The name of Tumauini originated from the name of the big trees found in the Poblacion called "Mauini". It is said that when some Spaniards wanted to know the name of the trees, they asked a native saying, "Como se llama el grande lenia? Sabes tu?" The native not knowing what the Spaniards said, picked the last word he heard and answered "Tumauini".
History
Tumauini was officially established as a Spanish mission in 1704, with civil administration frequently shifting between the neighboring towns of Cabagan and Ilagan. It became a formal town on 10 May 1751.[5]
In 1952, the barrios of Barucbuc, Siempre Viva, Bimmonton, Pasurgong, Manga, and Settlement No. 1 were transferred to the newly created town of Mallig.[6]
In 1957, the barrios of San Antonio, San Juan, Ragan Sur, Ragan Norte, Ragan Almacen, San Jose (Bulo), San Patricio, Quibal, San Andres (Lattu), Calinawan Sur, Bayabo, Santor, Santo Rosario, Andarayan, Aneg, San Isidro, Mawi, San Roque, Carmencita, Aga, Villa Pareda, Villaluz, San Pedro, Concepcion, Sammabario and San Nicolas and the sitios of Turod, Paco, Calamagui and Kim-malabasa, were separated from the municipality of Tumauini to form the town of Magsaysay.[7] Camp Samal used to be a guerilla camp during World War II, and SAMAL derives from SA means Sadornas, and MAL from Malana.[citation needed]
Geography
Tumauini is located in the northern portion of the province of Isabela. Its land area is 46,730 hectares (115,500 acres) or 5.62% of the total land area of Isabela. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Cabagan; on the east by the municipality of Divilacan, on the south by the City of Ilagan, the capital of Isabela; and on the west by the Cagayan River and the municipality of Delfin Albano.
Tumauini is 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Ilagan and 427 kilometres (265 mi) from Manila.
Barangays
Tumauini has politically subdivided into 46 barangays.[8] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Four of the barangays compose the center of the town whereas the other 42 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the municipality. The most populous are San Pedro, Antagan I, and Lanna.
In the 2020 census, the population of Tumauini was 70,743 people,[3] with a density of 150 inhabitants per square kilometre or 390 inhabitants per square mile.
Over the past years, the town's economy had dramatically shifted from stagnant to a fast-moving basis. Aside from agriculture being the main backbone of the town's economy, commerce and trade also became the second economic-based income of the town and its residents with the opening of numerous business establishments, hotels, and financial institutions that generated many opportunities and more employment for its residents.[22][23]
Retail industry
In 2015, the retail giant SM Prime established its first Savemore Market branch along the National Highway in the town.[24] This was closely followed by the opening of the first Puregold Price Club store, a popular retail chain, in the same year. Two years later, in 2017, the well-known multinational fast-food chain Jollibee opened its first branch in the area, providing residents with a wider variety of dining options.
The opening of Jollibee was just the beginning, as more fast-food chains like McDonald's and Mang Inasal have plans to establish branches in the town's first mall, Xentro Mall.[25]
On June 28, 2021, the municipal government inaugurated the newly built Tumauini Public Market. The multi-million modern market complex is composed of eight buildings located along National Highway and serves as the major trading hub of the town and nearby municipalities.[26][27]
Banking and finance services
Banking institutions like BDO Unibank,[28]Development Bank of the Philippines,[29]Producers Bank, FICO Bank, and other smaller financial institutions put up their branches in the town which is a good indication that the town is gearing towards rapid commercialization. As of 31 December 2021, Tumauini has a total of 10 banks with a total volume of bank deposits at Php 1.5 billion.[30]
As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.
The municipality of Tumauini is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.
Elected officials
Members of the Tumauini Municipal Council (2022-2025)[31]
Position
Name of official
District Representative (1st Legislative District, Isabela)
Rep. Antonio T. Albano
Municipal Mayor
Venus T. Bautista
Municipal Vice Mayor
Christopher B. Uy
Municipal Councilors
Sharina Lu B. Medrano
Roberto R. Guiyab
Lluigi Anthonel L. Gardon
Romeo B. Ugaddan
Marvin Francis De Alban
Rogelio C. Dammog, Jr.
Ferdinand Taccad
Rostum B. Binalay
Congress representation
Tumauini, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela, is currently represented by Antonio T. Albano.[32]
Government facilities
On June 28, 2021, the municipal government inaugurated the new Tumauini Municipal Hall along National Highway in barangay San Pedro. The newly built multi-million peso structure is designed to accommodate government functions, delivery of basic services for the people and as a facility for various civic and cultural activities.[33][34]
On May 10, 2023, the municipal government inaugurated the new Tumauini Legislative Building and Tumauini Municipal Police Station. These newly built modern facilities were erected to accommodate legislative functions for the members and staffs of the municipal council and give a bigger office space for the Philippine National Police to help them perform their duties and responsibilities in maintaining the peace and order within the town’s territorial boundaries.[35]
On February 23, 2024, the newly completed multi-million infrastructure projects in Tumauini were inaugurated. The government facilities include the P225 million worth Rudy B. Albano Astrodome and the P16 million worth legislative building of the Local Government
Unit of Tumauini. The newly built astrodome is the largest of its kind in Cagayan Valley Region with an area of 4,140 square meters with 14 layers of concrete bleachers located beside the municipal hall along Maharlika Highway in barangay San Pedro.[36][37][38][39]
Healthcare
Tumauini has its own Rural Health Unit (RHU) located in barangay Lingaling that caters mostly to residents from far-flung areas of the town who opt to avail the services provided by the Municipal Health Office (MHO).[40] Tumauini Community Hospital (TCH) is a government owned and operated Level-I hospital that was originally authorized to cater at least 15-bed maximum capacity. The facility also serves as the primary health care facility of the town and neighboring municipalities.[41][42] On October 7, 2022, the Municipal Government of Tumauini inaugurated the town’s first Animal Bite Center located inside the Tumauini Community Hospital.[43]
The St. Matthias Medical Center of Isabela, Inc. is a privately-owned Level-II hospital located along Maharlika Highway in barangay Lalauanan. On March 8, 2024, the hospital officially had its soft launch to cater a wide range of healthcare services which include Ancillary and Diagnostic services, Clinical services and Outpatient services.[44][45][46]
Education
The Schools Division of Isabela governs the town's public education system.[47] The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region.[48] The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.
Tumauini has a higher education institution which is accredited and recognized by CHED, HGBaquiran College.
Tourism
The town's historical landmarks include the Tumauini Church. Built-in the 1780s by the Dominicans, the church has an unusual cylindrical bell tower made of bricks. Also in the town is the Camp Samal Resort and Leisure Park, which were known as a semi-Tagaytay because of being high on its location where one can view the entire town in the west, south, and north and the Cordillera Sierra Madre in the east.
San Matias Parish Church
San Matias Church Interior
The Parish Church of San Matias was built in the 1780s by the Dominicans. It is the best-preserved church ensemble in Isabela although its Convento is in ruins. It has a cylindrical, confectionery-like bell tower (a later addition). In the Convento vaulted ceiling impressions may still be seen of the mats that were used as forms to mold wet plaster during construction. A low, undulating brick wall circumscribes the front garden.[49]
San Matias Church Exterior
The building of the church from light materials by Francisco Nunez O. P. began in 1707 after Tumauini was separated from Cabagan and became a regular parish in 1751. The Roman Catholic Church was erected by the Dominican in 1753. They were made of bricks and coral stones with a cylindrical bell tower, the only of its kind in the Philippines which was constructed by Fr. Domingo Forto in 1793 and completed in 1805, became the capital of Isabela for some time in the 1880s. The Church was partly damaged during World War II but was repaired to its original form by the parishioners of Tumauini.
The church's architectural design bears traces of Chinese artistry which may confirm the belief that long before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the Chinese had settled in the coastal towns of Northern Luzon.[50]
By virtue of Presidential Decree # 260, 11 August 1973, as amended by Executive Order No. 357, 14 January 1974, and No. 1505, 11 June 1978, the Church of Tumauini was declared a National Historic Landmark on February 24, 1989.[51]
The Tumauini Church is currently on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension). A proposal has been suggested by scholars to make a separate UNESCO inclusion for the Old Centre of Tumauini which includes the Tumauini Church. The same would be done for other churches listed in UNESCO's tentative sites, where each town plaza and surrounding heritage buildings would be added. No government agency has yet taken action on the proposal.[52]
Camp Samal
The historic Camp Samal was the site of the National Jamboree in 1977 and is the home of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. It is located at the eastern outskirts of the Spanish – built town of Tumauini, on a 23.5 hectares (58 acres) of the elevated mass of rolling hills 500 feet above sea level. It is endowed with natural springs, evergreen grasses, trees, and shrubs. It overlooks the Cagayan River, the Pinacanauan River, the town of Tumauini itself, the municipality of Delfin Albano, and the Sierra Mountain ranges.
Its name was derived from the first syllable of the surnames of the spouses, Ricardo C. Sadornas and Purificacion Malana who donated the camp to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in 1954. After the holding of the 1977 National Jamboree, the camp was restored under the administration of Mayor Arnold S. Bautista in 2001, who drew out the support of the government and private sectors for its restoration and development. It is still the favorite destination of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines for their annual district and provincial encampments. It hosted the 5th Northeastern Luzon Regional and Ilocos Region Invitational Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines held on November 25 – 30, 2004 with a total of 5,281 participants.
Mangi Festival
The patronal town fiesta is in honor of St. Mathias and the promotion of Tumauini as a source of corn and its by-products.
One of the legacies of the Spanish colonial era in town is corn (maize). It was one of the plants that came aboard the galleons and became one of the primary crops of the Philippines. The late National Artist for Dance, Ramon Obusan traced the origins of a traditional dance inspired by the crop to Tumauini.[53]
Magoli River
Antagan 1st contains the Magoli River, which provides an ample source of water for irrigation, fields, and households.
One of the features of the river is the Blue Lagoon. The locals have named two large rocks in the center of the river "Kambal na Bato" (twin stones), which are also a tourist attraction because of their unique and unusual appearance.
The river is also a popular spot for swimming, fishing, and boating.
^Salgado, Pedro. "Specific Irraya Missions in Northern and Mid Isabela". Cagayan Valley and Easter Cordillera: 1581-1898, Volume I. Rex Publishing. pp. 446–448.
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