Its history is remarkable as mentioned by some notable historian of the land as well the old folks who’se stories passed from generations to generations.
Early Settlement
Iriga, before the Spanish era was called I-raga (beautiful and Flourishing). This sprung from a flourishing native settlement by the bank of the Bikol River called Bua (now the municipality of Nabua). Iriga was only a “visita” of Nabua, almost a decade after Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines on March 16, 1521. It is because of the disastrous floods that occur during rainy seasons in suburban Poblacion of Nabua.
Bua has a low marshy terrain easily flooded during the rainy season, so some people thought wisely to leave and settle to a higher land at the foot of the Sumagang, a mountain east of Bua. Sumagang or Mt. Asog (now Mt. Iriga ) in the Bua dialect means “sunrise” and in Bikol language “agang sumirang,” meaning “early to rise”. This came to be called Iraga, which historians claim that it was called because Iraga being a frontier land had large tracts of land available for cultivation suitable for settlement. Iraga is Bikol word, a contraction of Igwa (there is ) Raga (land or soil).
Father Felix de Huertas, the then parish priest advised the farmers to move to I-raga (donde hay tierra or “where there is land) where they can plant their crops without fears of being flooded. The flood victims of Bua who moved earlier and followed the suggestions of their parish priest were the fortunate beneficiaries of the harvest of their agriculture plantation coming from the rich and fertile soil of I-raga, more so, those who planted at the foot of Sumagang Mountain (Mountain of the Rising Sun, now Mt. Iriga), said to be nature’s given symbol of the Iriguenos lofty ideals and noble visions.
Road to Christianhood
The friars who set foot in the Bikol peninsula, saw in the new land a good ground for evangelization. As evangelization by the Franciscan friars progressed, Iraga developed in size and wealth. Soon therefore, foundation work had been laid down by proclaiming it a visita of Nabua. More and more people from Nabua came to Iraga to settle.
As population spread out and evangelization progressed, the settlement at the foot of Sumagang Mountain developed in size and wealth, slowly pushing the oborigines (Agta) up to the thickness of the forests. And in 1578 the I-raga settlement was established as “visita” of Nabua under Fray Pablo de Jesus and Fray Bartolome Ruiz, both Franciscans.
In 1578, the first church was constructed with Saint Anthony of Padua as the patron saint of the parish, Father Pedro de Jesus and Father Bartolome Ruiz were the religious heads responsible for choosing the patron saint of the visita.
FAST FACTS
Name : IRIGA CITY
Former Name : I-raga
Date of Cityhood : June 15, 1968 as per Republic Act No. 5261
Total land area : 119.6 square kilometers
Geography : 400 kilometers south of Manila
Population : 88,570 as of year 2000
Climate : Tropical (Type II)
Political Subdivision : 36 baranggays
Dialect : Miraya Type, Rinconada
Major Income Source : farming, livestocks and woodcraft
Religion : Catholic, Iglesia ni Cristo, Seventh Day Adventist
Fiesta : June 13
Zip Code : 4431
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air:
From Manila to the Pili Airport is a 45 to 1 hour travel. Iriga can be reached within 30 minute by jeep or by bus. From Legazpi, which is 55 minutes from Manila, Iriga is still an other 45-minute ride.
By buses
More than twenty aircon bus companies ply the Manila-Iriga route daily, covering some 400 kilometers and a 10-hour ride, These bus companies have their respective booking offices at the City Aircon Terminal in Iriga and strategic places in Metro Manila.
By Train
After its new management, PNR still serves the Bicolanos as the safest mode of transportion to Iriga. This is the railway system that made Iriga the center of trade and commerce for its neighboring towns of Baao, Bato, Buhi and Nabua.
ROAMING THE CITY by Sumagang
Iriga City North Entrance
St. Anthony de Padua Parish If you're in this promising city, you're going to be puzzled with roads are engineerd. That's why the city government resolve how to make it more convenient to every traveller that visited this place. There are sign in every intersections as guides and information for one way streets.
If you're travelling from the north, you will be greeted by the view of the greenish and captivating view of Mt. Iriga— formerly known as Mt. Asog which is an extinct volcano. Its last recorded eruption was January 4, 1614 that eventually formed Lake Buhi. It has an elevation of 1196 meters (3,924 feet), Ilian Hill on the other hand sits at its foot just a few kilometers above the barrio San Nicolas.
When night falls, vendors are plying the main streets of the city. The smell of pork or beef Barbeque soaked in an Irigueño's styled "atsara" will truly give you a saliva twirl of greediness. The steamed duck's embryo or "balut" in local term is a favorite past time to eat. If your not brave for a shot, there's "tok neneng" or quail egg which is accompanied by "sawsawan" for a taste that you won't forget.
You can also see some teens clad in a hip-hop attire which means they are going to their favorite night-spot— DISCO!. Yes, Iriga has two disco houses that you can try to relax and take a dip of beer. Bars and Videoke houses are scattered in the main city and even in some barrios.
The first barangay you will enter is San Agustin, one of the 36 baranggays that will lead you to the main city. Next is barangay San Isidro where some of the government offices are located such as LTO, CASURECO III and HALL OF JUSTICE. San Nicolas follows where Ilian Hill and proposed Agranan ni Asog is located. Fromthis location you can now have a clear view of Mt. Iriga specially when you reach the San Nicolas Elementary School at far left of the main road. Upon turning right curve you will see the home of PHILTRANCO (formerly ALATCO) and the Iriga Central School at your right followed by IRIGATEL in your left.
Finally, here we are in barangay San Francisco, where the main city is found. Upon entering the city proper, you'll be turning right at Petron gas station to give you a quick look of the city. To your left you will see the St. Anthony de Padua Parish and La Consolacion College, the only non-sectarian school in the municipality. Then it is followed by the Iriga Fire Department Office and the City Grandstand, the venue of most local and special occassions.
To your the right, you'll see the Colloseum and the Iriga City Hall which houses the city governent. Adjacent to it is the Rizal Park. where promenaders and youth activities takes place. It also has a skating rink where rollerblade afficionados show their skills and talents.
The city of Iriga is not as big as Naga and Legazpi. Well, who will ever told you that adventure can only be found in the city? Some excitement and surprises are abound in barrios that only awaits for you to discover. All you have to do is navigate the site and it will help guide you as you go on.
Surely, one of the things you hoped to discover is new foods. As you can taste Jollibee, Mc. Donald's, Greenwich and the likes almost anywhere, you can have break from these fastfoods and try eating local cusine. MCM, Mayees, D' Nadals and other restaurants offer Bicolano specialties such as "pinangat" "laing" and the famous "Bicol express". People who love spicy foods will surely have a feast.
PROFILE
Iriga City was once an inconspicuous settlement where it used to be a mere barrio of Nabua town in the early 1570's. The establishment of Y-ragga as a barrio happened upon the recommendation of Padre Felix Huertas, the curate of Nabua, who encouraged the people to migrate to a place where there was a better land to cultivate.
Some parishioners took the advise of Fr. Huertas and soon they stumbled upon a place which best fit the description, a stretch of mountain range that include two prominent landmarks in the Bicol region, that of Mt. Asog(now Mt. Iriga) and Mt. Isarog. With this startling discovery, the people went back to their old community and announced to the people “I Raga sa Sumagang”, spoken in local vernacular which means “There is land or higher land in Sumagang”. They then returned back home and announced to their fellow that they found a place which has a fertile land. Thus, the creation of a place known as Y-ragga.
It was more than a hundred years later, in 1683, when Y-ragga became a town and likewise installing St. Anthony of Padua as their patron saint.
Four barangays were established in the year 1710 which include: San Nicolas, San Isidro , San Agustin and San Antnio de Abad. Republic Act 5261 which was promulgated on June 15, 1968 made the way for the conversion of the Municipality of Iriga into a chartered city, making it as the third city in the Bicol region.
Iriga City was inaugurated as the youngest city in the Bicol region on September 3, 1968 by the then President Ferdinand Marcos.
LOCATION
Four hundred seventy-eight (478) kilometers south of Manila, Iriga is strategically located in the Bicol region, situated as it is between Naga in the North and Legazpi in the south.
TOPOGRAPHY
Iriga's topography varies from flat to rolling terrain with elevation ranging from 10 to 60 meters with Mt. Iriga reaching 1,149 meters above sea level.
CLIMATE
The city's climate is tropical, with two pronounced seasons: wet, from June to December; and dry, from January to May.
LAND AREA: 17,400 hectares (78% is agricultural, 16% built-up and 6% forest area
DIALECT: Miraya Type, Rinconada
NATURAL RESOURCES
Iriga is called the City of Springs, with more than thirty natural springs providing a rich source of drinking and irrigation waters. Its most prominent natural landmark, Mt. Iriga, is a favorite mountain climbing destination of local moutaineers and hikers.
MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME
Farming, livestock raising and woodcraft
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air:
From Manila to the Pili Airport is a 55 minute travel. Iriga can be reached within 30 minute by jeep or by bus. From Legazpi Airport, which is an hour’s flight from Manila, Iriga is 50 minutes by car.
By Land:
Major aircon bus companies ply the Manila-Bicol route via the Maharlika Highway. Terminals are located at the Ali Mall, Cubao, EDSA, Pasay City, and Pedro Gil Street, Manila.
The Philippine National Railway also ply the Manila-Bicol route and vice versa daily.
Getting Around:
Buses and jeepneys are the main mode of transportation. There are also available Rent-A-Car services. Trimobiles and pedicabs are also available for short distances.
COMMUNICATIONS
Providing modern communication facilities in Iriga City are: Iriga Telephone Company, ICC-BayanTel, Digitel, Smart, Mobiline, PT&T; and RCPI. They extend state of the art communication technology to local and international clients. To link up with the Information Highway, internet providers and local internet cafes are available in the city proper.
• Telephone companies: 4
• Telegraph services: 3
• Radio stations: 3
• Relay TV stations: 2
• Cable TV stations: 3
• Postal and messenger services: 4
Contact