Brief History of San Isidro
Brief History of San Isidro
The Birth of San Isidro (Republic Act No. 5139)
Fifty-seven (57) years ago, on June 17, 1967, ๐น๐จ 5139 authored by Representative Melanio T. Singson creating the Municipality of San Isidro became a law. This law separated San Isidro from the municipality of Echague- its โmother townโ since 1863. It was, however, on January 1, 1968 that the town was inaugurated.
The move to create San Isidro actually started in 1966 when ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐ซ. and ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ, both residents of San Isidro, together with ex-mayor of Echague Patricio Ramos, then a Board Member of Isabela, presented a petition to Representative Melanio T. Singson urging him to pass a bill in Philippine Congress creating a new town of San Isidro.
At first, Rep. Melanio T. Singson did not like the creation of a new town because of the hardship of managing new municipality, logistical constraints, and the very limited area of the new municipality. However, he relented to the insistence and enthusiasm of the group. He filed the bill in congress.
Expectedly, the town site would be in Camarag because of its importance and popularity especially during the past. But because it was in the boundary of Echague, the site was therefore, conveniently assigned in its present place, the center between barangay Gomez and Rizal.
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Camarag: The Heart of Isabelaโs Originsย
Long before the names Echague and San Isidro became well known, Camarag was already an important place. The name โCamaragโ came from the Camarag trees that were abundant in the area during the Spanish period. It became a significant site when the Dominican Order established a mission there in 1710. A large Roman Catholic church was built, along with a road that connected Camarag to nearby places like Santiago and Vizcaya. Some ruins from that time still remain today.
In 1776, Camarag became a town under the Province of Cagayan, which was the only province in the Cagayan Valley at the time. Later on, in 1839, Camarag became the capital of Nueva Vizcaya when that province was created. Seventeen years later, in 1856, when Isabela was established as a new province, Camarag became one of its original towns along with Cabagan, Ilagan, Cauayan, and others.
However, in 1863, the townsite of Camarag was moved to Katuray, a place near the Cagayan River. This location was chosen because of its access to river transport and fertile land suitable for growing tobacco. The new town was renamed Echague, in honor of Governor-General Rafael de Echague.
After this relocation, Camarag became a barrio of Echague and stayed that way until 1967, when San Isidro was created as a separate municipality under Republic Act No. 5139.
In many ways, Camarag is considered the โmotherโ of both Echague and San Isidro a place with a deep history that played a key role in shaping the identity and development of this part of Isabela.
The earliest settlers of San Isidro were the Yogads, the indigenous people of Echague. However, later on, Ilokanos moved to Camarag, making the town's population a mix of both Yogad and Ilokano people. These Ilokanos came from Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. They were encouraged by Antonio Mangadap, a leader who had traveled extensively through Northern Luzon.
Antonio's son, Jordan Mangadap, took over as the leader of Camarag and served as the gobernadorcillo (town head) and judge. Other members of the Mangadap family, including Alfredo Mangadap, who was the father of Mayor Proceso Mangadap, also held leadership roles in the town.
In the 1920s, the opening of the San Jose-Santa Fe road allowed people from Ilocos and Central Luzon to explore the Cagayan Valley. Many of these people chose to settle in Camarag, including notable leaders like Benito Tumamao, Vicente Ramos, Roman Felipe, Tomas Galapia, and Alejandro Viloria.
With the arrival of these new settlers, the population of Camarag grew, and so did trade and commerce in the area.
Today, while the Ilokanos are still the dominant group in San Isidro, many other groups have also made the town their home. These include Tagalogs, Pangasinense, Ibanags, Gaddangs, and other communities who now contribute to the diversity and growth of the municipality.