Republic of the Philippines

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Office of the Advance Education
Magsaysay Avenue,4700 Sorsogon City

ASSIGNMENT NO.2 FERRERAS, MA. KARINA D.

Due Date: March 19,2022 MAM-AS 2

EDUC502: PHILOSOPHICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL ANS PSYCHOLOGICAL

FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION

Stephen Henry S. Totanes

Associate Professor V

“Rediscovering History, Heritage and Identity in my Municipality:

BULUSAN
As time flies, we tend to forget the roots of our roots. History is more than
meets the eye. It is vital not only because there are past occurrences that molded
our present, but it is also to the fact that we tend to go through the same challenges
repeatedly. And isn’t it heart-warming that we know what had happened in our
town beyond what we see in our historical landmarks? How our ancestor lives and
how they strive to cope with the changes and survive challenges.

Bulusan, officially the Municipality of Bulusan , is a 4th class municipality in

MAP SORSOGON WITH BULUSAN HIGHLIGHTED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulusan#/media/File:Ph_locator_sorsogon_bulusan.png

the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a

population of 23,932 people. It is bordered by the towns of Barcelona in the north
and, going counterclockwise, the towns of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin and Santa
Magdalena. The islets of San Bernardino, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) off the
coast, fall under the jurisdiction of Bulusan.
 Buluseños or the natives of Bulusan, during the pre-colonial era, were living
in systematized yet scattered settlements. Some lived in what used to be Inarado
now Licod or San Rafael, others in Ilihan, some in Pinayagan, and still a number
lived in Capangihan — a place near the Paghasaan and Bayugin Rivers. Most of
these settlements are far-flung and away from shore. The reason could be the
presence of Moro pirates who used to attack the town, especially the coastal areas,
stealing golds to the natives and taking every goods they can take and harshly
burning the houses afterwards. Due to these, most of the Buluseños prefer resettled
on uplands.

Bulusan was part of the province of Albay till October 17, 1894. In Inarado,
the fourth parroquia (parish) of the present Province of Sorsogon, was established
in 1630. After being merely a part of Casiguran (established in 1600), Bulusan
became an independent parish following Bacon (established in 1617) and the
parish of Sorsogon (established in 1628). It became a separate pueblo civil (town)
in 1631. The new parish was then placed under the tutelary of St. James, the
Greater — the patron saint of Spain. Fr. Miguel de Santa Ana became its first
parish priest, exercising one-man authority over ecclesiastical and civil functions.
The people also selected the first executive of the place, a gobernadorcillo.

In 1760, the town was transferred from Inarado to its present site at the
mouth of Bulusan River. This was triggered by the need to trade with neighboring
settlements. The relocation was done through the efforts of Fr. Joaquin de los
Santos, the parish priest. Under the friar's guidance, the people chose Bernardino
Pasion as first head of the town. The natives started building a church in the place
where a new one now stands. This initial development formed the nucleus of the
present town center.

Bulusan had its own share of heroes in the revolution against Spain. These
same individuals would later find themselves in the war against the Americans.
Colonel Emeterio Funes, a Buluseño, was one of the foremost revolutionary
leaders in the province. Coming home from a military service under General
Miguel Malvar, he was aware of the immediate plans of the Americans to invade
the rest of the country. Upon his arrival in Bulusan, he met with the town's
prominent figures, with the parish priest in attendance, in the church rectory.
Together, they drew up plans for a revolutionary movement in the province. In
1900, Emeterio Funes was appointed colonel of the revolutionary forces in
Sorsogon by General Vito Belarmino of Albay.

The revolutionary forces in the province had been quite a success, what with
the natives and the elected officials on their side. On April 25, 1900, the Americans
waged a battle with the Filipino revolutionaries in Sitio Boco, San Francisco. The
Americans suffered three casualties: one lieutenant was killed, and two soldiers
were wounded. Meanwhile, only two soldiers were wounded on the defender's
side. Due to lack of ammunition, the revolutionaries were unable to make a second
attack and had to flee to safety. The Americans, enraged with the loss of a comrade
and the failure to capture Colonel Funes’ later burned the entire town. After two
years of effective resistance, on February 21, 1901, Colonel Funes took the oath of
allegiance to the United States in a ceremony done in Bulan. Knowing that the
inhabitants were getting weary of the war, he decided to end it peacefully.
 Under the Americans, the first municipal president was Braulio Ganzo.
However, the first local executive elected in Bulusan by popular suffrage was Juan
Fortades.

From 1900 to 1940, Bulusan experienced major developments in education,

government, communication, agriculture, and public health. From the very start of
the American regime, free public instruction commenced. Public schools in almost
all barrios were opened. In 1927, the municipal building (now housing the post
office, court room, and municipal jail) and public market (undergoing another
major renovation — this time a vertical development) were built. In 1930, the
provincial road connecting Bulusan to the adjoining towns of Barcelona and Irosin
was opened to traffic. Telegraph and mail services began. Qualified voters began
enjoying the right to suffrage. A system of municipal government was instituted.
Trade and commerce flourished. Development in agricultural methods was
initiated. In public health, cholera and smallpox were contained. In 1939, the first
municipal waterworks system was constructed.

Now the town of Bulusan is more progressive and organize. No more Moro-
pirates, no more colonizer just the Buluseños simply living in the peaceful
municipality.

PUNTA DIAMANTE BALUARTE

https://mapio.net/pic/p-89339990/ https://www.facebook.com/historic/photos/
pcb.1842225102559504/1842223365893011/

Visiting in Bulusan you will be introduced to one of the historical landmarks

therein which is the Punta Diamante, the only one in the province with historical
recognition issued and installed by the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines. The diamond-shaped wall surrounding the place served as hideout for
the people when Moro pirates raided the town. The Punta is located behind
St.James the Greater Parish Church. Other existing potential spots are the historical
landmarks such as “Baluarte” and ramparts of the early settlement and the Buko
Pass, the local Tirad Pass of Bulusan. With its historical landmarks, it can attract
researchers and cultural enthusiast.
 BULUSAN LAKE AND THE OVERLOOKING BULUSAN VOLCANO
https://twitter.com/lonelyplanet/status/556753541818499072/photo/1

Bulusan is one of the eco-tourism hubs of Sorsogon. It is home to the

majestic peak in Sorsogon, the Mount Bulusan. This active volcano is the
centerpiece of Bulusan Volcano Natural Park which covers a land area of
3,672 hectares comprising of five municipalities. The sanctuary for different
species of plants and other wild animals. At the foot of the scenic volcano, nature
has created a perfect setting for a lake with its emerald, green water hemmed in by
woodlands.

MASACROT SPRING BAYUGIN FALLS

https://www.facebook.com/Sorsogon101/photos/ https://www.facebook.com/Sorsogon101/photos/
pcb.2584194295206148/2584194181872826/ pcb.2584194295206148/2584194181872826/

DANCALAN BEACH MILIGABIGA BEACH

https://www.facebook.com/ledoroliat15/photos/ https://www.facebook.com/Sorsogon101/photos/
pcb.2298996353760699/2298995927094075/ pcb.2215215575437357/2215215415437373

Bulusan, which means "where water flows", is also home to

several springs and waterfalls –Bayugin Falls, Hulugan Falls, Masacrot Spring,
Nasipit Spring, Buklad River, just to name the few. It is sheltered by the tropical
verdant of its forest and soaring mountains. There also nestled white sandy beaches
like Dancalan Beach Resort and Miliga-biga. The welcoming community and
Bulusan’s enchanting beauty are indeed hard to ignore.

GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION RALLY

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=geothermal%20exploration%20rally%202011

I remember, year 2011, when a developer of geothermal project in Sorsogon

in the name of SUMMA KUMAGAI INC. (SKI)open a proposal for constructing
Geothermal Power Plant. The Department of Energy awarded the Makati-based
SKI a five-year contract to explore for geothermal energy deposits in 25,959
hectares of land around Bulusan Volcano, covering segments of the municipalites
of Barcelona, Gubat, Bulusan, Irosin, Juban, Casiguran and Irosin. Bulusan and all
neighboring towns were alarmed. The ICAG and other anti-geothermal groups
hauled a half-day motorcade from barangay Abuyog to Saints Peter and Paul
Cathedral in Sorsogon City,where it concluded, to reaffirm their opposition to the
proposed geothermal project. The initiatives to repeal the said proposal shaken the
responsible individuals that leads to stopping of the said operation.
Because the people see the impact it might give to the environment such as
land subsidence, dehydration of rice fields and springs that provide the area
tourism and the effects of the geothermal plant’s chemical discharge to the health
of the host community, the urgency to defend the land arise.
Revisiting and rediscovering the history of my hometown and its meaningful
past, makes think of how lucky I am to be raise in this kind of place. All the efforts
of the Buluseños ancestor to protect our land are really paid off, for Bulusan stayed
simple yet captivating. I am more than proud how Buluseños maintain and
preserve the town’s beauty –surrounded by nature.

References:
Hilotin,G. (2015). Bulusan Sorsogon Travel Guide. The Pinay Solo back Packer
website. Retrieved from https://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/bulusan-
sorsogon-travel-guide/
Images:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulusan
https://www.sorsogon.gov.ph/tourism/interactive-map/bulusan/