HISTORY OF BARANGAY CATMON

Catmon got its name from a tree called “Catmon-catmon.” It became a settlement or sitio in 1914 and was formerly part of Brgy. Cabagawan (now Ma. Asuncion), which at that time belonged to the town of Cabalian (now Municipality of San Juan). Around the estimated year of 1932, more or less, Catmon became one of the barangays under Cabali-an (now Municipality of San Juan).

Catmon is a barangay with a wide land area surrounded by fertile and productive hills filled with coconut and abaca plants. It is approximately 9 kilometers away from the town center of St. Bernard (Poblacion). The barangay covers an estimated land area of about 370.60 hectares with the following boundaries: to the East is Barangay Ma. Asuncion, to the West is Barangay Magatas, to the North is Barangay Calinao, and to the South is Barangay Atuyan.

Most residents of Catmon earn their living through various occupations such as farming, skilled labor, government and private employment, and small businesses. The people have deep faith in God, and because of this, different religious groups exist, including Catholics, some Protestants, Seventh Day Adventists, Born Again Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Iglesia ni Cristo.

The majority of residents are farmers who depend on coconut and abaca harvests, while some maintain fruit orchards. The wide plains are planted with rice, which is harvested every three months. The origin of many residents living in Catmon comes mainly from Bohol, as well as from Maasin, Cebu, and Leyte. The common language spoken is Cebuano or Binisaya.

In 1937, the first school was established and named Catmon Elementary School. The first teacher was Ramon Umacob from Anahawan, and the land was purchased/donated by the family of Guillermo Degula. In 1954, the first graduation or commencement exercises of Catmon Elementary School were held.

The barangay experienced several disasters, such as the burning of houses and farmlands during the Second World War (1942–1944). In 1951, the entire barangay of Catmon was flooded due to Typhoon Ami, which caused the Lawigan River to change its course. From 1971 to 1983, Catmon became a military camp and served as a central gathering point for people. In 1981, the strong Typhoon Besing destroyed many coconut and abaca plants and flooded nearly half of the rice fields, causing severe hardship. In 2004, an abaca disease called “ugpong” spread and brought additional difficulties to the residents.

Barangay Catmon consists of six puroks, each with approximately 60 households. In 1983, a portion of Kanangkaan that belonged to Catmon territory became the present barangay site of Brgy. Lower Bantawon. In 2007, villages were established within Brgy. Catmon, namely the Mamanwa Village and the MAHIKA (Magatas, Hinabian, Kauswagan) PNRC (Philippine National Red Cross) Village.

Due to the development of Catmon, it became the official address of the 42nd parish of the Diocese of Maasin. This was established on August 28, 1996 — the St. Augustine Parish — under the administration of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) led by Hon. Necitas M. Lompot from 1996 up to the present. The first Parish Priest was Rev. Fr. Rey E. Corridor, followed by Rev. Fr. Silverio P. Pada Jr., Rev. Fr. Bonito Labrador, and Parish Administrators Rev. Fr. Nelson Navales and Rev. Fr. Angelito P. Reyes.

The following were the first families or settlers of the barangay:

  • Fermin Gaces and Romualda Toloy
  • Bendoy and Asay Monido
  • Emang Delauta
  • Casiano and Mutay Degula
  • Victor Paῆa
  • Guillermo Degula
  • Victoriano Madridano
  • Tirso Calva and Inocencia Aῆora
  • Teriso Magat and Agapita Madridano
  • Melecio Jualo
  • Andres Mercado
  • Vidal Madridano
  • Severino Carbonilla
  • Honorato Araῆa
  • Sofio Lacerna
  • Francisco Gaces Sr.
  • Anatolia Calva
  • Guillermo Ordiz

The following served as Teniente del Barrio / Barangay Captains:

  1. Tinong Tabo-tabo
  2. Victor Paῆa
  3. Guillermo Degula
  4. Tirso Calva
  5. Severino Alvarez Sr.
  6. Raymundo Calva Sr.
  7. Apolinario Alvarez
  8. Francisco Gaces Sr.
  9. Ireneo Gaces
  10. Eustiquiano Bulagsac
  11. Carlos Calapre
  12. Bernardino Ordiz
  13. Emelio Magat
  14. Manuel O. Calapre
  15. Valeriano B. Raagas
  16. Evelinda S. Calapre

The following served as Chairpersons of KB/SK:

Kabataang Barangay:

  1. Maximo Gaces Sr. – 1960
  2. Arellano Magat – 1965
  3. Jesus Lolo – 1970
  4. Bebie Medecielo – 1975
  5. Demetrio Calapre – 1980
  6. Alberto Lolo – 1986–1990
  7. Epifanio Dogenio – 1990–1993

Sangguniang Kabataan:
8. Erwin Calapre – 1993
9. Rey Limit – 1993–1995
10. Brian Magat – 1995–2002
11. Rolando Delgado – 2002–2007
12. Noriel Carbonilla – 2007–2010
13. Juvanni C. Dangate – 2010–2015

Barangay Catmon is a progressive barangay in the Municipality of Saint Bernard. In 1970, mechanical electric power was established, owned by Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Medecielo, and in the same year, the first rice milling machine was built. In 1980, SOLECO (Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative) was installed near the boundary of Catmon and Magatas, along with the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. In 1960, a mini-bus owned by Francisco Gaces named “Miss Catmon” operated from Catmon to St. Bernard. In 2008, Road Runner Transport began operating trips from Catmon to Tacloban, Leyte.

In 1989, a dam was constructed at Lawigan River supplying irrigation to approximately 700 hectares of rice fields. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) established a field office in Catmon called CATMARICAR (Catmon, Ma. Asuncion, Atuyan, and Carnaga). The barangay has wide cemented roads surrounding it. A developed water system now supplies approximately 1,753 people.

At present, Catmon has a large Parish Church (St. Augustine), a public market, a Day Care Center, a new Health Center, Catmon Catholic Cemetery, a Public Terminal, and a Barangay Multi-Purpose Hall.

The people of Brgy. Catmon are deeply grateful to the following individuals who generously donated land:

  1. Guillermo Degula – Catmon Elementary School
  2. Tirso Calva – chapel and Brgy. Auditorium
  3. Francisco T. Gaces – Brgy. Health Center
  4. Raymundo Calva Sr. – Catmon Catholic Cemetery
  5. Emelio Magat – public market and part of public terminal
  6. Dionesio Lacerna – Catmon Day Care Center
  7. Mr & Mrs. Manuel M. Medecielo – Catholic Parish Church
  8. Mr & Mrs. Victorino Gorra – water reservoir

Road development is important for progress. The following individuals donated land for roads around Catmon:

  • Mr. & Mrs. Felicisimo Degula
  • Mr. & Mrs. Eliseo Lacerna
  • Mr & Mrs. Dionesio Calapre
  • Mr. & Mrs. Emilio Magat
  • Mr. & Mrs. Timoteo Walo
  • Mr. & Mrs. Apolinario Alvarez
  • Mr. & Mrs. Severino Alvarez Sr.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Francisco Gaces Sr. and family
  • Mr & Mrs Casiano Degula
  • Mr. & Mrs. Juanito Lacerna
  • Mr. & Mrs. Felipe Lacerna
  • Mr. & Mrs. Tirso Calva
  • Mr. & Mrs. Dionesio Lacerna Sr.

Notable individuals in politics:

  • Hon. Asisclo Gaces Munda – Former Municipal Mayor of Saint Bernard; Vice Governor of Southern Leyte
  • Hon. Francisco Gaces Sr. – Former Vice Mayor of Cabalian; former teniente del barrio Catmon; former Municipal Mayor of Saint Bernard; former Vice Mayor of Saint Bernard
  • Hon. Severino Alvarez – Former Teniente del barrio Catmon; ABC President Municipality of Saint Bernard; SB Member of Saint Bernard
  • Hon. Necitas M. Lompot – SB Member of Saint Bernard
  • Hon. Florentino Sibunga – SB Member of Saint Bernard
  • Hon. Manuel O. Calapre – Former Barangay Captain of Catmon; former ABC President of Saint Bernard; SB Member of Saint Bernard

Because of the efforts of barangay officials and residents, many developments occurred:

A. Roads — In the past, the roads were full of potholes and difficult for vehicles to pass through, but now the road from Catmon to Saint Bernard is cemented.

B. Bridge — In the past, the bridge across Lawigan River had only two cables, causing many accidents, but now there is a hanging bridge for safer and more comfortable crossing.

C. Wildlife — In the past, wild animals and birds such as pigs, chickens, deer, monkeys, and other wildlife were abundant, but now they are rarely seen due to continuous tree cutting.

D. Facilities:

  1. Basketball Court — In the past, the basketball court had only one ring and a dirt flooring, but now it has two rings, cemented flooring, and fiberglass boards.
  2. School — In the past, the school had a nipa and cogon roof, bamboo walls, dirt flooring, and only one room, but now it has concrete buildings with color roofing, 18 classrooms, and a new concrete canteen building.
  3. Barangay Health Center — In the past, the building was old and lacked facilities, but now it is a new building with complete facilities and a Women’s Center building.
  4. Day Care Center — In the past, the center borrowed rooms from DepEd, but now it has its own concrete Day Care Center building.
  5. Church — In the past, it was only a chapel, but now it is a full Parish Church.

E. River — In the past, the river was clear and deep with abundant fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life, but now it is shallow and polluted, with fewer living resources due to illegal fishing and waste disposal.

F. Agricultural Area:

  1. Rice Fields — In the past, the irrigation canals were not cemented and yields were low, but now the canals are concrete and production has increased.
  2. Coconut Plantations — Yields remain similar, but income has increased due to higher copra prices.

G. Forest — In the past, the forest around the Barangay was dense with trees, but now it has been reduced due to kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) and continuous tree cutting.

H. Population — In the past, the population was small, but now it has grown significantly due to population increase.

I. Water System — In the past, residents relied on wells for drinking water, but now water is directly supplied to homes through faucets.