Zamboanguita

Zamboanguita (Lungsod sa Zamboanguita; Bayan ng Zamboanguita), officially the Municipality of Zamboanguita, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,569 people.

Zamboanguita was established in 1866. Modest compared to the 6th largest city in the Philippines with 98 barangays, Zamboanguita has only 10 barangays.

Etymology
A town rooted in history and replete with natural resources, Zamboanguita derived its name from an incident involving a coguita (octopus). Long before the Spaniards set foot in Negros Island, fishermen from as far as Mindanao would visit the yet unnamed town and benefit from the bounty of its rich fishing grounds – from its small tugnos (juvenile gobies) to the large iho (shark) in nearby Apo Island.

One day, a group of Moro fishermen fishing in the area found a coguita caught in their fishing net, which they then separated from their fish catch as it had tentacles and had no gills. The leader of the Moro group then ordered one of his men to go to the beach, find a tree and “isab-ong ang coguita” (hang the octopus).”  Since then,  every time an octopus was caught, it was hung on that particular tree.

The local people eventually started calling the place “Sab-ongan ug coguita.” When the Spaniards descended on the town, they called the town “Zamboangaguita” and later on it was shortened to “Zamboanguita”.

On the other hand, local stories that circulated among the town folks mentioned that Zamboanguita, with its Spanish diminutive of -ita, (meaning "little Zamboanga") acquired its name from its neighbor down south across the sea, Zamboanga City.

Geography
28 km from Dumaguete, Zamboanguita is at the southern tip of the province of Negros Oriental and across from the island province of Siquijor. To the west of Zamboanguita is the municipality of Siaton, and to the north/east is the municipality of Dauin.

Barangays
Zamboanguita is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Tourism

 * Fiesta: San Isidro Labrador, May 15

Government
It is part of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental.

Current elected officials of Zamboanguita (2022):
 * Mayor: Jonah Pat L. Aviles
 * Vice Mayor: Felipe Tuban Elmido Sr.
 * Councilors:
 * ELMIDO, JUNIOR
 * TAAN, RICKY
 * PARTOSA, HELEN
 * PINILI, MARIO
 * TRINIDAD, FLOR
 * TRINIDAD, REINERIA
 * BANUA, KIKING
 * DELMO, CLINT CHARLES

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

Elementary schools:
 * Basak Elementary School — Basak
 * Benito Gadiana Elementary School — Sitio Kapandis, Mayabon
 * Calango Elementary School — Calango
 * Felix M. Tio Memorial Elementary School — Sitio Dumandan, Mayabon
 * Gregorio Elmaga Memorial Elementary School — Nasig-id
 * Kaladias Elementary School — Sitio Kaladias, Najandig
 * Lutoban Elementary School — Lutoban
 * Malongcay Elementary School — Malongcay Diot
 * Maluay Central Elementary School — Maluay
 * Mayabon Elementary School — Mayabon
 * Moises Bangay Alanano Elementary School — Sitio Kalanggaman, Mayabon
 * Nabago Elementary School — Nabago
 * Salngan Elementary School — Sitio Salngan, Mayabon
 * Zamboanguita Central Elementary School — Magsaysay Street, Poblacion

High schools:
 * Gregorio Elmaga Memorial High School — Nasig-id
 * Jose Marie Locsin Memorial High School — Sitio Salngan, Mayabon
 * Kaladias High School — Sitio Kaladias, Najandig
 * Santiago Delmo Memorial High School — Maluay
 * Zamboanguita Science High School — Del Pilar Street, Poblacion

Private schools:
 * Decor Carmeli Academy — Acupanda Street, Poblacion