Calabanga

In 1578 when the head Mission of Quipayo was established, Calabanga was either a visita or a barrio. At that time, the place had vast forests and swamps and an abundance of wildlife. Others say, it derived its name from the Bicol word “Calabangan”, the plural term of “labang” or “litag”, meaning a kind of snare for catching wild animals. Another legend says that Calabanga originated from the word “Calagbangan” meaning the wide, long, and straight street spanning from the church through the poblacion, east to west, called locally as “calabaan” or “calacbangan”. Calabanga became known with 400 tributes. On July 15, 1749, it was separated from Quipayo by virtue of the approval of Don Fray Joan de Arechera, Bishop-Elect of Nueva Segovia of the Commissary of the King. The approval was base from a petition signed and filed by 37 Calabangueños on April 28, 1749, for the territory to be conveniently administered as a separate town By that period, there were already 2 visitas, visita de Cagapad and visita de Hinarijan and 12 barrios. The barrios were san Antonio, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Nuestra Señora de Salud, San Lucas, San Miguel, Santa Isabel, Nuestra Señora del Carmen, San Roque, San Pablo, San Jose (now Balongay) and Belen. Quipayo or Calabanga used to encompass Tinambak (Tinambac), Masirum (Siruma), Bombon, Magarao, Cabusao, and Piglabanan (Libmanan). Libmanan is the oldest that was established in 1580 while Bombon was the last being separated and created a town in 1949. ==Geography==

Calabanga has a land area of , which constitutes 3.1% of the Camarines Sur's land area. It is bounded on the west by the Bicol River and the municipality of Cabusao; on the south by the municipality of Bombon and Naga City; on the east by the forest lands of Mount Isarog, the Tigman River and each tributary forming the natural boundary and the municipality of Tinambac; on the north by the fishing grounds of San Miguel Bay, and the municipalities of Sipocot, Basud and Mercedes. Barangays Calabanga is politically subdivided into 48 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. Currently, there are 14 of which located within the urban area while the remaining 34 barangays are considered to be rural areas. Of these, 11 are coastal barangays and 3 are highly urbanized barangays. Calabanga is divided into six areas: West Coast, Harbour, East Coast, Poblacion, Highland, and Quipayo. • Balatasan • Balombon • Balongay • Belen • Bigaas • Binanuaanan Grande • Binanuaanan Pequeño • Binaliw • Bonot-Santa Rosa • Bombon • Burabod • Cabanbanan • Cagsao • Camuning • Comaguingking • Del Carmen (Pob.) • Dominorog • Fabrica • Harubay • La Purisima (Quipayo) • Lugsad • Manguiring • Pagatpat • Paolbo • Pinada • Punta Tarawal • Quinale • Sabang • Salvacion-Baybay • San Antonio Poblacion • San Antonio (Quipayo) • San Bernardino • San Francisco • San Isidro • San Lucas • San Miguel (Pob.) • San Pablo • San Roque • San Vicente (Pob.) • Santa Cruz Poblacion • Santa Cruz (Quipayo) • Santa Isabel (Pob.) • Santa Salud (Pob.) • Santo Domingo • Santo Niño (Quipayo) • Siba-o • Sibobo • Sogod • Tomagodtod Climate {{Weather box Land protection Eastern Calabanga which supplies water to the municipality and is within Mount Isarog, was declared as a protected landscape in 2018 by Former Mayor Eduardo Severo. As a protected land area, construction of houses and establishments are prohibited. Construction of subdivisions are also prohibited in the irrigated areas of Calabanga. Soil and water resources There are six soil types that could be found in the Municipality. These are the (1) Hydrosol which is dominant along the Bicol River covering parts of Barangays Balongay, San Bernardino and Punta Tarawal; (2) Balong Clay; (3) Pili Clay Loam; (4) Tigaon Clay which covers the poblacion; (5) Annan Clay Loam which could be found toward the direction of Tinambac and (6) Mountain Soil in the Mt. Isarog area. Calabanga is bounded by water bodies, the San Miguel Bay on the northern part and the Bikol River on the western part which are sources of abundant supplies of fish of various species and other marine products. The major river systems, the Tigman, Hinaguianan and Inarihan rivers are presently utilized for irrigation purposes. They originate their main tributaries from Mt. Isarog and flow down in the north-western direction ultimately discharging the flow to San Miguel Bay. Topography and slope The topographic landscape of the municipality could be characterized as generally flat with a slope 0-3%, gently sloping (3-8%) towards the direction of the eastern portion and finally rolling up to higher steeps towards the direction of the south-eastern part going to Mt. Isarog. The 0-3% slope is a broad area of flat to nearly level land which extends from Barangay Balongay along the Bicol River to Poblacion area and surrounding areas down to Barangay Manguiring. This is the dominant slope of the municipality. ==Demographics==

In the 2024 census, the population of Calabanga was 88,918 people, with a density of . In the 2020 PSA Survey, Calabanga had a total population of 88,906 with 35,088 or 39.5% belong to the urban population and 53,818 or 60.5% belong to the rural population. There was an increase of 5,873 over the 2015 population. The total population is distributed over 13,444 households, registering an increase of 1,371 households over the 1995 household of 11,073. The average household size in 2000 survey slightly goes up to 5.4 from 5.3 persons in 1995. Between 1995 and 2000, Calabanga grew at the rate of 2.83%, higher than the 1990-1995 rate of 1.63%. As per the 2010 census, the municipal population density is 477 persons per km2. Of the 48 barangays in the municipality, Barangay San Roque has the largest population of 5,513 people, composing 7.38% of the total population, followed by Barangay Santa Cruz Ratay with a population of 5,069 people. Barangay Punta Tarawal has the lowest population of 265 which only 0.44% of the total population. Despite the influx of various religious groups, a large segment which is 95.28% of the populace is still Roman Catholics. Most of the populace, 95.93% are Bicolano speaking. Isarog Agta language In 2010, UNESCO released its third world volume of Endangered Languages in the World, where three critically endangered languages were in the Philippines. One of these languages is the Isarog Agta language which has an estimated five speakers in the year 2000. The language was classified as "critically endangered". If the remaining people do not pass their native language to the next generation of Isarog Agta people, their indigenous language will be extinct within a period of one to two decades. The Isarog Agta people live within the circumference of Mount Isarog, though only five of them still know their indigenous language. They are one of the original Negrito settlers in the entire Philippines. They belong to the Aeta people classification, but have distinct language and belief systems unique to their own culture and heritage. == Economy ==

Calabanga became a 1st class municipality in October 2009. It is one of the municipalities of the province of Camarines Sur and a member of the Metro Naga Development Council. With its fishing grounds and the vast agricultural area, it is a major supplier of fish and other marine products and prime agricultural products in the province as well as in Metro Manila. The town was formerly included in the Metro Naga area before the designation was discontinued in 2017. ==Tourism==

Calabanga has several tourist attractions. Famous sites include the group of small islets/islands of Kawit, Tanglad, and Cabgan. Other places include Tigman, Hinaguianan and Inarihan rivers. Notable Historical sites include the "Ladrillo" or a brick old church and ruins of Quipayo built sometime in 1578, more than four centuries ago, being the seat of the Catholic mission. Another is the "Hinulid", Santo Entiero shrine at Santa Salud which is an object of Friday devotion and pilgrimage. Thousands of devotees not only from Calabanga but other parts of Bicol Region and the country flock to the shrine during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. ==Government==

Elected officials ==Infrastructure==

Highways Calabanga only has one highway that traverses the municipality. It is the Naga North road or widely known as Naga - Siruma road. The highway starts at the boundary of Naga in the intersection of Bagumbayan St, San Vicente Road and Capilihan St up until the Siruma National High School campus. Utilities Water supply is managed by the Calabanga Water District (CAWADI), operational since October 19, 1987, with 10,373 active service connections supporting residential and commercial users. In 2023, CAWADI recorded 83.4% accounted-for water, 79.1% revenue-producing water, and 20.9% non-revenue water losses, while providing 24-hour service in serviced areas. The district's approved 2025 budget of operations facilitates maintenance, leak repairs, and potential expansions to reduce losses and broaden coverage. The main source of potable water supply comes from Balombon spring. It has a capacity of 10 lps enough to serve 18 barangays. The areas being served include San Antonio poblacion, Del Carmen, Sta Isabel, San Miguel, San Vicente, Santa Salud, San Lucas, San Pablo, San Francisco, Sta Cruz Poblacion, Paolbo, Manguiring, Balombon, San Roque, San Isidro, Pagatpat, Sabang and Salvacion Baybay. Most of these areas are in the poblacion and the rest are barangays traversed from the source. The power supply in Calabanga has been provided by the NAPOCOR through the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II (CASURECO II) since January 27, 1969 where the first lighting ceremony took off. At present, all the 48 barangays of the municipality are already served with electricity. As of 2020 census 99.82% of Calabangueños have access to electricity. In August 2024, the 74.2 MWp Calabanga Solar Project in Camarines Sur commenced commercial operations, injecting renewable energy into the Luzon grid and aiding utilities like CASURECO II in enhancing supply reliability amid ongoing infrastructure expansions targeted for 2025 and beyond. ==Transportation==

All the barangays of the municipality are linked by road system. The municipality is easily accessible from Naga, Bicol Region's prime city. Most of the total road networks need improvements and rehabilitation to provide greater access to far-flung barangay residents and facilitate hauling and marketing of farm produce to the poblacion and marketing centers. From Metro Manila, Calabanga is accessible via Naga. First, by a 45-minute plane flight to Naga Airport located at Pili and a car/jeep ride of some 40 minutes to Calabanga. Another choice is a 7–10 hours aircon bus trip direct to Calabanga being provided by three bus lines. The Philippine National Railways (PNR) also provide trips from Manila to Bicol and vice- versa having a station at Naga City, then it takes some 20–30 minutes ride from Naga to Calabanga. == Communications==

Calabanga is being served by private telephone companies, the L.M. United Telephone Company (UNITEL) and the BAYANTEL Company which provides individual connections for those at the urban and outlying barangays. These companies provide local and long-distance calls to Metro Manila or any point in the country or any other place where the system can reach. In 2002, the cellular mobile phone services within the municipality was improved and expanded through the installation of telecommunication facilities such as the cell site by two private telecommunication companies. The Bureau of Telecommunications, a government operated agency having a Telecom Office stationed in the municipality is providing telegraphic services to the residents of Calabanga while Postal services is provided mainly by the Philippine postal corporation. According to the provincial government of Camarines Sur as of 2021 Calabanga has around 49,356 cellphone users and 30,057 people use internet. Naga TV relay stations as well as the cable TV stations are tuned-in in the municipality while a local cable TV station and a private; local community television station and a newly opened radio station are based in the municipality. Radio broadcasts from several radio stations in Naga City and previously from Canaman. ==Healthcare==

Health facilities available are 24 private clinics (Medical & Dental), 7 Main and Rural Health Centers and 15 Pharmacies. With the social welfare services devolved to the LGU as mandated under RA 7160, which is the Local Government Code of 1991, the municipality of Calabanga have assumed the responsibility of implementing the various programs such as the Child and Youth Welfare, Family and Community Organizing, Women's Welfare, Elderly and Disabled persons. Other services include family life education and counseling, Aid to individuals in Crisis Situation and emergency assistance which have the most number of clienteles. The municipality was able to establish and maintain 62-Day Care Centers located at 48 barangays. ==Education==

The Calabanga Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. Education is offered through the 34 public elementary schools and 8 public secondary schools throughout the municipality. There are also several private schools offering pre-school, grade school and high school. A college education and technical/vocational courses are offered by two government-owned institutions; the Calabanga Community College and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (Calabanga Campus), as well as privately owned computer schools. The literacy rate in the municipality is high at 98.5%. The NSO survey in 2000 for household population, 5 years old and over in terms of educational attainment, reflects the following; of the total population, 29,555 are in the elementary grade; 15,037 are in high school; only 2,623 or 0.045% of the population has no grade completed. Among the population, 4,446 are college undergraduates with 1,057 degree holders and 201 with post baccalaureate degrees. ==Notable personalities==

• Suzette Doctolero, a drama writer and creative consultant for GMA Network. ==References==