Gasan, officially the Municipality of Gasan, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Marinduque, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,197 people. The municipality is bounded by the provincial capital, Boac, to the north and east, by Buenavista to the southeast and by the Sibuyan Sea to the south and west. It is the second-oldest municipality in Marinduque, after Boac. Residents of Gasan are called Gaseños. Gasan is 16 km from Boac. The Tres Reyes Islands off the coast of Marinduque are under the jurisdiction of Gasan, part of the municipality's Barangay Pinggan.

Etymology

The origin of the name of Gasan came from the term Gasang or Gasang-Gasang, a type of coral once abundant around the town's shoreline. Legend has it that when the Spaniards discovered the town, they found an old woman near the banks of today's Matandang Gasan River. When asked in Spanish what was the name of the town, she interpreted it as if they were asking about what was the name of the corals growing around the area, with the Spaniards interpreting her answer as the name of the town. Over time, the term Gasang-Gasang was shortened to Gasang before being shortened further to Gasan.

History

In 1942, during World War II, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Gasan, Marinduque. In 1945, the combined United States and Allied Philippine Commonwealth forces landed in Gasan, Marinduque. The 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was participated in the battle to attacking Japanese forces, during which hundreds of Japanese troops were taken prisoner at the town of Gasan, Marinduque. This became known as the Battle of Marinduque. In 1957, barrio Banto-anin was renamed as Bukal and barrio Hinubuan was renamed as Antipolo.

Geography

Barangays

Gasan is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. All barangays in Gasan are bounded in part by coastline, except the mountainous barangays of Bachao Ilaya, Cabugao, Dawis, Mangiliol, Matandang Gasan, Tabionan, Tapuyan, and Tiguion, though Barangay Dawis is claiming that the coastline of Bukana, which is now controlled by Pinggan, belongs to them as well as the place itself.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Gasan, Marinduque, was 36,197 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Religion

Economy

Transportation

The Marinduque Ring Road passes through Gasan and is known as San Jose Street in downtown Gasan. Tricycles and jeepneys can be used to navigate the town, while jeepneys can also be used to go to other towns. Taxis are available to and from major transportation terminals. Buses also stop in downtown Gasan to go to Lucena City and further on to Metro Manila. Many roads are paved. Marinduque Airport, the island's only airport, is located in Barangay Masiga. Zest Air (now AirAsia Zest) was the first airline to resume scheduled flights to Marinduque in 2008 after its closure for four consecutive years.

Tourism

Gasan is home to some of Marinduque's best-known tourist spots:

Barangay landmarks

In a recent tourist campaign known as "Parine na bayâ!", the municipal government promoted individual barangays' products and landmarks in a bid to showcase Gasan as a tourist destination. Some include the following: • Antipolo: Fish products • Bachao Ibaba and Bachao Ilaya: Wooden handicrafts • Bacong-Bacong: Watermelons • Bangbang: Wicker handicrafts • Banot: Banot Beach Park • Bognuyan: Fish • Cabugao: Gemilina plantation • Dili: Wooden footbridge • Libtangin: Open-air tiangge • Mahunig: Gasan Cemetery • Mangiliol: Arrowroot • Masiga: Patis • Pangi: Butterfly farm • Pinggan: Tres Reyes Islands • Tabionan: Tabionan River • Tapuyan: Nito • Tiguion: Talao Cave • Dawis: Pamaypay, Pastilyas

Culture

Festivals

There are three main festivals celebrated in Gasan, two of which are unique to the municipality:

Education

Tertiary

Secondary

Primary

• Antipolo Elementary School • Bachao Elementary School • Bacongbacong Elementary School • Bahi Elementary School • Bangbang Elementary School • Banot-Mahunig Elementary School • Banuyo Elementary School • Bognuyan Elementary School • Cabugao Elementary School • Dawis Elementary School • Gasan Central School • Gaspar Elementary School • Libtangin Public School • Mangiliol Elementary School • Masiga Elementary School • Matandang Gasan Public School • Pangi Elementary School • Pinggan Elementary School • Quatiz Elementary School • Tabionan Elementary School • Talao Elementary School • Tapuyan Elementary School • Tiguion Elementary School