Unisan, Quezon

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Unisan
Municipality

Nickname(s): The First Capital of Quezon

Map of Quezon showing the location of Unisan

Unisan
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1350N 12159ECoordinates:

1350N 12159E

Country

Philippines

Region

CALABARZON (Region IV-A)

Province

Quezon

District

3rd district of Quezon

Formed

February 18, 1876

Barangays

36

Government[1]
Mayor

Nonato E. Puache

Area[2]
Total

124.15 km2 (47.93 sq mi)

Population (2015)[3]
Total

26,884

Density

220/km2 (560/sq mi)

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP code

4305

Dialing code

42

Income class

4th class

Unisan is a fourth class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines, and is the first capital of
the province of Kalilayan, now Quezon. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 26,884
people.[3]

Contents
[hide]

1Etymology

2Barangays
2.1Town proper

3History

4Demographics
4.1Religion

4.1.1Saint Peter the Apostle Parish

4.1.1.1History

4.1.2Saint Roche Parish (Brgy. Panaon, Unisan, Quezon)

4.1.2.1History

4.1.2.2Saint Peter the Apostle Parish and Saint Roche Parish are
members of Roman Catholic Diocese of Lucena.

5Geography

6Economy

7Schools
o

7.1Elementary

7.2Secondary

7.3Tertiary

8Notable persons

9Local government
o

9.1Mayors

9.2Vice-mayors

9.3Congressional District

10Events and festival

10.1Festival

11Tourism potential and destinations

12References

Etymology[edit]
The name of Unisan may have been derived from the Spanish verb unir, meaning "unite". At that
time inhabitants, which were composed of strangers from different parts of the island, were united
and wanted to call the town Unisan, a corruption of the words union and unidos for the sake
of euphony.[4]
There is another, more plausible version which related that the name was derived from the Latin
words uni-sancti, meaning "one saint" or "in honor of a saint", possibly referring to Friar Pedro
Bautista, once a missionary to Unisan when this town was still Kalilayan and later canonized saint
following his martyrdom while a missionary in Japan.[4] Uni-Sancti was made Unisan for short and to
suit the Visayan and Caviteo tongues.

Barangays[edit]
Unisan is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.[2] San Roque was formerly a sitio of barrio
Tagumpay.[5]

Almacn

Balagts

Balanacan

Bulo Ibab

Bulo Ilaya

Bonifacio

Burgos

Caigdl

General Luna

Kalilayan Ibab

Cabulihan Ibab

Mairok Ibaba

Kalilayan Ilaya

Cabulihan Ilaya

Mabini

Mairok Ilaya

Malvar

Maputat

Muliguin

Pagaguasan

Panaon Ibab

Panaon Ilaya

Plridel

F. De Jess (Pob.)

R. Lapu-lapu (Pob.)

Raja Solimn (Pob.)

R. Magsaysay (Pob.)

Poctol

Punta

Rizal Ibab

Rizal Ilaya

San Roque

Socorro

Tagumpay

Tubas

Tubigan

Town proper[edit]
The town center (poblacion) consists of 4 barangays, R. Soliman, Ramon Magsaysay, Lapu-lapu
and F. de Jesus. The heart of the town is the Catholic Church, comprising several blocks. The
Unisan Central Elementary School is on the southeastern side of the church, while the Government
Center is located at the back of the school which consists of Municipal Hall, Municipal Library, Fire
Station, Police Station, Comelec Building and the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) building.
Remedios Etorma Suarez Memorial Auditorium (RESMA), a well used spot for programs and events
is on the same government center, while just across the auditorium is the Unisan National High
School. The Tamesis Park, named after a prominent Unisanin, Florencio Tamesis, the first filipino
director of the Bureau of Forestry and considered by experts as the father of Philippine Forestry, is
likewise located at the center of the town, just across the Church Covered Court. The old municipal
building, now a proud heritage building of Unisan, is on the southwest corner of the poblacion, near
the Kalilayan River.

History[edit]
Unisan, originally called Kalilayan, is perhaps one of the oldest towns in the Philippines. As early as
1521, the town of Kalilayan was founded by Malayan settlers. All other towns in the country were
established not earlier than 1565, when Spain formally occupied the Philippines as a colony. During
the latter part of the 19th century, traditions said that the real founder of the town was a Malayan
queen called of Ladya. Hence her title was "Queen of Kalilayan". [citation needed]
It is believed that the founding occurred in the Middle Ages when immigration of the Malayans to this
country was still predominant. That was before the advent of Islam in the East Indies. This proven by
the fact that no traces of Mohameds Creed were found in that part of the Philippines when the
Europeans arrived.
The name Kalilayan derived from the Tagalog root word lilay, referring to a kind of palm similar
to buri with the smaller leaves in the size of anahaw leaves that grew once in abundance.
In February 1876, Kalilayan was separated from Pitogo and became an independent municipality. At
the same time, it was renamed to Unisan which was derived from the Latin word uni-sancti, meaning
"holy saint".[4][6]

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Unisan

Source: Philippine Statistics Office[3]

Religion[edit]
The dominant religion in Unisan is Roman Catholic. Other religions present are:

Iglesia Ni Cristo

United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Born Again

Saint Peter the Apostle Parish[edit]

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Jose I. Cantos II

History[edit]
The foundation of Calilaya, the capital of the old province of Calilaya, by Friar de Plasencia and Friar
de Oropesa started in 1578. The first church was made of bamboo and nipa. In 1589, Friar Pedro
Bautista obtained the permission to rebuild it with wood. Friar Alonso Baon administered Calilaya
after 1595. Friar Jode de la Concepcion was Guardian of the convent in 1597. Friar Pedro de
Alcazar administered the pueblo in 6100 and 601. Friar Juan Manso was the religious minister in
1602. Friar Diego de la Magdalena, a member of the 6th Mission that arrived in the Philippines in
1594, also administered Calilaya. In 1605, Calilaya was ravaged by the Moros. Of the 9,000
residents, barely 1,000 survived the attack. The survivors took refuge near the Pasabango River,
where the missionaries, among whom was Friar Pedro de san Buenaventura, built a church, a
convent and school buildings with bamboo and nipa. Friar Juan de Mrida administered Pasabango
in 1609. In 1913, because of the crocodiles, the people relocated to the sitio of Cabuyao, where Friar
de Mrida built a church and a convent with wood and school buildings with bamboo and nipa. The
people lived peacefully in Cabuyao until 1635, when the Moro attacked again. Some 800 survivors
took refuge in the sitios of Atimonan and Minanucan (now barrion Talaba in Atimonan). Hence, for
many years the town of Calilaya was totally abandoned. From 1620 onwards, a certain Gregorio
Vicente united various families from Cabuyao with wandering descendants of those who had lived in
Calilaya and Pasabango, and he and all these people fixed there residence in the site of old
Calilaya---the delta east of the Calilaya River---without recognizing any civil or religious authority.
They lived there until 1637 when the Government saw the need to burn the town. Finally in 1874 or
1875, the town was established in the outskirts of the old Calilaya. During its early years, Unisan
was administered by Fr. Marcos Tolentino, a secular priest, who In 1945, during the World War II, the
church was partially destroyed; it was reconstructed by the Philippine Historical Commission in 1966.
Saint Roche Parish (Brgy. Panaon, Unisan, Quezon)[edit]

Parish Priest - Rev. Fr. Dennis Vargas

History[edit]
Established in 1962 by Father Ruben Profugo (later Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena), the Parokya
ni San Roque was formerly a small church attached to the Parish of St Peter in the town proper and
served by the priest/chaplains of the Holy Child Jesus Institute (Dominican Academy). The parish
comprises the barangays of Ibabang Bulo, Ilayang Bulo, Ibabang Mairok, Ilayang Mairok, Almacen,
Bonifacio, Burgos, Ilayang Panaon, Ibabang Panaon, Tubigan, Plaridel, Ibabang Rizal, Ilayang Rizal,

Socorro and Poctol. Most of the people are farmers. The church itself stands in the midst of rice
fields. The priests who served Panaon either as parish priest or administrator include Fr. Antonio
Salvo, Fr. Froilan Zalameda, Fr. Jose Dural, Fr. Dario Endiape, Fr. Quirino Macatangay, Fr. Jose
Erlito Ebron, Fr. Alvin Cabungcal, Fr. Edwin Panergo,Fr. Isagani Reyes, Fr. Rolando Grecia, and Fr.
Benjamin Rhoda. Major Renovation of the church was done during the term of Fr. Roda.
Saint Peter the Apostle Parish and Saint Roche Parish are members of Roman Catholic
Diocese of Lucena.[edit]

Geography[edit]
The municipality of Unisan is located on the central part of Quezon Province. It is bounded on the
Northern part of Atimonan, Quezon, on the south by the Tayabas Bay, on the western part by
Agdangan and on the east by Gumaca and Pitogo. East of provincial Capital, the city of Lucena. It is
accessible by land via Agdangan and Atimonan from Lucena City.

Economy[edit]
The economy of Unisan is sustained by fishing and agriculture.

Schools[edit]
Elementary[edit]

Almacen Elementary School

Beredo Elementary School

Bienvinido S. Lat Elementary School

Bonifacio Elementary School

Cabulihan Elementary School

Caigdal Elementary School

Dominican Academy (Elementary Department)

Kalilayan Elementary School

Muliguin Elementary School

Mabini Elementary School

Panaon Elementary School

Poctol Elementary School

Punta Elementary School

Santayana Elementary School

San Roque Elementary School

Unisan Central Elementary School

Secondary[edit]

Caigdal National High School

Dominican Academy, formerly Holy Child Jesus Institute

Leonarda D. Vera Cruz National High School, formerly Panaon National High School and
Panaon Barangay High School
Unisan National High School, formerly Unisan Municipal High School

Tertiary[edit]

Politechnic University of the Philippines (Unisan Campus)

Notable persons[edit]

San Pedro Bautista - a missionary have been to Calilaya and called the town Uni-Sancti;

Florencio Tamesis - First Filipino Director of the Bureau of Forestry (predecessor of the
DENR), 2nd Dean and the first Filipino to become the dean of the UPLB School of Forestry and
Natural Resources

Dr. Jesus V. Tamesis - one of the country's primiere ophthalmologist, First Filipino President
of the World Medical Association, started the Maria project (predecessor of Philippine Medical
Care Commission or MEDICARE wherein he is commissioner), Presidential Medal of Honor
recipient during the time of President Carlos P. Garcia, established the Unisan Medicare
Hospital, one of the first such hospitals in the Philippines

Dr. Benjamin V. Tamesis - former Director of the National Orthopedic Hospital

Bienvenido C. Vera Cruz - retired Justice of the Sandiganbayan

Gerardo M. Maxino - First Municipal Mayor

Vicente Constantino - former Governor of Quezon

Gregorio Santayana - former Governor of Quezon

Danilo E. Suarez - 3rd District Representative to the Philippine Congress, 1992-2001, 20042013, 2016 to present

Aleta C. Suarez - 3rd District Representative to the Philippine Congress, 2001-2004, 20132016
David "Jay-jay" Suarez - Provincial Governor of Quezon, 2010 to present
Louie Alas - is a multi-titled Filipino basketball coach. He is the former head coach of the
Letran Knights in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, former head coach of the Manila
Metrostars in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball League, former head coach of two other
teams in the PBA and at present, assistant coach of the Alaska team, also in the PBA

Local government[edit]
Mayors[edit]
List of former municipal mayors from 1941 onwards:

Gerardo M. Maxino 19411945

Pedro Constantino, Jr (Appointed) 19451946

Romualdo Vargas 19461955

Joaquin M. Carillo 19551967

Ramoncito C. Vera Cruz 19681972

Arturo I. Constantino, Sr. 19721980; Re-elected in 1980 but died a few days after assuming
office

Ramoncito C. Vera Cruz (Elected Vice Mayor, became Mayor when Mayor Arturo
Constantino died in March, 1980) 19801986

Joselito V. Tolentino (OIC) 19861987; Elected 19881992

Nonato E. Puache 19922001

Cesar P. Alpay 20012004

Nonato E. Puache 20042007

Cesar P. Alpay 20072010

Nonato E. Puache 2010-present

Appointed OIC:

Rodolfo B. Matocios 12-01-1987 to 01-01-1988

Renato V. Tolentino 01-01-1988 to 02-03-1988

Prominent Mayors in the pre-war era include, among others: Atty. Francisco Deveza De Jesus
(whom Bgy. F. De Jesus was named after), Dr. Teodorico V. Valerio, Dionisio V. Valerio, and Eulogio
Fernandez
Several Mayors in the same era were surnamed Constantino and Isaac, two prominent names in the
municipality

Vice-mayors[edit]
Municipal vice-mayors: 1968 onwards

Jorge B. Vargas - 19681972

Jose Redublo - 1972-1976

Ramoncito C. Vera Cruz - 1976-1980

Paulina E. Puache - 19801986

(OIC) Editha M. Valerio 19861988

Nonato E. Puache 19881992

Arturo C. Constantino, Jr. 19921995

Cesar P. Alpay 1995-2001

Arturo C. Constantino, Jr. 20012004

Joselito V. Tolentino 20042007

Arturo C. Constantino, Jr 20072010

Ferdinand Adulta 20102016

Danilo Suarez, Jr. 2016-present

Congressional District[edit]
Unisan belongs to the 3rd District of Quezon province. The said congressional district also includes
Agdangan, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Pitogo, San
Andres, San Francisco and the San Narciso.

Events and festival[edit]

Sto. Nio Festival - (3rd Sunday of January)

Cocolilay Festival/Dinilawang Manok Festival/Unisan Day - February 18

Holy Week-The Passion of Christ/Senakulo - Lenten season

Flores De Mayo - (Last Sunday of May)

Flores De Maria/Tapusan - (Last Day of May)

Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle (Town Fiesta) - June 29

Festival[edit]
CocoLilay Festival When the month of February comes, the people of Unisan, Quezon prepare for
the annual celebration of CocoLilay Festival, wherein the coconut tree and the Lilay Tree is the main
attraction of the festivities. The festival is highlighted by a street dancing competition participated by
the residents of different barangays, as well as by elementary and high school students.
In the later part of 2011, the Dinilawang Manok Festival was held in the town. However, it was
replaced again by CocoLilay Festival in the succeeding years to give importance to the town's
history.

Tourism potential and destinations[edit]

Old Municipal Hall

Liwasang Kagitingan

Kalilayan Bridge

Malatandang Beach Resort

Adela's Beach House

Presca Beach Resort

Bonifacio Cave

Mag-asawang Bato Beaches

Casa Carrillo

Casa De Jesus

Casa Deveza

Casa Tolentino

Vargas' Masion

Tulay Buwaya

Unisan's Port

St. Peter the Apostle Parish

St. Roche Parish