HISTORY OF MANITO, ALBAY

            The Municipality of Manito, Albay is a 4^th class municipality composed of 15 barangays and a land area of 10,740 hectares. It has a population of 25,547 as of 2018 CENSUS. The people of Manito depend on farming and fishing as a source of their livelihood.    

Tourist Destinations and more to explore!

            Manito is known for its boiling lake or Nag-aso Lake and other tourist spots that draw influx of both foreign and local tourists visiting the municipality. It is famous for its rich cultural heritage and festivals that are distinctly Maniteños. It is also home of people known for their hospitality, generosity and deep sense of spirituality.

Contrary to the people of this small town's belief, the first settlers in the area came from Bacon, Cagraray Island or Casiguran which are geographically situated near Manito. In prehistoric time, the Bicolanos from the above mentioned places had shown evidence of civilization. Recently artifacts unearthed from this place both by Filipino and foreign anthropologist show that Bicol is indeed inhabited first by Bicolanos, not traders from foreign lands.

MAP of  MANITO

        In 1840, a few settlers in the Visayas came and settled in the place near the coast of Manito, because of fear from Moro invaders. They officially established the place and named it Manito, because it was abounding in clinging vine called "nito”, which belongs to the rattan family and is used as raw material for making baskets. When nito vines are artistically made into baskets, the finished products are very beautiful because of the natural dark brown color similar to the color of coffee. The prefix "Ma” means plenty, and then Manito means "plenty of nito".

Later, natives from the neighboring towns of Albay, Bacon, and Rapu-Rapu who fled from the Moro raiders found a safer place near the seashore and near the thick west Of Manito. In the past this town was surrounded by thick forest that gave natural fiction — a haven of safety and comfort — to the Visayan settlers. Although they were brave and courageous, they lacked arms and ammunitions to fight the Moros.

In the early years of settlement, the center of this place that soon became the Poblacion had only a fear scattered houses surrounded to pour in, the forests were awed. The cleared areas were planted with abaca and other crops. Due to the abundance of food and money which the people earned through the sale of their forest and agricultural products, Manito became a progressive settlement. But today it is left behind by neighboring towns. This is probable due to its poor natural location and lack of industry. Forests are mostly denuded due to concession granting permission in the lawn of trees in 1980s, while replanting of trees was neglected. Perhaps, if nito vines had been planted together with other forest trees, the income atone for this industry might be one of the major sources of the residents these days.

Functional Role of the Municipality     

       

         The functional Role of the Municipality in relation to Albay Province is that of an Agricultural Producer and a Source Power Supply Generation aside from being a Satellite Municipality of Urban Center, Legazpi City. 

Vision:

         The Municipality of Manito shall pursue its balanced and sustainable growth through a pro-God and pro-people administration and dynamic involvement of an empowered citizenry, peace and order in the community and utilization and development of all resources, human and natural under the guidance of the Almighty.

Mission:

         It is the Mission of the Municipality of Manito to:  Ensure the local governance under a leadership of integrity, honesty and sincerity that shall promote exemplary performance of duty and responsibility;  develop human and natural resources that shall lead to an all-encompassing growth of the municipality; promote the general welfare of all sectors in health, education and livelihood; and maintain peace and order that shall promote and encourage the democratic ideas of the municipality.