HISTORY OF BILIRAN
In the early Spanish chronicles, Biliran Island was known as Isla de Panamao, named after its northernmost mountain, an eruptive volcano described in the 1668 manuscripts of Jesuit Father Francisco Alcina. Other accounts mention Biliran as a shipyard during the Spanish period.
The Name Biliran
The earliest recorded mention of the name Biliran Island dates back to 1685. The name “Biliran” is believed to have originated from a native grass called “boro-biliran,” which was abundant in the area. The cataclysmic eruption of Mount Panamao in 1669 may have triggered the name change, possibly influenced by a folk belief that renaming would appease the evil spirits thought to have caused the eruption.
Biliran’s Early Struggles
In 1712, Biliran settlers petitioned for pueblo and parish status. However, for half a century, the settlement was ravaged by Moro raiders. In 1735, Leyte inhabitants petitioned Governor General Fernando Valdez y Tamon to resettle Biliran Island, but the Moros destroyed the pueblo of Biliran in 1754.
Victory and Growth
Despite numerous raids, Biliran’s settlers ultimately defeated the Moros in 1777. In 1813, another raid was aborted due to the local armadilla’s preparedness for battle. With the Moro threat neutralized, new pueblos were established, shaping the present geography of Biliran Province. The pueblo of Biliran was re-established in 1782, followed by other key towns such as Naval in 1869.
Becoming a Subprovince
Biliran first gained subprovince status under R.A. 2141, enacted on April 8, 1959. This included municipalities such as Almeria, Biliran, and Naval, with Naval as the seat of government. Over time, legislation such as R.A. 5977 and R.A. 6415 granted Biliran more autonomy, leading to the formal distinction of the subprovince from Leyte.
Independence as a Province
On May 11, 1992, during the synchronized elections, a plebiscite was conducted to ratify Biliran’s conversion into a regular province. The unanimous vote marked a historic moment, and on May 21, 1992, Biliran was officially proclaimed as an independent province. The Province of Biliran celebrates its Provincehood Anniversary on May 11 each year with various activities.
