Dalaguete

Dalaguete, officially the Municipality of Dalaguete, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 74,596 people.
Located south of Cebu City, Dalaguete is bordered to the north by the town of Argao, to the west are the towns of Badian and Alegria, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the town of Alcoy.
Dalaguete offers one of the trails to Cebu's highest mountain, the Osmeña Peak.
History
The dalakit (Ficus benjamina) tree is the foundation of the origin and name of Dalaguete.
They highly consider this tree for their belief that it harbors spirits or diwatas who could impose sickness if maltreated or hand in fortunes and gifts if placated. When fully grown, the intertwining roots are exposed from the earth and form huge caverns that could house several people.
In ancient times, before the coming of the Spaniards, these trees had been used by people as major landmarks. People gathered under the encompassing shades and conduct social and economic activities such as festivities, contest, trading meetings, and other community gatherings. They establish market places under the shades of the dalaket where they sell their products and conduct trade with local roving traders bringing in Chinese and Asiatic goods from the port of Cebu.
The place where the church or the poblacion were laid would have been the site of a communal gathering area for the natives. It was also the abode of a huge dalakit tree which provide shade and shelter while people conduct their activities. "Adto ta mag-abot sa dalakit". "Adto ta magtigom-tigom sa dalakit" [Let us meet at the dalakit]. These and other phrases were common among locals of centuries past when coming up with an agreement to meet or conduct an activity specifically at the site where the dalakit is situated. For several generations in pre-Hispanic Dalaguete, the area has always been unofficially called as dalakit. Its accessibility and its reputation as a communal area for community gathering have prompted the Spanish authorities to construct the church and eventually establish the area as part of an encomienda. From this common ground, and from this tree, begun the conception of a larger town which later come to be known as Dalaguete.
Geography
Land characteristics
Land Area:
Topography: 85% hilly and mountainous with more than 30% slope
Land Use:
45% protected area and watersheds
30% agriculture (prime area for vegetable production in the province)
6% built-up area (proj. 2010: 6 - 15%)
Climate
Tropical climate prevails year round in Dalaguete. The temperature is high and varies little with a difference of about between the coldest month which occurs around January and hottest month around May. The mountain barangays are cold and Mantalongon is considered the "Little Baguio of Cebu". Average daytime temperatures except in mountainous region range from . Humidity is 77%.
Barangays
Dalaguete is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Demographics
Religions
Economy
Agriculture: farming, fishing
Products: vegetables, fish
Cottage industry: blanket & mat weaving, basket making
Mineral Resources: ice stones, lime red stone, lime pink stones, wood stones, phosphate, coal
Utanon Festival
Dalaguete celebrates its annual town fiesta in honor of its patron saint, San Guillermo, every 9 and 10 February. One of the highlights of the celebration is the street dancing and showdown competition called "Utanon Festival".
Utanon Festival is also a form of thanksgiving for all the blessings and graces the Dalaguetenons have received from San Guillermo and for giving them a place so rich in agriculture and music. Utanon Festival is a celebration of good harvest through dance and music. The town is known as the "Vegetable Basket of Cebu" and Mantalongon as the "Summer Capital of Cebu".
Education
The public schools in the town of Dalaguete are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Cebu Province.
Elementary schools:
Ablayan Elementary School — Ablayan
Amonsao Elementary School — Sitio Amonsao, Catolohan
Babayongan Elementary School — Babayongan
Balud Elementary School — Balud
Banhigan Elementary School — Banhigan
Bulak Elementary School — Bulak
Caleriohan Elementary School — Caleriohan
Caliongan Elementary School — Caliongan
Cancabalong Elementary School — Sitio Cancabalong, Obo
Canlawilao Elementary School — Sitio Canlawilao, Dumalan
Casay Elementary School — Casay
Catambisan Elementary School — Sitio Catambisan, Mantalongon
Catolohan Elementary School — Catolohan
Cawayan Central Elementary School — Cawayan
Consolacion Elementary School — Consolacion
Coro Elementary School — Coro
Dalaguete Central Elementary School — Osmeña Avenue, Poblacion
Dugyan Elementary School — Dugyan
Dumalan Elementary School — Dumalan
Jolomaynon Elementary School — Jolomaynon
Karatagan Elementary School — Sitio Karatagan, Caliongan
Lanao Elementary School — Lanao
Langkas Elementary School — Langkas
Libo Primary School — Sitio Libo, Catolohan
Lugsangan Elementary School — Sitio Lugsangan, Tabon
Lumbang Elementary School — Lumbang
Malones Elementary School — Malones
Maloray Elementary School — Maloray
Manangal Elementary School — Mananggal
Manlapay Elementary School — Manlapay
Mantalongon Elementary School — Mantalongon
Nalhub Elementary School — Nalhub
Obo Elementary School — Obo
Obong Elementary School — Obong
Panaguikan Elementary School — Sitio Panaguikan, Tapon
Panas Elementary School — Panas
Sacsac Elementary School — Sacsac
Salug Elementary School — Salug
Sampig Elementary School — Sitio Sampig, Mantalongon
Tabon Elementary School — Tabon
Tuba Elementary School — Sitio Amonsao, Catolohan
Tubod Elementary School — Sitio Tubod, Obong
High schools:
Caleriohan National High School — Caleriohan
Caliongan National High School — Caliongan
Casay National High School — Casay
Cawayan National High School — Cawayan
Dalaguete National High School — Poblacion
Dumalan National High School — Dumalan
Manlapay National High School — Manlapay
Mantalongon National High School — Mantalongon
References
Sources
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
Municipalities of Cebu