Matalom, Leyte

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
Any unsourced material that has been or is likely to be challenged may be removed at any time.
This article has been tagged since March 2007.

This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article.
Please improve it or discuss changes on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message.
This article has been tagged since March 2007.

Map of Leyte showing the location of Matalom

Matalom is a 4th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 30,216 people in 6,093 households.

[edit] Barangays

Matalom is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.

Agbanga
Altavista
Cahagnaan
Calumpang
Caningag
Caridad Norte
Caridad Sur
Elevado
Esperanza
Hitoog
Itum
Lowan
Monte Alegre
San Isidro (Pob.)
San Pedro (Pob.)

Santo Niño (Pob.)
President Garcia
Punong
San Juan
San Salvador
San Vicente
Santa Fe
Santa Paz
Tag-os
Templanza
Tigbao
Waterloo
Zaragoza
Bagong Lipunan
Taglibas Imelda

[edit] History

Before Magellan discovered the Philippines, a peaceful sea-loving people lived along the banks of the Matalom River and also on the scenic islet of Canigao (formerly Comigao).

It was said that the Spaniards once saw the flaming red of the fire trees that dotted the shores of Matalom Beach and the scenic Canigao Island and asked the natives the local dialect for "hermosa" or beautiful. The natives answered "Matahum" or "Matalom." This was the origin of the town's name.

In the middle of the 18th century, the townspeople of Matalom constructed their own parish church, convent, school, and public buildings through their own efforts. These were all accomplished with the leadership of a kind Spanish Friar, Fr. Leonardo Celes Diaz and Kapitan Calixto Pil believed to be the founder and first president of the town.

Leadership in the town's administration may be divided into three regimes: Spanish, American and Postwar (Philippine Independence). The first president of Matalom during the Spanish regime was Kapitan Calixto Pil. Succession to the chair of president was patterned after the original dynasty set up by the natives. Thus, after Kapitan Itong "Calixto Pil) his son followed. Next in line was Kapitan Osting then Kapitan Kolas (Nicolas Pal), then Kapitan Bentoy (Ruberto Pal), the last president before the transition period from Spanish to American regimes. The council members were then called, "Guinhaupan," acknowledged leader in settlements, now barrios or sitios.

The transition from the American regime to the time the Philippines obtained its independence saw Jeremias Pal re-elected alcalde in 1937 until the outbreak of World War II. The dark days of the Japanese occupation had Antonio Olo as the "puppet mayor". The restoration of the civil government after the war saw the appointment of Primitivo Gopo as the municipal mayor of Matalom.