Bogo, Building Roads to Progress

by Kaymae Pilapil Maitum

Bogo City is in the northern part of Cebu Province. The approximated distance of Bogo from Cebu City is 101.9 km. The roads to Bogo are now asphalted while the other parts are cemented. Transportation using public vehicles are available. Boat services bound for its neighboring islands, Leyte and Masbate, are also available in the city. It is almost located at the tipmost North making its doors open to other provinces just like Leyte, Masbate, and Bantayan Island. This geographical location makes Bogo the trading center of Northern Cebu and is also called as the "Queen City of the North".

Bogo has a tree scientifically named "Garuga Floribunda", a 15-meter tall tree with fairly small dark round flowers and long and pinnate leaves. Not known to many, Bogo got its name from this tree. Bogo started as a small community along the shores of Nailon. Early settlers and traders used the tree they called "bogo" as their shelter and protection from sunlight as they do tradings under its warmth and shade. Since then, "bogo" become a landmark which is known to traders and merchants coming from different places. The power of the word easily spread until the place where the tree is located was called Bogo.

However, it was said that during that merciless Japanese bombong on December 12, 1942 all the records of Bogo has been burned to ashes. Inspite of that, Bogo has never stopped striving.

Nevertheless, the physical characteristics of Bogo shows that it is worthy to be recognized. With the area of 10, 700 square kilometers, a population of 63, 869, households of 13, 509 and a labor force of 29, 000 (based on the 2000 census), who says it can't be rich? With matching soil type of Faraon Clay, steep phase Bolinao Clay, Medellin Clay, Lugo Clay, and Hydrosol; and a climate which is at the third type characterized by a non-pronounced wet period from one to three months; relatively dry from the second half of November to April, Bogo did show-up.

With these area, soil type and climate, it produces and supplies nipa palms, coc lumber, sugarcane, corn, coconut, bamboo, shells, fish and marine products and dry goods. Not only that, it also has skills for carpentry, masonry, tinsmith, metalcraft, sugarfarm workers, shellcraft, fishermen, professionals, and businessmen.

Bogo have been fighting since 1800 and is still aiming to have a great success while on the way of improving physically and economically. The 29 barangays of Bogo blossomed. Developments at both the rural and urban barangays is helping Bogo to boost up the economy of the town. Each has something to be proud of and recognized.

Bogo is never giving up, and because of that, it had gained awards. On December 14, 1994, a very unprecedented event in the colorful history of Bogo happened. It was crying time, the tears of jubilation fell, rejoicing and pride came in. Bogo was declared as the "Cleanest and Greenest Municipality in the whole country". What an honor! And wanting more, three weeks later, January 6, 1995, we plucked another one: "The Most Outstanding Local Government Unit in Region VII". What made these possible? These outstanding achievements are the reflections of our unity, attitude, and character as a people. Bogohanons have that extraordinary zeal to excel, the burning desire to be above the rest.

Bogo never fail to get a lot of achievements every year, and one of its most significant achievement is the town's proclamation as a newly created component city just last June 16, 2007, the Charter Day of Bogo.

Just like what our present mayor said, "I cannot do this alone, but we can do this together". With the triumphs in converting the whole town, we are still facing daunting challenges. But nothing can bring us to a standstill for Bogohanons are born achievers. Together let us prove our worth!

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The Guest Author:

Kaymae Pilapil Maitum

community paper writer | DJ 
Follow @kaymaemaitum