When the Spaniards led by Portuguese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan came to the Philippines in 1521, the Southeastern part of Mindanao was then known as Calaghan Island. It is a name derived from the vernacular word “calag” which means spirit or soul. Thus Calaghan is interpreted as “island of spirited men”. So when the Spanish government created the territory of Caraga Province in 1609, they referred to it as “region de gente animosa” or “region of spirited men”.

The Caraga Province covered a long stretch of coastal area from Cape Surigao to Cape San Agustin originally inhabited by indigenous people invariably called “Calaghans” or “Caragan” that included the Mandaya, Mansaka, Manubo, Mamanua, Mangguangan and Tagacaulo. Their Muslim counterparts were similarly called “Calagan” until today.

Davao Oriental was then a part of Caraga Province and the “Encomienda de Bislig” through which a distinguished lawyer, Don Jose Uyanguren, upon the order of Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria, organized settlements in the now City of Mati and Municipalities of Baganga and Gov. Generoso. The settlements continued to grow as far as Davao City. So in 1849, Governor Claveria decreed the partition of Caraga Province into Surigao Province in the north and Nueva Vergara in the south with the town of Caraga as provincial capital.

When the Amercians came, Nueva Vergara including its adjoining areas became popularly known as Davao, a district of the Moro Province, later the Department of Mindanao and Sulu.

On July 1, 1967, Davao was divided into three provinces: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental.

Today, Davao Oriental proudly keeps its Hispanic heritage including the Catholic religion. Many municipalities and barangays have retained their Spanish names like Tarragona, Montserrat and San Isidro. Its native dialect still carries many Spanish words. And the oldest Catholic Church in Mindanao still stands in the town of Caraga, the old capital of Nueva Vergara.