Hinunangan, officially the Municipality of Hinunangan (Kabalian: Lungsod san Hinunangan; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 30,384 people.
History Hinunangan, originally known as Hononganan (meaning "resting place"), has a history dating back to 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan recorded its sighting during his voyage through Leyte Gulf. By 1750, the area had become a midway trading station for Boholano merchants trading in Eastern Leyte. These traders would moor their boats and rest overnight at the mouth of the Das-ay River, where they built a shelter known as a "hononganan" or stopover, which later became the town’s namesake.
In 1822, Palonoy, a Boholano settler, formally established Hinunangan as a permanent settlement. At the time, Silago (north) and Hinundayan and Anahawan (south) were part of Hinunangan’s territory. The town later became a mission station under Abuyog, with Fray Pedro Monasterio arriving in 1850. Due to difficulty pronouncing "Hononganan," he began referring to it as "Hinunangan", a name that became official.
The Hinunangan Parish was formally established on March 26, 1851, with Fray Pedro as its first parish priest. In 1853, Palonoy donated land for the construction of Hinunangan Church, which was built using hardwood, reflecting the town’s strong religious foundations. The Municipal Building and Parochial House were initially built from nipa, signifying the greater importance given to religious structures over government institutions at the time.
By 1886, Hinunangan had a population of 5,140 and 1,338 taxpayers, with rice, abaca, corn, and coconut as its main agricultural products. The town also had a community-supported primary school under Fray Pedro’s guidance. Over time, Silago, Hinundayan, and Anahawan became independent parishes and later separate municipalities.
Hinunangan also played a role in World War II history. In 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf—the largest naval battle in history—a blocking warship of the Allied Liberation forces engaged the Japanese fleet near Hinunangan, marking the area as a significant frontier in Philippine and global history.
Today, Hinunangan remains a historic coastal town with deep cultural and religious roots, shaped by centuries of trade, colonization, and war.Hinunangan History, Hinunangan.netHinunangan Southern Leyte Town Profile] https://southernleyte.gov.ph/hinunangan/hinunangan-history/
2007 earthquake On July 19, 2007, a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Hinunangan, causing an estimated ₱1.65 million in damages—₱790,000 to government infrastructure and ₱860,000 to private properties.
Public damage included the water system (₱500,000), Das-ay Bridge railguard (₱100,000), and several schools, while private losses affected the Roman Catholic bell tower (₱100,000), Catholic convent water tank (₱40,000), chapels, homes (₱400,000), and appliances (₱290,000). The disaster impacted key facilities, but recovery efforts followed soon after.Hinunangan MDCC bares earthquake partial damage assessment report , Philippine Information Agency
Geography Hinunangan is home to the highest mountain in the province, Mount Nacolod, with an elevation of above sea level. , NSCB Southern Leyte Profile
Barangays Hinunangan is politically subdivided into 40 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
There are two of which are island barangays located at the east of the town. The twin islands are accessible by motorized boats through Barangay Canipa-an.
Barangay Population(2007) Population(2010) Population(2015) Population(2020)Ambacon 637 637 678 615Badiangon 647 589 641 681Bangcas A 668 743 777 862Bangcas B 903 959 982 913Biasong 609 566 599 652Bugho 961 1,003 1,061 1,147Calag-itan 1,167 1,180 1,206 1,163Calayugan 678 700 754 866Calinao 317 264 261 218Canipaan 1,425 1,509 1,635 1,611Catublian 1,373 1,503 1,580 1,445Ilaya 520 472 518 457Ingan 923 1,018 1,049 937Labrador 800 802 844 745Libas 463 449 512 431Lumbog 363 337 381 334Manalog 700 731 754 781Manlico 745 752 766 701Matin-ao 506 520 547 551Nava 1,798 1,801 1,946 1,924Nueva Esperanza 651 664 683 724Otama 543 593 531 504Palongpong 405 475 533 488Panalaron 588 677 753 790Patong 706 710 718 735Poblacion 799 898 923 638Pondol 957 993 1,035 989Salog 349 353 374 368Salvacion 519 483 496 483San Pablo Island 427 440 460 445San Pedro Island 473 486 493 459Santo Niño I 559 524 552 513Santo Niño II 946 1,004 1,043 1,096Tahusan 920 960 991 1,080Talisay 553 597 693 663Tawog 486 523 557 594Toptop 434 419 443 411Tuburan 600 627 635 587Union 397 378 402 404Upper Bantawon 197 162 170 144
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Banking and Finance Philippine National BankPNB_Domestic_Branch_Directory Saints Peter & Paul Multi-Purpose Cooperative Leyte South Multi-Purpose Cooperative BDO Network Bank
Education
Primary schools Hinunangan East Central School Hinunangan West Central School Holy Rosary Academy of Hinunangan, INC. Elementary School Catublian Elementary School Nava Elementary School Canipaan Elementary School Ambacon Elementary School Calag-itan Elementary School Pondol Elementary School Manalog Elementary School Patong Elementary School Otama Elementary School Tahusan Elementary School Ingan Elementary School Kabaskan Elementary School Ilaya Elementary School Senda Elementary School Tuburan Elementary School
Secondary schools Holy Rosary Academy of Hinunangan, INC. - a Private Roman Catholic school Hinunangan National High School - formerly Hinunangan Agricultural and Vocational School Canipaan National High School Nava National High School Sto. Niño National High School
Tertiary Schools Southern Leyte State University - Hinunangan Campus (formerly Southern Leyte Institute of Agriculture and Technology; Hinunangan Agricultural and Vocational School)
Others Hinunangan Skills and Technological CenterTESDA Hinunangan Skills and Technological Center - TESDA accredited vocational school.
Healthcare Zenon T. Lagumbay Memorial Hospital Hinunangan Community Hospital
Communication Mobile: Smart Communications (Since 2002)Smart increases coverage in remote, rural areas Globe Telecom (Since 2004)
Cable television: Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite TV Service providers
Internet: SMART 4G Network Globe 4G Network MKG Fiber Broadband Data Solutions NGN Fiber Broadband Data Solutions RV-Tech Fiber Broadband Solutions Starlink Satellite Broadband
Gallery
References
External links
Hinunangan Profile at PhilAtlas.com [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information Local Governance Performance Management System Travels through Hinunangan