The history of Magdiwang begun sometime in 17th century when settlers of Malay stock and origin choose to live along the northern coast of the Island and along the riverbanks of the huge river now known as N-ylog river. As Spanish local authorities and missionary clergies persuaded and convinced these pagan settlers to convert to Catholic religion and to pay tributes, many resisted and moved to the forest in order to avoid forced conversion.

Settlers who decided to remain in the lowlands encountered problems when merchants came to collect their products widely found throughout the islands. Despite the fact that these products fetched high prices at that time, merchants paid the natives so little that there was never enough for those people to meet their basic needs. This made some of the inhabitants retreat once again to higher grounds.

Eventually, more of them were forced to go back to the mountains in subsequent years. In the course of time, due to their non-participation in the colonized lowland society and also because of their resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures they became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos and became indigenous people once again.

Early records and manuscripts pertaining to olden Magdiwang referred to this place as 'Rancheria' as in 'Rancheria de N-ylog'. Rancheria meant ranch of wild or savaged people. This refered to Mangyanes or Mangyan tribes who were widely settled in the area. A new name for these Mangyans was recently coined as Mangyan-Tagabukid, a name given by some anthropologist who conducted studies on these people without checking and digging-up ancient manuscripts and history on how and why these people were named as such in ancient times. Whatever they call them, lowland Sibuyanons call these indigenous people as 'May-as' tribe. (With excerpts from Mangyan-Tagabukid write-ups..) The name 'N-ylog' or 'Naylog' was derived from the name of the river N-ylog or 'ilog' meaning 'river' in Tagalog and English language.

The first written history of Sibuyan island where Magdiwang is located was in May 10, 1570 when Spanish conquistador and explorer Martin de Goiti on orders of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi the 'Maestro de Campo' (Master of the Camp) or better known as the 'El Adelantado', explored and conquered all settlements and native villages along their way in their search for Manila. With a team of 27 ships, 280 Spaniards and several hundreds Bisayan (Visayan) auxilliaries, they found native Pintados or painted (Tattooed) Visayan indios living in the island of Sibuyan. He noted the island to have a population of around 200 indios.

Just a little over a year in November 2, 1571 the islands of Cibuyan (Sibuyan) and Tablas including the settlements along the river Maharlu or Mahalud were organized into a single encomienda belonging to Don Alvaro de Angalo. The island was again visited by another Spanish explorer by the name of Don Miguel Lopez de Loarca who was a census officer dispatched by the Spanish authorities to evaluate the vastness and wealth of their new conquered territory. He was perhaps the second European to set foot on the island of Sibuyan. In his writings he noted native painted indios of around 300 souls (residents) in the island who already converted to Christianity. The island belongs to the province or alcaldia of Panay in the Pintados. The third European to set-foot in the island was a Spanish missionary and explorer, Father Pedro Cubero Sebastian who made religious and missionary exploration and investigation for the furtherance of the Catholic faith in 1667.

In 1716, Capiz was created a separate province out of the old Alcaldia de Ogtong or Arevalo (Iloilo), formerly called Panay in the Pintados province. The new province included the islands of Romblon group and the valley of Aclan in northwestern Panay island. The first recorded existence of Magdiwang formerly known as N-ylog, Naylog and later Magallanes was in January 22, 1820 when this northern settlement of the island was organized into 'de la Mision de Naylog' or N-ylog in some records found in church records (Defunctiones, Bautismos and Casamientos) of peublo de Sibuyan.

A group of religious missionaries led by Don Valentine Ayala and a certain Ariola found settlement in this place. The settlement was originally founded by religious missionaries under the jurisdiction of pueblo de Sibuyan with its seat located at Cajidiocan town. On March 19, 1853, the District of Romblon was organized known as Politico Militar Commandancia de Distrito de Romblon under Commandante de Infanteria Don Ramon Vieytes as its first Commander (petty Governor) taken from Capiz province with four existing towns namely, Romblon which was designated as the new capital town, Banton which included Sibale, Cajidiocan originally known as pueblo de Sibuyan and Looc.

The full text of the superior decree in Spanish: 'El superior decreeto No. 206 del 19 de Marzo de Ano de 1853 mandato creacion Commandante Politico Militar del Distrito de Romblon de la provincia de Capiz". On February 18, 1854 the decree was confirmed by a superior decree. "La real orden No. 57 del 18 de Febrero del ano de 1854 approvado la creacion de el Distrito Politico Militar de Romblon con denominacion de Commandante Militar de Romblon". The following year of 1855 recorded a tremendous leap on the creation of new pueblos or parishes under the new government.

17 new pueblos were added to the existing four. However, visita de Sibale remained part of pueblo de Banton. The new pueblos that were created in 1855 were: Guintiguian (San Agustin), Simara (Corcuera), Odiongan, Andagao (Calatrava), Parpagoja (San Andres), Tingaray (Ferrol), Catolog (Santa Fe), Cabalian (sitio of Agmanic, Santa Fe, formerly a pueblo), Saban (sitio Sabang, Danao Norte, Santa Fe, formerly a pueblo), Lauan (Alcantara), Guinbirayan (barangay of Santa Fe), Cauit (now named barangay Azagra, San Fernando), Pag-alad (San Fernando), Espańa (barangay of San Fernando), Isabel (barangay Cambalo, Cajidiocan, formerly a pueblo) and Princesa (formerly a pueblo now sitio Cangumba of barangay Azagra in San Fernando) and Magallanes (Magdiwang).

Please note that it was in 1855 when the former name and status of 'de la mission de Naylog' was changed into pueblo (parish) with a new name, Magallanes in honor of the Philippine islands discoverer to the western world, Ferdinand Magellan or Fernando Magallanes in Spanish. Another pueblo was organized close to pueblo de Magallanes located in the upstream of the present poblacion named Rancheria de Infiel in February 21, 1861. This new pueblo was organized for the sake of the Mangyanes or May-as tribe located in what is now barangay Dulangan, Magdiwang. It was organized in-order that the works and missions conducted in the lowland villages will be carried-out more easily and could be extended even into the mountains and wilderness in trying to tame and convert these wild people and their children who fled to the mountains who were against conversion. The missionaries strongly believed that even religion had special mission in converting the wildest and the most ferocious natives. Thus the necessity for creating 'Racheria de Infiel' into an independent pueblo (parish) functioning both as a missionary and evangelical center.

Thirteen years later, the Politico Military Commandancia del Distrito de Romblon was converted into Politico Military Commandancia dela Provincia de Romblon on January 11, 1868. This happened during the incumbency of Commandante de Infanteria Don Joaquin Corillo who was installed as Commandante since 1866. As a consequence, Don Corillo being the first official Governor of the new province reorganized the local municipal government.

Thus 15 existing pueblos (municipios) or parishes were abolished namely: Guinpuc-an (barangay Carmen in San Agustin), Cagbagacay (Santa Maria), Pag-alad, Rancheria de Infiel (Ranch of Savaged or Wild People found at barangay Dulangan), Espańa, Isabel (now barangay Cambalo, Cajidiocan), Princesa (formerly a pueblo, its territory now forms part both of sitio Cangumba in barangay Azagra and barangay Otod), Odiongan, Andagao, Parpagoja, Tingaray, Catolog, Sabang, Lauan and Guinbirayan.

The 7 retained pueblos were the following: Romblon, Badajoz (now San Agustin formerly Guintiguian renamed Badajoz on August 28, 1868) Banton, Corcuera, Looc, Cajidiocan, Azagra (San Fernando), and one missionary center, the mision de Magallanes (Magdiwang) and one semi-autonomous visita, administered from pueblo de Banton, visita de Concepcion. Magallanes was demoted as Missionary center from its former status as pueblo or parish. Before the end of Spanish rule, three pueblos were restored, namely: Odiongan, Santa Fe and Despujols (San Andres).

Civil government was established under the Americans on March 16, 1901. Magallanes was one of the 11 new municipalities. The other municipalities in the province were Badajoz, Banton, Cajidiocan, Corcuera, Looc, Odiongan, Romblon the Capitol, Despujols, San Fernando and Santa Fe. The province of Romblon was abolished on July 15,1907 and incorporated to the province of Capiz as a sub-province due to insufficient income. Concepcion however was separated from the rest of the province and incorporated into the province of Mindoro due to its long distance from Capiz town, the capital town of Capiz province now known as Roxas city. For this reason, it was created into a separate local government unit known as the Municipal District of Concepcion as attested by a Romblon map showing the provincial maritime boundary of Mindoro (now Oriental Mindoro) encroaching the island of Maestro de Campo published in 1914 and issued by the U.S. Army Map Service, Corps of Engineers. Please check Philippine Map Series S501 reprinted in 1954 for reference.

In March 10, 1917 the province of Romblon was restored as a regular province. On that same year of 1917, due to reorganization and the province's difficult financial status as newly restored entity, the former municipality of Magallanes was abolised and annexed to Cajidiocan. In 1918 official census, Cajidiocan had a total of 18 barrios. Twelve of which were located in Cajidiocan and 6 were from the former municipality of Magallanes, namely: Magallanes, Silum, Jao-asan, Ipil, Dulangan and Agsao. Magallanes was restored as independent municipality on March 1, 1933 with a new name, Magdiwang as a tribute to the Magdiwang faction of Andres Bonifacio, Supremo of the Katipunan, taken from Cajidiocan and it was inagurated on March 24 & 25, 1933 by Governor Manuel T. Alvero. While the former municipal district of Concepcion belonging to Mindoro was recalled back to the province.

In June 8, 1940, the special municipality of Sibuyan was established through the passage of Commonwealth Act No. 581 sponsored by a Bantoanon legislature, Congressman Leonardo Festin. Magallanes was abolished and was annexed to the new municipality with its seat at Cajidiocan town. The former town of Magallanes was represented only by a councilor at its municipal council in the municipality of Sibuyan based in Cajidiocan town. On May 26, 1946, the special municipality of Sibuyan was abolished through the passage of Republic Act No. 38 represented by Congressman Modesto Formelleza and took effect on January 1, 1947 when the Philippine President signed the Republic Act no. 48 restoring Magdiwang as a Municipality. Today, Magdiwang is composed of 9 barrios or barangays to-date, namely:

Development of Magdiwangs's Barrios / Barangays:

The original land area of pueblo de Magallanes (presently Magdiwang) was impressive in size during Spanish time, perhaps one of the biggest in the province, if not the largest. During Spanish era, its boundary extended from what is now barangay Cangumba in Cajidiocan to barangay Agtiwa in San Fernando.

Herewith is tabulation of its existing sitios or barrios enumerated in year of 1894 census. Total number was 27 namely: 1. Guintac-an, 2. Tinimbauan, 3. Agtiwa, 4. Tailan, 5. Agutay, 6. Malabago, 7. Colong-colong, 8. Agsao, 9. Pinamang-an, 10. Ipil, 11. Pisi, 12. Ambulong, 13. Lumanbao, 14. Can-uac, 15. Canlumbog, 16. Pundol, 17. Pueblo de Magallanes, 18. Tampayan, 19. Poao, 20. Padulog, 21. Agnonoc, 22. Tinap-anan, 23. Casing, 24. Silum, 25. Cabangajan, 26. Dulangan, 27. Agsalay, 28. Jao-asan (its population recorded in 1894 represents both Jao-asan and Lantawan constituencies). Magallanes total population in 1894 was 1,835.

In 1896, the following were enumerated: 1. Tinimbauan (Guintac-an abolished and annexed to Tinimbauan), 2. Agtiwa, 3. Tailan, 4. Agutay (its population was not indicated in 1896 data), 5. Malabago, 6. Colong-colong, 7. Agsao, 8. Pinamang-an, 9. Ipil, 10. Pisi, 11. Ambulong, 12. Lumanbao, 13. Can-uac, 14. Canlumbog, 15. Pueblo de Magallanes, 16. Tampayan, 17. Poao, 18. Padulog, 19. Agnonoc, 20. Tinap-anan, 21. Casing, 22. Silum, 23. Cabangajan, 24. Dulangan, 25. Agsalay (Pundol and Jao-asan both abolished, annexed to Agsalay) 26. Tanasan (created taken from Tampayan), 27. Agdumlang / Agdamlang or Agdamang (location is unknown but it was created taken from Poao). Magallanes total population in 1896 was 1,844.

By 1903, the first official census under American administration was conducted. Magallanes municipality retained 9 of its barrios, while 18 were abolished. The existing 9 barrios in 1903 were the following: 1. Agutay (which absorbed Tailan and Malabago), while Agtiwa, Tinimbauan and Guintac-an were given to San Fernando municipality. 2. Agsao (absorbed Colong-colong and Pinamang-an), 3. Ipil (absorbed Pili), 4. Ambulong (absorbed Can-uac and Lumanbao), 5. Tampayan (absorbed Tanasan, Poao and Agdumlang / Adamlang / Agdamang), 6. Silum (absorbed Agnonoc, Tinap-anan and Casing), 7. Dulangan (absorbed Pundol and Agsalay), 8. Jao-asan (this barrio restored taken from Agsalay and incorporated the former territory of barrio Lantawan), and 9. Poblacion with a total combined population of 2,275 in 1903.

The former barrio of Cabangajan was abolished in 1901 and converted into sitio and annexed to barrio Danao of Cajidiocan. In 1917, the former municipality of Magallanes was abolished and became part of Cajidiocan minicipality. Due to this reorganization, 3 numbers of its barrios were abolished, namely: Tampayan (it was annexed to Silum), Ambulong (annexed to Ipil) and Agutay (annexed to Agsao) while six other barrios were retained and enumerated as barrios of Cajidiocan in 1918 census, namely: Silum, Ipil, Agsao, Dulangan, Jao-asan and barrio Magallanes. In 1933, all 3 barrios were restored to former status, while poblacion's name was changed from Magallanes to Magdiwang poblacion. A total of 9 barrios or barangays composed the municipality of Magdiwang to-date, namely:

1. Agsao
2. Agutay
3. Ambulong
4. Dulangan
5. Ipil
6. Jao-asan
7. Poblacion
8. Silum
9. Tampayan