The earliest known and recorded history of the present town of gumaca was that the settlement was founded at the southern bank of the Palanas River (which later came to be known as Pipisik River) in the 14th century by a group of settlers from Borneo and from the Malay Peninsula. The settlers drove back to the mountains and forest the original Negrito and Dumagat natives.

The earliest known ruler was Lakan Bugtali. His sovereignty extended over the regions bordering Gusuan, now called Lamon Bay from Gamao point to the north (just south of what is now known as Plaridel Town) thence to the island across the bay which later became Alabat Island, then to the southeast passing the northeast passing thru the source of Talolong and Padanan rivers (now Lopez town) as far as the upper Kalilayan river (in the present town of Unisan) and then thru forest to the Northeast back to Gamao point. The whole of these tremendous settlement comprised ninety three (93) big barangays under Lakan Bugtali as the Chief ruler.

Thus when the first Spaniards arrived in this settlement in 1574 led by Fr. Diego de Oropesa, they found a group of barangays with their own culture and government who were already engage in agriculture, industry and commerce.

From 1574 to 1670 the town of Gumaca was ruled by Spanish Friars. Then from 1671 to 1893 the town was ruled by Spanish and Filipino Gobernadorcillos. From 1893 to 1900 the town executives came to be known as Captain Municipal and from 1901 the head of the town was elected by the people and came to be known as Presidente Municipal, later in 1936 this title was changed to Municipal Mayors.

From this brief history it must be noted that there is no law or Republic Act which created the municiality and there was no mother municipality where Gumaca (former name: BUMAKA) came from.