BRIEF HISTORY OFCABAGAN

Cabagan began as a barrio of San Pablo, the northernmost town of Isabela. It was separated from
the mother town sometime in 1761 by a ROYAL DECREE of the Spanish Crown. The mother
town retained its name San Pablo Viejo (old), while the new town was called Cabagan Nuevo
(new). In 1887, Cabagan was organized into a regular municipality. During the American regime
the two towns came to be known simply as San Pablo and Cabagan.

Cabagan was once the hunting grounds of the mountain-dwelling G-string Kalingas during the
early times. The name Cabagan was derived from the word “Baag” which means G-string.
Translated freely, Cabagan is the place where people wearing G-string during the early time
lived.

Two names stand-out prominently in Cabagan folklore. One is that legendary Biuag, who is
believed to have been born in barangay Tallag. He protected the early Christian Cabaguenos
from the Kalingas. The other is Malana, who succeeded Biuag following the death of the latter. It
is said that it was Malana who initiated the first Kalinga Revolt in the Cagayan Valley, following
that of Diego Silang in the Ilocos region.

Cabagan is the second northernmost town in Isabela and the traditional center of Roman
Catholicism. It is likewise designated as the growth center of Northern Isabela The town
celebrates its annual fiesta in the Honor of Saint Paul the Apostle on January 25. Cabagan is
composed of twenty –six (26) barangays, namely:

1. Aggub 22. San Juan

2.Anao 23. Saui
3. Angancasillian 24. Tallag
4. Balasig 25. Ugad
5. Cansan 26. Union
6. Casibarag Norte
7. Casibarag sur
8. Catabayungan
9. Cubag
10. Garita
11. Luquilu
12. Mabangug
13. Magassi
14. Masipi East
15. Masipi West
16. Ngarag
17. Pilig Abajo
18. Pilig Alto
19. Poblacion
20. San Antanio
21. San Bernardo