Spanish Period Historically, Ubay was part of Talibon, when the latter was established as a town in civil aspect in 1722. During Spanish period, a town has two aspects - religious, headed by the parish priest and civil aspect, headed by a gobernadorcillo. The religious aspect was then considered superior to the civil aspect, as the church held significant influence over daily life and governance during that time. In 1744, the
Dagohoy Revolution started, controlling the entire northeastern part of the province, stretching from
Duero to
Inabanga that lasted up until 1829. As the revolution progresses, Jesuit were replaced by Augustinian Recollects in Bohol in 1768 led by Fr. Pedro de Santa Barbara, who travelled through mountains with proposals of peace and resettlement for Dagohoy and its followers. Through his untiring intrepidness, later on, pacified patriots together with their cluster chieftains chose to resettle in southern coastal towns. Later in 1794, Fr. Manuel de la Consolacion, then parish priest of Inabanga, successfully brought hundreds of followers and resettled them in towns of Talibon and Inabanga, as well in the barangays (villages) of San Pedro (Talibon), Pangpang (
Buenavista), and Ubay. Therefore, much of early residents of Ubay were followers of Dagohoy. In 1821, Then, according to a Tax Census dated September 1, 1847, Ubay was officially listed, which served as the basis for its reorganization and indication of a functioning town, marking September 1, 1847 making Ubay a visita with its chapel made of wood. The official religious aspect of the town was established much later than the civil aspect. On June 26, 1874, a written petition was made by gobernadorcillo Saturnino Boyles along with the Community Heads, and the Household Heads of Ubay for an independent parish, separate from Talibon. To support their cause, they voluntarily constructed a decent rectory. Then, on October 22, 1877, He succeeded by P. Fr. Benito Garayao del Carmen, from February 1884 - February 1886; P. Fr. Franscisco Vega de la Virgen de Vico from November 9, 1884, to April 1890; P. Fr. Leon Inchausti del Rosario from February 26 - March 20, 1890; P.Fr. Buenaventura Marrodan del Carmen from March 20, 1890, to 1897; and P. Fr. Juan Bea de la Virgen del Villar, from May 14, 1897, to December 20, 1898. Ubay holds its town fiesta every January, as it is the official feast month of Santo Niño, a tradition that continues to this day. Ubayanons far away often come home during the fiesta to celebrate, reunite with loved ones, and honor their cultural heritage. The town comes alive with parades, music, and religious services, as the community gathers to relive traditions and strengthen their ties to home.
American Rule On March 6, 1902, the entire municipality of Batuanan (now
Alicia) was consolidated with Ubay through Philippine Commission Act No. 370 On October 31, 1903, the old municipality of Ipil (now
Trinidad) was divided into two. With Ipil River as demarcation line, the left bank was annexed to Talibon while the right bank was consolidated with Ubay. Furthermore, barangay
Cabulao and the previously annexed municipality of Batuanan was separated from Ubay, together with barangay Libas,
Candijay to create the new and distinct municipality of
Mabini in virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 968.
Modern Period On September 1, 1947, the municipality of Ipil was reorganized, joining the barangays of Guinobatan, Mahagbu, and Tagum from Ubay together with other barangays of
Talibon to create the renamed municipality of
Trinidad through Executive Order No. 80. On June 21, 1956, barangay
Babag separated from Ubay together with other barangays of Carmen, Sierra-Bullones, and Trinidad to form the new municipality of
Dagohoy through Executive Order No. 184. On March 14, 1961, barangays of
Corazon and
Magsaysay separated from Ubay together with other barangays of Trinidad to form the independent municipality of
San Miguel through Executive Order No. 423. On December 29, 1961, barangay
San Isidro (not the present San Isidro, Ubay) separated from Ubay, together with other barangays of Candijay, Guindulman, and Sierra-Bullones to create the municipality of
Pilar through Executive Order No. 460. On June 21, 1969, barangays of
Aguining, Basiao, Bonbonon, Gaus, Pitogo, and
Tugas separated from Ubay to create the independent municipality of Pitogo in virtue of Republic Act 5867. It was later renamed
President Carlos P. Garcia in honor of the
8th president of the Philippines on October 27, 1977, through Presidential Decree No. 1228.
Former Territories Ubay is the largest municipality of Bohol with a total land area of 258.13 km2, encompassing about 5.35% of the total land area of the province. In 1902, during the
American Colonial period, Ubay covered almost the entire northeast portion of the province, about a fifth of its total land area. Below is the list of former territories under the jurisdiction of Ubay. ==Geography==