Daet (), officially the Municipality of Daet (; ), is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

and capital of the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Camarines Norte Camarines Norte (; ), officially the Province of Camarines Norte (; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet, Camarines Norte, Daet, the most populous town in the ...

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 111,700 people making it the most populous in the province. The municipality is a popular

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...

spot among surfers worldwide. It is also home to the annual Daet International Aerosports Show which is first held in 2013. Daet is from

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

Etymology

The name ''Daet'' was derived from the Bikol word ''dai-daitan'' which means, ''close to each other''. ''Daet'' also originated from ancient Bicol term ''daet'' which, according to the first Bicol Spanish Dictionary '' Vocabulario de la Lengua Bicol'' authored by Fray Marcos de Lisboa, would mean "to make friend" or "to be reconciled".

History

Pre-colonial period

Daet was already an old community even before the discovery of the

by Magellan in 1521. An ancient tomb unearthed in the

Bicol region The Bicol Region, designated as Region V, is an administrative region of the Philippines. It comprises six Provinces of the Philippines, provinces, four on the Bicol Peninsula (the luzon#Southeastern Luzon, southeastern end of Luzon): Albay, Ca ...

revealed references described in the Panayam manuscripts known to oriental history as corresponding to the first half of the thirteenth century. The early settlers were believed to be direct descendants of the group of datus who escaped from the court of

Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...

to evade the enmity of a ruling

rajah Raja (; from , IAST ') is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The title has a long ...

Spanish colonial period

In 1571,

Juan de Salcedo Juan de Salcedo (; 1549 – 11 March 1576) was a Spanish conquistador. He was the grandson of Spanish general Miguel López de Legazpi. Salcedo was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish conquest to the Philippines in 1565. He joined th ...

, a Spanish conquistador arrived in the

Bicol Region The Bicol Region, designated as Region V, is an administrative region of the Philippines. It comprises six Provinces of the Philippines, provinces, four on the Bicol Peninsula (the luzon#Southeastern Luzon, southeastern end of Luzon): Albay, Ca ...

during an expedition in search of gold, particularly in the mountains of Camarines. He found Daet to be an already established and thriving settlement, with houses clustered together for safety and protection. In June 1583, the

Franciscan Order The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

confirmed the establishment of several doctrinas or mission settlements, including Daet. Salcedo’s expedition marked the start of over 300 years of Spanish rule, combining religious conversion and colonial administration. In the early colonial period, Don Manuel de la Estrada, Marquis de Camarines, was exiled to the Philippines following a

scandal A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way a ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. Settling in Daet, he oversaw the construction of key structures, including a church, stone bridges, and civic buildings. He also introduced abaca cultivation, which later became a key industry for the Philippines. During the Spanish period, Daet occasionally suffered from raids by Moro pirates, prompting the

fortification A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Lati ...

of nearby communities such as Mercedes, which later became an independent municipality in 1948. At the time, Daet served as the capital of the District of Daet, which encompassed the territory now known as Camarines Norte. In 1908, the

barrio ''Barrio'' () is a Spanish language, Spanish word that means "Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter" or "neighborhood". In the modern Spanish language, it is generally defined as each area of a city delimited by functional (e.g. residential, comm ...

Basud Basud, officially the Municipality of Basud (; ), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,133 people. Geography The municipality has a total land area of , rep ...

was separated from Daet to form its own

. In the final years of Spanish colonial rule, Daet became a center of resistance. Thirteen residents were executed by Spanish authorities during Holy Week in April 1898 for their involvement in revolutionary activities. These individuals are remembered as martyrs in local history. Before the end of Spanish rule, Filipino insurgents in Daet managed to besiege the local Spanish

garrison A garrison is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters. A garrison is usually in a city ...

American colonial period

The

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Philippine Insurrection, Filipino–American War, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged following the conclusion of the Spanish–American War in December 1898 when the United States annexed th ...

had a minimal impact on this town. American forces arrived unopposed on March 4, 1900, while most of the rest of the Bicol Region had already been subdued by Major Thomas McNamee, operating under the overall command of General John C. Bates. This period laid the foundation for the present-day progress of the current generation.

Martial law

On the evening of September 23, 1972, President

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and Kleptocracy, kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the c ...

announced on television that he had placed the Philippines, including Daet, under

martial law Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties ...

. The marked the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule. Even though Martial Law was formally lifted on January 17, 1981, Marcos retained essentially all of his powers as dictator until he was deposed by the February 1986

People Power revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...

. On June 14, 1982 Marcos administration forces opened fire on protesters from different barrios, who were marching to demand an increase in

copra Copra (from ; ; ; ) is the dried, white flesh of the coconut from which coconut oil is extracted. Traditionally, the coconuts are sun-dried, especially for export, before the oil, also known as copra oil, is pressed out. The oil extracted ...

prices, and to denounce "fake elections" and Cocofed. The government forces who fired on the protesters were led by a certain Capt. Malilay." Four people died on the spot, and at least 50 were injured. Two of those who were seriously wounded died two months later. This has come to be known as the "1981 Daet massacre," and four of those killed have since been honored by having their names engraved on the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial.

Geography

Daet is located in the southeastern part of

. It is bounded in the east by the town of Mercedes; in the south by the municipality of

; in southwest by San Lorenzo Ruiz town; in the north by

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...

; in the west by San Vicente and northwest by Talisay. The provincial capital covers a total land area of 5,861.48 hectares. The landscape of Daet is primarily composed of plains or flatlands, with no significant mountains or valleys. The average elevation of the area is approximately 10 meters above sea level.

Climate

Barangays

Daet is politically subdivided into 25

barangay The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...

s. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have

sitios A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Daet, Camarines Norte, was 111,700 people, with a density of .

Economy

Natural Resources

The municipality is rich in mineral resources such as

diatomaceous earth Diatomaceous earth ( ), also known as diatomite ( ), celite, or kieselguhr, is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous rock, siliceous sedimentary rock that can be crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging fr ...

(DE) or commonly called white clay. This is one of the income generating industries of the municipality. This non-metallic mineral has a total approximate reserve of 1,289,600 metric tons. The municipality also has a viable source of sand and gravel. It is being extracted by mining concessionaires.

Banking and Finance

As the center of commercial activities and trade in Camarines Norte, the capital sustains major commercial bank and savings bank in the province to provide its population ease in accessibility of financing and convenience in business. * Banco de Oro (BDO Unibank, Inc.) * Landbank of the Philippines *

Philippine National Bank The Philippine National Bank (PNB, ; ; Hokkien in the Philippines, Hokkien ) is a major Filipino bank based in Pasay in the Philippines. It was established by the Philippine government on July 22, 1916, during the Insular Government, America ...

(PNB) *

Bank of the Philippine Islands The Bank of the Philippine Islands ('';'' '','' commonly known as BPI; ) is a universal bank in the Philippines. It is the oldest bank in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It is the fourth largest bank in terms of assets, the second lar ...

(BPI) * Metrobank * PSBank * EastWest Bank * Legazpi Savings Bank * Development Bank of the Philippines * Chinabank

Central Business Districts

Emulating the

city planning Urban planning (also called city planning in some contexts) is the process of developing and designing land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportatio ...

and zone development of Naga City as one of its primary market catchment, the local government of Daet intends to maintain its central area for commercial activities and public events in the convergence of its primary roads where the boundaries of Barangay 5, Barangay 6, Barangay 4, and Barangay 8 meet. Another

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...

in development is located along the four-lane national road in barangay Lag-on where SM City Daet is situated in front of the central bus terminal near a local college foundation and a road going to the Cathedral of Daet.

Cityhood

The cityhood process for Daet began in 2011. Due to its size, petitions are made to expand it for the municipality to satisfy the requirements for Cityhood.

Education

Daet is home to well-known tertiary education institutions in the province serving most of the youth sector quality learning experience and competitive training. * University of Camarines Norte * La Consolacion College Daet * Mabini Colleges, Inc. * Our Lady of Lourdes College Foundation, Inc. * AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC College) Daet

Government

Daet as a local government unit is headed by a mayor, vice mayor, and ten councilors. It has administrative and territorial jurisdiction over its 25 component barangay units, each with their own chairman or Punong Barangay as local government chief. The current municipal mayor of Daet is Hon. Benito S. Ochoa.

Seal

The outer ring of the seal bears the name of the local government unit along with its provincial affiliation. Within it, a gear symbolizes the 25 component barangay units, representing progress in action. The gear is colored green to signify productivity. Inside, the blue and red hues reflect the national colors of the Philippines, underscoring patriotism and national pride. At the heart of the seal stands the first monument ever erected in honor of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This iconic landmark not only commemorates the national hero but also embodies the proud heritage and distinct identity of the people of Daet.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Transportation in Daet is primarily managed by the Department of Transportation. Road and Air transportation are the only available modes of transportation in Daet. Road transportation is the primary mode of transportation. The town is linked to other parts of the Philippines by Maharlika Highway (N621), which has a section in Daet with a total length of 25.50 kilometers, stretching from the boundary of the Municipality of Daet to the Municipality of Basud in Barangay Tuaca.

Primary Roads

Most of its major highway are four lane roads providing wider channel for variety of transport vehicles and cargo in and out the province. * Froilan Pimentel Avenue - central avenue forming the primary junction of north and south district * Governor Panotes Avenue - main thoroughfare linking the municipality of Mercedes to Daet * Bagasbas Road - eastern highway connecting Gahonon, Borabod, and Bagasbas to the center of Daet * Vinzons Avenue - links the diversion road to the central business districts of Daet * Diversion Road - traverses Talisay from north through Lag-on and to south from Basud via Pamorangon * Cory Aquino Boulevard - connects Mercedes, Daet, Talisay and Vinzons via a coastal road along Bagasbas

Water

The barangays of the municipality are served by Levels I, II, and III water supply systems. The Camarines Norte Water District (CNWD) and

PrimeWater Primewater Infrastructure Corporation ( dba as PrimeWater) is a water and wastewater services provider in the Philippines. History PrimeWater was established on August 10, 2006. In five years it has expanded its reach to cover areas across the P ...

is the main water supplier in Daet. Additionally, some barangays and properties without coverage rely on water wells(shallow, deep or dug)

Energy

Daet is being served by electric power, formerly by the defunct Hidalgo Electric Enterprise, now by the National Power Corporation and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) through the Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO).

Communication

Telecommunications in Daet is managed by the National Telecommunications Commission. There are three satellites of Smart,

Globe A globe is a spherical Earth, spherical Model#Physical model, model of Earth, of some other astronomical object, celestial body, or of the celestial sphere. Globes serve purposes similar to maps, but, unlike maps, they do not distort the surface ...

and DITO. While postal mail services are run by the Philippine Postal Corporation. There is only one postal mail service office in Daet, which is located in Barangay Camambugan.

Public Safety and Order

Daet is one of the peaceful towns in the

. Criminality and juvenile delinquency are minimal in spite of the fact that it is the urban center of the Province of

. The average monthly crime rate for the period January to December of 2018 is 53.35 %. The

Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police (PNP; ) is the national police force of the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currently, it has approximately 228,000 personnel to police a pop ...

(PNP) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provides the police service of Daet. The main police headquarter is located in barangay Dogongan. The Daet Police Station is located in barangay Pamorangon. Sub- stations are situated in Barangay Bagasbas, Barangay VI and in Barangay Camambugan at the Central Terminal Complex Compound. The Barangay Tanods of the twenty five (25) barangay augment the peace keeping force and help in the maintenance of peace and order in the area. As of 2019, Daet had an actual police force of 91. Police force to population ratio is 1:1,235. The ideal police population ratio is 1:1000 or 1 police to 1000 population. It shows that there is a need to augment the police force to twenty one (21) more uniformed men to met the standard requirement.

Tourism

Surfing and beaches

Daet is a famous surfing and kiteboarding spot, as it has a long stretch of beach in Bagasbas. Because of the attention it has gotten from the local surfing community, the Philippine Department of Tourism turned it into a local accredited surfing spot. Aside from being a spot for surfing and kiteboarding, the Calaguas group of islands, in the jurisdiction of Vinzons, to its north has garnered attention from local and foreign tourists alike. The islands can be considered virgin as no resorts have been created there yet. Panorama of Bagasbas Beach

Places of interest

* University of Camarines Norte *Central Plaza Mall (In Lag-On) * Puregold Daet *Bagasbas Beach * Bagasbas Airport *Daet Elevated Plaza * SM Savemore Daet * Cory Aquino Boulevard, the longest boulevard in the Philippines. * SM City Daet (located in Lag-on) - The 3rd SM mall in Bicol region and 77th mall of SM Supermalls in the Philippines

Catholic Churches

* Most Holy Trinity Cathedral, it was built and was inaugurated in 1984. It is also the cathedral of the Diocese of Daet * Parroquia de San Juan Bautista, established in 1611, it is one of the first church in

in the region built by the Franciscan Friars. * Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary Parish, in Lag-on * Our Lady Of Peñafrancia Parish in Moreno * Divine Mercy Parish in Alawihao

Historical landmarks

* 1st Rizal Monument - The first monument in honor of a Filipino hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Its foundation was made of mortars and boulders from the demolished old Spanish jail in Daet. Lt. Col. Antonio Sanz and Lt. Col. Ildefonso Alegre of Philippine Revolutionary Army initiated the construction of the monument which was unveiled on December 20, 1898. * Provincial Capitol * Old Daet Municipal Building * Daet Elevated Town Plaza * Daet Municipal Building * President Cory Aquino Boulevard (Bagasbas Boulevard) * Bagasbas Airport — located near the beach at barangay Bagasbas

Culture

Festivals

The Pineapple Festival (or "Pinyasan" as it is called by the locals) is considered to be the most colorful festivals in Camarines Norte. The festival started in 1992, and is about the province's prime agricultural product, which is the "Queen of All Pineapple" pineapple. Noted for its sweetness and flavor, this kind of pineapple is produced only in Camarines Norte, thereby making it a specialty in the province. The festival goes on for about 10 days, and several events are held in the municipality. The festival aims to promote the culture of Daet and its citizens. The Pineapple Festival is held every June 22–26 annually, initiated by Mayor Tito Sarte Sarion. The Bantayog Festival celebrates the founding of Camarines Norte. As of 2025, it has been 107 years since the province has become independent, since March 10, 1917, when Ambos Camarines (At that time Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur were one province) was split from two. This festival promotes the province as one which has unnoticed potential in the fields of tourism and commerce, and also the rich culture and hospitality of the people of Camarines Norte. The Bantayog Festival is held every March or April annually. It was launched in April 1982.

Notable people

* Manuel Conde,

National Artist of the Philippines The Order of National Artists of the Philippines ( Tagalog: ''Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas'') is an order bestowed by the President of the Philippines on Philippine nationals who have made significant contributions to ...

for Film (2009) * Ricky Lee,

for Film and Broadcast Arts (2022) *

Robin Padilla Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla (; born November 23, 1969), also known by his Muslim name Abdul Aziz, is a Filipino actor, film director, and politician serving as senator of the Philippines. He is known as the "Bad Boy" of Philippine cin ...

, Actor * Ambet Nabus, Radio Anchor, Comedian and Show Business Reporter * Joross Gamboa, TV Actor * Precious Paula Nicole, Drag Performer, Winner of Drag Race Philippines (Season 1)

References

External links

Municipality of Daet
* Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census Information
{{Authority control Municipalities of Camarines Norte Provincial capitals of the Philippines Surfing locations in the Philippines