Ginatilan is a 5th class municipality of the province of Cebu and one of the 15 municipalities in the 2nd congressional district of the province. It is situated in the southwestern part, about 135 kilometers from the provincial capital, Cebu City.
The town is facing the Tañon Strait at the west and bordered by the Municipality of Malabuyoc in the north, Municipality of Samboan in the south and the Municipality of Oslob in the east.
The town covered a total land area of 6,846.44 hectares and administratively subdivided into 14 barangays namely: Anao, Cagsing, Calabawan, Cambagte, Campisong, Cañorong, Guiwanon, Looc, Malatbo, Mangaco, Palanas, Poblacion, Salamanca and Roque.
Its land formation is described as mountainous. Its topography is characterized by rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges with occasional plateaus and open valleys. The highest peak is 816 meters above the sea level.
Residents engage in activities like agriculture and livestock raising. Productions of native delicacies like palagsing, tinumpi and kinugay from Buli tree are common in the area.
History:
The town was once part of the municipality of Samboan as one of its barrios. In one of the populated barrios, a chapel stands. But aside from the building, there is nothing to be used for Sunday masses. Hence, all including the acolytes were brought to the barrio to initiate Sunday masses. Thus, the place was called “Hinatdan”, vernacular word which literally means “a place where goods and services are brought or transported from another place”.
Almost all coastal towns were under the attacks of the Moro pirates by the time, leaving the towns devastated and its people distraught. The residents devised a defense system that would thwart the attackers’ plans. Watchtowers with high walls were erected. The attacks were checked and the counterattacks were prepared. The people were able to build their own church and municipal building.
Due to the constant increase of its populace, the folks implored to the authorities of the Samboan Municipality to grant their own local government. Before granting their request, the Spanish authorities first investigated the place. Having hard time pronouncing Hinatdan, the officials changed the name of the town into “Ginatilan”.
The church, which was dedicated to St. Gregory the Great, was erected on February 2, 1829 as an expansion of the parish of Samboan. Eventually, it was declared as an independent parish on October 5, 1847. The Hinatdan Festival is celebrated every March in honor of the town’s patron saint.
Ginatilan boast of many natural attractions. It is dotted with large number of refreshing waterfalls and mostly are hidden that only the locals know where the exact location is and how to reach it. One best example is the “Inambacan Falls”.
How To Get There:
To arrive in Ginatilan, there are various private and public vehicles from the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. It takes only 4 hours to arrive in your destination. Ceres Liners are available in both Barili and Oslob routes.
Once in Ginatilan, the major mode of transport to upland barangays is habal-habal or a private motorcycle which can accommodate four to six passengers. Tricycles are abundant around the town.
