Tagbilaran facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tagbilaran San José de Tagbilarán
Component city
City of Tagbilaran
Plaza Rizal
Flag Seal
Map of Bohol with Tagbilaran highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Tagbilaran Location in Philippines
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Bohol
District	[[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]
Incorporated Municipality City	9 February 1742 1 July 1966
Barangays	15 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
Area
• Total	36.50 km2 (14.09 sq mi)
Elevation	39 m (128 ft)
Highest elevation	449 m (1,473 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	104,976
• Density	2,876.1/km2 (7,448.9/sq mi)
• Households	23,078
Economy
• Income class	3rd city income class
• Poverty incidence	10.46 % (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 1,149 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 2,917 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 938.7 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 402.2 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Bohol Light Company (BLCI)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6300
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
IDD : area code	+63 (0)38
Native languages	Boholano dialect Cebuano Tagalog
Website	tagbilaran.gov.ph

Tagbilaran, officially known as the City of Tagbilaran, is a special type of city called a component city. It is the capital of the province of Bohol in the Philippines. In 2020, about 104,976 people lived there, making it the most populated city in Bohol.

Tagbilaran is the main entry point to Bohol. It is about 630 kilometers (391 miles) southeast of Manila, the country's capital. It is also about 72 kilometers (45 miles) south of Cebu City, which is the capital of the region.

What's in a Name?

The name "Tagbilaran" comes from old stories. Some say it comes from "Tagubilaan". This means "to hide" (tagu) from the "Blaan people", who were known to raid islands in the Visayas.

Another idea is that the name comes from tinabilan, which means "shielded". This suggests the town was protected from invaders by Panglao Island.

A Look Back: Tagbilaran's History

Even before the Spanish arrived in the Philippines, Tagbilaran was a busy trading place. It traded with China and other parts of Asia. The area was once home to an old settlement called Bo-ol.

In 1565, a Spanish explorer named Miguel López de Legazpi met a local leader, Datu Sikatuna, here. They made a famous blood compact, a special agreement of peace and friendship.

The town of San José de Tagbilaran was officially started on February 9, 1742. It was named after St. Joseph the Worker. Later, on July 1, 1966, it became a chartered city.

Tagbilaran was occupied by the United States during the Philippine–American War. It was also occupied by Japanese forces during World War II on May 17, 1942.

Sitio Ubos: The Old Town Center

Sitio Ubos (which means Lower Town) is the oldest part of Tagbilaran. It was a busy trading port from the 1600s until the early 1900s. Because of its long history, it has many old heritage houses.

However, Sitio Ubos became less important as a port when a causeway to Panglao Island was built. Many of its old houses were either torn down or left to decay. In 2002, Sitio Ubos was recognized as a "Cultural Heritage Area" because of its history. Some of the old houses still standing today include the Rocha–Suarez House and the Hontanosas House.

Important Moments in History

One very important event in Philippine history is the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Captain Miguel López de Legazpi. This event is even shown in a famous painting by Juan Luna. For a long time, people believed it happened in Bool, a district of Tagbilaran.

However, in March 2006, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines corrected this. They placed a marker in Villalimpia, Loay. It states that the blood compact actually happened in Hinawanan Bay, Loay, on March 25, 1565. It was a sign of friendship between the Spanish and the Boholanos.

During the Japanese occupation in World War II, the city government moved from the main town to Tiptip. There was also a brave fight called the Battle of Ubujan. A local guerrilla group fought against the Japanese soldiers.

The 2013 Earthquake

On October 15, 2013, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit Bohol. Its center was near Sagbayan, Bohol. Tagbilaran was affected, with some people losing their lives and others getting injured. Buildings, including the seaport, airport, and city hall, were also damaged.

Tagbilaran's Location and Landscape

Banat-i Hill, a landmark in Tagbilaran

Tagbilaran is shaped like a strip of land. It has two hills: Elley Hull (100 meters high) in the south and Banat-i (145 meters high) in the north.

The city has a coastline of about 13 kilometers (8 miles) on the southwestern part of Bohol Island. It shares its borders with the towns of Cortes, Corella, and Baclayon.

Weather in Tagbilaran

Barangays: City Neighborhoods

Tagbilaran is divided into 15 smaller areas called barangays. Each barangay has its own smaller sections called puroks and sometimes sitios.

In 2020, the city's population was 104,976. Almost half of the people live in the four main urban districts. This is where most of the city's businesses and shops are found.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a. Area PD  2010 ha acre /km2 /sq mi 071242001 Bool Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 6,132 5,972 ▴ 0.17% 349 862 1,800 4,600      071242002 Booy Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 9,838 8,800 ▴ 0.73% 146 361 6,700 17,000      071242003 Cabawan Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 1,734 1,531 ▴ 0.82% 267 660 650 1,700      071242004 Cogon Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 17,750 17,114 ▴ 0.24% 204 504 8,700 23,000      071242006 Dampas Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 9,838 8,440 ▴ 1.01% 444 1,097 2,200 5,700      071242005 Dao Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 8,858 6,772 ▴ 1.78% 391 966 2,300 5,900      071242008 Manga Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 7,224 6,460 ▴ 0.74% 117 289 6,200 16,000      071242009 Mansasa Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 6,069 6,156 ▾ −0.09% 83 205 7,300 19,000      071242010 Poblacion I Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 3,057 3,072 ▾ −0.03% 26 64 12,000 30,000      071242011 Poblacion II Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 5,431 5,029 ▴ 0.51% 70 173 7,800 20,000      071242012 Poblacion III Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 5,873 6,051 ▾ −0.20% 71 175 8,300 21,000      071242013 San Isidro Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 5,424 4,821 ▴ 0.78% 429 1,060 1,300 3,300      071242014 Taloto Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 7,367 6,376 ▴ 0.95% 245 605 3,000 7,800      071242015 Tiptip Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 4,882 4,360 ▴ 0.74% 282 697 1,700 4,500      071242016 Ubujan Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 5,574 5,134 ▴ 0.54% 146 361 3,800 9,900      Total 96,792 Expression error: Unexpected < operator.% [convert: invalid number] Expression error: Unexpected / operator. Expression error: Unexpected * operator.

Map of Tagbilaran showing barangays and islands

How Many People Live Here?

Tagbilaran's Economy

Island City Mall, a popular shopping center

Tagbilaran is the main business center of Bohol province. It is also important for government, education, and transportation. Many local and international visitors come to Bohol through Tagbilaran's port.

Some well-known local companies based in the city include Alturas Group (which runs Alturas Mall and Island City Mall) and Bohol Quality Corporation.

City Government

Tagbilaran City Hall

The city is led by a mayor. In the past, it was governed by officials called gobernadorcillo and presidente municipal.

Mayor of Tagbilaran

Fun Things to Do: Tourism

Bohol Tropics Resort Club

Tagbilaran is a great starting point for exploring Bohol's famous attractions. These include the Chocolate Hills, tiny tarsiers, beautiful white sandy beaches, and amazing dive spots. The city also has many old heritage sites and stone churches. With its hotels, resorts, and restaurants, Tagbilaran often hosts national meetings and events.

Festivals and Celebrations

• Saulog-Tagbilaran Festival: This festival takes place every year from April 20 to May 2. It includes street dancing, a boat parade, evening activities, and a beauty pageant. Families in Tagbilaran invite friends and relatives for meals during this special time.
• Sandugo Festival: This annual festival in Tagbilaran celebrates the historic blood compact between Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna. It is held every July, matching the city's Charter Day on July 1 and Bohol's Province Day on July 22.

Getting Around: Transportation

Tagbilaran sea port

Within Tagbilaran, you can travel by tricycles, multicabs, taxis, and jeepneys. For trips outside the city, people usually hire buses, taxis, or vans. The Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) in Dao is where public transport for inter-city routes starts. It also serves as a stop for buses going from Tagbilaran to Metro Manila.

The city is connected by sea to major port cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. Its link to Cebu City is very important for business. A fast ferry ride to Cebu City takes about 2 hours.

The Bohol–Panglao International Airport is located southwest of the city on Panglao Island. It opened on November 27, 2018, replacing the old Tagbilaran Airport. This airport is the main gateway for air travel to Bohol. Airlines like Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, and AirAsia Philippines offer flights mainly to Manila and Clark. A flight to Manila takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Staying Healthy: Healthcare

Tagbilaran has both public and private hospitals and clinics. These facilities serve the health needs of the city and the rest of Bohol province. For very complex medical cases, people sometimes go to nearby Cebu City because of more specialized facilities there.

Here are some of the healthcare facilities in Tagbilaran:

Learning and Education

As the capital of Bohol, Tagbilaran is the main center for education in the province. All of Bohol's universities are located here, along with other well-known schools.

Here are some of the colleges and universities in Tagbilaran:

Famous People from Tagbilaran

Images for kids

• 

  Aerial view of Tagbilaran, 1937

• 

  Caseñas Ancestral House

• 

  Casa Rocha

• 

  Former flag of Tagbilaran

• 

  Former Tagbilaran Airport terminal building

See also

In Spanish: Tagbilaran para niños