Laoang, Northern Samar
| Laoang | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
Laoang sunset
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 Map of Northern Samar showing the location of Laoang |
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.svg)
 Laoang
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| Coordinates: 12°34′N 125°01′E / 12.567°N 125.017°ECoordinates: 12°34′N 125°01′E / 12.567°N 125.017°E | |
| Country |
 Philippines
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| Region | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) |
| Province | Northern Samar |
| District | 2nd District of Northern Samar |
| Founded | 1768 |
| Barangays | 56 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Hector Ong |
| • Vice Mayor | Miguel Sarmiento |
| Area | |
| • Total | 246.94 km2 (95.34 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 61,359 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (640/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Laoanganon |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 6411 |
| IDD : area code | 55 |
| Income class | 2nd |
| Website | laoang |
Laoang is a second income class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 61,359 people. It is the economic, educational, socio-cultural and government center of the 2nd congressional district of the province.
The municipality lies on the eastern side of the province. Bordering Pambujan in the west, Palapag facing east and the municipality of Catubig as its southern neighbor while the Philippine Sea stretches in the north.
Laoang is geographically divided into three distinct areas. The first is the lowlands of the mainland of Samar Island along the mouth of the Catubig River. The second is Laoang Island itself where the poblacion is situated, and the third is the Batag Island which forms as a natural barrier from the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Laoang is politically subdivided into 56 barangays.
By: Msgr. Gaspar D.Balerite, H.P., S.Th.D. (Copyright 2011 - Gaspar D. Balerite)
In the pre-Hispanic times, the poblacion of Laoang was a settlement called Makarato while the whole island was called Lawang which later on evolved into Laoang.
According to Fr. Ignatius Alzina in his book Historia de las Islas y Indios de Bisayas, the settlement was ruled by a monarch called Dato Karagrag, whose consort Bingi had an irresistible beauty that captivated other neighbouring kings, especially the dato from Albay. (Fr. Alzina lived as missionary in Samar and Leyte for 38 years, from 1634 to 1674, working mostly in Palapag.) Contrary to the popular legend that the word “Laoang” is an evolution of the word “lawag”, Laoang as “Lawang” in 1800’s maps may have its origin from early Indonesian settlers of the island. In Sumatra Island (now part of Indonesia), there is a village known Bukitlawang in the vicinity of Lake Toba; Samareños are fond of abbreviations and contractions, hence the current name
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