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| Ambaguio Nueva Vizcaya |
The municipality of Ambaguio was once in the nineteenth and twentieth century, a barrio of Bayombong, the capital town of Nueva Vizcaya. It was once a place of wilderness, where wild deer, pigs, chicken and the like abound, where it was a region of untouched forest cradled by green rolling mountains and hills, with tempting creeks and rippling streams. But in no time, a handful of settlers headed by Fausto Tagangtang, a Datu who came from the neighboring mountain province, pioneered and disturbed the tranquility, conquering nature and transformed a portion of this wilderness into growing prosperous farm hills and rice terraces.
Due to its terrain, distance, and absence of roads, inhabitants composed of only three (3) major tribes (namely, Kalanguyas, Ifugaos, and Ibalois) came to this place for refuge, shelter, justice, and for a better living. They were united under the leadership of their Datu, Lakay Fausto Tagangtang.
As told by the Datu, the word “Ambaguio” originated from the word “Bagiw”, an Igorot term for moss, which covers every inch of trees and stones. Since then, the inhabitants are called “E-AM-BAGIW”, meaning the “Conqueror of Moss”. The word underwent a series of changes resulting to its present name, Ambaguio.
On June 18, 1966, by virtue of Republic Act No. 4735, Ambaguio ceased to be a barrio of Bayombong and stood as a new municipality. It became the thirteenth municipality of Nueva Vizcaya. Being the incumbent Barrio Lieutenant, Mr. Mariano C. Agnahe was appointed as the mayor of the newly created municipality.
Ambaguio is composed of 8 barangays:
- Ammueg
- Dulli
- Poblacion
- Napo
- Salingsingan
- Camandag
- Labang
- Tiblac
Ambaguio's town festival is called Baykat Festival. Celebrated every June 17-19. It showcases traditional and cultural practices of the tribe of Kalanguya, a dominant indigenous group of the town. Celebrated through their songs, rituals, dances, and agricultural practices, etc.
Their patronal fiesta is St. Damien of Molokai held every December 12.
Reference:
Ambaguio Tourismo provided the Brief History of Ambaguio Nueva Vizcaya (personal communication, September 14, 2020).
