Brief History of San Isidro

Republic Act 5139

Twenty three (23) years ago, on June 17, 1967, RA 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 "mother town" 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 Brgy. Captain Guillermo Mariano and Municipal Councilor Ricardo Netro, 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 tom because of the hardship of managing a 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 townsite 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. 

Camarag, It's Place in History

In the 18th century when names such as Echague and San Isidro were not yet known,, Camarag was already a popular place. The name Camarag was derived from the Camarag trees abundant in the place during the Spanish period. It was the site of the mission under the Dominican Order in 1710. A big Roman Catholic church and road connecting Camarag to other places like Santiago to Vizcaya were constructed. The ruins of these landmarks are still there at present. In 1776, Camarag became a town of the Province of Cagayan - the lone province in Cagayan Valley that time. However, Camarag became the capital af Nueva Vizcaya when the province was created in 1839. 17 years later, in 1856, it became a town of Isabela when the province was created. These 3 provinces composed then the Cagayan Valley region. Camarag was one of the original towns of Isabela. The others were Cabagan, Tumaini, Ilagan, Gamu, Cauayan, Angadanan, Carig (Santiago), Palanan, Alamo, Gaddang, Mayoyao, Brengiones and Catalaganes. Camarag was a town for many years until the townsite was transferred to Katuray, a place near the Cagayan River and the present townsite of Echague. The transfer took place in 1863. Katuray became Echague in honor of Gen. Rafael de Echague, then the governor general in the country.

The transfer was done because Katuray was near the Cagayan River, the transport artery, and the camercial center in Cagayan Valley. Besides this, Katuray was surrounded with barangays producing quality tobacco and with fertile soil good for planting.

With the transfer of townsite to Katuray in 1863, Camarag became a barrio of Echague until 10 years later, in 1967, San Isidro was created a separate municipality.

On the whole, it could be said that Camarag was the "mother" of Echague which in turn became the "mother" of San Isidro."

The People

History says that the early inhabitants of San Isidro were the Yogads, the natives of Echague. However, Ilokanos came to settle in Camarag later on making the Yogad-Ilokano groups the dominant population in town. The Ilokanos came from Ilocos Sur and Norte, convinced by Antonio Mangadap, a well travelled leader who made journeys in Northern Luzon. Mangadap's son, Jordan, the leader of Camarag, became gobernadorcillo and judge. Other members of the Mangadap clan took hold leadership in Camarag, among them Alfredo the father of mayor Proceso Mangadap.

The opening of San Jose-Santa Fe road in 1920's gave way for people from Ilocos and Central Luzon to explore Cagayan Valley. Many of them landed in Camarag. The leaders were Benito Tumamao, Vicente Ramos, Roman Felipe, Tomas Galapia and Alejandro Viloria.

With this influx of people in Camarag, population increased. Consequently trade and commerce increased, too.

Today, although the dominant group in San Isidro is Ilokano, other groups make the municipality their place of domicile and commerce. There are now in the municipality, Tagalogs, Pangasinense, Ibanag, Gaddags and others.