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On the northern water of the Surigao del Norte mainland
lies Dinagat Island dubbed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
as one of the "three sentinel-islands guarding the Central
Philippines from the enemies in the Pacific." Together
with Dinagat as the first class established municipality
in this island were four other towns, among which was
Loreto, originally called "Mabua" because of the ever-foaming
river that runs right into the heart of the community.
Boholano settlers first established Loreto as early
as 1847. In 1881, its name metamorphosed into its present
name, Loreto, in honor of the wife of the governor at
that time.
Created as a municipality in 1898, Loreto was reduced
to a barrio in 1902 after the American soldiers razed
it to the ground. However, it regained its township
in 1919 through the untiring efforts of its civic-spirited
leaders.
The municipality were populated by Boholanos who were
the original settlers; Leyteños, Cebuanos, Samareños
and other immigrants followed suit.
Copra had been most important export and lumbering
an important industry. Loreto is situated along a coastal
plain, and fish abound in its waters.
In the lowlands grow the tikug grasses utilized then
and now by the womenfolk as materials in making mats
which are in great demand because of the fine workmanship
and durability. The local weavers have learned the embroidery
designs of the well-known Basey mat-makers. On the rocky
mountains from as far as Omasdang near the Desolation
point, to the southern hills of Sinaongag, now Navarro,
are found such rich minerals as chromite, manganese,
copper, coal and the like.
Other sources of income then were the hard wood exported
to different places in the country and the well-known
species of orchids, the so- called "aristocrats of the
woodland" such as the mariposa or butterfly orchids,
the tiger, dendrubium anespum, dendrobium superbum,
which were abundantly found in the forests of the municipality.
- ODON C. GALIDO
Source: 1970 Souvenir Program
of Philippine Public Schools Inter-scholastic Athletic
Association Meet (PPSIAA) |
