About Calauag

Calauag is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Quezon, a part of CALABARZON in the Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 65,907 but from an unofficial information, as of December 2007, it has already a population of around 75,000 and registered voters of approximately 35,000. (This will be updated as soon as the official figures is obtained. )

History

According to the writings of VALENTIN MARTIN in his "ENSAYO DE UNA SINTESIS DE LOS TRABAJOS REALIZIDOS SOS LAS CORPORACIONES RELIGIOSAS ESPANOLAS DE FILIPINAS" the first record of the establishment of a settlement in Calauag dates as far as the year 1584. However, the formal founding of the town was placed in the year 1581 with the union of the settlements in Apad and Calauag.

The name Calauag was derived from an incident in which a huge turtle known locally as "KALA" was caught near the seashore of the town. When the people tried to kill the turtle with sticks, the fishermen who caught the turtle dissuaded them from doing so by shouting "KALA-HUWAG KALA", hence the derivation of the name Calauag.

The first elected Captain of the town was Juan Sunog. In 1897 the town was placed the Revolutionary Government and Alipio Declaro became the Municipal President. In 1914 under Municipal President Marciano Roldan, the town was destroyed by fire for the first time in its history. In December 24, 1941, the town was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army and in January 14, 1942, the town was again destroyed by fire. In April 19, 1945, the Americans liberated the town from Japanese occupation.

 Overview

Calauag is a 2nd class municipality in Quezon among its forty (40) towns and the lone city of Lucena which is also the capital and the seat of the provincial government. It was founded in the year 1851 and its foundation anniversary is presently observed together with the celebration of the annual town fiesta every May 23-25. Patronal fiesta is also being observed every June 29,

The town proper is serenely nestled between a mountain and a sea and so strategically located yet accessible to land and sea transportation. Passing by along the hilly portion of the Maharlika Highway, one could take a glimpse of the whole town with the picturesque view of Calauag-Lamon Bay in the background and further on, the vastness of Pacific Ocean. The townsfolk who are genial and peace loving still maintain the age-old tradition and customs and the close-knit family ties even at this modern age.

Basically an agricultural town, it has a total land area of 42,318 hectares with about 76% are planted to coconuts, rice, citrus and vegetables. Fishing is another source of livelihood for its populace living in the far-flung barangays particularly along the coasts off the Pacific Ocean. Fishponds operations have also found their way in Calauag adding to the flourishing fishing industry. Crabs from Calauag is known as the best in the Philippines.

The ideal peace and order situation obtaining in the town makes it a favorite stop over for travelers plying the route of Manila-Bicol and as far as Visayas and Mindanao. Lately, it is being dubbed as the melting pot or emerging transportation terminal in Southern Tagalog because of the three (3) terminals being operated by major transportation companies in the area. Going to this town will have a change for travelers to experience the enchanting Quezon National Forest Park (Bitukang Manok or Eme Road) situated in Atimonan and Pagbilao. There is a mini park with man-made lagoon on top of the mountain (old zig-zag) ideal place for resting, eating and car checking.

The following information are from the old socio economic profile covering the 90 barangays and subject to revision if a new socio economic profile is finally accomplished. Calauag is composed of originally ninety (90) barangays but presently, the count is down to 81 barangays because 9 barangays were claimed by Camarines Norte which was a subject of  litigation that reached the Supreme Court. 

(Note: I helped  prepared the 1997 Socio Economic Profile- JS)

 It is still under appeal. There are more or less 32,000 registered voters making its people highly politicized and well-informed of their rights of suffrage. Elections were consistently peaceful and orderly. Elected officials and career civil servants in the local government including the barangay officials are widely known for their dedication to their sworn duties to serve their constituencies.

The Municipality of Calauag is situated 230 kilometers southeast of Manila. Its boundaries are Lopez, Quezon on the West and South; Lamon Bay on the North; Guinyangan and Tagkawayan, Quezon and Sta.Elena, Camarines Norte on the East. Based on the Old Socio Economic Profile covering the 90 barangays, it has a total land area of 42,318 hectares  with twelve (12) barangays consisting of the town proper; twenty three (23) barangays situated along the roadside; twenty (20) barangays considered as inland; three (3) barangays are directly along the path railways; and thirty two (32) barangays are in the coastal area facing along the Pacific Ocean and inward going to the town proper, Lamon Bay.

Natural Resources

Existing Land Use

Calauag is one of the municipalities in the southern part of Quezon province. The municipality covers a total land area of 42,318 hectares with slopes ranging from lowland, plain to mountainous. Slope ranges from 0-1% to 15% and above. It is composed of 90 barangays with Barangays I to V in the poblacion and already urbanized adjacent barangays of Sta. Maria, Sabang I and II, Pinagtalleran, Baclaran, Pinagbayanan and Pinagkamaligan. Commercial and industrial establishments are found in these areas adding to the urban feature of said barangays.

Calauag is primarily an agricultural municipality. Of the 42,318 hectares of land, about 32,426 hectares ore 76% is devoted to agriculture. The remaining area is subdivided to build up uses, forest, open grassland, roads, rivers and creeks, swamps and fishponds.

1. General Land Use Calauag although considered a minor urban center in the southern province of Quezon is primarily agricultural. It is composed of 90 barangays. The urban area is composed of 12 barangays, 23 barangays are situated along major transportation routes, 3 barangays are directly along the path of the railways, and 32 are the so called coastal barangays being situated along the coasts of Pacific Ocean and Calauag-Lamon Bay. With a total land area of 42,318 and a population of 71,621 covered in the year under review, the gross population is about 1.70 persons per hectare.

2. Built-Up Areas Built up areas constitute the urban core of the poblacion and portions of the adjacent urbanized barangays. The total built up area of the municipality is 1,590 hectares which is 3.75% of the total area and distributed as follows: Urban built up - 1.15 hectares; Residential - 1,286.60; Commercial - 105.50; Institutional - 38.90; Roads & utilities - 63.60; Functional Open Space - 10.00; Industrial - 4.25

Total - 1,590.00 hectares

3. Agricultural Areas The agricultural area of the municipality covers a total area of 32,436 hectares or 76% of the total land area. This is predominantly planted to coconuts, rice, bananas, corn, fruit trees, vegetables and others.

4. Forest Areas The forest area of Calauag is 1.278 hectares or 3.30% of the total land area. This is not concentrated in one area alone as small portions are found scattered in the other barangays like Lagay, Atulayan, Kunalum, Talingting, Anas, Bukal and Kinamaligan. Forest products derived from the forest include lumber, mangrove, timber, nipa, bamboo, buri, charcoal and wild plants. Dipterocarp species are also found in the forested area.

5. Open grassland/pastureland Open grassland used as pastureland has approximately land area of 300 hectares. It could be found in various barangays but most especially along the transportation routes for obvious reason.

6. Marginal land Marginal land comprises the rivers, springs and creeks which has a total of 15 hectares. The rivers are known as Pandanan River and Sumulong River. The springs can be found in Pansol, Yaganak, Kinalin and Maligaya.

7. Swamps, marshes and Fishponds Areas There are about 2.690 hectares devoted to fishponds. They are mostly located along the swamps and marshes which are easier to develop and cheaper. Majority of fishponds in Calauag are privately owned and operated by established companies involved in fishpond operations for bigger yield.

Places of interest

Lamon Bay

It is a body of water connecting the southern part of Quezon province to the Pacific Ocean. It bounds the coastal towns of Atimonan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Lopez, Calauag, and the islands of Alabat. It is a rich fishing ground and the home of various living corals. Most parts of the bay consist of gray sand, some parts are filled with rocks, and other living corals. It is gradually sloping to the extend that, during low tide, the water level is low enough to allow one to walk as far as five hundred meters from the shore. The beaches along "kabilang dagat", particularly in Barangay Kapaluhan are sandy and ideal for swimming. In some parts of the bay, about ten feet from the beach front, are living corals. Lamon Bay is located at the southern part of Quezon.

Pasig Island or Pulong Pasig

This tourist spot looks very much like an ordinary island nestling in the calm waters of the Pacific. The people who live there (about 25 families) have very dark skin and brown hair. Coconut trees are all over the island. Aside from cogon grass, Bermuda grass also grows in abundance. Part of the perimeter of the island is covered with mangroves. Other parts of the beach are made up of either white sand or rocks. The entrance to the island (distance from the shore is about one kilometer) is good for snorkeling because it has colonies of live corals. During low tide, the corals can be clearly seen from a boat.