Tagbilaran facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tagbilaran
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	₱ 985.1 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 2,634 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 939.7 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 512.8 million (2020)
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 in the Philippines. It is the capital city of the province of Bohol. In 2020, about 104,976 people lived there, making it the most populated city in Bohol.

The city covers an area of about 32.7 square kilometers. It has a coastline of 13 kilometers on the southwestern part of Bohol Island. Tagbilaran shares its borders with the towns of Cortes, Corella, and Baclayon.

Tagbilaran is the main entry point to Bohol. It is located about 630 kilometers southeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is also 72 kilometers south of Cebu City, which is the main city in the region.

What Does the Name Tagbilaran Mean?

The name Tagbilaran comes from old stories. It is believed to be a changed version of "Tagubilaan". This word combines "tagu" (meaning "to hide") and "Bilaan", which refers to the Blaan people. The Blaan people were known to raid the Visayan Islands.

Another idea is that the name comes from "tinabilan". This means "shielded" or "protected". This makes sense because Panglao Island helps protect Tagbilaran from invaders.

A Brief Look at Tagbilaran's Past

Aerial view of Tagbilaran, 1937

Long before the Spanish arrived, Tagbilaran was already a busy trading place. It traded with countries like China and Malaya. The Tagbilaran Strait was once home to the ancient kingdom of Kedatuan of Dapitan.

The Spanish first met the people of Tagbilaran in 1565. This was when the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and the local leader Datu Sikatuna made a famous peace agreement. They sealed their friendship with a "blood compact."

Tagbilaran officially became a town on February 9, 1742. This happened when General Don Francisco Antonio Calderón de la Barca separated it from the town of Baclayon. The town was named after St. Joseph the Worker. Tagbilaran remained part of Bohol province until it became a city on July 1, 1966.

The city was taken over by the United States during the Philippine–American War. Later, it was occupied by Imperial Japan during World War II.

Sitio Ubos: The Oldest Part of Tagbilaran

Sitio Ubos means "Lower Town." It was Tagbilaran's first port and has been a busy trading spot since the 1600s. This area has the oldest and most heritage houses in Bohol.

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 for its history. It was declared a "Cultural Heritage Area." Some old houses still standing today include the Rocha–Suarez House and the Hontanosas House.

Important Historical Moments in Tagbilaran

One very important event in Philippine history is the blood compact. This was a peace treaty between Datu Sikatuna and Captain Miguel López de Legazpi. It was believed to have happened on March 16, 1565, in Bool, which is now a district of Tagbilaran.

However, in March 2006, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines corrected this. They placed a marker in Villalimpia, Hinawanan Bay, Loay. The marker states that the blood compact actually happened there on March 25, 1565. It took place inside Legazpi's ship, the San Pedro. This event marked the beginning of friendship between the Spanish and the Boholanos.

During World War II, Imperial Japanese forces took over Tagbilaran on May 17, 1942. The city government moved to Tiptip during this time. Another key event was the Battle of Ubujan. In this battle, a group of Filipino guerrillas fought bravely against Japanese troops.

How the 2013 Earthquake Affected Tagbilaran

On October 15, 2013, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit Bohol. Its center was near Sagbayan, Bohol. Tagbilaran was also affected. Four people died and 21 were injured in the city. Many buildings, including the seaport, airport, and city hall, were damaged.

Tagbilaran's Location and Landscape

Banat-i Hill bordering the end of Tagbilaran

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

Understanding Tagbilaran's Climate

What are Barangays?

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

In 2020, Tagbilaran had a population of 104,976 people. About 44% of the city's population lives in the four main urban areas. These areas are also where most of the city's businesses and shops are located.

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 ▴ 0.74% 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 ▴ 0.96% 245 605 3,000 7,800      071242015 Tiptip Expression error: Missing operand for /.% 4,882 4,360 ▴ 0.75% 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 in Tagbilaran?

Tagbilaran's Economy and Businesses

Island City Mall (usually known as 'ICM')

Tagbilaran is Bohol's main business hub. It is also the center 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.

Exploring Tagbilaran: Tourism and Festivals

Bohol Tropics Resort Club

Tagbilaran is a great starting point to explore Bohol's famous sights. These include the Chocolate Hills, tiny tarsiers, beautiful white sandy beaches, and amazing dive spots. You can also visit old churches and historical places.

The city has many hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Because of this, it has become a popular place for national meetings and events.

Fun Festivals in Tagbilaran

• 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 special meals during this time.

• Sandugo Festival: This annual festival in Tagbilaran celebrates the historic blood compact between Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna. The festival is held every July. It matches the city's Charter Day on July 1 and Bohol Province's Day on July 22.

Getting Around Tagbilaran: Transportation

Tagbilaran sea port

Tagbilaran Airport terminal building

Tagbilaran has both paved and unpaved roads. To travel within the city, people use tricycles, multicabs, taxis, and jeepneys. For trips outside the city, buses, taxis, and vans are often used.

The Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) in the Dao district is the main station for public transport. Buses from here travel to other towns in Bohol. You can also catch buses that go all the way to Metro Manila using the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26). There is another bus station at Cogon market.

The city is connected by sea to major port cities in the Visayas Islands and Mindanao. Its link to Cebu City is very important for business. A fast ferry ride to Cebu City takes about 2 hours. Currently, Ocean Jet is the main ferry service on this route.

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 use this airport. They mainly offer flights between Tagbilaran and Manila, Tagbilaran and Clark, and also to Mindanao. A flight to Manila takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Healthcare Services in Tagbilaran

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, patients are sometimes sent to nearby Cebu City because of more specialized facilities there.

Here are some of the healthcare facilities in Tagbilaran:

Learning in Tagbilaran: Education Centers

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

Colleges and universities in Tagbilaran include:

Famous People from Tagbilaran

Images for kids

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  Map of Tagbilaran showing barangays and islands

See also

In Spanish: Tagbilaran para niños