Sugod, San Agustin, Romblon

Sugod is a rural barangay in the municipality of San Agustin, island of Tablas, province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 1,502 people in 308 households. Its land area is 763.58 hectares.

History of Barangay Sugod

Historical Data:

Barangay Sugod is located in the northern part of San Agustin. The origin on how this barangay came to be called Sugod was taken from the tales of the old inhabitants of this place.

During the later part of the 18th century, a few number of native families from the island of Romblon settled along the shores of this place and formed a small village, now named Sugod. The place then was thickly forested lowland area, surrounded by circling high mountains with protective calm coves of a bay. The early settlers of the village cleared the lowland area of thick forests and planted rice, corn, root crops and fruit trees. The thick forest were full of beehives as found while they were in the process of clearing the thick forest. Many of the early settlers were victims of the sting of the bees and even their village was frequently attacked by swarm or hooves of bees.

The name Sugod was derived from the literal word "Sugod" which means "sting" or "sugod" of the bees in the vernacular. Hence, this place came to be known today as barangay Sugod.

The first inhabitants who settled to this place were of Malay race, who previously migrated to the island of Romblon. Later on, these Romblomanon people migrated to this place crossing the narrow channel separating this place and Romblon Island. It was no wonder why the people of Sugod and Romblon shared the same language which is Romblomanon language, so do with their family names which all start beginning with letter "M" as in Muleta, Mallen, Mazo and so on.

There was another version on how barangay Sugod got its name. It was said that Sugod derived its name from "Guin-Suguran" meaning "Conquest". Conquest, since the village was frequently attacked by Moro pirates from the south and so as rallying cry for the natives to fight and repel the invaders, they would rally for "Guinsuguran" or "To Conquest".

Date of Creation

The date of creation of this barrio or barangay cannot be ascertained, but many presume it not later than the 18th century or during Spanish time. The first data of Sugod found was in 1886, with Cabeza de Barangay Pedro Tolentino was recorded as its first barangay executive. Like Mahabangbaybay, Sugod became part of Carmen when it separated as an independent barrio in 1924.

Visita Cabolutan, Sugod then spelled as Sogod together with Majabangbaybay (Mahabangbaybay) became barrios of Guinpuc-an in 1861 until 1868. After pueblo de Guinpuc-an was abolished, both Sugod and Mahabangbaybay were attached to Romblon. They were returned back to Badajoz in 1901 but attached as sitios of barrio Guinpuc-an (Carmen) until 1924.

Source of Information: Romblon Historical Data, National Library, Manila, Church Records from Family Heritage Library,Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Manila, Encyclopedia of the Philippine Islands by Blair and Robertson, Guia Official de las Islas Filipinas found at the National Library, Manila and Rare and Old Maps found at Filipiniana Division, National Library, Manila.

Original Families

The original families of this barrio were the Motin's, Muleta's, Mortel's, Mindo's, Muyo's, Mallen's, Mazo's, Magramo's and other unaccounted families.

The first school building was constructed before World War II during the incumbency of Majority Floor Leader Hon. Leonardo F. Festin, lone representative of the province in the Philippine Legislature. The lot which comprises the school site was donated by the Mortel families of Emeterio and Tomasa and the Gan's family of Sugod, they were some of Sugod's civic spirited pioneering families.

Legend of Sugod

Barangay Sugod has many legends as told by its old folks. One of them is this story as narrated here with.

Many years ago, during the Spanish era, the Spanish conquestadores came to this place for refuge from typhoons. They liked the place so much because the bay was calm during the northeast monsoon. For this reason, they decided to stay and to settle and began their conquest to acquire new lands.

After they have settled for a long while, some later migrants married the locals and the original settlers of this place. Hence, their forefathers would call this place "Guinsuguran" since that time on, meaning "conquest form the south of the islands" because of intermarriage or "Guinsuguran". Later on, it was shortened and changed to "Sugod" which became its official name derived from "Guinsuguran" until the present time.

Churches Located in Barangay Sugod

Source: Parish of Mount Carmel Records, Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon

Saint Roch (San Roque) Chapel - Sugod Roman Catholic Chapel
* Feast Days - February 22nd and August 16th
* Barangay Apostolic Council Chairman - Bro. Elviro BayotSaint Roch (San Roque) Chapel - Sitio Dayongdong Roman Catholic Chapel
* Feast Day - May 25th
* Barangay Apostolic Council Chairman - Sis. Teresita Malabrega

Sugod Foursquare Gospel Church
* Pastor - Ptr. Willy F. Fesarit

Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) - Sugod Extension
* President - Sis. Adelina Manipol

Sitios of Sugod Data from Year 2000 Census(U) - Urban places. Areas with population density of 1,000 people per square kilometer or 10 people per hectare. Source of Information, Bureau of Coast & Geodetic Survey Map.

Sugod Elementary School (School Year 2006-2007) Source: Department of Education, Division of Romblon

List of Teniente del Barrio / Barangay Captains from earliest to the present :

Sugod Cabeza de Barangay(Barrio Sugod part of Romblon, Romblon)

# Pedro Tolentino # Miguel Maño # Lucio Montesa # Domingo Mortera # Nemisio Molino

* 1886 – 1889 * 1889 – 1891 * 1891 – 1894 * 1894 – 1896 * 1896 – 1901

Note: Sugod was annexed as sitio to Guinpuc-an(Carmen) from 1901-1924

Sugod Teniente del Barrio

# Patrocinio Mallen # Fausto Maño # Emeterio Mortel # Venancio Muleta # Nemesio Manzala # Evaresto Maño

* 1924 – 1925 * 1925 – 1928 * 1928 – 1931 * 1931 – 1933 * 1933 – 1937 * 1937 – 1940

Teniente del Barrio (During the War)

# Arcadio Gan

* 1940 – 1945

Teniente del Barrio (After the War)

# Simplicio Mangua, Sr. # Carmelo Manzala # Victor Muleta

* 1946 – 1948 * 1948 – 1950 * 1950 – 1964

Sugod Capitan del Barrio

# Victor Muleta # Roque Marin # Atanacio Muleta # Eufemia Muleta

* 1964 – 1968 * 1968 – 1970 * 1970 – 1972 * 1972 – 1982

Sugod Brgy. Captain (Punong Brgy.)

# Eufemia Muleta # Felix Mano # Patria Manzala # Adelo Menorca # Edna Mortel # Evangelina Faigmane # Edna Mortel

* 1982 – 1987 * 1987 – 1988 * 1988 - 1989 * 1989 – 2001 * 2001 – 2002 * 2002 – 2007 * 2007 - Present

Note: Barrio / Barangay executives from year 1886 – 1945 are still under research to ascertain accurately inclusive date of their tenure as barrio / barangay leaders of Sugod. Source: Bautismos, Defunctiones & Matremonios Church records, Parish of San Agustin, Romblon from the Family Heritage Library (Microfilm files), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Quezon City.

Unknown Soldiers from Sugod Recruits:Source of Information: Surviving World War II Guerillas and Veterans lead by SSgt. Lorenzo M. Morada, Sr and Pvt. Eliseo Mores.
* Pvt. Severo Mortel, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was stationed at Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City, Panay Island during the war, and was directly hit by a bomb dropped by the enemies, but fate was with him for the bomb exploded upward instead of sideward. The impact of the bomb caused the perimeter to cave-in where he was carried downward to the crater-like caused by the bomb. He sustained burns all over his body caused by this attack. He survived the war and later on serves his barrio as a public school teacher until his retirement.
* Pvt. Nazario Mortel – Civilian Inductee, assigned in “Mango” Area. He survived the war in Mindoro and later retired in Carmen where he decided to raise his family. Later in life, he went to U.S. but decided to return back home after a short stay in America.
* Pvt. Aniano Mortel - Civilian Inductee, assigned in Capiz province, Panay Island. He was able to survived the war. Later, retired in Sugod with his family.
* Pvt. Primitivo Molino, “F” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st Division, USAFFE. He was able to survive the war and returned safely to his family.
* Pvt. Andalacio Mallen, USAFFE, assigned in Mindoro province. He survived the war and retired in Sugod with his family.
* Pvt. Segundo Magay, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was one of the casualties of World War 2. He died in combat in Iloilo, Panay Island.
* Pvt. Ponciano Manas, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was able to survive the war and returned safely to his family in Sugod. He and his brother Santiago both survived the war.
* Pvt. Santiago Manas, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was able to survive the war and returned safely to his family in Sugod together with his brother Ponciano.
* Pvt. Guillermo Muleta, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was able to survive the war and returned safely to his family in Sugod.
* Pvt. Arcadio Muleta, “G” Company, 51st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, USAFFE. He was one of the casualties of the war.
* Pvt. Victor Muleta, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was able to survive the war and returned safely to his family in Sugod. Later he become the Barrio Captain of his barangay Sugod.
* Pvt. Gregorio Faminiano, “G” Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 61st division, USAFFE. He was from Sitio Dayongdong. He survived the war together with his buddy Eliseo Mutia.
* Pvt. Custodio Motin, “G” Company, 51st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, USAFFE. He was wounded in combat but was able to survive the war and returned safely to his family in Sitio Bailan, Sugod.
* Civilian Home Guard Volunteer Nicolas Manas - Civilian Home Guard volunteer from Sugod recruits.
* Civilian Home Guard Volunteer Pacifico Rodeo - Civilian Home Guard volunteer from Sugod recruits.

Link to the Barangays:
* Poblacion, San Agustin, Romblon
* Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon
* Cabolutan, San Agustin, Romblon
* Cawayan, San Agustin, Romblon
* Mahabangbaybay, San Agustin, Romblon
* Sugod, San Agustin, Romblon