Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya

History

The natives of Bagabag are the Gaddangs whose ancestors originally came from Cagayan and Isabela provinces. At the coming of the Spaniards, the natives were mostly settled along the Magat River where they had small farms of vegetables and root crops as well as rice fields. Most of them, however, depended on fishing and hunting for their livelihood. The Spaniards found the Igorots along the Lanog and Lamut Rivers and in the hills, east of the Magat River, they found the Bugkalots.

The town was formed on October 7, 1741 by a Dominican friar, Antonio del Campo, at sitio "Nagcumventuan" a place now located between Pogonsino, Bagabag, and Bangar, Solano. The present name of the sitio bears proof to the fact that the Spanish priest constructed a church in the original town site.

Frs. Luis Sierra and Alejandro Vidal were among the first priests to settle in 1743. They organized the town in 1754. Due to the continuous erosion and flood from the Magat River and its increasing population, Fr. Vidal later transferred the town site to "Nassa" which is located between Barangays Lantap and Santa Lucia. The "Nassa" location was open and muddy throughout the year. Thus for the third time, Fr. Vidal transferred the town site to its present site where numerous buri palms were then growing. It was from this buri palm plant the name of Bagabag originated, the same being called by the natives as "bagbag". In 1753, the Spanish established a fortress at Bagabag to serve as a base of operations for conquering the Ifugaos and to defend the mountain pass leading to Isabela.

During World War II, Bagabag Airport was built for the use of American soldiers. In 1945, the combined United States and the Philippine Commonwealth troops together with guerrillas attacked the Japanese Imperial forces in the Battle of Bagabag during World War II. Following the Japanese surrender in September 1945, General Tomoyuki Yamashita and his entourage, following their capitulation in Ifugao, were transported by car to Bagabag Airport, where they were transported by plane to La Union on their way to Baguio.

Geography

The Municipality of Bagabag is located in the northeastern part of Nueva Vizcaya with a total land area of 260 sqkm. The Magat River, which runs parallel to the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH 26), is situated in the eastern part of the town proper. Located in the northern part of the town is Bagabag Airport, the only airport of Nueva Vizcaya, which serves the province and its surrounding area.

Bagabag is situated 20.07 km from the provincial capital Bayombong, and 312.47 km from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Bagabag is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Bakir
• Baretbet
• Careb
• Lantap
• Murong
• Nangalisan
• Paniki (Paniqui)
• Pogonsino
• San Geronimo (Poblacion)
• San Pedro (Poblacion)
• Sta. Cruz
• Sta. Lucia
• Tuao North
• Tuao South
• Villa Coloma (Poblacion)
• Villa Quirino (Poblacion)
• Villaros

Bordering Areas

• Lamut, Ifugao (north)
• Diadi (east)
• Villaverde (west)
• Quezon (south)
• Solano (southwest)

Climate

Demographics

The natives of Bagabag are the Ga'dangs or Gaddangs whose ancestors originally came from the Cagayan and Isabela regions. The Gaddangs predominantly live in the town proper and they speak the Gaddang language. Many Ilocanos and Tagalogs have migrated and live in Bagabag.

Economy

Tilapia Industry

On January 11, 2008, the Cagayan Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stated that tilapia fish production grew and Cagayan Valley is now the Philippines' tilapia capital. Production supply grew 37.25% since 2003, with 14,000 metric tons (MT) in 2007. The recent aquaculture congress found that the growth of tilapia production was due to government interventions: provision of fast-growing species, accreditation of private hatcheries to ensure supply of quality fingerlings, establishment of demonstration farms, providing free fingerlings to newly constructed fishponds, and the dissemination of tilapia to Nueva Vizcaya (in Diadi town). Former cycling champion Lupo Alava is a multi-awarded tilapia raiser in Bagabag. Chairman Thompson Lantion of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, a retired two-star police general, has fishponds in La Torre, Bayombong. Also, Nueva Vizcaya Governor Luisa Lloren Cuaresma also entered into similar aquaculture endeavors in addition to tilapia production.

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Bagabag is part of the lone congressional district of the province of Nueva Vizcaya. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the municipal councilors are elected directly by the people in polls held every three years.

Elected officials

Education

The Schools Division of Nueva Vizcaya governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. There are two schools district offices which govern all the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.

Primary and elementary schools

• Amballo North Elementary School
• Amballo Resettlement Elementary School
• B. A. Bugayong Elementary School
• Bagabag Central School
• Bagabag Child Development Center
• Bagabag South Elementary School
• Baretbet Elementary School
• Careb Elementary School
• JP Castillo Elementary School
• Lantap Elementary School
• Lantap Kiddie Learning Center
• M. V. Duque Elementary School
• Murong Elementary School
• Murong UMC Learning Center
• Nangalisan Elementary School
• Palayan Elementary School
• Paniki Elementary School
• Pogonsino Annex Elementary School
• Pogonsino Elementary School
• Singian Elementary School
• Sta. Cruz Elementary School
• Sta. Lucia Elementary School
• Tabban Elementary School
• Tuao North Elementary School
• Tuao South Elementary School
• V. Coloma Memorial Elementary School
• Villaros Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Bagabag National High School
• Murong National High School
• Paniki High School
• St. Jerome's Academy of Bagabag
• Tuao High School

Notable personalities

• Stacey Sevilleja - Member of the Pinoy pop group Bini

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
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3. "Cagayan Valley's Tilapia Capital". The Philippine Star.
4. Salgado, Pedro. "Cagayan Valley and Easter Cordillera: 1581-1898, Volume II". Rex Publishing.
5. Gascon, Melvin. (24 May 2017). "Trip to Ifugao terraces faster with Clark-N. Vizcaya flights". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
6. Pobre, Cesar P.. "Victory in Northern Luzon". Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
7. "Province: NUEVA VIZCAYA". National Statistical Coordination Board.
8. "Philippine Statistics Authority".
9. [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=105350 Abs-Cbn Interactive, Cagayan Valley country's tilapia capital]
10. "2022 ELECTION RESULTS: Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya". Rappler.
11. "DEPED REGIONAL OFFICE NO. 02".
12. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".
13. (28 October 2024). "Stacey Sevilleja on Growing with BINI: 'A Good Heart Will Always Win'".