JACINTO, SHEY PIA
BSBA- FM1
1. History of Town, Barangay, City or Province
- THE HISTORY OF GATTARAN, CAGAYAN
The town of Gattaran in Cagayan North province is a first class municipality. According to
the 2015 census, it has a population of 56,661 people. Gattaran's historic spots and tourist
landmarks include the Lallo and Gattaran Shell Middens, Magapit Protected Landscape,
Maduppaper Caves, the Mapaso Hot Spring and the Tanglagan Falls whose warm and cold
waters meet and flow together on one bed to become the Dummun River. Another attraction of
Gattaran is Bolos Point, a wildlife sanctuary.
In the place where Gattaran lies today were three former ecclesiastical towns: Nassiping,
Dummun, and Gattaran proper. Nassiping is the oldest among the three, founded on June 15,
1596 with Santa Catalina as the patron saint; Dummun was founded on May 24, 1598 and
Gattaran, May 20, 1623. Since each of these towns had few inhabitants and had only one priest
to administer to their religious needs, they were merged for ecclesiastical convenience into one
municipality in 1877 by virtue of a Diocesan Order from the Bishop of Nueva Segovia (Lallo).
Fray Francisco Suejos, O.P. was the first Gobernadorcillo.
During the Spanish regime, the natives grew spiritually; but with the Americans, they grew
educationally and the inhabitants assimilated a more sophisticated lifestyle. Under the
Commonwealth Government, the first Municipal Mayor was Melencio Adviento, who begun the
construction of the present municipal building. The building was finished during the term of the
next mayor, Atty. Hipolito Mandac. The municipal building was inaugurated in September,
1941. Four months after its inauguration, World War II broke out, the Japanese Forces occupied
the town and all records, cadastral titles and others were confiscated by the invading forces.
With the coming of the Americans, the whole province was liberated from the Japanese
forces. The first election of the Republic in 1947 made Delfino Liban the mayor. The
administration marked the building of roads in the barrios, improvements of streets and others.
In 1950, the barrios of Gattaran to the west of the Cagayan River was separated to form the
town of Lasam.
2. Local Festivals of Twon, Barangay, City or Province
- FESTIVAL IN GATTARAN, CAGAYAN
The Agsalukag Festival is the official festivity of the Municipality of Gattaran,
Cagayan. It celebrates the industriousness and diligence of the Gattaran people as a
community. It also depicts the rich cultural heritage and religiosity of the townspeople,
especially in farming, the main livelihood of the major chunk of the community since its
conversion as a town. “Every November we celebrate our town fiesta called Agsalukag
Festival. The word agsalukag means 'to be progressive. ' This Ilocano word has a deep
meaning for me. People of Gattaran possess discipline, dedication and determination because
they want to achieve progress.”
After the harvesting season, people would usually dine together in a jubilant affair. It
starts by thanking the patron, San Isidro Labrador, through a mass on a Sunday. Usually in
the month of May, this week-long celebration is held. There is an overflowing food in every
barrio. At night, a show called zarzuela is watched by the villagers. Musicals are also
apparent. Instruments played during this celebration include gangsa, gitara, banduria, violin
and banjo. It also ends with a “prusisyon” around the village in preparation for another year-
round of farming.
3. What is history?
- History always used to know the details about previous events, things, and much more.
These are useful to understand and get familiar with what happened earlier. People can
understand history from several resources, such as newspapers, artifacts, books, letters,
and much more. A person who analyzes and studies history is known as a historian.
