Guinayangan, officially the Municipality of Guinayangan, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,045 people. The name of Guinayangan comes from the word "gayang", a poison extracted from a plant by the locals. It was used by the natives to infuse it in their spears and arrows which they used to repel the Moro invasions. The gayang became an important thing among the natives who lived peacefully as the Moros were repelled in every attack they made. The natives who were infusing gayang to the arrows were spotted by the Spanish missionaries who wished to spread religious faith in the area. The missionaries ask for the "name of the place" in Spanish dialect. Due to the language barrier, the natives misinterpreted the question for "What are you doing" and answered "Ginayangan" or "We applied gayang". Ever since the place was known and pronounced "Ginyangan" omitting the "a" sound. The municipality is home to the Maulawin Spring Protected Landscape and the critically endangered Inagta Lopez, a dialect of the critically endangered Inagta Alabat language, which has at most 30 speakers left in the world.

History

Guinayangan was a former part of the town of Gumaca together with its neighbor town Lopez, Quezon from the oldest record it was first mentioned during colonial era. Guinayangan gained its territory with the transfer of the barrio Aloneros from Tagkawayan by virtue of Executive Order No. 78, signed by President Manuel Roxas on August 12, 1947. The annexation became effective on January 1, 1948.

Geography

Barangays

Guinayangan is politically subdivided into 54 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. • A. Mabini • Aloneros • Arbismen • Bagong Silang • Balinarin • Bukal Maligaya • Cabibihan • Cabong Norte • Cabong Sur • Calimpak • Capuluan Central • Capuluan Tulon • Dancalan Caimawan • Dancalan Central • Danlagan Batis • Danlagan Cabayao • Danlagan Central • Danlagan Reserva • Del Rosario • Dungawan Central • Dungawan Paalyunan • Dungawan Pantay • Ermita • Gapas • Himbubulo Este • Himbubulo Weste • Hinabaan • Ligpit Bantayan • Lubigan • Magallanes • Magsaysay • Manggagawa • Manggalang • Manlayo • Poblacion • Salacan • San Antonio • San Isidro • San Jose • San Lorenzo • San Luis I • San Luis II • San Miguel • San Pedro I • San Pedro II • San Roque • Santa Cruz • Santa Maria • Santa Teresita • Sintones • Sisi • Tikay • Triumpo • Villa Hiwasayan

Climate

Demographics

Economy

Culture

Festivals

When the month of June comes, the people of Guinayangan, Quezon prepare for the annual celebration of Gayang Festival, wherein the coconut tree and the banana is the main attraction of the festivities. The festival is highlighted by a street dancing competition participated by the residents of different barangays, as well as by elementary and high school students. In the later part of 2000, the very first Seafoods Festival was held in the town. However, it was replaced by Gayang Festival in the succeeding years to give importance to the town's history.

Tourism

Churches

Education