Camiguin ( (Cebuano: , Tagalog: ) is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) off the northern coast of Mindanao. It is politically part of the Northern MindanaoRegion of the country and formerly a part of Misamis Oriental province. Camiguin is the second-smallest province in the country both in population and land area after Batanes. Mambajao is the capital of the province and its largest municipality both in area and population.
Camiguin island the tahiti of the philippines 2010
History
The name Camiguin is derived from the native word “Kamagong”, a species of the ebony tree that thrives near Lake Mainit in the province of Surigao del Norte, the region from which the earlier inhabitants of the islands, the Manobos, came. Kinamigin, the local language of Camiguin, is closely related to the Manobo language.
An earlier Spanish geography book writes the island as "Camiguing". There is reason to suppose the Spaniards dropped the final g.
Geography
The province consists primarily of Camiguin Island, as well as a few other surrounding minor islets including:
White Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of the town of Mambajao
Mantigue Island, about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of Mambajao.
Camiguin Island is a pearl-shaped island with an area of approximately 238 km2 (92 sq mi). The island measures about 23 kilometres (14 mi) at its longest and 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) at its widest breadth. The island is mountainous with the highest elevation reaching over 5,000 ft (1,500 m). It is encircled by a national road with a total length of about 64 kilometres (40 mi). As of the August 1, 2007 census, the province has a 5th class income classification with a population of 81,293.
Economy
The economy is based upon fishing and farming, with copra providing the greatest income contribution. Other agricultural products are abaca, rice, mangoes, lanzones and other fruit trees. The growing tourism industry have improved the economy of the province. Small cottage industries have increased in number to accommodate the influx of visitors.
Man-made attractions
Several centuries-old Spanish Colonial and 20th century churches are found in various parts of the island.
Santo Rosario Church: The Santo Rosario Church in the municipality of Sagay was built in 1882.
Old Catarman Church Ruins: The church of the Old Catarman town was destroyed and partly submerged by volcanic debris during the eruption and formation of Mt. Vulcan from 1871 to 1875. Also known as Gui-ob Church, only the ruins of the church and bell tower remains of the old town. An unsightly modern white lighthouse was recently erected close to the bell tower.
Baylao Church: The Church located in Brgy. Baylao in Mambajao is claimed to be miraculous attributed to saving many lives during the last volcanic eruption of Hibok-hibok.
Churches in Camiguin
Natural attractions
The island of Camiguin is of volcanic origin composed of four stratovolcanoes. Each volcanoes (except Mount Guinsiliban) is made up of several flank domes. The only volcano in the island with historical eruptions is Hibok-Hibok, which last erupted in 1953. From north to south:
Mount Hibok-Hibok (9°12?4?N124°40?31?E) and Mount Vulcan (9°12?49?N124°38?51?E) are the northernmost and the only active volcanic vents in Camiguin. Mt. Vulcan, ironically known as the Old Volcano [671 m (2,201 ft)], is actually the youngest volcano in the island, born in 1871 starting as a fissure vent on the northwestern flank of Mount Hibok-Hibok [4,370 feet (1,330 m)] (see Volcanic eruption below). As a parasitic cone of Hibok-Hibok, it is still considered part of volcano. Some of the other flank domes of the volcano are Carling Hill (9°12?53?N124°40?12?E), Tres Marias Hills (9°11?23?N124°41?14?E) and Piyakong Hill (9°12?49?N124°38?51?E). Ilihan Crater is the site of the 1950 eruption.
Mount Timpoong is the largest mountain in Camiguin. It is composed of several domes the tallest of which is the Timpoong Peak (9°10?42.3?N124°43?40.4?E), also the highest in Camiguin at 5,294 ft (1,614 m). The peak of Mambajao (9°9?48?N124°43?13?E) is the second tallest at 5,143 ft (1,568 m). A lower central peak (9°10?12.7?N124°43?27.5?E) of 5,015 ft (1,529 m) is located between the two peaks. Some of the flank vents on Mt. Timpoong are Campana Hill (9°12?1?N124°43?2?E) and Minokol Hill (9°9?6.6?N124°44?39.3?E).
Mount Butay (9°7?18?N124°45?52?E), also known as Mount Uhay, is located between the towns of Mahinog and Guinsiliban.
Mount Guinsiliban (9°5?35.6?N124°46?3.5?E) is located in the town of Guinsiliban. The 1,872-foot (571 m) high mountain is the southernmost volcano and the first seen coming from the port of Balingoan in mainland Mindanao.
The Volcanoes of Camiguin
Lanzones Festival
Each year in October, a festival is held celebrating the Lanzones, a small grape-sized tropical fruit grown all over the island. The week-long Lanzones Festival is one of the more colorful events in the Philippines.
