In the past, Gamay was a barrio of Palapag one of the oldest towns of Samar and reputed as among the most religious.
How this town came to be as GAMAY is told in legends and stories. One prevalent story believed in by most of the town folks relates to an alleged conversation that took place between a Spaniard and a lady loom weaver. This visiting Spaniard was reportedly asking the weaver by what name is the place called. Not knowing any Spanish word, the weaver thought that the Spaniard was asking what she was doing and she reportedly said "GAMAY."
In the local dialect, Gamay means fine. It refers to the finest abaca strands as distinguished from URUBAYON (medium) and "KADAGKUAN" (thicker abaca strands). It was during the 14th or 15th century when the community known today as BINONGTO-AN (when a town was built) when the first settlers - descendants of seafaring Malays who migrated to the numerous island now called the Philippine Archipelago, found the place.
In the local dialect, Gamay means fine. It refers to the finest abaca strands as distinguished from URUBAYON (medium) and "KADAGKUAN" (thicker abaca strands).
It was during the 14th or 15th century when the community known today as BINONGTO-AN (when a town was built) when the first settlers - descendants of seafaring Malays who migrated to the numerous island now called the Philippine Archipelago, found the place.
Perhaps, it was only in the late 16th or 17th century when Gamay got its name when Christianity reached the shore of the Philippine islands brought by the Spaniards.
By this time, Binongto-an had become a flourishing Christian settlement and was then a growing big community. Their belief in their adopted faith brought them the courage to withstand the numerous raids of Muslim bands (popularly identified as Moros) during bloody and long Muslim-Christian religious wars. It was due to the continued Moro raids to a place called BINAYAAN and finally decided to start a new settlement near the mouth of the river by the sea.
Until 1949, Gamay was a barrio of Palapag.
Later, the Americans came and the people vehemently fought against them. They finally affected the surrender of more than 400 "PULAJANES" (Revolutionary Soldiers).
As time passed on, the municipality progressed and its population increased.
Gamay was legally separated from, Palapag through the initiative of Rafael A. Gomba (a native of Gamay) who was then the Mayor of Palapag. With the enactment Congress of Republic Act No. 90 on February 26, 1947, Gamay became a Municipality then the whole island province of Samar.
The incumbent barrio officials were automatically appointed to be the new and first officials. It was on November 9, 1965 after overwhelming of a law that Samar was divided into three provinces (Western, Eastern, and Northern) and Gamay became a municipality of Northern Samar.
The following were the Municipal Officials of Gamay after R.A. 90 was created:
1947 - 1948 APPOINTED
Mayor: Egildo T. Banawis
Vice Mayor: Sixto Espenesin
Councilors: Ricardo Senobio
Perfecto Tejano
Quintin hermano
Estanislao Jaldo
Secretary: Francisco Javier
Inspired by the noble vision and mission of its altruistic leaders, the Gamaynons struggled in its survival against all odds. In her own limited pace due to limited resources and opportunities for growth and development, the Gamaynons moved onward and laid all efforts to make their hometown progressive, peaceful and comfortable place to live in.
-Article by: Mrs. Emma Javier Longcop
