History of Alfonso Castañeda Nueva Vizcaya
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| Alfonso Castañeda Nueva Vizcaya Municipal Hall |
Did you know that the town of Alfonso Castañeda in Nueva Vizcaya started as a tiny village in a different province?
Back in the 1930s, the Bugkalot people lived in a place called Lublub. At that time, it was just a sitio—a small part of Barangay Marikit—in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. Life was simple, but the community was strong.
By 1950, Lublub grew enough to be recognized as its own barangay. But the people didn’t stop there—they had bigger dreams. Led by their barangay captain, Alfredo L. Castillo, Sr., they reached out to Assemblyman Carlos M. Padilla with a bold request: they wanted their barangay to become its own municipality, this time under Nueva Vizcaya.
And guess what? It worked. Assemblyman Padilla backed them up by authoring Batas Pambansa Blg. 27, and President Ferdinand Marcos signed it into law on April 20, 1979.
That’s how the town of Alfonso Castañeda was born—named after the first governor of Nueva Vizcaya, who came from one of the region’s cultural minorities.
Pretty inspiring, right? A small community that believed in itself—and made history.
Today, Alfonso Castañeda is made up of six barangays:
- Abuyo
- Cawayan
- Galintuja
- Lipuga
- Lublub
- Pelaway
If there’s one event that brings the whole town together, it’s the Kasipegan Festival.
Held every third week of April, the Kasipegan Festival is the town’s annual fiesta—and it’s a celebration you don’t want to miss! On April 18th, the streets come alive with colorful parades, cultural performances, exciting rides for both kids and adults, talent shows, sports competitions, and a lively People’s Night.
It’s more than just fun—it’s a proud showcase of the vibrant and colorful Bugkalot culture that continues to shape the identity of Alfonso Castañeda.
So whether you're a history buff, a culture lover, or just looking for a meaningful local adventure, this little town with a big heart is definitely worth the visit.
- Nueva Vizcaya Government. (n.d.). Alfonso Castañeda [blog post]. Retrieved from https://nuevavizcaya.gov.ph/municipalities/alfonso-castaneda/.
- Photograph of Alfonso Castañeda Municipal Hall by Ramon FVelasquez / CC BY-SA 3.0.
