<p class="text-style"> The Municipality of Polangui traces the origin of its name from a tree called “Oyangui” in abundance when discovered by a certain Baltazar dela Magdalena. The town is then situated in a placed called “Binanuaan” and started when about twenty-five elderly citizens were baptized. </p> <p class="text-style"> Pre-colonial Polangui was a fertile valley cradled by the virgin forests of Mt. Masaraga, when Salcedo established the Villa de Santiago de Libon in 1575. In 1584, Fr. Baltazar de Magdalena left the Ambos Camarines, and established a ranch located on the west of Mt. Masaraga in the same year, he founded a settlement within the fertile valley ranch site which he called “BINANUAN” with a few natives. Thus, according to old manuscripts available in the National Archives in Manila, Polangui was formally established in the later part of 1584. </p> <p class="text-style"> By 1654, the original settlement became considerably bigger. Hence, led by Fr. Alonzo de San Juan as “Encargado”, the settlement was expanded reaching the present barangay sites in Lanigay, Ponso and Balinad. The town proper was established in Lanigay where a church made of wood was erected adjacent to about 280 wooden dwellings and more than 1,000 nipa huts. Unfortunately, this church together with the dwelling units were razed by a fire to the ground. </p> <p class="text-style"> With the coming of another missionary, Fr. Juan Bautista Marza, a new church made of bricks and stone was completed in 1664. This church stood on a new elevated site and still stands to this day. Under the leadership of Fr. Marza, roads and bridges were also initiated and schools were introduced simultaneously with the Christian Doctrine and Spanish culture. </p> <p class="text-style"> Growth of the settlement was so fast that it became a Poblacion and finally recognized as a Pueblo in 1674. Owing to its steady growth, a link with nearby Libon and Oas became a necessity. Hence, Fr. Jose Arnaiz, Parish Priest and encargado during 1832 directed the construction of roads and bridges which today keep the wheels of progress on the go. </p> <p class="text-style"> During Spanish regime, significant highlight is the construction of its Parish Church which took ten (10) years to be completed starting in 1654 by Father Alfonso de San and completed in 1664 by Father Juan Bautista, Martyr Camilio Jacob who is a photographer, was executed in January 4, 1897 with other Bicolanos. A year later, the Spanish rule in Bicol ended with the mutiny of Guardia Civil in Naga led by Don Elias Angeles. </p> <p class="text-style"> Sometime during the Philippine-American war, Polangui became the seat of the Provincial Government of Albay for a brief period of time under the Provincial Governor Domingo Samson. When the Americans conquered Polangui in 1890 without firing a single shot, the form of government went through transition from military to civil government then Commonwealth system. The seat of the municipal government was in Ponso with Don Clemente Sarte as the acting Chief Executive. A few months later, the seat of the municipal government was transferred to the present site. </p> <p class="text-style"> When the Japanese forces occupied on December 13, 1941, Cipriano Saunar then Vice-Mayor of the defunct Commonwealth government was appointed Mayor by the Japanese administration. A secret civil government was established simultaneously headed by Julian Saunar which was supported by the people. Cipriano Saunar’s successor was Manuel Samson, Sr. and in turn was succeeded by Jesus Salalima who ruled from 1947 to 1960. </p> <p class="text-style"> It was the people of Polangui’s common traits - resiliency and flexibility that spared the town from destructive fury of the Spanish, American and Japanese occupying forces including its share of national misfortunes such as strong typhoon of 1891 and strong flood of 1873 and also the raging fire of 1876. </p> <p class="text-style"> Now 421 years from the formal founding in 1584, Polangui has grown to be a progressive town covering forty-four (44) barangays within the 3rd District of Albay. </p>