Lianga

Etymology and legends

A couple of centuries ago, along the bay facing the bluish sea of the Pacific Ocean, was a place like those in fairy tales. The white beaches were traversed by two rivers, one in the south and the other in the north. A little distance from the shoreline, the landscape started to rise until it reached its peak in the west, which is one of the ranges of the enchanted Mount Diwata. The place was thickly forested, blanketed with big trees, varieties of wild flowers, aerial plants, and vines. On the ground, wild animals of different species roam around the area. White, colorful birds and other winged creatures flit from tree to tree. Nature's music, like the chirping of birds, the humming of bees, and other wood-land insects intermingling with the sound of roaring waves, could be heard from a distance. This truly translates to the feeling of being born free in nature. The place was breathtaking to behold. Indeed, it was paradise where nature remained undisturbed.

Then men settled along the cove near the river in the south. It was said that these early inhabitants were the Manobos, who were ruled by a chieftain (datu). Their clothes were made of woven abaca fiber and adorned with multi-colored beads. Land and water resources were abundant; hence, they loved to hunt in the forest, gather shells along the shores, and fish in the rivers. There was peace and harmony among the early inhabitants. They were happy and content. Later, however, as their tribes increased, their descendants thought of moving to surrounding areas, so there was rivalry as to who would own which pieces of land. Whenever disputes over land ownership and quarrels among themselves occurred, they were settled in a duel alongside the river in the north. Whoever won was proclaimed a "Daugan" or "Mananaog" by the chieftain (datu). The place became popular; hence, the river was named Pananag-an.

People going to the other side of the river have to wade across it slowly as the current was swift; it always took them such time to reach the other side of the river, and they often say to themselves, "Langan pagtabok" or "Malangan kita" (It delays to cross or we will be delayed). One day, as the old folks claimed, a foreigner passed by the place. After having crossed the river, he asked the people the name of the place. Thinking that the stranger was asking what they were doing, they answered, "Langan pagtabok". The foreigner heard "Langan" and thought it was the name of the place, then people started calling the whole settlement "Langan". Later, with the influence of the Spanish "Li" alphabet, Langan was pronounced "Liangan". As generations passed, the final "N" in Llangan was dropped, and the "Ll" sound was changed to "Li", hence saying that is how Lianga got its name.

History

Lianga is one of the oldest towns of the province of Surigao del Sur by virtue of Executive Order No. 27 on October 17, 1919. The municipality of Lianga is centrally located in the province of Surigao del Sur. It is situated along the Lianga Bay facing the Pacific Ocean and cradled by its shorelines and the Diwata Mountains. Its latitude is 30 and longitude is within 12635 and is bounded on the north by the Municipality of San Agustin, on the south by the Municipality of Barobo, on the west by the province of Agusan del Sur and the east lies the Pacific Ocean. It is 90.0 kilometers to the south of Tandag City, the capital of the province, 237 kilometers from Davao City, 121 kilometers from Butuan and 16 kilometers from Prosperidad, the capital town of Agusan del Sur (via Lianga–Los Arcos Road).

In the history of Caraga Region, Lianga was part of the encomienda way back in 1655 under the command of Sergeant Martin Sanchez dela Cuesta. This encomienda covered Palaso (Cantilan). Tandag as its capital, Tago, Marihatag and Lianga. From 1904 to 1936, the head of the town was called President, per record obtained, the first elected president of Lianga was Cornelio Layno, whose two-year term covered the period from 1904 to 1906. The first elected mayor was Otilio Navarro, who served from 1937 to 1940. From then on, there were seven elected mayors of Lianga from 1941 up to the present. Within these periods, two became mayors by succession, another two by appointment.

Almost half a century ago, the territorial land area of Lianga was vast, considering the fact that the present municipalities of San Agustin, Marihatag and Barobo were once a part of Lianga. The births of these three municipalities were the results of political subdivisions authored by the political leaders of the undivided Surigao. San Agustin, formerly called Oteiza, was the first daughter municipality of Lianga created under Executive Order No. 445 in 1951, during the presidency of Elpidio Quirino. The governor of Surigao that time was Vicente L. Pimentel. Four years later, the Municipality of Marihatag was created under Republic Act No. 1261 on June 10, 1955. As the population of Lianga increased, it was not spared from further political subdivision. The electorate in the southern barrios of Lianga moved for the creation of another municipality, called the Municipality of Barobo, as the seat of the municipal government. The creation of the Municipality of Barobo was made through Executive Order no. 407 and 2786 on October 24, 1960. Of the three municipalities created from the municipality of Lianga, Marihatag has the largest land area. Among these four municipalities formerly referred to as the "BLOM" Area (for Barobo, Lianga, Oteiza, and Marihatag) Lianga, the mother municipality has the smallest land area with only 15,000 hectares.

Geography

Barangays

Lianga is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks, while some have sitios.

Anibongan

Ban-as

Banahao

Baucawe

Diatagon [Jiatagon] (also has a large public market)

Ganayon

Liatimco

Manyayay [which also contains Exemeria]

Payasan

Poblacion

Saint Christine

San Isidro

San Pedro

Climate

Lianga has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Lianga (%)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Culture

Festival

Inatu Festival – "Inatu" is from the kamayo language means "our very own". The festival is celebrated annually on October, but recent events shifted it to be celebrated in August 2025.

Education

North Eastern Mindanao State University – Lianga Campus

Lianga National Comprehensive High School

R. Moreno Integrated School

St. Christine National High School (Fishery)

Anibongan National High School

Davisol National High School

Diatagon Catholic High School (Private) and 19 Elementary Schools including Our Lady of Pompei School (Private)

Lumad schools

There are several Lumad community schools built by Lumad tribes themselves.

Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) Inc.

Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) Inc.

These Lumad schools have been in the vanguard in fighting for the ancestral lands and the rights of the Lumad.

The Department of Education (Deped) recognized the Lumad community schools and the ALCADEV system through the Indigenous framework of education now observed by alternative tribal schools nationwide. The policy framework was signed in 2012 by then-Secretary Armin Luistro.

2015 Lianga Massacre

On September 1, 2015, executive director of ALCADEV was killed right inside the school premises while two other Lumad leaders, Dionel Campos, and Datu Bello Sinzo were killed in front of the community by the paramilitary group Magahat-Bagani.

National Literacy Awards

These Lumad schools in Lianga have been awarded the Most Outstanding Literacy Program of Caraga region and in the Philippines for several years. This award is given by the Department of Education – Literacy Coordinating Council.

Tourism

Bao-bao Falls – Barangay Diatagon

Puro or Lianga Lighthouse – Barangay Poblacion

Tagago Beach – Barangay Poblacion

Kansilad Beach – Barangay Ganayon

Lawis Beach – Barangay Banahao

Causeway Beach – Barangay St. Christine

Mahogany Road – Barangay Diatagon

Little Nest or Tagaytay – Barangay San Pedro

Pocto Cave – Barangay Manyayay

Pamutuanan Cave – Barangay Liatimco

Gran Ola Eco Surf Camp – Barangay Banahao (Lawis)

Ocean Point Beach Resort – Barangay Banahao (Lawis)

Baugo Seaside Resort – Barangay Baucawe

Busay Falls – Barangay Payasan

Ancestral Houses – Barangay Poblacion

Baywalk – Barangay Poblacion

Olè Beach + Resto – Barangay Poblacion

Davisol Mountain Trekking – Barangay Manyayay

Casa Lovena by the Sea Resort – Barangay Baucawe