Silago, officially the Municipality of Silago (; ), is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 14,677 people.
It was used to be barrio of Hinunangan until Executive Order No. 326 dated May 17, 1950 separated it from the mother town. The town has an ebony beach with unique black sand.
Etymology
The name "Silago" was a shortening of Spanish murcielago ("bat"), referring to an account when the Spaniards encountered bats in the area perching in trees locally known as tuog. The natives replied the incomprehensible question of the name of their place asked by the Spaniards saying "tua'y daghang kabug" in the belief that the Spaniards were amazed the huge number of bats present in the area that time. The place was then called "Murcielago" and over time, was shortened to its present name Silago.
However, accounts from Pigafetta on the Magellan voyage indicates a certain island in Leyte recorded as 'Cenalo' along with the recorded 'Hinnangar' (Hinunangan), and 'Abarien' (Cabalian), which in a new presentation by Greg Hontiveros on the First Mass controversy published in 2008, designated it to the Hingatungan Point in the town and therefore not an island as the account indicates.
History
Silago was once part of the Municipality of Hinunangan, and under its political jurisdiction.
During World War II, Silago was the site of the USS Nautilus (SS-168) dropping off American weapons for Leyte resistance fighters.
!Barangays
!Population (2015)
!Population (2020)
!Percent Change
|-
|Balagawan
|825
|850
|3.03%
|-
|Catmon
|179
|141
| -21.23%
|-
|Hingatungan
|2,129
|2,184
|2.58%
|-
|Imelda
|268
|291
|8.58%
|-
|Katipunan
|589
|728
|23.60%
|-
|Laguma
|800
|795
| -0.63%
|-
|Mercedes
|1,840
|1,824
| -0.87%
|-
|Poblacion District 1
|1,339
|1,286
| -3.96%
|-
|Poblacion District 2
|1,406
|1,439
|2.35%
|-
|Puntana
|356
|322
| -9.55%
|-
|Salvacion
|642
|652
|1.56%
|-
|Sap-ang
|609
|650
|6.73%
|-
|Sudmon
|445
|511
|14.83%
|-
|Tuba-on
|437
|479
|9.61%
|-
|Tubod
|911
|964
|5.82%
|}
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Education
Elementary schools:
Almost all barangays have Elementary / Primary Schools, few are mentioned below:
- Silago Central Elementary School - Barangay Poblacion District I
- Sudmon Elementary School - Barangay Sudmon
- Hingatungan Elementary School - Barangay Hingatungan
- Awayon Elementary School - Barangay Mercedes
High schools: