The present name, believed to have been adopted in the mid 1900s, was, according to many traditions, derived from a native tree called bituon which once grew abundantly in the area. A contending theory states that the name came from the native Waray word for Star, also bituon. abiton-an is located at the northernmost point of the island municipality of Daram, which lies within the western part of
Samar Sea and the Zumarraga Channel. The north and western boundary is the Samar Sea; the eastern boundary is the Zumarraga Channel. It can be reached by a 30-minute boat ride from the provincial capital of Catbalogan. Cabiton-an comprises three puroks (zones), Purok One, Purok Two and Purok Three respectively. Like all other barangays in the country, it is governed from the Barangay Hall by a Barangay Captain, an elected official entitled for three-year term, who is aided by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (barangay kagawads or councilors), also elected. In 2008, it has a budgetary allocation of PHP 615,795 from the Philippine government. According to the 2007 census, Cabiton-an has a population of 1,006 people in 160 households. The native language of the majority in Cabiton-an is Samarnon-Waray-Waray (also known as Waraynon, Samarnon, or Samar-Leyte Visayan). Being a coastal area, the main livelihood is fishing and agriculture. Seafood is a local speciality, in fact, many fish are sold in the markets of nearby Daram, Catbalogan and Tacloban. The major fishing products caught in the seas around Cabiton-an are galonggong, alumahan, tamban, pompano, bisugo (bream), lapu-lapu, rabbitfish, slipmouth and assorted. Other fish resources are seaweed, mussels/oysters, crabs and shells. Agricultural income is derived mostly from coconuts, bananas, corn and other crops such as sweet potato, cassava, and legumes. Cabiton-an offers basic rural infrastructure that includes water-based transportation, a plentiful public water supply, power supply from SAMELCO II, cellular and cable communication facilities, sports and recreational facilities, tourist spots, and common service establishments. Most of the inhabitants of Cabiton-an are Roman Catholics and a small number of Born again (Christianity). Because of the huge number of Catholics, like other places in Philippines, they also celebrate fiesta (festival). Their patron saint is Saint Roch whose feast day is on January 22-23.
