FACTS AND HISTORY
Mahaplag is a valley between two mountain ranges. These mountains and hills have tributary rivers and creeks to the principal river known as "Layog River," whose main outlet to Abuyog is a very narrow embankment of solid rocks in a hundred meters high on both banks.
The town of Mahaplag was named after the Mahaplag River which is situated at the entrance at the Poblacion, Mahaplag Leyte. The word, "Mahaplag" is a combination of two dialect words "Mahaplag" and "Kaplag." Mahapla means 'destruction or failure' and kaplag means 'success.' This is because the failure and success of the livelihood of the people in this little town depends upon the river. If the weather was bad, the rushing flood waters would wash out every plant resulting in no harvest at all bringing misery to the people. But when the water would recede, it would bring them fertile soil giving them a good harvest and thus bring happiness and contentment to the people. The same held true for those who depended upon the forest for their livelihood.
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Mahaplag was unknown in the past years but through the strong representation of the late speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez, Executive Order No. 308 dated July 21, 1958 was signed creating the Municipality of Mahaplag in the province of Leyte and segregating it from the Municipality of Abuyog. On October 11,1958, the Municipality was formally inaugurated.
Mahaplag has a total of 28 barangays. Based on the 2020 regional and economic trends, Eastern Visayas Region National Statistical Coordination Board, Mahaplag, with the land area of 104.8 square kilometers, has a population of 27,865 people with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometer or 700 inhabitants per square mile and has a 0.03% average annual rate of increase.
MAIN LIVELIHOOD
The major product of Mahaplag Leyte was abaca, coconut, and copra products. During the last year of 1990s abaca plants were no longer in one of the major products of Mahaplag due to abaca plants diseases. The current source of income of the people here is coconut copra product and rice land product only.
TOURIST SPOTS
Inland Resort - Brgy. Malinao Mahaplag, Leyte
The present improvement is Mahaplag which attracts tourism is the Inland Resort located in Malinao, Mahaplag Leyte. This tourist attraction is an income generating opportunity for the Mahaplaganons as many tourists visit it. Malinao was chosen to be the location of the said project because of its wide lot, owned by the government therefore made the construction possible. Inland is a very nice place for leisure and relaxation suitable for all ages. The said resort is sponsored by the Local Government Unit (LGU) headed by Municipal Mayor Ronaldo Lleve.
Others:
Sea of Clouds - Brgy. Liberacion, Mahaplag, Leyte
San Juan Falls - Brgy. San Juan, Mahaplag, Leyte
Paril Cave - Brgy. Paril, Mahaplag, Leyte
FESTIVAL
The Kaplag Festival or the Kaplag Buwad Festival is commended on the day the picture of the Santo Niño was found by Juan Camus, a Spanish fighter. He was a piece of the undertaking of Miguel Lopes de Legazpi in Cebu. "Kaplag" implies revelation in Cebuano. The celebration is commended each September 28.
FOODS
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| Puto |
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| Bibingka |
Bibingka and puto are two of Mahaplag's native delicacies. If you happen to reach this part of Leyte, you should give them a try. You will easily spot these rice cakes as vendors sell them on the streets of Mahaplag. Neatly packed in plastic wrappers, these food products are ideal as 'pasalubong' or homecoming gift and 'baon' or snacks.
