HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA



HISTORY of the
PROVINCE of ISABELA
...a pictorial history...
Troy Alexander G. Miano, DPA, LPT
Provincial Tourism Officer of Isabela
Head of the Isabela Museum & Library
Philippine Copyright 23 March 2001
updated 23 August 2018


First Settlers
During the Stone Age, around 25,000 years ago, dark skinned and kinky haired pygmies arrived in northeast Luzon. The descendants of the nomadic Aetas (or Negritos) were the Dumagats now settling and roaming in the forested Sierra Madre mountain range in eastern Isabela and Aurora province. Aetas can be found at the slopes in the City of Ilagan, San Mariano and the four coastal towns of Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan and Dinapigue.  
Negritos of Coastal Isabela, near what is now Palanan town, pose with American Governor of Mountain Province, Samuel Cane c.1900s. (Photo by Dean Conant Worcester) 

The term “Aeta” is the oldest term to refer to the pygmies from Isabela, Pampanga, Tayabas (now Quezon & Aurora provinces), Bataan, Bulacan and Antique. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, old Chinese documents of the 13th century recorded the name of the inhabitants as “Haitan” which probably came from the Tagalog word “itim” or “hitam” in Malay referring to the dark complexion of the natives. Different name forms were used to refer to the Aetas like “Ita”, “Eta”, “Aita”, “Agtas” among others. In the document Census of the Philippine Islands (1900-1916) under the “Classification of Non-Christian Tribes”, “Negrito” meaning “small Negro” was used to refer to the dark-skinned curly haired pygmies the same term used by the Spaniards as reflected in old Spanish documents like the book Relación de Encomiendas (1591) and Relación de las Islas Filipinas (1604).
The Volumes of the Census of the Philippine Islands c.1903.

Between 200 BC & 1500 AD, the three waves of Malay settled. They were the pagans ancestors of the Irrayas/Ibanags (in the towns of San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan and Delfin Albano), Gaddangs (in the towns of Angadanan, parts of Aurora, Cauayan, Gamu, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian and parts of Tumauini and Santiago), Yogads (in the towns of Echague, Jones and San Isidro), Kalingas (in the towns of Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Mallig, Quezon, Roxas and San Manuel) and other original tribes of the valley, built a civilization based on corn agriculture and organized themselves around the fundamental political unit called the barangay.
Kalinga woman in Ilagan c.1901. (Photo by Dean Conant Worcester) 


Yogads of Echague, Isabela bathing at the Cagayan River c. 1906. (Photo from University of Wisconson Madison)

Yogad Cockfighting in Echague c.1910

Ilocano Christians & Kalingas at Barrio Bolinao, Gamu, now Part of Aurora town, taken on February 28, 1937. (Photo courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Damian S. Tomacruz, Cabatuan, Isabela)

The Kalingas, the early settlers of Barrio Vira, now the poblasyon of the Municipality of Roxas, Isabela c.1948. (Photo courtesy of LGU Roxas, Isabela)

Early Spanish Period
On March 16, 1521, the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan arrived in what is now the Philippines but it was only the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who was able to colonize the islands under the crown of Spain in 1565. Legazpi’s team reached Luzon and established Manila on June 24, 1571 and his grandson Captain Juan de Salcedo who conquered most of Luzon including what is now Cagayan province. In 1583, Cagayan, from where the future Isabela province would be carved, was recognized as an alcaldia and officially called La Provincia del Valle de Cagayan. The old settlement of Lal-loc (now Lal-lo) was christened Ciudad de Nueva Segovia and made the capital of this vast province.
An old map of Cagayan during the 1918 Census. (Photo from Wikiwand)

In 1591, Don Luis Pérez Dasmariñas entered La Irraya by way of Nueva Vizcaya and found one of the villages deserted bythe natives after killing seven Spaniards who had come up the river from Cagayan. La Irraya (Addaya and Yrraya in other manuscripts) region comprised the vast area from Tuguegarao in Cagayan province up to the present Gamu town. Irraya was also the term used for the native’s name and their dialect. Irraya is an Ibanag word which means upriver. In the Gaddang dialect, the term dirraya also means upriver.
Governor-General (1593 -1596) Luis Perez Dasmariñas  y Páez de Sotomayor. 

In 1594, upon orders of Governor-General (1590-1593) Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, Captain Fernando de Berramontano invaded and conquered the Irraya. The villages of Tubigarao (Tuguegarao), Maquila, Pilitan, Bolo, Batavag, Furao (Purrao in other manuscripts) and Lapogan were subdued. The vanquished Irraya chiefs were Labinaman Darrey of Tubigarao, Sibay of Pilitan, Batoniman of Maquila, Manoto and Sino of Bolo and Zuaduban of Furao.
Old map showing the Irraya region, what is now Northern Isabela (Photo from the book: Cagayan Valley and Eastern Cordilleras by Pedro V. Salgado, O.P.)

On August 14, 1595, the whole territory, including what is now Isabela province, was put under the newly created Diocese of Nueva Segovia with Fray Miguel de Benavides y Añoza (1552-1605; who later founded the University of Santo Tomas) as its first bishop. Benavides later became the third Archbishop of Manila (1602-1605). Except for coastal Palanan, the missionaries assigned in the valley were the Dominicans.
The Dominican seal found at the facade of the Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Gamu, Isabela.

Early Missions
On May 24, 1598, Pilitan was officially accepted as an ecclesiastical mission under the patronage of Saint Paul the Apostle. Upon the invitation of Captain Alonso de Carvajal (encomendero of Pilitan), Fray Angel de Soria (worked in Pilitan from 1598-1600) led the first mission band together with Fray Juan de Anaya (worked in Pilitan from 1598-1600; 1608-1609) and Brother Domingo de San Blas that penetrated the Irraya. He reached a Yogad and Gaddang settlement called Pilitan (now a barangay of Tumauini town and about “five-days distant from Lal-loc” near the convergence of the Siffu River with the Cagayan River near the present Barangay Santa Isabel). He established the first mission naming it San Pablo Apostol de Pilitan. Other missionaries who labored in the establishment of Pilitan were: Fray Francisco Minaio (worked in Pilitan from 1600-1608) and Fray Luis Flores (1563-1622, now Blessed Flores - martyred in Japan; worked in Pilitan from 1606-1608& 1610-1612). An outstanding Gaddang chief of Pilitan by the name of Guiab collaborated in the founding of the mission. Frays Minaio and Flores also went to evangelize the neighboring areas of Pilitan particularly the great and spacious plains of Zimbuey, now known as Mallig plains (Mallig and Roxas towns). 
Great spacious plains of Zimbuey, now within the territories of Roxas and Mallig towns in Western Isabela.

In 1607, the provincial chapter of the Holy Rosary Province (Dominicans) ordered Frays Luis Flores and Francisco Minaio to the Irraya speaking Pilitan and to exert all efforts that the natives must learn to speak Ibanag and to minister to them in the said language. The following year, the encomendero Luis Enriquez was assassinated by the Gaddangs of Pilitan because he had treated the Irrayas with so much severity. The natives thrust him through with a lance and out of his shin-bones they made steps to go up the house of their chief.
Boundary Post between the City of Ilagan and Tumuini town at Barangay Pilitan, Tumauini, Isabela.

Old Barangay Boundary marker in Pilitan, Tumauini, Isabela.

Barangay Hall of Pilitan, Tumauini, Isabela.


Pilitan Elementary School, Tumauini, Isabela.


Roman Catholic Chapel of Pilitan, Tumauini, Isabela.

Cagayan River from the side of Barangay Pilitan, Tumauini, Isabela.

Aerial view of the residential area of Barangay Pilitan, Tumauini, Isabela - the oldest existing Christian Settlement in Isabela founded by the Dominicans in 1598.

Also in 1598, Nalabangan (Nalavangan in other manuscripts) was recognized as a mission by the Dominican province under the advocacy of Saint Ildefonse. The team of Fray Angel de Soria reached Nalabangan and started the mission of San Ildefonso de Nalabangan. Nalabangan was about a day and a half walk northwest from Pilitan, now under the territorial jurisdiction of Quezon town. Fray Julian Malumbres observed that Spanish “encomenderos must have been there up to 1594”. It was recorded that they built a Church which they named with a native name in favor with the choice of the natives themselves. This Church suffered the same fate as itspredecessors because it was impossible to have a permanent parish priest. Blessed Luis Flores, martyr of Japan, also worked in Nalabangan.
Municipal Hall of Quezon, Isabela.

In 1604, Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion de Talama was founded by the Dominicans. It was a settlement between the town centers of Tumauini and Ilagan now barangay Bangag. It was believed that after Talama disintegrated and was later founded as Abbuatan in 1608. The name Abbuatan (or Abuatan) could have come from the word affud which meansthe trunks that remain after the trees have been cut or burned or from the word abbuag which meansto tear up a plant by its roots referring to the overflow of the Cagayan River during typhoons uprooting trees and carrying them elsewhere. The historian, Fray Diego Aduarte, stated that Abbuatan was “the richest and the most prosperous Indians in all that region”. On April 6, 1617, Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion de Abbuatan was officially accepted as an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominicans under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Assumption. It was said that it was formerly the site of Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion de Talama. Fray Tomas Ellilar was the first vicar with Fray Domingo Laborda then Fray Pedro Martin Martinez as his helpers. In 1621, Fray Carlos Clemente Gant accompanied by Fray Lucas Alonso del Espiritu Santo (1594-1633; one of the Sixteen Martyrs of Japan and canonized a saint in 1987) headed the mission in Abbuatan until 1623.
Saint Lucas Alonso del Espiritu Santo Gorda (1594-1633) worked in Abbuatan from 1621-1623. (Photo from hagiopedia.blogspot.com)

Official Seal of Barangay Bangag, City of Ilagan, Isabela.

Boundary and entrance arc going to Bangag from Barangay Manaring along the National Highway in the  City of Ilagan.

Old Barangay Arc of Bangag, City of Ilagan, Isabela. 

Old Barangay Post of Bangag, City of Ilagan, Isabela. 

Aerial view of the residential area of Barangay Bangag, City of Ilagan, Isabela originally founded in 1604 as Talama, refounded in 1608 as Abbuatan and again refounded in 1850 as Bangag. 

Also in 1608, Batavag, the present-day Barangay Lullutan in Ilagan, founded by the Dominican missionary Luis Flores who “gathered together seven little hamlets, making one very peaceful one”. During the rebellion in 1621, Batavag regime ended. On May 13, 1612, San Gabriel de Batavag (Batauag in other manuscripts) was officially accepted as a mission under the patronage of Saint Gabriel the Archangel through the efforts of Fray Luis Flores and his companion Fray Juan de Santa Ana. On May 28, 1615, the dwellers of Batavag, seduced by their aniteras or native priestess, flee to the mountains on the Feast of the Asencion of the Lord. This was a great disgrace but later, it was tolerated in consideration for it being a small town. The rebellion was due to the political and economic oppressions of the Spaniards.
Barangay signage of Lullutan, City of Ilagan, Isabela.


Old barangay post of Lullutan, City of Ilagan, Isabela.

On April 21, 1619, San Miguel Arcangel de Bolo (formerly Barangay Naguilian-Baculod and now Barangays Naguilian Norte and Naguilian Sur) was made an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominicans under the patronage of Saint Michael the Archangel. Fray Pedro de Santo Tomas was the cura parroco together with Frays Diego Beneto and Francisco de Santo Domingo as helpers and Don Hernandez de Paz as encomendero. The name Bolo probably was derived from the word bulu which referred to akind of reed or cane. After the rebellion of 1621, Bolo town became extinct. It was later resurrected and named Naguilian-Baculod and further divided into two barangays in th 1990s as Naguilian Norte and Naguilian Sur.
Naguilian-Baculod Bridge of the old Barangay Naguilian-Baculod, now Naguilian Norte and Naguilian Sur, City of Ilagan.

Barangay Naguilian Sur Community Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela. 

Roman Catholic Chapel of Barangay Naguilian Sur, City of Ilagan, Isabela.

Irraya Revolt
On November 6, 1621, the residents of Abbuatan erected on a Friday a cross in the churchyard with much uproar and rejoicings by the natives. This place was considered the best of all Irrayas. After two days, the Irrayas in Abbuatan led by the convent bred,twenty-three year-old, Felipe Cuntapay (Felix Cuntabay in other manuscripts and the acknowledged “governor of Abbuatan”) and his brother Gabriel Dayag, rose in arms because they were oppressed by vicious Spanish officials. The Irraya villages which rallied to their cause were: Abbuatan, Batavag, Bolo and Pilitan. Fray Alonso Hernandez tried to convince the insurgents but failed. Instead, the rebels requested the good priest to leave the place. After the departure of the missionaries, the Irrayas began their uprising killing the encomenderos and Spanish officials and burned their houses. After the bloody killing and looting, the rebels went up the Basili (Balisi in other manuscripts) River and built a fortification on a hill. Bernardo Lumaban and his wife Agustina Pamma saved a mutilated image of the Blessed Virgin in a muddy place after the bloody rebellion and looting. For their actions, the insurrects seized and detained them in prison.
Abbuatan, Batavag, Bolo and Pilitan, the Irraya villages which revolted because of vicious Spanish officials.


Maquila, San Pablo y Cabagan and Santa Maria
In 1622, despite his old age, Dominican Fray Pedro de Santo Tomas, who was in the mountains of what is now Apayao province, returned to the scene of insurrection particularly in the present Barangay Balasig in Cabagan town and successfully convinced the rebels to lay down their arms. He forged an agreement with the rebels under the leadership of Don Gabriel Dayag and was able to bring down from the mountains three hundred households who had originally lived in the villages of Pilitan and Bolo and settled them in Maquila at the junction of the Cagayan and Pinacanauan Rivers of Tuguegarao. The name Maquila was derived from the Ibanag word quilat which means clear, referring to the clear water of the Pinacanauan River. Pinacanauan, on the other hand, was derived from the Ibanag word nawag which also means clear. On June 1623, the provincial chapter of the Dominican Order accepted San Pablo Apostol de Maquila as an ecclesiastical mission under the patronage of Saint Paul the Apostle. In 1624, the Church of Maquila was constructed. Its lofty bell tower of six layers including the circular apex made of adobe was the tallest in Cagayan Valley.
Maquila located at the junction of the Cagayan and Pinacanauan Rivers of Tuguegarao.

On June 29, 1628, the beloved Dominican missionary who conducted repeated expeditions to the mountains for over twenty years, Fray Pedro de Santo Tomas, died in Maquila on his birthday – the Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle. In 1631, a locust infestation ravaged the entire Cagayan province including what is now Isabela province.

On November 30, 1646, due to the proximity to Tuguegarao, Maquila was relocated upstream, southwards at the mouth of the Cagayan and Pinacanauan Rivers of Cabagan (now the poblacion of San Pablo town) on the Feast of Saint Andrew. Maquila was called as the new pueblo of Cabagan. The name Cabagan probably came from the native word bag or bajaque which referred to the stores selling g-strings. Another version stated that the name came from the word cabbagang which meanspilgrim or stranger because the settlement was in constant contact with the other tribes in the region. On May 15, 1647, the Dominican Order in Manila recorded San Pablo Apostol de Cabagan as an ecclesiastical mission under the patronage of Saint Paul the Apostle.

In 1703, the settlement of Santa Maria de Luzon was made into a pueblo and separated from Cabagan (now San Pablo town) with Don Martin Masigan as gobernadorcillo. The name of the new pueblo was adapted from the first name of Doña Maria, the first born of Don Pablo Marasigan (a Spaniard) and Doña Masigad. On December 4, 1879, by virtue of a royal order, the old pueblo of Santa Maria was officially separated from Cabagan with Dominican Fray Exequiel Pinilla as cura parroco. The separation of this town was due to the influence of the Masigan family.
Monument of Mother Mary in Sanata Maria, Isabela.

The Chapel at Rancho Agripino at Calamagui West, Santa Maria, Isabela.

In 1709, a great fire demolished the Cabagan Church which was made of stones and bricks with three naves and a big convent. In 1718, a rebellion in Cabagan was crushed by Don Pablo Orduna and many natives of Cabagan and Tuguegarao fled to the mountains for security. In 1738, the military fort of Cabagan, a triangular two-bulwarked stone fortress, was destroyed (also by earthquakes) and transferred to Cabicungan (now Claveria town in Cagayan province) for the reason that the fort was no longer needed.

On March 1758, Dominican missionary of Cabagan, Fray Jose Marin, reported of a cholera epidemic which broke out killing 500 in Cabagan and 800 in Tuguegarao. He also informed them of the construction of a wine and sugar factory that was very beneficial to the townfolks.

In 1761, a growing settlement across the Pinacanauan river was formally separated from the mother-town of Cabagan (now San Pablo town) by virtue of a royal decree and was also referred to with the same name. It was only in 1861 when a royal decree was issued separating the new village of Cabagan (now Cabagan town) from the mother-town of Cabagan (now San Pablo). On January 25, 1877, the old town of Cabagan (now San Pablo) was transferred by Dominican Fray Pedro Ricart to a new site (the present territory of Cabagan town) because of unhealthiness of the old site and seemed that progress was bypassing the town in favor of the villages of the south. The new site was only about three kilometers away from the old and was situated between the present barangays of Ugad and Luquilu.

In 1888, the Spaniards resurrected the abandoned site of Cabagan (now San Pablo) into a new town and called it “Cabagan Viejo” with Fray Segundo Rodriguez as cura parroco. He renovated partly the church and convent and gave for the patroness of the town the Virgin of the Rosary. Later, the patron was changed to Saint Paul the Apostle. The other Cabagan was named “Cabagan Nuevo” to avoid confusion on the two Cabagans. The word “Viejo” means “old” while “Nuevo” means “new” in the Spanish language. When the Americans arrived they re-christened Cabagan Nuevo as simply “Cabagan” and the Cabagan Viejo as “San Pablo”. In 1944, by Japanese instigation, the seat of government of San Pablo town was transferred to Barrio Auitan then to Barrio Minanga. In 1959, however, Mayor Calixtro B. Cauan restored the government center to its original site, now the present site.

In 1841, Dominican Fray Antonio Garcia built the casa real in Cabagan (now San Pablo town). The casa served as an important government center during the Spanish rule in the alcaldia. It was a 20x30 meters two-storey building made of stone. On one of its walls was the inscription: Esta Casa Tribunal se con Cluio en año de 1846, Siendo Governad d’ Juan de Guzman. In 1857, the casa real was burned and was later repaired.
The Casa Real ruins of San Pablo, Isabela c.1846

The Historical Marker installed by the Municipal Government of San Pablo, Isabela on the Casa Real Ruins.

In 1861, a royal decree was issued separating Cabagan Nuevo from the mother-town of Cabagan Viejo. Cabagan Nuevo still has the status of a village or barrio. On January 25, 1877, the old town of Cabagan was transferred by Dominican Fray Pedro Ricart to a new site (the present territory of Cabagan town) because of unhealthiness of the old site and seemed that progress was bypassing the town in favor of the villages of the south. The new site was only about three kilometers away from the old and was situated between the present barangays of Ugad and Luquilu.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Cabagan, Isabela c.1969.

In 1888, the Spaniards resurrected the abandoned site of Cabagan into a new town and called it Cabagan Viejo with Fray Segundo Rodriguez as cura parroco. He renovated partly the church and convent and gave for the patroness of the town the Virgin of the Rosary. Later, the patron was changed to Saint Paul the Apostle. The other Cabagan was named Cabagan Nuevo to avoid confusion of the two Cabagans. The word viejo means old while nuevo  meansnew  in  the   Spanish  language.  When the Americans arrived they re-christened Cabagan Nuevo as simply Cabagan and the Cabagan Viejo as San Pablo.


Other Missions
In 1673, upon the approval of Dominican Provincial Fray Felipe Pardo (who made his canonical visit to Cagayan Valley), missionaries were sent to La Irraya to explore the minds and feelings of the natives regarding conversion. From Cabagan, Frays Pedro Sanchez and Geronimo Ulloa tried to convince both the remontado apostates as well as the non-baptized (pagans) of central Isabela to live as Christians in the Spanish settlements but was not realized. The settlements of central Isabela were: Ilagan, Itugod, Gamu, Furao and Calanusian. They also reached Carig. The two missionaries achieved nothing because the Christians of Cabagan disuaded the remontado apostates as well as the non-baptized to stay put in the mountains.

On July 28, 1678, Dominican Fray Pedro Jimenez re-established the Irraya mission together with his assistant Fray Andres Gonzales and accompanied by armed escorts of five Spanish soldiers, five Pampangos and sixteen Indians (Cagayanes). On August 6, 1678, Fray Jimenez reached the bare land called Pituan (Pitauan in other manuscripts) where he celebrated Mass under a wood shed. The priest came from Cabagan and traveled upstream the Cagayan River to reach Pituan up to Carig.

Ilagan
In 1678, Bolo was recreated by the Dominican missionary, Fray Pedro Jimenez and renamed to Ilagan.  Unlike the old Bolo which was situated in the western side of the Cagayan River, Ilagan was on the eastern side (now the present site). The name Ilagan was an inversion of nagali, an Ibanag word for moved probably referred to the transfer of the town site from the old barrio of Naguilian-Baculod to the present site due to security and economic reasons. The version of Fray Julian Malumbres was that the name was derived from the word laga, an Ibanag term for smallpox, which broke out perhaps at the time of the town’s founding. 

On May 4, 1686, San Fernando de Ilagan in the vicinity and memory of the old Bolo was accepted as an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominican provincial chapter. In 1777, the very solid belfry of the church of Ilagan (existing up to present) was started by Fray Pedro de San Pedro and finished by Fray Joaquin Sancho in 1783. In 1786, the bell of the church was forged. In 1829, the sacristy of the Roman Catholic Church of Ilagan was built under Fray Luis Garcia. It was finished in 1833. In 1866, a strong typhoon crossed Isabela destroying the ceiling and roofing of the Ilagan Catholic Church. Desiring to make the Church bigger, Fray Pablo Almazan demolished the solid walls of the main Church and convent which unfortunately he was unable to rebuild. In 1892, the cemetery in San Vicente in Ilagan was built by Dominican Fray Isidoro Martinena.
Old Plaza of Ilagan, Isabela.

Familia Nieto Spanish & American period private cemetery beside the Saint Ferdinand Church in the City of Ilagan.
The Niche probably where the figure or statue of Pope Pius VI (Papa Pio VI) once stood at the church yard where the private Nieto cemetery is located at the old Ilagan Church.


On December 20, 1690, the grand old founder of pueblos, Fray Pedro Jimenez died and was buried in Itugod after an illness of high fever. In 1700, his remains were exhumed and interred in the pavement of the Ilagan Catholic Church (now the old Saint Ferdinand Cathedral). In 1696, the Church of Ilagan was constructed under Fray Miguel Matos and was finished in 1700. Also in 1696, a Royal Order was issued increasing the subsidies to the missionaries and ensuring their safety with six military escorts paid by the government.

San Fernando de Ilagan Church.

Baladdon Revolt
In 1683, Mengal Baladdon and his men, alarmed at the success of Fray Jimenez in forming Christian villages in the Irraya, wreaked havoc on Cabagan by killing twelve of its Christian inhabitants prompting the natives to flee to the mountains. The settlement in the verge of collapsing was rescued by the alcalde mayor of Cagayan killing some accomplices and captured seventy. Their properties were confiscated and were given to the troops.


Itugod, Gamu't & Furao
In 1678, Itugod was founded by the Dominican missionary, Fray Pedro Jimenez. Itugod, now Barangay Lenzon (Alenzon in other manuscripts) of Gamu was situated left of the Cagayan River and a little upstream north ofthe confluence of the Cagayan and Magat Rivers. The Magat was referred to in some Spanish writings as Itugod River. The name Itugod could have came from the words tugu which meanscomb; tugub which meansguide; or tucud which meansto fathom the waters which referred to the rowers fathoming the waters for the safe travel of their boats in the Cagayan and Magat Rivers. On May 4, 1688, Nuestra Señora delas Victorias de Itugod (Ytugud and Itugud in other manuscripts) was founded as a reduccion by the Dominicans and Fray Domingo Muta was assigned as parish priest. He succeeded Fray Jimenez who worked in this parish for seven long years. In 1738, Franciscan historian, Fray Francisco de San Antonio gave a short descriptionof the fort of Itugod in one of his correspondence. “At seventeen degrees and two minutes latitude…The Fort of Santiago de Itugod, in the province of Cagayan, is located north, northeast one degree east of Manila… The fort, made of bamboo poles, is in the shape of a square nineteen fathoms on a side. At the center and at the periphery are located the house of the captain, the barracks of the soldiers, the storeroom and the magazine. The fort is supplied with various types of arms, ammunitions and military equipment.”
Old Welcome Marker of Barangay Lenzon in Gamu, Isabela.

In 1686, Santa Rosa de Gamu (Gamu’t in other manuscripts), now the poblacion of Gamu town, was founded by Dominican Fray Jose Tomas Jimenez in memory of the old Batavag (now Lullutan). The name Gamu was derived from the word “gamut” which means “root”. In 1726, the Santa Rosa de Lima Church of Gamu was constructed. The Church facade was made of layered bricks and stones. 
Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Gamu, Isabela.

Three of the four bells at the belfry of the Roman Catholic Church of Gamu, Isabela. From L to R: Santa Rosa de Lima de Gamut (1888), center bell (1875) and Maria de los Dolores (1794). The fourth bell not in


 the photo: San Martin, patron of Furao (1831).

On February 1740, Furao (Purrao in other manuscripts), now a barangay of Gamu town, was re-established by Fray Martin Fernandez and placed the town in a “good site more or less an hour walk from Gamu”. The name Furao came from the word “furau” which means “white”. No account can explain why the locality was called white.

On July 2, 1741, Fray Martin Hernandez wrote to his superiors informing them of the good status of Furao and asked permission to put the pueblo under the patronage of Saint Martin, his namesake. He also requested for a statue of the saint to be placed on the altar. Furao was also known as Macañao because the first inhabitants came from the village of Macañao, now a barangay of Luna town.
The Bell of Furao, one of the four now permanently installed at the belfry of the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Rose of Lima, Gamu, Isabela, was forged, as incribed at the side of the bell, in 1831 and dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours.

Old Entrance Marker of Barangay Furao, Gamu, Isabela.

Old Barangay Arc of Barangay Furao, Gamu, Isabela.


Furao Elementary School, Gamu, Isabela.

On December 5 of the same year, the old town of Itugod, which has declined in importance and population, was abolished by the Spaniards. A little north of the confluence of the Magat and Cagayan Rivers, the new town of Gamu was established by Fray Martin Hernandez with inhabitants coming from the abolished towns of Batavag and Itugod under the patronage of Saint Rose of Lima. The two pueblos were abolished because of their small population, insufficient tributes to administer the two towns and only with a few hands to work in the needed infrastructures.

The following year, Fray Martin Hernandez together with Captain Juan Cauilan (a native of Ilagan and gobernadorcillo of Gamu) and his troops reached the villages of Palali, Tacoban and Nabunayan and brought down many Christian apostates including some pagans to the town of Furao.

In 1779, the fusion of the missions of Gamu and Furao was approved permanently. Gamu was the seat of the mission and Furao became one of its barrio.
Principales of Gamu, Isabela de Luzon c.1886. (Photo courtesy of Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Madrid, Spain)

One of the four bells at the belfry of the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Rose of Lima, Gamu, Isabela, forged in 1794 and dedicated to Maria de los Dolores.


One of the four bells at the belfry of the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Rose of Lima, Gamu, Isabela, forged in 1873.


One of the four bells at the belfry of the Roman Catholic Church of Gamu, Isabela, forged in 1888 and dedicated to Santa Rosa de Lima de Gamut.

Visita of Palanan
Palanan, situated in the mid-easternmost coastal side of Isabela, became a visita or temporary shelter of Casiguran (now a town of Aurora province) in 1588 with 700 persons and 250 tributes. Palanan, home of the Negritos, was originally a part of the alcaldia of La Laguna. On July 22, 1609, the visita of Palanan was approved as a pueblo by Franciscan Fray Blas Palomino on the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. In 1625, Palanan was officially accepted as an ecclesiastical mission and in 1658, was administered by the Augustinian Recollects. In 1703, Palanan was returned under the administration of the Franciscan fathers and was transferred to Nueva Ecija when it became a province in 1705. In 1839, it came under the jurisdiction of Nueva Vizcaya and in 1856 it became a part of Isabela province. The name Palanan originated from the inverted Aeta word “nanatap” which means “catch”. Bishop Chanley wrote in his book, The Erlinda, that the name was either derived from the Tagal word “palanan” which means “preparation” or from the Ibanag word “palanakko” meaning “I fear that …”, denoting a feeling of apprehension.
Palanan, Isabela Welcome Arc at the exit of Palanan Airport.

Commemorative Marker installed during the 400 Founding Anniversary (1609-2009) Celebration of Palanan, Isabela situated on a pedestal infront of the Municipal Hall.

Page 365 of an old document giving descriptions on Palanan, Isabela.

Page 366 of an old document giving descriptions on Palanan, Isabela.

Page 367 of an old document giving descriptions on Palanan, Isabela.

 Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Palanan, Isabela c.1980s.

                                           Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Palanan, Isabela c.2018

The three century old bells of the Roman Catholic Church of Palanan, Isabela, all dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, the town's patron. 

Aerial photo shot of Palanan Bay where the Pinacanauan de Palanan River meets the Philippine Sea (Pacific Ocean) including the long natural protective sandbar at the foreground.

Missions of Tumauini and Lapogan
In 1704,  the mission of San Matias de Tumauini was established by the vicar of Cabagan, Fray Francisco Nuñez, to christianize the big number of Irraya and Gaddang pagans and apostates living in the locality and to haveanother town between Cabagan and Ilagan which was about fifty kilometers apart and to serve as a resting place and source of provisions. It was located on a plain near the confluence of the Cagayan and Pinacanauan Rivers of Tumauini. Two popular leaders of the settlement were Carrabacan (baptized on May 3, 1707 and christened with the name Matias) who led in 1707 and Quinagoran who led in 1739. The name Tumauini was derived from the word “mauini” referring to the big trees which abounded the town center. When the Spaniards asked a native for the name of the trees; “Come se llama el grande lenia? Sabes tu”. The native did not understand the foreign language but picked up the last word he heard and answered back; “Tu-mauini”. On May 10, 1751, Tumauini was established as a civil town with the seat of government in Talana. The first elections of April 11, 1752 seated Salvador Dangui as gobernadorcillo. The town was under the care of Ilagan vicar Fray Luis Martinez. The poblacion was later transferred to Calamagui then to Maggayu. 
Welcome Arc located at the boundary of the City of Ilagan (San Juan) and Tumauini (Lapogan), Isabela. 

On August 17, 1752, the town center of Tumauini was transferred to its present site from Maggayu with the boundaries fixed at Balasig in the north and Lapogan in the south. The following year, Tumauini was accepted as an ecclesiastical mission with Fray Blas Barbero as the first vicar. The Church of Tumauini was constructed through the efforts of FrayDomingo Forto (a son of a Spanish engineer) and a certain Castillejos (a master carpenter from Lal-lo pueblo). When Fray Forto was transferred to Aparri in 1783, Frays Alejandro Sarralde, Manuel Blanco, Jose Brugues, Marcelino Cascos and Romualdo Aguado continued the improvements until it was finished in 1805.  It was an ultra-baroque church, unique for its extensive use of baked clay both for wall finishing and ornamentation. Clay bricks came to life in concentric circles on the façade, spiral curves on the finial serpentine relief and many finely molded details – flowers, foliage, surfaces, cherubs and saints. Its architecture bore Chinese ancestry. This church of stone featured a unique twenty-five meter cylindrical bell tower, the only one of its kind in the Philippines. In 1783, the unique round belfry of the stone Church of Tumauini was constructed by Fray Domingo Forto. The tower was finished in 1805.
Saint Matthias Parish Church, Tumauini, Isabela.

Official Marker of the Tumauini Church in English issued by the National Historical Institute in 1989.

 Official Marker of the Tumauini Church in Filipino issued by the National Historical Institute in 1989.

San Matias, the patron of Tumauini, Isabela.

In 1739, the mission of San Juan de Lapogan was founded by the Dominican missionaries under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist. It was situated some thirteen kilometers south of Tumauini heading for Ilagan town site contiguous to Barangay San Juan of Ilagan. The villages included in the mission were: Palasili, Guinabbual, Banafa, Abugan, Caballangan and Amugan. Frays Francisco Borja, Jose Alpenez and Domingo Forto worked hard to bring down the pagans and apostates to Lapogan. In 1753, Lapogan was made a dependent of the newly createdtown of Tumauini.  The name Lapogan could have come from the word pog or bamboo which referred to the abundance of bamboos in the locality between Lapogan and Ilagan.
Welcome Arc Located at the Entrance Going to Barangay Lapogan from the National Highway, Tumauini, Isabela. 

The Barangay Hall of Lapogan, Tumauini, Isabela before it was unroofed by Typhoon Juan.   

The view of the Cagayan River from Barangay Lapogan, Tumauini, Isabela.

In 1846, Dominican Fray Tomas Alonso erected three bridges in the road that led to Tuguegarao. He also built the road to Tumauini including the three bridges of stone and mortar. In 1880, Tumauini town became the temporary capital of Isabela.


Missions in Llanuras del Diffun 
(Callering, Cauayan, Angadanan, Camarag, Lappau & Carig)
In 1702, a mission led by the Dominican Frays Jose Rezabal, Baltazar Andueza, Juan Pinta and Andres Gonzales reached Carig in an attempt to colonize Llanuras del Diffun. The plains of Diffun, now known as central-southern Isabela, comprised all settlements south of Irraya: Callering (now Reina Mercedes), Cauayan, Angadanan (now Alicia), Camarag (near Echague), Lappau, Carig (now Santiago) and San Luis (now a barangay of Diadi town near the Cordon boundary).

On May 25, 1736, the Dominicans led by Fray Diego dela Torre left Ilagan after he was commissioned by Dominican Provincial Jeronimo Ortiz to go to southern Isabela and get the consensus of the natives for a project to cross the Caraballo to Nueva Ecija. He reached Itugod on May 27, then to Cauayan (old site – Calanusian) and then to Carig. Fulatao (Fulatan in other manuscripts) of Carig, Danao of Gapat (a mountain village halfway between Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya) and later Ansimo ofAmbayan (in the mountain of Abungol) helped in the establishment of the route going to the Augustinian mission of Bujay (in Aritao town) passing through the settlements of Dappar, Sicaddanun, Sipatol (now San Luis of Diadi town) to Lumabang (Solano), Bayombong then to Bujay. Fray Dela Torre created the mission of Santa Cruz de Paniqui which comprised the Llanuras del Diffun and Paniqui which was from Calanusian (now part of Reina Mercedes town) to Bayombong. The missionaries established a road network starting from Itugud to Calanusian, passing through Cauayan, Angadanan (now Alicia), Camarag and Carig to Dicapol crossing the Caraballo Heights to Bagabag  passing by Bujay  and finally crossing the Caraballo del Sur over to Pangasinan. The Dominicans called this activities entradas. Disguised as an Igorot, Fray Jose Tomas Marin had the honor of first crossing the mountains from Carig to Aritao. The first entrada led to the unsuccessful negotiations with the Mengal Ansimo of Carig.

On July 1737, to renew negotiations with the Yogads and Gaddangs, four missionaries, Frays Manuel Moliner, Jose Tomas Marin, Romualdo Molina and Luis Pedro de Sierra, were sent from Manila. Accompanied by their military escorts, they penetrated Yogad territory along the Magat River from Itugod. On the banks of the Magat in Cauayan, they held meetings with Mengals Ansimo of Ambayon, Fulatao of Carig and Dibulag of Dibulag. The mengals refused them passage and imposed severe conditions. This was recorded as the second entrada.

In the 1740s, Calanusian, formerly known as Abbag, forerunner of Cauayan and now Reina Mercedes town, was founded by Fray Martin Hernandez and was accepted as an ecclesiastical mission under the patronage of Saint Anthony of Padua. “Abbag” means “on the other side” which referred to its location from Gamu and Furao were located on the other bank of the Magat River. The name “Calanusian” was derived from a tree species of white ebony called “canusi which abounded the locality. With the prefix ca and suffix “an, the term means “a grove of white ebony”. On April 22, 1741, Cauayan (Calanusian site) was officially accepted as an ecclesiastical mission. Since the first missionaries who came to Cauayan were from Aragon in Spain where Our Lady of the Pillar was most revered, they dedicated Cauayan to the La Virgen del Pilar. On June of the same year, the vicar of Ilagan, Fray Antonio del Campo, went to Cauayan escorted with soldiers from the capital of Lal-lo. Together with Fray Luis Pedro de Sierra, they went up the mountains and convinced and brought down to Cauayan pagans as well as Christians apostates who had fled from Tagaran and Anaccuan. In 1768, the town center of Cauayan was transferred from Calanusian to its present site in the left bank of the Cagayan River because of the frequent raids of the Gaddangs and Igorots coming from the Cordilleras and the infested Magat River. The new site was a “pleasant planeand a little elevated, 125’18 longitude and 16’17’30 latitude”. In 1825, the Church of Cauayan and convent, which were made of stones, mortars and bricks, was constructed through the efforts of Fray Juan Prieto and was finished in 1830.
Statue of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar in front of the Our Lady of the Pillar Church in Cauayan City.


Our Lady of the Pillar Church in Cauayan City c.1969


The Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church in Cauayan City.

Welcome Landmark of Cauayan City, Isabela at the boundary of the city and Alicia town.

On December 1, 1742, Fray Martin Hernandez wrote to his superiors that after encountering much opposition from the native leader Malboran who defied the missionary’s incursion to the Gaddangs, the brave native finally promised to settle down to Abbag (forerunner of Cauayan and now Reina Mercedes town) with his followers. Fray Antonio del Campo also wrote of a military expedition where they seized pagans and apostates who escaped in the towns of Gamu and Tarangao to live in Lappau. A document written by Fray Del Ocampo on December 4th of the same year stated that besides Fulatao and his people, the tribes of Bolinao, Camaddu, Annahesian and Nabattayan that dwell at the foothills of the Namamparang Mountain came down to settle in Carig. 

On January 28, 1743, Fray Martin Hernandez wrote of his forays to the hills of Calabungan in the preceding year and expects that in the coming month a big throng of people would resettle in Furao. On March 16 of the same year, Fray Hernandez informed his superiors that Christians from the town of Tuguegarao literally pestered him for the friar’s consent that they live in Gamu and wanted Don Juan Caulian as gobernadorcillo of Gamu. On April 2, the same priest penned his superiors asking if it is possible for one hundred tribute-paying individuals from Tuguegarao to come to Gamu since they were no longer needed in their home place. He further commented that though they were paying their tribute in Tuguegarao, they wanted to transfer to enjoy the privilege of being exempted from polo or forced labor which was normally granted to newly created pueblos. On April 19, he also reported that he had hired a master sculptor in Manila to make the image of Saint Anthony of Padua for the settlement of Calanusian.

On May 4, 1743, Santiago Apostol de Carig (the forerunner of Santiago City) was established by the Dominican Fray Antonio del Campo, the acknowledged founder of towns from Cauayan to Bayombong. Carig was originally located inside the mountainous area between the present Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya specifically at the foothill of Mount Dalayag near the Carig Creek, a tributary of the Diadi River. The townsite of Carig was later transferred about fifteen kilometers to the plains of Diffun in Patul (the present location) at the confluence of the Carig, Ilut and Malapat Rivers. The joining together of the rivers became known as Calao River. “Calao” or “union of water” referred to the waters from Diadi, Ilug, Malapat, Dubinan and Baligatan while Patul was derived from the name of a brave Gaddang chief by the name of Patul. 
Patul Barangay Boundary Sign at Patul, Santiago City. During the Spanish colonization period, Carig (now Santiago City) was at times called Patul. Patul, still an existing barangay, was named after a brave Gaddang chief.


Calao River in Santiago City is the biggest and most famous river of Santiago City. Calao etymologically means "union of waters" because the river receives the water of the rivers Diadi, Ilug, Malapat, Dubinan and Baligatan.

Carig was the home of the Gaddangs with Fulatao as one of the first leaders who in turn was a vassal to Danao. The name “Carig” means “a straight high tree” which referred to a tree species which abounded the locality. On May 4, 1746, Carig was formally accepted as an ecclesiastical mission under the patronage of Saint James the Apostle. In 1765, Carig was elevated into a vicarate with Fray Gregorio Marinas as the first vicar. In 1772, the Fort of Afanas (now Aritao town in Nueva Vizcaya) was moved to Carig. The Spanish military fort, under the patronage of the Infant Jesus of Prague (Santo Niño), served to blunt the counter-attacks of the Igorots from Diffun, Namamparan and Mayoyao. Fray Manuel Mora described in February 8, 1805 the fort consisting of a sergeant, two cabos and thirty-nine soldiers. In 1804, in Carig, an irrigation system for the planting of rice was introduced. Carig planted an abundance of rice. On May 1858, a royal decree was promulgated officially creating the pueblo of Santiago de Carig. In 1860, the stone and mortar convent of the Church of Carig was constructed. It was 35x10 meters wide and was finished during the watch of Fray Bonifacio Corujedo. In 1870, Fray Santiago Jutgla added a building of wood 12x8 meters wide. In 1890, the Church of Santiago, which was made of light materials since 1743, was constructed with mortar and stones by Fray Manuel Candela. The Church was almost finished when Fray Candela was imprisoned during the Philippine Revolution of 1898. The Church size was 67x17 meters in the exterior and 62x14 meters in the interior with a transept and two sacristies on each side.
Patronal Fiesta in Santiago with Old Santiago Apostol de Carig Church at the background.

Also in 1743, Santa Barbara de Lappau, located near the Magat River near the present barrio of Oscariz in Ramon town, was accepted as an ecclesiastical mission under the patronage of Saint Barbara. “Lappau” is an Ibanag word which means “flower”. On August 1, 1742, the Roman Catholic Church of Lappau was finished. In 1757, Lappau ceased to be a vicarage. The town was abandoned because of the frequent attacks by the Igorots. In 1765, the inhabitants of Lappau were transferred to Sinabbaran which was under the patronage of Saint Joachim. In 1771, the inhabitants of Lappau, who were transferred in Sinabbaran, were ultimately relocated in Camarag.
Old Barangay Boundary Arc of Sinabbaran, Echague, Isabela.

In 1745, Angadanan was founded by the Dominican missionaries. The original town site was not located in present-day Isabela but in Nueva Vizcaya province to the right of the Magat River between Lumabang (now Solano town) and Bagabag at the Angaranan (Angadanan) Creek to the east of Bayombong at the slopes of Mount Palali. The missionaries built a pueblo by the Angaranan Creek because of its strategic importance in their war against the Ilongots of the boundary of Caraballo and Sierra Madre. On April 27, 1765, Angadanan was accepted as an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominicans under the patronage of Our Lady of Atocha. On October 1776, Angadanan was relocated from its original site in Nueva Vizcaya to a place called Dudungan (now the town center of Alicia) near the Ganano (Gananoc and Gananot in old manuscripts) River. According to Dominican Fray Julian Malumbres, the name Dudungan must have came from the words “dung”, “dungan” or “durungan” since it must have been the “landing place of the river Ganano”. The few inhabitants of the old site were the reason for the transfer. On the same year, the red brick Roman Catholic Church of Angadanan (now Alicia Church) was constructed. In 1849, the Church of Angadanan (now Alicia) was inaugurated. The Our Lady of Atocha Church was built by the Dominican Fray Tomas Calderon assisted by Fray Francisco Gainza, the vicar of Carig. The convent was also built by Fray Calderon. Through the legacy of Don Juan Vigand and a donation of five hundred pesos from the provincial Fray Joaquin Guixa, Fray Manuel Alvarez improved the Church and convent putting among other things galvanized iron sheet to both the roof of the convent and Church. In 1878, the Roman Catholic bell of the Our Lady of Atocha of Angadanan (now in Alicia town) was forged. In 1896, Angadanan, for the second time, transferred the town center to Camucauan (now the present poblacion) because of its proximity from the Cagayan River which was then the chief means of transportation. The name Camucauan was later changed to Tagle in honor of gobernadorcillo Jose Tagle. The new town was called as Angadanan Nuevo to distinguish it from the old site which was Angadanan Viejo.
Governor Silvino M. Gumpal delivering a speech in Angadanan town in 1948. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Military Campaigns of Cauilian
On November 1745, Dominican Fray Andres Mateo and gobernadorcillo Don Juan Caulian of Gamu together with one hundred fifty Cagayan natives penetrated the mountains in front of the mission of Furao reaching the sitio of Bagguan. After a two day journey, they conquered the apostates Christians and pagans who had already formed a town in the sitio of Malinta.

On April 1754, Don Juan Cauilian subdued the pagan Gaddangs of Siffu (Mallig plains) who continued to harass and did damage to Christian communities in the towns of Cauayan, Carig and Lappau.

On March 1755, Don Juan Caulian conducted another attack to the Gaddangs of Siffu. Many apostates had been reduced and brought down to the various towns of Santa Cruz de Paniqui and reconciled themselves with the Church.
Siffu River from the Siffu Bridge in Roxas, Isabela.

In a letter to the Spanish king dated April 12, 1755, the Dominican provincial, Fray Jose Herrera explicitly exposed that the Order of Preachers (Dominican missionaries) financed military expeditions against the natives of the Llanuras del Diffun (Plains of Diffun – Santiago…) for four years in a row from 1752 to 1755).


Other Missions - Camarag & Catalangan
In 1752, Camarag, forerunner of Echague town (now a barangay of San Isidro town), was founded as a pueblo by the Dominican missionaries. The acknowledged native founder of the settlement of Camarag was the Yogad leader Mengal Alingog (Alingot in Spanish manuscripts). The Yogads and Gaddangs from the hinterlands of Diffun and Amanga were the first settlers in the Spanish administered pueblo of Camarag which was first situated along the Cagayan River approximately the site of the present poblacion of Echague. The name “Camarag” was derived from the name of a species of big trees that grew profusely in the locality. On May 12, 1753, Camarag was recognized as an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominicans under the patronage of Saint Joseph. In 1759, Camarag was made a vicarage. 
What is left of the San Jose Roman Catholic Church (accepted as an ecclesiastical mission on May 12, 1753) of the Pueblo of San Jose de Camarag (founded in 1752) - the capital of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya from 1839 to 1856. Historic Camarag was originally part of Echague town and now a barangay of the Municipality of San Isidro, Isabela.

In 1776, the town center of Camarag was transferred to the banks of the Ganano River less than ten kilometers away from the banks of the Cagayan River. But according to Fray Ocio, the actual relocation took place in 1785 because of the very determined resistance of the Yogad mengals and their people. After the transfer, Karulay (Katuray in other manuscripts) became the dominant name of the new settlement. 
Barangay Carulay Boundary Post at Carulay, Echague, Isabela.


SK Boundary Post in Barangay Carulay, Echague, Isabela.

In 1785, the commander of the military fort of Carig with the consent of the Dominican missionaries forcibly moved the town site of Camarag (from the present poblacion of Echague town in Karulay) to the banks of the Ganano River in the present Barangay Camarag in San Isidro town and built a Church made of stone and mortar. On May 4, 1863, Camarag was transferred for the third time from the Ganano site back to the old site along the banks of the Cagayan River. Camarag was renamed to Echague to honor the incumbent Governor-General (1862-1865) during the transfer, Don Rafael de Echagüe y Méndez de Vigo(or Bermingham and Gipuzkoa;1815-1887). Echague was created into a new pueblo upon the petition of the native Yogad gobernadorcillo Antonio Mangadap. The rancherias of the new pueblo included: Camarag, Sinabbaran, Karulay, Annafunan, Kapitan (now Maligaya), Garit and Payac. In 1886, Dominican Fray Buenaventura Campa, vicar of Echague, built a church of wood with galvanized roofing. He then built a kiln for the making of lime and bricks. He proceeded to make the flooring and the walls of the convent which measures 40x18 meters. He prepared doors, gathered shells, balconies of iron, as well as multitude of good-quality wood. A church of stone; however, was never finished. The two bells of the Church were forged in 1890 and were donated by Don Eufracio Gaffud (who later became presidente municipal 1906-1907) and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary and Don Fulgencio Danga, dedicated to Saint Joseph.
Ruins of Old Echague Catholic Church & Convent.

Don RAFAEL DE ECHAGUE y Méndez de Vigo, Conde del Serrallo, Grande de España (1813-1887); Captain General and Governor of Puerto Rico (1860-1862); Captain General and Governor of Philippines (1862-1865); Spain War Minister (1913-1915) and six times wounded in action. (Photo by Fernando Delbas. Madrid. Spain. Photo shared by Mr. Waui Monzon Reyes)

In 1755, the mission of Catalangan, now the poblacion of San Mariano town and the villages along the banks of the Pinacanauan, Disabungan, Disulap and Catalangan Rivers in the Sierra Madre, was founded by the Dominican missionaries. The name “Catalangan” was derived from the native word “talang” which mean “spine” referring to the abundance of pine trees in the area. The Negritos were the first inhabitants of Catalangan followed by the Irrayas who fled the lowlands. On April 30, 1757, Catalangan was officially accepted as an ecclesiastical mission with Dominican Fray Blas Barbera as the first vicar. However, due to lack of missionaries and the hard terrain of the area, the mission disintegrated. In 1896, the Spanish government ordered the re-opening of the Catalangan mission which was led by Fray Juan Sazaballa.
San Mariano Municipal Boundary Signpost at Barangay Santa Filomena, San Mariano, Isabela. 

The Dominican Provincial Fray Jose Herrera wrote to the king of Spain on December 1752, informing him that Carig was composed of 107 catechumens and 55 Christians while Lappau consisted of 300 Christians and 144 catechumens. In 1756, Franciscan Fray Manuel Formoselle crossed the Sierra Madre mountain range from Ilagan to Palanan. This was recorded in the Dominican chronicles as the first to cross the thick virgin forest. On June 18, 1758, a royal cedula was issued exempting for all time the Catholic residents of Nueva Segovia which included the present province of Isabela from payment of the tribute.


Ilagan Revolt
On February 2, 1763, Dabo and Juan Marayac (Marayag in other manuscripts) revolted in Ilagan against the collection of tribute and other unbearable abuses committed by the principalia amidst calls from the cura parroco, Dominican Fray Vicente de Castro, to call off the rebellion. The rebels seized the gobernadorcillo and the cabezas, dragged them to the town tribunal and whipped them in the way they whip the commoners. The insurrection spread from Cabagan to Tuguegarao but did not last long.  The Captain General, Don Ignacio de Arza y Urrutia  and  his  loyal Filipino troops, came and quelled it. The leaders were executed. 
Monument of two Irraya Ilagueño native leaders erected by the LGU of the City of Ilagan at the boundary arc between Alibagu and Upi, Gamu, Isabela.

Tobacco Monopoly
On December 13, 1781, Tobacco Monopoly was implemented by Governor-General (1778-1787) José Basco y Vargas but Cagayan Valley was prohibited to plant tobacco from 1785 to 1797 which brought adversity to the natives because the principal profitable product of the valley was tobacco. In 1783, different ethnic groups took refuge in Palanan town in their attempt to escape the Tobacco Monopoly. The migration adopted a mixed Palanan dialect which consistedof a vocabulary of Tagalog, Ibanag, Ilocano and Visayan terms.

Harvesting tobacco in Cagayan c.1875-1890.


Warehouse Hacienda de San Antonio, City of Ilagan, Isabela c.1960s.

On May 1797, a decree partially lifted the ban on tobacco cultivation with only the town of Ilagan authorized to plant tobacco for the monopoly. Other decrees followed that gradually allowed the other towns of the valley to plant tobacco. The extent of the cultivation of tobacco increased in the next thirty years until the region became the largest single producer of high grade tobacco in the country.

On October 25, 1879, a decree of Governor General (1877-1880) Domingo Morionesy Murillo Zabaleta y Sanz, marqués de Oroquieta (1823-1881) gave lands to the religious orders for the purpose of fomenting the production of tobacco. The Augustinians were given 14,000 hectares of land in the present towns of Reina Mercedes, Luna and Cauayan. The Augustinian Recollects had 48,000 hectares of land east and southeast of Ilagan town proper in the present haciendas of San Antonio and San Mariano. The Franciscans were given 5,000 hectares of land along the Pinacanauan River of Ilagan.
Domingo Moriones y MurilloZabaleta y Sanz (1823-1881). (from Wikipedia)

On June 25, 1880, the tobacco monopoly was abolished all over the islands including that of Isabela. Because of free enterprise, the Chinese came in full force in Cagayan Valley. On January 15, 1881, Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte issued a decree allowing Ilocanos to migrate to Cagayan Valley. Droves of Ilocanos came to Isabela and started opening tobacco fields near the Cagayan River particularly in the locality of Echague.
Fernando Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte, 1st Marquess of Estella, 12th Count of Peña Vélez, 17th Count of Torres Rovellas, 23rd Count of Sobremonte (1831-1921). (from Wikipedia)

Manual Tobacco Baling Press Machine at Hacienda de San Luis Museum San Luis, Cauayan City.

On January 26, 1881, the Compania General de Tobacos de Filipinas or Tabacalera was established to continue the export of leaf tobacco and take over the cigar factories owned by the Spanish government. The tabacalera bought from the government all the tobacco factories in Manila, which wielded into a single factory called La Flor de Isabela which was one of the largest of its kind in the world. The three tobacco haciendas were: Hacienda San Antonio in Ilagan which was the largest and named in memory of Don Antonio Lopez y Lopez, 1st Marques de Comillas (1817-1883); Hacienda Santa Isabel also in Ilagan which was named in memory of a daughter of Don Lope Gisbert; and Hacienda San Luis in Cauayan. The casa in San Antonio, still standing up to the present, served as the residence and office of the Spanish officials.

La Flor de la Isabela stone mural at the Hacienda de San Luis at San Luis, Cauayan City, Isabela.

Casa de San Antonio in Brgy. San Antonio, City of Ilagan, the residence and office of the Spanish officials of the Compania General de Tobacos de Filipinas or Tabacalera established on January 26, 1881 named to immortalize Don Antonio Lopez y Lopez, 1st Marques de Comillas (1817-1883).


Mural at the Cathedral of Saint Michael at Upi, Gamu, Isabela with the description: "1982. The struggle of the people of Hacienda San Antonio and Sta. Isabel for ownership of the land. The Clergy and Religious of the Diocese join hands with the peasants of the Hacienda as a consequence of the Diocese commitment to be a Church of the Poor."


President Ferdinand E. Marcos signs the purchase of Haciendas San Antonio and Santa Isabela both located in Ilagan, Isabela on March 4, 1982 at the Maharlika Hall, Malacanang, Manila in the presence of the municipal mayors of Isabela, assemblymen and provincial officials led by Governor Faustino N. Dy.(Photo courtesy of Manuel T. Binag, City of Ilagan, Isabela)

Yogad Revolt
On March 30, 1785, Mengal Lagutao of Angadanan and wife Magaya together with Mengal Baladdon (Yogad priest and medicine man), the Christian Juan Gumpin, Mengal Manganusu and Mengal Baguatan (Bagguadon in other manuscripts) all three of Camarag led a rebellion against the Spanish authorities because of the forcible relocation of Camarag, the tribute and the ban in cultivating tobacco. Lagutao also convinced his brother Onofre Liban, gobernadorcillo of Angadanan who was sick of smallpox, to join his cause. The rebellion spread to the whole district of Paniqui with eight hundred Yogads armed with bows and arrows and campilans from Camarag, Carig and Angadanan joined Lagutao’s rebellion which started in Karulay, now a barangay of Echague town.

On April 5 of the same year, native commandant Mateo Cabal leadsfive hundred soldiers from Gamu, Furao, Calanusian, Cauayan, Carig, Bagabag, Lumabang (now Solano) and Bayombong and engaged Lagutao’s forces at Rancho Payac, now a barangay of Jones town. Lagutao was killed together with his brother and nephew and eleven others in this encounter while Baladdon and others escaped towards the Sierra Madre. Eighty were captured and on the following day another battle took place where over a hundred rebels were killed.
Welcome Marker of Historic Barangay Payac, Jones, Isabela.

Reign of Terror
From 1831 to 1847, the Igorots (of the present Ifugao province), especially the Mayoyaos and Silipans, launched a counter-attack which were so ferocious, continuous and covering a wide area. These Igorot tribes who inhabited the steep mountains of Quiangan (now spelled Kiangan), Silipan, Mayoyao and Bungian (now Aguinaldo) assassinated travelers and attacked towns from the Caraballo mountains to Calanusian (formerly the poblacion of Cauayan, now Reina Mercedes town) and impede the people from cultivating their fields and pasturing their work animals in the meadows. The Igorots beheaded 6 Ibanags from Gamu, 20 from Ilagan and 9 in Furao. Furthermore, they beheaded 68 Yogads in Carig, 26 in Camarag, 21 in Angadanan, 18 in Cauayan and 7 in Calanusian. Moreover, the same tribe beheaded 64 Gaddangs in Bagabag, 12 in Lumabang (now Solano) and 29 in Bayombong.

On August 9, 1846, Dominican Fray Juan Rubio was ambushed and decapitated by the Igorots of Mayoyao.  Fray Rubio was on his way to his new post in Camarag along the Carig-Camarag road by the Caliguian (now Caligdigan) River.
The back cover of Pedro V. Salgado's Cagayan Valley and Eastern Cordillera (1581-1898) shows a retaliation of the Ifugao Igorots, their killing namely of the Spanish missionary Juan Rubio, O.P. by the banks of the Caliguian (now Caligdigan) River some few kilometers from Santiago City.

In the same year, Governor-General Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa (1844-1849), upon receipt of the petitions of the missionaries and the principalias of Paniqui (Carig, Bagabag, Solano and Bayombong), visited the whole of Cagayan Valley and assessed the Igorot problem. He instructed the construction of the fort of Begona (now Barangay Oscariz in Ramon town) between the present boundary of Ifugao and Isabela in the hill called Dangaran. He also assigned “his best aid and perhaps the best soldier that then existed in the whole archipelago”, Don Mariano Oscariz, as military governor of Nueva Vizcaya.
Governor-General Narcio Claveria y Zaldúa (Mayo 2, 1795 – Hunyo 20, 1851)

On February 27, 1847, Governor-General Clavería granted the amnesty request of Dominican Fray Remigio Rodriguez de Alamo (known as the “motor and soul of the province”) for the people living in the mountains particularly in Catalangan who would go down to settle in the Christian towns within one month after the receipt of the governor’s order. A good number of families went down to live in the towns of Cauayan and Ilagan.


Province of Nueva Vizcaya
On May 24, 1839, Cagayan alcaldia was divided upon the creation of the province of Nueva Vizcaya which comprised all towns from Ilagan to Aritao in Caraballo del Sur including the visita of Palanan (then a part of Nueva Ecija province) and Catalangan. Cabagan and Tumauini remained to be part of Cagayan province. Camarag became the capital of the newly created province of Nueva Vizcaya up to 1856. The term nueva means new while Vizcaya refers to the province of Vizcaya (spelled Bizkaiain the Basque language) in northern Spain. Bizkaia means mountainous. On April 10, 1841, the division of Cagayan was confirmed by a royal decree.


Exiles
On January 25, 1847, Governor-General Clavería sent twenty Muslim exiles to Camarag who were punished during the military expeditions to Maguindanao, Cotabato, Lanao and Sulu in Mindanao. This was the first recorded settlement of Muslims in Isabela. Another group of exiles came from the expedition of Governor-General (1859-1853) Antonio de Urbiztondo y Eguia.
Bust of native Sama Balanguigi leader Datu TAUPAN at Rizal Park in Manila. Also known as Panglima Taupan, he was from Zamboanga, Basilan and Tonguil Islands. His followers were captured by the Spanish forces and exiled in what is now Isabela province in 1848.

Military Campaigns
On March 29, Governor Oscariz left the fort of Begona with 107 soldiers, 4 civilian guards, 323 armed civilian. They reached Appacan and destroyed fields of tobacco, camote and gabi. On April 2, they burned 100 houses and destroyed many fields in Langayan and 30 houses in Ijigu.

On April 5, 1847, many groups of Igorots sued for peace. Governor Oscariz, knowing that the peace pacts were always pretentions, asked for the presence of the principalias together with all their women and children. After the two-thirty in the afternoon deadline, no women and children came so he started the destruction and burned fields and houses. The following day, Chief Matingin with his wife, son and grandson, Chiefs Menguet and Bilango and other principalias surrendered and requested for peace. Governor Oscariz gave the conditions of surrender and was accepted by the Mayoyaos the following day. The killing of settlers and Christians of Isabela ended with the military campaigns with peace prevailing in the place.

On July 13, 1848, Governor Oscariz marched to the mountains of Disabungan (the present San Mariano town) from Ilagan and reached the three villages of Dicamay (of Negrito inhabitants), Disabungan or Capitan (inhabited by Christians who fled the lowland) and Sapat (of pagan inhabitants) after five days. He also reached a village called Ambabuk at the extreme end of the Catalangan mission.

On July 19 of the same year, a two day celebration was conducted in Camarag to honor Don Mariano Oscariz, military governor of Nueva Vizcaya and conqueror of the Igorots. It was attended by the six missionaries of Nueva Vizcaya; gobernadorcillos of Ilagan (Jose de San Vicente), Gamu (Juan Caulian), Furao (Domingo Enrp), Calanusian (Juan Evangelista), Cauayan (Jorje Layug), Camarag (Marcos Layugan) and Carig (Diego Palang); employees of the province; natives from the other parts of the province;  and Mayoyao, Kiangan, Negrito, Ilongot, Silipan and Gaddang natives. A long hymn in praise of Governor Oscariz was composed for the occasion by Fray Francisco Gainza, the refrain of which runs as follows: “A song we intone of glory, to our savior, a hero of fame, to tell through the years his story and recall his beloved name.”

On February 1868, Isabela governor, Don Gonzales Montero joined Bontoc Commandant Juan Alvarez and Lepanto Commandant Montero in a huge military expedition. They spent forty days subjugating Kiangan, Hapao, Mayaoyao, Bunhian, Ahin, Silipan and Banaue, all settlements in the highlands of the Cordilleras and now part of Ifugao province


Alamo
On January 1849, Alamo, a town of Gaddangs, was formed with eighty houses constructed in an ordinary manner in a plain by the Macañao River five and a half kilometers from the present Reina Mercedes town and about the same distance northwest of Cauayan. The settlement of Alamo was named by Governor-General Claveria after its founder Dominican Fray Remigio Rodriguez de Alamo, vicar of Cauayan. The new town was under the patronage of Saint Remigio. The settlement of Alamowas later renamed to Macañao, now a barangay of Luna town.

On March 24, 1849, Fray de Alamo arrived in Camarag a hero after successfully convincing the headhunting Mayoyaos to establish a mission in their locality. He left for the mountains on March 5 of the same year. On April 10, 1849, Fray De Alamo died in Cauayan at the age of 33.
Barangay Marker of Macañao, Luna, Isabela.

Province of Isabela
On May 1, 1856, in order to facilitate the work of the missionaries in the evangelization of the Cagayan Valley and upon the recommendation of Governor-General (1850-1853) Antonio de Urbiztondo y Eguía, a royal decree was issued during the administration of Governor-General (1854-1856) Manuel Crespo y Cebrián which created the province of Isabela. The new alcaldia consisted of the towns of Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan, Gamu, Calanusian, Cauayan, Angadanan, Camarag, Carig including Catalangan and Palanan. The new province was named Isabela de Luzon in honor of Her Royal Highness Queen Isabella II of Spain. The old town of Ilagan became the capital of the new province.
ISABEL II by the Grace of God, Queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, of the Two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Córdoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Menorca, of Jaén, the Algarves, Algeciras, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea; Archduchess of Austria; Duchess of Burgundy, Brabant, Milan and Aspurg; Countess of Flanders, Tirol and Barcelona; Lady of Biscay and Molina. (Photo from Wikipedia)

New Towns - Cordon, Oscariz, Reina Mercedes & Naguilian
In 1878, Cordon (referred to as Ilug by Colonel Guillermo Galvey in 1837 and in other Spanish documents) was founded by Fray Santiago Jutgla, the missionary of Carig, under the patronage of the Holy Infant of Prague. The first inhabitants were the Tagalogs from the barrio called Malapat. Fray Jutgla changed the name Cordon to Estella in honor of the Marques de Estella, Don Fernando Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte (1831-1921), governor-general of the Philippines (1880-1883&1897-1898). According to the historian Fray Julian Malumbres, the name Cordon was derived from the term pinagcordonan because in the said place a cordon was placed to contain the excesses of the Ifugaos around the year 1830. On July 1, 1939, Cordon was inaugurated as a municipality with Angel Batoon as the first mayor. Congressman Mauro P. Verzosa sponsored House Bill No. 804 which was passed as Commonwealth Act No. 191 separating Cordon from the mother-town of Santiago.
Statue of the Santo Niño de Praga, patron saint of Cordon, Isabela in front of the Roman Catholic Church.

Century-old Balete Tree Historical Marker at Church Compound, Poblasyon, Cordon, Isabela.

In 1882, Begona was founded as a town by Dominican Fray Buenaventura Campa with San Isidro Labrador as patron saint. Spanish Colonel Guillermo Galvey arrived in this locality from the Cordilleras near a hill called Dangaran in the 1830s and named the area as Vallecillo in honor of an official who died in his military journeys. After half a century, a settlement was formed and was named Begona. Fray Campa changed the name Begona to Oscariz to honor the military governor of Nueva Vizcaya, Don Mariano Oscariz, the conqueror of the Igorots. Fray Campa drew the plan of the town with roads 12 meters wide, plaza square of 212 meters and residential lots of 50x50 meters which were planted with coffee, cacao andmango. The first bell of the Church of Oscariz, a gift from the first missionary - Fray Campa, was forged in 1882 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. The second bell, a gift of the first inhabitants, was forged in 1894 and dedicated to Saint Isidore Labrador. On September 12, 1896, Oscariz was officially recognized as a town by virtue of a royal order which was seconded by the Dominicans with the appointment of Fray Eugenio Aguirrozabal as its missionary.

The Roman Catholic Church and Belfry of Barangay Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela.


 
The first bell of the Church of Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela, a gift from the first missionary - Fray Buenaventura Campa, was forged in 1882 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. 


The second bell of the Church of Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela, a gift of the first inhabitants, was forged in 1894 and dedicated to Saint Isidore Labrador.

On January 20, 1886, the old settlement of Itugod (not to be mistaken from the 1st Itugod which is now Lenzon, Gamu) founded by Fray Pedro Jimenez, which was originally named Abbag, renamed to Callering then to Calanusian and finally to Reina Mercedes in honor of Her Majesty Queen Mercedes, wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain, was ecclesiastically separated from the mother-town of Cauayan with Dominican Fray Estanislao Pinto as the first vicar and Don Santiago Respicio as the first gobernadorcillo. 
Municipal Hall of Reina Mercedes, Isabela.

Old Roman Catholic Church of Reina Mercedes, Isabela.

Shrine of Saint Anthony de Padua, the modern Roman Catholic Church of Reina Mercedes, Isabela.


On November 27, 1896, a royal order was signed creating the settlement of San Roque, formerly known as Anipa and later Tagal, into a town from the old mother-town of Gamu and was implemented in Manila by a decree dated January 22, 1897 with Don Vicente Ramirez y Mondano as the first gobernadorcillo and Fray Jose Maria Menendez as acting parish priest. By consensus, the inhabitants christened the new town as Naguilian, an Ilocano and Ibanag term which means a place that became a town. Naguilian was the second Batavag for the first Batavag was transferred to this place due to the raids of the pagan Gaddangs. 
 Naguilian town was formerly known as Anipa and the river that flows through it as Anipa Creek. The photo was taken at the Anipa Bridge located at the National Highway.

The Anipa Bridge along the National Highway in Naguilian, Isabela.


Old Municipal Hall of Naguilian, Isabela situated in Barangay Quezon. The edifice is now used as the Barangay Hall of Quezon, Naguilian, Isabela.

Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church in Naguilian,  Isabela.

Belfry of the Roman Catholic Church of Naguilian, Isabela.

Modern Municipal Hall of Naguilian, Isabela situated along the National Highway.

Native Attacks
In 1883, the Guinabbuales (Gaddangs of Guinabbual in the Cordilleras) of the District of Itaves raided and killed some inhabitants of Hacienda Santa Isabel in Ilagan town including the Cuban tobacco expert under the employ of the tabacalera by the name of Rocabruno. A military expedition headed by Spanish commander Villa-Abrille was sent to punish the Guinabbuales. Eleven Gaddangs were brought down and were subsequently divided among various families in Carig.
Santa Isabel Roman Cahtolic Church at Santa Isabel Sur, City of Ilagan, Isabela.

On February 1, 1896, the pagan Kalingas of Guinabbual in the Cordilleras killed three men from Cabagan Nuevo proper and killed another in sitio Addan. On Ferbuary 20 of the same year, the same Kalingas killed two more men in Cabagan who were cutting wood.

On July 1, 1898, a group of Ifugaos attacked the town of Oscariz and killed twenty inhabitants and robbed valuables. The Ifugaos went back to the mountains when the residents retaliated and fought in unison. The Ifugaos later went back for a peace pact.


Alcaldia Mayores
Primary sources, particularly Dominican archives, lack detailed names of alcaldia mayores serving the new province. The military campaign of February 1868, however, mentioned Don Gonzales Montero as the Spanish Isabela governor joining Bontoc and Lepanto Commandants in a huge military expedition spending 40 days subjugating settlements in the highlands of the Cordilleras which is now part of Ifugao province. The last recorded governor was Jose Perez.


Philippine Revolution & the First Republic
On August 25, 1898, Colonel Daniel Mata Tria Tirona (1864-1939) was assigned by President (1899-1901) Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (1869-1964), in Cagayan and Isabela. He was subsequently appointed as military governor of Cagayan and Isabela and held the rank of brigadier general.
Colonel DANIEL MATA TRIA TIRONA (1864-1939).

On September 1, 1898, Isabela Governor Jose Perez left Ilagan at five o’clock in the morning with P11,368.58 and retired his thirty-five guardia civils to Bayombong upon learning that Tuguegarao was captured by the revolutionary forces led by General Tirona on August 31. Governor Perez was captured in Bayombong ending the Spanish domination in the valley. The Claravalls, Paguirigans and Padillas of Ilagan were enlisted in the Tirona Brigade.

Eighteen Dominican missionaries from the parishes of Ilagan, Tumauini, Cabagan Nuevo, Cabagan Viejo, Reina Mercedes, Angadanan, Cauayan, Echague, Carig, Gamu, Santa Maria, Naguilian, Cordon, Catalanganes and Oscariz were imprisoned by the revolutionary forces. Postwar revelations revealed of the inhumane maltreatment of the missionaries by the group of Simeon Villa, the earstwhile commander of Isabela. 

On September of the same year, the Malolos Congress convened incompliance with the decree issued by President Emilio Aguinaldo and announced the appointment of “provincial representatives”. Two delegates were elected and one was appointed by President Aguinaldo. Don Raymundo Gaduang Alindada (1855-1928; from Bagabag in Nueva Vizcaya; a music teacher and school master and was honored with a street name in Manila), Don Eustacio del Rosario and Don Abelardo Guzman were the official representatives for Isabela de Luzon. On January 20, 1899, the Malolos Constitution was approved

On October 5 also of the same year, the first local election was held under the Aguinaldo government by virtue of the Proclamation of June 18, 1898. It was noted by Dean Conant Worcester in his book entitled, Philippine Past and Present, that there were only a little over twenty electors in the town of Echague and a little more in the other towns of Isabela. Don Dimas Guzman y Masigan of Ilagan was elected jefe politico (or governor).


Philippine-American War
On February 4, 1899, the Fhilippine-American War erupted. On December 3, 1899, the Filipino troops under the command of General Tirona engaged the Americans headed by Captain Joseph Brunch Batchelor, Jr. (d.1902) of the U.S. Army 24th Infantry near the boundary of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya at Fuerte San Luis. With a strength of three hundred seventy men, the Americans out gunned the Filipino troops pushing them as far as Cordon poblacion at four o’clock in the afternoon.

On De ember 5, 1899, the Filipinos tried defending the towns of Angadanan, Echague and Carig but were captured by the Americans before night fell. Colonel Raymundo C. Jeciel(1875-1951; later elected the 7th governor of Cavite province 1922-1925) surrendered to Major Henry Tureman Allen (1859-1930) of the 16th Infantry in Echague.

On December 7 of the same year, the revolutionaries of Naguilian defended the town but were also in vain as the Americans encircled their positions along the trenches. The following day, the U.S. Cavalry reached the capital-town of Ilagan.

On December 11, General Tirona (who was in Aparri, Cagayan) surrendered to Captain Bowman H. McCalla (1844-1910) of the U.S. Navy cruiser Newark. Tirona's surrender was with the honors of war. Captain McCalla reviewed the Filipino troops and Tirona reviewed the U.S.naval forces. The Americans presented arms while the Filipinos were stacking theirs; a total of 300 rifles were turned over. Captain McCalla appointed Tirona as the temporary civil governor of the Cagayan Valley pending further orders from Major General Elwell Stephen Otis (1838-1909), 8th Army Corps Commander and military governor of the Philippines (1898-1900).


Aguinaldo’s Refuge
On January 8, 1900, President Aguinaldo reached Oscariz town after retreating from Malolos (Bulacan), San Fernando (Pampanga), San Isidro (Nueva Ecija), Tarlac (Tarlac province), Bayambang (Pangasinan), Bauang (La Union), Candon (Ilocos Sur), Cervantes (Lepanto province), Bontoc (Bontoc province) andAmbuayan (Bontoc). The teniente delbarrio welcomed the entourage with an abundance of food.  During the next ten days, people from all neighboring barrios came to Oscariz to pay respect to the president and brought him eggs, fowls, rice, corn, legumes, bottles of basi and even carabaos.
President EMILIO AGUINALDO y FAMY (March 22, 1869 – February 6, 1964).

On January 18 of the same year, President Aguinaldo dispatched an Ilocano company headed by Captain Ildefonso Villareal to Carig as news of the Americans who came from Ilagan was already in Echague. Two Americans who arrived at the telegraph office in Carig were executed by Aguinaldo’s men. After which, the general retreated to the foothills west of the town to wait for the arrival of the enemy. Only a week later did the Americans showed up and set fire to the towns of Oscariz and Echague. On February 1, the Aguinaldo party returned to their camp in Oscariz and stayed there for more than a month. The president summoned the Filipino troops in Nueva Vizcaya to join his soldiers.

Boundary Sign of Barangay Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela.

On February 5, former Lieutenant Manuel Guzman, of the ill-fated Tirona Batallion, reached President Aguinaldo’s camp in Oscariz with the news of the surrender of the Cagayan Valley by General Tirona to the American forces. The following day, horse races were held for the entertainment of Aguinaldo’s officers and soldiers and was followed by a banquet.

On Ferbuary 14, at seven o’clock in the morning, large quantities of rice arrived at Aguinaldo’s camp in Oscariz from Gamu. The presidentlater sent Lieutenant Trago, with a company of soldiers, to Hacienda Nieto in Gamu and arrested unpatriotic persons in the locality following the complaints of two farmers. A few days later, a letter from a follower in Ilagan reported that the enemies were mobilizing an attack on Aguinaldo’s camp. The general decided to continue his journey to the north and reached the localities of Butugui (now part of Paraceles town in Mountain Province), Manoc, Dancalan (in Bontoc province), Libuagan (in Abra province), Magapaso & Magaogao (now part of Pinukpuk town in Kalinga province) and Enrile town in Cagayan province.

On March 24, hand to hand fighting took place between detachments of the G and H Companies of the U.S. 16th Infantry and the Filipinos near Ilagan town. On May 29, President Aguinaldo arrived in Barrio Aggub in Cabagan town from Enrile and ordered the attack on the Americans in the town and the neighboring communities. He then started his historic retreat to Palanan via Tierra Virgen (now Barangay Aguinaldo) in Naguilian town.

Aguinaldo in Tierra Virgen
On June 27, in Tierra Virgen, President Aguinaldo urged the guerillas in the Philippines to continue resisting the American forces until the general elections in the United States. On July 1, the president’s decree on March 10, 1900, regarding the Catholic Church in the Philippines, became effective. The decree provided that the highest authority in the Catholic Church in the Philippines was the Military Vicar General recognized by the President of the Philippine Republic, that only those friars and priests, Filipinos or foreigners, who were recognized by the Military Vicar General will be allowed to exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the Philippines. On July 8, President Aguinaldo issued an order to guerilla officers in the field setting aside the days from September 15 to 24 for a general offensive against the Americans. On July 22, the president issued a proclamation declaring all those who attended the peace festivals in Manila were traitors.

On July 26, also of the same year, in Tierra Virgen, President Aguinaldo received a report from Ambrosio Logan (an interpreter from Naguilian town) informing him that the Americans in Echague had received an official correspondence announcing the arrival of the Schurman Commissioners with the title of cazadores, for the purpose of locating and conferring with Aguinaldo.

On August 2, the president wrote a letter to General Isidoro Torres y Dayao (1866-1928), politico-military chief of Bulacan, instructing him to adopt effective counter measures against the alluring offers from the Americans for the revolutionists. The following day, he issued a manifesto appealing to his countrymen not to listen to the Filipino collaborators but to fight ceaselessly for their rights until the attainment and recognition of independence. Another manifesto was issued ordering the guerillas to free their prisoners and setting forth the provision that the American soldiers who surrendered or became prisoners should receive eighty pesos for each gun (the American authorities paid thirty pesos only) and twenty pesos for those who voluntarily surrender.

On August 8, in view of the American policy of attraction which had induced many guerillas to surrender, President Aguinaldo instructed his commanders in the field to “use their utmost endeavors to overcome the efforts of the North American Imperialists to subject our dear country” to slavery. Two days later, the president authorized Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (1864-1903) to negotiate with the Americans and to discuss the conditions forpeace, mainly the recognition of Philippine independence. On August 14, President Aguinaldo wrote a letter to General Mariano Trias y Closas (1868-1914), commanding general of southern Luzon, ordering him to issue a circular to the chief in each locality on the necessity of renewing the offensive against the Americans and appointing agents to counteract the propaganda for peace and suppressing gambling. The following day, the president issued a circular to General Trias asking him to re-organize the old Katipunan as it was of great help in the defense of the country and in putting an end to gambling and other vices.
Apolinario Mabini Monument at the Junction Mabini Circle, Mabini, Santiago City.

On August 20, President Aguinaldo contacted the guerilla leaders of northern Luzon and ordered them to commence guerilla operations with authority to attack andsurprise the enemy at any time. He appointed Captain Joaquin Velasquez for Nueva Vizcaya, Captain Julian H. del Pilar for Isabela and Major Carlos Qutin Ronquillo y Valdez (1877-1941) for Cagayan. On August 27, President Aguinaldo, upon being informed of the American landing in Aparri in Cagayan, decided to move out of Tierra Virgen and marched to Palanan and crossed the thickly forested Sierra Madre. He left behind Captains Del Pilar and Villareal to harass the enemy. Aguinaldo’s party followed the trail called Angalingan which passed through the present towns of Benito Soliven (barangays of La Salette, Caposeran, Guili-ngan and Ara) and San Mariano (barangays of old San Mariano & Malabbo). The troops rested in a cave in Barrio Disusuan (also in San Mariano town).
Aguinaldo's odyssey and Funston's route.

Aguinaldo in Palanan
On September 6, 1900, President Aguinaldo, Doctor Santiago Barcelona, Colonel Simeon Villa and seventeen soldiers arrived in Palanan and were enthusiastically welcomed by a large crowd and a brass band. Aguinaldo, atfirst, concealed his identity using the alias Lieutenant Esteban with Barcelona as Captain Baltazar and Villa as Sergeant Alvaro. On Sepember 9, President Aguinaldo invited the townpeople to a luncheon meeting at the convent of Palanan and spoke to them of their patriotic duties especially with regards to the Americans. On September 29, the president, his men and the citizens of the town celebrated the second anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Philippines. Dancing and games were conducted until late afternoon.

Palanan Church and the Quarters of President Emilio Aguinaldo's escort c.March 23 1901.

Dr. SANTIAGO BARCELONA

 
Col. SIMEON VILLA

On November 23, President Aguinaldo received news of fifty American soldiers heading towards their direction. He immediately retreated half of his troops with him on the thickly forested area across the PalananRiver while the other half joined the Chief of Police, Olimpo Cortes, and planned for an ambush. When the Americans arrived, they found the place deserted. They burned the town down and left. After a week, Aguinaldo, his men and the locals returned and re-established the town. He ordered the construction of trenches near the convent facing Mount Dinagapilan to serve as a protection to future raids.

On December 8, 1900, Nazario Alhambra arrived from Casiguran (a town in Principe, nowpart of Aurora province) together with forty Filipino soldiers. A total of P3,302.50 of collected revolutionary contributions from Echague and nearby towns was turned over to President Aguinaldo. The money was used to pay the salary of Aguinaldo’s men (one peso each) and the rest as gifts to the people of Palanan. On December 30, President Aguinaldo celebrated the fourth anniversary of the martyrdom of Doctor Jose P. Rizal with Doctor Barcelona reading the biography of the martyred hero at the parish convent.
NAZARIO ALHAMBRA (photo courtesy of http://www.retrato.com.ph)

On January 15, 1901, President Aguinaldo sent his Ilocano messenger Cecilio Segismundo to central Luzon to ask for re-enforcements from the forces ofGenerals Baldomero Aguinaldo (1869-1915), Teodoro Sandiko and Colonel Lazaro Makapagal. Unfortunately, on February 8, Segismundo together with six other tired and famished soldiers surrendered to the group of Kansas volunteer led by First Lieutenant James D. Taylor, Jr., commander ofCompany C, 24th Infantry Regiment of U.S. Volunteers in Pantabangan (Nueva Ecija province) after the town mayor, Francisco Villajuan, had convinced the worn-out men to give up. The documents, dated January 13 and 14, were turned over to Brigadier General Frederick N. Funston (1865-1917) who was the district commander of the American forces in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. From this documents, the Americans as per orders of General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (1845-1912) laid down the plan for the capture of Aguinaldo.
General FREDERICK N. FUNSTON (September 11, 1865 – February 19, 1917)

On January 17, President Aguinaldo issued a manifesto protesting American cruelties in the Philippine-American War. On January 22, a celebration was made honoring the principalias of the town and on the following day the presidential guards led the dancing to commemorate the first anniversary of the short lived Malolos Republic and honoring also the nationalistic citizens of Palanan. On February 1, in view of the large numbers of Americans advancing towards the town, President Aguinaldo requested re-enforcements from the military commander of Isabela.

On February 5, 1901, Lieutenant Colonel John S. Mallory falsely reported to Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Herbert Crowder (1859-1932; later became Ambassador to Cuba) that President Aguinaldo died a few days ago somewhere in the Cagayan Valley. The following day, the mail arrived in the afternoon in Palanan informing President Aguinaldo on the return of the Americans to Ambuayan in Abra. On February 14, the president issued an order to his soldiers not to fight the Filipino “loyals” in the service of the American army, but to rage only against the American officers and soldiers who commit atrocities.

On March 7 of the same year, President Aguinaldo received a letter from Apolinario Mabini in Manila dated November 22, 1900, transmitting messages from U.S. Generals Arthur MacArthur, Jr.  and James Franklin Bell (1856-1919) to the effect that independence cannot be granted and that Aguinaldo should return to Manila and live in Malacañang Palace with MacArthur. Mabini asked Aguinaldo whether he should plead independence or autonomy, now that McKinley (US President William McKinley) has been re-elected. The following day, the president instructed Apolinario Mabini to thank General Arthur MacArthur, in his behalf, for the invitation extended to him to live in Malacañang and to say that the Filipinos who have taken up arms have no other desire but for Philippine Independence.

On March 20, 1901, from Casiguran (the USS Vicksburg arrived on March 14), General Funston sent a falsified letter of General Lacuna to President Aguinaldo in Palanan informing him that a contingent of brave soldiers headed by Hilario Tal Placido (a rebel official of Aguinaldo) would be arriving as re-enforcement. The letter was craftily made by Roman Roque (also a rebel official of Aguinaldo) including the perfect forging of Lacuna’s signature.

President Emilio Aguinaldo sailed on the USS Vicksburg from Palanan, Isabela to Manila on March 25, 2001.

On March 22, President Aguinaldo celebrated his 32nd birthday. The remote village was in gala dress. Arches and other festive decorations were adorned. Horse races, dancing, serenades and amateur theatricals were conducted. President Aguinaldo sent rice to Colonel Tal Placido and his “worn out” men who were stationed six miles away from Palanan in Sitio Dibakal. Tal Placido earlier sent a messenger asking for provisions for his “tired” soldiers.
Decoration During the 32nd Birthday Celebration of President Emilio Aguinaldo on March 22, 1901 at Palanan, Isabela. (Photo courtesy of "Philippine-American War, 1899-1902" by Arnaldo Dumindin)

The following day, President Aguinaldo senteleven soldiers to replace the “tired” soldiers of Colonel Tal Placido in Sitio Dinungdungan at six o’clock in the morning. At two in the afternoon, the newcomers crossed the Palanan River. At three o’clock in the afternoon, American forces led by General Frederick Funston, finally captured President Aguinaldo. Americans pretended to be prisoners of Filipino mercenaries composed of four Tagalogs which included Colonel Hilario Tal Placido, Lazaro Segovia (a Spanish soldier who first joined the revolutionary forces) and about eighty Macabebe (Pampanga) natives and thus gained access to the Filipino camp. The Americans who acted as captives were: Funston, Captains Harry W. Newton and Russell Trall Hazzard (1866-1921), First Lieutenants Oliver Perry Morton Hazzard (1876-1960) and Burton J. Mitchell.
Five Americans Officials who led the expedition to capture President Emilio Aguinaldo at Palanan, Isabela on March 24, 1901. From left to right: Capt. Harry W. Newton, 1Lt. Burton J. Mitchell (who brought a small camera), 1Lt Oliver P.M. Hazzard, Brig. Gen Frederick Funston, and Capt. Russell T. Hazzard. (Photo courtesy of "Philippine-American War, 1899-1902" by Arnaldo Dumindin)

On March 24, General Aguinaldo and his two fellow prisoners, Doctors Villa and Barcelona, tried to persuade the Macabebe soldiers in charge of giving them food to join them in turning the tables on Funston, but some of the Macabebes refused to cooperate and the plot failed. The following day, General Aguinaldo bade farewell to his men, through his nephew, Tomas Magsarilo. “This afternoon we will board the American war cruiser Vicksburg, which will cast anchor here at Sabang (Palanan Bay). Villa is wounded; Santos and I are not… What happened to me, though somewhat bad, will be transformed into something that will redound to the welfare of the Motherland…”
President Emilio Aguinaldo (2nd from left) together Col. Simeon Villa (extreme left) and Dr. Santiago Barcelona (extreme right) with their captor Gen. Frederick Funston a day after their capture at Palanan, Isabela on March 24, 1901. (Photo courtesy of "Philippine-American War, 1899-1902" by Arnaldo Dumindin)


President Emilio Aguinaldo, captured by the American Forces led by General Frederick Funston, leaves Palanan, Isabela for Manila on March 25, 1901 via Palanan Bay. (Photo courtesy of "Philippine-American War, 1899-1902" by Arnaldo Dumindin)


Aguinaldo Shrine in Barangay Centeo East, Palanan, Isabela along the Pinacanauan de Palanan River and the Saint Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church.

Official Marker issued by the National Historical Insitute in 2001 in commemoration with the Centennial of the capture of Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo (March 23, 1901-March 23, 2001) permanently displayed at the pedestal of the Aguinaldo bust at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Barangay Centreo East, Palanan, Isabela.


American Civil Government
The 2nd Philippine Commission headed by Governor-General William Howard Taft (1857-1930; who would later become the 27th President of the United States of America and the 10th Chief Justice) with Dean Conant Worcester (Secretary of the Interior) and Henry Clay Ide (Secretary of Finance & Justice) conducted a public hearing on August 23, 1901 at Ilagan, Isabela. On the 2nd and last day, August 24, American civil government was established in Isabela through Act No. 210 which extended the provisions of “The Provincial Government Act” (enacted on February 6, 1901) and its amendments to the Province of Isabela. U.S. 16th Infantry Captain William H. Johnson was appointed governor of Isabela together with Francisco Dichoso as provincial secretary, George W. Povey as provincial treasurer and Atty. Bartolome Revilla (who would later become representative of Rizal province in the 1st Philippine Assembly) as provincial fiscal. 
The 2nd Philippine Commission led by William Howard Taft (center). At far left is Dean Conant Worcester. Photograph, 1900. (Photo from Ranger fineartamerica.com)

On February 3, 1902, Francisco Dichoso y Reyes was elected as Isabela governor with Thomas Gollayan as provincial secretary. On February 21 of the same year, Acting Governor-General Luke Edward Wright (1846-1922) confirmed the election of Francisco Dichoso through Executive Order No. 60 in accordance with Act No. 83 of the United States Philippine Commission.
Hon. FRANCISCO DICHOSO y REYES of Ilagan; held various positions in the government; member Partido Federal; 1st Provincial Secretary of Isabela appointed by the Philippine Commission (1901-1902); married to Lucia Maria Salinas Claravall (1st degree cousin of future Governor & Assemblyman Basilio Eliseo M. Claravall) of Ilagan daughter of Don Andres Villacorta Claravall & Filomena Salinas; held various positions in the government; member Partido Federal; 1st elected Provincial Governor of Isabela (1902-1903).

Hon. Francisco Dichoso y Reyes, 1st elected Governor of the Province of Isabela (third from left) at the front page of the "La Democracia", the official organ of the Federal Party c.1902.

On October 6, 1902, Act No. 467 of the Philippine Commission ordered that a comprehensive census be conducted on the Philippine Islands. The Province of Isabela was labeled as District No. 6 with the governor as head and N. B. Stewart as disbursing officer.
The 15 Mayors of Isabela led by the first elected Governor of Isabela, Don Francisco Dichoso y Reyes (seated center) posing for the Philippine Census of 1903, the first census conducted by the U.S. military forces to fulfill Public Act 467 which was approved by the United States Philippine Commission on October 6, 1902.

Tomines’ Revolution
On June 1902, the Constabulary arrested twenty-five Ilocanos in Naguilian town and charged them with treason and sedition. On May 1903, Manuel Tomines of Naguilian, a former revolutionary officer, was visited by two emissaries sent by Pascual Hicaro Poblete (1857-1921) of the “revolutionary ring” of Manila with the commission to organize a rebellion. Signed by General Artemio Garcia Ricarte (1866-1945), Tomines was made a colonel in command of the Cagayan Valley, Ambrosio Logan a lieutenant colonel and Maurice Sibley, a major. Sibley was an American deserter from the 16th Infantry who married an Ilongot native. The guns of the nationalistic Isabelenos, about 30 to 40 Krag-Jorgensen and Mauser rifles, were remnants from the group of Colonel Raymundo Jeciel when they surrendered to Major Henry T. Allen of the 16th Infantry in Echague.
Major General HENRY TUREMAN ALLEN (April 13, 1859 – August 29, 1930) .

On January 3, 1904, Colonel Manuel Tomines started his revolution in Isabela and set camp at Rancho Payac in Echague (now a barangay of Jones town). They had several encounters in Carig and Echague, thus, delaying the pacification campaign of the Americans in Isabela.

Due to the Tomines issue President Theodore Roosevelt through Governor-General Luke E. Wright appointed George Curry (1861-1947); who would later became governor and U.S. Representative of New Mexico State) as Isabela governor replacing Dichoso with Basilio Eliseo Claravall y Mamuri as secretary. The three other members of the provincial board were: Walter F. Wood (supervisor of schools), Mr. Remey (provincial treasurer) and Atty. Nepomuceno (provincial fiscal).
George Curry (April 3, 1861 – November 24, 1947) with his sons Clifford and Charles.


Hon. GEORGE CURRY, Provincial Governor of Isabela (1903-1905) posed with a native Waray in Samar c.1905. 

On January 2, 1905, Colonel Manuel Tomines attacked Naguilian town at night with some two hundred men mostly relatives from the numerous Tomines clan from Barrio Tomines and with the connivance of the municipal officials. The small constabulary detachment was surprised and retreated across the river with the loss of one man. The wife of the Justice of the Peace was murdered.
Municipal Arc at Hilltop, Naguilian, Isabela.

The following day, the constabulary, together with the Justice of the Peace and six others, returned and disarmed the municipal police in the casa tribunal and engaged with the Tomines group. Presidente Municipal Alejandro Tomines (a cousin), Situes Tomines (a brotherand municipal secretary), Francisco Acosta, Binino Acosta, ex-president Langay and another brother of Manuel Tomines were killed. Forty-five of the insurgents were killed. Maurice Sibley fled to the mountains with a number of Ilongots. On March 27, 1905, Colonel Manuel Tomines was captured and after trial was sentenced to death by the Court of First Instance of Isabela. Upon the confirmation of the death sentence by the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands on January 21, an effort was made by his brother members of the Filipino Masonic Order on April 3 to secure his pardon. The petition for executive clemency was denied by Governor-General Luke E. Wright through his Executive Secretary Arthur W. Fergusson (1859-1908).


American Period
On January 15, 1905, elections for governor were held throughout the country except for Cavite and Isabela because the conditions prevailing rendered it inimical to public interest to hold the elections. The American central government in Manila appointed Blas Villamor as governor and served up to 1907 with Mr. Goody, supervisors of schools, as the other member of the provincial board.
Blas Villamor (3rd from right), Philippine Secretary of the Interior Dean C. Worcester and four Kalingas. Photo taken in 1905 in what is now Kalinga Province in the northern Cordillera mountains. Villamor later became  Lt. Governor of Apayao, then a sub-province of Cagayan; the following year, he was appointed as the first Governor of Mountain Province.


On February 5, 1907, Basilio Eliseo Claravall y Mamuri of Ilagan was elected governor with Catalino Lavadia, provincial treasurer, as the other member of the provincial board. Earlier, on January 9, 1907, Act No. 1582 was passed by the Philippine Commission. Otherwise known as the Election Law of 1907, it stated that in all the municipalities in the provinces entitled to elect governors, an election for provincial governor and third member of the provincial board shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1907. Isabela did not participate in the elections since Governor Claravall was recently elected in the same year. On March 15, 1907, Municipal President (1904-1907) Thomas Gollayan of San Pablo was appointed as third member of the provincial board. 
Hon. BASILIO ELISEO CLARAVALL y MAMURI (1871 - November 5, 1924) of Ilagan; son of Juan Villacorta Claravall & Angustias Mamuri and older brother of Dr. Nicasio P. Claravall - the 1st Assemblyman of Isabela; grandson of Mateo Claravall (Kalingan chieftain from Rugao, Kalinga) & Apolonia Villacorta Ochoa; married to Celedonia Zapanta of Santa Cruz, Manila; Provincial Secretary (1903-1905); elected Provincial Governor of Isabela (1907-1909); and elected Assemblyman of the Lone District of Isabela (1910-1912 & 1912-1919)

First Page of the oldest existing Minutes (in Spanish) of the Session of the Provincial Board of Isabela dated January 4, 1909 presided by Hon. Basilio Eliseo Claravall y Mamuri, Governor from 1907-1909.


On July 30, 1907, Dr. Nicasio P. Claravall won the first Philippine Assembly elections. Claravall was unseated by the Assembly the following year in favor of opponent Dimas Guzman y Masigan of Ilagan who appealed the initial results of the elections. However, on March 18, 1909, Assemblyman Guzman died in office.

In mid-August of 1909, municipal president of Naguilian (1908-1909), Romualdo Mina y Guzman, assumed the governorship upon the resignation of Governor Claravall after filing his certificate of candidacy for governor and served up to December 31 of the same year. Governor Mina presided over 18 sessions of the provincial board starting August 16 up to December 29 as governor. Wenceslao Trinidad, provincial interim treasurer, served as the other member of the provincial board.
Hon. ROMUALDO MINA y GUZMAN (February 7, 1875-January 24, 1948) of Naguilian, Isabela; lawyer by profession; Vice Municipal President of Naguilian, Isabela (1901-1907); Municipal President of Naguilian, Isabela (1907-1909) and appointed Provincial Governor of Isabela in 1909. (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Claribel Zipagan of Naguilian, Isabela)

On November 2, 1909, former municipal president of San Pablo (1904-1907) Thomas Gollayan, was elected governor and assumed office on the first day of 1910 while former Governor Claravall won as Assemblyman of the lone district of Isabela. the two other members of the provincial board were: Wenceslao Trinidad (provincial treasurer) and Municipal President Pascual G. Paguirigan of Ilagan (third member).

On June 4, 1912, Governor Gollayan was re-elected for another term and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected members of the provincial board were: Manuel Perez and Municipal President Gabriel Maramag of Ilagan. Assemblyman Basilio Eliseo M. Claravall was re-elected and served in 3rd Philippine Assembly. 
Hon. THOMAS GOLLAYAN (born March 7, 1875) of San Pablo; married to Desideria Bautista; Provincial Secretary 1902-1903; Municipal President of San Pablo (1904-1907); member of the Provincial Board of Isabela (1907-1909); and Provincial Governor of Isabela (1910-1912 & 1912-1916) - youngest ever elected at the age of 34.

On June 6, 1916, former municipal president (1910-1912) of Ilagan and third member of the provincial board (1912-1916) Pascual Paguirigan y Gangan, was elected governor. Governor Paguirigan assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Municipal President (1912-1913) Primo Atip Gaffud  of Echague and Juan M. De Bonilla. Elected in the 4th Philippine Legislature as Representative of the Lone District of Isabela was Atty. Mauro P. Verzosa (1889-1976) of Ilagan. 
Hon. PASCUAL PAGUIRIGAN y GANGAN (born on May 1, 1872) of Ilagan; son of Juan Paguirigan & Maria Gangan; sent by the Dominicans to study at the San Juan de Letran in Manila as a reward for his services; married to Fermina Ammalingan; employed as almacinero in the Tabacalera in Gamu - the highest position a Filipino could occupy at that time; Consejal of Ilagan (1904-1906); Vice Municipal President of Ilagan (1907-1909); elected member of the Provincial Board (1910-1912); Municipal President of Ilagan (1912-1916); elected Provincial Governor of Isabela (1916-1919 & 1919-1922); and Representative of the Lone District of Isabela in 8th Philippine Legislature (1928-1931).


Hon. MAURO FOZ VERZOSA (May 3, 1889 - December 10, 1976); passedthe Bar in 1910 at the age of 21; elected Assemblyman at 27; Speaker Pro Tempore; and cited by the Philippine Free Press as "Outstanding Congressman of the Philippines".

The Jones Law also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act and Act of Congress of August 29, 1916, changed the political structure of the country. On March 10, 1917, Act No. 2711 of the Philippine Legislature created Isabela as a regular province. 

On June 3, 1919, Governor Paguirigan was re-elected and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Zenon Bacud and Rufo Ramos. Atty. Miguel B. Binag of Cabagan was elected in the 5th Philippine Legislature.
Hon. MIGUEL B. BINAG (born May 8, 1889) of San Pablo; Bachelor Laws at the University of the Philippines; Justice of the Peace of San Pablo; Justice of the Peace of Ilagan; onje of the two Delegates in the 1934 Constitutional Convention; and Founder of the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Academy in Cabagan.

On June 6, 1922, municipal president of San Pablo (1908-1909), Ventura Santos Guzman, won as governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. Governor Guzman did not seek re-election in 1925. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Gregorio Laman and Cirilo A. Semana. Tolentino P. Verzosa of Ilagan was elected in the 
Hon. VENTURA SANTOS GUZMAN OF San Pablo; son of Governor & Assemblyman Dimas M. Guzman; studied at San Juan de Letran in Manila; Municipal President of San Pablo (1908-1910); Provincial Governor of Isabela (1922-1925); and appointed Director of the Philippine Tobacco Corporation on February 17, 1945; and Administrator of Hacienda Yeban of the Philippine National Bank.

The election of June 2, 1925 resulted in the change of Isabela leadership. Former municipal president of Echague and two-time member of the provincial board, Primo Atip Gaffud, was elected governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected member of the provincial board were: re-elected Gregorio Laman and Municipal President Manuel Masigang of Santa Maria. Manuel Martinez Nieto of Ilagan was elected as Representative of Isabela in the 7th Philippine Legislature.
Hon. PRIMO ATIP GAFFUD (born April 29, 1894) of Echague; finished 2nd year high school; married to Magdalena Herrero; Municipal Treasurer of Echague (1904-1906); Municipal President of Echague (1912-1913); Provincial Board Member (1916-1919); and Provincial Governor of Isabela (1925-1928).

Hon. MANUEL NIETO y MARTINEZ (June 9, 1980 - September 15, 1970); graduate Escuela Catolica in Ilagan; Bachillerato (equivalent to high school) in Barcelona, Spain; Contador-Mercantile (Bchelor of Science in Commerce) also in Barcelona; took up law at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila; graduate at the Philippine Constabulary Academy (now PMA) in Baguio and eventually became full Colonel; Private Secretary to President Manuel Quezon; Provincial Governor of Nueva Vizcaya; Aide-de-Camp to President Quezon until his death; Secretary to the Cabinet under President Quezon (1944); Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Commerce under President Osmena (1944-1945); General Manager Manila Hotel & National Tobacco Corporation; Charge de Affairs and later Minister Plenipotentiary to Madrid, Spain; Philippine Ambassador to Argentina; and Philippine Ambassador to Spain.

In the June 5, 1928, former municipal president of Angadanan, Atty. Florentino A. Nicolas, was elected governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Luis Tagorda and re-elected Manuel Masigang. Hon. Masigang was replaced the following year with the appointment of Municipal President  (1922-1924) Alfonso A. Azurin of Ilagan. Former Governor Pascual G. Paguirigan was elected as the province' representative in the  8th Philippine Legislature .
Hon. FLORENTINO NICOLAS; married to Clara Manuel of Laoag City; various stint in the government in Cagayan; came to Isabela to practice law as "procurador"; and Municipal President of Angadanan (1926-1927). 

On June 2, 1931, municipal councilor of Ilagan Fortunato Miranda Bulan, was elected as governor and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Agustin A. Pintang of Echague and coming back Manuel Masigang. Atty. Silvestre B. Macutay of Naguilian was elected to represent the lone district in the 9th Philippine Legislature. 
Hon. FORTUNATO MIRANDA BULAN (born December 17, 1886) of Ilagan; son of Ramon Bulan and Alberta Miranda; graduated Bachelor of Science in Pharamacy at the Ateneo de Manila; opened the first drugstore in Ilagan after passing the pharmaceutical examination; Municipal Councilor of Ilagan (1919-1922); and Provincial Governor of Isabela (1931-1934 &1934-1937). Abolished the "papeleta" system during his governorship.


Hon. SILVESTRE B.MACUTAY (born on August 3, 1894) of Naguilian; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Laws at Escuela de Derecho;  married to Visitacion Samonte; and Justice of the Peace of Ilagan, San Pablo & Santa Maria; 

On June 5, 1934, Governor Bulan was re-elected for a second term and assumed office on October 16 of the same year. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Moises A. Layugan and Municipal President (1931-1934) Sotero N. Nuesa of Gamu. 

Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Representative of the Lone District of Isabela (1934-1935) in the 10th Philippine Legislature (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Congressman Silvino M. Gumpal (extreme left) of the Lone District of Isabela with the 1st President of the Philippines and 1935 Presidentiable, Emilio F. Aguinaldo (center), at Kawit, Cavite c.1935. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)


Hon. Silvino Madderay Gumpal, Representative of the Lone District of the Province of Isabela in the 10th Philippine Legislature (1934-1935) with the following Committee Memberships: Appropriations, Public Instructions, Public Service, Forestry, Cattle Industry, Library & Museum and Public Lands. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

On July 10, 1934, former Congressman Miguel B. Binag and lawyer Elias Ocampo were elected as official delegates in the 1934 Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) in accordance with the Tydings-McDuffie Act. On February 8, Con-Con delegates Binag and Ocampo voted affirmative for the passing of the new Constitution which was signed by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on March 23 of he same year. The September 17, 1935 elections voted former Assemblyman Mauro F. Verzosa as Congressman of the Lone District of Isabela in the 1st National Assembly. 

The next local election was held on December 14, 1937. All Philippine women were allowed to vote and elect among them into offices for the first time. Member of the provincial board (1934-1937) Agustin Pintang y Agustin of Echague, was elected governor and assumed office on January 1, 1938. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Municipal President Gabriel R. Visaya of Santiago and Fabian R. Soberano. 
Hon. AGUSTIN PINTANG y AGUSTIN (born July 27, 1900) of Echague; son of Antonio Pintang and Gervasia Agustin; Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in Manila (1936); married to Carmen Vallejo; Provincial Board Member of Isabela (1931-1934); Provincial Governor of Isabela (1938-1939); and elected for several terms as Municipal Councilor of Echague.

Provincial Board Member Fabian R. Soberano, Acting Governor of the Province of Isabela, awards a Certificate of Appreciation to Ilagan Mayor Rafael Ammmalingan Paguirigan c. 1939. (From the files of R.A.Paguirigan, Ilagan, Isabela thru Mrs. Ma Flor Nona Paguirigan Cruz-Tumaliuan)

On November 8, 1938, Congressman Mauro F. Verzosa was re-elected and served in the 2nd National Assembly up to December 31, 1941. On October 6, 1939, Atty. Lino J. Castillejo of Tumauini, administrative assistant in the Office of President Manuel L. Quezon, was appointed governor to replace Governor Pintang. Hon. Gabriel R. Visaya and Hon. Fabian R. Soberano continued to finish their term.
Hon. LINO CASTILLEJO of Tumauini; Director Bureau of Private Schools; University Professor; appointed Provincial Governor of Isabela (1939-1941 & 1944-1945); elected Congressman of Isabela (1942 & 1945); member KALIBAPI National Assembly (1943); Governor Rehabilitation Finance Corporation (now Development Bank of the Philippines, 1947).

Isabela Officials in Conference presided by Governor Lino J. Castillejo on October 18, 1939 at Ilagan, Isabela. Governor Castillejo (5th from left), Provincial Treasurer Sisenando S. Silvestre (6th from left) and Provincial Secretary Silvino M. Gumpal (far right). (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

On December 10, 1940, former municipal president (1928-1931) of Santiago and member of the provincial board (1938-1940) Gabriel Ramones Visaya (1899-1978), was elected governor and assumed office on January 1, 1941. His election was confirmed by President Manuel L. Quezon on December 28, 1940. Governor Visaya relinquished his position in favor of the appointed governor by the Japanese Imperial Army on May 2, 1942. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Municipal President (1938-1941) Rafael A. Paguirigan of Ilagan and Cosme Dela Cruz.

Hon. GABRIEL RAMONES VISAYA (March 17, 1899 - 1978) of Santiago, Isabela. Born in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte to Aguedo Visaya and Fernanda Ramones; studied at the Vigan Seminary in Ilocos Sur; came to Santiago, Isabela as a missionary teacher; Municipal Secretary of Santiago, Isabela; Clerk at the Bureau of Lands, Isabela; elected Presidente Municipal of Santiago, Isabela (1928-1931); elected Provincial Board Member of Isabela (1938-1941); elected Provincial Governor of Isabela (1942); Major, Infantry USAFIP-NL; appointed Provincial Governor of Isabela (1945-1946); elected Provincial Board Member of Isabela (1952-1955,, 1956-1959 & 1960-1963) and married Luisa Bayaua of Santiago, Isabela. (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Nenifa Bayaua Visaya-de Guzman)

The 16 Mayors of Isabela (1938-1940) together with U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippines William Francis “Frank” Murphy (not in order): Angadanan (Cosme Dela Cruz), Dalig (Juan Gomez), Cabagan (Hernando Bautista), Cauayan (Zoilo Cuntapay), Cordon (Angel Batoon), Echague (Guillermo Angoluan), Gamu (David Matusalem), Ilagan (Rafael A. Paguirigan), Naguilian (Emilio Ramirez), Palanan (Emilio Cortez), Reina Mercedes, San Mariano (Elias Gabriel), San Pablo (Manuel Masigan), Santa Maria (Tomas Masigan), Santiago and Tumauini (Patricio Taccad) c.around 1939 (From the files of R.A. Paguirigan, Ilagan, Isabela thru Mrs. Ma Flor Nona Paguirigan Cruz-Tumaliuan)

New Towns and Municipal Districts -
Reina Mercedes, Antatet. Jones, Dalig, San Mariano & Callang
On June 13, 1913, Callering was formally made into an independent municipality. The name was later changed back to Reina Mercedes. In 1950, the town site of Reina Mercedes was transferred along the newly constructed national highway in the present Barangay Tallungan (the present site) from the old site along the Magat River.

In 1920, Antatet (site of old Alamo pueblo) was approved as a municipal district of Cauayan with Alejandro Y. Andres as mayor. The name Antatet was probably derived from the combination of the name of a sturdy tree called anteng where under its leafy boughs the Kalingas held their special celebrations and the tet, tet, tet sound of the ganza, a metal musical instrument the natives use during rituals. On September 28, 1949, the Municipal District of Antatet was created into a regular municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 267 signed by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino with Vicente Galiza Agcaoili as mayor. The name of the new town was changed to Luna in honor of General Antonio Luna y Novicio (1866-1899), hero of the Philippine Revolution.
A marker located at the stairway leading to the Office of the Mayor at the Luna Cultural Center, District 1, Luna, Isabela.

Inauguration and conversion of Antatet into a regular town in 1949.

General Antonio Luna y Novicio monument at the junction of Luna town donated by the City Government of Cauayan. The statue was originally ,located inthe junction of Cabaruan.

The Municipal Hall of Luna, Isabela in Barangay District 1, Luna, Isabela.

The Luna Cultural Center and the General Antonio Luna monument at the municipal grounds in Barangay District 1, Luna, Isabela.

On January 1, 1921, Barrio Cabannuangan was inaugurated as a town and christened as Jones, in honor of U.S. Congressman William Atkins Jones - author of the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916. The first mayor of the newly created regular municipality located in the southern portion of Echague town across the Cagayan River was Antonio A. Vallejo.
The historic and one-time capital of Isabela, the Municipality of Jones was named after Hon. William Atkins Jones (1849-1918), U.S. House of Representatives from 1891 to 1918 from the first district of the Commonwealth of Virginia.


Municipal Hall of Jones, Isabela.

Obelisk, historical monument,  at Jones, Isabela.

On August 27, 1927, Dalig (forerunner of Aurora town and now a barangay of Burgos town) became a municipal district of Gamu with Ramon Mazareta as presidente. On July 1936, the poblacion of Dalig town was transferred to Kalabasa by a plebiscite conducted by the provincial board. In 1938, the town center of Dalig was transferred for the second time from Kalabasa to Bolinao, which was laid out by the Friar Lands Agency No. 5 of the Bureau of Lands. On May 12, 1948, Dalig was created into a regular municipality by virtue of Executive Order No.139 signed by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino with Andres Samus Cammayo as the first mayor. The name Dalig was changed to Aurora in honor of Doña Aurora Molina Aragon Quezon (1888-1949), wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon. The new town was inaugurated on July 4 of the same year.
 
RAMON MAZARETA, the 1st Mayor of Aurora, Isabela.

Aurora Town Fiesta c.1950.

Doña Aurora Quezon bust in front of the Municipal Hall of Aurora, Isabel.

On December 7, 1927, the Municipal District of San Mariano became a regular municipality by virtue of Act No. 3416 of the Philippine Legislature.
Old Municipal Hall of San Mariano, Isabela built in the 1950's during the term of Mayor Felicisimo Baua.

On October 12, 1937, Callang, the forerunner of San Manuel town, became a municipal district of Gamu town. The name Callang was a Kalinga word for molave, a kind of hard wood. On June 23, 1957, the Municipal District of was established into a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 2040 which became a law without the approval of the President of the Philippines, with Ignacio Eclar Mendoza as the first mayor. On June 21, 1968, Callang town was renamed to San Manuel by virtue of Republic Act No. 5869 with two barrios incorporated to its territory.
Municipal Boundary Landmark of San Manuel near Aurora town.


Cariada Festival Monument in San Manuel, Isabela located at the boundary of the Municipalities of San Manuel and Aurora.

Japanese Occupation
On December 9, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Army conducted bombing raids over the Philippinesincluding Tuguegarao in Cagayan. The following day, they landed in Aparri and proceeded southwards to the direction of Isabela. The town of Jones became the temporary seat of the provincial government during the war torn year until it was captured the following year by the foreign invaders.
Municipal Town Hall of Jones, Isabela (c.1950).

On January 8, 1942, the United States Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USFIPNL), the famous guerilla unit, was organized. The combined elements of the 11th Infantry, 71st Infantry, and Troop C of the 26th Cavalry were led by Major C. Everett Warner (promoted to lieutenant colonel), Captains Guillermo Nakar (1905-1942) and Manuel P. Enriquez (both promoted to major). Nakar’s 2nd Batallion held line from Balete Pass (now Dalton Pass) to Bato Ferry (Bambang-Bayombong boundary) while Enriquez’ 1st Batallion occupied the line from Bato Ferry to Aparri which included Isabela. The combined forces were known as the 1st Guerilla Regiment. It was later renamed to 14th Infantry USAFFE in recognition of their combat achievement in Tuguegarao on January 13.

On April 9, 1942, Bataan fell and the infamous Death March began in Mariveles. Numerous Isabelino soldiers and volunteers suffered and died in this horrific walk that ended in Capas in Tarlac. A number were fortunate to escape.  On April 13 of the same year, Major Guillermo Z. Nakar was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned as Commanding Officer of the 14th Infantry USAFFE by General Jonathan Wainwright and was stationed in Jones town. After re-organizing his command, Lt. Col. Nakar scattered his troops in small groups in order to lessen his logistical difficulties. He continued to harass and sabotage the enemy and at the same time maintained continuous radio contact with GHQ SWAP in Australia.

On May 3, 1942, Agustin Villamor Bersamin (1888-1970), municipal mayor of Santiago, was appointed as governor by the Japanese Military Commander, Masaharu Homma (1888-1946). Governor Bersamin saved many Isabelinos from execution by the Japanese with the help of General Nagasaki, Chief Military Administrator of Isabela, who was his classmate at Tokyo University.
Hon. AGUSTIN VILLAMOR BERSAMIN (August 28, 1888 - May 15, 1970) of Bangued, Abra and Santiago; son of Honorio Bersamin and Leonora Villamor; Bachelor of Arts at Lyceo de Manila; Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Tokyo University, Japan; married to Adelina Remolleno; Provincial Board Member of Abra; came to Santiago in 1927; elected Municipal Mayor of Santiago (1942); appointed Provincial Governor of Isabela (1942-1944), saved many Isabelenos from execution since the chief military administrator of Isabela, General Nagasaki, was his classmate in Tokyo. 

Governor Agustin Villamor Bersamin (1888-1970) with wife Adelina Remolleno-Bersamin (Photo courtesy of the M.T.Singson Collection, Calamagui, Ilagan, Isabela c/o Mrs. Aurora S. Tabangay).

On July 14, 1942, Colonel Nakar received instructions from General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) to induct all the officers and menofthe 14th Infantry into the service of the Army of the United States. This gave the 14th Infantry the singular distinction of being the only guerilla or Philippine Army unit given the status of an “AUS” unit.

On September 1941, the Japanese High Command launched radial attacks from Baguio towards the Ilocos, Central Cordillera and Cagayan Valley which led to the break-up of the guerilla units and forced the troops into hiding. During this campaign, Colonel Nakar was captured after a traitor by the name of Damaso Leaño accompanied the Japanese soldiers in a cave at Barrio Minuli in Jones town. Even as a prisoner, Nakar remained defiant. Offered his freedom in exchange for signing his surrender papers and swearing allegiance to the Japanese, he bluntly refused, saying, “I cannot transfer my allegiance to the United States and my country.” In Echague, the Japanese allowed him to speak in public as part of their propaganda campaign. Instead of humoring or kowtowing to his captors, Nakar denounced the Japanese for the abuses and cruelty they wereinflicting on the people. Nakar was taken to Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila where he was executed on September 29. General Douglas MacArthur posthumously awarded Nakar the distinguished conduct star medal and promoted him to the rank of general. 
Guillermo Peñamante Nakar (Enero 10, 1905 - Setyembre 29, 1942).

On June 1943, Major Russell W. Volckmann (1911-1982) assumed the leadership of the USFIP NL and divided North Luzon into seven districts with Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya belonging to the 5th District and garrisoned by the 14th Infantry under the command of Major Romulo Manriquez.
Russell William Volckmann (October 23, 1911 – June 30, 1982) 

On September 7, 1943, the Japanese inspired Philippine Constitution was “ratified” by the 117 KALIBAPI(Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas) with fromer Govenor and Congressman Lino J. Castillejos and Atty. Gregorio P. Formoso as the representatives of Isabela in the National Assembly.

On September 25, 1943, Doctor Jose Paciano Laurel, Sr. y Garcia (1891-1959) was elected as president (September 25, 1943-August 17, 1945) of the Japanese sponsored Philippine Republic and on February of the following year former governor and congressman Lino J. Castillejo was appointed as governor by His Excellency Jose P. Laurel.

Col. Manuel Nieto of Ilagan, Isabela, aide-de-camp to President Quezon (center) at the Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C. together with Señor Colon Eloy Alfaro, Ambassador to Ecuador. (Photo from Washington Bureau)

On August 1, 1944, President Quezon died at Saranac Lake in the United States and Vice President Sergio Osmeña assumed the presidency. On October 20 of the same year, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his “I shall return” promise and landed at Leyte Gulf in full force. On December, the Japanese forces retreated to the “Yamashita Line”, a battlefront stretching along the jungles of the Sierra Madre Range from Antipolo (in Rizal province) passingthrough the eastern part of Isabela to Aparri, Cagayan. In the course of their retreat, the Japanese pillaged Filipino homes, tortured and massacred innocent civilians and burned towns and villages particularly in the vicinity of Echague town. On the other hand, the U.S. Air Force made disastrous air attacks on Japanese camps in the province destroyed bridges, schools leveled to the ground, churches and even government buildings. The plains of Isabela were not spared from these attacks which resulted to the death of many Isabelinos.


Hon. Manuel Nieto of Ilagan, Isabela was appointed as Secretary to the Cabinet by the ailing President Manuel L. Quezon on May 18, 1944 at New York, USA.

On March 5, 1945, the 6th Army with the USFIP NL launched a successful operation against enemy garrisons and lines of communication and had practically liberated the entire northwest Luzon. On June 6, General Tomoyuki Yamashita (1885-1946), stationed outside Bayombong (Nueva Vizcaya) town, frantically tried to withdraw his troops in Cagayan Valley to joinhis forces in Kiangan in Ifugao province. Isabela was liberated from the Japanese by the Filipino-American forces.
The CICM Missionaries arrived in Isabela in 1916 taking over the Parish of Carig (Santiago). Mural at the Cathedral of Saint Michael in Gamu, Isabela depicting the murder of Fr. Serafin Devesse and Fr. Laurent Decaestecker during the Japanese Occupation in 1945 before Liberation.

On June 6, 1945, His Imperial Highness Prince Chichibu (also known as Prince Yasuhito; 1902-1953) of Japan arrived in Santiago town from Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya together with twelve escorts and his trusted houseboy Ben Valmores. The prince was said to have led the “Golden Lily (Kin no yun) Operations” by which members of the imperial household allegedly were personally involved in stealing treasures from countries invaded by Japan during World War II.   

On June 7, Prince Chichibu left behind their trucks in Santiago and followed the course of the Magat River to the north. Just before sunset, they encountered five guerillas two miles west of Barrio Cabatuan (now a town). After a heavy firefight, three of the escorts were killed. The following day, the prince instructed his houseboy Ben Valmores to bring with him the waxed maps in leather map case and go home in Bambang town in Nueva Vizcaya province. The prince further instructed to bury the said maps and only to open them after he had not claimed it in twenty years. The prince later reached the shoreline of Babuyan Bay, south of Santa Ana town in Cagayan on July 25 and boarded a submarine for Tokyo, Japan.
Prince Chichibu (Yasuhito 1902-1953) who led the “Golden Lily (Kin no yun) Operations” (Photo credit Wikipedia).

On June 13, 1945, by evening, the 145th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was at Santiago, twenty-two miles northeast of Bagabag (Nueva Vizcaya). Here the advance halted because bypassed elements of the 179th IIB were threatening to cut the line of communications not only of the 145th RCT but also of the 148th RCT, which had followed the 145ththrough Oriung Pass (in Bagabag town), the 129th RCT having taken over in the Bagabag area on June 12. By evening of June 14, advance elements of the 37th Division were at Echague, an airfield center eight miles east of Santiago. Two days later the 145th and 148th RCT's began moving into Cauayan, fifteen miles north along Route 5 from Echague.

On June 15, the 11thand 14thInfantry Regiments, USAFIPNL, has cleared almost all the valley west of the Cagayan River from Cauayan north to Aparri (in Cagayan province) and had gained complete control over Route 11 from Bontoc (now part of Mountain Province) to the valley. Most of the Japanese combat troops left in the valley north of Cauayan were members of the Yuguchi Force, an understrength RCT of the 103rd Division. Upon the fall of the division's defenses at Oriung Pass, the Yuguchi Force had started south from the vicinity of Aparri, apparently intending to cross to the west side of the Cagayan River near Cauayan and make its way to Yamashita's last-stand area via Route 389 to Banaue town (now part of Ifugao province) on Route 4. 

On June 17, the 37th Division resumed its advance up Route 5. By four in the afternoon, the 148thInfantry was on the east bank of the Cagayan River at Naguilian. Two days later advance elements were twelve miles beyond Naguilian at Bangag (a barrio of Ilagan town). Here opposition increased, because the 37th Division was banging headlong into elements of the Yuguchi Force that were still trying to move south along Route 5. In a running fight from June 19 to 23, the 37th Division killed over 600 Japanese and captured almost 285 more in the fifteen miles between Bangag and Balasig (a barrio of Cabagan town). In the same general area, the division destroyed or captured large amounts of Japanese equipment and supplies including fifteen or sixteen light tanks. By the end of the period the remnants of the Yuguchi Force were in full flight eastward into the untracked wilderness of the Sierra Madre, separating the Cagayan Valley from Luzon's east coast.
USAFFE Planes Carpet Bombing During the Liberation - Luzon Campaign of World War II Casualties from Ilagan on March 28, 1945; Bueno, Paguirigan, Luis and Paggabao Families including Ilagan Mayor (1936-1940) Rafael A. Paguirigan.

On August 12, 1945, Atty. Gregorio P. Formoso was appointed as governor. On September 2, 1945, Japanese Commander, General Tomoyuki Yamashita, surrendered the Japanese Imperial Army in Kiangan in Ifugao province by handing his sword to Lieutenant Russel Bauman. Japanese Occupation of the valley and the Philippines ended and the 2nd Republic was dissolved. On October 22, deposed Governor Gabriel R. Visaya was reinstated as governor.
Hon. GREGORIO P. FORMOSO; admitted to the Philippine Bar (November 3, 1916); Fiscal of Isabela; and one of the best trial lawyers of his time.


Col. Manuel M. Nieto (standing center) of Ilagan, Isabela pose with the Cabinet of President Sergio Osmena 1944-1945. Front row; left to right: Jaime Hernandez, Secretary of Finance; President Osmeña; Col. Carlos P. Romulo, Resident Commissioner and Secretary of Information. Back row, left to right: Col. Mariano A. Erana, Judge Advocate General of the Philippine Army and Secretary of the Department of Justice, Labor, and Welfare; Dr. Arturo B. Rotor, Secretary to the President; Col. Manuel M. Nieto, Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce; Ismael Mathay, Budget and Finance Commissioner; Colonel Alejandro Melchor, Undersecretary of National Defense, representing General Basilio Valdes, Secretary of National Defense.

Third Republic
On April 23, 1946, the first democratic elections after World War II was held with Manuel A. Roxas elected as president. Domingo B. Paguirigan of Ilagan was elected as the first Congressman of Isabela in the 1st Congress of the Philippines.
Hon. DOMINGO B. PAGUIRIGAN (born January 12, 1894) of Ilagan; son of Governor Pascual G. Paguirigan and Fermina Ammalingan; married to Felisa Rosales of Lilio, Laguna; and Congressman of Isabela (1946-1949).

On June 12, 1946, another appointment after the election of President Manuel A. Roxas was made. Former Congressman (1934-1935) and member of the provincial board Atty. Silvino Madderay Gumpal (1901-1977) of Jones was appointed governor of Isabela and served up to December 31, 1947. The other appointed members of the Board were: Felipe Padua and Delfin B. Albano. 
President Elpidio Quirino visits the residence of Governor Silvino M. Gumpal on March 8, 1947 at Ilagan, Isabela. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Senate President Jose D. Avelino, Chairman Liberal Party, signing the proclamation of the party's official candidates in Isabela; Hon. Silvino Gumpal for governor and Mssgrs. Delfin Albano (marked #2) and Felipe Padua (marked # 3) for board members in the presence of Isabela officials and leaders in Manila on September 22, 1947 Monday 9:15am. (Photo courtesy of the family of Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. & family)

On November 11, 1947, Governor Gumpal was elected governor and assumed office on January 1, 1948 up to December 31, 1951. The members of the Board were: Deflin B. Albano and Tranquilino V. Madamba. Board Member Albano resigned to run for a higher office in 1949 and he was replaced by the appointment of Felipe Padua in 1950.
 

President Elpidio Quirino with the Isabela Provincial Officials Delegation headed by Governor Silvino M. Gumpal (1) and Congressman Domingo B. Paguirigan (2) at Malacanang Palace, Manila on July 23, 1948. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Northern Luzon Athletic Asscoaition (NLAA) Meet at Ilagan, Isabela with Governor Silvino M. Gumpal and Provincial Board Members Delfin B. Albano & Tranquilino V. Madamba c. February 14, 1949. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Governor Perfecto Faypon of Ilocos Sur (3rd from left) and Governor Silvino M. Gumpal (3rd from right) at Ilagan c.February 14, 1949. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)


Governor Silvino M. Gumpal hits the 1st Ball at the Inauguration of the Isabela Golf Club on May 12, 1950. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Joint Conference of the Officers of the PGF & PC with Chiefs of Police with Governor Silvino M. Gumpal held at the Isabela High School in Ilagan on July 8, 1950. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. & family

Governor Silvino M. Gumpal with the California Distillery, Isabela Chinese Chamber Officers and the California 56 Basketball Team at Ilagan, Isabela October 3, 1950. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

On November 8, 1949, Elpidio Quirino was duly elected as president with Senator Fernando Lopez as vice president. Samuel F. Reyes, a lawyer from Cauayan, was elected as congressman.
Hon. SAMUEL F. REYES, Representative of the Lone District of Isabela in the 2nd (1950-1953) and 3rd (1954-1957) Congress of the Philippines.

Congressman Samuel F. Reyes (5th from right, standing) with President Ramon Magsaysay during the christening party of Katrina Gumpal Balauag at the residence of Senator Juan Sumulong. In barong is the young Faustino N. Dy (3rd from right, standing) and former Governor Silvino M. Gumpal (7th from right, standing) c.1950s. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

On November 13, 1951, former councilor of Gamu Atty. Felix T. Caro, won as governor of the province and held office from January 1, 1952 to December 31, 1955. The two elected member of the provincial board were: former Governor Gabriel R. Visaya and Francisco B. Ramirez of Naguilian. Hon. Ramirez was replaced with the appointment of Mayor (1938-1940, 1941 & 1945) Guillermo H. Angoluan of Echague. 
Hon. FELIX T. CARO of Gamu

On November 10, 1953, Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay was elected as president with Senator Carlos P. Garcia as vice president. Congressman Samuel F. Reyes was re-elected for a second term. 

On November 9, 1955, Governor Caro was re-elected on his second term and served from January 1, 1956 to December 31, 1959. The two elected member of the provincial board were: Duque P. Zingapan of Ilagan and re-electionist Governor Gabriel R. Visaya. 

On November 12, 1957, Carlos P. Garcia was duly elected as president with Congressman Diosdado Macapagal as vice president. Delfin Balabbo Albano of Cabagan, a former member of the provincial board, was elected as congressman.
Hon. DELFIN BALABBO ALBANO of Cabagan.

The midterm senatorial and local elections of November 10, 1959, catapulted Hon. Melanio Tangco Singson (1914-1992) as governor of Isabela and served from January 1, 1960 up to December 31, 1963. The first vice governor of the province was Atty. Rodolfo Bagunu Albano, Jr. of Cabagan and the three elected member of the provincial board were: Felicisima Cabasal-Pinpin of Tumauini, Mayor (1956-1959) Leocadio E. Ignacio of Mallig and re-electionist Gabriel R. Visaya.
Atty. Melanio T. Singson takes his oath as the 20th Provincial Governor of Isabela at Ilagan, Isabela c.1960. (photo courtesy of the M.T.Singson Collection, Calamagui, Ilagan, Isabela c/o Mrs. Aurora S. Tabangay)


Governor Melanio T. Singson pose with Dommy Ursua and Young Aquino at the Santiago Boxing Arena, Santiago, Isabela on May 28, 1961. (Photo courtesy of the M.T.Singson Collection, Calamagui, Ilagan, Isabela c/o Mrs. Aurora S. Tabangay)

On November 12, 1963, Governor Singson was re-elected for a second term and assumed office on January 1, 1964 with one-time Provincial Board Member Leocadio E. Ignacio as vice governor. The three elected member of the provincial board were: re-electionist Felicisima C. Pinpin, Mayor (1948-1951, 1952-1955 & 1956-1959) Patricio O. Ramos of Echague and Councilor Vicencio P. Guzman of Echague (transferred later to Cauayan). 
Governor Melanio T. Singson (seated center), Vice Governor Leocadio E. Ignacio (seated 4th from left), Board Members Felicisima C. Pinpin (seated 4th from right), Patricio O. Ramos (seated 3rd from right), Vivencio P. Guzman (seated 3rd from left) together with the Provincial Department Heads of Isabela for the term 1964-1967 in front of the Capitol Building in Osmena, Ilagan, Isabela. Mr. Teodulfo D. Rumbaoa (standing extreme right), Provincial Secretary c. 1964. (Photo from the files of Atty. Vivencio P. Guzman, Cauayan)

Provincial Board Members of Isabela (1964-1967): Hon. Felicisima Cabasal-Pinpin of Tumauini, Hon. Vivencio Pilar Guzman of Cauayan and Hon. Patricio Olarte Ramos of Echague during the League of Provincial Board Members of the Philippines National Convention & Seminar from January 30-31, 1967 at SSS, Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of the family of Hon. Felicisima C. Pinpin, Tumauini, Isabela)

Governor Singson's term was cut short upon his resignation on September 15, 1965 to accept the position of Undersecretary of Justice. Dr. Leocadio Estevez Ignacio (1920-2013) of Mallig, the incumbent vice governor, assumed the governorship by virtue of law of succession. He served the unexpired term of his predecessor up to December 31, 1967. Mayor (1952-1955, 1956-1959, 1960-1963 & 1964-1965 Marcelo A. Padilla of San Agustin was appointed vice governor to fill up the vacancy.
Hon. Leocadio Estevez Ignacio of Mallig. Provincial Board Member (1960-1963), Provincial Vice Governor (1964-1965 & 1986-1987), Provincial Governor (1965-67) and 1971 Constitutional Convention Delegate. (From the files of Leocadio E. Ignacio thru Dr. Praxedes A. Ignacio)

On November 14, 1967, former two-termer congressman (1949-1953 & 1953-1957), Atty. Samuel F. Reyes of Cauayan won as governor and assumed office on January 1, 1968 up to December 31, 1971.
Hon. SAMUEL F. REYES; born on January 22, 1916 in Sanata Maria, Ilocos Sur; finished Associate in Arts at the University of the Philippines (1936); Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines (1940); married Antonia Maramag Cayaba of Tumauini; Trial Lawyer; World War II Veteran (USAFFE Guerilla Officer); Investigator-Examiner of the Philippine War Damage Commission; Representative of the Lone District of Isabela, 2nd Congress (1949-1953; elected); Representative of the Lone District of Isabela, 3rd Congress (1953-1957; re-elected); Judge, Court of First Instance in Bulacan; Judge, Court of First Instance in Rizal; Provincial Governor of Isabela (January 1, 1968 - December 31, 1971; elected); Commissioner of the Immigration & Deportation and Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. (From the publication: Isabela Fair '69)

 
Provincial Board of Isabela (elected; January 1, 1968 - December 31, 1971). Board Member Ruben C. Bañez, Senior Board Member Gaudencio Sarangaya III, Governor Samuel F. Reyes, Vice Governor Eugenio S. Guillermo, Board Member Patricio O. Ramos and Secretary Marcelo A. Padilla. (From the publication: Isabela Fair '69)

Provincial Board of Isabela in Session presided by Governor Samuel F. Reyes at Ilagan, Isabela c.1969. (From the publication: Isabela Fair '69)

On November 11, 1969, President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Vice President Fernando Lopez were re-elected as president and vice president, respectively. Former Vice Governor Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. of Cabagan was elected as congressman.


Hon. RODOLFO BAGUNU ALBANO, JR. of Cabagan


New Towns - San Mateo, Roxas, Santo Tomas, Alicia, San Agustin, Cabatuan, Mallig, Magsaysay, Quezon, Ramon, Benito Soliven, Burgos, Quirino, San Guillermo, San Isidro, Dinapigue, Divilacan and Maconacon
In 1942, Barrio Marasat Grande and the neighboring barrios (now all part of San Mateo town) were made into a municipality called Yoshisawa with Doroteo Barbero as the appointed mayor followed by Estanislao R. Bueno (July 1943). After Liberation, the town was reverted back as a barrio of Santiago town. On March 17, 1946, Marasat Grande and the adjoining barrios were separated from the mother-town of Santiago and were constituted into a regular municipality by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 90 by His Excellency President Sergio Osmeña with Mateo Cadeliña as the first mayor. The new town was named San Mateo in honor of the acknowledged founder, Don Mateo Cadeliña y Acierda (1881-1978).
The Municipality of San Mateo, Isabela is named after Hon. MATEO ACIERDA CADELIÑA (1881-1978), a Bacarreño (Ilocos Norte) who migrated in Southern Isabela in 1908 and founded Barrio Marasat in 1916. The acknowledged founder of San Mateo served as its first municipal mayor in 1946 (appointed) and the term 1952-1955 (2nd elected)
Signage and official seal of the Municipality of San Mateo, Isabela infront of the municipal hall.

On July 1, of the same year, Vira and the surrounding barrios situated in the western part of Gamu town were created into a municipality by virtue Executive Order No. 136 signed by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino. The new town waschristened Roxas in honor of Quirino’s predecessor, President (1946-1948) Manuel Acuña Roxas (1892-1946) and was inaugurated on July 4 of the same year with Rafael Binala Lintao as the first mayor.

On the same date, the Barrio of Santo Tomas was separated from the mother-town of Cabagan and was created into a regular municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 199 signed by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino with Isidro Jimenez as the first mayor. Santo Tomas was named after the pioneers of the town, Don Tomas Gatan and Don Tomas Bautista.

On the same date, Angadanan Viejo was separated from the mother-town of Angadanan and was created as a regular municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 268 signed by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino in Malacañang with Glicerio F. Acosta as the first mayor. The new town was renamed Alicia in honor of Doña Alicia Syquia Quirino, wife of President Quirino who was killed by the Japanese during World War II.
Governor Gumpal administers the oath to the 1st Municipal Mayor of Alicia, Isabela, Hon. GLICERIO F. ACOSTA, on December 6, 1949. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

On the same date, Barrio Masaya and the adjoining barrios in the southern part of Jones town were created into a regular municipality and named San Agustin by virtue of Executive Order No. 269 signed by his Excellency President Elpidio Quirino in Malacañang with Agustin Daguro Agpaoa as the first mayor. The new town was named after their patron saint, San Agustin.
Mayor Agustin D. Agpaoa of Jones, Isabela with President Elpidio Quirino during the signing of Executive Order No. 269 creating the Municipality of San Agustin, Isabela on September 28, 1949 at Malacanang Palace, Manila.

On November 5, 1949, Barrio Cabatuan, originally Ambatuan, and its integral parts were separated from the mother-town of Cauayan by virtue of Executive Order No. 293 signed by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino in Malacañang with Teodulfo Duran Rumbaoa as the first mayor. The new town was inaugurated on November 30 of the same year. The name Cabatuan was derived from the word batowhich was abundant in the locality and from the act of nagbabatuhan or throwing stones at each other between the migrant Ilocanos and the marauding Kalingas during the pioneering period.
President Elpidio Quirino signs Executive Order No. 293 on November 5, 1949 at Malacañang Palace creating the Municipality of Cabatuan, Isabela. (From the files of Hon. Rafael M. Gozum, Cabatuan, Isabela)


Governor Silvino M. Gumpal leads the Inauguration of Cabatuan as a Town at Luzon Bridge, Cabatuan. c.November 30, 1949. (From the files of Hon. Rafael M. Gozum, Cabatuan, Isabela)

On April 8, 1952, Mallig was created as a municipality by the passage of House Bill 678 sponsored by Congressman Samuel F. Reyes which was signed into law (RA 678) by His Excellency President Elpidio Quirino. It was inaugurated on July 4, 1953 with Pedro Y. Lactao as the first mayor.
Old Municipal Hall of Mallig c. 1960s (Photo courtesy of Hon. Edward S. Isidro, Mallig, Isabela)

On October 10, 1957, the Municipality of Magsaysay (later renamed to Delfin Albano) was created. It was separated from the mother-town of Tumauini by virtue of Republic Act No. 2009 signed by His Excellency President Carlos P. Garcia with Vicente Perez Taccad as the first mayor. The new town was named after the 7th Philippine president (1953-1957), Ramon Magsaysay y del Fierro (1907-1957). On October 3, the name of the Municipality of Magsaysay was changed to Delfin Albano by virtue of Batas Pambansa No. 291 to honor former provincial board member (1948-1951) and two time congressman (1958-1965) from Cabagan, Honorable Delfin Albano y Balabbo.

On June 29, 1959, the Municipality of Quezon was created by Republic Act No. 2418 signed by His Excellency President Carlos P. Garcia with Hildebrando Pecson as the first mayor. House Bill No. 736, authored by Congressman Delfin B. Albano, extracted the northern portion of Mallig town to create a new municipality and named after President (1935-1944) Manuel Luis Quezon Antonio y Molina (1878-1944).
Statue of President Manuel L. Quezon infront of the Municipal Hall of Quezon, Isabela.

On July 18, 1961, Ramon, site of the ancient pueblo of Lappau, Begona and Oscariz, was created as a municipality and carved from Santiago by virtue of Republic Act No. 3320 sponsored by Congressman Delfin B. Albano. The new town was named after the 7th Philippine president (1953-1957), Ramon Magsaysay y del Fierro (1907-1957) and its first mayor was Angelino F. Vizcarra.
President Ramon Magsaysay Monument in front of the Municipal Hall of Ramon, Isabela.

The first elected municipal officials of Ramon, Isabela headed by Mayor Angelino F. Vizcarra.

On May 18, 1967, Barrio Melappia of San Mariano town was created into a regular municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 4873 with Emilio R. Bueno as the first mayor. The new town was christened with the name Benito Soliven (1898-1945) in honor of the World War II hero and assemblyman from Ilocos Sur province.
The Municipality of Benito Soliven, Isabela is named after Hon. Benito Soliven Assemblyman of of Ilocos Sur and World War II Hero.

On the same date, the Municipality of Burgos was created by extracting the large Barrios of Caliguian, Cullalabo and Mabini from Gamu town by virtue of Republic Act No. 4877 signed by his Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos with Perfecto Ruiz dela Cruz as the first mayor. Congressman Melanio T. Singson introduced House Bill No. 5930 creating the town which was named after the Ilocano martyr-priest, Jose Apolonio Burgos y Garcia (1837-1872).

Fr. Jose A. Burgos Monument infront of the Municipal Hall of Burgos, Isabela.

On June 17, 1967, Quirino was created as a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 4901 signed by His Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos with Vicente Torres Callangan as the first mayor. Barrios from Gamu, Ilagan and Roxas constituted the new town which was named in honor of the Ilocano President (1948- 1953) Elpidio Quirino y Rivera (1890-1956). President Quirino signed the creation of eight municipalities of Isabela, namely: Aurora, Roxas, Santo Tomas, Luna, Alicia, San Agustin, Cabatuan and Mallig.
Governor Melanio T. Singson inducts into office Mayor Vicente Torres Callangan as the first elected municipal mayor of Quirino, Isabela on December 31, 1967. (Photo courtesy of the M.T.Singson Collection, Calamagui, Ilagan, Isabela c/o Mrs. Aurora S. Tabangay)


Governor Melanio T. Singson delivers a speech after the induction of the first municipal officials led by  Mayor Vicente Torres Callangan and the inauguration of Quirino, Isabela as a town on December 31, 1967. (Photo courtesy of the M.T.Singson Collection, Calamagui, Ilagan, Isabela c/o Mrs. Aurora S. Tabangay)

On the same date, Mayor Eugenio S. Guillermo lobbied for the creation of a new town in the eastern portion of Angadanan. House Bill No. 4899 was sponsored by Congressman Melanio T. Singson which became Republic Act No. 4906 signed by His Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos.The new town was named after their patron saint, San Guillermo with Alvaro T. Filart as the first mayor.
Bust of Hon. Eugenio S. Guillermo, Municipal Mayor of Angadanan (1956-1967), Vice Governor of Isabela (1968-1971) and acknowledged founder of the township of San Guillermo, located at the town circle of the Municipality of San Guillermo, Isabela.


Hon. Alvaro T. Filart, 1st Municipal Mayor of San Guillermo, Isabela.

Also on the same date, the Ganano region of northwestern Echague town was created as a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 5139 with Benedicto M. Mariano as the first mayor. Barrio Captain Guillermo Mariano, Echague Municipal Councilor Ricardo Nitro, former Mayor and incumbent Provincial Board Member Patricio O. Ramos lobbied to Congressman Melanio T. Singson to sponsor a bill to Congress creating a new town out of old Echague. Board Member Ramos recommended that San Isidro be the name of the new town with San Isidro Labrador as patron. Pueblo de Camarag, the old capital of Nueva Vizcaya province, became one of the barangays of this town.

On June 21, 1968, Dinapigue, a municipal district of San Mariano town, was constituted into a regular municipality by virtue of Republic Act 5776 sponsored by Congressman Melanio T. Singson with Juan O. Derije as the first mayor. The name Dinapigue was derived from the name of a tribal leader. Another version was it came from the Dumagat term “dinapigue” or “dinapigui” referring to the hind legs of wild pigs or "baboyramo" which were once abundant in the locality. "Di" means "from" or "many" and "pigue" means "hind legs". Another version states that it came from the names of the lovers Dina and Pigue who were deprived of their love because of tradition.
The Municipal Hall of Dinapigue, Isabela.

On the same date, Divilacan, a former sitio of Barrio Antagan in Tumauini town, became a municipality as mandated by Republic Act No. 5776 sponsored by Congressman Melanio T. Singson. The origin of the name came from two Dumagat words, “vili” which means “shell” and “ican” which means “fish”. The word “di” connoted “origin”. The new town was carved from the territories ofthe municipalities of Ilagan, Tumauini and Palanan with Wenceslao A. Alaska as the first mayor.
The Municipal Hall of Divilacan, Isabela. (Built during the administration of the 1st municipal mayor of Divilacan, Hon. Wenceslao A. Alaska)


Hon. Wenceslao A. Alaska 1st Municipal Mayor of Divilacan, Isabela.

Also on the same date, the Municipality of Maconacon was created from the territories of San Pablo and Cabagan towns by virtue of Republic Act No. 5776 sponsored by Congressman Melanio T. Singson with Victoriano R. Eduarte as the first mayor. The name Maconacon is a Dumagat term which means “where conacon abound”. “Conacon” refers to the “bellang” plant or palma brava leaf (Heterospathe elata).
Municipal Hall of Maconacon, Isabela. Constructed between August 1979 and June 1980 during the administration of the 2nd Municipal Mayor, Hon. Anastacio Gabriel Quiano. 

Martial Law & the Fourth Republic


On November 10, 1970, Atty. Benjamin Cayaba Reyes of CauayanHeherson Turingan Alvarez of Santiago, Atty. Francisco B. Albano, Jr. of Cabagan, Atty. Celso D. Gangan of Ilagan and former Governor Leocadio E. Ignacio of Mallig were elected as delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).
Delegates of the Province of Isabela to the 1971 Constitutional Convention: Hon. Benjamin C. Reyes (Cauayan), Hon. Heherson T. Alvarez (Santiago), Hon. Francisco B. Albano, Jr. (Cabagan), Hon. Celso D. Gangan (Ilagan) and Hon. Leocadio E. Ignacio (Mallig). (From the files of Leocadio E. Ignacio thru Dr. Praxedes A. Ignacio)

On November 8, 1971, two-termer Cauayan mayor Faustino Ng Dy (1925-1993) won as governor and assumed office on January 1, 1972 with Dr. Wilson C. Nuesa of Roxas as vice governor. The members of the provincial board were: Wilfrido Tomacruz Dayrit of Cabatuan, Councilor Atty. Manuel Torres Binag of Ilagan and Vice Mayor Atty. Efren N. Ambrocio of Alicia. The official's term should have ended on December 31, 1975 but was extended due to Proclamation No. 1081 (Martial Law) up to January 31, 1980. 
Hon. FAUSTINO NG DY of Cauayan

On July 1972, the Philippine Constabulary (PC) raided a hideout of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barrio Tarimsing in Cordon town and captured literatures showing a communist plot to attack from July to August 1972. The joint elements of the 116th Philippine Constabulary Company led by Second Lieutenant Napoleon C. Castro (Executive Officer and later became colonel) and the Isabela Constabulary Command (ICC) led by Second Lieutenant Edgar B. Aglipay (Intelligence and Operations Officer and later became the 11th Chief PNP) with Staff Sergeant Donato P. Perez (NCOIC) left station for Palanan on board a U-17 reconnaissance plane to verify the veracity of reports regarding the presence of submarines and other vessels allegedly unloading armament and supplies intended for NPAs on the eastern shores of Isabela. The team while patrolling the shorelines of Digoyo Point at about four o’clock in the afternoon of July 5, discovers the MV Karagatan which has just unloaded arms and supplies intended for the NPAs. While in the process of towing the ship, the team was subjected to heavy fire by the NPAs who were entrenched along the shorelines. During the exchange of fires Constabulary Second Class Lope Domingoand Ramon Bibit, Jr. (later became colonel) sustained gunshot wounds. The team although outnumbered, thirsty, hungry and seasick clung in defense of the MV Karagatan for three days and three nights thus preventing the NPAs from taking possession of the ship. This operation, now known as the “Palanan Incident”, captured 500 M-14 rifles, 6 rocket launchers (said to be Chicom or Chinese Communist copies of a Russian prototype rocket launcher) and 160,000 rounds of ammunition. This was one of the crises which precipitated the imposition of Martial Law.
The “Palanan Incident” captured 500 M-14 rifles, 6 rocket launchers (said to be Chicom or Chinese Communist copies of a Russian prototype rocket launcher) and 160,000 rounds of ammunition. 

What is left of the MV Karagatan (by Howie Severino).



The MV Karagatan was still a mystery when it was reported on the front page of the Philippine Daily Expression on July 9, 1972. 

On September 21, 1972, Proclamation 1081, otherwise known as Martial Law, was declared throughout the country. Several Isabelinos including some clergy were “invited” to military camps for questioning. 


On January 1, 1976, Governor Faustino N. Dy became provincial chairman with Vice Governor Wilson C. Nuesa as vice chairman. The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: former Alicia councilor Felipe T. Salvador (Alicia), Fidel A. Alindada (Angadanan), Agustin C. Palacol (Aurora), Felipe J. Etrata (Benito Soliven), Basilio T. Bayangos (Burgos), former mayor and provincial secretary Teodulfo Duran Rumbaoa (Cabatuan), Lorenzo C. Aggabao (Cabagan), Simeon Tomas dela Cruz (Cauayan), Leonarda M. Beltejar (Cordon), Eduardo Chaketon (Dinapigue), Adriano E. Damasco (Divilacan), Pedro T. Velasco (Echague), Domingo T. Lim (Gamu), Ricardo Nieto (Ilagan), Herman Malana (Jones), Celestino M. Agustin (Luna), Fidel Salvador (Maconacon), Patricio C. Taccad (Magsaysay), Quirino T. Mesina (Mallig), Lucena A. Valino (Naguilian), Angel A. Bernardo (Palanan), Ricardo S. Estrada (Quezon), Florentino N. Miguel, Jr. (Quirino), Maximo S. Dirige (Ramon), Simeon L. Taguinod (Reina Mercedes), Francisco A. dela Cruz (Roxas), Agustin R. Manuel (San Agustin), Pedro E. Nacino, Jr. (San Guillermo), Renato P. da Jose (San Isidro), Florentino B. Padua (San Manuel), Oscar V. Ibale (San Mariano), Barrio Captain Genaro D. Taganas (San Mateo), Benjamin C. Cauan (San Pablo), former Mayor Buenaventura C. Masigan (Santa Maria), Artemio C. Alvarez (Santiago), Benjamin R. Dugay (Santo Tomas) and Engr. Andres N. Pascaran (Tumauini).

On April 7, 1978, former Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. and Jones Mayor (1964-1978) Prospero Guzman Bello were elected as assemblymen of Region II in the Interim Batasang Pambansa.


On January 30, 1980, local elections for governors, vice governors, mayors and vice mayors in the nation's first elections for provincial and municipal officials since the declaration of martial law were held and incumbent Governor Dy was re-elected unopposed and assumed office on February 1, 1980.  The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: former Mayor Lorenzo C. Aggabao of Cabagan, Dr. Jose C. Navarro, Jr. of Santiago, former vice mayor Atty. Benjamin Villanueva Olalia of Ilagan, Bonifacio V. Paredes of San Mateo, Atty. Baltazar Palacol Picio of Aurora and Felipe T. Salvador of Alicia. 

On January 17, 1981, Proclamation No. 2045 lifting martial rule was signed ending the eight year and four months Martial Law in the Philippines. On June 16 of the same year, President Ferdinand E. Marcos was re-elected on his fourth term. On May 14, 1984, Assemblymen Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. and Prospero G. Bello and Atty. Simplicio Baysa Domingo, Jr. of Burgos, all of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party, were elected in the regular Batasang Pambansa.


Fifth Republic
On February 22, 1986, the People Power uprising at EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue) was ignitedand culminated upon the departure of President Marcos and his family on February 25. Many Isabelinos studying and residing in Metro Manila joined the popular revolt. Widow of slain Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., Corazon C. Aquino, assumed the presidency with former senator Salvador H. Laurel as vice president. One of the aftermaths of the People Revolution of 1986 was the appointment of local officials as officers-in-charge (OIC). On May 1986, former Governor Melanio T. Singson was appointed by Local Government Secretary Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. as OIC governor with former governor Leocadio E. Ignacio as vice governor. The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: Servillano P. Tabangay, Melito P. Bulan, Guillermo Laman, former Board Member Vivencio P. Guzman and Gregorio B. Mallabo.

On February 2, 1987, Isabela voted affirmatively on the plebiscite for the ratification of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. On May 11, 1987, Isabela’s first ever senator, Heherson T. Alvarez, was elected. The elected congressmen were: former assemblyman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD), former assemblyman Atty. Simplicio B. Domingo, Jr. (2ndD), former Mayor Atty. Santiago Palogan Respicio of Reina Mercedes (3rdD) and former Mayor Atty. Antonio Mendoza Abaya of Santiago (4thD).

On the first week of December 1987, Atty. Silvestre Hernando Bello, Jr. was appointed OIC governor by Local Government Secretary Luis T. Santos replacing Governor Singson to oversee the first local elections of the 5th Republic. Governor Bello served up to February 5, 1988 with former Con-Con delegate Atty. Celso D. Gangan as vice governor. The sangguniang panlalawigan members were: Vivencio P. Guzman, Servillano P. Tabangay and Gregorio B. Mallabo.




On January 18, 1988 local race, long-time serving Governor Faustino N. Dy and former Ilagan mayor and provincial board member Manuel T. Binag were elected as governor and vice governor, respectively. The elected members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: Mariano T. Lim (1stD), Marcelo L. Dumlao (1stD), Hermenigildo V. Madamba (1stD), Marcos A. Pagulayan (2ndD), former Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Baltazar P. Picio (2ndD), Perfecto V. Bermudez (3rdD), former Mayor Severo G. Lachica of San Mateo (3rdD), former Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Felipe T. Salvador (3rdD), former Mayor Gorgonio Esperanzate Villador of Cordon (4thD) and Gregorio V. Espejo (4thD). The first  elected officials under the Fifth Republic served from February 6, 1988 to June 30, 1992.

On March 28, 1989, Barangay Captain Faustino de Guzman Dy III of Cauayan was elected as ABC provincial president and KB Chairman Eugene Isidro Acosta of Cabatuan represented the kabataang barangay in the province. On March 16, 1992, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Vice President Dr. Sergio Acio Uy of Cabatuan assumed the presidency of the ABC Isabela federation upon the resignation of Faustino G. Dy III who became vice mayor of Cauayan.

In 1991, Benedict C. Calderon of Roxas was elected as the first Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President and sat as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Hon. Calderon resigned on March 1992 to file his candidacy for Sangguniang Bayan Member and his post was filled in by Ric Justice E. Angobung of Tumauini by law of succession.

On May 11, 1992, EDSA Revolution hero and Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos was elected as president with Senator Joseph E. Estrada as his vice president. Isabelino Senator Heherson T. Alvarez was re-elected for a six-year term. The elected congressmen were: re-electionist Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD), Faustino Sanchez Dy, Jr. of San Manuel (2ndD), re-electionist Santiago P. Respicio (3rdD) and re-electionist Antonio M. Abaya (4thD). Cauayan Mayor Benjamin de Guzman Dy was elected governor with re-electionist Vice Governor Manuel T. Binag. The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: re-electionist Hermenigildo V. Madamba (1stD), re-electionist Marcos A. Pagulayan (1stD), Atty. Simplicio N. Domingo II of Burgos (2ndD), re-electionist Marcelo L. Dumlao (2ndD), former RTC Judge Dionicio E. Bala, Jr. of Cauayan (3rd), Vice Mayor Manuel A. Alejandro of Alicia (3rdD), re-electionist Severo G. Lachica (3rdD), Atty. Giorgidi B. Aggabao of Santiago (4thD), re-electionist Perfecto V. Bermudez (4thD) and re-electionist Gorgonio E. Villador (4thD). Sangguniang Bayan Member Cecilio L. Bartolome of Cauayan was elected as Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) Isabela Federation president and served in an ex-officio slot in the sangguniang panlalawigan.



The elected congressmen in the May 8, 1995 mid-term elections were: re-electionist Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD), re-electionist Faustino S. Dy, Jr. (2ndD), re-electionist Santiago P. Respicio (3rdD) and re-electionist Antonio M. Abaya (4thD). Governor Benjamin G. Dy was re-elected while Atty. Edwin Callangan Uy of Roxas was elected as vice governor. The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: former Mayor Jose R. Añes of Ilagan (1stD), Romarico C. Eugenio of Ilagan (1stD), Miriam M. Martinez of Santa Maria (1stD), Jose C. Neyra of Gamu (2ndD), re-electionist Simplicio N. Domingo II (2ndD), re-electionist Dionicio E. Bala, Jr. (3rdD), re-electionist Manuel A. Alejandro (3rdD), re-electionist Severo G. Lachica (3rdD), Rosa P. Alindada of Echague (4thD) and Nicasio B. Bautista, Jr. of Santiago (4thD). Atty. Cesar A. Purruganan of Roxas was elected as PCL president. On May 6, 1996, Ferdinand P. Bielgo of Ilagan was elected as SK provincial federation president. On May 12, 1997,  Eduardo H. Cunanan of San Manuel was elected as Liga ng mga Barangay (LMB) provincial president.


On May 11, 1998, Vice President Joseph Ejercito Estrada was elected as president with Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as vice president. The elected congressmen were: former Kabataang Barangay provincial president and Mayor Rodolfo T. Albano III of Cabagan (1stD), re-electionist Faustino S. Dy, Jr. (2ndD), Mayor Ramon Munsayac Reyes of Alicia (3rdD) and Senator Heherson T. Alvarez (4thD). Governor Benjamin G. Dy was re-elected on his third term with re-electionist Vice Governor Edwin C. Uy. The elected members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: re-electionist Jose R. Añes (1stD), former Ilagan vice mayor and provincial administrator Nicolas P. Baggao (1stD), re-electionist Simplicio N. Domingo II (2ndD), re-electionist Jose C. Neyra (2ndD); Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary Antonio C. Ladera, Jr. of Cauayan (3rdD), Councilor Ysmael G. Atienza of Cauayan (3rdD), Mayor Venancio Oñate Villarta of San Mateo (3rdD), former SP Member Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD), re-electionist Nicasio B. Bautista, Jr. (4thD) and re-electionist Rosa P. Alindada (4thD). Sangguniang Bayan Member Joaquin A. Ramos of Roxas town was elected as PCL President on August 28.
Hon. RODOLFO TAGUINOD ALBANO III of Cabagan; 1st Kabataang Barangay Federation President of Isabela; Municipal Mayor of Cabagan (1988-1992, 1992-1995 & 1995-1998); Representative of the 1st District of Isabela (1998-2001, 2004-2010, 2013-2016 & 2016-2019); Vice Governor (2010-2013).

Hon. RAMON MUNSAYAC REYES of Alicia; Municipal Councilor of Alicia (1972-1980); Municipal Vice Mayor (1980-1986); Municipal Mayor (OIC 1986-1987, 1988-1992, 1992-1995 & 1998-2001); Representative of the 3rd District of Isabela (1998-2001); and Provincial Vice Governor of Isabela (2001-2004 & 2004-2007). 

In the May 14, 2001 midterm elections, the elected congressmen were: coming back Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD), Vice Governor Edwin C. Uy (2ndD), former ABC provincial president and Mayor Faustino G. Dy III of Cauayan City (3rdD) and coming back congressman Antonio M. Abaya (4thD). Congressman Faustino S. Dy, Jr. was elected as governor with former Congressman Santiago P. Respicio as vice governor. The elected members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: former Vice Governor Manuel T. Binag (1stD), former Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Romarico C. Eugenio (1stD), three-termer Sangguniang Bayan Member Ma. Josephine B. Borromeo of Ilagan (1stD), Ana Cristina S. Go of San Mariano (2ndD), former Mayor Benito R. Calderon of Roxas (2ndD), re- electionist Ysmael G. Atienza (3rdD), re-electionist Antonio M. Ladera (3rdD), re-electionist Venancio O. Villarta (3rdD), re-electionist Rosa P. Alindada (4thD) and re-electionist Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD).


Hon. EDWIN CALLANGAN UY of Roxas; Provincial Vice Governor of Isabela (1992-1995, 1995-1998 & 1998-2001) and Representative of the 2nd District of Isabela (2001-2004, 2004-2007 & 2007-2010).

Hon. FAUSTINO GUZMAN DY III of Cauayan City; Kabataang Barangay Federation President of Cauayan (1982-1989); Sangguniang Bayan Member (Ex-Officio 1982-1989); Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member of Isabela (Ex-Officio 1989-1992); Municipal Vice Mayor of Cauayan (1992); Municipal Mayor of Cauayan (1992-1995, 1995-1998 & 1998-2001); 1st City Mayor of Cauayan City (2001), Representative of the 3rd District of Isabela (2001-2004, 2004-2007 & 2007-2010); and Provincial Governor of Isabela (2010-2013, 2013-2016 & 2016-2019).


On May 19, 2003, Atty. Giorgidi B. Aggabao, former sangguniang panlalawigan member, was elected as congressman of the fourth district serving the unexpired term of the late Congressman Abaya who died on February 26, 2003.
Hon. GIORGIDI B. AGGABO of Santiago City; Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member of the 4th District of Isabela (1998-2001 & 2001-2003); and Representative of the 4th District of Isabela (2003-2004, 2007-2010, 2010-2013, 2013-2016). 


On May 10, 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was elected as president with Senator Manuel de Castro as vice president. The elected congressmen were: coming back congressman Rodolfo T. Albano III (1stD), re-electionist Edwin C. Uy (2ndD), re-electionist Faustino G. Dy III (3rdD) and Anthony P. Miranda of Santiago City (4thD). Maria Gracia Cielo Magno Padaca of Cauayan City was elected as the first lady governor with former Alicia mayor and congressman Ramon M. Reyes as vice governor. Members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: re-electionist Ma. Josephine B. Borromeo (1stD), Kiryll S. Bello of Ilagan (1stD), Dr. Jesus A. Cruz, Jr. of Ilagan (1stD), re-electionist Ana Cristina S. Go (2ndD), former Vice Mayor Cesar C. Purugganan of Roxas (2ndD), retired PNP General Bartolome A. Mallillin of Cauayan City (3rdD), re-electionist Ysmael G. Atienza (3rdD), Sangguniang Bayan Member and PCL President Atty. Joel Amos P. Alejandro of Alicia (3rdD), Matthew Joseph P. Alindada of Echague (4thD) and Mayor Virgilio Ancheta Padilla of San Agustin (4thD). Sangguniang Bayan Member Cecilia Claire Navarro Reyes of Alicia was elected as PCL President.
Hon. ANTHONY P. MIRANDA of Santiago City.


Hon. MARIA GRACIA CIELO MAGNO PADACA of Cauayan City.

On May 14, 2006, Mid-term elections. The elected congressmen of Isabela were: re-electionist Rodolfo T. Albano III (1stD), re-electionist Edwin C. Uy (2ndD), re-electionist Faustino G. Dy III (3rdD) and coming back Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD).  Governor Padaca was elected on her second term with Vice Governor Ramon M. Reyes. The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: Noel C. Binag of Ilagan (1stD), re-electionist Ma. Josephine B. Borromeo (1stD), former Vice Mayor Samuel N. Maddara of Ilagan (1stD), re-electionist Ana Cristina S. Go (2nd), re-electionist Cesar C. Purugganan (2nd), Vice Mayor Jaime Nieto Atayde of Luna (3rdD), re-electionist Joel Amos P. Alejandro (3rdD), Sangguniang Bayan Member (No.1) and PCL President Cecilia Claire N. Reyes of Alicia (3rdD), re-electionist Matthew Joseph P. Alindada (4thD) and Mayor Amado Cuaresma Vallejo, Jr. (4thD). Sangguniang Bayan Member Servando C. Soriano of Roxas town was elected as PCL president in September. On December 2007, former Sangguniang Bayan Member Napoleon Mallari Hernandez II of San Mateo was elected as LMB president and Fernando P. Cumigad, Jr. was elected as SK provincial federation president.


On May 10, 2010, Senator Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III was elected as president and Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay (maternal ancestors from San Pablo town) as vice president. The Isabela congressmen were: coming back Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD), three termer Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Ana Cristina Siquian-Go (2ndD), three-termer Mayor Napoleon Sanchez Dy of Alicia (3rdD) and re-electionist Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD). Three termer Congressman Faustino G. Dy III was elected as governor with Congressman Rodolfo T. Albano III as vice governor. The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan were: former Mayor Ric Justice E. Angobung of Tumauini (1stD), Vice Mayor Kiryll S. Bello of Ilagan (1stD), three-termer Sangguniang Bayan Member Rolando L. Tugade of Ilagan (1stD), Mitzi P. Cumigad of Gamu (2ndD), re-electionist Cesar C. Purugganan (2ndD), Sangguniang Bayan Member (No.1) Karen Galapia Abuan of Alicia (3rdD), Vice Mayor Manuel A. Alejandro of Alicia (3rdD), re-electionist Jaime N. Atayde (3rdD), re-electionist Matthew Joseph P. Alindada (4thD) and Mayor Leoncio Kong Kiat of Echague (4thD). Three-termer Mayor Edward Siababa Isidro of Mallig was elected as PCL president on September 21. Arnel Uy Ty of Cauayan City won a seat in Congress representing the LPGMA (Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketers Association) Partylist. Ty’s group is the first Isabelino partylist in the House of Representatives.
Hon. ANA CRISTINA SIQUIAN-GO of San Mariano; Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member of the 2nd District of Isabela (2001-2004, 2004-2007 & 2007-2010) and Representative of the 2nd District of Isabela (2010-2013, 2013-2016 & 2016 -2019).

Hon. NAPOLEON SANCHEZ DY of Alicia; Municipal Vice Mayor of Alicia (1998-2001), Municipal Mayor of Alicia (2001-2004, 2004-2007 & 2007-2010) and Representative of the 3rd District of Isabela (2010-2013, 2013-2016 & 2016-2019).


Capitol  Sites
In 1911, the lot for the provincial capitol building in Barrio Bagumbayan was donated. In 1945, the provincial capitol site was transferred to Osmeña and a new capitol building was constructed. On September 22, 1992, the new provincial capitol, one of the most modern government facilities in the country, situated in Barangay Alibagu in Ilagan capital-town was inaugurated by His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos.
Old Provincial Capitol Marker in Ilagan. (Photo from the collection of the Hon. Silvino M. Gumpal, Sr. family)

Old Capitol Building in Osmeña, Ilagan before it was renovated c.1981.

Cities of Isabela
On May 5, 1994, the old pueblo of Santiago, the commercial gateway of Region 2, has been converted to an independent component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 7720 (House Bill No. 8817 & Senate Bill No. 1243) signed by His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos in Malacañang with Jose C. Miranda as the first city mayor. This made Santiago, self governing and autonomous city from the rule of the provincial governor. Republic Act No. 8528 repealed this statute transforming it back to a component city. It was not until December 29, 1999, when the Supreme Court contested the validity of the latter decision and favored Santiago to be once again an independent component city. On July 3, 1994, the cityhood of Santiago was ratified through a plebiscite.
President Fidel V. Ramos signs into law Republic Act 7720 converting Santiago, Isabela into an independent component city on May 5, 1994 in Malacanang, the first in the Cagayan Valley Region.


On February 28, 2001, the old pueblo of Cauayan was created into a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9017 (House Bill No. 8328 & Senate Bill 2243) signed by Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with incumbent Mayor Faustino G. Dy III as the first city mayor. On March 30 of the same year, the ratification of Cauayan, through plebiscite, as a component city of Isabela was overwhelmingly affirmed.

On May 22, 2012, the old pueblo of Ilagan was converted into a component city by virtue of Republic Act 10169 signed by His Excellency President Benigno Aquino III.  Plebiscite was held on August 11, 2012, with a majority of votes voting "yes”.

Map showing the 34 municipalities and 3 cities of the Province of Isabela.



Sources:
CagayanValley and Eastern Cordillera 1581-1898
Pedro V. Salgado, OP

Christianization of Isabela During Spanish Times
Rev. Fr. Pedro V. Salgado, OP

The Province of Isabela
Provincial Government of Isabela
1981; R.J. Corsino Press, C.M.Recto, Manila

Cauayan Cultural Council (1998-2003) Report
City Government of Cauayan
2003

Isabela Provincial Profile (1993)
Provincial Government of Isabela
1993

Elections in the Philippines (From Pre-colonial Period to Present)
Clarita R. Carlos & Rommel C. Banlaoi
1996; Konrad Adenauer Foundation, MakatiCity

The Malolos Congress
National Historical Institute
1999; T.M. Kalaw, Ermita, Manila

Memoirs of General Artemio Ricarte
National Historical Institute
1992; T.M. Kalaw, Ermita, Manila

Historia de Cagayan, UST Press, Manila 1918
Fr. Julian Malumbres, OP

Historia de Isabela, UST Press, Manila 1918
Fr. Julian Malumbres, OP

Historical Articles of Fray Francisco Rojano
Historical Articles of BishopDiego Aduarte
Historical Articles of Fray Francisco de San Antonio, OFM
Historical Articles of Fray Jose Brugues, OP
Historical Articles of Fray Vicente Salazar, OP
Historical Articles of Rev. Fr. Ambrocio Manaligod, STD
Historical Articles of Rev. Fr. Guillermo Tejon (pictures)
Historical Articles of Fray Baltasar de Santa Cruz, OP
Historical Articles of Carlos Quirino
Historical Articles of Dean C. Worcester

Yamashita and the Heroes
Vicente P. Salvador
Historical Calendar
1970; National Historical Commission, Manila

Provincial Tourism Office
OldCapitolBuilding, Arranz Street, Osmeña, Ilagan, Isabela

Isabela Provincial Library and Museum
OldCapitolBuilding, Arranz Street, Osmeña, Ilagan, Isabela

Talambuhay ng mga Santo
Monsgr. Jose C. Abriol

MPDC of the Local Government Units of Alicia, Cabagan, Cabatuan, Cauayan, Cordon, Echague, Gamu, Jones, Naguilian, Palanan, Quezon, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, San Isidro, San Manuel, San Mateo, San Pablo and Santiago.

Philippine Campaigns
Lt. Col. Uldarico S. Baclagon
1952

Philippine-American War; 1899-1902
Arnaldo Dumindin

The Story of the Philippines
Murat Halstead

Gaddang
Mary Christine Abriza

The Discovery of the Igorots -
Spanish Contacts with the Pagans of Northern Luzon
William Henry Scott
1979; New Day Publishers, Quezon City

The Philippine Islands 1493-1899
Emma Helen Blair & James A. Robertson
1903-1909

The Treasures of Japanese Criminals -
Golden Lily Operation
Denis Boneau

Filipinos In History

Ang Himagsikang Pilipino
Teodoro M. Kalaw
1997; Ang Pambansang Surian ng Pangkasaysayan, Manila

Histomiano Library of Histories

Naming Philippine Places (NPP) Collections
U.S. Army in World War II, (the War in the Pacific – Triumph in the Philippines)
Robert Ross Smith

HyperWar Foundation
Jerry Holden

Isabela Constable Today, Yearbook ‘73

Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

www.philippine-history.org

www.chanrobles.com

www.retrato.com.ph

Howie Severino’s Sidetrip (MV Karagatan)

Ding Cabreira (MV Karagatan)


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