MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF NAGLIBACAN, Historical Data

This report was compiled by a committee composed of the schoolteacher, Mr. Gawen Bunao, as the chairman, and four old men of the Municipal District as members.

In the preparation of this report, no written records were consulted as none was available. The information set forth was gleaned from the memory of old people, especially of the members of the committee.

(SGD.) EMILIO R. CASTILLO
Principal-in-Charge
Licuan District

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Department of Education
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
Municipal District of Naglibacan
Province of Abra

Part — 1 — HISTORY

(a) The barrio got its name from its being situated between the Sinabanan and the Bamban brooks. Naglibacan means "between" in English.

(b) The sitios within the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipal District are Sirpad, Pasacia, Gawgawed, Taltalogan, and Mataba.

3. Date of Establishment - - - This district was founded by Capitan Edan about the year 1870.

4. The original families were those of Edan, Dacila, Along, Inon, and Biyec. The first settlers came from a place called Babangan, somewhere in Apayao, Mountain Province.

5. During the Spanish regime, the Municipal District was a part of Nueva Era, llocos Norte. In those days, the community head was a Cabesa de Barangay, whose chief duty was to collect taxes and tributes from the people and submitted the same to the Spanish Officials in Nueva Era. The first Cabesa de Barangay was Daw-ayan, succeeded by Capitan Edan, Gaoilan, Seleng and Olib.

When Inon was Cabesa de Barangay, the Americans conquered the country. After a few years, Don Julio Borbon became Governor of the Province of Abra. As Governor of his province, he worked for the proper boundaries of his Province. As a result of the boundary guestion, the Municipal Districts of Anayan and Naglibacan were made part of the province. Officials were then appointed by the Governor. Capitan Inon was made first President and Don Biyoc as first Barrio Lieutenant. The following names of persons listed below were the appointed officials from the earliest time to-date under each government forms:

A- During the Spanish Government (Exact tenure not known)

B. American Government

C. COMMONWEALTH QF THE PHILIPPINES

D. JAPANESE OCCUPATION

E. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

6. The place that was first settled was Naglibacan. But because the place was frequently invaded by the Apayao tribes, resulting to the death of many people, they were forced to evacuate the place and went to Mataba. When they were in Mataba, a peace treaty was made between the tribes of Apayao and the Tinguian tribes. When everybody was safe and they had nothing to be afraid of, they returned to Naglibacan.

N O N E .

During the early days, there were wars between the Tinguian tribes, causing the loss of many lives and properties.

During the American occupation, there were no notable events.

During the Japanese Occupation, some people were maltreated by the Japanese.

A.- Between 1870 to 1900, many lives were lost due to invasion of the Apayao tribes.

B.- 1941 to 1945, some properties were stolen and destroyed.

C.- Rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses after World War II.

10. (a) Tradition: The way of trading is by exchanging of goods which we call bartering.

(e) Baptism: When a child is born, the parents of the child hire a "bonian" to perform the ceremony of baptism. During the baptismal ceremony, they butcher a pig and drink wine. This way of baptising is what they call "paibal" in their dialect. [Note: The lettering errors is as they appear in the original document.]

(f) Marriage: Marriage is through parental consent and arrangement.

(g) Burial: They still practice their custom of burying the remains under their houses.

(e) Punishment: When a certain person is accused of a crime, he is tried before a datu or the prominent men in the barrio. If that certain person is found guilty of the crime, he is made to pay a certain amount of money as a fine or to give a party.

11. (a) Superstition: When the people are sick, they call for the quack doctor to perform what is called "Boni."

(b) Myths & Legends: Wadagan and Dalimaman.

Characters: Wadagan, the husband of Dalimaman.

Once upon a time, there lived a husband and wife in [a] place called Natpangan. The name of the man was Wadagan and his wife's name was Dalimaman. They had a son by the name of Can-Ag Cababaguan.

While Can-ag Cababaguan was about ten months old, his mother went to fetch water from their well that was about a kilometer away from their village. On her way, she met a giant by the name of Madmadilacan, who kidnapped her and took her to a place called Cailaskigan. While Dalimaman was in Calsakigan, she became the wife of the giant.

It was already evening when Wadagan, the husband, noticed that his wife was kidnapped. He took his bolo and spear and started for Calaskigan to search for his wife. While Wadagan was in Calaskigan, he asked for information about the whereabouts of the giant. The people advised Wadagan not to go to the giant's house because they were afraid the giant might kill him

Can-ag Cababaguan was about thirteen years old when he heard about the story of his mother, who was kidnapped by the giant, and about his father, who went to search for his mother met [and met his] death. After hearing this story, he prepared and started for Calaskigan. While he was in Calaskigan, he went directly to the house of the giant to ask for her mother and father, but the giant challenged him. Can-ag Cababaguan got his bolo and hit the giant's head and killed him. After he had killed the giant, he went inside the house and saw a woman in a room. The woman asked Can-ag who he was, and he related [to] her the story. He recognized the woman as his mother, so he took her home and lived with her peacefully thereafter.

2) Nuang ca bata, mangan ca pira. Nagan sungbatmo? (A carabao in bata eats money, what is your answer?)

(a) The industrious will survive. (Tan Nagaget dagiti agbiag.)

{d) Ta tao a mailolomen y apo Dios ta manaraken. (The one human who hates God appreciates him.)

19. METHODS OF MEASURING TIME: The Sun, Rooster, and leaves of trees.

20. Information of books and documents: Treating in the Philippines — None.

21. The names of Filipino authors, born or residing in the Community, the titles and subjects of their works, whether printed or manuscript form, and the names of persons possessing this — None.

WE, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the above information are true facts.

(SGD.) GAWEN BUNAO
Teacher-Naglibacan Primary Schools
Municipal District of Naglibacan

Transcribed from:

History and Cultural Life of the Municipal District of Naglibacan, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.