Amadeo was once known as “Masilaw”, due to the profusion of Dapdap trees in the area. When in bloom, the trees bore bright red flowers producing a dazzling red glare from afar. In Tagalog, the  term, glaring is “nakakasilaw”. After the years passed, the word was shortened which the barrio got its name “Masilaw”.

      Masilaw was then a part of Silang, and it’s inhabitants had to go to Poblacion for registration, baptismal rites, matrimonial ceremonies, and even funeral services. At that time, public transportation was scarce and travel was difficult. A move initiated by the leaders of the barrios namely Leoncio Ramos, Geronimo Bayot and Andres Villanueva succeeded in making Masilaw a town independent from Silang in 1872. It’s inauguration coincided with the birthday of Prince Amadeus, the Prince of Savoy, the second son of the King of Italy. Hence, Masilaw was renamed Amadeo in honor of the prince.

     For 21 years, Amadeo was recognized as a town, even by the Revolutionary Government under General Emilio Aguinaldo. In fact, the revolutionists gave it the Tagalog Name of “Maypag-ibig” (With Love), this was in line with the revolutionary policy of giving native names to towns having alien names in order to erase every vestige of the country’s colonial past. However, in 1902, the Provincial Executive, displeased with the way Amadeo was governed, reverted it as a district under Silang. The people resented this decision. Once again, it’s leaders took the cudgels of working for the separation of Amadeo from Silang. Finally, in 1915, during the administration of Governor Antero S. Soriano, Amadeo regained its independence. Geronimo Bayot became the first municipal president.

      Amadeo was formerly composed of 13 barrios, and 12 additional barangays were created under  Presidential Decree No. 86 as amended by PD 86-A. These barangays are all located in the poblacion. The thirteen barrios and twelve barangays are:

1. Poblacion 1      13. Banaybanay      25. Tamacan

2. Poblacion 2      14. Bucal

3. Poblacion 3      15. Buho

4. Poblacion 4      16. Dagatan

5. Poblacion 5      17. Halang

6. Poblacion 6      18. Loma

7. Poblacion 7      19.Maitim

8. Poblacion 8      20. Maymangga

9. Poblacion 9      21. Minantok

10. Poblacion 10  22. Pangil

11. Poblacion 11  23. Salaban

12. Poblacion 12  24. Talon

      In the plebiscite held on November 24, 1985, Barangay Minantok was divided into two barangays to be known as Minantok Silangan and Minantok Kanluran respectively. At present, Amadeo is composed of 26 barangays.

  POLITICAL HISTORY

 Town Heads Since 1872

 Starting from 1872, Amadeo has had the following Municipal Executives:

 GOBERNADORCILLOS:

1. Tranquilino Anacay - 1872 – 1873

2. Juan Bayot - 1874 – 1875

3. Simplicio Bayot  - 1876 – 1879

4. Francisco Ambat - 1880 – 1881

5. Marcos Villanueva - 1882 – 1883

6. Honorio Bayot - 1884 - 1885

7. Pedro Tibayan - 1886 – 1887

8. Feliciano Ramos - 1888 – 1889

9. Justo Ambion - 1890 – 1891

10. Feliciano Ramos - 1892 – 1895

 CAPITAN MUNICIPAL:

 1. Monico Ramos - 1896

 Note: In 1903, Amadeo was reverted back to Silang as a barrio until 1914.

 MUNICIPAL PRESIDENTS:

1. Geronimo Bayot - 1915 - 1916

2. Primo Villanueva - 1917 - 1919

3. Geronimo Bayot - 1920 - 1922

4. Pedro Bayot - 1923 - 1925

5. Isaac Bayot - 1926 - 1928

6. Isaac Bayot - 1929 - 1931

7. Leoncio Ramos - 1932 -1934

  MUNICIPAL MAYORS:

 1. Brigido Villanueva - 1935 -1937

2. Isaac Bayot - 1938 - 1940

3. Miguel Bayot - 1941 -1945

4. Santos Ambagan - 1945 - 1946

5. Miguel Bayot - 1946 - 1951

6. Santos Ambagan - 1952 – 1967

7. Eusebio Leachon - 1968 – 1979

8. Reynaldo Bayot - 1980 – 1986

9. Jeremias Villanueva  -1986 – February 15, 1989

10. Albert A. Ambagan Sr. -  February 15, 1989 - 2001

11. Albert “OJ” G. Ambagan Jr. - 2001- 2010

12. Benjarde A. Villanueva - 2010 – 2016

13. Albert A. Ambagan, Sr. - 2016 - present