Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon

Carmen is an urban barangay poblado in the municipality of San Agustin island of Tablas in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 2,294 people in 414 households. Its land area is 645.78 hectares.

Romblomanon or Ini is the native language of the residents of this barangay poblado.

Useful Information & Statistics on Present-day Carmen:

Land Use:

Carmen Cultivated Land:
*Coconut Plantations - 416 hectares
*Rice Paddies:
Rain Feed - 8.15 Hectares
Irrigated Land - 16.5 Hectares
Total - 25.45 Hectares
*Vegetable and Root Crop Plantations - 15 Hectares
*Nipa and Swamp Land - 5 Hectares
*Buri Palms and Orchard Plantations - 15 Hectares
*Forest and Brushwood - 144.33 Hectares
*Settlement Area (Built-up Area) - 25 Hectares
*Grand Total - 645.78 Hectares

Barangay/Sitio Chapel Population, Parish of Mt. Carmel
Data based on Year 2000 Census
1.Carmen(Excluding Manonggoy & Suong) - 1,034
2.Manonggoy - 664
3.Suong - 596
4.Cabolutan - 974
5.Santiago - 633
6.Cawayan - 703
7.Mahabangbaybay - 1,203
8.Baha - 541
9.Sugod - 1,319
10.Dayongdong - 333
*Total- 8,000

Outstanding Sons and Daughters of Carmen:

Don Adriano J. Montesa – An adopted son of Carmen. Born in Romblon, Romblon Married to Felipa Miraflores of Sitio Manonggoy (daughter of Alejandra Marin and Catalino Miraflores) former Municipal President of Badajoz from 1907 – 1910. Municipal Vice-President from 1910 – 1912. Municipal Judge during the Commonwealth Period until his death from 1922 – 1936. They were successful businessmen who owned a big store whose goods come directly from Manila thru the pre-war M/V del Rosario plying Manila – Carmen route.

Sergio Montesa – Brother of Don Vito Montesa whose wife is Crispina Millares. He became Municipal Vice-President in 1907 – 1909. Their children are Leoncia (married Jose Gutierrez), Concepcion (married Andres Malbas), Agapita (married Hilarion Panopio) and Jose (married a Spanish mestiza). He was the Teniende del Barrio of Carmen from 1903 – 1905.

Jose S. Montesa – The only son of Sergio Montesa. Former Municipal President from 1920 – 1922. Municipal Vice-President 1919 – 1920. He donated the school and church sites of Carmen. His daughter Pura (Inday) is wife of Ex-Mayor Pablo Burguete. Municipal Mayor of San Agustin 1951 – 1953.

Jose Gutierrez – A great politician who become Municipal President in 1928 – 1933. He was very instrumental in opening and completing the provincial road from Carmen to Mahabangbaybay and the national road from Carmen to Calatrava passing through Salingsing mountain ranges, which was started in 1928 and completed in 1932. He was the Teniente del Barrio of Carmen from 1925 – 1928.

Roman Manal – He become Municipal Vice-President twice from 1911 – 1912 and from 1913 – 1916. He was appointed councilor of the Special Municipality of Tablas from 1942 – 1945 when the provincial government of Romblon was abolished by operation of Commonwealth Act No. 581 authored by Rep. Leonardo Festin. He was the Tiniente del Barrio of Carmen from 1916 – 1919.

Sancho Faigao – Husband of Socorro Malbas, daughter of Andres Malbas. Politician, nurse, poet, writer, teacher, musician who become Mayor of San Agustin from 1958 – 1962. He was the Teniente del Barrio of Carmen from 1950 – 1952.

Felix M. Morales – Son of Gaudencio Morales and Dioscora Moreno. Nephew of Ex-Congressman Jose D. Moreno and ex-Secretary of DPWTC (Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications) Florencio Moreno. He became the municipal mayor in 1963 – 1967.

Francisco M. Villan – Husband of Consolacion Montesa, daughter of Don Vito Montesa and Dona Egifciaca Marin. Was the Chief Budget officer in the office of the Secretary of DPWTC. A recipient of the prestigious most honest Government employee nationwide award. Citation awarded by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Mercedita Manipol Fetalvero – The first taga-Carmen to win gold medal in international track and field competitions. A national player and Southeast Asian games veteran, who competed and won many international track and field honors.

Penelope Manipol Lanzona – Aka “Ate Jing” The first TV and Radio personality who became very popular in Mass Media. She became a household icon in national Radio and TV. The first Cabolutanon ever to succeed in mass communication.

Carlito Fernandez Estangco, Jr. - Aka “Justine Locsin”. Son of Carlito, Sr. and Lucita Mallorca Fernandez. The first taga-Carmen to join the movie industry as bit player. He starred in films like “Banatan” with Jomari Yllana and Ara Mina. “Masakit, Masarap Magmahal” together with Ynes Veneracion, Crizelda Volks and Aya Medel. TV sitcoms “Bayaran” with Glydell Mercado. “Comapero y Companera” twice. First with Jojo Abellana and again with Miss Bella Flores as his mother. Presently, connected with Ramp Modelling with Bobson and Molecules.

Origin and Derivation of Carmen Sitios Names:

*Manonggoy - Named after Manong Enggoy, one of the pioneer settler of the sitio and a very respected person in the locality. He was well loved by the people, hence, the place was named after him (note: Not Lolo Enggoy Montesa, it was already named Manonggoy when he was born).

*Cabangajan - Named after a variety of palm tree called Banga now extinct in the locality. One theory also was for the place abounds with bangag or bettle, a kind of insect. Or perhaps derived from Baka or Cow, since this sitio is ideal pasture grazing land, hence Cabangajan.

*Lama - A place for storage great volume of fish. Or, to stock-up or to store-up as in guin-lama or just Lama in vernacular, hence Lama. The place Lama is Carmen's fishing ground.

*Agcajico - Derived from the Spanish word Caxico or Cajico. It is a kind of Eucalyptus plant that grows in abundance in the hills of Agcajico. It is similar to Magnolia plant and used as medicinal herb by the natives. Its medical term is Overcus. Hence, Agcajico, meaning place with abundant Cajico plants.

*Balucanag - Derived from the Visayan word Bayok-bayok, a kind of tree found growing abundantly in the slopes of Balucanag. Its olden name was Bayucanag from the name of the tree Bayok-bayok, hence Bayucanag, later on, Balucanag.

*Ilaya - From the Visayan word upstream, in the local tongue, Ilaya.

*Suong - Suong is Visayan term for the word Valley. Suong is an enclosed semi-circle valley that encircle sitio of Suong.

*Suba - Derived from the Visayan word Suba meaning river.

*Salingsing - A Visayan word for a certain object or place so tightly squeezed together in-between or Sinaling-sing. Hence, Salingsing. The sitio is narrow, sandwich between barangays Carmen and Cabolutan.

*Can-Apiag - Legend has it that the whole sitio was once owned by a certain rich person named Apiag, hence Can affirms ownership plus Apiag, meaning this place was owned by Apiag or Can-Apiag.

Link to the Barangays

* Poblacion, San Agustin, Romblon
* Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon
* Cabolutan, San Agustin, Romblon
* Cawayan, San Agustin, Romblon
* Mahabangbaybay, San Agustin, Romblon
* Sugod, San Agustin, Romblon