Dipolog's earliest recorded history started in 1834 when a civil government was organized by the Spanish Provincial Government of Misamis, under whose jurisdiction Dipolog belonged, with the appointment of a "Captain" as town executive, a "Teniente" and an "Aguacil" to maintain law and order.

Don Domingo Ruiz, a native, was the town executive that year when the townsite was transferred from Tulwanan to where it is now.

History says that in that year a Spanish Recollect Missionary arrived in Tulwanan believing that the townsite was still there.

Upon meeting a native, asked: " Donde esta el Capitan?"

Our unknown hero understanding only the word "Capitan" pointed to the west and said in Subano "Di...pag," meaning across the river.

Guided by his Muchacho, a Tagalog boy named Antonio Subido, the Padre proceeded downriver and upon reaching the townsite named the place "Dipag".

Through the years, this was corrupted by mispronunciation and intermingling of Visayan and Subano words into what it is today . . . DIPOLOG.