Travelling 60.5 km northward from Cebu City is the Municipality of Sogod, which belongs to the 5th District of Cebu Province and a 4th class municipality.

Two popular versions were told how the town got its name, that from a great religious happening and from a natural physical phenomenon. It is said that spread Christianity in northern Cebu started in Sogod and extended to the northernmost tip of Cebu Province.

Also, it is in Sogod where there is a demarcation boundary of white sandy beach to the north and black sandy beach to the south. Thus, the name Sogod was coined from the Cebuano dialect “Sinugdanan” which means “beginning”.

Sogod is where the popular Alegre Beach Resort is located, in a barangay close to the Borbon border. The other beach resorts are the Tabunok Garden View Resort in barangay Tabunok, and the Northsky Beach Resort, Summer House and Easy Vacation House in Barangay Bawo. An equally fine public beach is found at barangay Calumboyan.

The town also prides of its number of caves, springs, falls, and rivers. The Bagatayam Spring, which supplies water to the town through the Sogod Waterworks System, is a favorite of visitors. Another fresh water attraction is the Binaliw Spring.

The over 170-year old St. James the Apostle Parish Church of the town attracts heritage lovers. Built in 1843, the church is one of several old structures still standing in the Poblacion. In time for the annual town fiesta on July 25, the Panagsogod Festival is held. It is a colorful showcase of Sogod’s rich cultural heritage and natural attractions. (Galan, 2015)

OUR HISTORY

The town of Sogod existed as unit of government since 1764. According to an unpublished written account of Sogod, the first civil government of this town was set up under the authority of the Spanish Provincial Government known at that time as the “Tribunal de Mestizos”. This civil government was headed by a teniente in the person of Juan Daligdig in 1764. He was succeeded by Juan Tolero until 1767 when he was replaced by Dominggo Udtohan with the rank of governadorcillo.

There was a total of 75 governadorcillos after him and the succession of leadership was not interrupted at the time when first capitan municipal was appointed in 1893.

Then in 1903, the Sogoranons woke up to the sad and shocking news that their town was merged with Catmon, three kilometers to the south, although Sogod had a larger population that Catmon and maintained this population edge until these days. By an act of defunct Philippine Assembly, Sogod became an independent municipality and the president (equivalent to the municipal mayor) was the late Gervacio Monsanto.

November 26, 1921 is remembered as the second birth of Sogod as a municipality with its political, economic, social, cultural and religious growth to boast. Sogod is composed of 18 barangays namely: Ampongol, Bagakay, Bagatayam, Bawo, Cabalawan, Cabangahan, Calumboyan, Cabangahan, Dakit, Damolog, Ibabao, Liki, Lubo, Mohon, Nahus-an, Pansoy, Poblacion, Tabunok and Takay.

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