History
PARISH OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE
Cabagan, Isabela (1877)
Before the creation of the Province of Isabela, the town Cabagan belonged to the Province of Cagayan. In 1662, a Missionary from Cagayan, P. Pedro de sto.Tomas, went to Balasig, now a barangay of Cabagan, to spread Christianity among the natives. Two decades later, on November 30,1646, P. Pedro de sto.Tomas founded the town of Cabagan (Now san Pablo) to facilitate the evangelization by the missionaries. The province of Isabela was created by a virtue of a Royal Decree fro Spain which was made effective on May 1, 1856. Cabagan and Tumauini were separated from Cagayan. They joined other towns and form a Province of Isabela.
The present Cabagan which was just a barrio was a trade center during the Spanish period because it was located a few kilometers south of the poblacion along the banks of the Cagayan river. The population gradually grew and become bigger. Thereby, a place was born named Cabagan Nuevo (New Cabagan). Cabagan Nuevo was separated from its mother town, Cabagan Viejo, sometime in 1861 by a Royal Decree of Spanish Crown. For many years Cabagan Nuevo enjoyed the status as a barrio. then in 1877, Cabagan Nuevo was organized into a regular municipality. The new town retained its name while the mother town was renamed san Pablo after its Patron Saint-San Pablo de Guerrero.
As early as 1763, Cabagan Nuevo was one of the centers of rebellion in Isabela. The revolts were led by Dabo and Juan Marayag who were influenced by Diego Silang’s rebellion in Ilocos. During the later part of the Philippine Revolution, the town became the center of military operations. From Tirad Pass, General Emilio Aguinaldo arrived at Aggub, Cabagan on May 29, 1900 and ordered the attack of the Americans stationed in the town and the other neighboring towns. It was during the American era that the town came known to be simply as Cabagan.
According to the folk etymology, there are three version on how Cabagan got its name. the first is the word “Cabagan” which means People from “Abbag” a term for “the other side of the river.” Originally, these people were called “Taga Abbag” meaning “from the other side” and contracted to Cabagan by later generations.
A second version is that of the word “Cabaguang” an ibanag term for “a young carabao not put to work yet.” Wild and domesticated carabaos abound in this place due to its wild pasture lands. Farmers from neighboring towns go to its place to buy “Cabaguang”. It being a new town, the word “Cabaguang” also means “the newest of things considered new derived from the word “Bagu” meaning “New”. The word was later contracted by strangers to simply “Cabagan”.
Cabagan was the hunting ground of the mountain-dweling kalingas during the earlier times. These were always in colorful attire, the females in multicolored “Tapi” and males in multicolored “Bag” with red as the dominant colors. Both have long hair. The males always carry with them their hunting weapons, the bow and arrow and the sharp shining bolo in the half open wide-sided wooden sheath and their artistically decorated wooden shield. Both sexes wore layers of necklace of beads of different materials: stone, shell, seeds, metals like bronze, copper, and silver, and glass. Each bead stands for a certain property like carabaos. The wealthiest wore the most number of beads. From the word “Baag” Cabagan as derived means “Where g-strings are many.” The third version is the most accepted due to legendary and historical basis.
the natives of Cabagan are the Ibanag, so-called because they lived along the banks of the “Bannag,” Native term for the river. The ibanag are peace-loving, hospitable, lively and hard working people who live by farming, fishing and hunting. Furthermore, they are known for their strong family solidarity.
Two names stand out prominently in Cabagan folklore. one of that is the legendary Biwag who is believed to have been born in barrio Tallag. He protected the Christian Cabaguenos from the head-hunting Kalingas by using his amulets and extraordinary strength. The war between the Christian and kalingas is being depicted in the folk dance, “sambali.” this hour-long war dance originated from Cabagan and is still performed today particularly in Casibarag, Cubag, and other barangays of Cabagan and san Pablo. The other figure is Malana who succeeded biwag following the death of the later. It was Malana who initiated the first Kalinga Revolt in Cagayan Valley.
Cabagan has been the traditional center of Catholicism in Northen Isabela. the town celebrates on January 25 its annual Patronal Fiesta in Honor of saint Paul the Apostle. as a sign of hospitality, Cabaguenos welcome visitors from far and near places with lot of food and entertainment like “Parosas and Sarsuelas,” highlighted by “Sambali”.
As time went on, many additional forms of entertainment for the festival were introduced following trends of time, but gradual changes are sure to come in the passage of time.
Cabagan, Isabela (1877)
Before the creation of the Province of Isabela, the town Cabagan belonged to the Province of Cagayan. In 1662, a Missionary from Cagayan, P. Pedro de sto.Tomas, went to Balasig, now a barangay of Cabagan, to spread Christianity among the natives. Two decades later, on November 30,1646, P. Pedro de sto.Tomas founded the town of Cabagan (Now san Pablo) to facilitate the evangelization by the missionaries. The province of Isabela was created by a virtue of a Royal Decree fro Spain which was made effective on May 1, 1856. Cabagan and Tumauini were separated from Cagayan. They joined other towns and form a Province of Isabela.
The present Cabagan which was just a barrio was a trade center during the Spanish period because it was located a few kilometers south of the poblacion along the banks of the Cagayan river. The population gradually grew and become bigger. Thereby, a place was born named Cabagan Nuevo (New Cabagan). Cabagan Nuevo was separated from its mother town, Cabagan Viejo, sometime in 1861 by a Royal Decree of Spanish Crown. For many years Cabagan Nuevo enjoyed the status as a barrio. then in 1877, Cabagan Nuevo was organized into a regular municipality. The new town retained its name while the mother town was renamed san Pablo after its Patron Saint-San Pablo de Guerrero.
As early as 1763, Cabagan Nuevo was one of the centers of rebellion in Isabela. The revolts were led by Dabo and Juan Marayag who were influenced by Diego Silang’s rebellion in Ilocos. During the later part of the Philippine Revolution, the town became the center of military operations. From Tirad Pass, General Emilio Aguinaldo arrived at Aggub, Cabagan on May 29, 1900 and ordered the attack of the Americans stationed in the town and the other neighboring towns. It was during the American era that the town came known to be simply as Cabagan.
According to the folk etymology, there are three version on how Cabagan got its name. the first is the word “Cabagan” which means People from “Abbag” a term for “the other side of the river.” Originally, these people were called “Taga Abbag” meaning “from the other side” and contracted to Cabagan by later generations.
A second version is that of the word “Cabaguang” an ibanag term for “a young carabao not put to work yet.” Wild and domesticated carabaos abound in this place due to its wild pasture lands. Farmers from neighboring towns go to its place to buy “Cabaguang”. It being a new town, the word “Cabaguang” also means “the newest of things considered new derived from the word “Bagu” meaning “New”. The word was later contracted by strangers to simply “Cabagan”.
Cabagan was the hunting ground of the mountain-dweling kalingas during the earlier times. These were always in colorful attire, the females in multicolored “Tapi” and males in multicolored “Bag” with red as the dominant colors. Both have long hair. The males always carry with them their hunting weapons, the bow and arrow and the sharp shining bolo in the half open wide-sided wooden sheath and their artistically decorated wooden shield. Both sexes wore layers of necklace of beads of different materials: stone, shell, seeds, metals like bronze, copper, and silver, and glass. Each bead stands for a certain property like carabaos. The wealthiest wore the most number of beads. From the word “Baag” Cabagan as derived means “Where g-strings are many.” The third version is the most accepted due to legendary and historical basis.
the natives of Cabagan are the Ibanag, so-called because they lived along the banks of the “Bannag,” Native term for the river. The ibanag are peace-loving, hospitable, lively and hard working people who live by farming, fishing and hunting. Furthermore, they are known for their strong family solidarity.
Two names stand out prominently in Cabagan folklore. one of that is the legendary Biwag who is believed to have been born in barrio Tallag. He protected the Christian Cabaguenos from the head-hunting Kalingas by using his amulets and extraordinary strength. The war between the Christian and kalingas is being depicted in the folk dance, “sambali.” this hour-long war dance originated from Cabagan and is still performed today particularly in Casibarag, Cubag, and other barangays of Cabagan and san Pablo. The other figure is Malana who succeeded biwag following the death of the later. It was Malana who initiated the first Kalinga Revolt in Cagayan Valley.
Cabagan has been the traditional center of Catholicism in Northen Isabela. the town celebrates on January 25 its annual Patronal Fiesta in Honor of saint Paul the Apostle. as a sign of hospitality, Cabaguenos welcome visitors from far and near places with lot of food and entertainment like “Parosas and Sarsuelas,” highlighted by “Sambali”.
As time went on, many additional forms of entertainment for the festival were introduced following trends of time, but gradual changes are sure to come in the passage of time.