Zamboanguita (; ; Spanish: Municipio de Zamboanguita), officially the Municipality of Zamboanguita, is a municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 30,412 people.
Zamboanguita was established in 1866. Modest compared to the 6th largest city in the Philippines with 98 barangays, Zamboanguita has only 10 barangays.
Etymology A town rooted in history and replete with natural resources, Zamboanguita derived its name from an incident involving a coguita (octopus). Long before the Spaniards set foot onn Negros Island, fishermen from as far as Mindanao would visit the yet unnamed town and benefit from the bounty of its rich fishing grounds – from its small tugnos (juvenile gobies) to the large iho (shark) on nearby Apo Island.
One day, a group of Moro fishermen in the area found a coguita in their fishing net, which they then separated from their catch as it had tentacles and no gills. The leader of the Moro group then ordered one of his men to go to the beach and find a tree to “isab-ong ang coguita” ("hang the octopus"). Since then, every time an octopus was caught, it was hung on that particular tree.
Locals eventually started calling the place “Sab-ongan ug coguita.” When the Spaniards arrived, they called the town “Zamboangaguita” which was shortened to “Zamboanguita”.
Another theory has the term Zamboanguita come from the Spanish diminutive suffix -ita in relation to its neighbour to the south across the Dipolog Strait: the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Geography
from Dumaguete, Zamboanguita is at the southern tip of the province of Negros Oriental and across from the island province of Siquijor. To the west of Zamboanguita is the municipality of Siaton, and to the north/east is the municipality of Dauin.
Barangays
Zamboanguita is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Tourism
Fiesta: San Isidro Labrador, May 15
Government It is part of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental.
Current elected officials of Zamboanguita (2022): Mayor: Jonah Pat L. Aviles Vice Mayor: Felipe Tuban Elmido Sr. Councilors: ELMIDO, JUNIOR TAAN, RICKY PARTOSA, HELEN PINILI, MARIO TRINIDAD, FLOR TRINIDAD, REINERIA BANUA, KIKING DELMO, CLINT CHARLES
Education The public schools in the town of Zamboanguita are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Negros Oriental.
Elementary schools: Basak Elementary School — Basak Benito Gadiana Elementary School — Sitio Kapandis, Mayabon Calango Elementary School — Calango Felix M. Tio Memorial Elementary School — Sitio Dumandan, Mayabon Gregorio Elmaga Memorial Elementary School — Nasig-id Kaladias Elementary School — Sitio Kaladias, Najandig Lutoban Elementary School — Lutoban Malongcay Elementary School — Malongcay Diot Maluay Central Elementary School — Maluay Mayabon Elementary School — Mayabon Moises Bangay Alanano Elementary School — Sitio Kalanggaman, Mayabon Nabago Elementary School — Nabago Salngan Elementary School — Sitio Salngan, Mayabon Zamboanguita Central Elementary School — Magsaysay Street, Poblacion
High schools: Gregorio Elmaga Memorial High School — Nasig-id Jose Marie Locsin Memorial High School — Sitio Salngan, Mayabon Kaladias High School — Sitio Kaladias, Najandig Santiago Delmo Memorial High School — Maluay Zamboanguita Science High School — Del Pilar Street, Poblacion
Private schools: Decor Carmeli Academy — Acupanda Street, Poblacion
See also List of places named after places in the Philippines
References
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information