Get to know where I came from..

2. Map of
Southern
Leyte
showing the
location of
Libagon.

3. It was said that
Libagon got its
name from a
derivative or
distorted word of
the dialect,

4. Spanish
authorities
mistook the
reference to the
ground fault on
the land being

5. 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.

7. Road entering the
Municipality of
LIBAGON

8. And as you enter into
our historical town ..
Sites will mystify you
about its past .

9. Century-old Spanish-designed
Libagon Town Hall

10. 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.

11. The
"Balwarte"
where the
Japanese
soldiers camp
during World
War II.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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).

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Libagon Rizal Park

19. 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.

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

21. 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.

22. Old Building of LIBAGON ACADEMY

23. 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.

24. 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.

26. Uwan- Uwanan Waterfalls

27. 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.

29. 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.

30. Patag- Daku Mountains

31. 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.

32. "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-

33. Pangi Black Sand Beach

34. 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.

35. Biason g Sp r i n g

36. Biason g Sp r i n g
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.

38. Spectacular Sunset

41. SOURCES OF
LIVELIHOOD

42. F
I
S FISH.
H
I
N
G

44. Delicious “Kinhasun”

45. “Tujom” (Sea Urchins)

46. Whale
Sharks
Hard & Soft
Corals

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

52. Religious Views
And
Celebrations

53. Every
8th of
December
The Feast Of Immaculate Concepcion

54. Libagon Parish Church

57. Feast Of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel
Falls every July 16 in the holy year of God.

59. 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-Up
Community Clean- Up
Tree Planting

63. LIBAGONIANS
Religious
Community- Spirited
Environmentalists
Energetic
Fun- loving

68. SOURCES :
*Libagon Blogspot
*Wikipedia
*TgaNahulidKaKung

69. Prepared
by:
April Rose
Supangan

71. LIBAGON
..
Alluring
Sights
From a
Historical
town ..