San Juan, Southern Leyte
| San Juan | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
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 Map of Southern Leyte with San Juan highlighted |
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 San Juan
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| Coordinates: 10°16′N 125°11′E / 10.267°N 125.183°ECoordinates: 10°16′N 125°11′E / 10.267°N 125.183°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) |
| Province | Southern Leyte |
| District | Lone district of Southern Leyte |
| Barangays | 18 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Virgilio A. Mortera |
| • Vice Mayor | Lolito A. Casera Jr. |
| Area | |
| • Total | 96.12 km2 (37.11 sq mi) |
| Population (2015 census) | |
| • Total | 14,858 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 6611 |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)53 |
| Income class | 5th municipal income class |
| 086414000 | |
| Electorate | 8,772 voters as of 2016 |
San Juan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 14,858 people.
It was formerly known as Cabali-an.
The Kabalian language, a Visayan language distinct from Waray-Waray and Cebuano, is spoken in San Juan.
There seems to be no consensus on the exact origin of the name Cabali-an. While there are several versions, the most popular one involves Magellan who happened to pass by Cabalian. This account tells of Magellan and his crew attempting to land this settlement after being battered by a heavy storm known locally as “subasco”. One of his ships had a broken main mast that required immediate repair. The curious natives led by their chieftain, Datu Malitik, gathered on the shore as they closely watched the approaching ships. The natives who were armed noticed the broken mast and shouted “gikabali-an”. Roughly translated, the word means “to experience a breakage or broken materials”. Magellan and his men interpreted the hostile-surrounding shouts as the name of the place. Not wishing to engage the natives in combat after the battering of the storm, the explorers lifted anchors and sailed away.
On June 17, 1961, Republic Act 3088, which changed the name Cabali-an to San Juan, was signed into law by the President of the Republic of the Philippines. However, up to this day, the town is still known as Cabali-an. The name simply refuses to disappear on maps, telecommunication directories and in most people’s minds.
On September 15, 2010, San Juan celebrated its 150th Founding Anniversary.
San Juan (Cabali-an) is politically subdivided into 18 barangays.
Municipal elected officials:
Mobile:
Cable television:
The town celebrates its rich Catholic heritage every 24th day of June, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Precursor to the Divine Word, Our Lord Jesus Christ. The "novemdiales" or novena in honor of the patron saint commences every 15th day of June, and is referred to as jornadas. Jornadas in Spanish means "sojourns" or "journeys", which specifically refer to the translation of the patron saints of all barangays to kiosks or minuscule chapels outside the baroque parish church. In addition to the eighteen patron saints of the 18 barangays of Cabalian, more come from the hill villages of Hinunangan. They remain in those chapels until the 24th day of June, called the kahuyugan, whence they are processed around the town in andas and carrozas.
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Wikipedia