27/08/2025
A Brief History of Tuao
In October 7, 1741, Padre Antonio del Campo, a missionary friar erected a convent near the Magat River (now between Pogonsino and Bangar). Due to the continuous erosion and flooding of the river and for its increasing population and growth, the pueblo was later relocated in 1754 to Maulalat, a place named Munog by Padre Alejandro Vidal, the Provincial Vicar thus, abandoned the convent and was later named โNagcombenotanโ (which means abandoned convent).
According to legend, a folktale was passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth as an oral history of the place. The place got its name from the loud repetitive bird calls of the Koel (Eudynamys orientalis) which are large species of parasitic cuckoo colloquially referred to as โTuwawโ or rain bird that abound in flocks. It was during the migration period (1860โ1900) of early settlers from Ilocos and Central Luzon travelling on food carts, water buffalo drawn and resting overnight in this forested place named the place Tuao from the onomatopoeia sound of โtuwaw-tuwaw-tuwawโ, the familiar Koel bird calls at the beginning of summer and rainy season.
The Ifugaos were the first inhabitants before the arrival of Padre Antonio del Campo, the assigned missionary friar who established a convent in this place. In 1718, the Gaddang tribe came to settle this place and drove the Ifugao tribe to the west toward the mountains of the Cordillera. Some historians found out Gaddangs later left this place due to malaria epidemic.
Later in 1740, more Gaddangs came from Isabela with the Spanish missionaries and they settled ever since in the immediate vicinity of the convent (now Pogonsino). Later in 1778, all the inhabitants were baptized. These were the surnames of the Gaddang tribe: Lumelay, Bacud, Saquing, Cutaran, Gollaba, Cuntapay, Carabuanal, Lagundian, Abbacan, Lumilag, Abungan, Ambatali, Whigan, Agguid, Malluam and Alindada.
Old Spanish archives and documents show that Ilocanos migrated to this place between 1860 and 1900. Early pioneering Ilocano settlers of Barrio Tuao came from Ilocos, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija who later were pioneer leaders appointed as Gobernadorcillo and Presidente del Pueblo of the Bagabag. They were: Francisco Ladislao (1912); Gavino Gallo (1914); Fernando Aragon (1919); Juan Danaan (1922) and Geronima Danaan-Pacis (first woman councilor elected in 1935). During the Japanese Occupation, two sons of Barrio Tuao were appointed Municipal Mayors: Cesario R. Dumlao (1945) and Emiliano B. Dadod (1946).
Barrio Tuao is one among the three pioneer barrios of the municipality of Bagabag which is situated on the south eastern part of Bagabag. In 1950, there was a political sub-division made pursuant to Republic Act 2370, โAn Act Granting Autonomy to Barrios in the Philippines, otherwise known as the Barrio Charter Lawโ. Pogonsino was then created and Barrio Tuao as the Mother Barrio. There was again a political division in 1980 during the administration of the late Gov. Senyerto Natalia F. Dumlao, where the creation of Barangay Tuao North was made, thence the Mother Barangay was named Barangay Tuao South. Former Barangay Kagawad Ernesto Patricio was then appointed Barangay Captain of Tuao North, and former Barangay Kagawad Alfredo D. Bacena, Sr. was appointed as Barangay Captain of Tuao South.
Ruperto P. Manuel
Local Historian, Nueva Vizcaya Historical Society
