MUNICIPALITY OF NUEVA ERA, Historical Data

1. Nueva Era (Poblacion) 2. Barrio Santo Niño 3. Barrio Cabbitauran 4. Barrio Caray 5. Garrio Garnaden 6. Barrio Uguis

pages 1 - 15 pages 14 - 27 pages 28 - 39 pages 40 - 48 pages 49 - 54 pages 55 - 63

Nueva Era was first composed of different racherias, namely — Padsan, Cabittauran, Paor, Patoc, Padpadong, Garnaden, Bugayong, Uguis, and Tabangran. Later, Paor and Patoc combined to form one rancheria.

In 1915, the nine rancherias united to form a town. With the guidance of the provincial governor, the representatives from the different rancherias passed a resolution requesting the Governor General to grant them a township. In 1916, the resolution was approved. The township was named Nueva Era because it was created on New Year's Day (January 1, 1916).

On the day of the organization, the town had 800 people. Immigrants from Batac, Banna, Badoc, Abra, and Ilocos Sur swelled the number to 1800.

Callibag was the first president of the town. He was appointed. The succeeding presidents were elected by the qualified voters of the municipality.

During the Spanish period, the town was not yet populated. But in a nearby place, a barrio of Banna, there lived a few natives. Among them were:

1. Gregorio Caoanon 4. Pedro Dawyan

2. Pugias 5. Iguien Infiel

3. Sumarnap Garde 6. Balungday Banggao

The above-named people were believed to be the leaders who had made the town a success. They were helped by the higher authorities and, as time went on, the people came to live in the place. They built their houses and, later, there were officials who helped for the good and welfare of the town.

Some of the officials who helped in the founding of the place were:

Callibag Tubbaguen

President Vice-President

Tacan Imboren Bonifacion Acnam Teodoro Dulan Manzano Califlores Baguio Bukyo

Councilor " " " "

Some of the persons who held leading official positions in the community:

Callibalag Agcalis Tubbaguen Irice Councilors	President Vice-President Bonifacion Acnam Soriano Taguiped Salvador Garde Teodoro Dulan Manzano Califlores Baguio Bukyo
Pablo Apostol Juan Baylan Pedro Languisan	Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police

President Vice-President

Santiago Duyan Doming Udayan

Councilors

Nicolas Mangoagui Bonifacio Guddale Sudong Bulaoat

Sunguip Malnaoan Francisco Tico Iguien Infiel

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary

Pablo Apostol Juan Baylan

Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Abraham Guiamsay David Cleto

President Vice-President

Pedro Languisan Andres Guinanyen

Councilors

Estanislao Calaycay Pedro Dacuyan

Manzano Califlores Cipriano Acnam

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Francisco Pilar Bonifacio Eugenio Doroteo Dagdagan Melecio Baga

President Vice-President

Cipriano Acnam Nicolas Mangoagui

Councilors

Andres Dagdagan Anacleto Soliven

Eugenio Villanueva Dumguing Garcia

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Leon Curammeng Paulino Dulig Melecio Baga

President Vice-President

Flaviano Cajete Pablo Manzano

Councilors

Lorenzo Flomar Abaoag Ised

Cipriano Acnam

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary

Fidel Oasan Melquiades Bautista

Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Melquiades Bautista Abrajam Guiamsay Melecio Baga

Mun. President Vice-President

Flaviano Gajete Andres Dagdagan

Councilors

Pedro Uducayen Dumguing Garcia

Cleto Soliven Dumeldam Budala

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Patricio Hermosura Clemente Sinay Abrajam Guiamsay Melecio Baga

Mun. President Vice-President

Manzano Califlores Dumguing Garcia

Councilors

Cleto Soliven Sumeldam Acnam

Andres Dagdagan

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Pedro Nagtalon Maximo Nari Ambrocio Gajonera Melecio Baga

Mun. President Vice-President

Cipriano Acnam Salvador Garde

Councilors

Pedro Ramirez Eugenio Villanueva

Flaviano Gajete Dumguing Garcia

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police

Pablo Nagtalon Andres Dulig Ambrocio Gajonera

Justice of the Peace

Melecio Baga

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor

Andres Dagdagan Lorenzo Lara

Councilors

Adriano Castillo Pancho Baylan

Flaviano Gajete Pablo Uducayan

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Felix Judalena Jose Bumactao Ambrocio Gajonera Liberio Ines

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor

Ambrocio Gajonera Pablo Uducayan

Councilors

Cipriano Acnam Santiago Castillo

Pedro Cacayorin

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Justice of the Peace Chief of Police

Felix Judalena Dolores Gajete Tomas Baga Julio Budala

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor

Ambrocio Gajonera Ramon Verzosa

Councilors

Mateo Sinay Eulalio Bayong

Marcelo Marangen Catalino Alejandro

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Rafael Esteban Dolores Gajeta Luis [page torn] [page torn]

Mun. Mayor Vice-Mayor

Amador Califlores Segundo Villarin

Councilors

Estefania C. Crisostomo Elpidio Alejandro

Luduvica A. Evera Miguel Amores

Mun. Treasurer Mun. Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace

Arturo Taylan Luis Languisan Agustin Sagasag Tomas Baga

In 1896-1900, there was no destruction of lives, properties and institutions caused by war. Most of the people only died of cholera. There was a sort of civil war between the Apayaos and the natives of this town. Fences were made so high that their enemies could not enter to town easily. But if one side could get one head from the other, then that would mean their victory. There was also the Katipunan on one side and the Spaniards on the other, they didn't do any harm to the people. It was only when they knew that the people had plenty of food that they got what they liked.

In the years 1941-1945, there was no destruction of properties and institutions, but there were plenty of lives that were put to death. The guerrillas killed two persons from this town. They were the late Salvador Garde and Pancho Baylan. There were many others, but they were not from the town. They were all buried in the corner of the schoolyard. The Japanese soldiers on the other side killed more. Their names were

As a result of the last war, there were also minor destructions of buildings which were repaired by the War Damage Commission: (a) The Nueva Era Elementary School and (b) The Municipal Building.

End of Part I.

Just [as] in other towns and places, when a baby is born, the so-called "kadkadua" or double as may be termed is buried or hung from a branch of a tree in the belief that he will be a good climber. Sometimes, they put a pencil with the "kadkadua" so that the boy or girl will become a good writer.

As soon as the baby is born, the mother and child are transferred to a kind of bed which is inclined. This is called that "dalagan." The room where the mother and child stay is made cozy and warm by being surrounded with a "tabing" or wide blanket or with banana leaves. Under the room below are thorns which are put there in the belief that the devils will not go there. Every evening, also, a live coal is dropped under the room in the same belief as the former. Besides the "dalagan" is a stove burning all morning, noon, night for the mother to "cook" her own body parts as hands, feet, arms, etc., so that there will not be any alibis as to the mother's health later. This fire also serves as "anib" or a child stays in the dalagan for 13, 17 days or even a month as so decided by the person who goes and massages the mother daily and who had aided in the delivery of the child.

There's not so much that is new about baptismal customs in this place. Baptism is mostly celebrated with a party accompanied by dancing, eating, drinking, laughing and other forms of merriment.

The child is accompanied by his or her godparents to church for the baptismal rites. When a godfather or a godmother fails to come but has been notified, his or her name is just listed and will refund expenses incur-

During periods of courtship — when a young man tries to gain the love of a maiden he likes to possess — the man begins to show ways or manners which may gain the lady's love. Frequent visits are done sometimes alone, sometimes with a group of other young men. Serenades are also given. At other times, the group or gang organizes a dancing group — the lady and other ladies in the neighborhood serving as the partners. Anticipations are made, of course. This may be done when the girl has a fundamental fondness or a reciprocal liking for the man, but if she doesn't have a feeling, then she may even hide when the man goes and visits her.

At times, day and night visits ensue where there may be chances of talking with each other. At other times, they follow each other to some affairs in the neighborhood or to the market. When the parents seem to like the man and the man finds it out, then the man tries to join in some of the family's activities like planting, harvesting, or repair works. These are ways of showing off to the lady and family.

At other times, too, gifts are sent, especially on natal days, X'mas, etc. Courtship either leads to [an] engagement and then marriage if there is a concurrence by both parties; but disapproval ensues, then there is a break in the relationship.

Most marriages in this place still stick to the old traditional marriages where there's too much "ang-anteng" or "kuskos-balongos"

Whenever a girl and a boy has concurred with each other for marriage, then both parties meet to settle on questions of dowry date and activities to be undertaken. Relatives of the man, especially old folks, meet the folks of the girl. At these meetings, discussions and agreements are made. Those gatherings are mixed with drinking and chantings of verses. Meetings may be made twice, thrice or four times as is demanded, especially when there are points of differences [or] where they have not agreed.

The last meeting held is for the giving of all things agreed to be given — money, jewelry, food, etc.

During the nuptial rites, the pair goes to church together with patrons. The party is made more pompous by mixing it with dancing, wine and music reciting verses like the dal-dalut.

After eating, at noon, the pair dances the "fandango." There are 2 dishes specified for each of the two whereby people, especially kin, give some form of donation or "good luck" pieces of money to the pair and they put them in [the] dishes.

The "pusing" is done in the afternoon where the trunk of the pair is being shown — their clothes put together meaning they have become as one.

There may also be a party in the girl's residence the following day as may be agreed upon by the folks.

The death of a person in the barrio is usually proclaimed by the beating of a drum to a familiar tune to all members of the barrio, so that even [if] the dead is in the farthest barrio, the news may be heard quicker by drumbeat.

Death customs vary with the age of the deceased. Whenever the dead is a child or still young, although there [will] be lamenting by the bereaved of, the grief seems to be covered with merrymaking as dances are being made even every night during the nine-day novena made for the dead if the people so like. During the interment, drums, bamboo flutes, instruments like guitars accompany the dead. Just like [with] an old person dead, the novena is counted from the burial.

When an old person dies, the grief seems to be graver or more intense than [with] that of the young. As soon as the corpse is brought down the ladder for the interment, they will kill a pair of chickens, letting the blood flow out. The first prayer for the novena of the dead is made that same night of the day of [the] interment. Whenever there's a widow or a widower, the house of [a] neighbor (with anticipation) and that neighbor will make NINIOGAN or malagkit rice with coconut. After the niniogan, the widow or widower and companions go home but are given rice, plates, or any other dishes and fuel. During the seventh day, the same thing is done but in another house. The eighth day seems to be the climax of the nine-day affair. This days is the OMBRAS day when there is candy-making. The candies or cakes are displayed on a table or bench before the altar, together with a few other things like eggs, rice, wine, tobacco and buyo. However, all these candies are to be served and given away after the prayer. The culmination of the novena is on the ninth night celebrated with a party or candy-making activities again.

After the nine-day prayer, there's again a novena held at the end of the month. This [is] preparatory to the MACABULAN. In the same manner as the first novena, the eighth is celebrated with an OMBRAS. Then comes the MACATAWEN or first death anniversary with a nine-day praying. In much the same way as the MACASIAM or the MACABULAN, there's again an OMBRAS on the eighth night and a culminating party on the ninth day.

In the succeeding years, there's what they call the LAGUIP where they make candles or give a party on the date of the person's death.

Whenever visits are made by friends or relatives, manifestations of hospitality by the home members are very cognizable. They give the utmost care they can afford or the best they can show in food, in manners, in everything. They try their best not to displease the visitors to given them a good impression. Whenever the visitors go home, they given things as PABALON to be brought home, especially those not found in their places.

In this place, festivals are hardly heard [held?]. However, some feast days and holidays celebrated by the church and celebrated as traditions are being celebrated like the Lenten season — (you can hear people also chant or read the PASION, Holy Thursday and Good Friday); Christmas season with candy-making and giving of gifts. In fact, in Nueva Era, people who still cling to celebrate feast days have to go to Banna to join the festivities there.

Sometimes, during droughts, processions are held or novenas by a group taken together for the purpose of asking favor. These novenas are ended in candy-making and merrymaking like dancing, singing after

Transcribed from:

History and Cultural Life of Nueva Era (Town), online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.