Saint Bernard, officially the Municipality of Saint Bernard (Kabalian: Lungsod san Saint Bernard; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Saint Bernard; Tagalog: Bayan ng Saint Bernard), is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 28,414 people.[3]
Etymology
Saint Bernard is named after Bernardo Torres, the former Governor of Leyte who played a significant role in the town's independence from Cabalian (now San Juan), then in the undivided province of Leyte. In gratitude to Torres, the local inhabitants unanimously chose to name the municipality in his honor. The honorific title "Saint" being a translation of the Spanish vernacular honorific "San" which is given to persons of virtue, wisdom, or generosity and the name Bernard being the English version of the name Bernardo.[5]
Saint Bernard traces its roots to the largest barrio of Cabalian, then known as "Himatagon".
Governor Bernardo Torres of Leyte, which then encompassed Cabalian, facilitated the conversion of the area into an independent municipality due to the persistent demands of the local inhabitants for separation from Cabalian, later gaining the recommendation of the Leyte Provincial Board.[5] Finally, on December 9, 1954, President Ramon Magsaysay issued Executive Order No. 84, excising Himatagon and 18 other barrios from Cabalian to form the municipality of Saint Bernard.[6] On May 22, 1959, Saint Bernard became part of the newly established province of Southern Leyte, effective July 1, 1960.[7]
On February 17, 2006, a tragic series of mudslides killed over 1,100 residents in Barangay Guinsaugon, a barangay in the northern parts of the town. Affected families were treated by the Philippine government and other non-government organizations from all over the world. New houses were built, and the people chose "New Guinsaugon" as the name, (by adding the prefix "New"), of their village located one mile east of the town's proper.[8][9]
Geography
The town is situated on the Pacific coast, facing Cabalian Bay and the first town on Route 690 (from it towards Abuyog) from the eastern side of Sogod Bay.
Barangays
Saint Bernard is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Only 28 barangays are currently functioning, as Guinsaugon and Sug-angon were completely wiped out from a landslide during 2006. The survivors of the landslide were relocated to New Guinsaugon in Magbagacay.
Saint Bernard's economy are based in agriculture and marine culture. The municipality is considered among the fastest growing economy in the pacific area of Southern Leyte.
Saint Bernard is a peninsula and therefore it is almost entirely surrounded by water. The majority of the people who live in the flat lands engage in fishing as their main mode of livelihood. Those who live in the mountain barangays, live through farming.
The common mode of transportation is by bicycles with side cars, known locally as "Potpot" (a type of pedicab) or, depending on the distance, tricycles with side cars, called "trisikads "or center cabs and "habal-habal", a motorcycle with a roof made up of wood or metal, operating in the area's environs.
The LGU established the Saint Bernard Town Center for economic activities of some small to medium sedium entrepreneurs.
Tourism
Hindag-an Falls- Barangay Hindag-an
Tinago Beach- Barangay Magbagacay
Tinago Spring Falls- Barangay Ayahag
Lipanto Marine Sanctuary- Barangay Lipanto
Himbangan Bird Sanctuary- Barangay Himbangan
Sangat Cave and Beach- Barangay Hindag-an
Saub Beach- Barangay Lipanto
Ground Zero Memorial Park & Lawigan River- Lawigan River, access at Brgy Tambis I
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