Bulusan, Sorsogon

Barangays

Bulusan is politically subdivided into 24 barangays; 8 of them are located in the Poblacion area.

Pre-Spanish period

Long before the Spaniards ever set foot on the archipelago, the natives of Bulusan were already living in organized though scattered settlements. Some lived in what used to be Inarado (now Licod or San Rafael), others in Ilihan, some in Pinayagan, and still a number lived in Capangihan - a place near the Paghasaan and Bayugin Rivers. Familiarity with the town's terrain will prove what these settlements have in common: that of being distant from the seacoast and being uplands. The reason behind this occurrence could very well be the presence of Moro pirates who used to attack the town especially the coastal areas, robbing the natives of their gold & whatever else came to be lying around, and burning the houses afterwards. Due to these Moro-related disasters, it was certainly a wise move to locate the settlements on higher ground.

Recent excavations yielded artifacts such as platters, jugs, plates, and vases made from china and earthen burial jars in what used to be Inarado. These finds further strengthened some claims that the Chinese and the people in this part of the country were already engaged in trade even before the Cross & Sword reached these shores.

The town's foundation

Bulusan, like the rest of Sorsogon, was still a part of the province of Albay till October 17, 1894. In Inarado, the fourth parroquia [ parish ] of the present Province of Sorsogon, was established in the year 1630. After being merely a part of Casiguran (established in 1600), Bulusan became an independent parish following Bacon (established in 1617) and the parish of Sorsogon (established in 1628). It became a separate pueblo civil [town] in 1631. The new parish was then placed under the tutelary of St. James, the Greater - the National Patron Saint of Spain. A certain Fr. Miguel de Sta. Ana became its first parish priest, exercising one-man authority over ecclesiastical and civil functions. The people also selected the first executive of the place, a gobernadorcillo.

In 1760, the town was transferred from Inarado to its present site at the mouth of Bulusan River. This was triggered by the need to trade with neighboring settlements. The relocation was done through the efforts of Fr. Joaquin de los Santos, the parish priest at that time. Under the friar's guidance, the people chose Bernardino Pasion as first head of the town. The natives started building a church in the place where a new one now stands. This initial development formed the nucleus of the present poblacion [town center].

The Division of Bulusan

The Bulusan parish back then encompasses all lands that includes the vicinities of Gubat, Matnog, Bulan, Barcelona and Santa Magdalena. Eventually, either new parishes were born out of the Mother parish and became a town of its own or these communities grew into separate towns of their own and in turn, established their own parishes. See table below:

Stone watchtowers

Bulusan's watchtowers are believed to have been built around 1760, the year that the town's poblacion was transferred to its present site. In 1799, as a defense and warning measure against the Moro pirates, the principalias [leaders] of the different coastal towns of Albay - convened in their respective town halls and drew up plans for the building of lanchas cañoneras [armed ships]. On April 20, 1799, Bulusan's leaders decided to build two lanchas cañoneras to be commanded by actual gobernadorcillo Don Juan Macsimiano and ex-gobernadorcillo Don Juan Tomas. The town of Bulusan built the most number of baluartes de piedra [stone watchtowers]. The town erected watchtowers, one each in Macabare, Tawog and Layog (now a part of Barcelona).

Near the community of Dapdap, a bigger triangular muralla [fortification] called Punta Diamante which encloses the church and rectory of the Parish of St. James the Greater was erected. Punta Diamante has five watchtowers with high and thick walls, making it an ideal place for refuge during Moro attacks. Unlike the other watchtowers which are cylindrical & of circular bases, the one facing the sea is of a triangular plan, a smaller version of the main complex. The biggest watchtower has a base shaped as a diamond (with 8 sides) and tapers upwards in alternating tiers. This watchtower now serves as the church's bell tower, with the old bells still comparably intact.

The Growth of Bulusan

Among the province's other towns, Bulusan then was comparatively well-off. Being a major port of armadillas [small ships patrolling the high seas - equivalent to present-day Philippine Coast Guard, it was well-protected from the Moro pirates. As a consequence, people from other towns came to this place, earned their living, and paid tributes to the Spanish Government. In 1809, when the governor of Albay ordered the construction of a town cemetery outside each towns, Bulusan reported the highest construction cost (200 pesos) in a display of its considerable wealth.

Spain's control over the Buluseños - the locals of Bulusan - and the rest of the natives throughout the islands brought a significant change in their community life. They were made to embrace Catholic faith more by force than by conviction. Polos y servicios [ Forced labor ] was widely used especially in the building of various buildings like churches and rectories with its dungeons, and the casa tribunal [town hall]. It could be presumed that a lot of forced labor were likewise employed in the construction of Punta Diamante and the other watchtowers.

American period

Bulusan had its own share of heroes in the revolution against Spain. These same individuals would later find themselves in the war against the Americans. Colonel Emeterio Funes, a Buluseño, was one of the foremost revolutionary leaders in the province. Coming home from a military service under General Miguel Malvar, he was already aware of the immediate plans of the Americans to invade the rest of the country. Upon his arrival in Bulusan, he met with the town's prominent figures with the parish priest in attendance, in the church rectory. Together, they drew up plans for a revolutionary movement in the province. In 1900, Emeterio Funes was appointed colonel of the revolutionary forces in Sorsogon by General Vito Belarmino of Albay.

The revolutionary forces in the province had been quite a success, what with the natives and the elected officials on their side. On April 25, 1900, the Americans waged a battle with the Filipino revolutionaries in Sitio Boco, San Francisco. The Americans suffered three casualties: one lieutenant was killed and two soldiers were wounded. Meanwhile, only two soldiers were wounded on the defender's side. Due to lack of ammunition, the revolutionaries were unable to make a second attack and had to flee to safety. The Americans, enraged with the loss of a comrade and the failure to capture Colonel Funes, later on burned the entire town including the church and the rectory. After two years of effective resistance, on February 21, 1901, Colonel Funes took the oath of allegiance to the United States in a ceremony done in Bulan. Knowing that the inhabitants were already getting weary of the war, and he therefore decided to end it in a peaceful manner.

Under the Americans, the first Municipal President was Braulio Ganzo. However, the first local executive elected in Bulusan by popular suffrage was Juan Fortades.

From 1900 to 1940, Bulusan experienced a major development in education, government, communication, agriculture, and public health. From the very start of the American regime, free public instruction commenced. Public schools in almost all barrios were opened. In 1927, the municipal building (now housing the post office, court room, & municipal jail) and public market (now undergoing another major renovation—this time a vertical development) were built. In the following year, 1930, the provincial road connecting Bulusan to the adjoining towns of Barcelona and Irosin was opened to traffic. Telegraph and mail services began. Qualified voters began enjoying the right to suffrage. A system of municipal government was instituted. Trade and commerce flourished. Development in agricultural methods was initiated. In terms of public health, cholera and smallpox were contained. In 1939, the first municipal waterworks system was constructed.At about this period, two Buluseños rose to their respective places of prominence. Juan S. Reyes was elected governor of Sorsogon (1929–1931). His younger brother, Dr. Jose S. Reyes, who obtained his doctorate degree from Columbia University was elected delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. Referred to as a political genius, he contributed immensely in the drafting of the 1935 Constitution. He also became a member of the Philippine Independence Mission and was the Secretary of Education of both the Quirino & Osmeña administrations. In 1945, he became Executive Secretary to President Sergio Osmeña.

World War II

This period of relative peace and prosperity in Bulusan, however, was disturbed when the Second World War broke out in the Philippines on December 8, 1941. Like the rest of the islands, Bulusan was overran by the Japanese Imperial Army. This triggered nationalism once more among Buluseños with the re-emergence of organized guerilla resistance. The Japanese later on succeeded in establishing a semblance of local government to administer the town but the loyalty of those appointed to these positions remained with the resistance group.

Demographics

Bulusan people are speakers of Bisakol language. Pure Bicol is also spoken in some special occasions and in Roman Catholic church liturgies. Tagalog is considered the third language parallel to English.

Roman Catholicism comprises 90% of the population. There are also members of Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehova's Witnesses, Church of Jesus of the Latter Day Saints, Born-again Christians and other fundamental denominations in the town.

Mt. Bulusan

Bulusan is home to the highest peak in Sorsogon, Mount Bulusan. This active volcano is the centerpiece of Bulusan Volcano National Park which covers a land area of 3,672 hectares. At the foot of the mountain is the equally popular Bulusan Lake, a scenic crater lake surrounded by a dense green forest and encircled by a concrete pathway. The lake is about thirty minutes drive through a paved winding road from the Bulusan town proper.

Springs

Bulusan, which means "where water flows", is home to several springs and waterfalls that originate from the mountains of the National Park.

Historical sites

Other

Local government

Another Buluseño, in the person of Augusto Ortiz, rose to become provincial executive from 1968 to 1971. From the judiciary, he was tapped governor of Sorsogon anew by President Marcos (1977) but had to relinquish the post when he was elected to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978. In 1984, he was elected as Mambabatas Pambansa until 1986 when it was dissolved. During his term, the Bulusan Cultural and Sports Center was constructed in what used to be the site of the old Central School's Gabaldon building. Two municipal streets in Barangay Sabang and Madlawon were likewise constructed.

The '80s also marked the birth of Damayan Buluseño, Inc. (DBI), an organization of Buluseños living in Metro Manila. The group provides assistance to and development opportunities among Buluseños, like employment opportunities, medical assistance for the poor, scholarship, relief and financial assistance for the development of Bulusan. Starting out as a loose group out to muster support for a town mate then undergoing trial in Manila but whom they believed was wrongly accused, DBI went on to become a duly registered organization which, with its heretofore unseen zeal and popular support, became one of the province's most active organizations under the leadership of its founding president, Rogelio F. Fuentes. To date, it continues to fulfill its vision and provides an avenue for community leadership, pride in the hometown, brotherhood, and prosperity as ideals worthy of pursuit.

Primary Education

Bulusan Central School (founded in 1903) by the American Thomasites, is the town's pilot elementary school. It was first housed in the Gabaldon building (actually the town's old casa tribunal, adaptively re-used). When the enrollment steadily increased through the years, several private houses were used as annexes, until the school was eventually transferred to a spacious property in Barangay Poctol, also in the Poblacion, where Emeterio Funes Street now runs through. The Gabaldon building itself (or at least the upper storey) was totalled by Typhoon Dinang in December 1981. Then Assemblyman Augusto Ortiz had the old stone walls demolished, and built Bulusan Cultural and Sports Center on the vacated lot.

Other Elementary Schools:

Secondary Education

Catholic Education

Immaculate Heart of Mary School (IHMS) - Bulusan, just on the other side of Punta Diamante, is a Franciscan-operated elementary and secondary school.

Vocational-Technical Education

Bulusan National Vocational Technical School is now one of the country's top-performing TESDA schools. It started out as a municipal high school founded by Jose Geñorga, who was TESDA Vocational School Administrator II (VSA II) when he retired. The school now caters to students from the entire 2nd District of Sorsogon.