Cabagan, officially the Municipality of Cabagan (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

Etymology

The name Cabagan may have originated from the native word bag or bajaque, most probably because there were stores in the village. Cabagan could have also been derived from the word cabbagang, meaning "pilgrim" or "stranger"

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.

  • Aggub
  • Anao
  • Angancasilian
  • Balasig
  • Cansan
  • Casibarag Norte
  • Casibarag Sur
  • Catabayungan
  • Centro (Poblacion)
  • Cubag
  • Garita
  • Luquilu
  • Mabangug
  • Magassi
  • Masipi East
  • Masipi West (Magallones)
  • Ngarag
  • Pilig Abajo
  • Pilig Alto
  • San Antonio (Candanum)
  • San Bernardo
  • San Juan
  • Saui
  • Tallag
  • Ugad
  • Union

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Cabagan was 55,445 people, with a density of .

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, leading to Irraya gradually disappearing. During colonial rule, people were discouraged or forbidden to speak the language as it was considered the language of the "pagans" at the time, the Kalingas, leading to connotations of Irraya speakers as ignorant people or mountain-dwellers. There are several popular restaurants (locally called 'Panciterias') serving this dish along the main highway in Barangays Centro, Anao, Ugad and Cubag.

Tourism

  • Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, a bird sanctuary located in Barangay San Antonio, declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a critical habitat for Philippine ducks and migratory and endemic species of birds are spotted regularly
  • Cabagan Square Park in Barangay Centro, with its carousel which is the largest in the Philippines
  • Fort Cabagan (former military fort), Municipal Hall at Barangay Centro
  • Triangle Park, located at Barangay Ugad, where a towering led TV was installed and the giant kalesa can be seen
  • Aggabao Hall, old entertainment hall of Cabagan located at Barangay Centro
  • Josefina T. Albano Sports and Cultural Complex or the Cabagan Gymnasium, located at Barangay Centro
  • Biwag Shrine at Barangay Tallag
  • Tulap Falls, a waterfall in Barangay Masipi East
  • Bonsur Creek, Bananao Rice Terraces at Barangay Masipi East
  • St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church in Barangay Centro
  • Religious Cross, Century Church bell, Century Well, Spanish Kiln near St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church
  • Pansi Festival
  • Kalesa-Kabayu-Kalaseru (KKK) Festival
  • Sambali Dance

Government

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials at the provincial and municipal levels are voted by the town. The provincial government has political jurisdiction over most 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 municipal councilors are elected directly by the people through an election 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

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"

|+ Members of the Municipal Council<br>(2022–2025)

|-

! Position

! Name

|-

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Antonio T. Albano

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Milet Mamauag

|-

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Ferdinand R. Fugaban

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Sheila Marie Aggabao

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Dax Paolo Binag

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Ogga Acorda

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Reymar Zipagan

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Jun Baricaua

|-

|}

Congress representation

Cabagan, as a municipality, belongs to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela. The current representative is Tonypet Albano.

Education

The Schools Division of Isabela governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. Cabagan Schools District office governs the public and private schools throughout the municipality.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Aggub Elementary School
  • Anao Elementary School
  • Angancasilian Elementary School
  • Balasig Elementary School
  • Biwag Elementary School
  • Cabagan Science Elementary School
  • Candanum Elementary School
  • Cansan Elementary School
  • Casibarag Elementary School
  • Casibarag Norte Elementary School
  • Catabayungan Elementary School
  • Garita Elementary School
  • Luquilu Primary School
  • Mabangug Elementary School
  • Magallones Elementary School
  • Magassi Elementary School
  • Masipi Elementary School
  • Ngarag Primary School
  • Pilig Abajo Elementary School
  • Pilig Alto Elementary School
  • San Bernardo Elementary School
  • San Juan Elementary School
  • Saui Primary School
  • Ugad Elementary School
  • Union Primary School

Secondary schools

  • Alfreda Albano National High School - Magassi
  • Alfreda Albano National High School - Masipi Annex
  • Cabagan Baptist School
  • Cabagan Christian Nurture Center
  • Cabagan Riverside National High School
  • Cubag Integrated School
  • Delfin Albano High School-Main
  • Jenelle Duncan Memorial Christian School, Inc.
  • Montessori De Isabela

Higher educational institutions

  • Isabela State University
  • Saint Ferdinand College

Notable personalities

<!--NOTE: Only add people who have WP articles as per WP:Notability.-->

  • Alex Pagulayan, a Filipino-Canadian professional pool and snooker player, the 2004 world champion in billiards, hails from Barangay San Juan.
  • Rodolfo Albano III, Filipino politician, Representative of the First District of Isabela (1998-2001, 2004-2010, 2013–2019), Vice Governor (2010-2013) and governor of Isabela (since 2019)

Media

  • 99.5&nbsp;MHz DWSA Friendly FM Community Radio

See also

  • Cabagan–Santa Maria Bridge

References

  • Municipal Profile at the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines
  • Cabagan at the Isabela Government Website
  • Local Governance Performance Management System
  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Municipality of Cabagan