Sto. Domingo, Albay

The HOME of SARUNG BANGGUI

Spanish-Japanese TIME

     The Municipality was formerly known as which is corruption of the Bicol term "libot" meaning round-about or circuitous.  This fact came about during the early part of the Spanish times when only a foot trail connected the histerlands of what are known today the towns of Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco and Malilipot down Banwang Daan better known today as Binanwaan or Albay Viejo at the northern approach to Mayon.  The trail forked on one side to Sabloyon winding its way along the twilight side of Mayon Volcano while the other to the opposite flank lacing around the morning side cutting straight into the heart of a settlement which for want of a name was called Libot.

     Later, when the time came to organize and integrate this settlement to give it a political status as a visita of Binanwaanan now Legazpi Port, the corruption crept in Libog for Libot.   In 1749, a seccessionist group of illustrados of the visita headed by Don Diego Castellanos sought to emancipate the barrio from its mother town to attain the status of townhood.  This was granted by both the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of Nueva Caceres nowe Naga City and also by the Ayuntamiento of Manila the same year.  Don Domingo Castellanos holds the distinction of having been the first Capitan of the town. 

     To start the straddling towm, Fr. Jose Antonio Rodriguez, the first designated parish priest built its first church right by the seashore that was originally made of split bamboos called basag for its roofing and nipa shingles and wood for wallings.  Chosen as its patron saint was Saint Dominic de Guzman.  This church however was burned down in 1822.

 

English-INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT OF THE TOWN

    In 1816, six Moro vintas with 150 warriors raided the town but were repulsed.  A certain Juan de Concepcion, a native of the town was taken captive by the raiders.  It took 30 years of captivity before he was able to return.

       In 1869, diggings of a seawater canal in Barrio Buhatan was undertaken to shorten the passage or travel time from Libog to Bacacay.  In 1889, town Captain Procopio Banda became the last of the Spanish capitanes.  In 1899 Juan Salazar became the firt presidente replacing the capitan.  Mr. Wellington, a Thomasite arrived in 1901 and opened up the first English class in town.

    The first election for presidente under a two-year term was held in 1904.  In 1910 the first election for presidente under a three-year term was held.  The tribunal building, the seat of Civil government was donated by the Concejo Municipal to the Bureau of Public Schools in 1916 to house the growing number of pupils.

    In 1945, Japanese groups occupied the town.  The position of presidente was replaced by that of alcalde.  A guerilla movement was organized by the Flor brothers under the name Flor's Bikol Brigade.  They sought sanctuary in the mountain vastness.