Hilongos (IPA: [hɪ'lɔŋos]), officially the Municipality of Hilongos (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Hilongos; Waray: Bungto han Hilongos; Tagalog: Bayan ng Hilongos), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 64,514 people.^[3]

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Hilongos
Municipality
Municipality of Hilongos
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Flag Seal
Map of Leyte with Hilongos highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Hilongos Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°22′N 124°45′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Province	Leyte
District	5th district
Founded	1590 (Pueblo de los Hilongos)
Barangays	51 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Manuel R. Villahermosa
• Vice Mayor	Albert R. Villahermosa
• Representative	Carl Nicolas C. Cari
• Councilors	List • Manuel R. Villahermosa • Josenilo M. Reoma • Cristuto F. Ong • Carmelito M. Zarate • Joseph F. Fulache • Bernadeth M. Nerves • Francisco M. Ortega • Edwin F. Faller DILG Masterlist of Officials
• Electorate	43,424 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	192.92 km2 (74.49 sq mi)
Elevation	88 m (289 ft)
Highest elevation	1,133 m (3,717 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	64,514
• Density	330/km2 (870/sq mi)
• Households	15,918
Economy
• Income class	2nd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	26.05 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 215.5 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 812.4 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 269.9 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 110.5 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Leyte 4 Electric Cooperative (LEYECO 4)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6524
PSGC	0803719000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)53
Native languages	Cebuano Tagalog

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Hilongos is the biggest municipality in terms of income, population and land area in the southwestern part of Leyte. A string of five equidistant municipalities, namely Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato and Matalom comprises the southwestern part of Leyte. Hilongos, being at the geographical center, is also the center for government, religion, shipping, rice production, commerce, banking, finance, telecommunications, health services, education, sports and socio-cultural activities.^{[citation needed]}

The Port of Hilongos is one of the biggest and busiest in Eastern Visayas (Region 8), well known for its good passenger and cargo services to Cebu City and vice versa.^{[citation needed]} Due to its strategic location and close proximity to the city of Cebu, Hilongos Port caters quite a number of day and night trips to and from the city and is the primary choice for travelers especially from the southern part of Leyte. Also, Hilongos has an airport, which can be more helpful and useful if improved (for so many years, travelers from the southern part of Leyte need to go as far as Tacloban and or Cebu just to avail the services of commercial airlines). Hilongos has 2 public markets and two 2 transport terminals. The municipality is composed of 51 barangays with vast coastal plains used mainly in the production of rice.

Lore has it that in the 12th century, Amahawin, an Ilonggo from Iloilo, conquered neighboring barangays on Leyte's western shore and extended his territory to the present limits of Inopacan, Hindang, Bato, and Matalom. He formed a settlement and named it Hilongos, because its inhabitants were Ilonggos.

In 1710, the Jesuits created a residence there. In 1737, according to Redondo 1886:207, Hilongos was already a parish before this year. However, Braganza (1965) claims that Hilongos became a parish only in 1737. This date corresponded to the establishment of the town.(Tantuico 1964:41)

1754 was the date of the oldest parish books (deaths) as of 1884.

In 1768, the Jesuits ceded Hilongos to the Augustinians. In 1774–79, the Augustinians established schools in Hilongos. In 1784, Palompon, a Hilongos visita, became an independent parish.

In 1862, Manicar led a revolt at Barrio Santa Margarita.

In 1873, Leovio Magia led a revolt. Unlike the towns of eastern Leyte, which were ceded to the Franciscans in 1843, the towns along Leyte's western coast fell one by one under the seculars.

In late 1992, an unrecognized municipal government ran by the New People's Army from within Barangay San Antonio, Hilongos collapsed upon being taken over by the Philippine National Police (PNP).^[5]

On December 28, 2016, two explosions rocked the small town during the town fiesta. The explosion occurred in Barangay Central Poblacion were a boxing match was being held. At least 34 people residents were injured and brought to the Hilongos District Hospital and other nearby hospitals.^[6] Officials said an IED was used in the attack. No suspects were identified.^[7]

Hilongos shares borders with the municipalities of Hindang to the north, Mahaplag to the northeast, Sogod (Southern Leyte) and Bontoc (Southern Leyte) to the east, Bato to the south and to the west lies the Camotes Sea.

In the 2020 census, the population of Hilongos, Leyte, was 64,514 people,^[3] with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.

• 2016 Hilongos explosion