Veruela is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 36,222 people in 6,960 households.
Veruela was considered the oldest town of upper Agusan del Sur. As handed from generations, it was believed that Veruela got its name from the word “virus”. This happened in the later part of 18th century where the whole area was suffering from small pox and cholera when the Spanish missionaries chanced upon the tribe. From then on, thus, the name Veruela existed out of the Spanish word “La Verus”.
Later the Manobo tribes moved to Manning, better known as Linongsuran along the enormous Agusan River. However, in 1916 when the great earthquake destroyed the settlement, it erased the Linongsuran from the map of Agusan Province leaving no trace of the settlement. The survivors evacuated and reorganized themselves into another place, now the barangay poblacion of the municipality.
In the 18th century, the Muslim tribes in Davao invaded the Manobos in Agusan. But the Manobos fought against the Muslims. The first known leader of the inhabitants was Eladio Manguyod, a strong and influential datu of the Manobo tribe, who led his people to victories after a hard fought battle and drove the Muslim out of Agusan. It was also during those time when the tribe was converted into Christianity. It was their strong belief that they owed their victories to Datu Manguyod as well as their patron Saint John.
Veruela is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. The municipality of Veruela has a silent dispute with the nearby province of Compostela Valley regarding the boundary between the two in Del Monte. The local governments are trying to solve the issue amicably.
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