Jovellar, officially the Municipality of Jovellar (; East Miraya Bikol: Banwaan ning Jovellar; ), is a municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people, making it the least populated town in the province.
It is known for its Quitinday falls and the underground river which are recognized as the local's version of Cebu's Kawasan Falls and Palawan's underground river. A tourism hotspot that features a cave decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, and different rock formations.
Etymology The town was named in honor of Spanish governor-general Joaquín Jovellar y Soler.
History In Year 1572, when the first Spanish Port was established at the western coast of the Bicol Peninsula, Christianization spread-out among the natives and paved the way for the founding of the municipality of Jovellar.
With these developments, the native converts were emboldened to be adventurous and ventured to establish new settlements far out in the region of Bicol Peninsula. Thus, a group from west coast led by a leader popularly known as PIA, sailed upstream of Donsol River and settled in its mouth. There the people in the settlement became economically active by engaging in the gathering of all kinds of forest products like vines, resin, tar, rattan log and wildlife which were sold to dwellers in the west coast. As trade and commerce flourished, more people settled in the place which was later on named as “QUI PIA”. QUI meaning belonging to and PIA as tribute to said adventurous woman.
Succession of political developments saw the evolution of this settlement namely:
1. By Year 1649, this settlement was formally created as a Municipal District under the Ecclesiastical and Civil Jurisdiction of Nueva Caceres bearing the name “Distrito Municipal De Quipia”;
2. On Year 1811, the settlement became a full-pledge town known as “Municipio De Quipia” and became part of the newly created Province of Albay by virtue of a decree of the Governor-General. The first elected Gobernadorcillo was Anastacio de la Peña with only one Year term of the office. The 1818 census showed 269 native families paying tribute and they were coexisting with 33 Spanish-Filipino families. Succession of other gobernadorcillos followed thereafter from year 1812 for several years. Through the influence of a Spanish Resident name Don Cipriano Anduiza the Governor-General by a Decree, declared the name of the place as Jovellar in honor of an illustrious Spanish Captain-General Joaquin Jovellar Y Soler, more popularly known as the father of the infamous head tax called “Cedula Personal”. The title of Gobernadorcillo was changed to “Capitan Municipal” with additional one year term of office. The following year until the end of Spanish Regime, a total of sixteen Capitanes Municipal took turns in the governance of the municipality during the period year 1863 to 1899;
3. During the American Regime the title Capitan Municipal was replaced by “Municipal President”. Thirteen (13) Municipal President were swoon in to local leadership from year 1900 to 1941;
4. The Japanese Occupation proved the resiliency of the people of Jovellar in repulsing this foreign domination through an organized region-wide guerilla unit-Voluntary Army of the United States of America (VAUSA) under the leadership of Mayor Leon Monilla. The Japanese Civil commission appointed Arturo C. Macandog as Town Mayor by way of establishing their own government. Vicente Macandog succeeded as Town Mayor in year 1944 after the untimely demise of Arturo C. Macandog from the hands of a guerilla fanatic;
5. After the end of World War II, Jovellar economy was in shambles when independence was declared on July 4, 1946, where Leon C. Monilla was appointed as Mayor by the American Liberation Force. President Manuel Roxas instead appointed Jose N. Ortega as Town Mayor when civil affairs were restored in Jovellar;
6. During the 1946 election of officials for a four year term, Jose N. Ortega was the first Mayor-elect for Jovellar during the period year 1946 to year 1949. The ensuring election of town Officials saw the rise of politics and succession of leadership in Jovellar with the likes of Tomas C. Pales (1960-1963); Jaime P. Clamar (1964-1967); re-election of Tomas C. Pales in year 1968 until year 1975 when he was succumbed to death while in Office; succession of Vice-Mayor Teodoro Mancera for the unexpired term of Mayor Pales until year 1979; and Mancera until year 1986;
7. The historic People’s Power Revolution n year 1986 gave rise to the appointment of Jose N. Arcangel Jr. as Officer-in-Charge of the municipality. He was elected as Mayor of Jovellar during the year 1988 elections and was re-elected during the year 1992 and 1995 elections;
8. Mayor Antonio A. Herrera succeeded during the year 1998 election, and Jose N. Arcangel Jr. has re-elected again during the year 2001 election; and
9. Hon. Jorem L. Arcangel is now the incumbent Municipal Mayor of Jovellar on the year 2010 election by the popular will of the people.
Geography Jovellar is located at . Quipia River runs through the town and the river leads all the way to Donsol in Sorsogon.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Albay.
Main access to the town is via Guinobatan. Jeepneys ply the distance from Guinobatan to Jovellar daily with the first trip from Guinobatan leaving as early as 5AM and the last trip to Jovellar usually at around 5PM.
Barangays Jovellar is politically subdivided into 23 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Jovellar had a population of 17,538 people. The population density was .
Economy
The town's main industry is agriculture. Primary crops are rice, copra, abaca, and corn.
Tourism activities in the area may include a trip to the river just behind the local school or a trip to Pariaan pool.
Once at the town center, one can find a statue of the national hero, Jose Rizal, and the town church in front of it.
Government Elected officials + 2025–2028 Jovellar Municipal OfficialsPosition Name Party Mayor Jorem L. Arcangel Vice Mayor Cezar C. Arellano Councilors Esther Gaile B. Nobleza Mercuria O. Salomon Melinda R. Quirona Alejandro O. Enciso, Jr Joseph L. Arcangel Nadier P. Tolosa, Jr Zandro O. Gomez Michael A. Anzano Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ABC President Tristan Elliot M. Arcangel (Mercado) SK Federation President Irish Marie M. Cadag (Mercado)
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 (1811–1898) Inclusive years Capitan municipal 1811 Anastacio de la Peña 1812 Roque Tenorio 1813 Melchor de la Trinidad 1814 Francisco de los Santos 1815 Marcelino Ibañez 1816 Francisco de la Torre 1817 Jose Rodrigo 1818 Gaspar Bulalacao 1819 Juan Anastacio 1820 Eugenio Ibañez 1821 Rodrigo de los Angeles 1822 Alejandro Tolosa 1823 Juan Sambajon 1824 Domingo de la Trinidad 1825 Canuto Santiago Perez 1826 Esteban Perez 1827 Ludovico de Padua 1828 Domingo de la Trinidad 1829 Francisco Borja 1830 Rodrigo S. Andres 1831 Manuel Santiago 1832 Pablo Ibañez 1833 Canuto Santiago Perez 1834 Pacual Aguilar 1835 Esteban Perez 1836 Rodrigo de los Angeles 1837 Canuto Santiago Perez 1838 Silverio Ibañez 1839 Agustin Sardiñas 1840 Francisco Avila 1841 Pioquinto Perez 1842 Bernardino Perez 1843 Espiritu Perez 1844 Pedro Osorio 1845 Bernardino Perez 1846 Juan Enciso 1847 Agustin Sardiñas 1848 Juan Ingua 1849 Marcelino Ibañez 1850 Anastacio Perez 1851 Juan Enciso 1852 Jose Pacheco 1853 Juan Ponciano Pacheco 1854 Juan Clamar 1855 Mariano Arellano 1856 Gregorio Perez 1857 Mariano Enciso 1858 Antonio Torre 1859 Claro Perez 1860 Gregorio Perez 1861 Mariano Enciso 1862 Juan Enciso 1863-1864 Benedicto Calde 1865-1866 Mariano Enciso 1867-1868 Atanacio Perez 1869-1870 Romualdo Ibañez 1871-1872 Hipolito Macandog 1873-1874 Fruto Ingua 1875-1876 Patricio Paraiso 1877-1880 Doroteo Macandog 1881-1882 Andres Moya 1883-1884 Victoriano Ry Abilla 1885-1886 Pantaleon Clemente 1887-1888 Felipe Agarin 1889-1890 Eufracio Rodriguez 1891-1892 Isidoro Perez 1893-1894 Alberto Ibañez 1895-1896 Alejandro M. Arcangel 1897-1898 Nicomedes Quintano
+ Republica Filipina (1898–1901) Inclusive years Municipal president1898-1901 Emiterio Macandog
+ American Rule (1901–1941) Inclusive years Municipal president 1901–1903 Emiterio Macandog 1904–1905 Nicomedes Quintano 1906-1907 Prisco Aguilar 1907-1909 Gervacio Macalla 1910-1911 Adolfo Macandog 1912–1913 Abelardo Madrid 1913–1916 Tomas Valenzuela 1917-1922 Gerardo M. Arcangel 1923-1925 Tomas H. Razo 1926-1927 Luis Nuñez 1927-1928 Gaspar Torre 1929-1937 Leon N. Monilla 1938-1941 Donaciano C. Arcangel 1941 Leon N. Monilla
+ Japanese Occupation (1941–1945) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor December 21, 1941 – March 16, 1942 Donaciano C. Arcangel March 17, 1942-June 1942 Jose Y. Arcangel 1942-1943 Arturo C. Macandog May 3, 1944 – June 2, 1944 Juan P. Narvaez June 3, 1944 – November 15, 1945 Vicente Q. Macandog
+ Post-War Period (1945-date) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor Municipal Vice Mayor SK Federation President ABC President Remarks September 29, 1945 – June 14, 1946 Leon N. Monilla Vicente Perez June 28, 1946 – 1959 Jose N. Ortega 1960–1963 Tomas C. Pales Eugenio Panesa 1964–1967 Jaime P. Clamar Jose Nobleza 1968–1975 Tomas C. Pales Atanacio Adorio Teodoro Mancera Died in Office in 1975 1975-May 1986 Teodoro Mancera Assume the role of presiding officer May 1986 – 1987 Jose N. Arcangel, Jr. 1987–Feruary 01, 1988 Angel S. Ursua, Jr. February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1998 Jose N. Arcangel, Jr. Amancio M. Olado June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2001 Antonio A. Herrera Jury I. Clamar June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010 Jose N. Arcangel, Jr. Gilbert A. Clemente June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019 Jorem L. Arcangel Joey Nobleza June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022 Joseph L. Arcangel Jorem L. Arcangel June 30, 2022 – June 30, 2028 Jorem L. Arcangel Cezar C. Arellano
Education The Jovellar Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.
Presently, there are almost 25 Day Care Centers, 20 public elementary schools, and 4 public high schools
Primary and elementary schools
Jovellar Central School Bagacay Elementary School Bautista Elementary School Cabraran Elementary School Del Rosario Elementary School Estrella Elementary School Florista Elementary School Jovellar Central School (White Deer Annex) Lilibdon Elementary School Mamlad Elementary School Maogog Elementary School Medalla Milagrosa Integrated School (Elementary) Salvacion Elementary School San Isidro Elementary School San Roque Elementary School San Vicente Elementary School Tagas Elementary School Tinaldukan Elementary School Villa Paz Elementary School
Secondary schools Jovellar National High School is located at Brgy. Calzada, Jovellar. Jovellar National High School traces its beginning as a small Barangay High School incorporated at Jovellar Central School. It was founded in 1968 through the benevolent acts, initiatives and efforts of the PTA with Mrs. Teresita Laguilles and then Jovellar District SOS Benito M. Obra and the late Mayor Tomas C. Pales and designated Mr. Aurelio Narce of Jovellar Central School as the Coordinating Principal from 1968-1972. Mamlad National High School located at Mamlad, Jovellar, founded in 2005 Medalla Milagrosa Integrated School – Junior High School Department located at Sitio Medalla Milagrosa (Macorocawayan), San Vicente (Inalom), Jovellar. In 2023, the school was converted from an Elementary School to an Integrated School which now offers JHS.