Before its creation as a separate and independent

Political Unit, Pigcawayan together with Alamada and

Libungan were component barangays of
Midsayap. Pigcawayan, however at that time was more
progressive than the two mentioned.

How Pigcawayan got its name remains

undocumented, however two version had been given by
the early settlers which was passed on from one
generation to another.
The first version was that, the place now known as
Pigcawayan was considered as a battle ground for the
Iranons and the Maguindanaoans. Due to this fighting the
inhabitants would abandon the place to be occupied by
the victors. From this evolved the Muslim word
Pighawaan which meant an abandoned place.
The second version, refers to an incident when an
American School Superintendent visited the place. By
coincidence it was also the time when folks were roasting
a pig with the use of bamboo pole rotated over live
charcoal. The word pig bamboo as said by the
superintendent was translated into the local dialect
Pigcawayan the present name of the municipality.