The History of Towns in Region VIII, Philippines
These histories were taken from the book Leyte Towns, Histories/Legends by Francisco S. Tantuico Jr of Tacloban City. Click on a town and view the history below the menu.
Bontoc
Bontoc, the foremost abaca-producing region of Southern Leyte boasts of having the longest stretch of alluvial plain in the province. Its wide fertile level plain is conducive to the growth of any kind of agricultural product, attributed mainly to the Salog River whose continuous and almost imperceptive deposit of rich alluvial matters contributes immeasurably to the fertility of the district. Bontoc is also considered a tobacco district.
The name "Bontoc" was derived from an old creek called "Bontoc Creek" which swayed and criss-crossed the district now supposed to be the site of the present Catholic cemetery where the old "Pueblo" called Daan Lungsod existed. Before the Spaniards arrived, Bontoc was an uninhabitable wilderness settled by a few scattered warring tribes. These aboriginal warring settlers became the permanent settlers of Bontoc when it was regrouped and subjugated by the Spanish Conquistadores near the mouth of the fertile plain of the historic river basin. Bontoc, at this time became a prosperous settlement and was later annexed as a Barrio of the municipality of Libagon. It was at this stage of the growth of this district that there arose Mariano Barcelon, a local chieftain who earned the nickname of Tahug, who struck terror in the hearts of the Moro marauders.
From the Spanish time to the early part of the American regime, Bontoc was a tributary pueblo to the town of Libagon. A chain of native Cabezas de Barangay ruled, distinctly called "Capitanes" who in collaboration with the church wielded vigorous political powers. Any person who offended in the clergy or disobeyed a set of rules was severely reprimanded. Among the notable capitanes who held the reins of the local administration were: Hilario Barcelon, Manuel Leynes, Romualdo Tubia, Florentino Flores, Felipe Aguilar and Gerardo Faelnar, a Capitan of mark, popularly known as Capitan Dadoy. His administration lasted up to the early part of the American occupation. Shortly after the coming of the Americans, Bontoc became a barrio of Sogod.
Bontoc played an important role when Japanese forced invaded Philippine shores. The barrio became the seat of the Headquarters of the Resistance movement in Leyte. The general headquarters was situated at Maningao in upper Banahao under the overall command of Col. Ruperto Kangleon. At Sitio Trece, a part of Bontoc, the Japanese hordes suffered a tremendous loss of lives when it was attacked by the famous guerilla unit stationed therein. This sitio became a historical landmark of the place.
Finally, on June 15, 1950, by virtue of Republic Act No. 522 Bontoc became a separate municipality from Sogod.
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