Consolacion, Cebu

"Consolacion" redirects here. For the hamlet in Spain, see Consolación.

Consolacion is a {{safesubst:#property:P1879}} in the province of , Philippines. It is about from Cebu City, within Metro Cebu, and stretches some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from north to south with 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) at its widest. Consolacion is bounded on the north by Liloan, Cebu, on the south by the city of Mandaue, on the west by the Mactan Channel and on the east by the city of Cebu. According to the , it has a population of . In the 2013 election, it had registered voters.

Geography

70% of the total area of the town is above or highland mountains and 18% foreshore land. The contours are irregular and the highest point is about 500 metres (1,600 ft) above sea level.

Barangays

Consolacion comprises 21 barangays distributed over its 37 km² (14.3 sq mi):

3

History

Consolacion was a component barangay first founded in 1871 with a population of 14,248. Before this, it was only a barrio of the municipality of Mandaue. Consolacion became a separate town in 1871. However, in 1902 and 1903, unable to maintain its status as an independent municipality, it reverted to Mandaue.

In 1920, Consolacion was again made an independent municipality after a petition was accepted by the governor. So grateful were the townspeople to the Spanish governor that they named their new town after his daughter – Consolacion – and they also chose San Narciso as their patron saint, the namesake of the governor's wife, Narcisa.

A year after the construction of the Casa Real or municipal hall, the people built their first church. Because it was made of wood, nipa, and bamboo, it was totally destroyed by a typhoon in 1888. A second one was also destroyed by a typhoon in 1892. A third one was built just before World War II, on its current site.

The present municipal hall is already the third one. The first was destroyed by the typhoon of 1892. The second one was also destroyed, by the Japanese during World War II. Today, Consolacion is a robust residential urban municipality with a vigorous economy, providing a place to live for people employed in the neighbouring cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu.

Demographics

The population of Consolacion is fast-growing with an intercensal growth rate of 50.45% from 1980 to 1990, repeated and more in subsequent decades.

25,000 50,000 75,000 100,000 125,000 150,000 1970 480/km2 1980 740/km2 1990 1,100/km2 2000 1,700/km2 2010 2,900/km2

Population census of Consolacion Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 17,602 —     1980 27,454 +4.55% 1990 41,270 +4.16% 1995 49,205 +3.35% 2000 62,298 +5.19% 2007 87,544 +4.80% 2010 106,649 +7.45% Source: National Statistics Office

In the 2013 election, it had registered voters, meaning that % of the population are aged 18 and over.

The demographic distribution profile of Consolacion shows sparsely populated upland barangays, and densely populated lowland barangays within the commercial area along the existing national highway.

Economy

Consolacion's recent economic trend is towards the development of operation of housing/subdivision facilities even with the presence of several medium size manufacturing industries. Consolacion is predicted to become a residential urban municipality in the next 5–10 years.

Infrastructure and utilities

• Road Network:
  • National Road: 1.5 km (0.9 mi)
  • Provincial Road: 2.5 km (1.6 mi)
  • Municipal Road : 2.0 km (1.2 mi)
  • Barangay Road : 43.7 km (27.2 mi)
• Malls: 3
• Public Market: 1
• Multi-purpose Building: 1
• Recreation Courts/Centers : 22

Transportation

The main transportation used to get into the town is the jeepney. The most popular transportation getting around the town is by motorcycle, locally called "habal-habal".

Education

• Elementary schools: 16
• High schools: 10
• Vocational: 1
• College: 1

Sarok Festival

The Sarok Festival is celebrated on Consolacion's foundation day. Sarok is a hat made of bamboo strips and dried banana leaves. Sarok Festival a mardigras of colors and street dancing along the main road of Consolacion is celebrated every 14 February in commemoration of Consolacion founding anniversary. The main attraction of this festival is the colorful Sarok and its wide uses.

History

To protect farmers and the folks from the sun and the rain, the sarok, a conical hat made from bamboo strips and dried banana leaves, becomes the needed fad for the people of Consolacion especially that the town is an agricultural land. The festival was traditionally celebrated every 14 February to coincide with its charter day celebrations but this now celebrated in October. However, the Sarok Festival evolved into a free interpretation dance, with the musical concept inspired from the Miligoy de Cebu, a published Filipino folk dance originating from the same place.

Contribution to Cultural Heritage

Consolacion is one of the contributor in Cultural History. It had created a dance called "Miligoy de Cebu". This dance is usually performed by pairs of dancers during social gatherings like baptism, weddings, and special programs in the poblacion. Dancers hold a pair of bamboo castanets in each hand.

Notable people

• Juan Karlos Labajo - Singer/Actor