Oas, Albay


Oas, officially the Municipality of Oas, is a municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.

Etymology

There are two stories that purport to tell the origin of the name of Oas:
a) There is a dam across the narrowest portion of a local river. This dam solely irrigates the vast fields of the place including those of the nearby town of Libon and results in a good harvest. People are wary of any cracks or leaks on the dam walls during months of heavy rains. A crier would shout nawaswas, giving the call to the people for immediate action in groups. From then on, the natives coined this name for the place and later shortened it to present form.
b) Early Spanish colonizers reaching this particular section of the Bicol Peninsula asked the name of the place from the about 600 natives living there, "Como se llama este sitio?" The natives mistakenly thought the question to be "Onan kading lugar kadi, maiwas?" in their native language. In response, the natives answered, "Si, señores. Labi nikading iwas. Labi nikading iwas." From then on the early Spanish colonizers adopted in their official census the existence of "a rich fertile valley with verdant fields of grain" which is the little town of Oas in Bicol.

History

Foundation

Oas was founded during the early Spanish colonization of the Bicol Peninsula. In 1605, Father Baltazar de los Reyes converted 12 leading natives of the area to Christianity in one day, forming the foundation of the community now known as Oas.

During the Marcos dictatorship

The town was one of the localities particularly harmed by the Dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos; in the waning days of the dictatorship, Oas was hit by a series of political killings targeting those who dared to speak out against the abuses of the Military and against Ferdinand Marcos.
The most prominent of the victims was Clemente Ragragio, the municipal sanitation inspector of Ligao who was later also assigned to Oas. Known for his effectiveness, he had been awarded the 1983 Best Sanitary Inspector for Albay. However, this led the dictatorship's local administrators suspecting him of being a rebel sympathizer, because his close relationship with locals in far-flung barangays allowed him to move around fearlessly, and because he expressed disagreements with the dictatorship's governance. A killer shot him three times in front of his house in the early evening of August 21, 1985, and the government did not investigate his murder. He was later honored by having his name inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought to restore democracy in the wake of the Marcos dictatorship.

Recent history

Oas has been in the news several times in recent years due to the achievements of its outstanding citizens, notably chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano who topped the under-10 age category at the 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok in 2022, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray whose maternal lineage has its roots in Oas.

Geography

Oas is located at.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Albay.
Oas is from Legazpi City and from Manila.

Barangays

Oas is politically subdivided into 53 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Oas had a population of 64,890 people. The population density was.

Government

Past Municipal Administrators

Inclusive yearsGobernadorcillo
1734Don Roque Samco
1735Don Juan Pendor
1736Don Francisco Sanglitan
1737Don Pedro Lagñitnon
1738Don Juan Pendor
1739Don Jose de Villafuerte
1740Don Gregorio Aguilar
1741Don Jose de Villafuerte
1742Don Domingo Martinez
1743Don Francisco Roque
1744Don Bernardo Torog
1745Don Francisco Romba
1746Don Manuel Montañez
1747-1748Don Diego Langcauon
1749-1751Don Pedro de Valenzuela
1752Don Francisco Roque
1753Don Pascual Sumba
1754Don Antonio Mariano
1755Don Pedro de Valenzuela
1756Don Domingo de la Cruz
1757Don Pedro de Valenzuela
1758Don Pascual de la Cruz
1759Don Manuel de Sacramento
1760Don Ambrocio Doynog
1761Don Teodoro de S. Lucas
1762Don Atilano de S. Miguel
1763Don Pedro de Valenzuela
1764Don Manuel de S. Esteban
1765Don Gaspar Triquero
1766Don Francisco Javier
1767Don Manuel de Espiritu Sto.
1768Don Gregorio de la Presentacion
1769Don Alonso Daiton
1770Don Juan Bagamasbad
1771Don Andres Tuason
1772Don Manuel Salvador
1773Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob
1774Don Pedro de Valenzuela
1775-1777Don Francisco Javier
1778Don Alejandro de S. Buenaventura
1779Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob
1780Don Juan Rafael de los Reyes
1781Don Domingo Bruno
1782Don Francisco Javier
1783Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob
1784Don Francisco Bagamasbad
1785Don Jose de la Cruz
1786Don Pedro S. Juan
1787Don Domingo Langcauon
1788Don Pascual de la Navidad
1789Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob
1790Don Miguel S. Pedro
1791Don Juan Sto. Domingo
1792Don Antonio de la Cruz
1793Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob
1794Don Juan Sto. Domingo
1795Don Domingo S. Nicolas
1796Don Francisco Ferrer
1797Don Juan Sto. Domingo
1798Don Andres S. Fernando
1799Don Juan Pinpin de Vera
1800Don Domingo S. Nicolas
1801Don Francisco S. Buenaventura
1802Don Pedro S. Casimiro
1803Don Tomas de Jesus
1804Don Domingo S. Nicolas
1805Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo
1806Don Fernando de la Resurreccion
1807Don Antonio Florentino
1808Don Juan de la Soledad
1809Don Domingo S. Nicolas
1810Don Gaspar Florencio
1811Don Juan de los Santos
1812Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo
1813Don Mariano S. Nicomedes
1814Don Pascual S. Antonio
1815Don Ludovico S. Bailo
1816Don Serrano Marquez
1817Don Bernardo Nicolas
1818Don Pascual Conrade
1819Don Juan de la Navidad
1820Don Francisco Langcauon
1821Don Juan Portacio
1822Don Francisco Langcauon
1823Don Juan Abad
1824Don Fabiano Crisostomo
1825-1826Don Francisco Langcauon
1827Don Pedro Rafael
1828Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo
1829Don Exeario Domingo Nepomuceno
1830Don Juan Perez
1831Don Juan Langcauon
1832Don Vicente Pendor
1833Don Mariano Benequillo
1834Don Pascual S. Lazaro
1835Don Bernardo S. Francisco
1836Don Santiago Andaya
1837Don Juan Espinosa
1838Don Pedro Lorenzo S. Miguel
1839Don Andres del Espiritu Sto.
1840Don Santiago Bernardo
1841Don Exeario Domingo Nepomuceno
1842Don Bernardo S. Juan
1843Don Clemente Azanza
1844Don Vicente S. Fernando
1845Don Pascual Silvestre
1846Don Pedro Bagol
1847Don Manuel Mancera
1848Don Alejandro Pagdato
1849Don Rufino Raña
1850Don Francisco Bonifacio Sang
1851Don Jose Ralla S. Ramon
1852Don Leocadio Rafael
1853Don Antonio Real S. Fernando
1854Don Geronimo Andaya
1855Don Cornelio Gumba
1856Don Antonio Real S. Fernando
1857Don Estanislao Rafael
1858Don Mariano Realco
1859Don Camilo Romualdo
1860Don Pascual Bustamante
1861Don Cayetano Real S. Fernando
1862Don Pedro Radorez
1863-1864Don Francisco Rellante
1865-1866Don Romualdo Azanza
1867Don Juan Rebusi
1868-1869Don Francisco Rellante
1870-1871Don Manuel Realista
1872-1873Don Guido Recato
1874-1875Don Margarito Ragos
1876-1877Don Juan Rebusi
1878-1879Don Ambrosio R.S. Ramon
1880-1882Don Ciriaco Damian
1883-1884Don Jose G. Camposano
1885-1888Don Mariano Romero
1889-1890Don Bartolome Roa
1891Don Mariano Austero
1892Don Crispin Q. Roa
1893-1894Don Mariano Rebueno
1895-1898Don Jose Ribaya

Inclusive yearsMunicipal president
1898-1899Guido Recato
1899-1900Bartolome Roa

Inclusive yearsMunicipal president
1900–1901Mariano Rebueno
1901–1903A. Austero
1904-1905A. Redillas
1906-1909R. Realista
1910-1912Luis Romano
1913-1916Juan Rayala II
1917-1919Crispin Rayala
1920-1922Manuel Bustamante
1923-1925Crispin Rayala
1926-1928Dalmacio Ras
1929-1931Alfredo Q. Roa
1932-1938Marcial R. Ras
1938-1941Virgilio Rempillo
1941Alfredo Q. Roa

Inclusive yearsMunicipal Mayor
1941-1942Reginaldo Torres
1943-1945Pedro Eva

Inclusive yearsMunicipal MayorMunicipal Vice MayorSK Federation PresidentABC PresidentRemarks
September 29, 1945 – December 11, 1945Amando RaminActing Mayor, Appointed by Pres. Sergio Osmeña
December 11, 1945 – June 28, 1946Pedro EvaAppointed by Pres. Sergio Osmeña
June 28, 1946 – December 31, 1947Temistocles RagueroAppointed by Pres. Manuel Roxas
January 1, 1948 – 1951Temistocles Raguero
1952-1955Pedro Eva
1956-1959Temistocles Raguero
1960-1971Jose R. Ricarte
1971-1986Marcial R. Bustamante
1986–1992Jose R. RicarteAppointed Mayor by Pres. Corazon Aquino
1992-1995Dr. Jesus Rances
1995Salvador R. RendorGader RellamaDied in Office
1995-2001Gader B. RellamaAssume the office of Mayor, after the death of Mayor Rendor, Established the Oas Community College
2001–2007Jesus R. Reario, II
2007-2016Gregorio H. Ricarte
2016-2025Domingo R. Escoto, JrIncumbent Mayor
Term starts on June 30, 2025John Kenneth M. TrindadDomingo R. EscotoMayor Elect

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the:
  • Oas North Schools District
  • Oas South Schools District

Primary and elementary schools

  • Badbad Elementary School
  • Badian Elementary School
  • Balogo East Elementary School
  • Balogo West Elementary School
  • Banao Elementary School
  • Bangiawon Elementary School
  • Bogtong Elementary School
  • Busac Elementary School
  • Cadawag Elementary School
  • Cagmanaba Elementary School
  • Calaguimit Elementary School
  • Calpi Elementary School
  • Camagong Elementary School
  • Casinagan Elementary School
  • Celestino B. Redito Elementary School
  • Coliat Elementary School
  • Del Rosario Elementary School
  • Divine Mercy Science Oriented School
  • Grace Christian Mission Technical School
  • Gumabao Elementary School
  • Manga Elementary School
  • Maporong Elementary School
  • Maramba Elementary School
  • Marian Formation Centers
  • Matambo Elementary School
  • Mayag Elementary School
  • Moroponros Elementary School
  • Nagas Elementary School
  • Oas Community College
  • Oas East Central School
  • Oas North Central School
  • Oas South Central School
  • Our Lady of the Roses Montessori Learning Center
  • Ramay Elementary School
  • Saban Elementary School
  • San Agustin Elementary School
  • San Antonio Elementary School
  • San Isidro Elementary School
  • San Jose Elementary School
  • San Juan Elementary School
  • San Pascual Elementary School
  • San Ramon Elementary School
  • San Vicente Elementary School
  • Tablon Elementary School
  • Talisay Elementary School
  • Tapel Elementary School
  • Tobgon Elementary School
  • Tobog Elementary School

Secondary schools

Notable personalities