Ayungon

There are at least two explanations for the origin of the name Ayungon. According to Dr. Timoteo S. Oracion of Silliman University, it may date back to the pre-colonial period, when places were often named after prominent individuals. In this case, the locality was associated with a fisherman named Ayung, whose dwelling served as a resting place for travelers. The area came to be known as “Ayung’s place,” which later evolved into Ayungon with the addition of the suffix “-on.”

Another account suggests that the name resulted from a misunderstanding between Spanish visitors and a local resident. When asked for the name of the place, the native, who was cutting a tree, thought he was being asked his name and replied “Ayung.” When asked again, he assumed the question referred to the tree and answered “Dungon.” The Spaniards reportedly combined the two responses into “Ayung-Dungon,” which was eventually shortened to Ayungon.^[7]

During the Spanish regime, the original town plaza was located at the beach, which was transferred further inland due to a massive flood. The town also suffered an epidemic of smallpox which took away two-thirds of the town's population. Old municipal profiles refer to Ayungon as Todos los Santos, though there are no legends to explain that Hispanic name, just as there are no tales elaborating on the ruins of apparently Hispanic fortifications on the Tampocon II shoreline, perhaps because Ayungon's colonial past was not entirely its own. For many years, it was a mere barrio of Tayasan, until 1924 when Governor General Leonard Wood came to establish Ayungon as a full-fledged municipality through the recommendation of the then-provincial governor, Enrique Villanueva.

During World War II, numerous houses were burned, as well as people being tortured and killed. Many of them died due to famine and malaria. Maximo Romano Enardecido, the mayor at the time, evacuated the municipal government to Pangi, a mountainous village located south of the Poblacion. Captain Eugenio “Kusgan” Antonio led the town's guerilla movement. The town was liberated in October 1944, and the Americans came in to rehabilitate the town by lending money to pay for war damages.^[7]

82 kilometres (51 mi) from the provincial capital Dumaguete, Ayungon is located on the midriff of Oriental Negros’ northern stretch, nearly two hours from Dumaguete.^[6]

Of only three virgin forests said to be still remaining on Negros Island, one is located in barangay Banban.^[6]

Barangays

Ayungon is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

More information PSGC, Barangay ...

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2024[8]		2010[9]
074602001	Amdus	2.1%	1,049	1,407	▾	−2.07%
074602003	Anibong	4.1%	2,102	2,131	▾	−0.10%
074602004	Atabay	2.8%	1,398	1,225	▴	0.95%
074602005	Awa-an	5.4%	2,718	2,474	▴	0.67%
074602006	Ban-ban	5.2%	2,622	2,299	▴	0.94%
074602007	Calagcalag	3.4%	1,718	1,711	▴	0.03%
074602008	Candana-ay	2.2%	1,098	1,958	▾	−4.04%
074602009	Carol-an	6.7%	3,375	2,899	▴	1.09%
074602010	Gomentoc	4.3%	2,173	2,065	▴	0.36%
074602011	Inacban	3.6%	1,803	1,588	▴	0.91%
074602012	Iniban	2.6%	1,298	1,273	▴	0.14%
074602002	Jandalamanon	2.2%	1,107	1,167	▾	−0.38%
074602013	Kilaban	1.5%	744	846	▾	−0.91%
074602014	Lamigan	2.4%	1,195	844	▴	2.51%
074602015	Maaslum	3.4%	1,741	1,799	▾	−0.23%
074602016	Mabato	6.2%	3,164	3,253	▾	−0.20%
074602017	Manogtong	2.7%	1,348	1,603	▾	−1.23%
074602018	Nabhang	2.4%	1,228	1,463	▾	−1.24%
074602024	Poblacion	4.0%	2,036	1,837	▴	0.74%
074602019	Tambo	8.3%	4,189	3,188	▴	1.97%
074602020	Tampocon I	4.2%	2,127	1,944	▴	0.64%
074602021	Tampocon II	4.3%	2,196	2,674	▾	−1.40%
074602022	Tibyawan	3.5%	1,797	1,867	▾	−0.27%
074602023	Tiguib	5.7%	2,876	2,631	▴	0.64%
	Total		50,688	46,146	▴	0.67%

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Poverty incidence of Ayungon

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]}

Ayungon is mostly rural with vast rice fields, dense coconut groves and expansive plantations of sugar cane, bananas and pineapple.^[6]

As of May 2025, the once quiet town is starting to commercialize by bringing in numerous known international and national businesses in its Poblacion.

As the town is growing economically, it has been conferred with the status of 1st class income municipality.^[23]

The public schools in the town of Ayungon are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Negros Oriental.

Elementary schools:

High schools:

• Ayungon National High School — Nat'l Highway, Tampocon I
• Ayungon NHS - Carol-an Extension — Carol-an
• Ayungon Science High School — Todos Los Santos Street, Tampocon II
• Mabato Provincial Community High School — Mabato
• Tambo National High School — Tambo

Private schools:

• Negros Academy-Negros College, Inc. — Enardecido Street, Tampocon II