Malinao was founded in 1600. Between 1600 and 1616, Malinao was then part of the Diocese of Cagsawa (now
Daraga). It became an independent
bisita or
sitio attached to Sawangan (now
Legazpi City) until 1619, when separate religious administration was exercised with Rev. Francisco de Santa Ana, OFM, as first pastor. Local folklore speaks of a plant once rich in this town called "alinao." The prefix "ma", which denotes abundance of something in local language, was affixed by the natives in referring to the place abundant with
Alinao, thus
Ma-alinao and later corrupted to
Malinao. The 1818 census showed 2,841 native families paying tribute and they were coexisting with 241 Spanish-Filipino families. It was in 1916 when, according to legendary account, Malinao got its name. A siege by
Moros on the town resulted in the abduction of seven women. Miraculously, the boat sank within the jurisdictional waters of Malinao and on that same spot in the sea across the island of natunawan because of the women's fervent prayer in canticles and "tarahades" or clear thoughts for the Blessed Virgin to sink the boat. From these "clear thoughts" of the seven women translated in Bikol language as "malinao na isip". The name of Malinao was given to the municipality. It has since then the tradition among the residents, particularly the women, to sing the canticles or
tarahades in times of crisis, calamities, or when they want to drive away epidemics and misfortunes. ==Geography==