About Camiguin

Old Spanish documents indicate that the great explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi landed in Camiguin in 1521 and 1565, respectively, but it was not until 1598 when the Spanish settlement was established in what was later to be known as Guinsiliban (now one of the municipalities).

The first major settlement of Camiguin during the Spanish era was Catarman in 1679. This settlement grew and prospered to what is now known as Bonbon. The 1871 eruption of Mt. Vulcan Daan destroyed those towns, the remains of which are the ancient Spanish church and convent in the present town center of Catarman.

Sagay was formally established as a town in 1848; Mambajao in 1885 and Mahinog in 1860.

The name “Camiguin “ is derived from the word “Kamagong,” the name of a tree in the ebony family. Original inhabitants of the island were the Manobos from Surigao.

The province consists of 5 municipalities: Mambajao (Capital Town), Mahinog, Catarman, Sagay, and Guinsiliban.

The main occupation of the people is fishing. Plantations include coconut, abaca, lanzones fruit trees, and rice.