Jomalig

Etymology

Although many old Jomaligins (locals) do not know the origin of the island's name, a myth is preserved in oral tradition concerning the history of Jomalig. This is recited every 18 June, Culture and Art Day, with history teacher Tessie Basto and the local civil registrar Bernadette Cuevas still among those who remember the etiological myth.

The legend is a datu who lived on the island with his beautiful daughter, whom a young man from a neighboring island sought to marry. The datu forbade it, as he would only give the princess if the young man could roam the island in just one day and successfully shoot three fish in every pond on the island.

The young man took on the challenge, and as he was about to finish roaming the island, he nearly died. Arriving hopeless at the endpoint, he asked the princess to kiss him as his only reward. She kissed the young man, and witnesses shouted "Humalík!" (Tagalog, “Had kissed"), hence the island's name.

It was eventually corrupted to Jomalig and despite the Spanish orthography, some elderly residents claim the Americans changed it when the United States occupied the Philippines.

History

Jomalig Island was previously part of the adjacent island town of Polillo. The geographical location of Jomalig made the district difficult to recognize and establish, which further contributed to its slow development. In 1952, it was subdivided into agricultural and residential lots, as sponsored by Polillo Mayor Mamerto Azarías and the Municipal Council.

At the inauguration by then-Congressman Manuel S. Enverga (Quezon–1st), civic leaders worked towards agricultural development, attracting migrants from the Bicol Region to the southeast. On June 18, 1961, Jomalig Island was made a separate municipal district by virtue of Republic Act No. 3372. Originally spelled as Jumalig, it comprised four barrios: Bucal, Casuguran, Gango, and Talisoy.

Geography

Jomalig Island is about 75 nautical miles (139 km) southeast of the Polillo Islands, and is considered one of the smallest and more distant island municipalities of Quezon Province. Most land in Jomalig is dedicated to agricultural use, with a majority of the islanders dependent on coconut products, rice, fish and root crops. Its land area is at 5,665 hectares (14,000 acres). Some of its lands have been alienated and the farmland is mostly devoted to coconut, of which there is 3,104.0 hectares (7,670 acres), with 2,605 hectares (6,440 acres) being forests, swamps and grassland.

The inhabitants of this municipality originate from different ethnic groups similar to those of Eastern Samar, Bohol, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte and mainland Quezon Province.

Barangays

Jomalig is politically subdivided into five barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Apad

Bukal

Casuguran

Gango

Talisoy (Poblacion)

Economy

Poverty incidence of Jomalig (%)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Education

The Patnanungan-Jomalig Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Secondary schools

Apad Jomalig National High School

Jomalig National High School