Loon
Municipality
Municipality of Loon
Main street through Loon
Main street through Loon
Official seal of Loon
Seal
Map of Bohol with Loon highlighted
Map of Bohol with Loon highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Loon is located in Philippines
Loon
Loon
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°48′N 123°48′E / 9.8°N 123.8°E / 9.8; 123.8
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Visayas
ProvinceBohol
District 1st district
FoundedJune 22, 1753[1]
Barangays67 (see Barangays)
Government
 [2]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorElvi Peter L. Relampagos
 • Vice MayorLloyd Peter M. Lopez
 • RepresentativeEdgardo M. Chatto
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate30,156 voters (2022)
Area
[3]
 • Total125.38 km2 (48.41 sq mi)
Elevation
89 m (292 ft)
Highest elevation
449 m (1,473 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[4]
 • Total44,224
 • Density350/km2 (910/sq mi)
 • Households
10,696
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
17.80
% (2018)[5]
 • Revenue₱ 194.4 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 657 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 163.4 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 102.1 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityBohol 1 Electric Cooperative (BOHECO 1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6327
PSGC
071230000
IDD : area code +63 (0)38
Native languagesBoholano dialect
Cebuano
Tagalog
Websitewww.loon.gov.ph

Loon, officially the Municipality of Loon (Cebuano: Munisipalidad sa Loon; Tagalog: Bayan ng Loon), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines which was established in 1753. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,224 people.[4]

Loon was among the hardest hit towns in the 2013 Bohol earthquake. About a third of all casualties occurred in this town, and its church, dating from the 1850s, completely razed to the ground.[6]

Geography

Map of Loon showing barangays and islands

28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Tagbilaran is the town proper of Loon, the westernmost municipality of the island province. Cabilao and Sandingan islands are part of the municipality. Lanao Lake on Cabilao island (also known as Cabilao Island Lake) is the only natural lake in Bohol province.[7]

Loon lies halfway between Tagbilaran and Tubigon, Bohol's major ports of entry, each of which is only 40 minutes away by public utility buses, jeepneys and vans-for-hire that frequently ply the north–south route. Loon has one provincial secondary port and six fishing ports. The secondary port is being converted into the Loon Bohol International Cruise Ship Port. Currently it serves the Loon—Argao (Cebu) route.[8]

Topography

Loon is composed of land mass, coastlines and natural waters and has a relatively rolling topography consisting of moderate hills, rolling plains, sparse plateaus interspersed with valleys, and some ravines.

Climate

Climate data for Loon, Bohol
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 102
(4.0)		 85
(3.3)		 91
(3.6)		 75
(3.0)		 110
(4.3)		 141
(5.6)		 121
(4.8)		 107
(4.2)		 111
(4.4)		 144
(5.7)		 169
(6.7)		 139
(5.5)		 1,395
(55.1)
Average rainy days 18.6 14.8 16.5 16.7 23.9 26.4 25.6 24.1 24.4 26.3 23.7 20.5 261.5
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)[9]

Barangays

Loon is politically subdivded into 67 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a. Etymology
2020[4] 2010[10]
071223001 Agsoso 0.7% 298 254 ▴ 1.61% soso a freshwater shellfish species
071223002 Badbad Occidental 0.8% 347 279 ▴ 2.20% badba-an a local shrub or tree
071223003 Badbad Oriental 1.1% 471 509 ▾ −0.77%
071223004 Bagacay Katipuhan 0.4% 179 189 ▾ −0.54% bagakay or bamboo abundant in the area
katipuhan a place where "tipolo" trees grew in abundance
kawayan a bamboo thicket beside a small pool of mud where carabaos wallow
saong a tree species whose sap thought similar to paste used in the making of Noah's Ark
071223005 Bagacay Kawayan 0.8% 373 427 ▾ −1.34%
071223006 Bagacay Saong 0.4% 163 137 ▴ 1.75%
071223007 Bahi 1.0% 446 367 ▴ 1.97% bahi the hard portion of the trunk of a "pugahan" palm
071223008 Basac 3.4% 1,490 1,414 ▴ 0.52% basac from the visayan word "basa", which means "wet" and many years passed by, turned into "basac"
071223009 Basdacu 2.1% 912 962 ▾ −0.53% ba'as means sand
daku means big; wide shoreline of the barangay
diyo means small; a patch of sand on its shoreline
071223010 Basdio 1.2% 541 561 ▾ −0.36%
071223011 Biasong 0.7% 323 323 Steady 0.00% biasong: a variety of orange grown near the Moalong River
071223012 Bongco 0.9% 415 328 ▴ 2.38% trabongko: a legendary shining ball that giant snakes amused at night
071223013 Bugho 0.5% 243 285 ▾ −1.58% bugho or hole, references to the ravines and gorges of the barangay
071223014 Cabacongan 2.2% 977 1,080 ▾ −1.00% after the plant bakong
071223015 Cabadug 0.6% 276 231 ▴ 1.80% land purportedly belonging (Ca) to the first inhabitant named Badug
071223016 Cabug 0.5% 213 185 ▴ 1.42% kabug bats hanging from the branches of "tipolo" trees
071223017 Calayugan Norte 1.6% 704 737 ▾ −0.46% after the swaying coconut trees which looked like fighting (ga‑layug)
071223018 Calayugan Sur 1.1% 503 538 ▾ −0.67%
071223020 Cambaquiz 1.9% 828 1,042 ▾ −2.27% ba's nga nag-ekis-ekis or sand that crosses from one side to other depending on the waves. (A popular yet wrong tale means "come back and kiss".)
071223021 Campatud 0.9% 415 365 ▴ 1.29% patud a spring in a thick forest where hunters go
071223022 Candaigan 1.0% 425 477 ▾ −1.15% legendary ever-burning stump of dead tree to kindle (daig) lamps
071223023 Canhangdon Occidental 1.9% 836 848 ▾ −0.14% kanhangdon root word is "hangad" or to look up from the Moalong River
071223024 Canhangdon Oriental 1.2% 550 549 ▴ 0.02%
071223025 Canigaan 1.7% 770 826 ▾ −0.70% nigaran a legendary place where big niga trees grew
071223019 Canmaag 0.9% 405 404 ▴ 0.02% mamag or tarsier, which were plentiful
071223026 Canmanoc 0.7% 289 319 ▾ −0.98% manok where wild chickens abound
071223027 Cansuagwit 0.8% 356 291 ▴ 2.04% after a spring of the same name
071223028 Cansubayon 1.1% 474 505 ▾ −0.63% subayon the act of walking the banks of creeks
071223032 Cantam‑is Bago 0.5% 236 284 ▾ −1.83% tam-is means sweet
bago is a vegetable
baslay the name of a spring
071223035 Cantam‑is Baslay 0.8% 371 495 ▾ −2.84%
071223033 Cantaongon 2.3% 1,010 970 ▴ 0.40% taongon tree was abundant
071223034 Cantumocad 1.9% 848 852 ▾ −0.05% sondo a creek where one needs to take a leap (tukad)
071223029 Catagbacan Handig 2.4% 1,063 994 ▴ 0.67% tagbak means to barter or exchange goods
katagbacan is a location where barter takes place
handig a location on slopes that rise from the plain
071223030 Catagbacan Norte 2.9% 1,267 1,186 ▴ 0.66%
071223031 Catagbacan Sur 2.4% 1,070 973 ▴ 0.95%
071223036 Cogon Norte (Poblacion) 4.6% 2,020 1,907 ▴ 0.58% kogon grass
071223037 Cogon Sur 1.0% 430 425 ▴ 0.12%
071223038 Cuasi 2.6% 1,150 1,115 ▴ 0.31% "Kawasi!", an order to disembark or jump overboard (to save the cargo)
071223039 Genomoan 0.7% 312 362 ▾ −1.48% the legend says an ill farmer called out because his carabao was hinomolan (wallowing in the river)
071223040 Lintuan 2.1% 941 913 ▴ 0.30% tuwang-tuwang, the changing movement of sand blown by south and north winds
071223041 Looc 1.9% 839 1,070 ▾ −2.40% the curved shape of its coastline na lo-ok
071223042 Mocpoc Norte 1.7% 743 875 ▾ −1.62% pok-pok, the warning drum hung from a mangrove tree (pagatpat) when Moros pirate kumpits were coming
071223043 Mocpoc Sur 1.3% 565 646 ▾ −1.33%
071223050 Moto Norte (Poblacion) 2.9% 1,285 1,369 ▾ −0.63% moto or hill, located above the original settlement, the coastal barangay of Napo
071223051 Moto Sur (Poblacion) 2.9% 1,283 1,225 ▴ 0.46%
071223044 Nagtuang 1.3% 578 493 ▴ 1.60% nagatuwang whereby flow of water from a spring is absorbed higher
071223045 Napo (Poblacion) 3.2% 1,394 1,342 ▴ 0.38% napolo or napo'o means place formed from sand
071223046 Nueva Vida 0.7% 294 263 ▴ 1.12% Spanish for 'new life'; the new settlement built when Catagbacan became too big
071223047 Panangquilon 1.0% 453 496 ▾ −0.90% panankilon, a medicinal herb
071223048 Pantudlan 1.9% 841 808 ▴ 0.40% from tulod-tulod the thrusting action of the waves shifting sand by the wind blow
071223049 Pig‑ot 1.6% 694 592 ▴ 1.60% pi-ot the narrow stretch of road which widened by blasting, resulting in the fleeing of the monkeys from their habitat
071223052 Pondol 3.6% 1,593 1,476 ▴ 0.77% pundo-pundo or pondol juts into the sea or pools of water
071223053 Quinobcoban 0.4% 176 185 ▾ −0.50% kinubkoban holes dug looking for sources of water.
071223054 Sondol 1.6% 692 690 ▴ 0.03% sondol or donsol, a sea slug species abundant in its seashore
071223055 Song‑on 1.6% 686 683 ▴ 0.04% so-ongon, an arch-like rock formation along the shoreline; where one has to stoop (so-ong) to pass
071223056 Talisay 2.7% 1,178 1,310 ▾ −1.06% talisay trees which growing on cliffs over the shoreline
071223057 Tan‑awan 0.3% 119 110 ▴ 0.79% tan-awan means a place where one gets a good view of the villages below it
071223058 Tangnan 1.9% 857 867 ▾ −0.12% tangnan is cave that contains fresh water
071223059 Taytay 0.7% 323 292 ▴ 1.01% taytay a bridge, narrow hilltop-located pathway that leads to the center of the village
071223060 Ticugan 0.9% 381 373 ▴ 0.21% tikog plant whose leaf strips can be woven into mats
071223061 Tiwi 0.3% 144 112 ▴ 2.54% tiwi the trees that once grew on the eastern part
071223062 Tontonan 1.6% 696 607 ▴ 1.38% tontonan means to use a rope (tonton) to scale a high mountain
071223063 Tubodacu 0.9% 415 395 ▴ 0.50% tubod means spring
daku means big
diyo means small
071223064 Tubodio 0.5% 241 207 ▴ 1.53%
071223065 Tubuan 0.7% 317 285 ▴ 1.07% tuburan is a spring
071223066 Ubayon 1.6% 707 635 ▴ 1.08% nag-ubay sa baybayon means straddling the shoreline
071223067 Ubojan 1.4% 600 486 ▴ 2.13% ulbohan a well where water gushed in spurts (ga ulbo-ulbo)
Total 44,224 42,800 ▴ 0.33%

Demographics

Municipal Building
Population census of Loon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 18,114—    
1918 23,713+1.81%
1939 28,799+0.93%
1948 29,683+0.34%
1960 30,370+0.19%
1970 33,153+0.88%
1975 34,225+0.64%
1980 35,643+0.81%
1990 34,400−0.35%
1995 32,716−0.94%
2000 45,215+7.18%
2007 42,441−0.87%
2010 42,800+0.31%
2015 43,034+0.10%
2020 44,224+0.54%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][10][12][13]

Economy

Poverty Incidence of Loon
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15]
[16][17][18][19][20]

Gross Annual Income (2014): ₱63.2 million[8]

Major industries:[8] agriculture, fishery, cottage (ready-to-wear clothes, mats, baskets), transportation, trading, tourism

Loon's public markets include two main public markets and five barangay/feeder markets.[8] There are more than 800 business establishments and entrepreneurs in Loon.

Indigenous culture and crafts

  • Processing of "binago", grated and dried cassava steamed over a perforated coconut half-shell fitted onto the mouth of an earthen pot half-filled with water; common in the barangays on Sandingan and Cabilao islands and in Ubayon.
  • Production of "tubâ" or toddy from coconut in Cantaongon and other upland barangays.
  • "Drama" or community theater in Napo, a fervently sustained local tradition that originated during the Spanish period. Local residents get involved as actors, singers, directors, stage managers and playwrights.
  • Weaving of mats from romblon palm in Cabilao; production of nypa shingles near Moalong River; and weaving of baskets and other handicrafts from bamboo, rattan, baliw, nito, sig‑id, sagisi and other materials in some upland barangays
  • Production of corn and cassava on the rocky slopes of Basdio. The "farm-on-the-rocks" is itself a tourist attraction because from below, the crops seem to grow not on soil but on black rocks and boulders.
  • Christmas caroling: "Daygon", "Pastores" and "Igi‑igi"
  • Good Friday dawn pilgrimage to Big Cross
  • Good Friday procession and Easter "Sugat/Hugos" rites in the town center
  • September "Festival of Lights" or "SidlaKasilak" in honor of the town's patroness
  • Town fiesta on 8 September and barangay fiestas throughout the year.

Tourism

Heritage and historical sites

Loon Public Plaza
Loon Public Plaza
  • Inang-angan (grand stairway of coral stone blocks, 212 steps): A National Cultural Treasure
  • Sombria Bridge: stone bridge with the highest elevation among colonial bridges in the province.
  • Napo Ruins: possibly the remnants of a watchtower
  • Ferandos House: ancestral house (chalet) built during the American period.
  • Gabaldon building: the main building of Loon South Central Elementary School built in 1915.
  • Loon Public Plaza
  • Big Cross: a pilgrimage site marked by a Big Cross on the slopes Cabug offers a majestic view of the Cebu Strait. A road leading to the place features replicas of the 14 Stations of the Cross.
  • Virgen de la Paz Hermitage: home of the Virgen de la Paz hermit nuns that sits on a cliff that overlooking the mangroves and marine sanctuary in Tangnan and offers an unobstructed view of the sea and the blue mountains of Cebu.
  • Solar-powered Lighthouse: located in Punta Baluarte in Pantudlan, Cabilao Island, this modern lighthouse is a donation of the Spanish government and stands beside the old one retained for its historical value.
  • Punta Baluarte Eco-Museum: a Spanish-era bulwark on Cabilao Island that has been transformed into an eco-cultural museum
  • Mesina House: the only remaining ancestral house of such design. With some families experiencing early the economic boom brought about by success in the retail business, mostly in Leyte, Samar, Negros and Mindanao, and in the practice of their professions, all the other old houses have been replaced with modern designs.

‡ Totally destroyed by the 15 October 2013 earthquake.

  • Church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz (including old convent): A National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasure
  • Spanish-Era Mortuary Chapel: A National Cultural Treasure
  • Spanish Colonial Cemetery (1800–1860s): A National Cultural Treasure
  • Christ the King Monument: an imposing structure on the church plaza that features a figure of the Risen Christ atop a three-sided column at the center of an ornate and multi-layered circular base
  • The Grotto: depicts the scene in Lourdes, France where Mary appeared to a girl named Bernadette. It is a favorite backdrop for the annual reenactment of the Last Supper and many other photo opportunities
  • Hugosan: a four-column platform serving as main gate of the church; used during Easter Sunday rites

Natural attractions

  • Loon Coastal Geomorphic Conservation Park (417-hectare [1,030-acre] intertidal zone uplifted as a result of the 2013 earthquake)[21]
  • Loon Macaques: a mainstream tourist destination featuring the crab-eating mangrove monkeys (Cantomocad)
  • Cabilao Island
    • Dive sites
    • Cabilao Island Lake
    • Green Footprint Lagoon
    • Cabacungan Fish Sanctuary
  • Tubig-Loon Spring Park
  • White beaches and sand bars (Cabilao and Sandingan Islands)
  • Mangrove gardens (Tangnan, Pig-ot, Basdacu, Napo, Cogon Norte, Basac, Tajang Causeway, Sandingan)
  • Caves (Cantam-is Baslay and many upland barangays)
  • Mount Canmanoc
  • Mount Tan-awan: highest point of Loon
  • Moalong River and Antaeg Spring and Lagoon
  • Piong and Kabantian Falls
  • Danicop Ticugan Springs
  • Endemic animals: hammerhead shark, pygmy seahorse, monkeys, exotic birds, "mamag" (tarsier), "kagwang" (a lemur-like gliding mammal), "tinggawong" (bearcat)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road network:[8]

  • national - 24.0 kilometres (14.9 mi)
  • provincial - 12.8 kilometres (8.0 mi)
  • municipal - 8.0 kilometres (5.0 mi)
  • barangay - 145.0 kilometres (90.1 mi)

Health and safety

  • one provincial district hospital (Cong. Natalio P. Castillo, Sr. Memorial Hospital)
  • two Rural Health Units
  • 12 Barangay Health Stations
  • one private dental clinic
  • three private medical clinics
  • one LGU emergency response unit ("Alagad" Center)
  • Model Senior Citizens Center
  • Lying-in / Birthing Centers, including IMAP Lying-in Center in Calayugan Norte and Catagbacan Norte
  • Public security: one PNP station; 704th Regional Public Safety Battalion (Catagbacan Norte)

Utilities

Water is made available to more than 42 barangays principally by the Loon Waterworks System, which has about 3,000 active individual water service connections reaching the northernmost barangay of Pondol, the southernmost barangay of Song-on, all barangays on Sandingan Island, and many hinterland barangays. The rest of the upland barangays are served by Level II communal water systems.

The abundance of water in Loon has also encouraged investors to establish water-refilling stations in the town.

Education

  • Public educational institutions: Loon North District - 12 elementary schools; 8 primary schools; 3 secondary schools - Cabilao National High School, Sandingan National High School and Gov. Jacinto Borja National High School (formerly Cantaongon High School)
  • Public educational institutions: Loon South District - 10 elementary schools; 9 primary schools; 1 secondary school, Loon South National High School
  • Private secondary schools: University of Bohol–Loon Institute, Sacred Heart Academy, Saint Teresa Academy
  • Preparatory schools: 64 public preparatory schools (day-care centers); UB Loon Institute Learning Center; Trinitas Learning Center; Saint Teresa Academy Kindergarten School; Catechetical Learning Center (Cuasi)

Notable personalities

References

  1. ↑ Jose, Regalado Trota (2001). Visita Iglesia Bohol (A Guide to Historic Churches). Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. pp. 75–80. ISBN 9718140166.
  2. ↑  Municipality of Loon | (DILG)
  3. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Erik De Castro (15 October 2013). "Death toll from Philippines quake nears 100, more people missing". Reuters. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Hellingman, Jeroen. "A Visit to Cabilao Island". www.bohol.ph. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Municipal Profile". Municipality of Loon, Bohol, Philippines. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "Loon: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  10. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Province of Bohol". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  14. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  16. ↑ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  17. ↑ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Udtohan, Leo (9 August 2015). "Bohol quake triggers a phenomenon: Land rising from bottom of the sea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
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