Donsol

Donsol
Municipality
Seal
Map of Sorsogon showing the location of Donsol
Donsol Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: PH 12°55′N 123°36′E / 12.917°N 123.600°E / 12.917; 123.600Coordinates: PH 12°55′N 123°36′E / 12.917°N 123.600°E / 12.917; 123.600
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Sorsogon
Legislative district	1st District of Sorsogon
Barangays	51
Government[1]
• Mayor	Josephine Alcantara
Area[2]
• Total	156.20 km2 (60.31 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	47,563
• Density	300/km2 (790/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Donsolanon
Time zone	PHI (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4715
Dialing code	56
Income class	3rd class [2]

Donsol is a third class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines located at the south of Luzon island. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 47,563 inhabitants.^[3]

Barangays

Donsol is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.

Demographics

Language

Majority of the population speak East Miraya, an Albay Bikol language of Inland Bikol group of languages. The language is also spoken in Daraga, Albay and some parts of Pilar, Sorsogon. It is mutually intelligible with West Miraya and Rinconada Bikol. People of Donsol can also speak and understand Tagalog or Filipino, the national language, and English.

Religion

Since the majority or the people adhere to Catholicism, each barangay has a patron saint and fiestas are held annually. Iglesia ni Cristo is the second largest religion of the population and has several local congregations in the municipality.

Tourism

Whale shark (butanding) viewing

Swimming with whale sharks, locally known as butanding, was featured as the Best Animal Encounter in Asia by Time magazine in 2004. Whale sharks can be seen between November and June, with presence peaking between February and May.

The presence of whale sharks in the town of Donsol was known to the local residents over 100 years. But the locals believed these gentle giants were dangerous. This wrong notion changed when in December 26, 1997, a group of scuba divers led by Romir Aglugub – a PADI diving instructor, discovered its presence, and interacted and came in contact with the whale sharks. Even the members of the diving group of Romir was having second thought if the fish is docile, until the instructor led the way into the water and came in contact with the whale shark. Copy of video footage taken by the group was passed on to the media and the WWF-Philippines. By March 1998, Donsol became world-class tourist destination and now known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Butanding whale shark (Donsol, Sorsogon)

Interaction with the whale sharks is regulated by the local Department of Tourism (DOT) office. WWF guidelines are generally observed to protect the sharks. Rules include limiting the number of swimmers per boat to six, no scuba divers and staying further than three meters from the sharks.

In recent years the number of male sharks have out-numbered female sharks by 20:1. The females that are seen are generally large mature adults in the 7m ~ 9m range. Increasing numbers of sharks show propeller marks on their backs. Anecdotal evidence from local fishermen suggests that prop strikes are from fishing boats in the off-season, rather than from tourist boats in the main February–June tourist season.

In 2006 five sharks were found dead on the surface, within 30 miles of Donsol. They had all been shot at close range. One shark had 13 bullet wounds to the head. The locals blame this on commercial fishermen shooting the sharks if they are caught in their nets. Manta rays, which are also protected in the Philippines, are also over fished and sold in local markets in the Sorsogon area.

Groups from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines make up the largest groups of visitors. Most book guided tours with dive centers familiar with whale shark interaction.

Food

Bicolano delicacies are plentiful in Donsol. Bicolano cuisine is well known for dishes cooked in "gata" or coconut cream. A famous dish to try is "laing" or "gabi", which is dried taro leaves cooked in coconut cream with cuts of meat or fish. Another famous Bicolano dish available in Donsol is "Bicol Express" which is pork stir fried with shrimp paste, heavy coconut cream and green chilli peppers. It is a spicy dish that is best eaten with hot, steamed rice. A Filipino favourite is a dish called Sisig. Sisig is deep fried pork simmered in Calamansi juice, salt, pepper and chilli peppers. It is eaten with hot, steamed rice or as a bar snack. There are a few restaurants in Donsol that serve these dishes. Giddy's Place Dive Resort and Barracuda Seafood and Cocktails serve these dishes as well as alcoholic beverages at a price range of 120 pesos to 1,500 pesos. Antigua Gastropub is a restaurant popular with locals in Central Donsol that serves Filipino food and beers at prices ranging from 35 pesos for a meal and 40 pesos for a beer.

Accommodations

Tourism continues to develop piecemeal in Donsol. The first hotel established in the area is the Amor Farm Beach Resort in 1997 followed by the Woodland Beach Resort in 1998 which started off as a family vacation house. Interest to visit the quaint and quiet town grew as soon as news of whale shark sightings grew amongst the international marine biologist community. Tourists can now avail of rooms that cater to all financial budgets, from the backpacker to the family vacationer from various resorts and homestays in Donsol.

Most establishments accept only cash, but there is an ATM in Donsol. Giddy's Place PADI Dive Resort is the only resort that accepts credit card payments to date. It is also the only resort open all year round as the others are only open during whaleshark season (December to May). Landlines are non existent in Donsol and most rely on mobile phones. Internet service just came to Donsol in 2008 using cellular technology. There are a few internet shops in town.

Fruit stand, Donsol

Other attractions

Donsol has a not so known but equally unique night firefly tour and shrimp-catching night tour available all-year round. Donsol is also becoming the best jump-off and base for divers to the Manta Bowl and San Miguel Island in Ticao due to the existence of better tourist facilities than the other rural towns. Diving in Donsol itself is not allowed. Donsol also has great trekking and biking site due mainly to the abundance of hilly areas and fields.

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Donsol.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Donsol Tourism Information
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• LGU Profile of Donsol, Sorsogon
• WWF's Community-Based Ecotourism and Coastal Resources Management Project in Donsol, Sorsogon

	Pio Duran, Albay	Jovellar, Albay	Daraga, Albay
	Burias Pass		Pilar
		Donsol
		Ticao Pass

Province of Sorsogon
Sorsogon (capital)
Municipalities	Barcelona Bulan Bulusan Casiguran Castilla Donsol Gubat Irosin Juban Magallanes Matnog Pilar Prieto Diaz Santa Magdalena
Component city	Sorsogon