Sto. Niño Roman Catholic Philippines

Some people still call Barangay Sto. Niño by its old name "Irawan" which means a long dry season.

Some people still call this barangay by its old name “Irawan”, which means a long dry season. Formerly a sitio of neighboring Alimanguan, barangay Sto. Niño gained its present status in 1989 after nine years of lobbying with municipal and provincial officials. It is named after its patron saint, the child Jesus. Migrants from Samar form the largest ethnic group, followed by those from Masbate and Mindanao. Fishing is the main source of livelihood, but most residents turn to farming during the monsoon season in the second half of the year. Compressor-aided fishing was practiced in the barangay until the municipality outlawed the method in 1995. Rice is grown mostly for local use. Some people practice slash-and-burn farming in the forests, which also provide the main source of firewood and building materials.

Sto. Niño

 Its steep beach makes Sto. Niño inaccessible during bad weather. A 3-km dirt road connects the barangay to Alimanguan, its main trading partner. Some people still call Barangay Sto. Niño by its old name "Irawan" which means a long dry season.

SITIOS : Maymanok, sitio Proper, Ombo

LAND AREA: 2,997.442 hectares

POPULATION: 1,033 individuals in 181 households (1995 census)

LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Visayan, Tagalog, Ilonggo, Cuyunon, Masbateño

RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic, Iglesia ni Kristo, Pentecostal, Endtime Message

MOST COMMON ILLNESSES: Malaria, pulmonary diseases, measles

SCHOOLS: 1 barangay elementary school (Grades 1 - 6)

ORGANIZATIONS: 7 purok associations, Sto. Niño Mothers’ Club, Barangay Water & Sanitation
Association, Sto. Niño Compressor Fishermen’s Association, Samahan ng Magbubukid at Mandaragat ng Sto. Niño
HEALTH SERVICES: 1 day-care worker
WATER SOURCES: 13 handpumps, 3 Jetmatic pumps, 4 natural springs