Bugasong, officially the Municipality of Bugasong, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 34,676 people. Making it 8th most populous municipality in the province of Antique and fourth largest municipality in terms of land area, with a total area of 203.71 square kilometers.

Geography

Bugasong is 43 km from the provincial capital, San Jose de Buenavista. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 203.71 km2 constituting NaN% of the 2,729.17 km2 total area of Antique. Bugasong has two largest river's Paliwan River 58.1 km and Kangaranan River 56.8 km. Bugasong has many highest peaks Mount Baloy 1958 m and Mount Balabag 1716 m.

Climate

Barangays

Bugasong is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. Ilaures and Cubay Sur were sitios converted into barrios in 1957 and 1959, respectively.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, Bugasong had a population of 34,676. The population density was undefined PD/km2. Bugasongnons speak Kinaray-a as their main dialect while Hiligaynon is used as their secondary dialect.

Economy

The Bagtason Loom Weavers Association (BLWA) under chairman Mario Manzano, established in 2008 is the maker of the original "sampaguita" design patadyong habol, habul or pinili textile. They launched a demonstration farm for natural indigo dye sourced from Antique for their handwoven fabric. The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) trained the weavers using funds from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Government

The current mayor of the town is John Lloyd Pacete with Bernard Pesayco as vice mayor. The town council is composed of ten members, eight are elected at large, while two are elected after the barangay elections. The current town council members are:

Tourism

The town celebrates its annual town fiesta every 18 January in honor of Santo Niño (the Holy Child). The local town festival, the Bugas Sa Lusong, is integrated with this celebration, with its opening salvo sometime between 10 and 12 January. The highlight of the celebration is the high mass on 18 January, usually celebrated by the diocesan bishop and visiting priests. The patadyong, a colorful native fabric, is a well-known product made by the locals in barangay Bagtason. The Estaca Hills historically served as the town's watch tower. Currently, it is a destination for hiking. From the top, one can see the entirety of Bugasong.

Education

The town is the location of the only Dominican school in the province of Antique, Saint Joseph Academy, which was established on 1957. The school is run by the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. Notable alumni include former Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Atty. Pelagio Apostol and then National Artist Edsel Moscoso. Rex Francis Z. Ynion, a Council Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Metro Manila South Council which has jurisdiction to the Cities of Las Pinas, Taguig, Muntinlupa and Municipality of Pateros. Other schools in the town include: Antique Vocational School, at the town proper; Northern Bugasong National School at barangay Cubay North; Southern Bugasong National School at barangay Igbalangao and Eastern Bugasong National High School (formerly Northern Bugasong National High School-Annex) at barangay Pangalcagan.

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