Libagon, Southern Leyte - History

History

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 tilled as 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. The Poblacion comprised two barangays: Jubas (at the South) and Talisay (at the North).

The following were the barrios or sitios led by Capitan Domingo Espina from South to North and westward:

The wife of Capitan Domingo was Potenciana Escaño and was called by townsfolk as, Capitana Potenciana, in acclamation to the first-ever First Lady of Libagon. The couple had eight children.

On 16 October 1913, Libagon and Sogod were finally separated into two independent towns – Libagon (14 barrios) and Sogod (45 barrios). The challenges of an increasing population necessitated the division. The new Libagon was under the administration of the new Presidente Municipal, Mariano L. Espina.