Maras was derived from the word mara, a Subanen term for “spicy.” The place before was abundant with hot pepper plants. The Subanen used to consume the hot pepper as paste for their meals to symbolize their bravery.

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        Their bravery carried on to persist in numerous skirmishes with invading pirates in the 19th Century. Groups of foreign and bustling buccaneers painstakingly harassed the community of native tribesmen, gathering countless spoils of war in enigmatic fashion, killing a number of hardened Subanen warriors in the process. However, despite the lack of firepower and much needed armaments, the natives managed to hold on enduringly - never wavering; not even for a heartbeat, until such time the pirates realized that efforts to weed out the natives proved rather futile.

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     In time, the native Subanen prospered in the presence of non-hostile elements as migration inadvertently fluctuated in the coming decades until such time the foreign and local residents of the area started mingling with one another and began to increase in numbers, eventually leading to the creation of the Municipality of Sindangan.

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        Alongside the creation of the Municipality of Sindangan, Barangay Maras was recognized as one of the component barangays effective December 22, 1936 through Executive Order (EO) Number 97, Series of 1936 on the legal base of the Municipal Local Government Unit. Victorio Castillon was elected as its first Tenente del Barrio and served for 5 years (1936-1941). At the end of Castillon’s tenure, another barangay leader was appointed by the name of Nemesio Magallanes by the end of 1941. Magallanes served during the entirety of the Second World War (1941-1945), and was succeeded by Severino Maldo.

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        Severino Maldo had the longest tenure as the barangay chairman, serving for 36 years (1945-1981), and he did so without any compensation whatsoever from the government. However, due to old age, Honorable Maldo decided not to run for his candidacy. At this particular junction, he was replaced by Honorable Juanito Magallanes Sr. for 1982 to 1986. After the wake of the EDSA Revolution of February 25, 1986, Honorable Martino Magallanes Sr. was chosen as the Officer-in-Charge Barangay Chairman as mandated by the National Law instituted by newly elected president – Ms. Corazon C. Aquino. The following year, in 1987, Honorable Martino Magallanes Sr. was elected as the Barangay Captain of Maras. With this, he served as the Punong Barangay for 20 years or three consecutive terms from 1987 to 2007.

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        On May 14, 2007, Honorable Martino Magallanes Sr. was elected as Sangguniang Bayan Member in the Municipality of Sindangan, vacating his position as Punong Barangay. First Barangay Councilor, Honorable Uldaricio Catalbas filled the position vacated by his predecessor and served as Punong Barangay from July 2007 to October 2007, the shortest tenure of all Punong Barangays to date – serving for only 4 months. After vacating the position, Honorable Reginaldo Calago was elected to replace the aforementioned role on October 29, 2007. A former Barangay Kagawad who served as such from 1994 to 1997. By October 25, 2010, another set of Barangay Officials were elected, headed by newly-elect, Honorable Martino Magallanes Jr., grandson of former Second Tenente del Barrio, great grandson of late Honorable Severino Maldo and most importantly, son of Sangguniang Bayan Member Honorable Martino Magallanes Sr..

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        Recently, Barangay Maras saw its first ever female chairperson, as Gemma Vallecer was elected last May 14, 2018. She served as a former Barangay Kagawad from 2010 to 2017, and a granddaughter of late Honorable Severino Maldo.