Virac, Catanduanes
When the Spaniards set foot on the shore of Catanduanes, Virac was a small community led by Datu Lumibao and his wife Milbigan. Their eldest son Macacao lived at the bank of a nearby spring. Spanish Conquistador Juan de Salcedo had first brought a Galleon Trade to Catanduanes waters in 1573. His purpose was to capture and punish the pirates for their nefarious activities in Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Western Catanduanes.
When he came back few weeks after, his mission was to spread the Catholic faith. While at bay, his group saw smoke rising from the mountain. They tracked down footprints from the shore until they reached a sitio called Vidak, which was later changed to Virac. They came upon a large kaingin between the barrios of Danicop and Calatagan.
Datu Lumibao had his hut built a little above a spring, which still exist today. The reception hall was conveniently shade by a tree.
The Spaniards could not go near the hut because of the three huge fierce-looking dogs and several guards with their spears drawn toward the foreigners. But determined to succeed in their mission, they returned the threatening act of the natives with a gesture of friendship.
A piece of "onchita" was offered to the chieftain as a gift. But this was rejected when his wife said "we have many pieces of gold in our kingdom". A piece of silver was also offered but also rejected.
A priest then began his quest for more information about the place. Soon after this encounter, the Spaniards began giving the natives provisions not found in the chieftain's hut, such clothing and more sugar. After planting the seeds of friendships, began a stride to spread the message of Christianity. Lumibao was baptized as Jose, Milbigan, his wife Maria and their eldest son Mariano.
The record of christianization of Virac was lost due to vandalism of the Moros. The history of this town began to be accurately recorded only after 1775.
Virac is a third class municipality with a population of 42,300, distributed among 63 barangays. It has a land area of 188 km². Almost half of the area is rugged and mountainous, with topography interspersed by hills and plains dotted by marshy land and rocky jutting cliffs and crags.
The town is bounded on the east and south by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by high and green mountain ranges of San Miguel, and on the west by the gently rolling terrain and breast-shaped hills of San Andres.
Virac is criss-crossed by macadam, asphalt and concrete roads. It has a deep harbor and an airport. Transportation is catered by sea and air carriers. Inland is by jeepneys and tricycles.
If churches and chapels are markers of the people's devotion to religion, the town folks of Virac are truly religious and pious. There is a chapel in every barangay of the municipality.
A cathedral had been superimposed over the old parish church. Catholicism is a deeply rooted institution in this town with 98% of the people embracing the faith.
Virac is the seat of an independent diocese of Catanduanes with Bishop Jose C. Sorra, D.D., at the helm. The town was once a vicarship of Caceres and later, the diocese of Legazpi. The Patron Saint of the town is the Immaculate Concepcion whose feast day falls on December 8.
The town is untapped tourist spot. Immaculately clean beaches and lovely quays lace the eastern and southern sectors. Its hinterland is cooled by numerous coconut trees and groves watered by rivers and various brooks and streams. It has a share of springs and cascading waterfalls and gladdens the heart of any tourist. The town's sunrise and sunset are as colorful and heart stirring as their counterpart all over the country.
The town is not wanting in infrastructure showcase. The provincial capitol building is a n edifice considered as the pride of the Bicolandia. Other structures in town are the eastern Bicol Medical Center with modern facilities and equipment, the Catanduanes State Colleges that caters to the educational needs of the province, the concrete PC Barracks and Officers Quarters, a modern supermarket, the Imelda Boulevard, Virac Athletic Complex, Virac Youth Center, and Juan M. Alberto Memorial Building.
Virac had been singularly blessed with huge natural resources like forests and minerals deposits. Its real wealth lies in its human resources. Its people are the most literate in this part of the province.
External links
http://www.virac-catanduanes.gov.ph/ official website