Oas, officially the Municipality of Oas (; West Miraya Bikol: Banwaan nin Oas; ), is a municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
Etymology
There are two stories that purport to tell the origin of the name of Oas:
a) There is a dam across the narrowest portion of a local river. This dam solely irrigates the vast fields of the place including those of the nearby town of Libon and results in a good harvest. People are wary of any cracks or leaks on the dam walls during months of heavy rains. A crier would shout nawaswas, giving the call to the people (in times of this kind of emergency) for immediate action in groups. From then on, the natives coined this name for the place and later shortened it to present form.
b) Early Spanish colonizers reaching this particular section of the Bicol Peninsula asked the name of the place from the about 600 natives living there, "Como se llama este sitio?" The natives mistakenly thought the question to be "Onan kading lugar kadi, maiwas?" ("What place is this, it's very big?") in their native language. In response, the natives answered, "Si, señores. Labi nikading iwas. Labi nikading iwas." ("Yes, sirs, this is grand and spacious".) From then on the early Spanish colonizers adopted in their official census the existence of "a rich fertile valley with verdant fields of grain" which is the little town of Oas in Bicol.
History Foundation
Oas was founded during the early Spanish colonization of the Bicol Peninsula. In 1605, Father Baltazar de los Reyes converted 12 leading natives of the area to Christianity in one day, forming the foundation of the community now known as Oas.
During the Marcos dictatorship
The town was one of the localities particularly harmed by the Dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos; in the waning days of the dictatorship, Oas was hit by a series of political killings targeting those who dared to speak out against the abuses of the Military and against Ferdinand Marcos.
The most prominent of the victims was Clemente Ragragio, the municipal sanitation inspector of Ligao who was later also assigned to Oas. Known for his effectiveness, he had been awarded the 1983 Best Sanitary Inspector for Albay. However, this led the dictatorship's local administrators suspecting him of being a rebel sympathizer, because his close relationship with locals in far-flung barangays allowed him to move around fearlessly, and because he expressed disagreements with the dictatorship's governance. A killer shot him three times in front of his house in the early evening of August 21, 1985, and the government did not investigate his murder. He was later honored by having his name inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani (lit. Monument of Heroes), which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought to restore democracy in the wake of the Marcos dictatorship.
Recent history Oas has been in the news several times in recent years due to the achievements of its outstanding citizens, notably chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano who topped the under-10 age category at the 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok in 2022, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray whose maternal lineage has its roots in Oas.
Geography
Oas is located at .
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Albay.
Oas is from Legazpi City and from Manila.
Barangays Oas is politically subdivided into 53 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Oas had a population of 64,890 people. The population density was .
Economy
Government
Elected officials + 2025–2028 Oas Municipal OfficialsPosition Name Party Mayor John Kenneth Trinidad. Vice Mayor Domingo Escoto Jr. Councilors Allen Grem Rivera Brayan Bustamante Antonio Pale Yuchongco Robert N. Arevalo Manrox Rendor Nensus Reblando Arvin Gregg R. Ricarte Noel Brijuega Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ABC President Joseph Rentosa (San Isidro) SK Federation President Kyle Escalada (Rizal)
Legend A indicates that the official is elected for the first term A indicates that the official is re-elected to a higher position A indicates that the official is re-elected to the same position
Past Municipal Administrators
+ Spanish Era (1734–1898) Inclusive years Gobernadorcillo 1734 Don Roque Samco 1735 Don Juan Pendor 1736 Don Francisco Sanglitan 1737 Don Pedro Lagñitnon 1738 Don Juan Pendor 1739 Don Jose de Villafuerte 1740 Don Gregorio Aguilar 1741 Don Jose de Villafuerte 1742 Don Domingo Martinez 1743 Don Francisco Roque 1744 Don Bernardo Torog 1745 Don Francisco Romba 1746 Don Manuel Montañez 1747-1748 Don Diego Langcauon 1749-1751 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1752 Don Francisco Roque 1753 Don Pascual Sumba 1754 Don Antonio Mariano 1755 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1756 Don Domingo de la Cruz 1757 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1758 Don Pascual de la Cruz 1759 Don Manuel de Sacramento 1760 Don Ambrocio Doynog 1761 Don Teodoro de S. Lucas 1762 Don Atilano de S. Miguel 1763 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1764 Don Manuel de S. Esteban 1765 Don Gaspar Triquero 1766 Don Francisco Javier 1767 Don Manuel de Espiritu Sto. 1768 Don Gregorio de la Presentacion 1769 Don Alonso Daiton 1770 Don Juan Bagamasbad 1771 Don Andres Tuason 1772 Don Manuel Salvador 1773 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1774 Don Pedro de Valenzuela 1775-1777 Don Francisco Javier 1778 Don Alejandro de S. Buenaventura 1779 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1780 Don Juan Rafael de los Reyes 1781 Don Domingo Bruno 1782 Don Francisco Javier 1783 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1784 Don Francisco Bagamasbad 1785 Don Jose de la Cruz 1786 Don Pedro S. Juan 1787 Don Domingo Langcauon 1788 Don Pascual de la Navidad 1789 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1790 Don Miguel S. Pedro 1791 Don Juan Sto. Domingo 1792 Don Antonio de la Cruz 1793 Don Miguel Geronimo Lacob 1794 Don Juan Sto. Domingo 1795 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1796 Don Francisco Ferrer 1797 Don Juan Sto. Domingo 1798 Don Andres S. Fernando 1799 Don Juan Pinpin de Vera 1800 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1801 Don Francisco S. Buenaventura 1802 Don Pedro S. Casimiro 1803 Don Tomas de Jesus 1804 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1805 Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo 1806 Don Fernando de la Resurreccion 1807 Don Antonio Florentino 1808 Don Juan de la Soledad 1809 Don Domingo S. Nicolas 1810 Don Gaspar Florencio 1811 Don Juan de los Santos 1812 Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo 1813 Don Mariano S. Nicomedes 1814 Don Pascual S. Antonio 1815 Don Ludovico S. Bailo 1816 Don Serrano Marquez 1817 Don Bernardo Nicolas 1818 Don Pascual Conrade 1819 Don Juan de la Navidad 1820 Don Francisco Langcauon 1821 Don Juan Portacio 1822 Don Francisco Langcauon 1823 Don Juan Abad 1824 Don Fabiano Crisostomo 1825-1826 Don Francisco Langcauon 1827 Don Pedro Rafael 1828 Don Ricardo Sto. Domingo 1829 Don Exeario Domingo Nepomuceno 1830 Don Juan Perez 1831 Don Juan Langcauon 1832 Don Vicente Pendor 1833 Don Mariano Benequillo 1834 Don Pascual S. Lazaro 1835 Don Bernardo S. Francisco 1836 Don Santiago Andaya 1837 Don Juan Espinosa 1838 Don Pedro Lorenzo S. Miguel 1839 Don Andres del Espiritu Sto. 1840 Don Santiago Bernardo 1841 Don Exeario Domingo Nepomuceno 1842 Don Bernardo S. Juan 1843 Don Clemente Azanza 1844 Don Vicente S. Fernando 1845 Don Pascual Silvestre 1846 Don Pedro Bagol 1847 Don Manuel Mancera 1848 Don Alejandro Pagdato 1849 Don Rufino Raña 1850 Don Francisco Bonifacio Sang 1851 Don Jose Ralla S. Ramon 1852 Don Leocadio Rafael 1853 Don Antonio Real S. Fernando 1854 Don Geronimo Andaya 1855 Don Cornelio Gumba 1856 Don Antonio Real S. Fernando 1857 Don Estanislao Rafael 1858 Don Mariano Realco 1859 Don Camilo Romualdo 1860 Don Pascual Bustamante 1861 Don Cayetano Real S. Fernando 1862 Don Pedro Radorez 1863-1864 Don Francisco Rellante 1865-1866 Don Romualdo Azanza 1867 Don Juan Rebusi 1868-1869 Don Francisco Rellante 1870-1871 Don Manuel Realista 1872-1873 Don Guido Recato 1874-1875 Don Margarito Ragos 1876-1877 Don Juan Rebusi 1878-1879 Don Ambrosio R.S. Ramon 1880-1882 Don Ciriaco Damian 1883-1884 Don Jose G. Camposano 1885-1888 Don Mariano Romero 1889-1890 Don Bartolome Roa 1891 Don Mariano Austero 1892 Don Crispin Q. Roa 1893-1894 Don Mariano Rebueno 1895-1898 Don Jose Ribaya
+ Republica Filipina (1898-1900) Inclusive years Municipal president 1898-1899 Guido Recato 1899-1900 Bartolome Roa
+ American rule (1900–1941) Inclusive years Municipal president 1900–1901 Mariano Rebueno 1901–1903 A. Austero 1904-1905 A. Redillas 1906-1909 R. Realista 1910-1912 Luis Romano 1913-1916 Juan Rayala II 1917-1919 Crispin Rayala 1920-1922 Manuel Bustamante 1923-1925 Crispin Rayala 1926-1928 Dalmacio Ras 1929-1931 Alfredo Q. Roa 1932-1938 Marcial R. Ras 1938-1941 Virgilio Rempillo 1941 Alfredo Q. Roa
+ Japanese Occupation (1942–1947) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor 1941-1942 Reginaldo Torres 1943-1945 Pedro Eva
+ Post-War Period (1945-date) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor Municipal Vice Mayor SK Federation President ABC President Remarks September 29, 1945 – December 11, 1945 Amando Ramin Acting Mayor, Appointed by Pres. Sergio Osmeña December 11, 1945 – June 28, 1946 Pedro Eva Appointed by Pres. Sergio Osmeña June 28, 1946 – December 31, 1947 Temistocles Raguero Appointed by Pres. Manuel Roxas January 1, 1948 – 1951 Temistocles Raguero 1952-1955 Pedro Eva 1956-1959 Temistocles Raguero 1960-1971 Jose R. Ricarte 1971-1986 Marcial R. Bustamante 1986–1992 Jose R. Ricarte Appointed Mayor by Pres. Corazon Aquino 1992-1995 Dr. Jesus Rances 1995 Salvador R. Rendor Gader Rellama Died in Office 1995-2001 Gader B. Rellama Assume the office of Mayor, after the death of Mayor Rendor , Established the Oas Community College 2001–2007 Jesus R. Reario, II 2007-2016 Gregorio H. Ricarte 2016-2025 Domingo R. Escoto, Jr Incumbent Mayor Term starts on June 30, 2025 John Kenneth M. Trindad Domingo R. Escoto Mayor Elect
Education There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the: Oas North Schools District Oas South Schools District
Primary and elementary schools
Badbad Elementary School Badian Elementary School Balogo East Elementary School Balogo West Elementary School Banao Elementary School Bangiawon Elementary School Bogtong Elementary School Busac Elementary School Cadawag Elementary School Cagmanaba Elementary School Calaguimit Elementary School Calpi Elementary School Camagong Elementary School Casinagan Elementary School Celestino B. Redito Elementary School Coliat Elementary School Del Rosario Elementary School Divine Mercy Science Oriented School Grace Christian Mission Technical School Gumabao Elementary School Manga Elementary School Maporong Elementary School Maramba Elementary School Marian Formation Centers Matambo Elementary School Mayag Elementary School Moroponros Elementary School Nagas Elementary School Oas Community College Oas East Central School Oas North Central School Oas South Central School Our Lady of the Roses Montessori Learning Center Ramay Elementary School Saban Elementary School San Agustin Elementary School San Antonio Elementary School San Isidro Elementary School San Jose Elementary School San Juan Elementary School San Pascual Elementary School San Ramon Elementary School San Vicente Elementary School Tablon Elementary School Talisay Elementary School Tapel Elementary School Tobgon Elementary School Tobog Elementary School
Secondary schools
Balogo High School Manuel Andaya Bustamante High School Maramba National High School Oas Polytechnic School Saban National High School Sabino Rebagay Memorial High School Saint Michael's Academy (Junior High School) Saint Michael's Academy (Senior High School) San Juan High School