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The town of Hilongos was first called "Ilong", which means nose. It must have been adopted by the early inhabitants as a misnomer for the Ilongots, a tribe from Iloilo which first settled in the place. Artigas however, claims that the name is a corruption of the term "lomos" - to drown - which was a usual occurrence in the turbulent Salog river which flows nearby.

A migratory Ilongot tribe is believed to be the first settlers of Hilongos, then a thick virgin forest. They came to the place accidentally as they were pursued by some warlike Malayan sailors. Nomadic as the first Ilongots were, they cleared out a temporary habitation where big "lipata" trees now stand, a few hundred meters from the present church palisades.

But the accepted first founders of Hilongos were successive groups of early civilized malays who were believed to have come from Bohol. This assertion is supported by the fact that some of the present Hilongosnons, particularly those who founded and settled in the barrios of Concepcion and Catandog were Boholanos.

Partial accounts describe the pre-Spanish Hilongosnons as cultured Malays. The built their huts with nipa, sulirap or woven coconut leaves and bamboo which the rich wilderness provided in abundance. Being semi-nomadic, the lived from hunting and fishing rather than from farming. The more extensive cultivation of the soil was the task of a later group of settlers whose general mode of living showed a more advanced culture than their predecessors. These subsequent settlers were also responsible for the organization of the people as their number increased into tribes, barangays and villages. These tribal organizations were the beginnings of the present Hilongos.

Pre-Spanish Hilongos attained the summit of greatness in the 12th century when Amahawin, a powerful barangay chieftain, conquered the neighboring barangays extending his territory to the present limits of Inopacan, Hindang, Bato and Matalom.

The social life of the people were enhanced by the 'anibong' or merrymaking. Gatherings were held after the harvest seasons. The pagan worship of 'diwatas' and 'anitos' also furthered their social relations.

It is not quite clear when the Spaniards first set foot in Hilongos although it is possible that they first came two or three decades after Legaspi's arrival in the Philippines.

A certain Datu Magahong ruled the village when the Spaniards arrived. The feeble resistance offered by the wooden palisades surrounding the settlement was no match for the cannons of the invaders. The village was razed to the ground.

A long period of rebuilding followed the capitulation. The Spaniards, in respect to Datu Magahong's leadership, made him the first gobernadorcillo after baptizing him and giving him the name Manuel Manicar. The Spaniards likewise changed the name of the pueblo from Ilong to Peublo de los Hilongos. Manicar was succeeded by Juan Onson, who is said to have constructed the first street of the town which today is called Rizal Street.

The real conquest of Hilongos was effected not so much by the Spanish soldiers but by the courageous and pioneering Spanish missionaries. Fr. Sendino relates that "Hilongos was established in 1737 and was already listed in that year among the few places in Leyte under the Jesuits." Fr. Leonardo Celis-Diaz, a native of Cebu who also built the church in Matalom, constructed the present church according to Fr. Sendino.

The Hilongosnons quickly saw the Truth despite their deeply rooted pagan beliefs. They were converted to Christianity within a short period of time. In 1778, ten years after the expulsion of the Jesuits, Fr. Manuel Santos was ministering 4,055 souls. In 1885, the number of Catholics numbered 11,560.

The growing number of inhabitants induced the missionaries to make Hilongos a parish before 1737, as Fr. Sendino notes, "prior to neighboring towns." Thus, in 1784, the town of Palompon was under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Hilongos.

During the Spanish era, the education of the youth was in the hands of the friars just like elsewhere in the Philippines. Artigas claims that "from 1774 to 1779, various municipal schools were established in Hilongos and six others in more important barrios." The Augustinian friars who took the place of the Jesuits in 1768 first conducted these schools by the Jesuits and later.

When the number of pupils increased, the Augustinians then trained lay teachers. There were two schools located near the Casa Real - the present site of the municipal building. Parents, who could afford a higher education, sent their children to Cebu.

The local Spanish rule was not without discontent for one or two uprisings were staged by disgruntled elements. In 1862, a certain Manicar in the present barrio of Sta. Margarita led a political uprising. The cause of his revolt was his being accused of wrongly for conspiring to overthrow the government. With about 50 armed men, Manicar raided the Casa Real and freed the prisoners. Subsequently, Manicar was caught and hanged.

After eleven years, a certain Leovio Magia staged another uprising. Magia was a notorious robber. Owing to this failure to pay his taxes, his domestic animals were confiscated. The made him angry at the government and he led numerous robberies to show his defiance against Spanish authority. He was never caught.

In 1900, the Americans came to Hilongos. Like the first Spaniards, the also met with resistance. Capitan Francisco Flordelis, the regional commander of the Katipunan from Baybay to Maasin, laid out the plans to delay the American forces by guerrilla tactics. On a road leading to the town from the sea, Capitan Kikoy met the Americans in a bloody hand-to-hand encounter. Aided by naval bombardment, the Americans routed the Filipino defenders. Capitan Kikoy escaped to Barrio Pulta (now Sta. Margarita) where he established his military headquarters. The Americans in a skirmish later took this. In Barrio Protection, another encounter took place. The prolonged resistance died down with the burning of Hilongos in a terrible jues de cuchillo. Important documents were destroyed with the burning of all buildings, public and residential. The able field commander and brilliant military strategist Capitan Kikoy was finally killed in the vicinity of the Salog River.

The reorganization of the town was made easy. The affability of the Americans convinced the people that they were friends and not enemies. In 1904, the Americans confirmed the election of Pedro Flordelis as the first mayor under the American regime.

New roads and town streets were laid out. A town hall and a market place were constructed. Schools were erected. An American supervisor named Madeira reorganized the classes and trained native teachers.

This municipality has not been short of notable sons and daughters in their own fields of personal endeavors. In the literary field, there are renowned writers, thespians and noted dramatists like Sergio Leonor, Floro Valdueza, Pedro Vizcara, Epifanio Rubio and his wife, Meman, Lorenzo Napa, Senyang, "Ikoy" and other stage actors and actresses.

Local drama has not lost its flavor in Hilongos today and this is due to the untiring efforts of some of the townspeople, Conrado Fulache among them, who organized the "Banagbanag Dramatic Club."

In the musical field, Hilongos can claim with pride the following sons with notable talents: "Maestro" Emil, "Asion" Inugay, Laureano Fabular and Kikoy Rio (noted violinist).

In the ecclesiastical field, Hilongos has the following distinguished men and women among others: Bishop Cipriano Urgel, Msgr. Cesar Garces, Msgr. Cornelio Parado, Fr. Robles and Sor Rosario Vinculado.

The town boasts of two hospitals - one government-financed and the other, privately owned (run by and American missionary, owned by the Baptist Church). Both are now serving the health needs not only of the Hilongos townspeople but also of people coming from places as far as Maasin and Baybay.

Hilongos has its own electric plant owned by the Artadi families. This electric entity - the Western Leyte Electric Company or "Welepco" for short, is lighting the town's homes and streets.

This town is well on its way towards progress in almost all fields of endeavor, and the future seems bright for its townspeople.