History of Irosin
Irosin was among the last places in the Philippines to be populated. Most of the natives during the early 1800’s lived along the coastal areas where it was more accessible to commercial, travel and communication activities at the time.
During the early Spanish period, the inhabitants of nearby coastal places were drawn to the inland valley due to the richness of flora and fauna in the area. The Moro raids that troubled the coastal towns from 1590 through 1896 further sent many people to interior sanctuaries. They were the people who eventually formed the core residents of the barrios and visitas that multiplied during the nineteenth century.
At the southern part of Irosin was the oldest visita formed, the Visita de Buenavista which is one of the oldest barrios of Pueblo de Bulan.
At the eastern part of the area, in what is now barangay San Agustin, a settlement also grew and the first inhabitants called this place Hin-ay. In about 1840’s the village of Hin-ay was made a visita of Pueblo de Bulusan. A makeshift chapel was built and St. Michael the Archangel was chosen as patron and thus the place was thereafter called Visita de San Miguel.
At the northern part of the area, another visita was formed and it was called Visita de Calaay which was a barrio of Pueblo de Juban.
In 1876, the outgoing Alcalde Mayor of Albay sent a communication to the Consejo de Administracion de Filipinas in Manila that the visitas of San Miguel, Buenavista and Calaay had petitioned to become a separate parroquia (parish).
This petition was favorably acted upon by the Consejo de Administracion and it was elevated to the Gobernador General who issued a decree approving the creation of the three visitas as a separate parroquia on April 28, 1877.
On November 3, 1879, Gobernador General Domingo Moriones y Murillo issued a decree making the visitas of San Miguel, Buenavista and Calaay a new pueblo civil with the name of Pueblo de Yrocin.
With its official establishment, the new pueblo soon prospered. In 1888, during the term of Padre Esteban Rivera as parish priest and Anacleto Galarosa as Capitan Municipal, the Catholic church was constructed on its present site. At the foot of the church hilltop, a municipio with a casa tribunal was also constructed.
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During the American occupation, in 1904, an American soldier named Charles Carter established a primary school in the town with the help of local inhabitants. A temporary school building was constructed which later became the Irosin Central School.
In 1913, during the term of Zacarias Conspecto (1913-1914), the market which was in Barangay San Agustin was transferred to the present market site.
In 1917, during the term of Nicasio Navarro as Presidente Municipal, the civil cemetery was established in the municipality for the benefit of the non-Catholics. Irosanons also began to play active roles in national politics.
In 1926, during the Commonwealth period, Juan Alegre, a resident of what is now barangay San Juan, became a senator. However, there were some maladies that occurred too.
On December 24, 1932, continuous rains claimed scores of lives and thousands worth of properties. About eight hectares in area were eroded in Inulpacan, a place which lies midway the barrios of Sto. Domingo and Patag. Out of it gushed water, sand and mud which soon joined the flows of the Cadacan river.
A year later, the Cadacan River dike was built. Also, on April 26, 1935, the town was hit by a strong typhoon which caused tremendous destruction, both in human lives and properties. Big and small buildings were destroyed including the Roman Catholic church atop the hill.
After World War II, the town steadily progressed. On July 6, 1946, Irosin Junior High School, which later became Gallanosa National High School, was established with 10.5 hectares of the lot were donated by Pedro Hitosis Gallanosa and 2.5 hectares, including a former civil cemetery, were from Pedro Fruto. During the incumbency of Severino Fortes as Municipal Mayor (1964-1967), the Charity Hospital, which later became the Irosin District Hospital, was constructed. The water system and electrification of the town were likewise established. Sacred Heart Academy which later became College of the Holy Spirit of Irosin and now Holy Spirit Academy of Irosin, was also established. In 1982, Veritas College of Irosin was founded by Msgr. Eladio T. Palces.