Limasawa

Limasawa
Mazaua
Municipality of Limasawa
Flag of Limasawa
Official seal of Limasawa
Nickname: 
"The First Mass Site in the Philippines"
Map of Southern Leyte with Limasawa highlighted
Map of Southern Leyte with Limasawa highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Limasawa is located in Philippines
Limasawa
Limasawa
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°54′28″N 125°04′30″E
Country Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas
Province Southern Leyte
District 1st district
Founded June 11, 1978
(Completely became official on August 27, 1989)
Barangays 6 (see Barangays)
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Bayan
 • Mayor Melchor P. Petracorta (Lakas)
 • Vice Mayor Ritche L. Salomon (Lakas)
 • Representative Luz V. Mercado
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate 4,407 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total 6.98 km2 (2.69 sq mi)
Elevation
13 m (43 ft)
Highest elevation
848 m (2,782 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)
 • Total 6,191
 • Density 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
 • Households
1,491
Economy
 • Income class 6th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
22.48
% (2018)
 • Revenue ₱ 57.98 million (2020)
 • Assets ₱ 214.1 million (2020)
 • Expenditure ₱ 59.73 million (2020)
 • Liabilities ₱ 58.3 million (2020)
Service provider
 • Electricity Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6605
PSGC
IDD:area code +63 (0)53
Native languages Boholano dialect
Cebuano
Tagalog

Limasawa, officially the Municipality of Limasawa (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Limasawa; Filipino: Bayan ng Limasawa), is an island municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 6,191 people.

History

Within the Philippines, Limasawa is famed as the Mazaua mentioned by Antonio Pigafetta. This was the site of Ferdinand Magellan's initial landing in the area during the Victoria's circumnavigation of the world. After his interpreter slave Enrique had spoken with the locals, Father Pedro de Valderrama performed the first mass in the Philippines on Easter Sunday 31 March 1521.

At the request of the residents of the island of Limasawa, the six barangays that comprise that island were detached and separated from the municipality of Padre Burgos through Presidential Decree No. 1549, signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos on June 11, 1978, and constituted as the Municipality of Limasawa. Limasawa completely became a municipality on August 27, 1989, after then President Corazon Aquino ordered the plebiscite which its residents voted in favor of the creation. The island, also known as Sarangani Island, is located south of Leyte, in the Mindanao or Bohol Sea. It is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long from north to south and is the smallest municipality in the province, in both area and population.

Geography

Barangays

Limasawa is politically subdivided into 6 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Cabulihan
  • Lugsongan
  • Magallanes (Poblacion)
  • San Agustin (Tawid)
  • San Bernardo (Tigib)
  • Trianas

Climate

Climate data for Limasawa, Southern Leyte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)
28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
28
(82)
28
(82)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 98
(3.9)
82
(3.2)
96
(3.8)
71
(2.8)
104
(4.1)
129
(5.1)
101
(4.0)
94
(3.7)
99
(3.9)
135
(5.3)
174
(6.9)
143
(5.6)
1,326
(52.3)
Average rainy days 18.0 14.1 17.1 16.8 23.7 25.7 25.8 23.3 24.4 25.9 24.0 20.6 259.4
Source: Meteoblue

Demographics

Population census of Limasawa
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1990 4,519 —    
1995 4,927 +1.63%
2000 5,157 +0.98%
2007 5,831 +1.71%
2010 5,835 +0.02%
2015 6,061 +0.73%
2020 6,191 +0.42%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy


See also