Esperanza, Agusan del Sur

Esperanza, officially the Municipality of Esperanza (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Esperanza; Tagalog: Bayan ng Esperanza), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 54,801 people. [3]

Esperanza
Municipality
Municipality of Esperanza
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Home of The Golden Tara
Map of Agusan del Sur with Esperanza highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Esperanza
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°41′N 125°39′E
Country Philippines
RegionCaraga (Region XIII)
ProvinceAgusan del Sur
District1st District
FoundedSeptember 11, 1953
Barangays47 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorLeonida P. Manpatilan
 • Vice MayorEric Rey G. Siohan
 • RepresentativeAlfelito M. Bascug
 • Electorate31,208 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total1,355.48 km2 (523.35 sq mi)
Elevation
312 m (1,024 ft)
Population
 (2015 census) [3]
 • Total54,801
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
 • Households
11,459
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence50.52% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue₱279,583,540.42 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8513
PSGC
160303000
IDD : area code +63 (0)85
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesAgusan
Butuanon
Cebuano
Higaonon
Tagalog
Websitewww.esperanza.gov.ph

History

The municipality of Esperanza was founded in September 11, 1953 per Executive Order No. 611 signed and approved by President Elpidio Quirino.[5] It duly then began its functions as an independent municipality in September 27, 1953 when its first town officials were appointed.

Esperanza was the oldest town in northern Agusan del Sur. It was also the largest town in the province by land area until several municipalities were created out its territories in the late 20th century, namely: Las Nieves, San Luis, Sibagat, and Bayugan which later turned into a city and has far surpassed its mother town in terms of economy and population.

The Golden Tara
The Golden Tara that had been found in Esperanza, is now housed in a museum in Chicago, United States.

In July 1917, a flood and storm swept through Agusan del Sur in Barangay Cubo of Esperanza. After the storm, a Manobo woman named Bilay Ocampo was on the banks of the muddy Wawa River where she eventually found a figure where it washed up from the river. The 21-karat gold figure dating to around 850 to 950 C.E. weighs 4 pounds (1.8 kg) and depicts a woman sitting in the lotus position in Buddhism, is ornamented with jewelry on her body, and wears a headdress. This figure turned out to be a representation of the Bodhisattva Tara. Now known as the "Golden Tara", after its discovery, it was handed to the former Deputy Governor Bias Baclagon then it was passed to the Agusan Coconut Company, because of a debt. It was then being sold and was purchased for ₱4,000 by the wife of American Governor-General Leonard Wood, Faye Cooper-Cole, who was the curator of Chicago Field Museum’s Southeast Asian department. They then donated the Golden Tara to the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, United States where it is currently held in the Grainger Hall of Gems. Dr. H. Otley Beyer, known as the father of Philippine Archaeology and Anthropology, tried to encourage the government to buy the artifact however all attempts failed due to lack of funds.[6]

Another historical claim has it that when Bilay Ocampo found the Golden Tara, she decided to keep it as a doll. However she was told to give it over to Baclagon because they believed it was a diwata. Because of this, it was previously called Buwawan ni Baclagon or Ginto ni Baclagon (both translates to "Gold of Baclagon"). However, according to Bilay's granddaughter, Constancia, the Golden Tara wasn't handed over but it was stolen from her grandmother. The question of the validity of the purchase of the Golden Tara and whether it was acquired legally if it was in fact originally stolen from Bilay remains a debate of history.[6]

The Golden Tara remains exhibited in the Grainger Hall of Chicago Field Museum (now known as the Field Museum of Natural History) up to the present time and reports has it that the Philippine government has plans to continue its negotiations in re-acquiring the figure.[6]

According to UP scholar Dr. Juan Francisco, he described the golden statue as, "One of the most spectacular discoveries in the Philippine archaeological history."[6]

Geography

Esperanza is located at 8°41′N 125°39′E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 1,355.48 square kilometres (523.35 sq mi) [2] constituting 13.57% of the 9,989.52-square-kilometre- (3,856.98 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Sur.

Climate
Climate data for Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 29
(85)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 154
(6.1)		 101
(4.0)		 78
(3.1)		 59
(2.3)		 95
(3.7)		 130
(5.1)		 131
(5.2)		 137
(5.4)		 125
(4.9)		 145
(5.7)		 141
(5.6)		 121
(4.8)		 1,417
(55.9)
Average rainy days 17.4 13.9 14.4 14.3 22.3 26.0 27.9 27.5 26.2 26.4 21.4 17.2 254.9
Source: Meteoblue [7]

Barangays

Esperanza is politically subdivided into 47 barangays.[8]

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015 [3] 2010 [9]
160303031 Agsabu 1.5% 812 612 ▴ 5.53%
160303032 Aguinaldo 1.0% 540 523 ▴ 0.61%
160303001 Anolingan 3.0% 1,649 1,567 ▴ 0.98%
160303002 Bakingking 0.9% 496 462 ▴ 1.36%
160303033 Balubo 1.5% 816 930 ▾ −2.46%
160303003 Bentahon 2.0% 1,084 956 ▴ 2.42%
160303004 Bunaguit 2.2% 1,192 1,253 ▾ −0.95%
160303006 Catmonon 3.2% 1,733 1,654 ▴ 0.89%
160303034 Cebulan 0.8% 432 316 ▴ 6.13%
160303007 Concordia 1.7% 935 779 ▴ 3.54%
160303035 Crossing Luna 2.5% 1,381 1,250 ▴ 1.92%
160303036 Cubo 1.6% 877 776 ▴ 2.36%
160303008 Dakutan 6.2% 3,391 3,271 ▴ 0.69%
160303009 Duangan 2.9% 1,610 1,596 ▴ 0.17%
160303011 Guadalupe 7.4% 4,046 3,854 ▴ 0.93%
160303037 Guibonon 0.9% 502 737 ▾ −7.05%
160303012 Hawilian 4.3% 2,358 2,147 ▴ 1.80%
160303038 Kalabuan 0.5% 283 343 ▾ −3.59%
160303039 Kinamaybay 1.2% 683 654 ▴ 0.83%
160303013 Labao 1.7% 930 721 ▴ 4.97%
160303040 Langag 2.2% 1,197 1,084 ▴ 1.91%
160303014 Maasin 2.0% 1,091 1,079 ▴ 0.21%
160303010 Mac-Arthur 0.4% 200 195 ▴ 0.48%
160303015 Mahagcot 1.5% 841 833 ▴ 0.18%
160303041 Maliwanag 0.5% 296 163 ▴ 12.03%
160303016 Milagros 2.1% 1,172 1,145 ▴ 0.44%
160303017 Nato 3.2% 1,732 1,639 ▴ 1.06%
160303042 New Gingoog 0.9% 495 420 ▴ 3.18%
160303043 Odiong 1.1% 622 545 ▴ 2.55%
160303018 Oro 3.5% 1,922 1,536 ▴ 4.36%
160303044 Piglawigan 3.4% 1,882 1,623 ▴ 2.86%
160303019 Poblacion 8.7% 4,778 4,907 ▾ −0.51%
160303020 Remedios 2.6% 1,447 1,665 ▾ −2.64%
160303021 Salug 2.3% 1,238 1,262 ▾ −0.36%
160303045 San Isidro 0.7% 385 358 ▴ 1.39%
160303046 San Jose 0.3% 150 151 ▾ −0.13%
160303022 San Toribio 4.4% 2,424 2,218 ▴ 1.71%
160303047 San Vicente 1.4% 765 578 ▴ 5.48%
160303023 Santa Fe 3.6% 1,990 1,698 ▴ 3.07%
160303024 Segunda 0.5% 293 314 ▾ −1.31%
160303048 Sinakungan 0.8% 464 485 ▾ −0.84%
160303026 Tagabase 1.5% 827 780 ▴ 1.12%
160303027 Taganahaw 0.7% 382 376 ▴ 0.30%
160303028 Tagbalili 1.0% 546 632 ▾ −2.75%
160303029 Tahina 1.4% 769 742 ▴ 0.68%
160303030 Tandang Sora 1.4% 768 732 ▴ 0.92%
160303049 Valentina 0.7% 375 336 ▴ 2.11%
Total 54,801 51,897 ▴ 1.04%

Demographics
Population census of Esperanza
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 2,894—    
1939 9,247+5.69%
1948 8,488−0.95%
1960 31,825+11.64%
1970 21,051−4.04%
1975 23,377+2.12%
1980 25,257+1.56%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 36,139+3.65%
1995 42,118+2.91%
2000 44,151+1.02%
2007 47,659+1.06%
2010 51,897+3.15%
2015 54,801+1.04%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [9] [10][11]

In the 2015 census, Esperanza had a population of 54,801. [3] The population density was 40 inhabitants per square kilometre (100/sq mi).

References
  1.  Municipality of Esperanza | (DILG)
  2. "Province: Agusan del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. Executive Order No. 611, s. 1953, ORGANIZING THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS OF ESPERANZA, CONCORDIA, MAYGATASAN, MAASIN, NUEVO TRABAJO, REMEDIOS, NUEVO SIBAGAT, GUADALUPE, BAKINGKING, BAYLO, BUNAGUIT, SAN LUIS, STA. INES, VERDU AND MILAGROS, ALL OF THE PROVINCE OF AGUSAN, INTO A MUNICIPALITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE MUNICIPALITY OF ESPERANZA
  6. Golden Tara - The Official Website of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur.
  7. "Esperanza: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  8. "Municipal: Esperanza, Agusan del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  11. "Province of Agusan del Sur". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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