Limasawa, Southern Leyte

Limasawa is an island municipality of the 6th category of income in the Philippines. You politically belongs to the province of Southern Leyte. It has 5,835 inhabitants ( census May 1, 2010 ).

Geography

In Limasawa is a small island south of Leyte, which historically plays a prominent role in Philippine history. It is located about 6 km from the southern tip of the island of Leyte, just outside of Sogod Bay in Mindanaosee.

The island rises to within 200 m above the sea level and it has a north-south extent of 10 km.

Barangays

Limasawa is politically subdivided into a total of six barangays ( districts ).

  • Cabulihan
  • Lugsongan
  • Magallanes
  • San Agustin
  • San Bernardo
  • Triana

History

The first foreign visitors to the island were Chinese and probably Arab merchants. In 1225, the Chinese traders Chau Ju Kuo described the population as a friendly and accessible for trade relations.

On March 16, 1521, the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached on his journey to the Spice Islands with three ships, the Philippine island Homonhon. Here he met a short time later with the ruler of Limasawa, Rajah Calambus, together, the scouts had the arrival of the Europeans observed. On March 26, 1521 Magellan accompanied the Rajah to his home island. Five days later, on March 31, said to have been held in the Philippines on the island, the first Holy Mass. This event is considered the beginning of the Christianization of the Philippine archipelago. The two leaders then went very friendly relations with each other and were to Casicasi or blood brothers before the Europeans finally Limasawa left in the direction of Cebu.

1957 have been combined with the Executive Order No. 265 different barrios in the southern part of the village Malitbog, including the island of Limasawa to the independent community Padre Burgos.

On June 11, 1978 Limasawa should be appointed as an independent parish by the enactment of the Presidential Decree No. 1549, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, according to a request of its inhabitants. The decision was, however, repealed and ended up in the archives. As President Corazon Aquino took over the government, they ordered a referendum, which was held in Padre Burgos 1989. The result of this vote was a majority advocacy for a realization of the attached decision of Marcos. So Limasawa received on August 27, 1989 finally official the status of an independently managed community.

In 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed with Act No. 7822 Limasawa a tourist area.

Credentials

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