Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur

Etymology

Local stories said it is named after a noted Subanen chieftain, "Dumi" and his wife, "Ingag". Another supposed origin of the name tells about the native fellow who was asked by a government agent as to what the name of the place was while watching a cockfight. After the game was over, the stranger inquired about the name of the place. The native curtly replied: "Duminag!" meaning "I won". The government agent misheard the word. Instead of "Duminag", he wrote down "Dumingag".

The authenticity of these stories, however, is questionable since there has never been a single piece of evidence or record that Dumi and Ingag had ever actually existed. The first non-Subanen settlers of Dumingag were from the Ilo-ilo town of Dumangas the Decolongon Family who cultivated town center area. According to more convincing sources, the earliest settlers arrived in Dumingag with renewed optimism after World War II and, starting their lives anew, they hailed the place as "Little Dumangas". Hence, this soon developed into the current name "Dumingag".

Dumingag is a municipality of Zamboanga del Sur that is located in the heartlands of the Zamboanga peninsula. It is north-west of the fertile Salug Valley and its land boundaries are the municipality of Sergio Osmeña, Sr. of Zamboanga del Norte in the north, the municipality of Mahayag in the east, the municipalities of Sominot and Midsalip in the south, and the municipality of Siayan in the west. Dumingag is classified as a 3rd class municipality and, as of the August 2007 census, has a population of about 46,039.

Originally, Dumingag was a barrio, and was part of the municipality of Molave. It was created in 1950 and the first barrio lieutenant back then was Jose Montuerto. On December 27, 1957, by virtue of Executive Order No. 283 issued by President Carlos P. Garcia, Dumingag finally became a municipality. Ever since it acquired its municipality status, a total of five people have handled the position of municipal mayor. They are Hon. Isidoro Y. Real, Sr (1957-1978), Hon. Julian C. Kho (1978-1986), Hon. Domeciano Y. Real (1986-1998), Hon. Edgardo J. Jamero (1998-2007), and Hon. Nacianceno M. Pacalioga, Jr., who's currently the mayor now. Of all the mayors who served the position, Hon. Isidro Y. Real, Sr. is widely considered to be the municipality's father and builder, him being the first mayor and the one who has served the longest. The first inhabitants of Dumingag were the Subanens who initially came from the coastal areas of the province and the neighboring province of Misamis Occidental. Prior to that, the place was once a vast expanse of jungle and marshland. There is no exact reason how the municipality got its name but the most popular one says that it came from the names of a noted Subanen chieftain and his wife, Dumi, and Ingag. Dumingag is slowly carving its name as one of the most rapidly improving municipalities of the whole region. It has been getting awards and citations in different fields, local and national. It is fast heading to progress and rapid development.

Geography

The town is bounded by the Province of Zamboanga del Norte on the western and northern side, Mahayag on the East, and the towns, Midsalip and Sominot on the South. It is the northernmost town in the province.