Sibonga, officially the Municipality of Sibonga (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Sibonga; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sibonga), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,424 people.[3]

Sibonga
Municipality of Sibonga
Sibonga Municipal Hall
Sibonga Municipal Hall
Official seal of Sibonga
Map of Cebu with Sibonga highlighted
Map of Cebu with Sibonga highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Sibonga is located in Philippines
Sibonga
Sibonga
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°02′N 123°34′E / 10.03°N 123.57°E / 10.03; 123.57
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Visayas
ProvinceCebu
District 1st district
Barangays25 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorLionel E. Bacaltos (NP)
 • Vice MayorMariano Laude (NP)
 • RepresentativeRhea Mae A. Gullas
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate33,235 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total133.45 km2 (51.53 sq mi)
Elevation
79 m (259 ft)
Highest elevation
666 m (2,185 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total53,424
 • Density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
 • Households
12,457
Economy
 • Income class3rd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
18.60
% (2018)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 179.5 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 755.4 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 155.7 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 248.4 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityCebu 1 Electric Cooperative (CEBECO 1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6020
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)32
Native languagesCebuano
Tagalog

Sibonga is bordered to the north by the city of Carcar, to the west are the towns of Barili and Dumanjug, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the town of Argao. It is 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Cebu City.

History edit

The town fiesta is every August 10 every year, this celebrates the feast of Saint Philomena & October 11 Our Lady of the Pillar. Sibonga has 2 patron saints: Saint Philomena and Our Lady of the Pillar. One of the highlights of the fiesta is the Bonga Festival which features cultural dancing and the town's local produce. It is a home of many historical houses built in the Spanish era. Tulay or wharf is a common place where people of Sibonga and visitors spend time to relax - sightseeing, camping and merely having a siesta time. The Catholic Church is one of the most beautiful Churches in Cebu. It has a beautiful Tan Tinoy Park (named after a former barrio captain Tinoy) in front of the Sibonga Municipal Office. The escuela (school) houses during the Spanish era are still standing adjacent to the Catholic Church. There is Tubig Mainit (hot water) spring in Barangay Can-aga.

Geography edit

Barangays edit

Sibonga is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020[3] 2010[5]
072246001 Abugon 4.1% 2,208 1,903 1.50%
072246002 Bae 2.6% 1,375 983 3.41%
072246003 Bagacay 5.3% 2,805 2,074 3.06%
072246004 Bahay 10.6% 5,646 4,476 2.35%
072246005 Banlot 3.7% 1,980 1,612 2.08%
072246006 Basak 2.2% 1,195 927 2.57%
072246007 Bato 2.9% 1,531 1,297 1.67%
072246008 Cagay 1.9% 1,021 813 2.30%
072246009 Can‑aga 1.9% 1,037 776 2.94%
072246010 Candaguit 4.7% 2,513 2,216 1.27%
072246011 Cantolaroy 1.4% 729 567 2.54%
072246012 Dugoan 1.6% 841 590 3.61%
072246013 Guimbangco‑an 2.1% 1,109 788 3.48%
072246014 Lamacan 3.5% 1,889 1,563 1.91%
072246015 Libo 2.2% 1,191 987 1.90%
072246016 Lindogon 3.6% 1,931 1,563 2.14%
072246017 Magcagong 2.2% 1,191 906 2.77%
072246018 Manatad 3.6% 1,928 1,543 2.25%
072246019 Mangyan 4.4% 2,369 1,952 1.95%
072246020 Papan 1.7% 917 673 3.14%
072246021 Poblacion 13.6% 7,257 5,597 2.63%
072246022 Sabang 5.5% 2,912 2,397 1.96%
072246023 Sayao 3.8% 2,020 1,507 2.97%
072246024 Simala 6.3% 3,388 3,991 −1.62%
072246025 Tubod 4.6% 2,441 2,177 1.15%
Total 53,424 43,641 2.04%

Climate edit

Climate data for Sibonga, Cebu
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.7)
34
(1.3)
40
(1.6)
61
(2.4)
124
(4.9)
188
(7.4)
190
(7.5)
191
(7.5)
189
(7.4)
186
(7.3)
124
(4.9)
73
(2.9)
1,442
(56.8)
Average rainy days 10.0 8.5 9.5 12.8 22.3 26.8 28.4 27.9 27.3 27.6 20.5 13.1 234.7
Source: Meteoblue[6]

Demographics edit

 
The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, also known as the Miraculous Mama Mary Shrine, the Shrine of Simala, or the Simala-Lindogon Church.
Population census of Sibonga
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 25,848—    
1918 27,199+0.34%
1939 21,803−1.05%
1948 19,230−1.39%
1960 19,516+0.12%
1970 22,212+1.30%
1975 24,510+1.99%
1980 27,513+2.34%
1990 33,083+1.86%
1995 35,897+1.54%
2000 38,281+1.39%
2007 40,765+0.87%
2010 43,641+2.51%
2015 48,186+1.90%
2020 53,424+2.05%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][5][8][9]

Economy edit

 
Sibonga Plaza


Sibonga has begun developing the town to become more industrial while still preserving its natural bounty. Sibonga is abundant in root crops, corn, rice, coconuts among others. The public market is held every Saturday in Poblacion. Each barangay has its own agora or marketplace with its own specific days of function. For example, in Barangay Papan, people from neighboring barangays convene in every Thursday for trade.

Sibonga now has Sibonga Community College which offers 4-year courses to its inhabitants.

Culture edit

Pastores de Sibonga edit

Pastores de Sibonga is a short Christmas play that narrates the nativity as performed in Magcagong. The play depicts the shepherds' adoration of the child Jesus. Pastores de Sibonga dates back to the 1920s.[17][18][19]

Pastores de Sibonga is performed by at least four dancers. The female dancer wears a red blouse or shirt paired with a long white skirt. The male dancer wears a red shirt paired with black pants. Accessories include a round hat decorated with cut-outs of the sun, moon and stars in yellow, red, green, and other brightly colored papers together with a yellow sash placed across the body. It is performed using red fans and white handkerchiefs. An oval-shaped native fan is used and held by the right hand during the performance. The white square handkerchief is held by the left hand folded into a triangular shape.

The accompaniment music is a rondalla: an ensemble of stringed instruments (guitar, bandurria, and banjo), played with the plectrum. The lyrics tell of the pre-nativity, nativity, and post-nativity settings. It expresses happiness, joy, and worship, and offers praises and gifts for Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Education edit

The public schools in the town of Sibonga are administered by one school district under the Schools Division of Cebu Province.

Elementary schools:

  • Abugon Elementary School — Abugon
  • Bae Elementary School — Bae
  • Bahay-Bagacay Elementary School — Bahay
  • Banlot Elementary School — Banlot
  • Basak Elementary School — Basak
  • Cagay Elementary School — Cagay
  • Can-aga Elementary School — Can-aga
  • Candaguit Elementary School — Candaguit
  • Cantolaroy Elementary School — Cantolaroy
  • Cansantic Elementary School — Sitio Cansantic, Bato
  • Guimbangcoan Elementary School — Guimbangco-an
  • Lamacan Elementary School — Lamacan
  • Libo Elementary School — Libo
  • Lindogon Elementary School — Lindogon
  • Magcagong Elementary School — Magcagong
  • Manatad Elementary School — Manatad
  • Mangyan Elementary School — Mangyan
  • Papan Elementary School — Papan
  • Sabang Elementary School — Sabang
  • Sayao Elementary School — Sayao
  • Sibonga Central Elementary School — R. Bacaltos Street, Poblacion
  • Simala Elementary School — Simala
  • Tubod Elementary School — Tubod

High schools:

  • Julian Enad Memorial National High School — Lamacan
  • Manatad National High School — Manatad
  • Mangyan National High School — Mangyan
  • Sibonga National High School — N. Bacalso Avenue, Poblacion
  • Teodoro dela Vega Memorial National High School — Papan

Notable personalities edit

References edit

  1. ^ Municipality of Sibonga | (DILG)
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  6. ^ "Sibonga: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ "Province of Cebu". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  10. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  12. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  13. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  14. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  15. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  16. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Janson 1991.
  18. ^ Ocampo 2004.
  19. ^ The Freeman 1988.

Sources edit

  • Janson, Mila C. (1991). Sayaw sa mga Pastores in the Province of Cebu (MEd thesis). Cebu: Cebu State College.
  • Ocampo, Astrid G. (2004). "The 'Pastores de Sibonga' in Southern Cebu". Graduate Journal. XX (2). Cebu: University of San Carlos.
  • The Freeman, Quir L. de Gracia (December 20, 1988). "The Christmas Pastores of Old are Vanishing". Cebu: Freeman Publishing.

External links edit

  Media related to Sibonga at Wikimedia Commons