Hinanugan City
In 1521, Magellan recorded sighting Hinunaghan (Hinunangan) during the voyage in Leyte Gulf. As far back in 1750 Hinunangan was a mid-way station of Boholanos trading in Eastern Leyte. They rested overnight at the mouth of Das-ay river where they morr their boats. A shelter was built for the crews and tenders, known as “Hononganan” stopover. Thus the name “Hinanugan”.
In 1822, a certain Boholano named Palonoy founded Hinunangan. At this time Silago of the North and Hinundayan and Anahawan on the south were part of Hinunangan.
The barangays are Poblacion, Ambacon, Badiangon, Bangcas A, Bangcas B, Biasong, Bugho, Calag-itan, Calayugan, Calinao, Canipaan, Catubian, Ilaya, Ingan, Labrador, Libas, Lumbog, Manalog, Manlico, Matinao, Nava, Nueva Esperanza, tama, Palongpong, Patong, Pondol, Panalaron, Salog, Salvacion, San Pablo, San Pedro, Sto. Nino II, Tahusan, Talisay, Tawog, Toptop, Tuburan, Union, and Upper Bantawon.
Maasin City
The Jesuits founded the town in 1770; The Agustinians took over from 1848-1896. The main barrios of the Poblacion, Abgao, Tunga-tunga, Mantahan, and Tagnipa were already in existence.
Ancient Maasin was the hub of business and government activities from Palompon to Hinunangan. A fiscal’s office, a court of First Instance, “Administrador de Hacienda” equivalent to a treasurer was established in Maasin. When Southern Leyte became a provice, Maasin was made the capital.
Limasawa
Created as a municipality on June 11, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1549, issued by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos and acting on the petition of the inhabitants of the island. The decree was sought for repeal but it was adroitly archived. When President Corazon C. Aquino took over the reigns of the government, she ordered a plebiscite in 1989 in Padre Burgos. It resulted in the affirmative votes to implement the Marcos Decree. Limasawa officially became a municipality on August 27, 1989.
Limasawa is historic in that the first Christian Mass in the Far East was celebrated in this island on March 31, 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.
In 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos approved Republic Act No. 7822 declaring Limasawa as a Tourist Zone in 1994.
On March 1, 1994, National Historical Institute Chairman and Executive Director Serafin D. Quiazon informed that it upholds Limasawa as the site of First Mass representing “more credible possibility until a controversible evidence to the contrary is established.”
The barangays of Limasawa are Triana, Cabulihan, Lugsongan, San Bernardo, Magallanes and San Agustin.
Sogod
During the American regime, the town was reorganized under the provisions of Act No. 82 passed by the Second Philippine Commission in 1900. This act was known as the Municipal Code and the first Municipal President of Malitbog was Fransico Escaño (1900-????). In 1957, during the incumbency of President Carlos P. Garcia, several barrios in the southern portion of Malitbog including the island of Limasawa were separated from Malitbog to form the municipality of Padre Burgos. San Isidro previously known as Santiago thru act of Congress 5777 and further amended by presidential Decree No. 134 was also separated from Malitbog and is now called Tomas Oppus.
The history of Sogod began long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The early inhabitants founded a balangay or settlement near the bank of Subang Daku River in the heart of Sogod bay. In 1565, the Legaspi expedition described it as a thickly populated village. On September 6, 1571, Sogod became a part of the Spanish encomienda in Leyte.
Sogod became a municipality on June 10, 1853 by virtue of a decree signed by Governor General Antonio de Urbiztondo. Thirteen years later, Sogod became a parish under the patronage of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception by virtue of a Real Aprobacion dated May 14th.
When Don Nicolas Idjao became governadorcillo in 1885, he transferred the seat of government to the barrio of Libagon, his native place. The poblacion of Sogod then became Sogod Viejo and Libagon became Sogod Nuevo. In 1902-1904, Don Benito Faelnar became the capitan municipal. He returned the seat to Sogod but in 1904 Ladislao deceteceo who succeeded Faelnar transferred again the seat to Consolation.