Isabela State University

Angadanan Campus

LEARNING MODULE IN GEC 2 – READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

LOCAL HISTORY (ANGADANAN)

By John Rick Melo Domingo

Geographic Background of Angadanan

Anagadanan is one of the thirty-four (34) municipalities and three (3) cities in the province of Isabela,
situated in the southern part and belongs to the third district of the province. It is bounded on the north and
northeast by the city of Cauayan; on the southeast by the municipality of San Guillermo; on the southwest by
the municipality of Echague; and the west by the municipality of Alicia. It is approximately 61 kilometers
south of the capital town of Ilagan and about a nine (9) hour's trip to Metro Manila. Angadanan is a satellite
center of Cauayan City. The town is identified as the Regional Agro-Industrial Center in the Cagayan Valley
region.

Land Area

Anagadanan has a total area of approximately 204.47 square kilometers which is about 1.92 percent
of the total land area of the province of Isabela at 10,664.6 square kilometers. The municipality has a political
subdivision of fifty-nine (59) barangays.

Climate

Type and Rainfall Distribution

The climate of the municipality is Type III. Type III is characterized by no very pronounced maximum
rain period, with a short dry season lasting only from one to three months. This type is intermediate between
the preceding two, although it resembles the first type more closely because it has a short dry season. Areas
of this climate type are partly shielded from the northeast monsoon but are exposed to the southwest
monsoon and are also benefited by the rainfall caused by tropical cyclones.

The annual average rainfall recorded in the municipality for the past ten (10) years is 1914.6 mm and
the average monthly rainfall data has heavy precipitations during May, July, August, September, October,
November, and December.

Temperature

For the last ten-year period from 2001-2010, the hottest month of the year is May with an average
maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius.

The Gaddangs of Angadanan – Origins and Legends

The aborigines that dominated this settlement, a region of complex tribes, were the black kinky-
haired negritos or aetas. As early as the year 1745, an ethnic group was found by the Spanish Missionaries,
this time the Gaddangs who were feared for their valor and courage. This tribe of Gaddangs was ruled by a
chief name Gaddanan. A furious warrior and a protector of this tribe, Gaddanan captivated the respect of his
followers, thereby implanting in their memory a name worthy of emulation. As a gesture of reverence and
utmost respect and to perpetuate his name, the settlement was called ANGADANAN, a name somewhat
associated with Gaddanan, the Gaddang chief.

As history had it, the rich folklore and legend handed down from generation to generation since its
creation in the 17th-Century tell of another legendary figure of a strong man, Gavino Guiab, who possessed
the power and strength that compared with the biblical figures – David and Samson – whose strength was
unbelievable, yet true as chronicled in history, Gavino, as he was affectionately called, possesses the super
strength of many men and could perform a feat that commanded the respect and admiration of his
people. He was able to bring a giant church bell up the belfry of the Catholic Church single-handed with a
rope made of braided cogon grass. The people look upon him as a leader and protector from the invasion of
enemies- the negritos and other mountain tribes who attempted to reclaim the land settled in by the
peaceful, but fearless descendants of Adam and Eve. In a fierce battle against the negrito braves, Gavino
stood his ground during the arrows and spears of the enemy, allowing the invaders that came on the way
resulting in the victory that brought absolute peace to the place. Powerful as the people were, they wanted to
evade further attacks from their enemies, thus their leader chose to abandon the settlement – ANGADANAN
VIEJO – and moved eastward toward the mighty Cagayan River.

The darkening shadow of the Spanish regime was in the offing. This situation did not at all create a
stalemate for there were tested leaders ready to take over the reign of governmental functions. One such
leader was Don Jose de Tagle, and last Gobernadorcillo of Angadanan who moved the seat of the
Government to San Jose, a settlement northeast and just along the vast expanse of the Cagayan River. To
honor and give credence to its founder, the people named the new seat of the Municipal Government as SAN
JOSE DE TAGLE. As the legend goes, the government was once more moved – this time and the last – to the
old and present site baptizing it as CAMMUCAUAN which was that time a hunting ground where hunters
used to wait for their quarry the whole night up to dawn stalking wild deer and wild pigs. To the newcomer
Cammucauan means hunting at dawn, San Jose de Tagle, the old site is now a lost paradise, its name
intertwined among the dead, the site being a burial place in the northeastern region of the town proper.
Interwoven with the history of Angadanan Viejo (now Alicia), the town of Angadanan is rich with historical
heritage, legend, and tradition. Originally located in the site now occupied by the progressive town of Alicia,
the Spanish town of Angadanan was officially created in October 1776 under the advocation of Nuestra
Senora de Atocha de Angadanan.

From the advent of the American regime up to the present the town was administered by the
following in the order listed hereunder:

The last gobernadorcillo under the Spanish

1. Sr. Jose de Tagle 1911-1912
regime and the first Presidente Municipal

2. Sr. Rafael Guiab Presidente Municipal 1912-1913

3. Sr. Telesforo Fanio Presidente Municipal 1913-1915

4. Sr. Pedro Lutao Presidente Municipal 1915-1917

5. Sr. Filomeno Siquian Presidente Municipal 1917-1919

6. Sr. Pedro Panganiban Presidente Municipal 1919-1921

7. Sr. Salvador Ngarangad Presidente Municipal 1921-1923

 8. Sr. Rufino Mamauag Presidente Municipal 1923-1925

9. Sr. Florentino Nicolas Municipal Mayor 1925-1927

10. Sr. Lino Lopez Municipal Mayor 1928-1931

11. Hon. Cosme dela Cruz Municipal Mayor 1932-1939

12. Sr. Lino Lopez Municipal Mayor 1940-1941

13. Hon. Vitaliano Lopez Municipal Mayor 1942-1945

14. Hon. Eduardo Domingo Municipal Mayor 1945-1955

15. Hon. Eugenio Guillermo Municipal Mayor 1955-1967

16. Hon. Regelio Siquian, Sr. Municipal Mayor 1967-1970

17. Hon. Arsenio Aquino, Sr. Municipal Mayor 1970-1971

18. Hon. Manuel Siquian Municipal Mayor 1971-1976

19. Hon. Eugenio Guillermo Municipal Mayor 1976-1980

20. Hon. Jacinto Ong Municipal Mayor 1980-1984

21. Hon. FIdel Alindada Municipal Mayor 1984-1986

22. Hon. Manuel Gaffud Municipal Mayor 1986-1988

23. Hon. Rogelio G. Siquian, Jr. Municipal Mayor 1988-1995

24. Hon. Felicitas P. Ong Municipal Mayor 1995-2004

July 1, 2004-June
25. Hon. Jose T. Panganiban, Jr. Municipal Mayor
30, 2010

July 1, 2010-June
26. Hon. Lourdes S. Panganiban Municipal Mayor
30, 2019

Hon. Joelle Mathea S. July 1, 2019 to

27. Municipal Mayor
Panganiban present

Cultural Practices (the Gakit Festival)

On the cultural aspect, the people adhere to baptismal practice and the tradition, the “BALIAWAN”, a
wedding feast ritual, to mention a few. The ritual is composed of unmarried boys and girls, who join hands
and facing each other, sway merrily their feet and hands to the tune of an old ballad. Still joining their hands,
the boy kisses the girl in front of him at a certain point during the ballad. The natives never forget the “dote”, a
sort of gift to the bride in the form of money/ or real estate – as insurance for the newlyweds to start a new,
stable life.
 “GAKIT” is a Gaddang term for raft or balsa. It is made of several bamboo poles bonded together by
using bamboo ropes (bamban). In the older days, it was used as a means of transportation by the natives of
Angadanan ( the Gaddangs) to crossover the East and West Districts of the municipality divided by the
Cagayan River. They used it for commerce and trade to transport their goods within the town and other
neighboring municipalities. In times of rest, they used the same for leisure as they allowed it to float along the
Cagayan River while they relaxed. To the people of Angadanan, the Gakit is a symbol of unity, cooperation,
strength, and endurance. Bamboos and “kawagan” grow along the riverbanks, plains, forests, hillsides, and
in almost all places in the municipality. Because of its abundance, the people made use of this indigenous
material to build the “Gakit”.

Before the construction of the “Gakit”, a religious ritual the “IMMUNU” is performed. This is done by
the safety travel of the “Gakit” users as they traverse the mighty Cagayan River. The owner of the “Gakit”,
together with the “mengal” (prayer person) brings a big chicken and a native black pig to the place of
construction. First, the “mengal” chants a sacred hymn, after which the chicken’s neck is cut and severed
through one swift strong bolo cut. The headless chicken is allowed to run while its blood splutters in all
directions. Also, the blood of the chicken is placed on the forehead of the owner of the Gakit. When the
chicken stiffens, the prayer is said. The “mengal” brings the chicken home, dresses and cooks it for his food.
It is forbidden for the owner to partake of the food. It is only after this religious ritual that the actual
construction process begins. After the construction of the “Gakit”, the “wari” (food offering) consisting of a
cup of cooked glutenous rice, one boiled egg, one glass of “binarayan” (sugarcane wine) three “mama” (betel
nut, lime, gawed), three tobacco cigars, one glass of water, a piece of red and white cloth, is brought to the
river bank at six o’clock in the evening. The spirits are called and asked to partake of the food. The “wari is left
overnight and scattered in the rivers as the sun rises the following morning.

During the administration of then-former mayor Jose T. Panganiban, the GAKIT fluvial festival was
conceptualized, in consultation with the Barangay Officials, the Department of Education, the Cultural
Council, various non-government organizations, the business sector, and most especially the town people,
has decided to restore the town’s rich tradition, ethnic rituals, and culture. It was unanimously conceived to
choose the “Gakit” as the best symbol of unity and oneness among the people of Angadanan. Gakit is a
means of transportation that brings forth a connection to the town’s East and West District. Also, the way it
is constructed, that is, the bamboos are strongly tied together is representative of harmony, accord, and
unanimity.

The “Gakit” Fluvial Festival has been conceptualized for the people of Angadanan to look back
appreciate their history and culture and rekindle their awareness as regards their identity. The present
leaders believe that the road to progress and development can be achieved if we know how to look back on
our forefathers and be grateful for what they have labored for.

(The content of this module is an excerpt from the official website of Angadanan which can be accessed
through this link: https://angadanan.gov.ph/historical-background/)