Libagon, the place where I gained time

Map of Southern Leyte showing the location of Libagon.

It was said that Libagon got its name from a derivative or distorted word of the dialect, libaong, which means a small depression of the ground.

Spanish authorities mistook the reference to the ground fault on the land being tilledas the name of the place. It has since been known by that name, Libagon.

The early known occupants of Libagon were of Bol-anon ancestry. Bol-anon, meaning from Bohol or also called Boholano. The settlers' first chosen leader of Libagon was Domingo Mateo Espina. He was the son of Agustin Mateo Espina and Francisca Barbara and the grandson of Pedro Espina of Duero, Bohol. The town of Libagon was founded in 1845. At this point in the history of the municipality, the barrios or barangays under Libagon included Sogod and Bontoc at the farthest North and Punta at the farthest South.

Road entering the

Municipality of LIBAGON

And as you enter into our historical town ..

Sites will mystify you about its past .

Century-old Spanish-designed Libagon Town Hall

Libagon has a century-old and well- preserved Spanish style municipal hall. The structure gives a glimpse of the town’s rich heritage. It is amongst Southern Leyte’s premier historical sites and landmarks- the pride of Southern Leyte.

The "Balwarte" where the Japanese

soldiers camp during World

War II.

This is the only memorial left of the Lungsod-Daan or the original location of the town center of Libagon. It is made of boulders or tablets of rock, limestone and gravel. This structure is made strong and formidable as a defensive fortification against the Moros (Muslim) from the big island of Mindanao. Strategically located, the edifice is overlooking Sogod Bay and the two deltas of the islands of Limasawa and Panaon.

The Bulwark or Balwarte at the old town center is near the big river named Tubig-Daku, below and adjacent to the existing cemetery. This is also where the Japanese soldiers camped during World War II.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942–1945), Petronilo “Liloy” Ebarle was appointed as the Municipal Mayor from 1942-1944. However, the guerrillas alluded him as a “puppet mayor”. Though Mayor Ebarle held the Japanese-appointed position, Mayor Gregorio E. Edillo also continued to be the official leader under the authority of the Philippine Commonwealth with the United States. On the other hand, the people also recognized the command of the guerrilla forces of Leyte or the Leyte Area Command under Coronel Ruperto Kangleon, and supported as well the supervision of the Volunteer Guards in the town level.

There were only two leaders of the Volunteer Guards in Libagon. The first was Lieutenant Francisco Barros, followed by Francisco “Dodo” Espina. And the only Libagonian officials of the Leyte Area Command (LAC) were Lieutenant Catalino "Nongnong" E. Soledad, Lieutenant Feliciano "Lily" A. Espina and Lieutenant Marcelo "Celing" E. Espina, who were also officers of USAFFE (U.S. Army Forces in the Far East).

These three brave Libagonians fought in the Battle of Bataan which represented the most intense phase of Imperial Japan's invasion of the Philippines during World War II. Unfortunately, of the three brave men, only Marcelino Espina did not make it back to his hometown. His body was left on the battlefield of Bataan.

However, a Memorial Stone (Ang Bato sa Paghandum) was built in memory of these heroic men of Libagon. All their names were engraved on granite to honor their lives and monumentalize their memory and courageous deed. The Memorial Stone now stood in the midst of Libagon Rizal Park.

Libagon Rizal Park

Like most local governments from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao, a Rizal monument is erected to commemorate the Philippines' national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot. The Rizal monument stands at the Libagon Rizal Park, a significant landmark of Libagon located strategically in the midst of the poblacion.

Ruins of Pantalan (Libagon's Old Sea Port) in Brgy. Jubas

The ruins of the old pantalan or seaport still stand along the shores of the Poblacion in Jubas. Recently, the entire seacoast along Sogod Bay is transformed into a "park by the bay" also commonly referred to as the Boulevard in Jubas ideal for walks and for viewing the sunset while fishermen on their lighted bancas or boats scatter all over the bay. This is seen most specially during peak fish season.

Old Building of LIBAGON ACADEMY

Initially known as the “Libagon High School, Inc.”, the establishment basically taught Catechism – training for the young Catholic faithful with questions and answers about the essentials of Catholic faith and doctrine so that they could understand easily their faith. Besides the 3 R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic), the Spanish language was normally taught at that time. Music, however, was especially instructed.

Musicians, songwriters, singers and choirmaster were trained for the church’s choir. The same musicians completed the town’s band that was well-known among other bands in the province.

Uwan- Uwanan Waterfalls

Uwan-uwanan falls is located in barangay Kawayan, Libagon. The gorge is a world-class adventure wonder. Climbing, swimming and trekking rolled into one.It will take a two-hour trek to the mountains, rappelling and climbing bamboo ladders within cascading falls before you reach the top.

Uwan-uwanan, literally means “resembling a rainfall” because the two-hour track entails an enchanting encounter of an “uwan-uwanan “. And at the top, photo enthusiasts are in for a marvelous treat. At exactly 12:00 noon when the sun is directly above the middle of the narrow opening at the gorge, the natural light is awe-inspiring as it dramatically illuminates the whole area resembling a magnificent altar in a cathedral or a place of worship.

Patag- Daku Mountains

Patag Daku, in English, means "big plain". It is certainly big but is never quite plain. It is actually a valley so dense in vegetation that novice campers and mountaineers will never come in or out without an experienced guide leading the way. But the trek to the valley comes big in every way. In mountaineering parlance, it is a major climb. Not the leisurely stroll that one might expect, the climb is an arduous six hour journey through a maze of trees, ferns, moss, grass and big trees.

"Patag Daku, the mossy forest more than 500 hectares of unexplored, uncharted wilderness, fraught with dangerous tales of huge snakes and wild animals."

-Libagon Blogspot-

Pangi Black Sand Beach

The beach in barangay Pangi is of fine black sands usually great for swimming, hiking and ecotourism. Other black sand beaches can also be found in more places than anyone thinks, like the famous black sand beaches of Polynesia, Indonesia, Iceland, the Caribbean islands and the Punaluu Black Sand Beach in Hawaii, were created virtually instantaneously by the violent interaction between hot lava and sea water.The suspicion of a volcano close to Libagon may explain the black sand beach formation in barangay Pangi. But there is no exact evidence on this suspicion as verified by the concerned agency.

Biasong Spring

Biasong Spring

Biasong Spring is one of the oldest spring in Southern Leyte. It is located in the barangay of Biasong. The clear spring water is collected into a man-made basin or pool.The place is a favorite of the locals providing cool mountain spring water. A pool that has been the site of many happy occasions: birthday picnics, homecoming celebrations, etc. It has perhaps the sweetest mineral spring water in the province and most uncontaminated source.

Spectacular Sunset

SOURCES OFLIVELIHOOD

FISHING

FISH.

Delicious “Kinhasun”

“Tujom” (Sea Urchins)

Whale Sharks

Hard & Soft Corals

The Libagonians also get a living from coconut trees. (Copra Trading)One of the major sources of living in Libagon.

Religious Views

And Celebrations

The Feast Of Immaculate Concepcion

Every8th of December

Libagon Parish Church

Feast Of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Falls every July 16 in the holy year of God.

And to give thanks for the continuous graces and guidance..

The Libagonians do community service for the preservation of the natural resources like:

Coastal Clean-UpCommunity Clean- UpTree Planting

LIBAGONIANS

ReligiousCommunity- SpiritedEnvironmentalistsEnergeticFun- loving

*Libagon Blogspot*Wikipedia*TgaNahulidKaKung

SOURCES :

Prepared by:April Rose Supangan

Alluring SightsFrom a Historical town ..

LIBAGON..