catanduanes

Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. Several islands make up this province, but the majority of them are small and therefore relatively insignificant. The province is mostly rugged and mountainous.

Catanduanes is the 12th largest island in the Philippine Archipelago and is the smallest in the Bicol Region, the coastline stretches for almost 400 kms and are mostly embayed and coiffed. The majority of it's people live on the costal lowlands.

Most of he history of Catanduanes was lost or destroyed during many incursions of Moro pirates in this part of the Bicol Region. In addition to the some of the history that can be gained from church records, pieces of information has also been handed down by word of mouth and this is the only glimpse into the past of Catanduanes, this beautiful and happy island.

Catanduanes earlier name was Isla de Cobos, this name was given by the Spanish in the early part of 1573 when they came upon several tribes living in the thatched huts called cobos.

Catanduanes, is a hispanized term derived from the words tandu which is a native beetle and the samdong tree both of which were found in abundance throughout the island. Common reference to katanduan or kasamdongan, meaning a place where the tandu or the samdong tree thrives in abundance, led to the coining of the name Catanduanes.

During American rule, the local insurgents refused to recognize the sovereignty of the United States. Most of them fled to the mountains. The American occupation did not last long. In 1934, the Americans had ceased control of the island.

During World War II, Catanduanes was not spared by the Japanese invasion. Garrisons were erected in different parts of the island and the guerrilla movement was intensely active. On February 8, 1945 the Island was liberated by Philippine Commonwealth troops and local guerrilla forces.

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