# Lagonoy

Lagonoy, officially the Municipality of Lagonoy (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Lagonoy; Tagalog: Bayan ng Lagonoy), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 56,714 people.

## Etymology

There are two version as how Lagonoy got its name. Year 1734 when the first Spaniards in this place found a small forested area near a creek where "hagonoy", a medicinal plant grew abundantly. Because the Spaniards could hardly pronounce the word "hagonoy" with the "j" sound, with "ha" of the first syllable, they deliberately decided to change "ha" to "la". Since then, the place was known as "Lagonoy". Some of the residents also believed that the name was taken from the word "lango" meaning drunk. During fiestas and other forms or merry making, men used to drink too much "tuba" (native wine) that they become drunk or "lango" (Bikol for drunk) so that the place was called by the neighboring towns as "Lagonoy".

## History

In 1734, Partido towns of Caramoan, Lagonoy, Goa and Tigaon belonged to Albay. It was only in 1846 did Lagonoy belong to Camarines Sur. In a long research by Norman Owen, a feud between Lagonoy Parish and Franciscan Mission of Goa and Tigaon existed. In 1580, the administration by the Franciscans of Lagonoy Parish began until 1636, which was passed to the “mitre” of the bishop of Nueva Caceres. In 1580 to 1850, Lagonoy gulf had been very famous because of the constant moro raids in the Partido area and all coastal towns of Albay and Catanduanes. On the other hand, Lagonoy had other problems about the Remontados of Mt Isarog. F. Mallari, in his book- “Ibalon under siege and storm” said they were fallen Christians and confirmed by Fray Manuel Crespo, who spent many years inducing them to return to the town and live peacefully. Fray Matias de Valdesoto also noted in his visits to the sitios of Goa and Lagonoy that the natives planted corn, rice, root crops & tobacco.

## Geography
### Barangays

Lagonoy is politically subdivided into 38 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Agosais
* Agpo-Camagong-Tabog
* Amoguis
* Bocogan
* Balaton
* Binanuahan
* Burabod
* Cabotonan
* Dahat
* Del Carmen
* Genorangan
* Gimagtocon
* Gubat
* Guibahoy
* Himanag
* Kinahologan
* Loho
* Manamoc
* Mangogon
* Mapid
* Olas
* Omalo
* Panagan
* Panicuan
* Pinamihagan
* San Francisco (Poblacion)
* San Isidro
* San Isidro Sur (Poblacion)
* San Isidro Norte (Poblacion)
* San Rafael
* San Ramon
* San Roque
* San Sebastian
* San Vicente (Poblacion)
* Santa Cruz
* Santa Maria (Poblacion)
* Saripongpong (Poblacion)
* Sipaco

### Climate

Climate data for Lagonoy, Camarines Sur :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 32 (90) | 35 (95) | 35 (95) | 35 (95) | 34 (93) | 33 (91) | 34 (93) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 33 (91) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 28 (83) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 82.88 (3.26) | 137.93 (5.43) | 63.69 (2.51) | 78.31 (3.08) | 229.42 (9.03) | 288.31 (11.35) | 280.99 (11.06) | 112.39 (4.42) | 210.87 (8.30) | 599.07 (23.59) | 194.80 (7.67) | 454.3 (17.89) | 2,732.96 (107.59) |
| Average rainy days | 24 | 28 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 318 |
| Source: World Weather Online ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, was 56,714 people, with a density of 150 inhabitants per square kilometre or 390 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Lagonoy
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 2006 37.80
* 2009 46.73
* 2012 37.56
* 2015 41.26
* 2018 30.08
* 2021 37.72
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Lagonoy is the chief supplier of "tiger grass" to the prominent soft broom "walis tambo makers" of North Luzon and some parts of Central Luzon.

## Education

This municipality has an different Elementary and Secondary Schools.

### Elementary schools

* Lagonoy North Central School - Balaton, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Lagonoy South Central School - National Highway, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur

### Secondary schools

* Lagonoy High School, Inc. - Sta. Maria, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Dahat Vocational National High School - Dahat, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* San Sebastian Fisheries High School -San Sebastian, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Cabotonan High School - Olas, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Panagan National High School - Panagan, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* San Ramon Pilot National High School - San Ramon, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Himanag National High School - Himanag, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Balaton National High School - Balaton, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
* Sipaco National High School - Sipaco, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur

## Gallery

* Remaining belfry of old Lagonoy Church
* Portal to the Old Cemetery of Lagonoy
* Kinahulogan Falls
* Caguiscan River
* Caguiscan Picnic Grove and Campsite
* Abaca fibers produced in Lagonoy