A Brief History of the Municipality Of San Dionisio

In 1877, the Spaniards came to this place. The natives who had their houses
near the seashore called this LAKDAYAN. The name of the leader of the natives
was DIONISIO with an unknown family name. This man was the first settler who
made clearing and settlement in Lakdayan.

Dionisio was a modest and humble fisherman. The Spaniards, considering

that Dionisio was the leader and the eldest of the natives and the one who
established the first settlement, changed the name of the Lakdayan to San Dionisio
in honor of Dionisio. However, the Patron Saint indicated by the Spaniards was St.
Vincent Ferrer, the town’s patron saint, up to the present.

The Spaniards established a seat of government in Concepcion and San

Dionisio was part of the said municipality. Sara was also a part of Concepcion. The
head of the local government of Concepcion was called Kapitan while his
subordinate leaders in San Dionisio were called Tenientes and Cabezas de
Barangay.

Later when Sara separated from Concepcion, San Dionisio became a part of
Sara. Some prominent citizens from San Dionisio and Concepcion became the first
municipal officials of Sara. Among them were Armando Arcosa and Ramon Deles
who were Municipal President and Municipal Vice President, respectively, of Sara.
These officials worked hard for the separation of San Dionisio from Sara. In 1921,
with Espino’s successful trip to Manila, san Dionisio became an independent
municipality. It was he, Delfin Espino, who was appointed as the first Municipal
President of san Dionisio. - Mr. Rfino Q. Canong Sr.