Infanta, Quezon

Infanta, officially the Municipality of Infanta (Tagalog: Bayan ng Infanta), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 69,079 people. [3]

Infanta

Binangonan de Lampon (formerly)
Municipality
Municipality of Infanta
Infanta Municipal Hall
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Gateway to the Pacific
Anthem: Mabuhay ka, Infanta
English: Long live, Infanta
Map of Quezon with Infanta highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Infanta
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°44′33″N 121°38′58″E
Country Philippines
RegionCalabarzon (Region IV-A)
ProvinceQuezon
District1st District
FoundedApril 25, 1696
Named forPrincess or Heir Apparent of the Spanish Monarchy
Barangays36 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorFilipina Grace R. America
 • Vice MayorLord Arnel L. Ruanto
 • RepresentativeWilfrido Mark M. Enverga
 • Electorate17,152 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total342.76 km2 (132.34 sq mi)
Elevation
192 m (630 ft)
Population
 (2015 census) [3]
 • Total69,079
 • Density200/km2 (520/sq mi)
 • Households
16,209
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence11.92% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue₱177,024,188.15 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4336
PSGC
045620000
IDD : area code +63 (0)42
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesUmiray Dumaget language
Tagalog
Websitewww.infanta.gov.ph

It has a land area of 130.1 km², representing 1.5% of the area of Quezon. It is located 144 kilometres (89 mi) north-east of Manila, and 136 kilometres (85 mi) north of Lucena City. It is accessible to Metro Manila through the Marcos Highway.

Infanta is the largest lambanog manufacturer in the province of Quezon. The town is also known for its bayugo (giant mountain snail) dishes.[5] The town is currently undergoing preparations for establishing a bayugo breeding center that would supply bayugo to townsfolk. The move is intended to stop the decline of bayugo in the wild. Also it is the center of economic activity in the northern part of Quezon. The Infanta town fiesta is celebrated every April 25. Infanta is also known as the "Gateway to the Pacific".

History

Before the Spanish Colonization, this place was known as Binangonan by its first peoples, the Dumagats. Binangonan is a Dumagat word pertaining to a sacred place where bangon (sacred name) was given by the Sobkal (Bobo a Laki) to an infant.

District of Infanta

(Translated from: Fray Felix de Huerta’s “Estado, Topográfico, Estadistíco, Histórico—Religioso, de la Santa y Apostólica Provincia de San Gregorio Magno, de Religiosos Menores Descalzos de la Regular y Mas Estrecha Observancia De Nuestro Padre San Francisco, en las Islas Filipinas”. Binondo: 1865, by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr. (Accessed 21 Sept. 2015 @http://bdh-rd.bne.es).

By decree of the Superior Government granted in the year of 1856, this district was created, with the territory that belonged to the province of the Laguna before; from 14° 30' up to the 15° 10' north latitude, including the island of Polillo and other small islands surrounding this. It is bordered on the North by the district of the Principe, on the East by the sea, on the South by the province of Tayabas, and on the West by that of the lake. It is flat land for the most part, has abundant pasture for cattle and horses, great hunting, fishing, wax and multitude of root crops, with an abundance of wood which are good for construction and cabinetry. The capital is located in Binangonan, where the politico-military Governor is located. Its natives were converted by our religious, who founded and managed the following towns:

Binangonan Del Ampon

In the year 1578, the venerable and zealous Fray Esteban Ortiz planted the consoling sign of the Cross in this town, who toured the east coast of the island in an expanse of more than sixty leagues, while the shortage of missionaries at that time did not allow the continued assistance of a minister until the year of 1609, with the holy martyr Fray Blas Palomino undertaking anew its conversion, formalized this town and was its first minister.

After the years of 1658, the administration of this town was ceded from this apostolic province of St. Gregory to the Augustinian Recollects and they abdicated also in the year 1703, returning it to our charge and numbered then of not more than ninety tributes.

It is located in the 14° 49' Í0" latitude in a flat land, on the eastern coast of the island and on the right of the river named Agos, which has its origin from the grand cordillera mountains on the Northern part of Luzon island and which river, running from West to East, empties into the sea infront the island of Polillo. It is bordered on the North by the town of Baler, distant about twenty and seven leguas: on the East by the island and town of Polillo, an eight-hour time of navigation on fair weather; on the South by the town of Mauban, belonging to the province of Tayabas and as about fifteen leguas, and West-Southwest by the town of Siniloan at eight leguas, which crosses the mountains above.

It enjoys a temperate and healthy climate in a well-ventilated area.The most common diseases are hot fevers and tuberculosis. It is supplied with waters from the river and several springs, all of good quality. It does not have more roads than the very difficult path through the mount, which leads to the town of Siniloan. To connect with the town of Mauban, it must be done by water, and the navigations are very dangerous, or almost impossible from the months of October up to March, and to connect with the town of Baler, in addition to the aforementioned difficulty in navigation, cannot be taken by land throughout the coast for fear of the many infidels that inhabit the area. The mail is received from the capital of the province when there is apportunity.

The Church, dedicated to the Evangelist San Marcos, was of bamboo cane and nipa until the year 1732, by which time it was burnt down and the existing one was built, which is made of stone, but roofed with nipa, and the same as the parish house, which serves as a tribunal. There is a school of primary education, endowed by the funds of the community; about six hundred wooden houses and many others from bamboo, distributed in its twenty-eight barrios, some of them quite far from the Church. It is currently served by Fray Lucas Martinez, Preacher of 29 years of age.

State Of The Parish

This village has no limits. In their lengthy and lush forests are all kinds of woods for construction and cabinetry, of the best quality: many and good pastures for cattle and horses; variety of palms, canes and reeds, with plenty of fruit and rootcrops: abundant hunting buffalo, boar, deer and fowl, with much wax and honey. There is also a quarry of granite stone, discovered the year of 1849 by Fray Antonio del Moral. A little distant from the town exists a safe harbor for ships of high board, but its entry is dangerous to the inexperienced, and from October to March is risky to navigate the coast because of the strong northerly winds that blow. The land reduced to cultivation produces abundant crops of rice, maize, sugarcane, cocoa, coffee and sweet potato. The abaca was planted for the first time in the year 1851 by Fray Antonio del Moral, and gave so happy results that today that its increasing cultivation is continued with large activity and benefit. Its natives are engaged in agriculture, the harvest of the abaca, the nipa wine, whose palm abounds in its land; the breeding of cattle, in the hunting and fishing, whose products, with the excess of other agricultural products, is exported in medium sized boats to the town of Mauban, in the province of Tayabas and to the towns of Paracale and Mambulao, returning gold dust after being brought to the Capital.

Below are the Religious Franciscans ministered in Binangonan de Lampon after Fray Ortiz and Fray Palomino:

Franciscan Friars (1617 to 1880s), Binangonan de Lampon
Franciscan Friar Position Year
Bernardino de la Concepcíon Confessor 1617
Juan de Mansilla Confessor 1619
Lorenzo Valdés Confessor 1632
Vicente Pilas or San Jose Preacher 1639
Dionisio de la Concepcion Confessor 1652
Pedro de Alburquerque Preacher 1653 / 1659
Baltasar of San Diego Confessor 1659
Juan Antonio dela Purificacion del Moral 1727-1731
Nicolás Valverde or de Jesus Confessor 1741 / 1765
Vicente Mars Preacher 1758
Manuel de Sacedón Preacher 1758
José de Jesús or de San Esteban Chorister 1759
Julián de Madrid Preacher 1760
Manuel de San Ramón Confessor 1768
Atanasio Argovejo de Jesus Maria Preacher 1774
José Engracio de Alarilla Preacher 1785
Juan Moveno Preacher 1811
Tomás Pobeda Preacher 1823
Baltasar Barceló de San Antonio Preacher 1825
Antonio Huertas Felipe del Moral 1848-1853
Lucas Martínez Preacher 1864
Cirilo Sanz Preacher 1867-1869
Francísco Arriaga Preacher 1883

Source: Eusebio Gomez Platero’s “Catalogo Biografico de los Religiosos Franciscanos de la Provincia de San Gregorio Magno de Filipinas desde 1577 en que Llegaron las Primeros hasta las de nuestras Dias” Manila Press of Royal College of Sto. Tomas, under the charge of Don Geryasio Memije, 1880 (http://bdh-rd.bne.es) translated by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.

The legend

According to the legend, the people who established the first settlement in the land that became Infanta were led by an elderly leader named Nunong Karugtong. These settlers crossed the Sierra Madre Mountains from somewhere in what is now Rizal Province in search of better living conditions. After examining multiple sites, they eventually settled on a site near the Bantilan River, where the discovery of a huge Yam root convinced them that the site was ideal for settlement. This eventually became the site of the settlement which European colonizers would call "Binangonan de Lampon," which in turn would eventually become the Municipality of Infanta.

In 1578, more than half a century after Ferdinand Magellan and his men landed in Cebu and thirteen years after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founded the first Spanish settlement also in Cebu, a Spanish priest named Esteban Ortiz arrived in Binangonan de Lampon and planted a wooden cross symbolizing the introduction of Spanish colonial rule at the place. In 1696, Don Diego Mangilaya, a native chieftain developed the settlement into a community and built a wooden chapel at the spot where Nunong Karugtong[6] fell asleep. Since its establishment, the area has been attacked by Moro pirates, and visited by typhoons and cholera epidemics as recent as 2004. In 1803, Captain Pedro de León affiliated Binangonan de Lampon to the province of Nueva Ecija and in 1850, Kapitan Rafael Orozco withdrew Infanta from the province of Nueva Ecija and joined it with the province of Laguna to the west. In 1835, Binangonan de Lampon was renamed "Infanta" by Captain Juan Salvador in honor of the saint "Jesus Infante" (Child Jesus). All the inhabitants of Infanta were given Spanish surnames pursuant to a Royal Decree of 11 November 1848.

On July 20, 1898 a group of Infanta Katipuneros headed by Colonel Pablo Astilla attacked the Spanish forces holed up at the limestone convent and after several days of siege and fighting, the Spanish soldiers surrendered. By virtue of the 10 December 1898 Paris Treaty of Peace, American soldiers occupied the town of Infanta and appointed Kapitan Carlos Ruidera Azcarraga as the first "town presidente." He was followed by Rufino Ortiz in 1903 who withdrew Infanta from the province of Laguna and joined it with the province of Tayabas. He also ordered the planting of coconut trees in the barrios (now barangays) of Infanta. During the administration of town "presidente" Gregorio Rutaquio (1911–1916), he constructed the "Gabaldon type" of school house. From 1923-1928, Don Florencio Potes became town "presidente". He constructed the concrete municipal building and the first telegraph office of the town. From 1935 to 1939, Mr. Fabian Sollesa served as town "presidente". During his incumbency, the Infanta--Famy road traversing the Sierra Madre from Infanta to Laguna and Rizal provinces was constructed. Also, piped water from a spring reservoir in barrio (barangay) Gumian was installed. In December, 1941 the Japanese Imperial forces was occupied in the town of Infanta. On May 25, 1945, the liberation by combined Filipino and American soldiers entered in the town was supported by the guerrilla fighters fought the Japanese Imperial forces until the end of World War II. In 1950, the municipality was made the seat of the Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Infanta.

Contemporary history

On July 21, 1949, General Nakar was created from the municipality. Infanta was partitioned once again as the municipal district of Real became a municipality on December 15, 1960.

Barangays

Infanta is politically subdivided into 36 barangays: 7 urban and 29 rural.

Urban:

  • Poblacion 1
  • Poblacion 38
  • Poblacion 39
  • Poblacion Bantilan
  • Comon
  • Ingas
  • Dinahican

Rural:

  • Alitas
  • Langgas
  • Anibong
  • Balobo
  • Bacong
  • Magsaysay
  • Amolongin
  • Pulo
  • Binonoan
  • Gumian
  • Tongohin
  • Pinaglapatan
  • Ilog
  • Catambungan
  • Pilaway
  • Agos Agos
  • Banugao
  • Miswa
  • Lual
  • Batican
  • Boboin
  • Libjo
  • Abiawin
  • Binulasan
  • Maypulot
  • Silangan
  • Cawaynin
  • Antikin
  • Tudturan

Climate
Climate data for Infanta (1981–2010, extremes 1949–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.1
(93.4)		 34.1
(93.4)		 34.5
(94.1)		 37.2
(99.0)		 37.8
(100.0)		 37.8
(100.0)		 38.1
(100.6)		 37.0
(98.6)		 37.0
(98.6)		 36.5
(97.7)		 34.5
(94.1)		 32.8
(91.0)		 38.1
(100.6)
Average high °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)		 28.5
(83.3)		 30.1
(86.2)		 31.8
(89.2)		 33.1
(91.6)		 33.4
(92.1)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.8
(91.0)		 32.4
(90.3)		 30.8
(87.4)		 29.6
(85.3)		 27.9
(82.2)		 30.9
(87.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 24.9
(76.8)		 25.3
(77.5)		 26.5
(79.7)		 27.9
(82.2)		 28.9
(84.0)		 29.2
(84.6)		 28.7
(83.7)		 28.9
(84.0)		 28.4
(83.1)		 27.4
(81.3)		 26.7
(80.1)		 25.4
(77.7)		 27.3
(81.1)
Average low °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)		 22.2
(72.0)		 22.9
(73.2)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.7
(76.5)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.4
(75.9)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.8
(74.8)		 22.9
(73.2)		 23.8
(74.8)
Record low °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)		 17.4
(63.3)		 16.4
(61.5)		 18.1
(64.6)		 20.5
(68.9)		 21.5
(70.7)		 20.6
(69.1)		 21.6
(70.9)		 21.0
(69.8)		 20.0
(68.0)		 17.4
(63.3)		 18.0
(64.4)		 16.4
(61.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 365.1
(14.37)		 253.0
(9.96)		 192.3
(7.57)		 208.9
(8.22)		 197.8
(7.79)		 237.2
(9.34)		 283.9
(11.18)		 189.8
(7.47)		 270.7
(10.66)		 635.7
(25.03)		 594.9
(23.42)		 675.8
(26.61)		 4,105.1
(161.62)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 26 18 16 14 16 17 19 16 19 24 25 26 236
Average relative humidity (%) 87 87 85 82 81 80 81 80 82 86 87 87 84
Source: PAGASA[7][8]

Demographics
Population census of Infanta
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 10,283—    
1918 15,860+2.93%
1939 20,331+1.19%
1948 19,006−0.75%
1960 21,868+1.18%
1970 21,653−0.10%
1975 25,271+3.15%
1980 27,814+1.94%
1990 35,564+2.49%
1995 39,772+2.12%
2000 50,992+5.47%
2007 60,346+2.35%
2010 64,818+2.64%
2015 69,079+1.22%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [9] [10][11]
Town hall of Infanta

Education

Infanta is the center of educative learning, with four colleges that attract many students to study from nearby towns of Real, Gen. Nakar, Polillo, Panukulan, Burdeos, Patnanungan and Jomalig. Here are the colleges in Infanta:

  • Northern Quezon College
  • Southern Luzon State University-Infanta Campus
  • Rizal Marine Technological College
  • ACTS Computer College

Secondary schools:

  • Infanta National High School (largest Public High School in Infanta)
  • Mount Carmel School of Infanta (largest and only Catholic School in Infanta)
  • Binulasan Integrated High School
  • Tongohin National High School
  • Langgas National High School
  • Little Friends of Jesus Corner Stone Academy Of Infanta

Town's Hymn

The Hymn of the Town of Infanta is entitled "Mabuhay Ka Infanta" written by the alumni of Mount Carmel School of Infanta.

References
  1.  Municipality of Infanta | (DILG)
  2. "Province: Quezon". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmXBqJQRWV8
  6. "Mythical Origin | www.infanta.gov.ph". www.infanta.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  7. "Infanta, Quezon Climatological Normal Values". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  8. "Infanta, Quezon Climatological Extremes". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  11. "Province of Quezon". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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