Editing Tabaco (section)

==History==
===Spanish period===
According to the ''Estado Geografico Estadistico Historico'' written in 1805 by Father De Huerta, the recorded history of the city began in 1587 through the [[missionary work]] of the first [[Franciscan]] Fathers. In 1616, Fr. Pedro De Alcareso became the first permanent parish priest and established a [[parish church|church]] dedicated to [[St. John the Baptist]], the [[patron saint]] of the city.<ref name="Historical">[http://www.tabacocity.com.ph/Tourism/LocalHeritage.php "Historical Tabaco"]. Tabaco City Official Website. Retrieved on April 20, 2012.</ref>

The first inhabitants settled along the seashore and engaged in fishing and crude farming. Due to the continuous attacks by the [[Moro people|Moro]] raiders, the natives migrated to San Vicente and San Carlos, and started the foundation of the first [[poblacion]] in 1703, while the fishermen of the town transferred to the shores of the bay of what is now known as [[Barangay]] Cormidal. Under the administration of the first town executive, a church was built in Cormidal in 1731. Records on the elected ''Capitan municipal'' (town mayor) started only in 1731 with Martin Aguirre listed as the first mayor of Tabaco.<ref name="Fortune"/>

In 1811, a terrible [[typhoon]] called Baguiong Oguis or White Typhoon brought havoc to the town. This was followed in 1814 by the most destructive eruption of the [[Mayon Volcano]], which showered the areas with ashes and stone. These two events rendered many residents homeless and left the fields unproductive for many years after. It took a full decade for the people to recover, at which time they built a cemetery and laid the foundation of the present church which was completed in 17 years.<ref name="Historical"/>

===American period and independence===
The Americans landed at Tabaco on February 9, 1900, under the command of Col. Walter Howe. Despite the well-documented courage and [[patriotism]] of the Tabaqueños, the residents of Tabaco, the superior armaments and well-trained soldiers of the [[U.S. Army|American army]] hastened its conquest of Tabaco and adjoining towns, starting the [[History of the Philippines (1898–1946)|American rule]] in the area.<ref name="Historical"/>

With the restoration of peace after World War II, the Tabaqueños started rebuilding their lives and their land. By the time the Philippines gained [[Treaty of Manila (1946)|independence]] in 1946, Tabaco was once again a thriving town.<ref name="Historical"/>

===Other catastrophic events===
Another catastrophe to hit the town was [[Typhoon Trix (1952)|Typhoon Trix]] in 1952, which completely submerged [[Natunawan Island]]. A 1964 fire razed the commercial center, and in 1970, another destructive storm, [[Typhoon Joan (1970)|Typhoon Sening]], slashed through the town.<ref name="Fortune">{{cite web |url=http://oasis.fortunecity.com/acapulco/215/region5/albay/tabaco.htm |title=Tabaco Town, Albay Province, Region V, Philippines |access-date=December 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020815/http://oasis.fortunecity.com/acapulco/215/region5/albay/tabaco.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2011 }}</ref>

===Cityhood===
{{main|Cities of the Philippines}}
Then Representative Krisel Lagman-Luistro introduced House Bill No. 7851, upgrading the municipality of Tabaco into a [[Cities of the Philippines|component city]] of the province of Albay. Senate Bill No. 2244 was sponsored by Senators [[Sergio Osmeña III]] and [[Franklin Drilon]] as its counterpart in the Senate. The Republic Act No. 9020 converted the Municipality of Tabaco into a [[Cities of the Philippines#Classification|component city]] of the province of Albay. It was signed into law by President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] on February 5, 2001. The municipality was finally converted into a city after the plebiscite conducted on March 24, 2001.