Ayungon (; ), officially the Municipality of Ayungon, is a municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 50,688 people.
Attractions include the Karalaon Bird Sanctuary,the subterranean area of the Mabato Caves, a man-made lake in Banban, and the Pagsalsalan Twin Falls (Maaslum Falls).
Etymology There are at least two explanations for the origin of the name Ayungon. According to Dr. Timoteo S. Oracion of Silliman University, it may date back to the pre-colonial period, when places were often named after prominent individuals. In this case, the locality was associated with a fisherman named Ayung, whose dwelling served as a resting place for travelers. The area came to be known as “Ayung’s place,” which later evolved into Ayungon with the addition of the suffix “-on.”
Another account suggests that the name resulted from a misunderstanding between Spanish visitors and a local resident. When asked for the name of the place, the native, who was cutting a tree, thought he was being asked his name and replied “Ayung.” When asked again, he assumed the question referred to the tree and answered “Dungon.” The Spaniards reportedly combined the two responses into “Ayung-Dungon,” which was eventually shortened to Ayungon.
History During the Spanish regime, the original town plaza was located at the beach, which was transferred further inland due to a massive flood. The town also suffered an epidemic of smallpox which took away two-thirds of the town's population. Old municipal profiles refer to Ayungon as Todos los Santos, though there are no legends to explain that Hispanic name, just as there are no tales elaborating on the ruins of apparently Hispanic fortifications on the Tampocon II shoreline, perhaps because Ayungon's colonial past was not entirely its own. For many years, it was a mere barrio of Tayasan, until 1924 when Governor General Leonard Wood came to establish Ayungon as a full-fledged municipality through the recommendation of the then-provincial governor, Enrique Villanueva.
During World War II, numerous houses were burned, as well as people being tortured and killed. Many of them died due to famine and malaria. Maximo Romano Enardecido, the mayor at the time, evacuated the municipal government to Pangi, a mountainous village located south of the Poblacion. Captain Eugenio “Kusgan” Antonio led the town's guerilla movement. The town was liberated in October 1944, and the Americans came in to rehabilitate the town by lending money to pay for war damages.
Geography from the provincial capital Dumaguete, Ayungon is located on the midriff of Oriental Negros’ northern stretch, nearly two hours from Dumaguete.Negros Oriental Tourism " ", About | Cities & Towns. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
Of only three virgin forests said to be still remaining on Negros Island, one is located in barangay Banban.
Barangays
Ayungon is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Ayungon is mostly rural with vast rice fields, dense coconut groves and expansive plantations of sugar cane, bananas and pineapple.
As of May 2025, the once quiet town is starting to commercialize by bringing in numerous known international and national businesses in its Poblacion.
As the town is growing economically, it has been conferred with the status of 1st class income municipality.
Education The public schools in the town of Ayungon are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Negros Oriental.
Elementary schools:
Amdus Elementary School — Amdus Anibong Elementary School — Anibong Awa-an Elementary School — Awa-an Ayungon Central Elementary School — Nat'l Highway, Poblacion Banban Elementary School — Banban Buenavista Elementary School — Atabay Calagcalag Elementary School — Calagcalag Candana-ay Elementary School — Candana-ay Canlukduhan Elementary School — Sitio Canlukduhan, Gomentoc Carol-an Elementary School — Carol-an Duli-Duli Elementary School — Sitio Duli-Duli, Tibyawan Gomentoc Elementary School — Gomentoc Inacban Elementary School — Inacban Iniban Elementary School — Iniban Jandalamanon Elementary School — Jandalamanon Kilaban Elementary School — Kilaban Lamigan Elementary School — Lamigan Libtacon Elementary School — Sitio Libtacon, Banban Maaslum Elementary School — Maaslum Mabato Elementary School — Mabato Manogtong Elementary School — Manogtong Nabalian Elementary School — Sitio Nabalian, Carol-an Nabhang Elementary School — Nabhang So-ok Elementary School — Sitio So-ok, Mabato South Poblacion Elementary School — Nat'l Highway, Tampocon II Talanyog Elementary School — Sitio Talanyog, Carol-an Tambo Elementary School — Tambo Tampocon I Elementary School — Tampocon I Tibyawan Elementary School — Tibyawan Tiguib Elementary School — Tiguib Tumampon Elementary School — Sitio Tumampon, Tiguib
High schools: Ayungon National High School — Nat'l Highway, Tampocon I Ayungon NHS - Carol-an Extension — Carol-an Ayungon Science High School — Todos Los Santos Street, Tampocon II Mabato Provincial Community High School — Mabato Tambo National High School — Tambo
Private schools: Negros Academy-Negros College, Inc. — Enardecido Street, Tampocon II
References
External links [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information Official Website Local Governance Performance Management System