San Fernando is a coastal town located at the foot of the mountain. It occupies the whole southern portion of the island of Sibuyan, the province's second largest island that is composed of three municipalities: San Fernando, Cajidiocan and Magdiwang, and is the biggest among the three towns.

San Fernando begun sometime in 12th century when settlers of Malay stock and origin decendants of the Shri-Vishayan empire in Palembang, Sumatra chooses to settle in the southeastern coast of the Island, according to one local writer. Perhaps the first written history of Sibuyan island where San Fernando 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 the settlements and native villages in Sibuyan island where his team of 27 ships, 280 Spaniards and several hundred Bisayan (Visayan) auxilliaries found native Pintados or painted (Tattooed) Visayan indios living in the island on their way to conquer the famed city of Manila in the island of Luzon. He noted Sibuyan 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 Angulo. 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 was rich in gold deposits and the natives lives by gathering wax, raising tame animals and in agriculture. 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. He noted Sibuyan Island as highly mountainous and rich in mineral resources such as gold and other minerals with good source of water.

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 (Aklan) in northwestern Panay Island.

The first recorded existence of San Fernando formerly known as 'Pag-alad', meaning 'offering' was in year 1813 when the former settlement or fundacion de Pag-alad under visita de Cauit (Azagra) was converted into visita de Pag-alad under the parish of Sibuyan with its seat at Cajidiocan town. Visita is a curacy without a permanent priest assigned, thus Pag-alad belongs to this category. The settlement was even antedated by many of its present barrios or barangays when speaking to its establishment. The century old barangay Azagra was established even earlier as a visita perhaps earlier than 1636. It was in this year when the bishop of alcaldia de Arevalo (or Ogtong) instructed local officials for the construction of Cajidiocan and Cauit churches in 1636 and it was started in 1646. Both Cajidiocan and Cauit were already established visitas in the early part of 17th century. However, when a pueblo was organized in the island, visita de Cajidiocan was chosen over Cauit as seat of pueblo Sibuyan, thus visita de Cajidiocan which later became pueblo de Sibuyan comprised all villages, settlements (fundaciones), missionary centers and visitas with-in the island of the same name.

The name of the pueblo was officially known as pueblo de Sibuyan all-through-out Spanish time until July 23, 1848 when it was replaced by a new name, pueblo de Cajidiocan. This was way before the establishment of PMC del Distrito de Romblon, established in 1853. However, pueblo of Cajidiocan continued to be referred-to as Sibuyan and Sibuyan alternately referred-to as Cajidiocan as well.

Cangumba was an established settlement in early 18th century. The first recorded data was in 1842 as sitio de Cangumba part of visita de Azagra, dela mision de Sibuyan. Sitio Mabolo existed in 1847, Canjalon in 1848. The rest of the early established sitios, barrios and visitas were Espańa, Agtiwa (originally a barrio of Magdiwang unti 1901) and Otod in 1894.

In March 19, 1853, the District of Romblon was organized known as Politico Militar Commandancia del 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, Looc and Cajidiocan originally known as pueblo de Sibuyan (which included visita de Cauit, Pag-alad and Espańa). 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 royal order 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 of Commandante de Infanteria Don Joaquin de Prat y Parella installed as Romblon's second provincial executive beginning in 1854 replacing Don Ramon Vieytes. Don Joaquin issued the creation of 17 new pueblos out of the original 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), 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), Magallanes (Magdiwang) and Pag-alad (San Fernando).

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 while retaining only 7 pueblos. The abolished pueblos 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, Magdiwang), Espańa, Isabel (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.

While the 7 retained pueblos under PMC dela Provincia de Romblon in January 8, 1868 were the following: Romblon, Badajoz (now San Agustin formerly Guintiguian renamed Badajoz in 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 named visita de Concepcion. Although Magallanes was demoted from pueblo or parish status to a Missionary center, the former town continued to enjoy greater autonomy until its restoration in 1901. Before the end of Spanish rule, three more pueblos were restored to their former status, these were: Odiongan, Santa Fe and Despujols (San Andres).

In Sibuyan, there were only 3 pueblos left from the former 8 towns after January 11, 1868, these were: Magallanes which absorbed the former pueblo of rancheria de Infiel (Dulangan), Cajidiocan which annexed the former town of Isabel (Cambalo) and pueblo Cauit which was renamed Pueblo de Azagra in February 3, 1868 and it included the former pueblos of Princesa (Cangumba), Pag-alad (San Fernando) and Espańa.

(Please be reminded that Cauit (Azagra), Princesa (Cangumba), Pag-alad (San Fernando) and Espańa existed as separte towns from 1855 until January 11, 1868. Likewise, beginning in 1868 Cauit later renamed Azagra became the only municipality in southern Sibuyan island with jurisdiction over abolished pueblos of Princesa, Pagalad and Espańa. The scenario was reversed in 1901 when it was San Fernando created into a municipality with the former municipality of Azagra becoming its barrio as it is today).

In 1882 visita Pag-alad of Pueblo Azagra was renamed visita San Fernando in honor of Fernando Magallanes, the discoverer of the Philippines to the western world while in 1884 the territory known as racheria de Espańa separated from pueblo Azagra as independent pueblo. The break-up was short lived, because in 1886, Espańa was recalled back and again reunited to its mother-town, Azagra through the insistance of Azagra's mayor (Governadorcillo) Don Maximo Madrilejoz.

Civil government was established under the Americans on March 16, 1901 and Azagra was one of the 11 new municipalities. The other municipalities were: Badajoz, Banton, Cajidiocan, Corcuera, Looc, Magallanes, Odiongan, Romblon the Capitol, Despujols and Santa Fe. However, few months later, before the end of the year the seat of the municipality was transferred from Azagra to the present townsite at San Fernando poblacion. Reason for the transfer was not mentioned. Perhaps due to politics or maybe due to scarcity of water in the old-townsite of Azagra, nobody can give a clear and definite answer by now.

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 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 abolished and annexed to Cajidiocan. 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 while the former municipal-district of Concepcion belonging to Mindoro (now Oriental 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. San Fernando was abolished and was annexed to the new municipality with its seat at Cajidiocan town. The former towns of San Fernando and Magdiwang were represented only by one 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 it into law restoring both San Fernando and Magdiwang to its former status as an independent municipalities.

In the field of education, San Fernando high school was converted into a national school of arts and trades known as Romblon National Vocational School under Republic Act No. 2428 inacted into law in 1958. Today, San Fernando is composed of 12 barrios or barangays to-date.

Development of San Fernando's Barrios / Barangays:

The municipality of San Fernando was previously known as pueblo de Azagra until 1901. In late 1901, the poblacion was transferred from Azagra to San Fernando poblacion, thus renaming the name of the municipality from Azagra to San Fernando because of the transfer.

A tabulation of its barrios is not available for year 1886 when there were two existing pueblos in what is now San Fernando municipality. Namely: pueblo Espańa with a population of 2,101 and pueblo de Azagra with a population of 3,477.

As mentioned, Espańa ceased in 1886 and annexed back to Azagra. In 1894, Azagra had a total of 10 barrios, namely: Cangumba, Tinimbuan, Otod, Canjalon, Campalingo, visita de San Fernando, Espańa rancheria, Ylaya barrio, Taclobo and Dentro de Poblacion with combined population of 3,748. In 1896, 2 new barrios were created out of rancheria Espańa. These were rancheria de Canago and Rancheria de San Roque which included the former pueblo of Espańa. Azagra pueblo's total population in 1896 was 4,039.

The Americans occupied Romblon in 1901 and reorganized the local government. Under its first census done in 1903, the former municipality of Azagra which was replaced by San Fernando had a total of 11 barrios in 1903 national census, namely: Canjalon, Otod (absorbed former barrio of Tinimbuan), Cangumon (which included territory of former barrio of Cangumba), visita Azagra, Campalingo, Poblacion, Pili (which absorbed abolished barrio of Taclobo), Panangcalan (this barrio was formerly known as Ilaya barrio), visita Espańa (the former visita was restored taken from dissolved barrio named rancheria de San Roque), Mabolo (created taken from the former barrio of rancheria de Canago) and Agtiwa (comprising the former barrios of Tinimbauan and Guintac-an) formerly part of pueblo de Magallanes until 1901. San Fernando's total population in 1903 was 3,977.

In 1918, barrio Cangumon was abolished and annexed to barrio Azagra while barrio Taclobo (misspelled Taglobo in 1918) was restored as independent barrio taken from Pili. Embarcacion was one of the barrios enumerated in 1918 which represented those engaged in shipping and maritime industries that time. However, in 1939 census, Embarcacion was not enumerated. It's population was integrated to barrio Poblacion while the rest of the municipality did not make any remarcable change with regards to its number of barrios which still stand at 11. The last barrio to be created was barrio Mabini in 1958 taken from barrio Mabolo. Today, San Fernando has a total of 12 barrios or barangays to-date, namely:

1. Agtiwa
2. Azarga
3. Campalingo
4. Canjalon
5. Espańa
6. Mabini
7. Mabulo
8. Otod
9. Panangcalan
10. Pili
11. Poblacion
12. Taclobo