Carigara, Leyte

Carigara
Municipality
Map of Leyte with Carigara highlighted Map of Leyte with Carigara highlighted
Carigara Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province	Leyte
Congr. district	2nd district of Leyte
Barangays	49
Government
• Mayor	Eduardo Ong
Area
• Total	117.86 km2 (45.51 sq mi)
Population (2015)
• Total	51,345
• Density	440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6529
Dialing code	53

Carigara is a second class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 51,345 people. It is a town in northern Leyte located right on the shore of Carigara Bay, and surrounded by wide rice fields fanning out towards the mountains in the distance.

Barangays

Carigara is politically subdivided into 49 barangays.

3

History

Carigara was originally called Kangara, meaning "that of Gara" or simply "Gara's". Gara was said to have come from Borneo, one of the unnamed companions of the ten datus who landed in Panay and purchased that island from the Ati (or Aeta) chief Marikudo. Later, for phonetic convenience, Kangara became Kalgara and when the Spaniards came, they called the place Carigara; hence its present name.

Carigara has a history unique from its neighboring towns. It is the first town established in Eastern Visayas. Its town fiesta which is celebrated every 16 July, commemorates the day of the first coming of the Spaniards dated July 16, 1569. The fiesta that is celebrated almost the entire month of July was dubbed as the Fiesta of the Holy Cross.

Demographics

Population census of Carigara
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	38,863	—
1995	42,302	+1.60%
2000	43,455	+0.58%
2007	45,696	+0.70%
2010	47,444	+1.38%
Source: National Statistics Office

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System