Barangay Camangahan, a coastal barangay in the municipality of Balatan, Camarines Sur, derives its name from the Bicol word “camang/kamang,” which means “to crawl.” The name reflects the rugged landscape, as parts of the barangay have many rock formations, requiring travelers to bend and carefully navigate through these rocks. These rock formations are also used as sharpening stones, called “taisan” in the Rinconada dialect.

Camangahan is a scenic location with striking rock formations, including the “manol” rock, which resembles a chicken, “Solo-solong Gapo” (the “Only Rock”), and “Tulong Gapo” (“Three Big Rocks”), all located in Zone 3 of the barangay boundary. The crystal-clear Camangahan Cove, surrounded by variously shaped rocks, provides a rewarding experience for nature lovers who enjoy climbing the large rocks for a view.

Originally, Camangahan was a sitio of Barangay Caorasan in the municipality of Bula, Camarines Sur. It became a barangay in 1968 through the efforts of the late Mayor Don Gregorio O. Balatan, who sponsored an ordinance in Bula to establish Camangahan as a separate barangay. This ordinance led to Camangahan’s independence from Barangay Caorasan in Bula.

October 24, 1968, the official date of the barangay’s establishment, is celebrated as its Foundation Day. The fiesta, initially intended for October 24, was moved to October 22 because the barangay borrowed the patron saint Rafael Arcangel from nearby Barangay Itangon, in Bula, Camarines Sur.