Barangay :

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In this isolated unnamed coastal area, there abound green leafy shrubs “ TAGBAK “ which were used by the natives into making baskets and containers for their fish catch , foods and others. The place had been the source of “ TAGBAK “ the main materials for their native handicrafts.

On another account , there was in the said place , a tree which the natives called “ BAKBAK” which used to be the landmark of the place as the trading center of the natives in their trading business , thus , paving the start of the development of commercial business among the inland tribes.

The place then , having been made the center of tribal economic business activities and commercial intercourses, the name “ BABAK” in short was born and became known to be the natives trading center in the island. Babak grew and developed into a native community out of the century old native tradition, old fashioned agricultural farming and antiquated methods of fishing. It became the main commercial center for traders from the mainland “DABA-DABA” , now Davao.

Long before the Christians migrated to this Island , the coastal areas were already populated by natives ruled by a “DATU”. These early settlers were tall, big and /or of giant size “ DINAGATAS”, but these natives , ancestors of the present samal natives became extincts for they were killed and poisoned by the early colonizers. Proof of this can easily be verified by the presence of human bones and remains found in the rocky shoreline caves of liquid Islets and the mainland Samal Island.

The Isamals are by occupation farmers and fisheries using very crude methods. Through the coming of the Christians from different provinces of Luzon and the Visayas , improved methods were introduced , thus increasing production more arable land were cultivated.