Brief History

CULTURAL HISTORY

The Municipality of Opol was once an uninhabited wilderness during the pre-Spanish time, until one group of Boholanons led by a datu, migrated to the place. They settled in the area now known as Barangay Bonbon, where they planted different types of crops for their livelihood. One of the widely cultivated and most abundant crops was the white squash or “opo”.  The inhabitants from the nearby village came to the area to buy the famous “opo”, until the place became popularly known as “opo”. Due to the slip of the tongue, most of the inhabitants began referring to the place as “opol”. Thus, from then on, the place has been called “Opol”.

Early settlers of the place were the Higaonons, a splintered group of the Manobos. They initially settled along the seacoast but relocated themselves in the hinterland bringing with them their culture and tradition when the conquistadors came to occupy this part of the country. Those who remained then contracted intermarriages with the foreigners resulting to the presence of Spanish mestizas and mestizos in the area. Other settlers include Chinese traders from mainland China, Cebuanos, and the Boholanons.

POLITICAL HISTORY

The Municipality of Opol was created by virtue of the Republic Act No. 524 on June 15, 1950. Former Congressman Emmanuel N. Pelaez sponsored the bill creating the Municipality during the time of then President Elpidio R. Quirino.