Mabitac, Laguna

Mabitac
Municipality

Seal
Nickname(s): The Site of the Fabled Battle of Mabitac

Map of Laguna showing the location of Mabitac
Mabitac

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°25′39″N 121°25′36″E / 14.42750°N 121.42667°E / 14.42750; 121.42667Coordinates: 14°25′39″N 121°25′36″E / 14.42750°N 121.42667°E / 14.42750; 121.42667
Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Laguna
District 4th District of Laguna
Founded 1611
Barangays 15
Government[1]
  Mayor Ronald Ilano Sana
Area[2]
  Total 80.76 km2 (31.18 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
  Total 18,618
  Density 230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 4020
Dialing code 49
Income class 5th

Mabitac is a fifth class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 18,618 people[3] and a total land area of 80.76 square kilometres (31.18 sq mi).[2]

Mabitac was an excellent hunting ground for wild game three centuries ago. Native hunters used numerous cave-ins or trap-ins called "bitag" in the local dialect. Hence, the place was referred to as "Mabitag" meaning "a place with many traps".

Mabitac is situated on the eastern side of the province of Laguna, 88 kilometres (55 mi) from Manila using Rizal Province on a winding road, or 123 kilometres (76 mi) via the South Luzon Express, Calamba and Santa Cruz, Laguna.

Barangays

Mabitac is politically subdivided into 15 barangays:[2]

  • Amuyong
  • Lambac (Pob.)
  • Lucong (Poblacion)
  • Matalatala
  • Nanguma
  • Numero
  • Paagahan
  • Bayanihan (Pob.)
  • Libis ng Nayon (Pob.)
  • Maligaya (Pob.)
  • Masikap (Pob.)
  • Pag-Asa (Pob.)
  • Sinagtala (Pob.)
  • San Antonio
  • San Miguel

History

The first Spaniards who came to this place were the friars who established the first Spanish settlement in the area and began to Christianize the local population. The Spaniards, having difficulty in pronouncing the "G" consonant, called this place "Mabitac" whenever they mentioned this place. Eventually, the name found its way in the official records and maps of Laguna made by Spanish cartographers and mariners who chartered the coastal areas of Laguna de Bay.

This town was formerly a barrio of Siniloan, an immediate neighboring town. It became an independent municipality only in the year 1611, not by legislation, but by mutual agreement by and between the Spanish friars of both towns who were then the influential ruling class.

Mabitac was the site of a battle in the Philippine-American War, when on September 17, 1900, Filipinos under General Juan Cailles defeated an American force commanded by Colonel Benjamin F. Cheatham.

World War II

In 1942, Japanese soldiers entered and occupied Mabitac. In 1945, the Philippine Commonwealth Army troops of the 4th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd Infantry Division and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary together with the recognized guerrillas defeated the Japanese Imperial forces during the Second Battle of Mabitac.

Demographics

Population census of Mabitac
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 11,444    
1995 13,309+2.87%
2000 15,097+2.74%
2007 17,608+2.14%
2010 18,618+2.05%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

Images

See also

References

  1. "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 11 September 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Province: LAGUNA". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mabitac, Laguna.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 2/16/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.