(An excerpt from “Understanding Place Names: A Glimpse on the History of Salay, Misamis Oriental”)
The derivation of the word Salay can be gleaned from the story of the early settlers in the place looking for sigay or shell. Accordingly, there was a group of natives known as the Higaunon people who were wandering along the coastal area in search for shell (also known as sigay among the natives) and other marine resources. When the natives were busy looking and collecting shells, unexpectedly, white men (referring to the Spanish soldiers) appeared and landed in the area. Natives were apparently asked by the white men about the name of the place. Thinking that the white men were asking for what were they looking, in response, the natives answered “sigay.” With this, white men recorded sigay as the name of the place. The word sigay eventually became Salay in the course of time.
(An excerpt from “History of Salay: From Text and Memory”)
Pre-colonial
The peopling of Salay was attributed to the Higaunon tribe. Casulog River was said to be the first settlement established by the Higaunon. The area along what is now Barangay Looc was also deemed as an early settlement founded by Higaunon due to its arable land and accessibility to water which is of great importance to their survival. The location of their settlement reflected the kind of economic custom they adopted. Thus farming, fishing, hunting and food gathering were the major sources of their livelihood.
Later on, the arrival of migrant settlers and the expansion of the frontiers of evangelization resulted to the Higaunon’s either conversion to Christian faith or departure to their territory towards the mountains as they refused to be converted. continue reading: Brief History of Salay
Political Leaders
| 1920 – 1922 | Quirico Soldevilla appointed as First Municipal President |
| 1922 – 1925 | Quirico Soldevilla won the first Municipal election |
| 1925 – 1928 | Ignacio Botardo was elected Municipal President |
| 1928 – 1931 | Edilberto Salvaña was elected Municipal President |
| 1931 – 1934 | Ignacio Botardo was elected Municipal President |
| 1934 – 1937 | Ignacio Botardo was reelected Municipal President |
| 1937 – 1940 | Edilberto Salvaña was elected Municipal Mayor |
| 1940 | Edilberto Salvaña was reelected |
| 1942 – 1945 | Cayetano Capistrano assumed as Mayor when Salvana took his leave
Col. Pedro Collado – First Regimental Commander Capt. Luz – Second Regimental Commander Major Rosauro Dongallo – Third Regimental Commander |
| 1946 – 1947 | Edilberto Salvaña resumed his office |
| 1947 – 1950 | Dimmas Abejero was elected Municipal Mayor |
| 1950 – 1951 | Cayetano Capistrano succeeded Mayor Abejero who resigned |
| 1952 – April 1953 | Cayetano Capistrano was elected Municipal Mayor |
| April 1953 – December 1953 | Rodrigo Zagado succeeded Capistrano who temporarily suspended |
| 1954 – 1955 | Cayetano Capistrano resumed his office |
| 1956 – 1959 | Gerardo Roa was elected Municipal Mayor |
| 1960 – November 1960 | Gerardo Roa was reelected |
| 1960 – 1963 | Lucresio Vasallo succeeded Roa who died in 1960 |
| 1964 – 1967 | Cayetano Capistrano was elected Municipal Mayor |
| 1968 – 1979 | Cayetano Capistrano was reelected |
| 1976 – 1986 | Precioso Tacandong appointed by Sec. Roa |
| February 1986 | Cayetano Capistrano assumed his office |
| November 1987 – January 1988 | Roque Abejuela was elected Municipal Mayor |
| 1988 – 1992 | Angelo Capistrano Sr. was appointed as OIC Municipal Mayor after the EDSA Revolution |
| 1992 – 1995 | Celso Perin was appointed as OIC Municipal Mayor |
| 1995 – 1998 | Angelo Capistrano Sr. was elected as Municipal Mayor |
| March 1998 | Angelo Capistrano Sr. was reelected as Municipal Mayor |
| June 1998 | Roque Abejuela assumed Office as Municipal Mayor |
| 1998 – 2007 | Vevencia Capistrano was elected as Municipal Mayor |
| 2007 – 2016 | Romeo Gue was elected as Municipal Mayor |
| 2016 – present | Angelo Capistrano Jr. present Municipal Mayor |
