Dagami is a Municipality in the Province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, the town has a population of 29,240 people with 25,644 rural population and 3,596 urban population in 5,776 households.

The Municipality is relatively a fifth class municipality, which merely depends its development on Agriculture. It is lying along the ranges of the famous mountain “Amandewing” which is bounded in the north by the Municipality of Pastrana, on the northwest by Albuera, on the south by Burauen, and on the east by the towns of Tabon - Tabon and Tanauan.

The employment rate is 63% of the total population workforce in the municipality.

It has a total land area of 20,125.8 hectares whose location is thirty – two kilometers (32) South of the City of Tacloban and fourteen kilometers (14 km) directly from the Leyte Gulf otherwise known as the seashore of the Municipality of Tanauan, Leyte.

Dagami is mostly famous for its local delicacy, the "Binagol", "Moron" and "Sagmani".

Administrative Division

Dagami is politically subdivided into 65 barangays and two non-legislative districts. For purposes of education administration, the municipality is divided into Dagami North District and Dagami South District.

Abaca Abre Balilit Banayon Bayabas Bolirao Buenavista Barangay Buntay Caanislagan Cabariwan Cabuloran Cabunga-an Calipayan Calsadahay Caluctogan Calutan Camono-an Candagara Canlingga Cansamada East Digahongan

Guinarona Hiabangan Barangay Hilabago Hinabuyan Hinologan Hitumnog Katipunan Los Martires Lobe-lobe Macaalang Maliwaliw Maragondong Ormocay Palacio Panda Patoc Plaridel Sampao West Pob. (Dist. 8) Lapu-lapu Pob. (Dist. 2) Lusad Pob. (Dist. 6) Sampao East Pob. (Dist. 9) San Antonio Pob. (Dist. 5)

San Jose Pob. (Dist. 1) Sta. Mesa Pob. (Dist. 7) Tunga Pob. (Dist. 4) San Roque Pob. (Dist. 3) Poponton Rizal Salvacion San Benito Santo Domingo Sirab Tagkip Tin-ao Victoria Balugo Cansamada West Capulhan Lobe-lobe East Paraiso Sampaguita Sawahon Talinhugon Tuya

The Legend of Dagami's Name

Long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil, the islands of Leyte were divided into Kingdoms or Sultanates. The most respected and powerful in the whole island was Dagaran, the sultanate ruled by Diwaranda Mohammed. He had a daughter named Sayajamburan who was so beautiful many asked for her hand but, all in vain. The nearby kingdoms were Bumbaran and Kahagna – sultanates of King Mapandara and King Mabanig, respectively. King Mapandara had a son named Bantugan who was the commander of his father’s army and sought after by many women because of his strength and good looks. Sayajamaburan was secretly enamored by Bantugan’s physical and intellectual prowess. Bantugan has asked of her hand but was refused although he knew he had hopes of winning her in the end. The ruler of Kahagna King Mabanig, was also a close rival of Bantugan. He was wealthy and got along well with everyone. When Sayajamaburan’s father was dying, he chose Bantugan for his daughter’s husband. Two days before the scheduled wedding, there was rejoicing everywhere except for King Mabanig who declared war against Bantugan’s kingdom. Bantugan came out victorious and the wedding took place. Bumbaran, Dagaran and Kahagna then became one by affinity and conquest. The fusion of the three kingdom made Dagara – a more powerful and respected.

In 1478, two hundred years after the fusion of the three substances into one kingdom, changes took place. Dagilan, the capital of the whole kingdom, increased in population. The culture and social life of the place was further changed by the entry of the Chinese, Hindus and other Asian people. The people engaged in trade both wit h Asia and Europe.

When the Spaniard arrived in Leyte in 1521, they found out that the trade were in the villages bordering the sea. Dagilan was a community of a few houses. When the missionary friars introduced the Christian faith, the people were not difficult to convert for they practiced the respect for private property and worshipped one God.

One harvest season, a group of Spanish soldiers happened to pass by a group of men and women harvesting rice. They asked for the name of the community that was a few meters away. The natives thought that they were asking for a definite term for the field after rice had been harvested, a woman answered, “Dinagami – a Senior”. The Spaniards had difficulty in pronouncing Dinagami – that several times the natives laughed at them. Having felt insulted, one of the civil guards shouted angrily in Spanish, “Dagami or Dawian makes no difference!”. This place is Dagami, Dagami, Dagami! You Indios! What a queer language you speak." From that time, "Dagilan" was changed to "Dagami" by the village folks thinking that the name was most suited for the place.

Ethnology

The people of Dagami speak Waray or Waray-Waray, the native dialect of some parts of Leyte and Samar. The origin of the dialect can be traced to Maranao migrants from Mindanao in what is considered to be the modern day Western and Northern Mindanao.

Some words similar to Maranao dialect:

Direction:SouthWaray - IlawodMaranao - Si Ilud (meaning lower valley)

NorthWaray - IrayaMaranao - Si Raya (meaning upper valley)

There are plenty of Waray words that has similar meaning to the Maranao dialect. This confirms the legend's probability of being true.

Barangay Hilabago

Hilabago is a Barangay in Dagami. This barangay used to be a sitio of Barangay Patoc in the said municipality. The name Hilabago comes from the words Hilaba which means long and Bag-o meaning new. A river which traverses the barangay is also called Hilabago. In the 2000 census, Hilabago had a population of 444 individuals in 91 households.

Economy

• Copra

Production of copra - a by-product of coconut tree fruit is the main industry of the townfolks. The growth of local economy is highly dependent on copra production due to price fluctuation in the market of its by-products such as oil, dissicated coconuts, and other raw materials made from leaves, bark, and the coconut fruit itself.

• Rice

Rice farming is the second source of livelihood for the people of Dagami. Almost half of the land area is planted with different variety of rice stocks. It is likewise the second most traded product in the town next to copra.

• Binagol

The town of Dagami is known for its local delicacy, the "Binagol" - a sweet, glutinous mixture of cassava, legume crop and other ingredients cooked with filling made of sugar, coconut and milk placed in a coconut shell or "bagul" and wrapped with banana leaves. Dagami also has other local delicacies such as "Sagmani", "Moron" and "Baduya".

The "binagol" is sold in the city market primarily in Tacloban City while some reach the international markets around the world.

• Tuba

"Tuba", is a well-known drink to Leyteños. Aside from copra production, the gathering of this product from coconut sap is another source of livelihood for Dagami-ons. The "tuba product gathered is then traded in the market by local entrepreneurs but oftentimes sold directly by the gatherers.

Education

Local townfolks recognize the importance of education, hence local leaders are working very hard to provide the people access to education as most prominent higher educational institutions in Leyte are in the provincial capital, Tacloban City, Tabontabon, and Tanauan.

• Primary Schools

Almost all barangays in the town have primary and intermediate schools. The two major elementary schools are Dagami North Central School and Dagami South Central School situated just a few meters apart in the town proper. Other major elementary schools are Patoc Elementary School in the north, Guinarona Elementary School in the West and Balilit Elementary School in the south.

• Secondary Schools

The town has three public high schools and one private school run by the local parish. The local public secondary schools are Santa Mesa National High School located in the town proper, Patoc National High School in the north, Guinarona National High School in the west and the private-run Saint Joseph High School in the town center.

• Tertiary Institution

Recently, a tertiary school was opened in Barangay Patoc, some seven kilometers north of the town center. The Huron Institute was initiated by the Archdiocese of Palo through the Parish of San Roque and administered by a Board of Trustee chaired by the local Parish Priest and board members who are mostly residents of the local community.

Tourism

• Rivers

The town of Dagami is traversed by many rivers and streams upland. The biggest river is Panda River which cuts across the town's northeast section. Sawahon River is among its tributaries which is also joined up stream by its major tributaries such as Hilabago River, Kababatuan Dako (Greater Stones) River and Kababatuan Guti (Smaller Stones) River.

During the rainy season, when these rivers rise, the downtown or Poblacion is flooded causing damages to property. A river dike which is also a diversion road was built to protect the town center. But as the river rises higher than the dike, it overflows causing more water to flood the town center.

• Mountains

The majestic Mount Amandiwing located near Dagami is the highest peak in Leyte. The imposing mountain is a protected natural park where wildlife such as pigs, deers and monkeys are hunted by local hunters despite by a local ban. During the 1960's, a logging concession was permitted to cut its virgin forests but the concessionaire never replanted trees. Locals exploited the situation by farming the logged area and creating coconut plantations.

The mountain is best viewed from the town proper. On approach to the town proper, the mountain is an imposing majestic hill where smokes bellow from different parts like chimneys. Up in the mountain near its peak, one could see the vast Pacific Ocean.

Municipal Government

Municipal Mayors of Dagami

1900 - Present

• 1900 - 1906 --- Capitan Fabian Perido (First appointed Municipal President by the Americans who established camps near Dagami.)
• 1907 - 1910 --- Capitan Cecilio Limchaypo
• 1911 - 1914 --- Capitan Simeon Cañete
• 1915 - 1921 --- Capitan Ciriaco Bayona
• 1922 - 1924 --- Capitan Antonio Ubaldo
• 1925 - 1937 --- Hon. Atilano Cinco (Cinco was one of Leyte's ten official delegates to the 1935 Philippine Constitutional Convention, representing the 5th District of Leyte)
• 1938 - 1941 --- Hon. Homobono Bardillon
• 1941 - 1944 --- Dr. Cesario Sudario, Sr.
• 1945 --- Hon. Meliton Iroy, Sr.
• January, 1946 - June, 1947 --- Hon. Pablo Ontimare, Sr.
• June - December 1947 --- Hon. Fermin Limchaypo
• 1948 - 1951 --- Dr. Cesario Sudario, Sr.
• 1952 - 1955 --- Atty. Fernando Sudario, Sr.
• 1956 - 1959 --- Hon. Pablo Ibañez
• 1960 - 1963 --- Hon. Felipe Quinia
• 1964 - 1967 --- Hon. Serafin Nicolas, Sr.
• 1968 - 1980 --- Dr. Juan C. Vertulfo, Jr.
• 1980 - April 1986 --- Hon. Necitas M. Martillo
• April - November 1986 --- Dr. Pablo M. Ontimare, Jr. (Post-EDSA People Power Revolution OIC)
• December, 1986 - January, 1987 --- Mr. Olimpio O. Salvatierra (Took over as caretaker after the EDSA People Power Revolution of February 1986)
• 1987 - 1991 --- Hon. Adolfo A. Ortega
• 1992 - 1995 --- Atty. Benedicto C. Ortega
• 1995 - October, 2001 --- Hon. Adolfo A. Ortega
• October 20, 2001 - June 30, 2004 --- Hon. Gavino Dario O. Berino III
• July 1, 2004 - Present --- Hon. Esmeralda "Nene" Bardillon-Ortega

The Official Seal of the Municipality of Dagami

The Dagami Municipal Seal represents the town's humble achievements. The center of the seal shows the town's Municipal Hall, the seat of Dagami's local government. Its upper left side features the St. Joseph Parish of Dagami and the other side shows a faucet that represents Dagami as the source of fresh water of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD), the local distributor of fresh water in the 1st District of Leyte, namely where the capital of the Province is, Tacloban City. The lower part of the Seal on the left side symbolizes the Municipality's dependency on agriculture, and the other side features the local delicaicies of the town, especially the "Binagol" or sometimes known as "Lidguid". The major colors of the seal are green and yellow, the colours of the St. Joseph Parish, where the statue of the town's Patron Saint, St. Joseph is enshrined and beautifully presented in a wooden and hand-decorated altar.

The Municipal Mayor

The current Municipal Mayor of Dagami is Hon. Esmeralda B. Ortega, popularly known to the Dagamin-ons as "Nene". Mrs. Ortega won the Mayorship against the incumbent Mayor at that time, Gavino Berino III. Berino was running for re-election against her in 2004, but lost. She is the very first lady Municipal Mayor of Dagami.

Additional reading

• Leyte: Towns' Historical Legends By Francisco Tantuico, Jr.
• Souvenir Programme - Dagami Town Fiesta By the St. Joseph Parish of Dagami Committee

References

1. National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines - Total Population, Household Population and Number of Households by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2000 (total population includes institutional population)

External links

• [83403]
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• [83404]