History

Catigbian is located in the interior part of Bohol, north of Balilihan, south of Sagbayan and Tubigon, west of Batuan and east of San Isidro. Thirty five (35) kilometers northeast of Tagbilaran City, the capital of the Province of Bohol. It was an old community being one of the villages in which the rebels where resettled after Dagohoy rebellion was suppressed in 1829 and it had a population of 2,759 inhabitants in 1879. During the Spanish regime, it was presumably created into an independent Municipality “Pueblo” upon the establishment of a church and the assignment of a permanent Spanish Priest in the name of Padre Gaspar.

The place got its name before a certain group of seed-bearing plants named “Katigbi” and has its peculiarity whose seeds could be resembled to rosary beads. These plants flourished in all parts of the locality, hence it is called Catigbian.

During the Filipino-American War, the Poblacion was burned thinking that the town was the hiding place of the insurgents, as a consequence the people fled to the neighboring barangays and towns. Its economic and political condition was severely affected to the extent that it could no longer stand as a town. So then, Catigbianreturned to her mother town, the Municipality of Balilihan as a component Barangay.

With the cohesive tie and strong determination of the barrio folks, they form an organization called “Common de Principales” which came out later to be known officially as “ Ang Mga Anak Catigbianon”, aiming for the revival of the township status of Catigbian. On June 17, 1949 President Elpidio Quirino issued Executive Order No. 229, creating the Municipality of San Jacinto Bohol comprising of the following barrios Catigbian the Poblacion, Jaguilanan, Ambuan, Hagbuaya, Baang, Triple Union, Alegria, Causwagan Norte, Candumayao, Buenos Aires, Libertad, Cabunagan, San Isidro, Cambansag, Causwagan Sur, Caimbang and Cansague;

The seat of government of the Municipality of San Jacinto Bohol was at the barrio of Catigbian. The name San Jacinto was in honor of the late governor Jacinto Borja. The first appointed Municipal Mayor was Mr. Simplicio R. Maniwang and considered as the founder of Anak sa Catigbian thru persistent persuasion.

Retired Col. Leopoldo P. Blanco, Sr., the second appointed municipal mayor and the first unopposed elected mayor took the post from May 4,1950 to December 30, 1955. It was during this time that the town named San Jacinto was changed back to its original named Catigbian and a new Municipal building and a public market were constructed thru self help. Mr. Antero Cano took the reign of the government from January 1, 1956 to December 31, 1959. He was then succeeded by Mr. Lucas Asotigue, a veteran in community development, who ran the administration from January 1, 1960 to May 31, 1966. Mr. Hilario Lungay, a retired public school teacher, ran the Municipality from June 1, 1966 to November 11, 1978.

During the Martial Law regime, President Ferdinand E. Marcos appointed Atty. Arnold R. Lungay, vice the incumbent Mayor, who incidentally his own father from November 12, 1978 to March 2, 1980. On 1980 election, he was elected and ran the government up to November 28, 1987.

It was during the time of President Corazon B. Aquino, majority of the government felt changes nationwide due to people power of EDSA Revolution. By virtue of Omnibus Election Code of 1987, Mr. Gaudioso Renegado, a Municipal Development Officer took the reign as Care Taker from November 29, 1987 to December 7, 1987. Mrs. Magdalena Gulle was appointed as an OIC of the Office of the Mayor from December 8, 1987 to February 1, 1988. On February 2, 1988, Atty Arnold R. Lungay was re-elected as Mayor of the Municipality and ran the government up to March, 1992. Vice Mayor Tifilito C. Rulida succeeded Mayor Lungay as an OIC Mayor from March 26, 1992 up to June 30, 1992. Mr. Aurelio B. Dinorog, Sr., a prominent businessman, took the reign as Mayor of the Municipality for two terms time from July 1, 1992 up June 30, 1998. Mr. Frank R. Ordiz, Sr., a retired employee of US Car Manufacturer, ran the Municipality from July 1, 1998 up to June 30, 2001.Mr. Aurelio B. Dinorog, Sr. took the reign again as Mayor after he was re-elected on May 14, 2001 election and ran the government up to June 30, 2004.

Capt. Roberto L. Salinas, PN(Ret) has succeeded the mayoralty post during the 2004, 2007 and 2011 elections.