Alabat Quezon Philippines

Alabat Quezon Philippines the new sanctuary,a place for a peaceful start,be here and fell your self as a part of the nature.

Alabat is a 5th class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines.

Alabat is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

Angeles Bacong Balungay Buenavista Caglate Camagong Gordon Pambilan Norte Pambilan Sur Barangay 1 (Pob.)

Barangay 2 (Pob.) Barangay 3 (Pob.) Barangay 4 (Pob.) Barangay 5 (Pob.) Villa Esperanza Villa Jesus Este Villa Jesus Weste Villa Norte Villa Santo Niño Villa Victoria

Ever barangay has its own stories and specialties each barangay has there own wonderful place of  path for everyone to enjoy and be amaze in every corner of sides from authentic foods,grate wonderful places,place for adventures and many more try everything and live that you bean from other earth with joyfullest not just place but people around you makes you fell like your a part of them.hospitality and  smiles always keep them remembered.here you can build amazing experience with full of memories. 

History 

Long before civilized men settled in Alabat island, the mountains were already inhabited by the “Baluga”(aborigines). Nomadic by nature, they will clean patches of land, plant rice and vegetables and hunt. After harvest, they will transfer to another part of the forest and repeat the cycle. The elder of the community is their leader and adviser. During drought, they will make temporary houses near the shore and use fishing as their primary means of livelihood.

Alabat is a paradise island in the Pacific. The early Caparros family were among the first settlers because of it’s excellent fishing grounds, fertile soil, wide plains, proximity to a river and shorelines that are safe for docking. Other immigrants from Gumaca came upon hearing the suitability of the place for settlement. There is a mountain range at the back draft of the town. They named they the tallest peak “CAMAGONG” after the trees that grew abundantly at that time.

During the Spanish colonial era, it was said that Rev. Father Jesus, the priest in charge of the Parish of Gumaca, used a telescope everyday to see whether Moro vintas were coming. One day, he accidentally focused at the shore of Ilangin, the present site of Barrio Gordon. He suggested that an Ermita(hermitage) should be built in that place. So, he summoned the leaders of the settlers and encouraged them to move to Ilangin. The growth was so abrupt that a village sprang. Father Jesus called this village “GORDO” ( fat) and afterwards he changed the name to “GORDON” in memory of his town in Spain.

Then Don Pedro and his brother Don Nicolas Pica came, they wanted to establish a home in Gordon. Upon reaching the place, they found out that anchorage was difficult because of shallow coral reefs and the absence of navigable river. They inquired the villagers and learned the suitability of Lupac, the present site of the town of Alabat. So they moved to Lupac.

When Rev. Father Jesus heard about this act, he was greatly infuriated. He accused the two men of rebellion. By the order of Capitang(Captain) Totoy of Gumaca, they were imprisoned. Don Pedro secured freedom from the Gobernadorcillo of Tayabas. The following year, his brother Don Nicolas was also pardoned. The interest of these two brothers in Lupac did not fade away so they returned to the place and established a lumber industry. The gobernadorcillo learned of their success in their industry and their able leadership to the settlers of the place, so Don Pedro the older brother, gained influence and was appointed sub-captain of Lupac under Capitang Totoy of Gumaca. Through the order of Rev. Father Jesus, Don Pedro Pica changed name Lupac to “BARCELONA” in memory of the beautiful coastal town in Spain.

In 1903, when the American Expeditionary force freed Tayabas Province and appointed Carpenter as Military Governor, the name Barcelona was changed to ALABAT as noted by this legend.

The name ALABAT which has been used as it is now, came from the word “Alâbât” (local Tagalog word for balustrade). The early inhabitants of this place made balustrades across their doors to prevent small children from walking out of the house or falling from the stairwells.

The inauthentic story suggested that a platoon of American soldiers came to Lupac after the Philippine independence to conduct a survey . They entered a native’s hut and asked the person what the name of the place was. The owner of the house at that time was holding the balustrade that he was making. Unable to understand the English language, he thought they were asking what he was doing so the native replied “ alâbât”! The leader took his diary and wrote the word A L A B A T without any accent.

The separation of Silangan (now Quezon) as an independent municipality was declared in 1914. This municipality was named in honor of President Manuel L Quezon. In 1929, the inhabitants of Sangirin (now Perez) clamored also for separation from Alabat. By the end of the same year, Sangirin was granted freedom and became an independent municipality named in honor of the late Felimon Perez, who was the Governor of the Province.

Today, Alabat island is composed of 3 towns, Perez in the Northern tip, Alabat town proper at the center and Quezon in the South. Alabat Island is moving forward to the 21st century, a modern port was built to replace the old one, more paved roads are being constructed, telephone service, cellphone sites, wireless internet and local government projects to uplift the lives of Alabateños. Life can never be better in the paradise island that we call home. Please help keep the Alabat Island clean. Bring only smiles, take only photos and leave only footprints. Enjoy the paradise and remember to keep smiling!