11, 1945. Masbate province used to be a peaceful one. Now it is nicknamed "wild west of the Philippines". Thanks, but no thanks to those politicians. Before the advent of the Espinosas, there were almost no politically motivated killings. Now, killing is a way of life to survive in the political arena. _______Practical Information Edit This Location Masbate is one of the provinces in the Bicol Region. It is located in central part of the Philippine Archipelago between latitudes 11 43' north and 21 36' north and 123 09' cast and 124 15'east. With its geographical condition, it serves as a gateway of Luzon to Cebu and Panay Island. The Capital town of Masbate is one hour and twenty minutes ride from Manila by plane and twelve hours from Cebu City by ship. Political Subdivision and Land Area Composed of three big islands-Masbate, Ticao and Burias, the province is politically divided into twenty-one municipalities, three (3) congressional districts and 550 barangays. It has a total area of 404,707 hectares, which is roughly 23% of the Bicol Region and over 1% of the natural land area. Topography The general surface configuration of the province ranges from slightly undulating to rolling and from hilly to mountainous. In each island, the rugged topography is concentrated in the north-northeastern and gradually recedes to blunt hills and rolling areas in the south, southeast and southwest. Slope The topography of the main island is characterized by rolling hills and discontinuous ranges of highlands and relatively broad bands of lowlands. On its northwestern tip are limestone cliffs that rise almost perpendicularly from the waterline. Several bays indent the coast of the islands; the most important of which are Port Barrera and Masbate Bay. A fairly continuous rangeof hills rises steeply from a narrow plain on the western prong of Masbate Island. The larger arm of the island is not a continuous range but is broken by two traverse valleys; one between Milagros and Port Palanog and the other one, south of Uson. INFRASTRUCTURE Being an agricultural province, Masbate remains a net importer of consumer and industrial products. The supply of goods came from Metro Manila, Cebu, Panay and Bicol Provinces. Construction materials, particularly cement are sometimes sourced as a far as Iligan City in Mindanao. To meet the needs of growth and expansion of the industries, the infrastructure in most part of the province is continually being upgraded. These include the road and its network, transportation, communication facilities, seaports, airport and other support services. The road and road network, particularly in Mainland Masbate, has kept on improving annually. Road structure is mostly cemented and/or asphalted and timber bridges have been concreted. As a result, transportation sector has been a growing industry. Aircon minibuses and jeepneys are regularly plying in the two road sections of Mainland Masbate, which made transportation available round-the-clock for the need of the people and industries. GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE The boundaries of Masbate consist of the Burias Pass and Ticao Pass on the north; Visayan Sea, south; Simbuyan Sea, west; and on the east by the Samar Sea. Mainland Masbate has a short dry season while Ticao Island lies in the center of the Philippine fault, it is also in the direct path of typhoons. Climate Roughly 28% or 1,150.42 sq. kms. are moderately sloping or rolling; 26% or 1,068.25 sq. kms. is very gently sloping to gently rolling; 15% or 616.30 sq. kms. are nearly level and only 8% or 328.69 sq. kms., are hilly to mountainous. About 231.25% sq. kms. have slopes greater than 50% and need to be permanently covered by forest vegetation. Burias and Ticao islands and western central parts of mainland Masbate are covered by climate characterized by no very pronounced maximum rain period with a short dry season. The southeastern part of Masbate Island have rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. The rainfall distribution is influenced by the air streams, tropical cyclones, inter- tropical convergence zone and topography. Hydrology Masbate is the driest province of Bicol Region. It has an annual rainfall of 2,692 mm/ with surface run-off of 8,106 MCM. The ground water capacity is 1,803 MCM with surface run-off of 1,606 MCM and safe water level of 531 MCM. Based on geological considerations, about 80 sq. kms. or 2% of the provincial area are categorized under shallow well areas. Deep well areas cover about 2,350 sq.kms. or 58%. The static water level for deep well area is greater than 6 meter. The remaining 1,600 sq. kms. or about 40% are considered difficult areas. The eastern, northwestern and the two islands of Ticao and Burias are deep well areas, while the central portions are difficult areas. Only small portions of shallow well areas are located in the towns of Mobo, Mandaon and part of Cawayan. POPULATION & LANGUAGES Masbatenos numbered 653,852 as of the 1995 census. Masbateno is the predominant medium of communication with a mixture of Bicolano. Waray or Cebuano is spoken in the southwestern towns. Masbatenos are also conversant in Tagalog and English.