1.1 Historical Background
The province of Nueva Vizcaya, named after the people living in the coast of Mar de Vizcaine (Biscayne Province or Basque Country) in Spain. In the beginning of the 19th century, it was part of the vast “Territorio de Missiones” of the Spanish controlled government of Cagayan. The territory covered the eastern half of Northern Luzon from Nueva Ecija to Aparri, including Batanes Islands.
On May 24, 1839, Governor General Luis Lardizabal upon the advice of the Alcalde Mayor of Cagayan issued an order creating Nueva Vizcaya into a separate politico-military province. The order was approved by the King of Spain through a Royal Decree on April 10, 1841. Governor Pedro Menchaca was the first appointed politico-military governor of the new province. The Spanish sovereignty ceased upon the arrival of the Philippine Revolutionary forces in Bayombong on August 1898.
The province had its first taste of civil government in 1902 when it was organized by the Philippine Commission. The present territory of Nueva Vizcaya was the result of changes emanating from the formal creation of the province of Isabela in May 1865, wherein a great portion of its northern territory was ceded to the newly born province. The organization of the province of Ifugao in 1908 further reduced the area of Nueva Vizcaya which was forced to give up its northwest territory. The survey executed by the Bureau of Lands in 1914 and subsequent enactment of Administrative Code in 1917 further caused the diminution of its area. Even with these slices of land given away to new and emerging territories, the province of Nueva Vizcaya still held a wide territory. But in 1971, the passage of Republic Act No. 6394 made Quirino, which was then a sub-province of Nueva Vizcaya, into a regular province.
Its history could still be reflected from the culture and customs of the early settlers which included the Bugkalots (Ilongots), Kalanguyas / Ikalahans / Iwaks (Igorots), Ayangans / Tuwalis (Ifugaos), Isinais, and the Gaddangs. The influx of civilization and the infusion of modern technology to the life stream of the province induced many immigrants from adjacent provinces, primarily the Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Kapampangans, Bicolanos, Bisayans, and other migrant ethno-linguistic groups to migrate to the province. The conglomeration of many people from varied origins is recognition of the province’s vast and unexplored potentials.
Since its birth as a province, Nueva Vizcaya has undergone so many changes. It has grown to be the 3rd largest province in the region in terms of population (2015 PSA) and land area (Regional Social & Economic Trends 2017, PSA). Its jurisdiction covers 15 municipalities and 275 barangays.
1.2 Ethnic Origin Of The People
Our ancestors and the first inhabitants of Nueva Vizcaya includes: the Ayangans, Kalanguyas, Isinais, Gaddangs, Bugkalots and Iwaks. More than 25,000 years ago, they built a civilization based on agriculture and the main political unit, the Barangay.(Teich, 2019).
In 1839, Nueva Vizcaya was created as a province. Endowed with rich natural resources, particularly in agriculture, the province attracts numerous tribes from other regions in the country. The first wave of migrants, the Ilocanos, started to arrive from 1850s to 1930s. The migrants from Cordilleras on the other hand started to arrive in the province in year 1950. Other migrants who form big portion of the population are the Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Kapampangans , Ifugaos and others.
1.3 Political Officials
Tables A-1, A-2 and A-3 show the chronology of elected and appointed officials for the positions of Congressman/Assemblyman/Representative, Governor and Vice Governor and their corresponding terms of office.
The lone Legislative District of Nueva Vizcaya is the representation of
the Province of Nueva Vizcaya in the
Philipine House of Representatives. Nueva Vizcaya was first represented in the
Philippine Assembly in 1916, which included the present-day Quirino Province in
1972. From 1978 to 1984, it was part of the representation of Region II and since
1984, it has been represented on its own.
Table A-1 Past and Incumbent Congressmen / Assemblymen/Representatives: 1916-Present
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| WENCESLAO VALERA | 1916-1919 |
| EVARISTO PANGANIBAN | 1919-1922 |
| EULOGIO RODRIGUEZ | 1922-1925 |
| ANTONIO G. ESCAMILLA | 1925-1928 |
| MANUEL NIETO | 1928-1931 |
| DOMINGO MADDELA | 1931-1934 |
| SEVERINO PURUNGGANAN | 1934-1935 |
| BERNARDO BUENAFE | 1935- 1938 |
| GUILLERMO BONGOLAN | 1938- 1941 |
| LEON CABARROGUIS | 1945 (Elected) |
| LEONARDO B. PEREZ | 1953-1965 (Elected) |
| BENJAMIN PEREZ | 1970 (Elected) |
| CARLOS M. PADILLA | 1978-1984(Elected Assemblyman Region Wide) |
| LEONARDO B. PEREZ | 1984-1986 (Elected) |
| CARLOS M. PADILLA | 1988-1992 (Elected) |
| LEONARDO B. PEREZ | 1992-1995 (Elected) |
| CARLOS M. PADILLA | 1995 – 2004 (Elected) |
| RODOLFO Q. AGBAYANI | 2004 – 2007 (Elected) |
| CARLOS M. PADILLA | 2007 – 2016 (Elected) |
| LUISA LLOREN CUARESMA | 2016 – 2025 (Elected) |
| ATTY. TIMOTHY JOSEPH E. CAYTON | 2025 – Present (Elected) |
Source:
Nueva Vizcaya Historical Society.
Nueva Vizcaya Beckons 2000 by
DANIEL/BAYLE/PADILLA/ROSARIO (Sangguniang Panlalawigan).
Table A-2 Past and Incumbent Governors: 1917-Present
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| TOMAS P. MADDELA, SR. | November 1917-April 1918 (Acting) |
| LOPE K. SANTOS | April 1918-September 1920 (Appointed) |
| DOMINGO MADDELA | October 1920-June 1922 (Appointed) |
| DOMINGO MADDELA | June 1922-June 1925 (Elected) |
| ALFONSO CASTAÑEDA | June 1925 –June 1928 (Elected) |
| JUAN A. MANZANO | June 1928 –June 1931(Elected) |
| LEON CABARROGUIS | June 1931-June 1934 (Elected) |
| LEON CABARROGUIS | June 1934-December 1937(Elected) |
| TOMAS P.MADDELA, SR. | January 1938-December 1940 (Elected) |
| DEMETRIO QUIRINO, SR. | January 1940-1945 (Elected) |
| MARTIN LOPEZ | 1945 -1946 (Appointed) |
| JOSE MADARANG | 1946(Appointed) |
| JOSE MADARANG | 1947-1948(Elected) |
| MANOLO MADDELA | 1949-1951 (Appointed) |
| JOSE A. MADARANG | 1952-1955 (Elected) |
| JOSE G. ESPINO | 1955-1959(Elected) |
| JOSE G. ESPINO | 1960-1962 (Elected) |
| CORAZON M. ESPINO | 1962(Appointed) |
| PATRICIO G. DUMLAO, SR. | January 1963 – 1976 (Elected) |
| BELEN F. CALDERON | 1976 (Appointed) |
| OSIAS D. CADIENTE | 1976-March 22, 1980 (Apoointed) |
| NATALIA F. DUMLAO | March 23,1980- April 2,1986 (Elected) |
| RUTH R. PADILLA | December 1987-February 2, 1988 (Appointed) |
| PATRICIO G. DUMLAO | February 3,1988-June 30,1992 (Elected) |
| PATRICIO G. DUMLAO | July 1,1992-August 31,1992 |
| RODOLFO Q. AGBAYANI | 1992-2004 (Elected) |
| LUISA LLOREN CUARESMA | 2004-2013 (Elected) |
| RUTH R. PADILLA | 2013-2016 (Elected) |
| CARLOS M. PADILLA | 2016-2023 (Elected) |
| ATTY. JOSE V. GAMBITO | May 5, 2023 – July 31, 2025 (Succeeded) |
| ATTY. JOSE V. GAMBITO | 2025-Present (Elected) |
Source: Nueva Vizcaya Historical Society.
Nueva Vizcaya Beckons 2000 by DANIEL/BAYLE/PADILLA/ROSARIO (Sangguniang Panlalawigan).
Table A-3 Past and Incumbent Vice Governors: 1986-Present
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| CASTILLO B. TIDANG, SR. | |
| GUILLERMO ABAN | |
| LUIS BERNABE | |
| GLORIA EUROPA | |
| RUTH R. PADILLA | April 1986-Nov 1987 |
| MANUEL AQUINO | Dec 1987-Feb 1988 |
| ALEJANDRO SILAPAN | Feb 1988-June 1992 |
| RODOLFO Q. AGBAYANI | July 1992-August 1992 |
| ROGELIO P. CORPUZ | August 1992-June 1995 |
| NATALIA F. DUMLAO | July 1995-June 1998 |
| LUISA LLOREN CUARESMA | July 1998-June 2004 |
| JOSE V. GAMBITO | July 2004-June 2013 |
| EPIFANIO LD. GALIMA | July 2013-June 2019 |
| HON. JOSE D. TOMAS, SR. | July 2019- 2022 (Elected) |
| ATTY. JOSE V. GAMBITO | 2022 – 2023 (Elected) |
| EUFEMIA A. DACAYO | May 5, 2023 – July 31, 2025 (Succeeded) |
| EUFEMIA A. DACAYO | 2025 – Present (Elected) |
Source: Nueva Vizcaya Historical Society.
Nueva Vizcaya Beckons 2000 by DANIEL/BAYLE/PADILLA/ROSARIO (Sangguniang Panlalawigan).
