Sogod, Southern Leyte
The name of the municipality originated from the Cebuano word, "sogod", meaning ""to start."" Founded as a Catholic mission station by the Society of Jesus in 1601, Sogod became a regular municipality on June 10, 1853.
Sogod, Southern Leyte
By 1778, there were only seven (7) priests distributed among the eighteen (18) parishes of Leyte. . The island province had a number of 34,054 Catholics. Of the Catholic population, there were 1,702 souls exempted from "tributos" and 12,867 souls subject for "tributos". The Augustinians administering the mission of Sogod during this period were Padre" Tomas Sanchez and Padre" Vicente Rodriguez. The two (2) friars were in charge of the eastern towns of Abuyog, Cabalian, Hinundayan and Sogod, with Dulag as the center of the ecclesiastical district. Under Father Rodriguez, a mission house and a church made of transient materials were rebuilt to facilitate the spiritual needs of Sogod. He served the settlement until 1785.