Various Cabagan

The Cabagan of old, which existed from 1646 to 1877 was simply called, "Cabagan". In 1877, the Spaniards decided to transfer present-day Cabagan to a new site, abandoning the old Cabagan. In 1888, the Spaniards resurrected the abandoned Cabagan, into a new town. With this development, there were now two Cabagans. The Spaniards rectified the predicament by naming the first Cabagan as Cabagan Viejo, and the second Cabagan as Cabagan Nuevo or the new Cabagan.^[5]

During the American period, the names of the two Cabagans caused confusion for the colonial authorities which led them to rename Cabagan Nuevo as simply "Cabagan", and the old namesake as San Pablo.

Foundation

The old Cabagan, Cabagan Viejo which is now called "San Pablo", was the key town in the colonization of the Irrayas and southern Isabela. In 1621, the Irraya rebelled and the Spanish relocated three hundred loyalist families who agreed to establish the village of Maquilla, near Tuguegarao. Cabagan became a charter town on November 30, 1646, and ecclesiastically on May 15, 1647, with Saint Paul the Apostle as the patron saint.^[5]

New Cabagan (Cabagan Nuevo)

The new Cabagan was established after a Spanish government decree on January 25, 1877, wherein the old Cabagan or San Pablo, be transferred to its present site. The brainchild of the transfer was parish priest Pedro Ricart, who had aggressively lobbied the Spanish government. Father Jose Burgues' History of Cagayan Valley gave the unhealthiness of the old site as the reason for the transfer. Others state that Cabagan was transferred because economic activity appeared to shifting to the villages to the south, namely between the villages of Ugad and Luquilu, around three kilometers away.^[5]

The transfer was not without friction though. A number of Cabagan's inhabitants opposed the transfer. But the missionary's will prevailed. To underline his resolve, the missionary uprooted the Church of the old Cabagan and brought the images and other vestments to the new Cabagan.^[5]

When the Spaniards moved the town, they also endeavored to build a massive church and convent made of stone, brick and mortar. From 1877, until the Philippine Revolution in 1898, the Spaniards were still not able to complete the constructions needed for the new town.^[5]

Barangays

Cabagan is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. ^[6] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

There are three barangays that are considered urban (highlighted in bold).^[7]

Climate

Language

Cabagan was part of the Irraya region and its language was Irraya. The Spaniards however, made the Ibanag language "The official language of the Valley", and had exerted all efforts to make everyone speak the dialect. Since then, the Irraya tongue gradually disappeared from the Cabagan psyche. When people uttered Irraya before, they were discouraged or forbidden to speak, because that was the language of the "pagans" at the time, the Kalingas. Whenever the townsfolk enter the poblacion, none would speak of Irraya, for they would be considered despicably as, a "Kalinga" or as "ignorant persons", living in the mountains.^[5]

Today, no one speaks Irraya. There are however, a few barrios in Cabagan today, like San Bernardo and Tallag, wherein the Ibanag dialect gets interspersed with Irraya. However, some older generation townsfolk, could also remember sentences in Irraya.^[5] Ilocano is also spoken in parts of Cabagan because of migration of Ilocanos. English, being one of the official languages is used primarily in communication for government publications, local newsprints, road signs, commercial signs and in doing official business transactions. Tagalog, another official language and is also considered the national language is used as verbal communication channel between residents.

Pancit Cabagan

Cabagan is famous for its eponymously named 'Pansit Cabagan', a local dish that was introduced by Chinese trader Sia Lang in 1887 and has gained popularity in different parts of Luzon.^[20] There are several popular restaurants (locally called 'Panciterias') serving this dish along the main highway in Barangays Centro, Anao, Ugad and Cubag which include Felicitas Panciteria, Aling Kikay, Loling's Panciteria, Eddie's Restaurant, Josie's Panciteria, KJM, KCJM, Mariloi's Panciteria, Pin-tag Bistro Cafe, Zein's Panciteria and Bubut Siniguian's Pansiteria.

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.

The municipality of Cabagan 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 councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials

Congress representation

Cabagan, as a municipality, belongs to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela. The current representative is Hon. Antonio T. Albano.^[31]