User:Mangyan23/Victoria, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro

 Victoria is one of the barangays of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro located about 5 kms from the town center.

History
The barangay was named after Victoria Montesa, wife of the first Barrio Captain and one of the first settlers of the barrio. The first settlers were from the three distinct families, Montesa, Mugoy and Montoya, whose descendants still own the vast majority of land in the barrio. However, some tracts of land have changed hands considerably due to financial considerations and population impact.

The first settlers cleared the land of trees and planted rice and vegetables. Everybody is helping one another as workers are difficult to come by on those days. One of the homesteaders,Domingo Pupa Mugoy, literally used his bare hands to uproot the trees that dotted his homestead with the help of his stepsons,from his second wife, Espiridiona Montoya,wife of one of the early homesteaders. Land was fertile and blessed with overflowing water from the rivers and creeks surrounding their lands.

Barrio Victoria then was still under the administration of the Municipality of Mansalay, and Victoria is considered as a sitio of Barrio Paclasan, now Roxas.

Geography and People
As of 01 Aug 2007, the barangay have a population of 1,897 as per NSCB. It is considered as a rural area.

The barangay is a typical idyllic place you can see in most rural towns in the Phillipines. The barrio have one major barangay road leading to the elementary school. The road is unpaved and dusty, and during rainy season, muddy.

The barangay is inhabited by migrants from Romblon, Antique, Marinduque and Batangas.

Economy
The economy of Victoria rests solely on agriculture, mostly palay (rice). But about 25 years ago, coconut farms also thrived, however, due to population increase, many coconut farms were turned into housing sites and subdivided into lots especially those near the National highway. Household income of the majority of inhabitants are below poverty level and there are very few business enterprise, with mostly small groceries and sari-sari stores dominating the business landscape. Most dwellings are made of light materials and a few concrete houses. A major portion of the populace work in the rice farms surrounding the areas. A few have decided to work overseas and these are evident in their houses.

There is one ricemill and a piggery operation.

Education
There is one elementary school, Victoria Elementary School, located near the riverbank offering basic education from Grade 1 to Grade 4 only. Children have to travel by foot or any means of transport to the nearest complete elementary school in either Libertad, about 3 kms away or San Aquilino about 4 kms away, to enable them to finish their elementary schooling.