Loon, Bohol

Loon
{{safesubst:#property:P18}}
{{safesubst:#property:P41}} Flag {{safesubst:#property:P158}} Seal
Motto: {{safesubst:#property:P1451}}
{{safesubst:#property:P242}} Map of {{safesubst:#property:P131}} with Loon highlighted
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	[[{{safesubst:#property:P17}}]]
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province	[[{{safesubst:#property:P131}}|{{safesubst:#property:P131}}]]
District	1st district of Bohol
Founded	{{safesubst:#property:P571}}
Barangays	67 (see § Barangays)
Government
•	Lloyd Lopez (LP)
• Vice {{safesubst:#property:P1313}}	Elvi Relampagos
• Council	Members Nilo Branzuela Lydia Almasa Kristel Tecson Romel Legitimas Ricky Masamayor Zaide Coritico Damaso Pasilbas Edwin Ladeza Pedro Literatus ‡ Commission on Elections ‡ ex officio ABC president
Area
• Total	113.36 km2 (43.77 sq mi)
Population ( )
• Total	{{safesubst:#property:P1,082}}
• Voter  (2013)	{{safesubst:#property:P1,831}}
• Language	{{safesubst:#property:P1,412}}
Demonym(s)	{{safesubst:#property:P1549}}
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	{{safesubst:#property:P281}}
IDD : area code	+63 (0){{safesubst:#property:P473}}
[[{{safesubst:#property:P31}}#Income classification|Income class]]	{{s class
PSGC	[http://nap.psa.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/municipality.asp?muncode={{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
ICAO	{{SAFESUBST:#PROPERTY:P239}}
IATA	{{SAFESUBST:#PROPERTY:P238}}
Patron Saint	{{safesubst:#property:P417}}
Website	http://{{safesubst:#property:P856}}

Loon is a income class in the province of [[{{safesubst:#property:P131}}|{{safesubst:#property:P131}}]], Philippines. According to the , it has a population of {{safesubst:#property:P1082}}. In the 2013 election, it had {{safesubst:#property:P1,831}} registered voters.

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.

Geography

Twenty-eight 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.

Land use

•   agricultural: 11,754.5 ha (49.5%)
•   alienable and disposable: 9,384.3 ha (39.5%)
•   timberland: 2,500.6 ha (10.5%)
•   institutional: 100.8 ha (0.4%)
•   residential: 23.3 ha (0.1%)
•   parks and open spaces: 4.3 ha (0.0%)
•   commercial: 2 ha (0.0%)

Barangays

Poblacion park and cultural center

Loon comprises 67 barangays.

• Agsoso
• Badbad Occidental
• Badbad Oriental
• Bagacay Katipuhan
• Bagacay Kawayan
• Bagacay Saong
• Bahi
• Basac
• Basdacu
• Basdio
• Biasong
• Bongco
• Bugho
• Cabacungan
• Cabadug
• Cabug
• Calayugan Norte
• Calayugan Sur
• Canmaag
• Cambaquiz
• Campatud
• Candaigan
• Canhangdon Occidental
• Canhangdon Oriental
• Canigaan
• Canmanoc
• Cansuaguit
• Cansubayon
• Catagbacan Handig
• Catagbacan Norte
• Catagbacan Sur
• Cantam‑is Bago
• Cantam‑is Baslay
• Cantaongon
• Cantomocad
• Cogon Norte
• Cogon Sur
• Cuasi
• Genomoan
• Lintuan
• Looc
• Mocpoc Norte
• Mocpoc Sur
• Moto Norte
• Moto Sur
• Nagtuang
• Napo
• Nueva Vida
• Pananquilon
• Pantudlan
• Pig‑ot
• Pondol
• Quinobcoban
• Sondol
• Song‑on
• Talisay
• Tan‑awan
• Tangnan
• Taytay
• Ticugan
• Tiwi
• Tontonan
• Tubodacu
• Tubodio
• Tubuan
• Ubayon
• Ubojan

Origin of the barangays' names

Agsoso, after "soso", a freshwater shellfish species

Badbad Occidental and Badbad Oriental, after a local shrub or tree called "badba-an"

Bagacay Kawayan, Bagacay Katipuhan and Bagacay Saong, after "bagakay" or bamboo abundant in the area and utilized by the residents to make various handicrafts. "Kawayan" is the common term for bamboo. In Bagacay Kawayan, during the Spanish times, a bamboo thicket grew beside a small pool of mud where the early inhabitants brought their carabaos to wallow. "Katipuhan" means a place where "tipolo" trees grow in abundance, while "saong" is a tree species whose sap is believed to be similar to that used as paste in the construction of Noah’s Ark.

Bahi, the hard portion of the trunk of a "pugahan" palm abundant in the place especially during its establishment.

Basac, after "basak" or rice paddy, no longer found in the village but replaced by "palaw" or "paw", a water-loving plant species belonging to the taro family.

Basdacu, from "balas" or "ba'as", which means sand, and "daku", which means big, both words referring to the wide shoreline of the barangay.

Basdio, from ba'as" and "diyo" or "diyot", small; thus, a place with a small patch of sand on its shoreline.

Biasong, after trees of an orange variety of the same name that grew near a little spring that flows into the Moalong River.

Bongco, after a legendary shining ball called "trabongko" that giant snakes amused themselves with on dark evenings.

Bugho, after "buho" or hole, in reference to the ravines and gorges that define the topography of the barangay.

Cabacungan, after the plant named "bakong"

Cabadug, place belonging to "Badug", purportedly the first inhabitant of the barangay.

Cabug, after "kabug", the nocturnal bats seen hanging from the branches of a "tipolo" tree in the heart of the barangay.

Calayugan Norte and Calayugan Sur, after the swaying of the coconut trees of the island village which looked like they were engaged in a fighting match or "ga-layug".

Cambaquiz, after "ba's nga nag-ekis-ekis" or sand that crisscrosses from one side of the Cambaquiz point to the other depending on the direction of the waves. A more popular yet inaccurate tale on the origin, is the phrase "come back and kiss (our ladies)".

Campatud, after a spring called "patud" in the middle of a thick forest where hunters would go to.

Candaigan, after a legendary ever-burning stump of a dead tree where people kindle or "daig" their oil lamps.

Canhangdon Occidental and Canhangdon Oriental, the location of a spring called "kanhangdon" on the Moalong River; thus, a place to be "halangdon" or to be looked up to.

Canigaan, after "Nigaran" a legendary remote place where big "nigad" trees grew in abundance, and to where a black sheep of a son produced from the marriage between a Marimon and a Labastilla was banished; for being a "turo" or bull, he acquired the epithet "Saturos of Canigaran" or Canigaan.

Canmaag, after "mamag or tarsier, which were plentiful

Canmanoc, after the wild chickens or "manok" that used to crisscross its lush hills

Cansuaguit, after a spring of the same name

Cansubayon, after "subay" or "subayon", the act of walking along or following the banks of creeks until finally reaching one’s destination; or from "subay-subay", the term used by the early villagers in reference to the act of catching freshwater fish starting from a spring to a bigger body of water.

Cantam-is Bago, probably a combination of the words "tam-is" or sweet and "bago", which refers to either a vegetable tree called "bago" or the "binagow", a native cassava cake cooked on a perforated coconut shell ("bagol" or bagow") set over a clay pot half-filled with water to produce steam when heated to boiling point.

Cantam-is Baslay, also after "tam-is" or sweet and a spring called "baslay", an important source of water for the community.

Cantaongon, after the "taongon" tree abundant in the locality.

Cantomocad, after the creek called "sondo" which is located in a "canto" cutting the barangay at its center where one is obliged to "tukad" or take a leap.

Catagbacan Norte, Catagbacan Sur and Catagbacan Handig, from the word "tagbak", which means to barter or exchange goods produced by upland communities with those harvested from the sea; thus, "katagbacan" means a place where barter takes place. "Handig" was probably named after the location of the place, that is, reclining on the slopes that rise from the plain.

Cogon Norte and Cogon Sur, after the "kogon" grass that doesn’t seem to leave the place despite being burned to open up new areas for agriculture.

Cuasi, after a legend that testifies to the villagers’ propensity to engage in business. A banca filled with merchants was assaulted by strong winds and big waves prompting the elder men to shout "Kawasi!", an order to disembark or jump overboard to save their merchandise.

Genomoan, after a legend about a carabao left to wallow or "homol" in the river by its owner who had to leave for home because of a stomachache. The farmer’s condition got serious while it was raining hard causing the river to swell. In his delirium, the farmer kept murmuring about his "hinomolan" or the carabao he left to wallow in the river.

Lintuan, after "balintong-balintong" or "tuwang-tuwang", the changing movement of sand near Lawis Point caused by the blowing of the south and north winds.

Looc, after the curved shape of its coastline, that is "na lo-ok".

Mocpoc Norte and Mocpoc Sur, after "pok-pok", the warning sound produced by knocking a drum hung from a big "pagatpat" or mangrove tree every time the Moros would emerge on the sea, their swift vintas poised to attack the barangay and plunder its homes.

Moto Norte and Moto Sur, after "moto" or hill, the location of the place as referred to by the residents of the coastal barangay of Napo, the town’s original settlement.

Nagtuang, after "nagatuwang", a phenomenon in the place where the flow of water from a spring is absorbed in a much higher elevation.

Napo, after "napolo" or "napo’o", which means island-like, a description of its location that seems separate from the mainland. "Napo" also means "dapit nga balason" or a sandy place.

Nueva Vida, after the Spanish phrase for "new life", probably discovered as a new settlement when the population of Catagbacan below it increased.

Pananquilon, after a medicinal herb called "panankilon" that grows abundantly in the locality.

Pantudlan, after "tulod-tulod", the thrusting action of the waves resulting in the transfer of the sand to the southern side of Baluarte Point when the north wind blows and to the northern side when the south wind blows.

Pig-ot, after "pi-ot", the narrow stretch of the provincial road that had been widened by blasting the cliffs and boulders, resulting in the fleeing of the monkeys and total wiping out of their population from their habitat in the enchanted place called "Bogo".

Pondol, after "pundok-pundok", "pundo-pundo" or "pondol", a description of the place which has several "lawis" or points jutting out into the sea; or after "tubig nga gapundo", or pools of stagnant water found in the place.

Quinobcoban, after "kinubkoban", in reference to several holes dug by the early residents of the village in search of sources of water.

Sondol, after "donsol", a sea slug species abundant in its seashore.

Song-on, after "so-ongon", an arch-like rock formation along the shoreline that resembles a cave when viewed from the sea, where one has to stoop or "so-ong" to pass through.

Talisay, after the "talisay" trees growing on cliffs hanging over its shoreline.

Tan-awan, after the same word, which means a place from where one gets a good view of the villages below it, being located on the highest peaks of Loon.

Tangnan, after a cave-like hole called "tangnan" that contains fresh water.

Taytay, after "taytayan" or bridge, a description of the narrow hilltop-located pathway that leads to the center of the village.

Ticugan, after the "tikog" plant whose leaf strips can be woven into mats but whose population in the village had been reduced to zero.

Tiwi, after the "tiwi" trees that once grew on the eastern part of the village.

Tontonan, or "to use a rope", after "tonton" or rope that the early residents had to use to scale a high mountain in the village.

Tubodacu and Tubodio, after "tubod" (spring), "daku" (big) and "diyot" or "diyo" (small), descriptions of the villagers’ sources of water.

Tubuan, also after "tubod" or "tuburan", a local spring.

Ubayon, after "nag-ubay sa baybayon" or straddling the shoreline, a description of its location.

Ubojan, after "ulbohan", a place where there used to be a spring or natural well from where abundant water gushed in spurts or "ga ulbo-ulbo".

Demographics

Population census of Loon
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	34,400	—
1995	32,716	−0.94%
2000	45,215	+7.18%
2007	42,441	−0.87%
2010	42,800	+0.31%
Source: National Statistics Office

In the 2013 election, it had {{safesubst:#property:P1,831}} registered voters, meaning that % of the population are aged 18 and over.

Economy

Gross Annual Income (2014): ₱63.2 million

Major industries: 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. There are more than 800 business establishments and entrepreneurs in Loon.

Tourism

Loon Church (before 2013 Bohol earthquake)

Loon has a wealth of natural resources and a rich cultural heritage. It is named after water, specifically "Tubig-Loon" or "Tubig nga nag-loon", a crystal-clear spring that gushes from a crevice underneath boulders found north of the coastal village of Napo, Loon’s nucleus community.

The water from this spring blends together with the blue water of the town’s rich marine paradise and beyond, a fitting depiction of the Loonanon's proclivity to explore limitless boundaries and venture into business, education and other professions. In the Bisayan dialect, 'lo-on' means to merge, coexist or live together.

The town also prides itself of the only natural lake in Bohol, a river that reveals a secret paradise, waterfalls that soothe weary souls, mangrove gardens that invite gleaners and rowers alike, caverns that evoke mystery and excitement, sylvan surroundings where myriad birds fly in wild abandon, and dive sites that compare with the best in the world.

The pristine beauty and bounty of the town’s terrestrial, estuarine and marine resources are complemented by imposing centuries-old structures, rich cultural traditions and warm-hearted people.

For being blessed with all these whose potential for tourism has not been tapped to the fullest, Loon has been aptly called the emerging giant of Bohol’s eco-cultural tourism industry. Some of these attractions are listed below.

Heritage and historical sites

• 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 built during the American period.
• Gabaldon Buildings: 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 (American chalet). 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 concrete ones with modern designs.

‡ Totally destroyed by the October 15, 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)
• Loon Macaques: a mainstream tourist destination featuring the crab-eating mangrove monkeys (Cantomocad)
• Cabilao Island
  • Dive sites
  • Cabilao Island Lake
  • Green Footprint Lagoon (Cabilao Island)
  • Cabacungan Fish Sanctuary (Cabilao Island)
• 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)

Indigenous culture and crafts

• Processing of "binagow", 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 "tuba" 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 September 8 and barangay fiestas throughout the year.

Infrastructure

Municipal Building

Public:

• Loon Municipal Hall
• Built Heritage (National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasures; see "Heritage and Historical Sites")
• Loon Sports and Cultural Center
• Mercado de Loon
• Rural Health Units 1 & 2
• Model Senior Citizens Center
• Lying-in / Birthing Centers
• Municipal Abattoir
• Center for Developments in Culture, Heritage and the Arts
• Loon Macaques
• Mangrove Ecosystem Research and Development Center (ongoing)
• Loon Bohol International Cruise Ship Port
• Center Coconut Processing Center
• Punta Baluarte Eco-Museum
• CROWN Productivity Center
• Loon Municipal College (ongoing)
• Municipal roads (concrete and asphalt-overlaid)
• Farm-to-market roads
• Loon Port Boulevard
• Barangay infrastructure (barangay hall, Barangay Health Station, basketball court and stage, "purok", elementary and primary schools, chapel)

Private:

• Private business buildings and centers, including 2 banks
• IMAP Lying-in Center (Calayugan Norte)

Transportation

Loon lies halfway between Tagbilaran and Tubigon, Bohol's major ports of entry, each of which is only forty 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.

Road network:

• 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

• Health services: one provincial district hospital (Cong. Natalio P. Castillo, Sr. Memorial Hospital); two Rural Health Units; 12 Barangay Health Stations; one private dental clinic; two private medical clinics; one LGU emergency response unit ("Alagad" Center)
• 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)

External links

• Municipality of Loon