Carigara (), officially the Municipality of Carigara (; ), is a First Income Class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 56,060 people.
Established in 1571, Carigara is the first town founded in the Eastern Visayas region. A pivotal development occurred in 1735 when Leyte and Samar were separated from Cebu province, forming a unified provincial governance structure with Carigara serving as provincial capital during this era.
Carigara is renowned for its distinct offerings, including pastillas, humba, sundang (machete), and the hubhob delicacy. Hubhob, a local delight, is crafted from grated cassava, eggs, kalamay, milk, and sugar, cooked within a bagacay (bamboo pole) over charcoal, bringing a unique and flavorful taste to this traditional specialty.
Carigara was originally known as "Kan Gara," which translates to "that of Gara" or simply "Gara's." Legend has it that Gara hailed from Borneo and was among the unnamed companions of the ten datus who purchased Panay from the Ati (or Aeta) chief Marikudo. Over time, "Kan Gara" transformed into Kalgara for ease of pronunciation. Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place was renamed to Carigara, thus its present spelling.
Carigara celebrates its festival every 16 July, marking the arrival of the Spaniards on July 16, 1569. This festivity, spanning nearly the entire month of July, attracts tourists and visitors from nearby towns.
On July 14, 2018, Carigara made a bold attempt to secure the Guinness World Records for the "Largest Participants in Philippine Folk Dance," showcasing the Kuratsa. This event formed a part of the town's 423rd fiesta celebration slated for July 16, instilling a sense of pride among the locals and fostering hopes for an economic and tourism upsurge. The event boasted nearly 5,000 participants, predominantly comprising students, teachers from various schools, municipal employees, representatives from the private sector, and residents. Carigara had promptly submitted its bid and eagerly awaited official confirmation.
It is located in the northern part of Leyte province on the coast of Carigara Bay, surrounded by rice fields and mountains.
Carigara shares borders with Capoocan to the west, Ormoc to the south, Jaro to the southeast, Tunga to the east and Barugo to the northeast.
The climatic and topographical characteristics of Carigara's expansive terrain, encompassing wide rice fields and hilly landscapes, create an optimal environment for cultivating fruit-bearing trees, vegetables, and a variety of crops. Noteworthy trees suitable for cultivation include bananas, coconuts, jackfruits, mangoes, guavas, rambutans, santol, and star apples. In terms of vegetables, gabi, karubasa, pipino, kamalunggay, marigoso, munggos, sitaw, and upo are extensively grown by local farmers and residents, thriving exceptionally well within the community. Additionally, root crops like kamote and balanghoy flourish alongside rice crops, constituting a substantial part of the agricultural landscape in Carigara.
Carigara features vast highland forests and a diverse fauna, including domesticated animals like carabaos, horses, cats, dogs, chickens, and pigs. The area is home to snakes, frogs, insects, various lizards, and a variety of birds, among other wildlife species.
Carigara is politically subdivided into 49 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
In the 2024 census, the population of Carigara was 56,060 people, with a density of .
The predominant language in the municipality is Waray-waray, with Cebuano and Tagalog recognized as minority languages. English functions as the official language, often mixed with Waray in colloquial exchanges. Although Spanish maintains residual relevance, it is not used in verbal or day-to-day communication.
Carigara is mostly Christian due to Spanish Empire's rule. Due to economic migrations, there are other people from minority religions that reside in Carigara for improved economic conditions and standard of living.
On January 25, 2019, Carigara commemorated its inaugural festival, the Magara Festival, coinciding with its 448th founding anniversary. Magara locally connotes abundance, elegance, and vibrancy. The inaugural Magara Festival primarily centered on celebrating the town's agricultural richness, local products, historical heritage, and its community.
Turugpo is a significant public spectacle featuring duels between two male carabaos or two male horses, occurring annually on Black Saturday. This widely attended event garners immense popularity within the town, drawing thousands of both local and international tourists eager to witness this renowned and culturally significant fight.
List of some tourist attractions in Carigara.
Attractions include:
New modernized PUVs that travel from Carigara to Tacloban and vice versa are being issued by the local government starting from 24 November 2021.
Carigara has a port located in Barangay Baybay where local boats and ships dock.
Carigara District Hospital, commonly referred to as CDH, serves as the sole public hospital in the town. Residents from neighboring towns also visit the hospital to seek additional medical services and attention.
There are a total of 30 elementary schools, 6 high schools (1 private, 4 public, 1 pending construction) and 2 college institutions located on Carigara.